Coordinates: 53°31′21″N 2°13′22″W / 53.52246°N 2.22282°W / 53.52246; -2.22282

Blackley
Lakeside Rise, in Blackley
Blackley  Blackley shown within Greater Manchester
Population	10,196 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference	SD853028
- London	186 m
Metropolitan borough	Manchester
Metropolitan county	Greater Manchester
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	MANCHESTER
Postcode district	M9
Dialling code	0161
Police	Greater Manchester
Fire	Greater Manchester
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Blackley and Broughton
List of places: UK • England • Greater Manchester

Blackley (ⁱ/ˈbleɪkli/) is an area of the city of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It is 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Manchester city centre, by a meander of the River Irk. Further north is Middleton. It lies, mainly, between, and is served by, two main arterial roads out of Manchester; Rochdale Road (A664 road), to Middleton, and Cheetham Hill Road/Bury Old Road (A665 road) to Bury.

History[link]

The hamlet of Blackley was mentioned in the Domesday Book. The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon Blæclēah = "dark wood" or "dark clearing". In the 13th and 14th centuries Blackley was referred to as Blakeley or Blakelegh, a spelling that is consistent with the local pronunciation.^[1]

By the Middle Ages, Blackley had become a park belonging to the lords of Manchester. Its value in 1282 was recorded as £6 13s 4d, a sum approximately equivalent in buying power to £3,500 today.^[1][2]

The lords of Manchester leased the land from time to time. In 1473 John Byron held the leases on Blackley village, Blackley field, and Pillingworth fields at an annual rent of £33 6s 8d. The Byron family continued to hold the land until the beginning of the 17th century when Blackley was sold in parcels to a number of landowners.^[1]

By the middle of the 17th century Blackley was a village of just 107 inhabitants. Blackley today is hardly recognisable as the same rural area that it had been at the start of the 19th century. Now only local place names like Meadows School, Plant Hill or French Barn Lane hint at its rural past.^[3]

Industry[link]

The first industrial enterprise in the area was the Borelle Dyeworks, established in 1785, by an emigrant French industrialist Louis Borelle, who gave his name in corrupted form to Barrel Brow.^[4] A contemporary and compatriot of his was Angel Raphael Louis Delaunay, whose Delaunay Dyeworks, famous for their 'Turkey Red' dye, has given its name to Delauneys' Road.^[5] After Delaunays' death in 1865, the noted chemist Ivan Levinstein bought the dyeworks.^[6] The facility expanded, under Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) ownership, to employ a large number, many in chemical research.^[7][8] It was in the ICI laboratories that not only dyestuffs but also medical breakthroughs such as the anti-malarial drug Paludrine, and Antrycide to combat African sleeping sickness were discovered. In recent years the facility has contracted, and the staff level is now less than 100 in a descendant company, Avecia, and the land at one point was scheduled for housing developments.

Adjacent to this facility, and formerly an early 19th-century logwood mill, there was another plant, Connolly's (Blackley) Ltd, later BICC, makers of telecommunication cabling.

Governance[link]

Blackley is a part of the UK parliamentary constituency of Blackley and Broughton, considered to be the safest Labour Party seat in Manchester.

The current Member of Parliament (MP) is Graham Stringer (Labour).

Economy[link]

During the 1930s substantial residential development took place in Blackley to provide overspill housing for Manchester's growing population.

This is an area with a mixture of housing which is mainly council homes: owner-occupied, private renting and housing association. It is part of the North Manchester Regeneration Area, a project set up by Manchester City Council and private company Bellway's to improve existing housing, build new homes and improve the environment. There are about 240 council homes, all managed by Northwards Housing. About 150 are flats in small blocks. The rest are houses (mostly two or three-bedroom, with a handful of larger properties).

Landmarks[link]

Hexagon Tower, Blackley

Blackley is well served in terms of green space and parks, with significant open spaces at Tweedale Common, Irk Valley, Nutbank Common. Additionally;

Boggart Hole Clough

Boggart Hole Clough is a country park where many walks can be undertaken, guided or otherwise. Thanks to recent funding the park now has many leisure facilities; a bowling green, tennis and basketball courts, a boating lake and a children's play area. It has its own permanent orienteering course and an athletics track. Visitors can enjoy family fun days in the summer and an annual firework display.

