Wolverhampton has claim on culture award

I also note that the other week we were in a list that had us as the most miserable citizens of our country. This is compiled by know-alls who are opinionated, not backed up by solid facts, as per usual.

To be considered, the place has to have a diverse heritage. This, Wolverhampton has in abundance, besides its famous industrial prowess. Many famous people were born here or lived here for several years of their lives. I list just a few here! Judith Keppel, ‘Egghead’ and first person to win a million pounds on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, born in Wolverhampton. Kevin Darley, champion flat race jockey; Nigel Slater, TV cook with own programme; Roger Squires, in Guinness Book of Records as the world’s most prolific crossword compiler, and a new member of the Magic Circle, also an actor on TV; Beverley Knight, top West End singer. They were all born here, then there are famous people who moved here, lived and worked here. John Masefield, poet laureate, lived here for several years in Tettenhall Road and worked at a local brewery. Sir Rowland Hill who introduced the postage stamp, worked and lived for many years in Horsehills Drive, Compton.

Murray Walker, F1 car racing commentator, lived here as a youngster; Laurence of Arabia, lived at Fallings Park, worked at Guy Motors; Rachael Heyhoe-Flint, first England women’s cricket captain, and brought women’s cricket forward in quick fashion, attended Girls’ High School.

Eric Idle, Monty Python member, went to Wolverhampton Royal School; Mervyn King, Governor of Bank of England, went to Wolverhampton Grammar. Caitlin Moran, from an early age was ‘raised by wolves’. Boris Johnson started his working life as a junior reporter at the Express & Star, living and working around Wolverhampton, went on to become Lord Mayor of London. Some other famous people regularly visited Wolverhampton as you all know. Sir Edward Elgar was an ardent Wolves fan, who wrote the first-ever football anthem about his beloved team. Charles Dickens always called in when visiting his grandmother who worked at nearby Tong Castle.

In St John's Square, just up Snow Hill, is the British headquarters of Mensa, the organisation that has the top IQ people in the country hoping to be good enough to pass their test and join the super intellectuals’ club (I don’t think I will try for it this year). Wolverhampton Polytechnic, now University of Wolverhampton, had the world’s first original digital computer to teach computing in 1957 awarded to it from Harwell. So, why not go for another award – City of Culture.

Mr G Griffiths, Bilbrook