Who's Who in and Around Leicester

This is Page Two

Who's Who Sections:

Section 4: [Dissenters, Martyrs & Reformers]  Section 5: [Acting Community]  Section 6: [Music Community]

[Return to Page One and Main Index]

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Dissenters, Martyrs & Reformers ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The strong Free-Church/Puritan/Quaker/Non-conformist heritage of the Leicestershire area is evident in the lives of the people in this sub-section of the historical section above; indeed, Leicester at one time was proud to call itself 

"The Metropolis of Dissent."

Click on the name for additional information

~ George Fox ~

Born in Leicestershire in 1624. He initiated the gathering of the people known as the "Quakers" and later know as "The Society of Friends." In 1650 he was imprisoned for blasphemy at Derby, a place where the name Quakers was first applied derogatorily to him and his followers. Supposedly because he "enjoined Judge Bennet to quake at the word of the Lord," and because in their (the Quakers) earnestness they "bade him tremble." George Fox descended of honest parents, who endeavoured to bring him up, as they did the rest of their children, in the way and worship of the nation (C of E). But from an early age he appeared of another frame of mind than the rest of his brethren. He was more religious, inward, and observing, beyond his years, and the answers he would give, and the questions he would ask, astonished  those that heard him - especially in divine things. He refused childish and vain sports and the company of other youngsters. This link (above) will take you to a massive article on Gearge Fox.

~ John Wycliffe ~

English theologian, translator and reformer. He influenced Martin Luther and helped lay the foundation for the Reformation. It was during his last days at Lutterworth that he initiated the great work for which he is particularly remembered - the translation of the whole Bible into the English language for the first time. This was before the time of printing, so copies were costly and rare, but he sent his "poor preachers," later nicknamed "Lollards," throughout the length and breadth of England. He died in Lutterworth in 1384, but in 1428, condemned for heresy, his bones were dug up, burnt and thrown into the local stream.

~ Thomas Hooker ~

Born in Markfield, Leicestershire, in 1586 and died in Hartford Connecticut in 1647. He was known in the colonies as �The Father of American Democracy.� A fervent evangelical and Puritan, he got into trouble with the Church of England and fled to Holland in 1630. In 1633 he emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony where he was pastor at New Towne (now Cambridge). Discontented with the strict theological rule in Massachusetts, he argued with the church leader John Cotton and left with a group to found the city of Hartford.

~ William Carey ~

(1761-1834) Preached at the Friar Lane Baptist Chapel, Leicester. He was sent by that church to India where he became a lifelong missionary to the Indian people. He was also an educator whose mission at Serampur set the pattern for modern missionary work. He has been called the "father of Bengali prose" for his grammars, dictionaries, and translations. There is (or was) a street or lane in Leicester named after William Carey where he lived and worked as a shoe maker. Motto: "Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God." Carey's Cottage was for a long time looked after by the Leicester Baptist community; however, eventually the bulldozer one out and the cottage fell to make way for "progress." Update: Carey's house was on the site of the present Holiday Inn opposite the Jewry Wall. "The Romans built the Jewry Wall and we built the Holiday Inn."  Now there's progress. There is plaque to Carey's memory in the garden of the Costume Museum in Applegate.

~ William Bradford ~

(1663�1752)  Pioneer printer in the American colonies. Born in Bramwell, Leicestershire, he served an apprenticeship under a London printer before emigrating in 1685 to Philadelphia, where he set up the first press. He was one of the founders of the first paper mills in the colonies. Allthough he was a Quaker himself, he was arrested for printing a pamphlet critical of the Quaker government, his trial, at which no verdict was reached, was probably the first in the U.S. involving freedom of the press. On October 16, 1725, he began the first newspaper in New York City, and the fifth in America, the New York Gazette. "Here lies the body of Mr. William Bradford."  No not there - here --> [link]. 