Blackley Forest

A Site of Biological Importance and an example of one of the country's first Community Woodlands. Planted to commemorate the Queen’s coronation and also the local people who gave their lives in the Second World War. The area has had woodland on it since the Norman Conquest in 1066, when wild boar and deer roamed and eagles flew above.^[9]

The forest is a diverse mix of woodland, grassland and wetlands, dissected by a well established network of paths and steps. The River Irk can be seen in its most natural state, fringed by birch trees with some colonies of autumn crocus.

Heaton Park

Heaton Park, at around 650 acres (2.63 km²), is the biggest park in Greater Manchester, and one of the largest municipal parks in Western Europe, providing some 25% of Manchester's total green space. It is the grounds of Heaton Hall, a Grade I listed, neoclassical 18th century country mansion. The hall was remodelled to a design by James Wyatt in 1772,^[10] and is now open to the public as a museum and events venue. Although the park is officially part of the City of Manchester, only two of a number of entrances are accessed from Blackley, on Middleton Road.^[11]

Transport[link]

Like many areas in Manchester, Blackley is very well served by buses primarily along the main arterial routes of Rochdale Road (A664), and Cheetham Hill Road/Bury Old Road (A665) directly to and from Manchester city centre. Initially these would have been provided by the precursors to, and Manchester Carriage and Tramways Company, and currently by First Manchester

There are frequent Metrolink trams from Bowker Vale to and from Manchester city centre and as far south as Altrincham and as far north as Bury.

Manchester's M60 orbital motorway is the northern boundary of Blackley.

Education[link]

Primary schools[link]

Blackley has a number of primary schools which include: '

• St.Clare's Primary School
• Crab Lane Primary School
• Camberwell Park School
• E-ACT Blackley Academy
• Bowker Vale Primary School
• Mount Carmel RC Primary School
• Crosslee Community Primary School
• St John Bosco's RC Primary School
• Pike Fold Primary School
• Holy Trinity Primary School

Secondary schools[link]

Blackley has two state secondary schools; Plant Hill Arts College, and Our Lady's RC Sports College. Each school has in excess of 800 pupils, and both rank average in the Manchester district in terms of results achieved and attendance.

Sports[link]

Blackley Golf Club

Blackley Golf Club has occupied its present site close to the M60 since 1937, following the acquisition of the original course by Manchester City Council. The club celebrated its centenary in 2007 and a new clubhouse opened in 2009.

AFC Blackley

The only Saturday team to play in Blackley, they played in the Manchester Premier League. The club lost its ground in Blackley village when it was earmarked for development. The club then moved to Plant Hill Park. It has now disbanded.

Blackley Cricket Club

Blackley Cricket Club currently play in the North Manchester Cricket League. The club is located on Crab Lane.

Notable people[link]

(Either born in Blackley; or born in Manchester, and resident in Blackley)

• Hasney Aljofree, Swindon Town footballer
• John Bradford, Protestant martyr
• Northside singer Dermo
• Stephen Bywater: Professional footballer
• Howard Davies, Director of the London School of Economics
• David Heyes: British politician
• Bernard Hill: Actor of film, stage and television
• Jon Macken: Former Manchester United and Manchester City footballer
• Bernard Manning: Manchester comedian
• Wilf McGuinness, Former Manchester United player and manager
• Malcolm Roberts: Eurovision contestant
• George Chandler Perkins: Artist

Roger Byrne[link]

Roger Byrne, captain of Manchester United and one of their eight players who died in the Munich air disaster of February 1958, was cremated at the local crematorium after a funeral service at Flixton parish church.[1]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Blackley - Districts & Suburbs of Manchester
• Friends of Blackley Forest
• Old sketches of Blackley and District by George Chandler Perkins with a short history of Blackley
• St. Peter's Church, Blackley Village
• St. Andrew's Church, Higher Blackley
• Heaton Park

Sara Sugarman is a Welsh actress and film director whose work includes Disney's Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004) and Very Annie Mary (2001). She has also appeared in films including Dealers (1989) and Those Glory Glory Days (1983).

