Friday, March 11, 2016 is a special day in Huddersfield.
It is the centenary of the birth of former Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, who was born in the town and spent his early life here.
His son, Robin, will mark the occasion by having lunch at Royds Hall Community School, meeting the Maths Department and witnessing a performance of ‘Wilson 100’ a suite of original songs and sketches.
Harold appeared in several school plays while at Royds Hall, was well-liked and came top in Latin, French and history.
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In the evening Robin will attend the annual Wilson Memorial Lecture being given by former Government Minister Alan Johnson at Huddersfield University.
Thanks to National Lottery funding, Watershed Arts Workshops has received funding to create a special Royds Hall performance with young people from the local schools that Harold Wilson attended as a boy.
The pupils have been ‘History Detectives’ exploring Harold’s childhood in the 1920s and listening to anecdotes from people who met him.
This material has been interpreted as new songs and plays in workshops with Andy Burton and Gill Bond from Satellite Arts who are currently rehearsing with: Royds Hall Community School, Crow Lane and Cowlersley Primary Schools, ‘Singin’ Slawit’ Community Singers as well as professional actors and musicians.
Wilson 100 will feature a specially made sculptural lantern of Harold Wilson’s statue made by designer Karima Ellis. Young actors from the schools will be playing various roles and by swapping a cloth cap and Harold’s famous Gannex mac several of them will be portraying Wilson at different ages.
Through the research for the project the History Detectives have discovered a number of local people who have significant stories of Harold Wilson’s visit to Huddersfield in 1968 when he received the Freedom of the town.
