Local bigwigs

[String o' beads]

Not talking about famous people from Leeds or great names remembered in street names and buildings, Danby and Moynihan for instance. No, I mean people who John Thorpe [Old Yorkshire Diary] always used to refer to as the 'great and the good'. When he couldn't think of anything else to call them.Off the top of me bonce then:Barrington Black, solicitor and later judge was always to be spotted defending some lowlife in the minor column inches, and he appeared for the Black Panther, among other high profile clients.Alderman Patrick Crotty, the one with one leg if I remember correctly. Doreen Jenner, another long time councillor. What did they call the long time head of schools - his name was always printed on the back of your exercise books? They also showed the address of his office, Great George Street. [Above 'Published by EJ Arnold'] Oh, just remembered - I think it was Taylor.Then there were the local MPs, not talking yer Denis Healeys or Keith Josephs - they were prominent nationwide. But there were the likes of Alice Bacon, Joseph Hiley, Michael Meadowcroft et al.Jim Windsor, mentioned in another thread, might be included in this lot. Along with the likes of other business owners only prominent in Leeds and surrounds. Peter Maturi for instance. Sir Peter Schofield.I've run out for now.

[BLAKEY]

GEORDIE EXILE WROTE :-Alderman Patrick Crotty, the one with one leg if I remember correctly. Doreen Jenner, another long time councillor. ....................................................................................................Doreen Jenner - a wonderfully dedicated and genuine lady, was my pal's mother in law, and during the year that she was Lord Mayor her daughter was Lady Mayoress. Doreen sadly died a few years ago after a peaceful and well earned retirement in Guiseley.Alderman Patrick Crotty was another great guy but was not the chap with one leg - that was Alderman Rafferty of the Transport Committee. Patrick Crotty had a lovely mischievous sense of humour - I once heard him give a speech where he described giving the prizes at Speech Day at a posh girls' school. He told us :-"Its difficult you know to think of something new to say to every prizewinner, and I was running out of ideas when a very attractive sixteen year old girl came to be presented with her book. I said "And what are you going to do when you leave school" to which she replied "Well I had thought of going straight home unless you've anything better in mind." The applause nearly brought the Civic Hall down !!    

[rangieowner]

Alfred William Whitehead Morant!! Chief Borough surveyor and Architect of Leeds sometime in 1800's! don't know much about him but apparently did some notable stuff around Leeds! such as he designed the Canal Road sytem of bridges and roadway and had something to do with the Town Hall !!! Anyone have anymore info I would love to hear about him!!

[FLOJO]

BLAKEY wrote: GEORDIE EXILE WROTE :-Alderman Patrick Crotty, the one with one leg if I remember correctly. Doreen Jenner, another long time councillor. ....................................................................................................Doreen Jenner - a wonderfully dedicated and genuine lady, was my pal's mother in law, and during the year that she was Lord Mayor her daughter was Lady Mayoress. Doreen sadly died a few years ago after a peaceful and well earned retirement in Guiseley.Alderman Patrick Crotty was another great guy but was not the chap with one leg - that was Alderman Rafferty of the Transport Committee. Patrick Crotty had a lovely mischievous sense of humour - I once heard him give a speech where he described giving the prizes at Speech Day at a posh girls' school. He told us :-"Its difficult you know to think of something new to say to every prizewinner, and I was running out of ideas when a very attractive sixteen year old girl came to be presented with her book. I said "And what are you going to do when you leave school" to which she replied "Well I had thought of going straight home unless you've anything better in mind." The applause nearly brought the Civic Hall down !!     Patrick Crotty was a neighbour of my mother in law and was a true gentleman, he went to the same church has us St Anthony op Padua at Beeston he was on the church committees always there to help, when he was lord Mayor of Leeds him and his wife went into St Anthonys school where my son went and let the children wear his chain of office.

[simonm]

When my wife was a nusre in a nursing home in Moortown she used to look after Barrington Blacks mother. Lovely lady.