Selected work[link]

Director[link]

• Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004) (director)
• Very Annie Mary (2001) (writer, director)
• Mad Cows (1999) director)

Film appearances[link]

• Anthrakitis (1998) (short film)
• Straight to Hell (1987)
• Escape from Sobibor (1987) (TV)
• Sid and Nancy (1986)
• Those Glory Glory Days (1983)

Television appearances[link]

• A Very Peculiar Practice (1986)
• Happy Families (1985)
• Minder (1979)
• Juliet Bravo (1980)
• Grange Hill (1978–1979)

TV commercials[link]

• Various appearances (1970-1980's)

PERSONAL life[link]

In London, Sugarman attended both the Arts Educational School and then Barbara Speake Stage School in Acton. She attended the Royal academy of dramatic Art (RADA) in 1986-89, where she won the 'Best Actress' medal. In 1992 she married the actor David Thewlis. They divorced in 1994 and celebrated with a party.

She divides her time among Los Angeles, London and Wales. She currently lives in Los Angeles.^[1]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Sara Sugarman at the Internet Movie Database

This article has not been added to any categories. Please help out by adding categories to it so that it can be listed with similar articles. (May 2012)

Travis Blackley
Blackley with the Reno Aces, Triple-A affiliates of the Arizona Diamondbacks, throwing to first base to try to pick off runner on 12 April, 2009.
Oakland Athletics – No. 54
Starting pitcher
Born: (1982-11-04) 4 November 1982 (age 29)
Bats: Left	Throws: Left
MLB debut
1 July, 2004 for the Seattle Mariners
Career statistics (through 2007 season)
Win–loss record	1-3
Earned run average	9.35
Strikeouts	21
Teams
Seattle Mariners (2004) San Francisco Giants (2007) Melbourne Aces (ABL) (2010) Kia Tigers (KBO) (2011) San Francisco Giants (2012) Oakland Athletics (2012–present)

Travis Jarrod Blackley (born 4 November 1982, in Melbourne, Australia) is a relief pitcher for the Oakland Athletics. Previously, he has pitched for the Kia Tigers of the Korean Baseball Organization. He bats and throws left-handed.

Professional career[link]

Seattle Mariners[link]

Blackley was signed by the Seattle Mariners as an undrafted free agent on 29 October 2000. He began his professional career with the Single-A Everett AquaSox in 2001. He had a 6–1 record with a 3.32 ERA in 14 starts. He also had 90 strikeouts in 78⅔ innings and held opponents to a .211 batting average.

Blackley played for the Single-A San Bernardino Stampede in 2002. He had a 5–9 record with a 3.49 ERA in 21 games, 20 of which were starts. He had 152 strikeouts in 121.1 innings, his strikeouts were second among all Mariners minor leaguers.

Blackley played for the Double-A San Antonio Missions in 2003. His 2003 season was his most impressive of his minor league career. He led the Texas League with 17 wins; was second in ERA (2.61), fourth in strikeouts (144) and fourth in innings pitched (162.1). His 17 wins were the most by a Texas League pitcher since Jeff Reardon of the Jackson Mets in 1978.

He participated in the Texas League Postseason All-Star game and was named to the World squad in the 2003 All-Star Futures Game at U.S. Cellular Field on 15 July. Blackley was also named the Mariners minor league pitcher of the year by the organization.

In 2004, Blackley was named by Baseball America as the #63 prospect out of 100 prospects. He was named the third best prospect in the Mariners system, behind pitchers Félix Hernández and Clint Nageotte, and was their top left-handed prospect. Blackley began the season in Triple-A with the Tacoma Rainiers. The Mariners, after trading Freddy Garcia to the Chicago White Sox, needed another starter and Blackley's contract was purchased on 1 July 2004. He made his major league debut on that same day against the Texas Rangers and allowed 4 runs on 6 hits in 5⅔ innings and got the win. He became just the sixth pitcher in Mariners history to start and win on their major league debut.