~ John King ~

He was Born in Leicestershire in 1746 and educated at Oxford University and at the London Medical College where he obtained his medical degree. While in London he met John Wesley and was converted to Methodism; however, the rest of his family were true to the Church of England and after a bitter disagreement with his father, Joel King, John set sail for America in 1769 at 23 years of age. Fearless and eloquent, he rose from this humble beginning to become one of the foremost pioneer preachers in America. He settled in North Carolina where he was called the "Father of Methodism" in that state. He was also one of the original council of ten that composed the First Methodist Conference in America, in St. George's Chapel, Philadelphia, July, 1773.

~ Joseph Fowles Winks ~

Winks became pastor at Carey Street Baptist Church in 1839, a post he held until his death in 1866. A Poor Law Guardian, he was the first dissenting minister to be allowed to preach in the workhouse. He was also one of the first men in Leicester who spoke out publicly against cock fighting (outlawed in 1849), bull running (outlawed in 1835), dog fighting and badger baiting (both of which were not outlawed until the twentieth century). Joseph Winks was born in 1788 at Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. In 1823 he became a Baptist lay-preacher, first at Killingholme and then at Melbourne, Derbyshire. Wanting to make Christian literature more widely available he set up his own printing press, first at Loughborough (1825) and, in 1835, Leicester. His main publications were Christian magazines and books for children. Joseph Winks died 28 May 1860 and was buried in Welford Road cemetery. This entry courtesy of the Max Wade-Matthews Website - click on the name above to visit this site and learn more about Joseph Winks and other notable characters from Leicester's Colourful 19th century period. Once there, click on "Leicester in 1834."

~ Hugh Latimer ~

(1485-1555) English prelate, reformer, and Protestant martyr, born in Thurcaston, Leicestershire. He was educated and ordained at the University of Cambridge, where he actively supported the principles of the Reformation. In the political and ecclesiastical controversy attendant on the divorce of Henry VIII, king of England, from Catherine of Arag�n, Latimer supported Henry. He was made royal chaplain in 1530 and was consecrated bishop of Worcester in 1535. He resigned four years later, however, because he could not accept Henry's Act of Six Articles, which severely restricted Protestantism. Latimer was imprisoned, but on the accession of Edward VI to the English throne, he was released and restored to favor at court. Shortly after Mary Tudor became queen, Latimer was condemned for heresy and, with the English Protestant prelate Nicholas Ridley, he was burned at the stake in Oxford. His famous quote, made to Nicholas Ridley, on that day: "...we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England as I trust shall never be put out."

~ Anthony Turner ~

Martyr of England. The son of a Protestant minister, he was born in Leicestershire and educated at Cambridge. A convert to Catholicism, Anthony went to Rome and joined the Jesuits in Flanders and was ordained in 1661. He returned to England and labored in Worcester until he was arrested in the so-called "Titus Oates affair." Convicted on perjured evidence, he was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn on June 20, 1679. Anthony was beatified in 1929.

Sir Arthur Hesilrige ~

Sir Arthur was a friend of Cromwell and a general in the Parliamentary Army. After his father Thomas died in 1629 Arthur was brought up by John Pym, under whose influence he became a staunch Puritan opposed to the ecclesiastical policy of Archbishop Laud. Elected MP for the County of Leicester in 1640, his opponent in the second election of that year, Sir Richard Halford of Wistow Hall was sent to the Tower for Breach of Privilege when he referred to Sir Arthur as a man with "more will than wit." A promoter of the "Root and Branch Bill" which called for the extirpation of the bishops. On 3 January 1642, he was one of five MPs who escaped when King Charles entered Parliament demanding the arrest of the five as traitors. The following June he was active in Leicestershire executing the Parliamentary Commission of Array by raising a troop of horse that was incorporated into the army led by Essex. On 5 July 1643, he led his newly formed regiment of London Cavalry "The Lobsters" into the Battle of Lansdown where he was wounded. This entry and the article (follow the link) courtesy of Max Wade-Matthews.

