Madeley Matters

July 2004

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Page 9

Madeley on the Map – A Famous Madeley Writer

Edith Pargeter – better known as Ellis Peters author of the Brother Cadfael novels - was very proud of her local connexions. She was born in Horsehay in 1913 but, after the death of her mother in 1956 she bought a house in Park Lane Madeley, and she and her brother lived there until his death in 1984. Neither of them ever married and, a few years later, she moved to a modern bungalow a short distance away.

Educated at Dawley Church of England School and the old Coalbrookdale High School, she was already writing poetry at the age of seven and contributed regularly to the school magazine as a teenager. She worked briefly as a temporary clerk in the Labour Exchange before spending seven years working in a chemist’s shop in Dawley. She wrote avidly in her spare time and had her first short story published in a national magazine in 1936 – the same year as her first novel Hortensius, Friend of Nero came out.

In 1940 she joined the Wrens later receiving the British Empire Medal for her wartime work. In the post-war years she became very involved in Czechoslovakian affairs after attending an international summer school near Prague in 1947. She taught herself Czech and she was awarded a medal for her services to Czech literature. She retained a life-long attachment to the country and the people.

Her first Brother Cadfael novel ‘A Morbid Taste for Bones’ did not appear until 1977 after she was inspired by the story of St. Winifred’s bones being transported to Shrewsbury Abbey. Her stories reached a much wider audience when they were televised during the 1990s with Derek Jacobi in the role of Brother Cadfael.

Altogether she wrote more than 90 books and used several pseudonyms. Her most famous pseudonym, Ellis Peters, was derived from her brother’s middle name Ellis (itself their grandmother’s maiden name) and a variation on Petra the name of the daughter of a Czech friend.

She died in 1995.

The Madeley schoolmistress who wanted to ‘clean up television’!

2005 will see the 40th anniversary of the founding of the National Viewers’ & Listeners’ Association (now known as ‘Mediawatch’). Its founding president was Mrs Mary Whitehouse who was born in Nuneaton and brought up in Chester where she trained as a teacher. She later moved to Claverley and began teaching art at Madeley Modern where, as Senior Mistress during the 1960s, she was responsible for the ‘moral welfare’ of the girls. She was a tireless campaigner against what she often called ‘smut’ and during her heyday was one of the best-known faces in the country with people either loving or loathing her. Channel 4 is marking the anniversary by devoting a documentary to the history of controversial television and we would like to run our own piece about what she was like ’before she was famous’.

If you were taught by Mary or have any stories or memories of her you could share please contact Shelagh Lewis, Madeley Living History Project, Madeley Library, Russell Square, Madeley, TF7 5BB. Phone: 01952 680278. Email: lhp@mparish.fsnet.co.uk

The Great Billy Wright

William Ambrose Wright was born in Ironbridge of 6th February 1924. His father, Tom, was a talented footballer who encouraged young Billy’s natural talent. His first schooling was undertaken at Madeley Wood Methodist School and when he ‘moved up’ to Madeley Modern School his headmaster sent a note to the new school about his footballing ability. Billy’s reputation was secured when he scored 10 goals for Madeley Modern in a match against Bewdley.

The head of Madeley Modern School, Mr. Simpson, later contacted Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Billy was employed as a member of the ground staff in July 1938. The Wolves manager, Major Buckley, wrote to Mr. Simpson a few months later suggesting that Billy ‘lacked the necessary stature’ to be a professional footballer (he was only 5’8”). At Mr. Simpson’s urging he was kept on as ‘boot boy’, cleaning the players’ boots, putting out the shirts and socks and cleaning out the baths after games.
At the age of 17 Billy signed professional forms and the rest, as they say, is history…

He remained with Wolves for his entire playing career retiring in August 1959. In 1945 he was selected for the England reserves and the following year won a full place in the team. He played for England 105 times and captained the team on 90 occasions. With Wolves he won an F.A. Cup winners’ medal and three Football League winners’ medals as well as being voted Footballer of the Year in 1952. In 1959 he was awarded the CBE and, after managing Arsenal from 1962 – 1966, he joined the Associated Television Network as Head of Sport and Outside Broadcasts. He was ambidextrous although he generally used his left hand and, in addition to his footballing skills, he was a single-handicap golfer.

In 1958 he married Joy Beverley of the famous singing trio the Beverley Sisters with whom he had two daughters. This was one of the first marriages linking the world of showbiz with that of sporting heroes and, despite a very different lifestyle and public profile to the Beckhams, they were undoubtedly the ‘Posh & Becks’ of their day.

Billy Wright died of cancer on 3rd September 1994