Beatrice Clayton Pepper (1882-1969) & Edith Clayton Pepper (1885-1978)
Beatrice and Edith Clayton Pepper were sisters who played an active part in the militant suffrage campaign and the activities of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU).
They were born in Chorlton-on-Medlock, but lived at 2 Primrose Avenue, Urmston, for most of their lives. Their father, Charles, was headmaster at St Michael’s Church of England School in Hulme from 1866 – 1907, this being the school that Beatrice and Edith attended.
After leaving school, they took occasional part time clerical jobs and helped run the family home, leaving them time to take an active part in the suffrage movement. Edith joined the Suffragette movement in 1906 on a voluntary basis after hearing Christabel Pankhurst speak at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester.
Both she and Beatrice gave much of their time and energy to promoting the cause throughout Lancashire. They acted as stewards at the Free Trade Hall meetings which were held every Friday. They also helped with processions, selling newspapers such as Votes for Women and The Suffragette, and they gave out handbills and chalked slogans on pavements and walls. They also performed Morris dances in Manchester to raise funds for the WSPU.
Between 1908 and 1911, Beatrice and Edith joined several deputations to London with the Manchester representatives of the WSPU and were arrested on charges of obstruction. On 18 November 1910, over 300 women marched to the Houses of Parliament as part of their campaign to secure voting rights for women and tried to enter the House of Commons.
The day became known as Black Friday due to the violence meted out by the police and crowds of hostile bystanders, on the WSPU protesters, over a period of six hours. Many were injured in Parliament Square and although orders were made not to make any arrests, Edith was one of a number of women arrested and bailed.
Beatrice and Edith attended another deputation in London in November 1911 and were amongst 220 women arrested and taken to Cannon Row Police Station. They appeared before the magistrate at Bow Street Police Court the following day.
They served seven days at Holloway prison for which they received the Holloway brooch. This badge, known as the ‘Victoria Cross of the Union’ was presented to women who had served prison sentences for militant suffrage activity.
Following London’s Black Friday, the militant Women’s Social and Political Union, led by Emmeline Pankhurst abandoned peaceful protest and the WSPU became more violent in their actions. In her biographical notes on the Clayton Pepper Family, Valerie Warrior, great niece of Edith and Beatrice, writes:
‘After their imprisonment in December 1911, there is no record of
Beatrice or Edith's participation in the London militancy of the WSPU...It is likely that the Pepper family, and even Beatrice and Edith themselves, had mixed feelings about the actions that had resulted in their imprisonment.’
Beatrice died at the family home in Primrose Avenue on 14 June 1969 at the age of 87. She is buried in the family grave at Southern
Cemetery, Chorlton-cum-Hardy.
In 1970, Edith was one of a number of surviving suffragettes, who
attended the unveiling of the Suffragette Memorial in London. The outdoor sculpture commemorates those who fought for women’s suffrage in the United Kingdom and was commissioned by the Suffragette Fellowship.
Edith was living at Primrose Avenue when she died aged 93 on 19 March 1978. She is buried at Southern Cemetery.
Blue Plaque awarded by Trafford Council 2 July 2023
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Aldwyn Roberts (Lord Kitchener) 1922-2000
‘Grandmaster’ of Calypso music
Lord Kitchener (real name Aldwyn Roberts) is widely known as the “Grandmaster” of calypso music, Trinidad’s native musical style. Also known by the names “Kitch” and the “Road King”, Lord Kitchener achieved international success and legendary status throughout his long career. He arrived in England on HMT Empire Windrush on 21st June 1948.
Born 18th April 1922 in Arima, Trinidad, Aldwyn Roberts was one of six children, to blacksmith Stephen Roberts and his wife Albertha. After the death of both his parents in 1936, Aldwyn left Arima Government Boys’ School to take up his first job singing and playing guitar. It was fellow calypsonian ‘Growling Tiger’ who gave him the name ‘Lord Kitchener’, in tribute to Horatio Kitchener, a British hero from the Boer War, whose memory was revered by the population of Trinidad.
