A Guide to the County of Leicestershire, Naturally
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the East Midlands, you could almost call this ‘the county of firsts’. It’s the birthplace of the English language, the birthplace of Sir David Attenborough, the birthplace of the vegan movement, and even the birthplace of the motor car.
Although today Leicester city residents often have roots outside England, 2000 years ago this was the beginning of the English language (the town of Ashby-de-la-Zouche may sound French, but it’s Saxon English). Scholars say the name is kind of half Old English and old Viking (due to Danish settlers) for ‘ash tree settlement’.
If out walking, follow the Countryside Code to keep all creatures safe.
Where Sir David Attenborough Grew Up
There are not many people more popular in England than Sir David Attenborough. Now in his 90s, this trained zoologist (he grew up on the campus of Leicester University where his father worked) is almost entirely responsible for all websites and companies having a ‘sustainability statement’.
His TV documentaries caused such shock about the state of our planet and oceans, that he almost single-handedly started the plastic-free movement, including the recent banning of the sale of plastic straws in the UK.
Birthplace of the Founder of the Vegan Movement
Born in Yorkshire (the son of a headmaster in a mining community), Donald Watson moved to Leicester and became a teacher. He became vegetarian at 14, after witnessing a pig being slaughtered on a relative’s farm.
His sister and brother soon followed suit, his mother remarking she felt ‘like a hen who had hatched a clutch of duck eggs!’ He later went on to found England’s vegan movement.
Also a pacifist, he was a conscientious objector during World War II, and he and his wife founded the society (with others) after being told that they would not be able to survive on plants!
He also practiced no-dig gardening (to avoid killing earthworms) when everyone else was still using spades and forks, to grow vegetables.
Showaddywaddy: The Rock n Roll Band from Leicester!
70s group Showaddywaddy are from the very un rock-n-roll city of Leicester! Unusually, this band had ‘two of everything’ – singers, bassists, drummers and guitarists). First finding fame on the TV show New Faces, they were know for their hits including ‘You Got What It Takes’.
They still perform at clubs around England (under a mostly different line-up, as Dave Bartram left the band after 38 years). Though they likely don’t dance as fast! He remains the band manager.
Recently, Romeo Challenger (the Antiguan drummer you may remember would sing ‘Come on little darling, take my hand’ from his drumkit in the hit song Under the Moon of Love, recently donated money to a Salvation Army shop, after it found and returned stolen merchandise from the band.
He said later the shop staff’s honesty meant that ‘it was only right for us to give the proceeds back’. The charity shop owner thanked him for using the find, to help local homeless people.
Another Famous Singer from Leicestershire
Engelbert Humperdinck was also from these parts. His exotic looks may suggest Indian heritage, but his name was made up, created by his manager to make him sound more exotic. His real name is Arnold!