After spending a month with the major league club in which he went 1–3 with a 10.04 ERA in 6 starts, Blackley was optioned back to Triple-A Tacoma on 1 August 2004. He had an 8–6 record with a 3.83 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) with Tacoma in 2004 before ending the season on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis in his left arm.

Blackley missed the whole 2005 season while recovering from left shoulder surgery.

In March of 2006, Blackley was slated to play in the World Baseball Classic with team Australia but was held back to continue rehabbing his shoulder.

Blackley spent the majority of the 2006 season with Double-A San Antonio. After going 8–11 with a 4.06 ERA in 25 starts in Double-A, Blackley was promoted to Triple A Tacoma at the end of August. He made 2 starts in Tacoma and had a 1–1 record with a 4.09 ERA.

San Francisco Giants (first stint)[link]

On 1 April 2007, following the end of Spring Training, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants for outfielder Jason Ellison. Blackley was immediately optioned to Triple-A Fresno. Blackley played the whole minor league season with the Grizzlies. He went 10–8 with a 4.66 ERA in 28 starts. He was recalled on 21 September, and on 23 September made his first major league start since 31 July 2004 against the Cincinnati Reds. Blackley won his debut, giving up two runs in the first inning and three hits in five innings. He walked four and struck out five.

Philadelphia Phillies[link]

After being outrighted off the San Francisco roster, on 6 December 2007, Blackley was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft.

Towards the end of the 2008 spring training, Blackley was placed on waivers. The Giants did not reclaim him and the Phillies outrighted him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He became a free agent after the season ended.

Arizona Diamondbacks[link]

On 19 December 2008, Blackley signed a major league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.^[1] On 1 April 2009, Blackley was sent outright to Reno.^[2]

New York Mets[link]

Blackley began the 2010 season with the New York Mets AAA affiliate Buffalo Bisons. He was released on 2 May.

Oakland A's[link]

On 13 May 2010, he signed with the Oakland Athletics. He played with their Triple-A affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats.

Melbourne Aces[link]

Travis was named in the 35 man roster for the Melbourne Aces for the inaugural Australian Baseball League season, on 2 December 2010 he was activated onto the 22 man roster and made his debut for the Aces on 5 December starting against the Sydney Blue Sox pitching a rain shortened 1 hit shutout. Blackley previously played for the Victoria Aces in the semi-professional Claxton Shield.

KIA Tigers[link]

Travis joined the KIA Tigers of the Korean Baseball Organization for the 2011 season. In 25 appearances, he had a record of 7 wins and 5 losses with an ERA of 3.48.

San Francisco Giants (second stint)[link]

On February 16, Blackley signed a minor league deal with the Giants with an invite to spring training.^[3] On May 1st, Blackley had his contract purchased by the Giants and was called up from Triple A.

International career[link]

Blackey was first selected for Australia in the 2006 World Baseball Classic but did not play due to an ongoing shoulder injury. He debuted for Australia in the 2007 Baseball World Cup and pitched 0–1 with a 1.64 ERA over the tournament, his only loss coming against the Japan national baseball team when Tadashi Settsu threw a shutout against Australia in the quarter final, with Australia finishing 5th. He played again for Australia in the 2009 World Baseball Classic pitching a no decision against Cuba and a 1.59 ERA over the tournament.

Personal life[link]

Blackley is married to model Arynne Tiller of Wichita, Kansas and they have a son, Tristan (born 6 January 2005). They reside in Phoenix, Arizona.

Blackley's younger brother, Adam, formerly played in the Boston Red Sox farm system^[4] and currently plays with him for the Aces in the ABL and the L&D Amsterdam of the Dutch league Honkbal Hoofdklasse.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)

Alfred Sharpe

Sir Alfred Sharpe (19 May 1853 in Lancaster – 10 December 1935) was a professional hunter who became a British colonial administrator and Commissioner (a de facto Governor) of the British Central Africa Protectorate from 1896 until 1910 (it changed its name to Nyasaland in 1907). He had a hand in some dramatic events which shaped south-Central Africa at the onset of colonialism.

