Freedom of the Borough

Posthumous Freedom of the Borough

Last year saw the 300th anniversary of the world renowned, Robert Bakewell - a forerunner of modern genetics.  John Skevington was a towering figure at the time of industrial change, co-operation and Chartism in the area. This year is the centenary of the Shelthorpe Road Estate one of the proudest achievements of the celebrated town planner, Barry Parker. All three are often forgotten and are therefore my nominees for posterity because our heritage is so important in a community. 

The lesser known John Skevington was a Primitive Methodist preacher in Loughborough and champion of the poor in a time of great industrial change.  Let him speak for himself:   "Many of those who are opposed to us revile us, and ridicule us, and say, What do the working classes want?  And when we assemble, they say, "Oh! it's only a meeting of the ragamuffins - the unwashed!"  And why is it that those so assembling, and you who are now here, are found with your coats out at the elbows, and without stockings to your feet? Many of you who are the makers of stockings and who wholly produce them, - I know it must go to your hearts core to think that, whilst you are making the article, yourselves and your families are going without them." John Skevington