page_title: Leek, Staffordshire
section_title: Notable residents
hierarchical_section_title: Leek, Staffordshire / Notable residents
caption_attribution_description: London 2012 Olympic &amp; Paralympic Games Victory Parade, 10th September
context_page_description: Leek is a market town and civil parish in the county of Staffordshire, England, on the River Churnet. It is situated about 10 miles north east of Stoke-on-Trent. It is an ancient borough and was granted its royal charter in 1214.
  It is the administrative centre for the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council. King John granted Ranulph de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester, the right to hold a weekly Wednesday market and an annual seven-day fair in Leek in 1207.
  Leek's coat of arms is made up of a Saltire Shield. On the top is the Stafford Knot, either side is the Leek "Double Sunset" and below a gold garb. The crest is a mural crown with three Mulberry leaves on a Mount of Heather on top of which a Moorcock is resting his claw on a small-weave Shuttle. The motto 'ARTE FAVENTE NIL DESPERANDUM' translates to: Our skill assisting us, we have no cause for despair.
context_section_description: Leek was the home of James Brindley, the 18th century canal engineer. He built a water-powered corn mill in 1752. This watermill is now preserved as Brindley Water Mill and Museum.
  William Morris, founder of the Arts and Crafts movement, often visited Leek between 1875 and 1878. He studied dyeing with Thomas Wardle, owner of a dyeworks in the town, and it was Leek which provided his firm with silk. It was through the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, which he founded in 1877, that he came into contact with Larner Sugden, the local architect, who went on to publish some of Morris' speeches and essays in a series called the Bijour of Leek.
  Dame Averil Cameron Professor of Late Antique and Byzantine History in the University of Oxford and former Warden of Keble College grew up in Leek.
  Dave Hill, vocalist for English new wave of British heavy metal band Demon, lives in Leek and currently operates rides at Alton Towers. James Ford, English musical composer, record producer and musician in the band Simian Mobile Disco was born in Stoke-on-Trent and grew up in Leek "playing bass and singing in bands by the age of ten." Also, He is currently the producer of the Arctic Monkeys and Depeche Mode.
  Amongst sports people associated with the town, the best known person is former five-time world professional darts champion Eric Bristow who used to live in the town. Dr. Anna Watkins, born in Leek, won a gold medal for rowing in the 2012 Olympics. Footballer Arthur Hulme (1877–1916) was born in Leek. Former England test cricketer Kim Barnett was born and lives in Leek.
  and
  Thomas Parker, 1st Earl of Macclesfield, PC, FRS (1666 in Leek – 1732) Whig politician, Lord Chief Justice 1710 to 1718, impeached for corruption 1725, fined and placed in the Tower of London
  William Benton Clulow (1802 in Leek – 1882) dissenting minister, tutor and writer.
  Thomas Bullock (1816 in Leek – 1885) Mormon pioneer, emigrated to Nauvoo, Illinois in 1843
  Alice Tredwell (1823 in Leek – 1867) railway contractor and photographer, particularly in India
  William Bromfield (1868–1950) trade unionist and Labour Party politician, MP for Leek 1918 / 1931 and 1935 / 1945
  John Platt (1886 in Leek – 1967) painter, woodcut artist and head of Leek School of Art 1910 / 1919
  Sir Philip Brocklehurst (1887 in Swythamley Park – 1975) Nimrod Expedition in Antarctica 1907–1909, led by Ernest Shackleton
  Geoffrey Wedgwood, ARCA, RE (1900 in Leek – 1977) etcher and engraver, best known for his architectural etchings
  Cyril Plant, Baron Plant CBE (1910 in Leek – 1986) trade unionist, general secretary of the Inland Revenue Staff Federation
  Donald Nicholson (1916 in Leek – 2012) scientist, devised charts of Biochemical cycles and Methodist lay preacher
  William Bowyer RA (1926 in Leek - 2015) portrait and landscape painter, his work is "modern traditional" figurative painting
  Basil Hayward (1928 in Leek – 1989) footballer and manager, played in 349 league games for Port Vale F.C., 1946 to 1957
  Ken Coates (1930 in Leek – 2010) Labour Party Member of the European Parliament, 1989 to 1999
  Roy Fowler (1934 in Leek – 2009) long-distance runner, nicknamed "Red Fox" due to his speed and his red hair
  Stuart Sharratt (born 1942 in Leek) former football goalkeeper, 152 appearances for Port Vale F.C.
  Tony Lacey (born 1944 in Leek) former footballer, made 201 appearances for Port Vale F.C.
  Tom Levitt (born 1954) brought up in Leek, Labour Party politician, MP for High Peak 1997 to 2010
  Wayne Corden (born 1975 in Leek) former midfield footballer, made 471 pro appearances
caption: Anna Watkins
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