The scramble for Katanga[link]

Background[link]

Sharpe started his administrative career in Fiji but went to Nyasaland as a hunter. In 1890 he was employed jointly by imperialist Cecil Rhodes and British Consul in Nyasaland Sir Harry Johnston on a mission to Msiri, King of Garanganza (mineral- and game-rich Katanga) which was, to Europeans, very remote. Rhodes wanted a mineral rights concession for his British South Africa Company (BSAC) and Johnston wanted a treaty accepting British protectorate status over his kingdom. The BSAC was already in North-Western Rhodesia and this would extend their territory further north. Katanga was known to have copper and was thought to have gold.^[1]

Only a handful of Europeans had been to Katanga and the Luapula/Lake Mweru region. The first to live there, Frederick Arnot, took up residence at Msiri's capital only three years previously. There had been no change to the methods and equipment for mounting an expedition since the explorer David Livingstone's travels twenty years before.

Sharpe reaches Kazembe's[link]

Rhodes and Johnston also wanted the same agreements with Mwata Kazembe and Chief Nsama, the other strong chiefs in the area, to the east of Msiri. Sharpe was in competition with Belgian King Leopold II’s Congo Free State (CFS) which had already tried sending expeditions to Msiri. Sharpe was successful with Nsama and Mwata Kazembe but the latter was opposed to him going on to do a deal with his enemy, Msiri, and he delayed Sharpe by trickery and encouraged his porters to abscond.^[1] Mwata Kazembe's kingdom bordered what had been Msiri's on the other side of the Luapula River; originally that had been Mwata Kazembe's territory as well, but Msiri had usurped it.^[2]

On to Msiri's[link]

Without his retinue, and low on cash and supplies such as cloth and gunpowder traditionally used to open negotiations, Sharpe, with a just couple of servants, eventually arrived at Msiri's court at Bunkeya with the draft treaty,^[1] and would not have cut an imposing figure. The explorer Joseph Thomson, also working for BSAC, was supposed to come up from the south and meet him at Msiri's with supplies and goods, but he did not arrive because of a smallpox epidemic in the country in between; Sharpe had to do his best on his own. Msiri and his court could not read English and Sharpe described the treaty favourably; when its real content was revealed to Msiri at the urging of Charles Swan, a British missionary at the court, Msiri, enraged, sent Sharpe away empty-handed. He was not aware he was in a race with the CFS, and left in disgust, blaming Swan.^[1]

Returns to Lake Tanganyika[link]

On the other hand he felt satisfied with the Kazembe and Nsama agreements in his pocket. He wrote to Johnston from Bunkeya on 15 November 1890 saying there was no fear of Msiri giving concessions or treaties to anyone else, and in any case if they sent a well-armed column of perhaps 150 men to Katanga they could take over Msiri's copper and mineral trade without hindrance. On 26 December 1890 he wrote to Johnston again from Lake Tanganyika saying that Msiri would not last long and they could then acquire 'all his country'. Furthermore he noted that as Kazembe was the rightful owner of Msiri's country, the Kazembe treaty effectively gave them all the 'Lunda country'^[1] (by which he included Msiri's territory comprising the south-east of present-day Katanga).

As it turned out, although Sharpe was right on the first point — a small force could take over Msiri's mineral wealth — he was wrong on the next two points. On 18 April 1891 a Belgian expedition arrived led by Paul Le Marinel. He obtained a letter signed by Msiri and witnessed by Swan, that Msiri would accept CFS personnel in his territory.