The arrival of the Empire Windrush at Tilbury docks, London, has become symbolic of the generation of Commonwealth citizens, who came to live in Britain between 1948 and 1971. Upon arriving, Lord Kitchener introduced himself to British audiences by singing ‘London Is the Place for Me’ which was captured on newsreel footage. Staying in Britain for 14 years, Lord Kitchener was responsible for the growth of Trinidadian music’s popularity and he recorded for the Parlophone, Melodisc and Lyragon labels. His records were exported in large quantities back to the Caribbean, where he remained extremely popular. Lord Kitchener depicted the Caribbean experience in Britain with calypsos like ‘The Cold In Winter’, ‘If You Brown’, ‘My Landlady’ and ‘London Is the Place for Me’.
Lord Kitchener’s records introduced white audiences to
aspects of Caribbean culture that were growing in England, proving popular amongst young audiences, including Queen Elizabeth’s sister, Princess Margaret, who saw Lord Kitchener perform and is said to have bought a hundred copies of one of his recordings, to give to her friends.
On 14th May 1953, Lord Kitchener married Elsie Lines (Marjorie). He moved to Manchester, briefly owning a night club, whilst continuing to record songs. He experienced more success with his mid to late 1950s songs, which combined the calypso taste for reportage, with the celebration of sporting heroes. He was so pleased by Manchester United winning the League title and Manchester City’s FA cup triumph of 1956, that he wrote a calypso called ‘The Manchester Football Double’.
Lord Kitchener lived at various addresses in Manchester and
Trafford, including 48, Brooks Road (1957-1962).
He returned to Port of Spain, Trinidad, in 1962. He lived there for the rest of his life, returning briefly to England two years later. He performed at the Manchester Carnival in 1962 and was part of the milieu which gave birth to the Notting Hill carnival, in the late 1960s.
Lord Kitchener was a dominant force in the annual Road March competition in Trinidad and Tobago, taking the title of Road March King on ten occasions between 1963 and 1976. His considerable contribution to Caribbean culture was commemorated with statues in Arima and at Roxy Roundabout, Port of Spain. Lord Kitchener died on 11th February 2000, having achieved international acclaim and legendary status.
Blue Plaque was officially unveiled to the people of Trafford at 48 Brooks Road, Stretford M16 9QR.
Blue Plaque awarded by Trafford Council with contribution from Nubian Jak Community Trust, unveiled on Wednesday 21 June 2023.
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<p>Edward Colquhoun Charlton, V.C. (1920-1945)</p>
<p>Edward Colquhoun Charlton was born on 15 June 1920 in Gateshead, County Durham. Edward moved to Stretford aged 5 attending St Hilda’s Church of England Primary School and Old Trafford Secondary Boy’s School.<br /><br />Edward enlisted in the Irish Guards, completing his training at Caterham Depot, Surrey. He was called up to the 2nd Battalion Irish Guards on 19 September 1940. Known as both “Eddie” and “Ed”, he was popular with his fellow Guardsmen. In 1942 he joined the 2nd (Armoured) Battalion, Irish Guards and shortly after D Day (6 June 1944) he was sent to the Guards Armoured Division 1st Squadron as a Tank Co-Driver. <br /><br />On 21 April 1945, he was co-driver of a tank which, with a platoon of infantry, seized the village of Wistedt, Germany. When attacked by the enemy Edward, on his own initiative, decided to counter attack, advancing in full view of the enemy and inflicting heavy casualties. Despite having been wounded several times in his arm Edward mounted his gun on a fence and continued firing until finally collapsing from his injuries. <br /><br />Edward was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) <br />posthumously, which was received by his family at Buckingham Palace. Edward’s remains were exhumed from their original burial place and finally laid to rest with military honours at Becklingen British War Cemetery at Soltau, Germany in February 1947.<br /><br /><strong> Extract from Military Honours and Awards citation card dated 2 May 1946.</strong><br /><br /><em>"The heroism and determination of this Guardsman in his self-imposed task were beyond all praise. Even his German captors were amazed at his valour. Guardsman Charlton’s courageous and self sacrificing action not only inflicted extremely heavy casualties on the enemy and retrieved his comrades from a desperate situation, but also enabled the position to be speedily recaptured.”<br /><br /><br /></em>Blue Plaque was officially unveiled to the people of Trafford on 21 April 2023 at 12 Basford Road, Stretford M16 OGE.</p>
Trafford Local Studies Centre
Bottoms Footpath
The stopping up of Bottoms Footpath by Squire Ralph Wright resulted in court action instituted by the people of Flixton. The court case provided the catalyst for the formation of the Manchester Association for the Preservation of Ancient Footpaths.