~ Thomas Simpson ~

Thomas Simpson was born in Leicestershire in August of 1710, and died in May of 1761. His father was a weaver and he owed his education to his own efforts. His mathematical interests were first aroused by the solar eclipse which took place in 1724, and with the aid of a fortune-telling pedlar he mastered Cocker's Arithmetic and the elements of algebra. He then gave up his weaving and became an usher at a school, and by constant and laborious efforts improved his mathematical education, so that by 1735 he was able to solve several questions which had been recently proposed and which involved the infinitesimal calculus. He next moved to London, and in 1743 was appointed professor of mathematics at Woolwich, a post which he continued to occupy till his death. The works published by Simpson prove him to have been a man of extraordinary natural genius and extreme industry. The most important of them are his Fluxions, 1737 and 1750, with numerous applications to physics and astronomy; his Laws of Chance and his Essays, 1740; his theory of Annuities and Reversions, with tables of the value of lives, 1742; his Dissertations, 1743, in which the figure of the earth, the force of attraction at the surface of a nearly spherical body, the theory of the tides, and the law of astronomical refraction are discussed.

~ Edward Taylor ~

Edward Taylor (1642-1729) was a New England Puritan. He was born in Leicestershire and became a school teacher with Puritan sympathies. After the Great Ejection, Taylor left England, studied divinity at Harvard, and eventually became minister of Westfield, Massachusetts. Taylor was a colleague of Increase Mather and Charles Chauncey, and corresponded with Richard Baxter and other divines in England. He carried on a long-running controversy with Solomon Stoddard over the Lord's Supper. "Here is Reformed theology in beautiful dress. The reader who loves Puritan sermons should welcome a chance to dive into this feast of Puritan poetry. They have been minimally edited, but do not be put off by the old spelling or unfamiliar words. Here is great literature that will repay slow examination, or even better, reading aloud."

~ Charles Booth ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Acting Community ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(Stage, Television, & Film - Actors, Producers and Directors) 

Click on the name for additional information

~ Graham Chapman ~

Famous member of Monty Python's Flying Circus. Born January, 1941 in Leicester, died October, 1989 at the age of 48 from cancer. He was educated at Melton Mowbray Grammar School and at Cambridge where he qualified as a medical doctor; however, he forsook the stethoscope for the pen and in his post�Cambridge days he was a journeyman writer working with John Cleese to produce a succession of successful sketches for "The Frost Report," or writing filler jokes for "The Petula Clark Show." He kept a low profile as a writer and performer until "At Last, the 1948 Show," in which he revealed a talent for playing intense, rather serious characters hilariously. This link will take you to a page of www.pythonet.org and a testimonial to the late Graham Chapman by fellow Python cast members Michael Palin, John Cleese and Eric Idle. Footnote: Thirty years ago I became convinced that one of the cast had to be from Leicester due to the many references made to our city in the Monty Python sketches. It has taken me this long to find out I was right. 

~ Una Stubbs ~

Leicester-born dancer-turned-actress Una Stubbs portrayed Rita in the long-running and highly successful TV comedy series "Till Death Do Us Part." Thirty five years ago, this BBC sitcom first appeared and it was to eventually change and destroy the boundaries of comedy forever. It offended many people and frightened more than a few others, whilst for millions it was the most electrifying show on television. This link takes you to an article that is really about Johnny Speight, the show's writer, and the series itself rather than about Una Stubbs (more info on Una is pending). 

~ Michael Kitchen ~

I have it on good authority from a fellow in New Zealand who knew Michael at the City of Leicester Boys School in the early sixties, that, in fact, he really is from Leicester. He also told me that Michael played the lead role in "Andocles and the Lion" at the Little Theatre in 1964 - presumably while still at school.  Now I finely have received proof: he was born on the 31st of October in 1948 in Leicester according to the Cine-rhama "Brit Talent Page" link -->[Link]. This well-known actor has been in such films as "The World is not Enough,"  and "Out of Africa," as well as in many TV programmes such as "Dalzeil and Pascoe," Inspector Morse" and the upcoming remake of "The Railway Children."  If anyone has more information on his connection with Leicester, please write and let me know.