Later that year a large, well-equipped and well-armed Congo Free State 'pacification' force arrived led by a Canadian mercenary, Captain W. E. Stairs, with orders to take Katanga under its control. On 20 December 1891 the CFS expedition shot Msiri, massacred his people and took possession of the country, which became part of the Congo.^[2][3]

Becomes British Commissioner in Nyasaland[link]

In 1896 Sharpe succeeded Johnston as the British Commissioner in Nyasaland. This was the senior British official post in Central Africa, and had responsibility for enforcing security in the neighbouring BSAC charter territory, North-Eastern Rhodesia, which he had helped establish with the Kazembe and Nsama treaties, among others. Ignoring the terms of the agreement he had signed with Sharpe, in 1897 Mwata Kazembe X refused to cooperate with the newly-arrived BSAC tax collector Blair Watson, refused to let him fly the British flag, and when Watson marched on Mwata Kazembe's capital, defeated his troops.^[2]

Punitive expedition against Mwata Kazembe[link]

Mwata Kazembe was 1000 km from Sharpe's base at Blantyre over some difficult terrain and it was not until 1899 that Sharpe could mount a military expedition with Sikh and Nyasaland troops operating in conjunction with Robert Codrington, acting BSAC Administrator of North-Eastern Rhodesia. Mwata Kazembe escaped across the Luapula and after missionaries interceded on his behalf, he was allowed to return to a chieftainship recognised by the BSAC which became reasonably successful.^[2] See article on Kazembe for more details.

Later years[link]

Sharpe served another 11 years in Nyasaland and retired to Britain where in retirement he wrote and lectured on Central Africa. He also travelled extensively in Africa.

Descendants left in Zambia[link]

Alfred Sharpe had a son Edmund born in Fiji in his early years and moved with him to Nyasaland. Edmund worked in the Colonial Service in North Eastern Rhodesia. While on tour collecting taxes, he witnessed initiation ceremony for Chief Jumbe's eldest daughter, Veronica Chulu. He asked the chief for permission to marry Veronica. They had five sons named Harrison Philip, Jack, John, Jimmy and Thomas, and daughter Jane. Philip married Katie Thornicroft and had sons Frank, Alfred, George and Stanley, and daughters Rosemary and Muriel. (year 2011) Alfred, George and Stanley live in the UK. Rosemary lives in Portugal and Muriel in Germany.

Thomas Sandford Sharpe was born in Petauke on 3 December 1921 under British Subject passport number 16994. He then fathered two son's with Peggy McMillan. These son's were named Ronald Cedric Sharpe born 28 July 1945 in Ndola and Jimmy Gerard Sharpe. Ronald(deceased) has one son living in Zambia (Nigel Sharpe) and two daughters (Colleen and Renee) living in the UK.

Jimmy fathered two son's and four daughters named Fiona Adamina Barnett (née Sharpe),Quillon Sandford Sharpe (deceased) and Alistair Stanley Sharpe, Pamela Sharpe, Peggy Sharpe and April Sharpe. Fiona is married with two daughter's named Mikayla Alexandra Barnett and Bethany Si-anne Barnett and are currently living in the U.S.A. Alistair is married and currently living in Swaziland. Jimmy is currently living in the United Kingdom with his wife Dorothy and their three daughters.

Thomas Sandford Sharpe later married Kathleen Mary Francis on September 4th, 1954(Born August 3, 1935 in Selukwe- Rhodesia- Died Oct 7, 2001 in Francistown, Botswana). They had four daughters named Eileen Mathilda (born on May 15 1955), Veronica Shirley (born Sept 4 1956) , Lorraine Teresa (May 2 1958- Nov 3 1997) and Sybil Cecilia (born Oct 9 1959). They had one son- Thomas Sydney (born Dec 24 1961).

Eileen Mathilda has four children named Darren Zaloumis, Bradley Zaloumis, Leila Zaloumis and Nicoleen Hassam. Veronica Shirley has two children named Glynis Sharpe and Alexandre Paradis. Lorraine Teresa has five children named Melissa Harrington, Michael Harrington, Nicolas Harrington, Brendan Harrington and William Harrington. Sybil Cecilia has five children named Stacy Wirth, Candice Wirth, Megan Wirth, Sian Wirth and George Wirth Jnr. Thomas Sydney has three children named Storme Sharpe, Stash Sharpe and Starla Sharpe.

Thomas Sandford Sharpe died at the age of 50 in Choma, Zambia, in 1971.

