Campaigning cricketer and suffragette among ideas for Nelson town history trail

A pioneering cricketer and a suffragette are among the ideas for people who might be highlighted in a new walking trail exploring Nelson’s history.

Cricket player Learie Constantine and women’s votes campaigner Selina Cooper could be featured in a potential new town centre trail highlighting key people, events and locations.

They and other figures were discussed by Nelson Town Board recently, which is overseeing regeneration work funded by the Nelson Town Deal. The board is handling major projects including Pendle Rise shopping centre’s demolition and redevelopment. But it is also thinking about smaller schemes to enhance the town centre.

Black cricket player Learie Constantine came to England in the late 1920s on a West Indies cricket tour of England. He later signed a professional three-year contract with Nelson Cricket Club in the Lancashire League. But he eventually stayed much longer, living in Nelson until 1949. He became known as ‘Our Connie’ in Nelson and was seen as one if the world’s best all-round players in that era.

In other activity, Learie Constantine campaigned against racism in Britain during the 1940s and ’50s, became a broadcaster and was awarded the MBE. Later in life, he served as Trinidad and Tobago’s high commissioner. He was made a life peer in 1969, Britain’s first black peer, named Baron Constantine of Maraval and Nelson.

Selina Copper started work in a Barnoldswick textile mill aged  12 in the 1870s. Aged 13, she left school and worked full-time.  As she grew older, she became active in campaigning for votes for women and other political causes.  In 1889, she joined the Nelson branch of the Cotton Worker’s Union. She also attended the Women’s Co-operative Guild in Nelson. She read about history, politics and medicine, and gave advice to fellow-workers unable to afford a doctor. 

In 1910 ,she and three other women presented the case for women’s votes to Prime Minister Herbert Asquith.  Later during the the First World War, she recruited more than 1,000 women in Nelson into the Women’s Peace Crusade.

Today, Nelson Town Board includes some Pendle councillors and council officers, along with business, education, NHS and community representatives. Among them is Paul Hartley of the In Situ arts organisation based at Brierfield’s Northlight Mill. In Situ works on various projects across Pendle including Nelson Re-Imagined and This Is Nelson.

Speaking at the town board, Mr Hartley gave an update on Nelson history trail ideas. He said: “A lot of people want a statue of Selina Cooper. Some money that we had has gone into another project, so we are still looking at how we might do it? We cannot offer a statue but can probably do something with pavements.”

Town board chairman Stephen Barnes said: “What about Learie Constantine? He was an important cricketer for Nelson? There’s a gap in celebrating some of the key people in our heritage. There could also be more money coming.”

Nelson Town Board and the current £25million town deal have been set deadlines to complete most work this year or next. But some ideas might continue with the new Long Term Plan for Nelson, which has a further £20million earmarked over ten years in phases, mainly for smaller projects.

At the board meeting, Lib-Dem Coun David Whipp said there might be potential to have artwork in new Nelson street paving or brass inlays. He also mentioned Sydney Silverman, suffragettes and the history of mills as possible ideas.  Sydney Silverman was MP for Nelson and Colne.

But Coun Whipp added: “I would encourage In Situ to look at what money is left in the pot and see if Lancashire County Council might put something in?

Paul Hartley added: “We could potentially get some sponsorship? Let’s keep thinking about it and also think about two pots of money, not one.”

Separately, Learie Constantine and Selina Cooper are among local historic figures highlighted in a project called Pendle Radicals by the Mid Pennine Arts project. Activity for that includes a network of guided walks around Pendle Hill and east Lancashire with way-markers and information leaflets.

The Clarion House outdoor centre, near Roughlee and Newchurch in Pendle, is connected too. It has historic links to Nelson’s political, walking and cycling scenes and the old Independent Labour Party. Pendle Radicals is supported by local councils and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.