| Stephen Butt Writer, researcher, historian and photographer 07982 845112 info@stephenbutt.co.uk |
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| Stephen Butt Writer, researcher, historian and photographer 07982 845112 info@stephenbutt.co.uk |
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| Commemorative plaques |
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| This
page provides brief details of four very different commemorative plaques with which I have been associated over the past few years. |
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William.T.Stead
was a pioneering reformer who was the first editor to use the power of
print journalism to further social justice.
This plaque was erected on the house where he lived for some years in Smith Square, city of Westminster. He chose this residence because of its proximity to the Palace of Westminster, enabling Stead to lobby Members of Parliament on a daily basis. Stead was a non-conformist. Born in the north-east, his first editorship was with the Northern Echo. He drowned with the sinking of The Titanic in 1912. Further information relating to W.T.Stead here |
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| Erected on 28 June 2004 by the W.T.Stead Society at 5 Smith Square, London. | ||
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Robert
James Lees was an author, philanthropist, campaigner for social
justice and spiritualist. He was born in Hinckley in 1849 and died in Leicester in 1931.
A controversial figure, his followers claimed that he assisted the Metropolitan Police in apprehending the Whitechapel murderer, Jack the Ripper, in 1888, and that he served Queen Victoria as a spiritual friend after the death of Prince Albert. On a practical level, Lees founded and managed a far-sighted community project in London, known as the Peoples League, which gave practical support and skills to many hundreds of very poor families. Further information relating to this plaque here and on Lee's life here |
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| Erected on 2 May 2009 by the Hinckley Civic Society at Bond Street, Hinckley, the birthplace of Robert James Lees | ||
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Joseph
Carey Merrick is more popularly known as the 'Elephant Man'.
An intelligent, gracious and well-read man, he was born in Lee Street, Leicester in 1862,
but in his childhood years developed severe
physical abnormalities which led ultimately to an inability to earn a
living and being rejected brutally by his father. His sad life was brought
to a wide public through the film starring John Hurt.
This plaque was paid for by the friends of Joseph Carey Merrick who campaign to publicise the work of those who support people with Proteus Syndrome. It was originally erected on the former Hippodrome Theatre in Leicester (in 2004) but following the demolition of the building (in 2009) it has been presented to Moat Community College which stands on the site of the Workhouse where Merrick lived for some time. Further information relating to this plaque here and on Merrick's life here |
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| Originally erected on wall of the Hippodrome Theatre, Wharf Street Leicester | ||
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Sir
Harold Ridley was a pioneering
eye surgeon who was born on 10 July 1906 in Kibworth Harcourt in
Leicestershire.
He achieved the first-ever implant of an intraocular lens in an operation at St Thomas Hospital in 1949. He went on to develop comprehensive programmes for cataract surgery with intraocular implants and pioneered this treatment in the face of prolonged strong opposition from the medical community. His pioneering work changed the way over 200 million people would see. A plaque commemorating his work will be unveiled at his birthplace, 70 Leicester Road, Kibworth Harcourt, on Saturday 18 February 2012. Further information relating to Sir Harold Ridley and this plaque here |
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| Pre-manufacture design for plaque to commemorate Sir Harold Ridley | ||
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| Website design and content including images © Stephen Butt 2011 | ||