~ Bill Maynard ~

Television and radio entertainer and actor, most well known for his role as Claude Greengrass in the television series Heartbeat." Born in Farnham, Hants, he moved to the Glen Parva area of Leicester and has lived there ever since (and he knew me Mum). He has now written his autobiography called Stand Up... and Be Counted.  More on the book at this site --> link [link]

~ Betty Driver ~

Betty has played the part of well-known Coronation Street character Betty Williams (formerly Betty Turpin) since 1969.  Betty was born in Leicester in 1920 and moved to Manchester when she was just two years old. She was pushed into a life on the boards by a star-struck mother and turned professional at the age of 11; at 14, she both landed her first film role and trod the London boards.  These days, Betty lives with her sister near Altrincham. 

~ David Neilson ~

Another Coronation Street actor from the Leicester area. David has played the part of Roy Cropper on the Street since 1995. He was born in Loughborough in 1949 and currently lives with his family in Bristol and commutes when filming. He has previously worked as a gas fitter, plumber, ice-cream salesman and barman. Since taking up drama, he has been a theatre director, tutor and writer. Apart from small roles in EastEnders and Heartbeat, he also appeared in Mike Leigh's Secrets and Lies, which won the 1996 Palme d'Or at Cannes.

~ Ian Bannen ~

Not the strongest of connections with Leicester; however, Ian Bannen did receive part of his education at Ratcliffe College in Leicester.  Ian was actually born in Airdrie, Scotland in 1928 and had some 38 movies to his credit. These include one of his more recent, the very successful "Waking Ned Divine." Other films of note that he appeared in were "Braveheart"(1995), "Hope and Glory" (1987), "Gandhi" (1982), "Eye of the Needle" (1981) and "Flight of the Phoenix" (1965). Quote: "You can use tricks onstage, but never onscreen. There's nowhere to hide from the camera." This venerable British actor died Nov. 3rd, 1999 after being involved in a car crash in Scotland.

~ John Hug ~

Actor and probably first remembered for his part playing Bill Fraser pilot of the Eagle in the 70s Sci-fi programme Space: 1999. Born in Leicestershire, Hug had the usual childhood fantasies of being an engine driver and even a doctor. After Space: 1999, Hug appeared in such TV series as Alias Smith and Jones, The Fourth Arm, Operation Julie and an episode of Tales of the Unexpected. Over the past several years, Hug has also done extensive theatre work, both in Britain and elsewhere in Europe.

~ Jeremy Bulloch ~

Born in Leicester, Jeremy left school at the age of 11 and it turned out to be one of the best things he ever did. Entering a drama college, he quickly succeeded as a child actor, appearing in films and television. At the age of 17, he did a film (Summer Holiday), with singer Cliff Richards. The film became a major success in England. Best known as Boba Fett from the Star Wars trilogy, Jeremy has also appeared in three of the James Bond films.

~ Stephen Frears ~

This well-known film maker and director was born in Leicester. He read law at Cambridge, but it was the stage which captured his interest. He joined London's Royal Court Theatre on a directorial apprenticeship, then entered the film industry to look, listen and learn as director's assistant. A long standing association followed with BBC TV Drama and over the next twelve years (71-83) he directed twenty-four of their most highly acclaimed productions. Some of his films include: "The Van" (97), "Mary Reilly" (96), "The Snapper" (93), " Hero" (92), "The Grifters" (90), "Dangerous Liasons" (88), "Prick Up Your Ears" (87), "My Beautiful Launderette" (86) and "The Hit" (82).

~ Maurice Dean Wint ~

Born in Leicestershire, Maurice's background is an interesting amalgam of the British and Jamaican experience. He emigrated to Canada with his family in 1967 after completing his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama at York University. He joined the Toronto theatre scene and has guest-starred on Robocop, Street Legal, E.N.G., and has had recurring roles in TekWar and PSI Factor.

