Heritage and Conservation - Blue Plaques II
A very different unveiling was held on 7 June, when Mr Malcolm Brocklesby, Vice Chairman of the Oulton Society, unveiled a plaque to honour Richard Bentley, FRS, DD, at Bentley Square, Oulton. Bentley was born there in 1662. Educated at Wakefield Grammar School and Cambridge, Keeper of the King’s Library at St James’ and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, he was Europe’s most brilliant and controversial classical scholar. The Oulton Society sponsored the plaque and a wonderful reception was hosted by Mr and Mrs Brocklesby.
Our final unveiling of the year was a complete ‘one-off’! Taking place on 17 June, it attracted huge publicity being broadcast live on Sky News and BBC News 24, with photographs appearing in virtually all the national and local newspapers and features on Radio Four and BBC Newsnight. The great interest was because our plaque celebrating Leeds University Refectory as a legendary rock venue was unveiled by rock stars, Roger Daltry and Pete Townsend of The Who, who followed it that evening with what our Director and Chairman assure me was the best rock concert they have been to in years. Our warm thanks go to Leeds University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Michael Arthur, and his team who suggested the plaque and, with the help of music broadcaster Andy Kershaw, successfully encouraged The Who to unveil it. The Who were ‘Live at Leeds’ again 36 years on and we thank them for creating such a memorable occasion. And we really do have the tee shirts to prove it – the University produced them with the event details on the back and the blue plaque on the front!
Looking ahead, a plaque commemorating Leeds Rifles is to be unveiled at Carlton Barracks on 6 November by Dr Ingrid Roscoe, Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire. I am especially pleased that the Rifles plaque has come to fruition as it has been in our sights for 10 years and, with the John Smeaton and Whitelocks plaques, will complete a trio we have long wished to erect.
his is the last Plaques Report that I shall present. I retire at the AGM after 18 years as Plaques Scheme Administrator. I have enjoyed these years very much indeed and value the enormous help and friendship of the Plaques Group. Bob Tyrrell’s researches have been most scholarly and time consuming. In addition, with the help of Glenn Robinson he carries out an awesome programme of plaque cleaning and is now our plaque fixer together with Roger Garnett. And not forgetting Michael Pemberton who retired this year from being ‘Mr Plaque Fixer’ for as long as I can remember. Joan Newiss supplements Bob’s researches though she too is retiring. David Kaye has joined the team and is taking over the role of Scheme Administrator. As ever our Director keeps a beady eye on us and we know him as an Action Man at short notice! I am truly grateful to him and to our Office Administrator Dörte Haarhaus for her tireless help. I thank them all for their support.
Valerie Ives
Plaques Scheme Administrator