Hidden People of : Politicians, Activists, Religious Leaders & Scholars

Activists & Campaigners Florence White (1886-1961) Robin Hood (unk) Campaigner. Florence and her sister Annie were two Barnsdale of many remarkable Bradford women who took a lead in social reform in the early twentieth century. Their Although classic tales about the legendary heroic campaigning forced a reduction in the pension age for outlaw centre around Sherwood Forest in Nottingham, women from 65 to 60. there are strong connections that tie Robin Hood and his Merry Men to the county of Yorkshire. It is perhaps impossible to pinpoint his whereabouts exactly but he Julia Varley has links with , Doncaster, Loxley (near Sheffield) (1871-1952) and Kirklees. Many places in the region carry evidence Bradford of the man or have been honoured with his name. Union Representative and Suffragette. Varley made her name as branch secretary of the Weavers and Guy ‘Guido’ Fawkes Textile Workers’ Union when she was just a teenage (1570-1606) mill worker. She went on to become the first woman York member of the Bradford Trades Council and the national organisation, TUC. Her role as a suffragette Explosives expert who learned his trade in the saw her imprisoned twice for militant protest and she Eighty Years’ War in Spain before returning to be a did huge amounts for women in the city as a Poor co-conspirator, and for many failed face, of the 1605 Law Guardian between 1904-7. ‘Gunpowder Plot, Whilst he was tried for high-treason and publically executed, more recent examinations of his beliefs have lead to a more sympathetic Benjamin Seehbohm Rowntree interpretation of the motivation behind the plot. (1871-1954) York

Joseph Priestley Sociological researcher, social reformer and (1733-1804) industrialist, son of Joseph Rowntree. His name Birstall became synonymous with the welfare of the poor after he conducted a number of studies in working Theologian, dissenting clergyman and campaigner, class communities to investigate the terrible natural philosopher, chemist, educator and political conditions suffered by many of Britain’s population. theorist who published over 150 works. Credited with He is credited with identifying the ‘poverty cycle’. His the discovery of Oxygen. work was taken very seriously and formed a major part of the so called Liberal Reforms (1906-11), which Ebineezer Elliot established the country’s first national pension, sick (1781-1849) benefit societies, job centres and school dinners/ Rotherham health checks for children. Poet, ‘the Corn Law Rhymer’, ‘the Yorkshire Burns’. Campaigner for social justice and improved workers Miriam Lord rights. He was passionate about tackling the (1885-1968) corruption of the landowners in the government who Bradford forcibly kept the price of bread high. His works were In 1921 Lord was the first Headteacher of Lilycroft aggressive and sarcastic and he quickly became Open Air Nursery School with an emphasis on outdoor popular amongst the people. Elliot’s role in the 19th play. The school aimed to meet social, medical and Century political movements was to give a voice to educational needs. At the time Bradford was the the working classes. He regularly spoke at public textile capital of the world but the wealth did not filter meetings and is famous for the line ‘what is a down to the poorest. It was these children that Miriam communist? ‘one who has yearnings/for equal division Lord set out to help. Visitors came from all over the of unequal earnings’. world to see the new nursery movement in action.

Hidden Schools Tour: Impressions Gallery Hidden People of Yorkshire: Politicians, Activists, Religious Leaders & Scholars

Dietrict Bonhoeffer John Wyclif (1906-1945) (1320-1384) Breslau, Prussia Impresswell German Pastor and theologian, dissident anti-Nazi and Philosopher, scholastic philosopher, theologian, lay founder of the Confessing Church. Whilst not born preacher, translator and reformer. Wyclif was an in Yorkshire he was forever connected to Bradford early advocate for the translation of the bible into after visiting a German church in the city in 1933 and a common language to help people understand signed the ‘Bradford Declaration’ condemming the it. Recognised as an early dissident in the Roman Nazi Party’s attacks on the church. He was eventually Catholic Church, he founded a movement known as executed in a concentration camp in 1945 and became Lollardism which is now seen as a precursor to the known as a martyr in the anti-racist cause. Protestant . As a result Wyclif earned the nickname ‘the morning star of the reformation’ as one of the first opponents to papal authority; he is an important figure as a result. Religious Leaders & Scholars John Alcock St. Alcuin of York (1430-1500) (733-804) York , , Architect. Regarded Renowned scholar, ecclesiastic, poet. Leading as a man of deep learning ‘one of the leading pre- scholar at the Carolingian Court at the invitation Reformation divines. Besides founding a charity at of Charlemagne. Reported to be one of the ‘most Beverley and a grammar school at Kingston upon learned men anywhere to be found’. Did much to Hull, he restored many churches and colleges; but support the development of education in the period. his greatest achievement was the building of Jesus College, Cambridge.

William of Newburgh (1136-1198) Bridlington (1469-1535) Beverley Monk, historian and scholar. Author of Historia Rerum Anglicarum regarded as the ‘finest historical work Catholic Cardinal and Bishop and theologian. Fisher extant by an Englishman of the 12th century’. was associated with leading intellectuals of the day and held a high status amongst the political elite. His work while important has been overshadowed by Richard Rolle his stance against Henry VIII when he supported the (1290-1349) Pope and opposed the Kings decision to break from Thornton-le-Dale the church. He was executed for his beliefs but later Religious scholar and writer, bible translator, mystic canonised as a saint and honoured as martyr who and hermit. His most famous work Incendium Amoris stood up for his county and his faith. (The Fire of Love) was widely read in the Middle Ages and described the ways in which people could live Miles Coverdale their lives in peace and become closer to God. (1488-1568) York John of Thoresby Distinguished Scholar and bible translator. His life’s (unknown – 1373) work included many important church documents Thoresby, Wensleydale but he is best remembered for producing the first Politician, Clergyman Archbishop of York, Lord complete printed translation of the Bible into English. Chancellor of who brought order and His translation of the Psalter is used in the Anglican discipline to the church and devoted himself to the Book of Common Prayer, and this translation of the care of the people in his county. psalms is used today by Anglicans all over the world.