~ Christopher Wren ~

Born in Leicester, Wren was the second of three sons of a professional photographer and entertainments manager and his wife, a semi-professional actor, Barbara Cayless. He was educated in Leicester and Skegness, where the family moved, and made his first appearance at the age of eight as Little Jake in Annie Get Your Gun at the Palace Theatre, Leicester, in 1955. His self-possession was noticed and, by 16, he had left school for parts in the chorus line and then, in 1975, at the Players' Theatre, under the arches at Charing Cross, in Geoffrey Brawn's musical, At The Sign Of The Angel. He played Cuthbert Cutter, a member of a group of all-male Elizabethan actors forced by the plague to leave London. It did not get a west end slot, but his looks, powerful baritone voice and versatility were noticed. On his 52nd birthday, Wren unexpectedly collapsed at the Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage, while rehearsing his production of another tribute to past greats, Noel And Gertie. An inoperable lymphoma in the brain was diagnosed and he spent his last days in a coma. He was unmarried. Christopher Wren (Christopher Johnston), actor, director, playwright, choreographer, producer, singer and dancer, born July 3 1947; died December 11 1999.

~ Roger Pratt ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Music & Ballet Community ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(Performing Artists, Musicians, Composers, Directors & Conductors)

Click on the name for additional information

~ Jon Lord ~

Keyboard player and founder member of the rock group Deep Purple. Born June 9, 1941, in Leicester, Jon Douglas Lord was a classically trained pianist who appeared to give up classical music entirely--much to the consternation of his father--when in 1960 he moved down to London to study drama. It was there that Lord began listening to jazz. "In about 1961 I heard Jimmy Smith playing 'Walk On The Wild Side,'" he says, "and from then on I was enraptured by the organ." Suitably inspired, he joined his first group, the Bill Ashton Combo, in 1963. He later became a member of the influential Art Wood Combo (aka The Artwoods). Wood, brother of future Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood. Lord also plied his trade behind the scenes as a session musician; his biggest claim to fame before Deep Purple was his piano work on The Kinks' 1964 #1 U.K. hit, "You Really Got Me."  This entry in Who's Who was suggested by expat Paul Norton of Austin, Texas.

~ John Illsley ~

Bass guitarist and vocal accompanist for the world-famous band "Dire Straits," songwriter and artist. John was born in Leicester in 1949; in 1977, he was a sociology graduate working in a record shop in London when he met the other co-founders of the group, the Knopfler brothers and drummer Pick Withers. The band enjoyed phenomenal success starting with the hit song in 1978 "The Sultans of Swing." John Illsley is also a solo artist and has released two or three albums including "Never Told  A Sole" (1984) and "Glass" (1988).

~ John Deacon ~

Bass guitarist for another world-famous band "Queen" and writer of 18 of the groups songs.  John was born in 1951, grew up in Oadby, and attended Beauchamp Grammar School, Leicester.  His interest in music began at an early age.  By seven, he had a red plastic "Tommy Steele" special.  John is probably the least known member of Queen.  He rarely does interviews, is never really in the news, and when on stage, gets on with playing the bass whilst the others are the showmen.

~ Dave Bartram ~

The lead singer of chart-topping 70s band, Showaddywaddy. Dave was the youngest member of the original band's line-up, and was born in Leicester in 1952. He was the singer on most of Showaddywaddy's singles and also on many of the album tracks. Nowadays, he is the lead singer of Showaddywaddy, but Al James and Danny sometimes take over the responsibility. Showaddywaddy were formed in 1973 in Leicester from two groups, The Choice and The Hammers. They both played at the Fosse Way pub in Leicester and after playing together in jamming sessions, they joined together permanently and Showaddywaddy was born.

~ Mark Morrison ~

Leicester-born (1972) pop singer with a number one hit sensation "Return of the Mack." He has unfortunately hit troubled times in recent years.  Pop star Mark Morrison became a sensation with his hit record "Return of the Mack," which was a number one.  For a picture of Mark Morrison and for more details on his stormy recent life, go to the Leicester Mercury's "Famous Faces" by following the link - left.