See also[link]

Biography portal

• British Central Africa
• Msiri
• Mwata Kazembe
• Congo Pedicle
• Lake Mweru

References[link]

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} NRZAM website: Alfred Sharpe's Travels in the Northern Province and Katanga. The Northern Rhodesia Journal. Vol III, No.3 (1957) pp210-219. This article reproduces Sharpe's letter to Johnston reporting on the Msiri, Kazembe and Nsama expedition.
2. ^ ^{a b c d} David Gordon: “Decentralized Despots or Contingent Chiefs: Comparing Colonial Chiefs in Northern Rhodesia and the Belgian Congo.” KwaZulu-Natal History and African Studies Seminar, University of Natal, Durban, 2000.
3. ^ http://www.dacb.org/stories/demrepcongo/crawford_daniel.html Dr. J. Keir Howard: "Crawford, Daniel", in Dictionary of African Christian Biography, website accessed 7 February 2007

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Alfred Sharpe

• "Alfred Sharpe". Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5903337. Retrieved September 3, 2010. 

Philip W. "Phil" Daniels (born 25 October 1958, Islington)^[1][2] is an English actor, most noted for film and television roles as cockneys such as Jimmy in Quadrophenia, Richards in Scum, Stewart in The Class of Miss MacMichael, Mark in Meantime, Kevin Wicks in EastEnders, DCS Frank Patterson in New Tricks and Grandad Trotter in the Only Fools and Horses prequel Rock & Chips.

Early life[link]

He attended Anna Scher Theatre School in Islington.^[3]

Career[link]

Daniels has made appearances in many films and television series. He made his film debut in 1976, aged 17, as a waiter in Bugsy Malone,^[4] That same year he had significant roles in three television series: The Molly Wopsies, Four Idle Hands, and The Flockton Flyer; however, he had enjoyed an incidental appearance (with fellow drama students) the previous year (1975) in Thames Television's You Must Be Joking! Over the following four years he appeared in Quadrophenia, Breaking Glass, and Scum. He also appeared in the 1970s TV drama serial Raven.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Daniels was a member of new wave band The Cross, along with fellow actor Peter Hugo Daly, the band releasing a single, "Kill Another Night" on RCA Records in 1979.^[5] His musical inclinations were revealed when he starred in a 1985 British snooker musical Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire. He narrated tracks on the Parklife and Think Tank albums for Blur.

He contributed the voice of a rat to the animated film Chicken Run. In recent years he has turned his attention to comedy, appearing in the series Sunnyside Farm and alongside Al Murray in the cult sitcom Time Gentlemen Please. Daniels also starred as Freddy Windrush in an episode of Gimme Gimme Gimme (Series 2, Episode 3 - "Prison Visitor").

Daniels has performed on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company in plays such as The Merchant of Venice, The Jew of Malta and A Clockwork Orange. In 2004 he appeared in the BBC comedy-drama Outlaws as a criminal solicitor. In 2006 he joined the cast of the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders playing Kevin Wicks. The actor temporarily left the show in early 2007, however, he returned in March 2007. On 18 August 2007, it was revealed in the Sun that Daniels was to leave the show.^[6] His character died in a car crash on 31 December 2007.

Daniels, along with his co-stars, attended a Quadrophenia Reunion at London Film and Comic Con at Earls Court on 1 and 2 September 2007.

In May 2008 Daniels ran the Flora London Marathon on behalf of the "Sparks" Charity, and in December 2008 starred in Sheffield Theatre and Evolution Pantomimes co-production of Aladdin as "Abanazar" at Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield.^[7]

In late 2008 Daniels voiced a major character in the English language re-release of the cult 2006 Norwegian animated film Free Jimmy, alongside Woody Harrelson and with dialogue written by Simon Pegg. Also in 2008 Daniels starred alongside Gary Stretch and Geoff Bell in the UK film Freebird, directed by Jon Ivay, which followed three bikers across a drug-fuelled ride in the Welsh countryside.