Hidden Schools Tour: Impressions Gallery Hidden People of Yorkshire: Politicians, Activists, Religious Leaders & Scholars

Margaret Clitherow Britain’s industrial poor, particularly those of his home (1556-1568) county. His fight for the 10 hours bill and its ultimate York success led to him being remembered fondly as one of the regions most well respected sons. Saint/Martyr. Margaret was a the daughter of a wax-chandler and the wife of a butcher. In many respects she was a regular woman of her time, but Charles Joseph Semon her response to the persecution of Catholics following (1814-1877) Henry VIII’s dissolution of the Church caused her to Danzig/Bradford become an activist. She supported secret masses in Businessman and former Mayor. Semon came to her home and protected many Catholic Priests. Her England in the mid-19th century to set up business eventual capture and execution makes for incredibly and his efforts soon made him owner of the one of grim reading. Remembered as the ‘pearl of York’ she the most important textile export houses in the town. was made a saint after her death. He also gained a reputation for his effect on municipal affairs, charity work and education. He was Vice Richard Bentley President of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce and, (1662-1742) more significantly, the first Jewish Mayor of the city in Oulton 1864. Renowned classical scholar and author, Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. Best remembered as the William E. Forster founder of historical philology and founder of first (1818-1886) school of Hellenism in England. He was entirely self- Bradpole/Leeds taught and his work inspired a generation of scholars. Industrialist, Liberal MP and philanthropist. During his political career Forster stood for both Leeds and Bradford where he passionately campaigned for the people of his constituency. His most important Politicians work was in the field of education where successive smaller bills led to the eventual success of his William Wilberforce Elementary Education Act in 1870. This was a crucially (1759-1833) important step forward, ensuring basic education Hull was available for all. Although his reforms did not go Politician, philanthropist and leader of the Anti-Slavery far enough for some, his work nevertheless laid the Campaign. Driven by his Christian faith he campaigned foundation for future education in Britain and he has in parliament for 26 years to end the British slave since been honoured in Bradford with first a square trade. His victories came first with the passage of and then the railway station bearing his name. the Slave Trade Act 1807 which abolished the trade throughout the empire and later the Slavery Abolition Margaret McMillan Act 1833 which outlawed slavery in general. He is (1860-1931) lesser known for being a founder member of the USA RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) amongst other campaigns. Christian Socialist, campaigner. Born in New York her mother returned to Scotland after the death of Margaret’s father. Her claim to fame during most Richard Oastler of her lifetime was as a speaker, propagandist, and (1789-1861) journalist for the Independent Labour Party (ILP), Leeds which was formed in 1893. She was elected to Conservative MP, Labour reformer and anti-slave trade Bradford School Board with a mandate to fight ‘the campaigner. Oastler had a long career and contributed battle of the slum child’. Her life as a school meals to many campaigns, but he is best known as the pioneer and campaigner for health and hygiene for prominent leader in Factory reform and the anti-Poor children ensured she is recognised as a founding Law movement. This sought to transform the lives of member of the Nursery School movement.

Hidden Schools Tour: Impressions Gallery Hidden People of Yorkshire: Politicians, Activists, Religious Leaders & Scholars

Sir John Wolfenden Naveeda Ikram (1906-1985) (unk to date) Halifax Bradford Distinguished Journalist, author British spy and Politician. Naveeda Ikram serves the Bradford ward educationalist who had a long and varied career. of Little Horton but has also served as Lord Mayor in Arguably most famous for chairing the Wolfenden 2011. She was the first Muslim woman in the country Committee in 1957 which recommended the to do so. Her role as mayor did much to improve the decriminalisation of homosexuality. support for Marie Curie Cancer Care and Bradnet an charity supporting disability. Baroness Barbara Castle (1910-2002) Chesterfield/Pontefract Labour MP, 2nd longest serving female MP in the history of British government. Regarded as one of the most significant politicians of the 20th Century Castle held numerous roles in government including Secretary of State for Employment and Secretary of State for Social Affairs. Awarded numerous awards commending her work for outstanding contributions to European Democracy and ending South African apartheid.

George Robert ‘Bob’ Cryer (1934-1994) Bradford MP and Campaigner. Amongst Cryer’s many achievements during his time as an MP for Keighley and Bradford South was to popularise the fight for CND which sought to rid the world of nuclear weapons. He also campaigned for racial justice in the city. He was also a proud Yorkshireman and a founder member of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society.

Denis Healey (1917- to date) Keighley Labour MP, former Communist, pacifist. One of the most famous and well respected Labour MPs held numerous notable roles in government including Secretary of State for Defence, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Shadow Foreign Secretary and Deputy Leader. He was a Member of Parliament for over 40 years, from 1952 until his retirement in 1992. Renowned for his outspoken nature and humorous insight.

Hidden Schools Tour: Impressions Gallery