Salford's Famous Men
Literature & The Arts
Roy Bullock
..... author of several local history publications of Salford. Born
In Jones Terrace, Salford
Neil Drum
..... co-author of 1st Salford Pals, an account of the 15th (Service)
Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. His book tells the story of the men
of the 'First Salford's' from their beginning to their virtual destruction on
1st July 1916. So many men lost their lives that day that it became almost
impossible to replace them from the Salford area. They were given the name of
the 'Salford Pals' because they worked and played together in their civilian
lives and many of the earlier volunteers came from the Ordsall district of
Salford. Other battalions were later formed but I don't think the losses
were as high as on that first day. The following is a poem taken from the book
which was written by Pte J Downie and Pte L Allcock .......
You asked me to tell you a story - A story I'll never forget - 'Twas at a
place called Thiepval - Where the Salford's and Prussian's met - We were told by
our good old Colonel - That the little job had to come - and he said ' behave
like soldiers - For duty must be done' - So we laughed and sang as we marched
away - Little knowing that many would fall next day - Now when this war is over
- Though many may be lame - Don't forget the lads that met their doom - And
earned a glorious name. Neil Drum is now a serving
officer in the Cheshire Constabulary
Harry Flint ..... born in
Pendleton, he became one of the best known journalists in the North of
England and was the first president of the National Association of
Journalists. In 1913 he was elected an honorary Fellow of the Institute of
Journalists
Walter Greenwood
..... born December 17th 1903 died 1974 ..... born at 56 Ellor Street of a poor family. He became a writer
whose book Love on the Dole in 1933 made him famous and led to political
enquiries into the conditions of the poor and to several reforms. The book
was turned into a play and then in 1941, a film. At one time he was Labour
member for the St Matthias Ward in Salford. Although his other novels were
not as successful as his first many were turned into plays. In 1971 he
became the FIRST honorary Doctor of Letters at Salford University and he
gave many of his manuscripts to the establishment
David
Hessayon - Dr
..... world-renowned gardening author who was born in Broughton. He
went to Salford Grammar School, studied botany and chemistry at Leeds
University and obtained a PhD in soil science at Manchester University. His
first book in 1959 was Be Your Own Gardening Expert and the Guinness Book of
Records now lists him as the biggest-selling non-fiction author in history
Tony Husband
..... award winning artist who is the FIRST cartoonist in residence
at The Lowry, Salford Quays, where his drawings will be displayed on 100
toilet doors - 2006
Ken Hussey .....
racing tipster who wrote under the pen-name of "Split Second" in the
Sporting Chronicle and in the paper's Handicap book
Jack
Jackson ..... began writing in
1932 at the age of ten and over the years collected various memorabilia
including letters, postcards and photographs. He started to put his memories
into writing and the result was The Coke Yard Run, an account of life on the
streets of Salford from 1922 until he joined the Army in 1941.
Geoffrey
Key .....
artist
Jim
King ..... ex-Mayor of Salford who wrote
the FIRST book about a mayoral year when his My Year In Chains- A Year in
the Life of a Mayor of Salford was published in 2004
Harold
Riley .....
artist
Robert
Roberts ..... died in 1974 aged 69
years. He was the author of the book The Classic Slum which described life
in Salford in the early 20th Century. He was an expert on teaching adult
literacy and his book, based on his teachings at Strangeways Prison, became
a standard work. Salford University gave him an honorary MA to mark his
achievements