'Pies & Prejudice'

Richard A Thackeray · Sun 15 Nov, 2009 11:04 pm

I've been re-reading Stuart Maconies wonderful book about the 'North Of England'I've got to say, I like the bloke immensely as a radio presenter, especially in conjunction with Mark Radcliffe (I do miss his Saturday afternoon Radio2 show lots though!)Whilst he generally appears to like Leeds (despite him being born/growing-up in Wigan), he forgot to check a few facts, or didn't read his own notebooks before letting it go to print.Apparantly;We are to the west of Bradford (by 10 miles)We have a (round) Corn Market (ie; Exchange)The Market Hall is mainly constructed from green timber.Tetleys Bitter is brewed in DoncasterHe loves the Victoria Quarter & the Town Hall thoughAlso; Goathland has a 'charming narrow-guage railway'Charlie Williams (the sadly missed, deceased) comedian is from BradfordCould all this be a fiendish Lancastrian plot?Anyway, if you haven't done so yet, I heartily recommend begging, buying, or borrowing it.http://www.stuartmaconie.com/pies.htmlh ... e-show/Its follow-up 'Adventures On The High Teas' is also a damned good read, but is about 'Middle England'

Si · Post by Si » Mon 16 Nov, 2009 8:44 am

Yes, I read it a while ago. Doesn't he support LUFC?Andrew Collins (another radio presenter) who wrote "Where Did It All Go Right?" about his childhood in Northampton also supports Leeds, because someone bought him a LUFC tea mug when he was little.

Reginal Perrin · Post by **Reginal Perrin** » Mon 16 Nov, 2009 10:55 am

RichT wrote: I've been re-reading Stuart Maconies wonderful book about the 'North Of England'I've got to say, I like the bloke immensely as a radio presenter, especially in conjunction with Mark Radcliffe (I do miss his Saturday afternoon Radio2 show lots though!)Whilst he generally appears to like Leeds (despite him being born/growing-up in Wigan), he forgot to check a few facts, or didn't read his own notebooks before letting it go to print.Apparantly;We are to the west of Bradford (by 10 miles)We have a (round) Corn Market (ie; Exchange)The Market Hall is mainly constructed from green timber.Tetleys Bitter is brewed in DoncasterHe loves the Victoria Quarter & the Town Hall thoughAlso; Goathland has a 'charming narrow-guage railway'Charlie Williams (the sadly missed, deceased) comedian is from BradfordCould all this be a fiendish Lancastrian plot?Anyway, if you haven't done so yet, I heartily recommend begging, buying, or borrowing it.http://www.stuartmaconie.com/pies.htmlh ... e-show/Its follow-up 'Adventures On The High Teas' is also a damned good read, but is about 'Middle England' It is good, littered with mistakes and has not been proof read very well though. For a much better written love letter ot he Noth read Simon Armitage's All Point North. I will read Maconie's other stuff though and then onto Andrew Collins.

Si · Post by Si » Mon 16 Nov, 2009 11:18 am

Simon Armitage also wrote and narrated an excellent documentary film about Leeds called Saturday Night in about 1995? I think, amongst others, it featured Mike of "the famous" Mike's Carpets ("as seen on TV") in Armley, and his failed attempts to become a pop star. PS Reg - there's very little (nothing!) about Leeds in Andrew Collins' book, but it is a nostalgic view of growing up in middle-class Northampton suburbia. I think there's a follow-up about being a Smiths-obsessed student living in London. Isn't he mates with Maconie and Radcliffe?

Reginal Perrin · Post by **Reginal Perrin** » Mon 16 Nov, 2009 12:31 pm

Si wrote: Simon Armitage also wrote and narrated an excellent documentary film about Leeds called Saturday Night in about 1995? I think, amongst others, it featured Mike of "the famous" Mike's Carpets ("as seen on TV") in Armley, and his failed attempts to become a pop star. PS Reg - there's very little (nothing!) about Leeds in Andrew Collins' book, but it is a nostalgic view of growing up in middle-class Northampton suburbia. I think there's a follow-up about being a Smiths-obsessed student living in London. Isn't he mates with Maconie and Radcliffe? Si, I was just mentally lining up my Amazon purchases and wasn't suggesting Collins' book was about or mentioned Leeds. Just that I think the style is something i might like. I used to read these guys in the NME in the late 80's and they are of a similar age to me.I really like Simon Armitage's stuff though, it's like he's wrestled with every word, how it scans and the rythm of the sentence. I've read all Bill Bryson's travel books and really like the genre. How he sees places, Maconie's is in similar style i think but also examines long held prejudices but with a fondness which comes accfross.I used to be a big biography fan but some have been really disappointing (Botham, Becker, Batty)