~ Roger Chapman ~

In the early sixties, there was a very popular group in Leicester called "The Farinas." The singer for that group was Roger Chapman and he, along with Charlie Whitney, Ric Grech (of future Blind Faith fame), Jim King and Rob Townsend, went on to form another group by the name of "Family." Later, this band moved to London and rapidly established themselves as darlings of the "Underground" circuit. They won a recording contract with the Liberty label in 1967 and, in the autumn of that same year released their first single 'Scene Thru The Eye Of A Lens'. Roger Chapman is best-known in Britain for his work with "Family" and the 70s R 'n' B band "Streetwalkers." In the pre-punk era, Roger was an enormous cult figure on the British rock scene, famed for his spectacular showmanship and soaring vibrato. Roger is still touring, now with his latest group - "The Shortlist."

~ Ric Grech ~

Yet another notable bass player from Leicester and also a former member of "The Farinas" (with Roger Chapman - see above). Richard Roman Grech, was born in 1945 in Bordeaux, France. He grew up in Leicester, and coming from a musically inclined family, he became an energetic student of the violin, playing in the Leicester youth orchestra during the late 1950's. A fine, multi-talented musician, Ric played bass guitar and violin during his career and was most noted for his involvement in Blind Faith along with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker. Improvising with violin, and experimenting with alternative forms of rock & roll with "Family," led Ric to the level of insight and expertise that was well-regarded by the elite of British rock musicians. Grech moved beyond Blind Faith, collaborating in "Ginger Baker's Airforce" in early 1970, then in the reincarnation of "Traffic" later that year. He also participated in numerous sessions including ones with George Harrison, the Muddy Waters London Sessions, Gram Parsons' efforts following the Flying Burrito Brothers and a short stint with The Crickets (reformed in 1973). Ric passed away March 1990 in Leicester due to a cerebral haemorrhage, followed by a combined kidney and liver failure.  

~ Charlie Whitney ~

Founding member and guitarist on every album for the sixties Leicester group Family. He was Born Richard John Whitney in 1944 in Skipton, North Yorkshire. The group Family existed from early 1967 until late 1973. During this period, this band from Leicester were festival staples, and covered a lot of musical ground, touching on 60's psychedelia; breezy acoustic passages; hard progressive rock; Jazz-flavorings; and in their final stages, a laid-back, "good-time" brand of rock and roll. All of this was anchored by the axis of Roger Chapman (aka Chappo) on vocals, and Charlie Whitney on guitars. Mr. Whitney can be called one of the most underrated guitarists of the era... being most proficient on twelve-string guitars, acoustic and electric. The double-necked Gibson SG EDS-1275 was his instrument of choice for some time. Family also included a couple of famous alumni, namely Ric Grech, who went on to Blind Faith; John Wetton, future star of King Crimson, UK, Asia and others; and Jim Cregan, who was a hit songwriter in Rod Stewart's band and is currently in the Farm Dogs with Bernie Taupin. Footnote: I have convinced myself that either Roger Chapman or Charlie Whitney was an apprentice with me at  English Electric in Whetstone in the early sixties. If anyone can confirm or deny this, please contact me.

~ Mark Stewart ~

Born in Leicester, Mark went to Australia in 1979 after working in London as a session drummer and playing live in "Slipstream" a popular London R&B band alongside his friend Phil Collins. Working for a production company in London, he gained experience in all aspects of the entertainment industry. He toured Scandinavia and the U.K. as drum manager for Herbie Hancock and was constantly doing session work and live gigs in England.

~ Richard Dyer-Bennet ~

Born in Leicester, October 6th, 1913; died in Monterey, Massachusetts, USA in 1991.  This British-born American tenor and guitarist helped to revive the popularity of folk music through his concert performances, recordings, compositions, and teaching. Though born in England, Dyer-Bennet grew up in Canada and California and attended the University of California at Berkeley (1932-35), where he studied English and music. (He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1935). 

~ David Stevens ~

Composer of television and radio programme music.  He credits his music career to his good fortune of growing up in Leicestershire, "a county that had an exceptional music education system." He played cornet and trumpet from an early age, later graduating to French Horn which he played in the Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra up to the age of 19.  While he was still at school he composed and recorded his first pieces for homemade electronics and tape.