The footpath ran from Flixton Church and connected with other subsidiary paths to Shawe Hall. A Blue Plaque was originally erected at Flixton Station in 1992 but was destroyed when the building caught fire later that decade.
In the early 1820s, Squire Wright first obtained orders to block up or divert paths that ran across his land. Before the orders had been confirmed by the courts he blocked up the paths, angering Flixton residents.
In 1824, Squire Wright obtained another order. An appeal was mounted by Flixton villagers, but then abandoned. A third order was then obtained.
On 15 November 1826, a meeting was held establishing the Manchester Society for the Preservation of Ancient Footpaths, to oppose the actions of Squire Wright and other similar actions. This was one of the earliest societies of its kind. On 14 June 1827, Flixton inhabitants and members of the Manchester Society marched along Bottoms Footpath, cutting down fences that had been erected to purposefully obstruct.
On 14 September 1827, four orders to stop up paths were again put forward by Squire Wright and signed by magistrates. Flixton residents again appealed against the orders. The case was tried at the Salford Quarter Sessions from 29-31 October. Dozens of witnesses were called to attest to the necessity of the Bottoms Footpath, especially during floods. On 31 October 1827, three of the four orders were quashed, marking a victory for the inhabitants of Flixton and the Association for the Preservation of Ancient Footpaths.
The court case received national attention and was a watershed moment in the history of rights of way.
Blue Plaque awarded by Trafford Council unveiled on Monday 15 November 2021
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William (Bill) Speakman, V.C. (1927–2018)
<p>William ‘Bill’ Speakman was born on 21st September 1927 at 17 Moss Lane, Altrincham. He attended Oakfield Road School, Altrincham and Wellington Road Secondary School, Timperley. Bill left school at the age of 14. He joined the 1st Cadet Battalion (Altrincham and Hale) Cheshire Regiment as a drummer boy. In 1945, Bill joined the army and was part of the General Service Corps until the age of 18. After basic training, he joined the 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) and was transferred to the 10th Battalion in January 1946. During this time, Bill also served with the Gordon Highlanders and the London Scottish Regiment. </p>
<p>When the Korean War began in June 1950, Bill volunteered to transfer to Korea. He was attached to the 1st Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers and left England in May 1951. It was in defence of ‘United’ Hilltop, one of the strategic hills on the Jamestown Line, that Bill showed extraordinary gallantry in the face of the enemy. On the morning of 4th November 1951, there was heavy bombardment by Chinese troops and the 1st KOSB were vastly outnumbered and under artillery fire. Enemy shelling continued into the afternoon and there were many KOSB fatalities as Chinese troops continued to advance. The situation was becoming desperate.</p>
<p> Part of the citation in the London Gazette of the 27th February 1952 reads:</p>
<p> ‘<em>Private Speakman decided on his own initiative to drive the enemy off the position and keep them off it. To effect this he collected quickly a large pile of grenades and a party of six men. Then displaying complete disregard for his own personal safety he led his party in a series of grenade charges against the enemy and continued doing so as each successive wave of enemy reached the crest of the hill. The force and determination of his charges broke up each successive enemy onslaught and resulted in an ever mounting pile of enemy dead. Private Speakman’s heroism under intense fire throughout the operation and when painfully wounded, was beyond praise and is deserving of supreme recognition’</em></p>
<p>Bill returned to Altrincham a hero and on 27th February 1952, Queen Elizabeth II awarded him the Victoria Cross, the first investiture of her reign.</p>
<p>Bill continued to serve in the army until 1968. He died on 20th June 2018 at the Royal Hospital Chelsea and in accordance with his wishes, was laid to rest alongside his fallen comrades at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Busan, South Korea.</p>
<p>Bill died on 20th June 2018 at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.</p>
<p><br />Blue Plaque was unveiled to the people of Trafford on 20th June 2019.</p>
Trafford Local Studies Centre
James Neville Marshall, V.C. (1887–1918)
Born on 12th June 1887, at 2 Crosby Place, Steven Street, Stretford, James Neville Marshall was an acting Lieutenant Colonel attached to the Lancashire Fusiliers. On 4th November 1918, while commanding the 16th Battalion at the Battle of the Sambre, a partially-constructed bridge over the Sambre-Oise Canal came under concentrated fire by enemy forces and was broken before his advancing troops could cross. At once, James organised repair parties and, under intense fire, stood on the bank encouraging his men and assisting in the work. When the bridge was repaired, James attempted to cross at the head of his battalion and was killed. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery in February 1919.