Si · Post by Si » Mon 16 Nov, 2009 1:01 pm

Reginal Perrin wrote: Si wrote: Simon Armitage also wrote and narrated an excellent documentary film about Leeds called Saturday Night in about 1995? I think, amongst others, it featured Mike of "the famous" Mike's Carpets ("as seen on TV") in Armley, and his failed attempts to become a pop star. PS Reg - there's very little (nothing!) about Leeds in Andrew Collins' book, but it is a nostalgic view of growing up in middle-class Northampton suburbia. I think there's a follow-up about being a Smiths-obsessed student living in London. Isn't he mates with Maconie and Radcliffe? Si, I was just mentally lining up my Amazon purchases and wasn't suggesting Collins' book was about or mentioned Leeds. Just that I think the style is something i might like. I used to read these guys in the NME in the late 80's and they are of a similar age to me.I really like Simon Armitage's stuff though, it's like he's wrestled with every word, how it scans and the rythm of the sentence. I've read all Bill Bryson's travel books and really like the genre. How he sees places, Maconie's is in similar style i think but also examines long held prejudices but with a fondness which comes accfross.I used to be a big biography fan but some have been really disappointing (Botham, Becker, Batty) I think you will like it, Reg. It's in a similar style. I'm a little older but was also a reader of the NME. I also like Bryson's books. Even his more "academic" books (Mother Tongue, Troublesome Words, etc) are amusing as well as informative.

leedslily · Post by **leedslily** » Mon 16 Nov, 2009 1:37 pm

Simon Armitage's 'Gig' is also really good for anyone who's into music - he's about the same age as me and, although our musical tastes aren't exactly the same, a lot of what he writes about listening to music and going to see bands from the late 70s onwards sounded very familiar.

Reginal Perrin · Post by **Reginal Perrin** » Mon 16 Nov, 2009 4:51 pm

Si wrote: Reginal Perrin wrote: Si wrote: Simon Armitage also wrote and narrated an excellent documentary film about Leeds called Saturday Night in about 1995? I think, amongst others, it featured Mike of "the famous" Mike's Carpets ("as seen on TV") in Armley, and his failed attempts to become a pop star. PS Reg - there's very little (nothing!) about Leeds in Andrew Collins' book, but it is a nostalgic view of growing up in middle-class Northampton suburbia. I think there's a follow-up about being a Smiths-obsessed student living in London. Isn't he mates with Maconie and Radcliffe? Si, I was just mentally lining up my Amazon purchases and wasn't suggesting Collins' book was about or mentioned Leeds. Just that I think the style is something i might like. I used to read these guys in the NME in the late 80's and they are of a similar age to me.I really like Simon Armitage's stuff though, it's like he's wrestled with every word, how it scans and the rythm of the sentence. I've read all Bill Bryson's travel books and really like the genre. How he sees places, Maconie's is in similar style i think but also examines long held prejudices but with a fondness which comes accfross.I used to be a big biography fan but some have been really disappointing (Botham, Becker, Batty) I think you will like it, Reg. It's in a similar style. I'm a little older but was also a reader of the NME. I also like Bryson's books. Even his more "academic" books (Mother Tongue, Troublesome Words, etc) are amusing as well as informative. Yeah, I like it when Bryson tears strips off ignorant Brits when they accuse Americans of not speaking English properly. He doesn't apologise for being smart and there isn't enough of that these days. Smart is good, gormless is bad.Possibly his best ever line is about peas and the eating of them. Basically, if you remember, he sits anxiously in restaurants almost bursting to tell us Brits that there is an easier way to eat peas than pressing them intot he downturned prongs of the fork.

Si · Post by Si » Tue 17 Nov, 2009 9:27 am

...or that it's pointless asking for directions in an English pub, as it becomes a general discussion as to the best route, from which you are excluded!

Richard A Thackeray · Tue 17 Nov, 2009 11:04 am

Si wrote: ...or that it's pointless asking for directions in an English pub, as it becomes a general discussion as to the best route, from which you are excluded! As wonderfully described by Bryson in 'Notes From A Small Island'