~ Mary Ann Deacon ~

Mary Ann Deacon (1822-1903) was one of nineteenth-century Leicester's most active lady musicians. One of her many musical activities was as accompanist and deputy conductor of the Leicester Philharmonic. One of the Society members was later to recall that sometimes, when conducting practices, she would go among the singers trying to pick out those who were not singing or whose intonation was faulty, and, in an excess of enthusiastic zeal, drop her music book on the head of any offending chorister. This entry is courtesy of Max Wade-Matthews and is taken from his book "Musical Leicester." Click on the name above to visit his website and learn more about the book.

~ Jon Pickard ~

He is a self-employed International Development Consultant, in Washington, D.C. He was born in Leicester in 1944 and has been a U.S. resident since 1968. Jon studied organ under Dr. Rudge, the organist at Leicester Cathedral. His academic degrees are in Architecture, Civic Design and Urban Planning. Pickard. His first choral works were published in 1985 and he has since composed additional choral music, liturgical responsories, anthems, hymns and secular songs. He has written 5 full-length jazz musicals, is an active member of the Choral Arts Society of Washington and was a founding member of the Baltimore Oratorio Society.

~ Jill White ~

Director of Music. Jill is the National Youth Orchestra�s (NYO) fourth Director of Music. She was born in Leicester and studied singing at the Royal Academy of Music between 1960 and 1964 and the Akademie fur Musik und Darstellung Kunst between 1966 and 1968. Between 1968 and 1970 she performed Opera and taught music in Vienna. She joined the BBC in 1970 and became a senior Music Selector for the BBC Sound Archive in 1973. Between 1975 and 1986 she was a Music Producer at BBC Pebble Mill, and a Senior Producer for BBC South and West between 1986 and 1993. Between 1993 and 1994 she was Artistic Director of Bournemouth International Festival of the Arts. Jill became the NYO�s Director of Music in 1993.

~ Timothy Hone ~

He was born in Leicestershire in 1957. On leaving Cambridge (where he was Organ Scholar at Peterhouse) he was appointed Sub-Organist at Leeds Parish Church in 1980 and then to a similar position at Coventry Cathedral in 1982. During his time there he performed the complete organ works of J S Bach, appeared as soloist in a broadcast concert with the BBC Concert Orchestra and conducted the Chamber Orchestra (with players of the RPO) in Britten's War Requiem. He took up his present appointment as Organist and Master of the Music at Newcastle Cathedral in September 1987.

~ Richard Armstrong ~

Music Director of the Scottish Opera, a position held since 1993; established as a leading conductor both in the symphonic and operatic world. Born in Leicester, Richard attended Wyggeston Boy's School and later was an organ scholar at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and then joined the music staff of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. From 1983 to 1986 Richard was Music Director of the Welsh National Opera where his successes included taking the company to Covent Garden.

~ Joyce Wright ~

Although she was born in Leicester, Joyce Wright was brought up in Glasgow, where she was educated at Bearsden Academy, and received musical training from the age of eight. When she and her family returned to the Midlands she won several First Prizes at Midlands' Musical Festivals and sang in various choirs under the direction of Sir Malcolm Sargent. In 1947 she was persuaded to audition for the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and was immediately engaged as a chorister. She joined the company in June, and by September was already a small-part player. For fifteen years Joyce gave splendid service to the Company, and for eleven of those years she was a principal - the regular soubrette. During this time she compared most favourably with the best of her kind, and no one has surpassed her for charm and daintiness, while she had plenty of attack when necessary. She was a superb Mad Margaret in "Ruddigore" - especially with Fisher Morgan as partner - for above all she was an actress of high quality. Her many friends and admirers were all extremely sorry when it was decided that Joyce Wright would leave the Company at the end of the tour in July 1961. After leaving the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company she appeared in "The Yeomen of the Guard" at the Tower of London during the City of London Festival and did valuable work in producing for amateur companies up and down the country.