A blue plaque commemorating his life and bravery was erected at the Stretford Public Hall on 4th November 2018.
Trafford Local Studies Centre
Maria Margaret Netherwood (1881–1956)
Awarded the British Red Cross Society and Order of St John 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, QAIMNS (Reserve) British War Medal and Victory Medal
Maria Margaret Netherwood, who chose to be known as Margaret throughout her life, was born in the city of Sheffield on 22nd March 1881, the daughter of Joseph Walshaw Netherwood and Eliza (neé Fenner). Sometime between 1891 and 1901, the Netherwood family moved to 6 Ashfield Road, Altrincham, and Margaret became a well-known member of St. Margaret's Church Institute (also in Altrincham).
In 1905, after training as a nurse at the Borough Hospital in Birkenhead, Margaret stayed on to serve for three years as staff nurse. Upon her departure from the Borough Hospital, in 1908, Margaret took up the post of charge nurse at Ilkeston Accident Hospital; later moving to Broadstairs, in Kent, to work in the General Institution.
When war broke out on 4th August 1914, Margaret became one of a party of only eight nurses who travelled with the Duchess of Sutherland to take charge of a hospital in Namur. The nurses spent six weeks on the front caring for injured soldiers before being captured by the Germans as prisoners of war. After four days they were released, on the condition that they would not return.
Following her release from German custody, Margaret defied these orders and returned to Belgium, to continue her work as a nurse. She is referred to by name in a number of official wartime documents, some of which throw light on her lively personality.
On 10th November 1917, Margaret married Canadian-born William Daniel Wesley Mills, at St. Clement’s Church, Chorlton cum Hardy.
After the war, Margaret left the United Kingdom: moving first to Canada, then to the United States of America, where she settled permanently. Margaret died on 7th November 1956.
Throughout her distinguished career as nurse in the First World War, Margaret kept a diary of her experiences. The Margaret Netherwood Mills Papers 1914–1918 were deposited with the Hoover Institution Archives, Stanford University, California, in 1961.
A Blue Plaque commemorating the remarkable achievements of Margaret Netherwood was awarded by the Trafford Council and The Royal College of Nursing on 5th October 2018.
Trafford Local Studies Centre
Trafford General Hospital
On 5 July 1948, the Health Secretary, Aneurin Bevan, launched the National Health Service (NHS) at Trafford General Hospital (formerly known as Park Hospital). In 2018 a blue plaque was unveiled for the 70th anniversary of this event, and can be seen at the entrance of the hospital.
Trafford Local Studies Centre
Tom Curry (1894–1958)
Born in South Shields, County Durham, Tom Curry was a trainer for the Manchester United Football Club. He was one of three members of staff who lost their lives in the 1958 Munich Air Disaster.
A blue plaque was erected for Tom Curry on 4th February 2018, at Bedford Road, Firswood, Stretford.
Trafford Local Studies Centre
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Sergeant Charles Harry Coverdale V.C., M.M. (1888–1955)
Born at 12 Albert Terrace, Old Trafford, Stretford, Sergeant Charles Harry Cloverdale was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery in the First World War (1914–1918). He was also awarded the Military Medal for his actions during the war. By the time of his death, in 1955, Sergeant Charles Harry Coverdale had also been awarded the 1914–15 Star, British War Medal 1914–20, Defence Medal 1939–45, George VI Coronation Medal 1937, and the Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953.
A blue plaque commemorating his life and achievements was installed at the Limelight Building, Shewsbury Street, Old Trafford, on 4th October 2017.
Trafford Local Studies Centre
This image may be subject to copyright law, in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Under the terms of 'fair dealing' it may be used for non-commercial research and private study. The person using the image is responsible for any infringement.