~ George Augustus L�hr ~

The first full-time professional church organist in Leicester was George Augustus L�hr. Born in Norwich in 1824, L�hr received his early music training, as a chorister, at Magdalen College, Oxford before attending the universities of Leipzig and Munich. Assistant to Dr Zachariah Buck of Norwich Cathedral, L�hr came to Leicester in 1845 to take up the appointment of organist at St Margaret�s Church, a post he held for forty years. By the beginning of 1846, from his home at 34 Granby Street, he was teaching music, with fees ranging from one guinea a quarter. A few months later, with an ever-increasing number of pupils, L�hr was giving piano and singing lessons from a room in John Shouler�s draper�s shop in Hotel Street. One of L�hr�s pupils was the daughter of Henry Martin Mills Hanford, the headmaster of the Alderman Newton School and choirmaster of St Mark�s. Miss Hanford, who married E. C. Elton, was organist of the church of St Nicholas, from 1868 to 1879, for which she received a salary of �20 a year.  This entry courtesy of Max Wade-Matthews and is taken from his book "Musical Leicester."

~ James Herbert Marshall ~

The first of many shops owned by James Herbert Marshall, a former Guardsman and commercial traveller for a firm of piano manufacturers, was built opposite the skating rink on the corner of Rutland Street and Humberstone Gate. The grand opening of "Marshall�s Midland Musical Depot" (the name board can still be seen over the windows) was celebrated by a grand concert and sale at which, it was said, no reasonable offer was refused. Marshall took old instruments in part exchange for new ones and such was the level of business that in the winter of 1884 he was forced to hold a clearance sale of second-hand pianos as well as opening a sheet music branch in Gallowtree Gate. He also manufactured pianos such as his "Students Model" (twenty guineas) and his "Acme" (thirty guineas). Always keeping up to date with new musical trends, in 1898 Marshall advertised an "Armour-clad" damp-proof piano at twenty-two guineas cash or fifteen shillings a month, while two years later he was selling, at three guineas, the recently invented gramophone. No doubt some of the buyers of these "recording and producing apparatus complete with trumpet and double hearing tubes" would have been members of the Leicester Phonographic Society which had been formed in 1892. President of the Music Trades Association of Great Britain, in 1900 Marshall expanded his business by opening premises in Regent Street, London.  This entry courtesy of Max Wade-Matthews and is taken from his book "Musical Leicester."

~ Sir Malcolm Sargent ~

(1895-1967) As a young man, he was organist at Melton Mowbray Parish Church and worked on many musical projects in Leicester, where he not only conducted but also produced many of the Gilbert & Sullivan operas for the amateur societies. In 1926, Rupert D'Oyly Carte was recommended to engage as musical director the brilliant young conductor whose name was fast becoming known to the musical public, and there began his long friendship with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. At the age of sixteen he became Keeton's assistant as organist at Peterborough Cathedral (until 1914). From 1914 to 1924 he was titular organist at Melton Mowbray Parish Church. During this period, he studied musicology at Durham, graduating in 1919. From 1919 to 1921 he studied piano with Benno Moiseiwitsch. Sir Henry Wood invited him to conduct his orchestra at Leicester and at the Promenade concerts at the Queen's Hall. He decided to devote himself exclusively to conducting from then on.

~ Andrew Carter ~

~ Christopher Bruce ~

Born in Leicester in 1945. Trained at Ballet Rambert school and joined the company in 1963 (when it was still a classical company). In 1966, Rambert reformed and Bruce emerged as one of its leading dancers. 1967 - first major modern role in Pierrot Lunaire. Bruce's reputation rests not only on his skill as a performer but also on his talent as a choreographer. His 1st work George Frideric (1969) was choreographed for Rambert when Bruce was just 24 yrs old. He was appointed Associate Choreographer in 1979, giving him freedom to work freelance. He relinquished this position in 1987. Since then he has become Associate choreographer for The English National Ballet and from 1988 Resident choreographer for Houston Ballet. He also worked with Nederlands Dans Theater, the Royal Danish Ballet and Cullberg Ballet. Most of Bruce's works are concerned with , more obviously, people - their feelings and behavior- and the injustices which are visited upon them by outside agencies. Several of his works have dealt with psychological themes or have focused on human relationships.

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Section 4: [Dissenters & Martyrs]  Section 5: [Acting Community]  Section 6: [Music Community]

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