Daniels appeared as the Magic Mirror in the pantomime of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Marlowe Theatre in December 2008, which also includes a role by former EastEnders colleague Emma Barton.^[8]

He appeared on Celebrity Mastermind: 2008/2009, finishing on 24 points in second place. Also on 26 June 2009 he appeared on stage with Blur at the M.E.N. Arena, then on 28 June 2009 at Glastonbury 2009 on their song "Parklife",^[9] as well as on 2/3 July 2009 in their Hyde Park Concerts.^[10] Daniels portrayed Del Boy's grandfather in a prequel to the comedy series Only Fools and Horses called Rock & Chips, which was screened in January 2010 and, on 13 September 2010 on BBC Radio Five Live, James Buckley confirmed that Rock & Chips would be returning for two specials, one at Christmas 2010, and the other at Easter 2011. Daniels has subsequently reprised his role his role as Ted Trotter in both of the Rock & Chips specials. 2012 will see the release of the film Vinyl in which Phil Daniels not only stars but also wrote and performs most of the film's music soundtrack. Directed by Sara Sugarman, Vinyl is the story of an aging Rock Group forced to con the music industry to gain radio play of future record releases. The film is based on true events faced by Rock Group the Alarm that took place in the U.K. in 2004.

Daniels now co-hosts a weekly podcast with Ceri Levy dedicated to Chelsea Football Club, "The Chels - The Chelsea Podcast".^[11]

[edit] Strictly Come Dancing

Daniels appeared in the 2008 series of Strictly Come Dancing with partner Flavia Cacace. He was the first to be evicted from the show on 21 September 2008.^[12]

Filmography[link]

Television work[link]

• Rock & Chips (3 episodes, 2010–2011) — Grandad Ted Trotter
• New Tricks (2 episodes, 2009–2010) — D.C.S. Frank Paterson
• Midsomer Murders (1 episode, 2010) — Teddy Molloy
• The 100 Greatest World Cup Moments of All Time! (2010) — Himself
• Starring Dominic — (2010) as Dominic Patronella (Voice)
• Breakfast (2 episodes, 2008–2010) — Himself
• Blur: Live at Hyde Park, London - 2nd July 2009 (2010) — Himself - Guest Vocals
• Loose Women (3 episodes, 2008–2010) — Himself
• No Distance Left to Run (2010) — Himself
• Agatha Christie Poirot (1 episode, 2009) — Inspector Hardcastle
• Misfits (1 episode, 2009) — as Keith the Dog (Voice)
• The Podge and Rodge Show (1 episode, 2009) — Himself
• Mastermind (1 episode, 2009) — Himself
• Strictly Come Dancing (4 episodes, 2008) — Himself
• Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two (1 episode, 2008) — Himself
• The ONE Show (1 episode, 2008) — Himself
• Would I Lie to You? (1 episode, 2008) — Himself
• EastEnders (208 episodes, 2006–2008) — Kevin Wicks
• Children in Need (1 episode, 2007) — Himself - Performer
• British Film Forever (2 episodes, 2007) — Himself
• The British Soap Awards 2007 (2007) — Himself
• The 50 Greatest Television Dramas (2007) — Himself
• A Question of Sport (1 episode, 2006) — Himself
• Cast & Crew (1 episode, 2005) — Himself
• Wickham Road (2005) — Narrator
• Outlaws (12 episodes, 2004) — Bruce Dunbar
• Waking the Dead (1 episode, 2004) — Det Supt Andy Bulmer
• The Long Firm (2004) — Jimmy
• Time Gentlemen Please (36 episodes, 2000–2002) — Terry Brooks
• Goodbye Charlie Bright (2001) — Eddie
• Gimme Gimme Gimme (TV) (1 episode, 2000) — Freddy Windrush
• Nasty Neighbours (2000) — Robert Chapman
• Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll (TV) (1999) — Larry Valentine
• Sex and Chocolate (TV film) (1997) — Ian Bodger
• Holding On (1997) — Gary Rickey
• Sunnyside Farm (1997) — Raymond Sunnyside
• The World of Lee Evans (1995) - Hitcher
• One Foot In The Grave: The Wisdom Of The Witch (1995) — Melvin
• Bad Behaviour (1993) — Nunn Brother
• The Pickwick Papers (1985) — Sam Weller
• Meantime (TV/Film) (1984) — Mark Pollock
• I Remember Nelson (TV) (1982) — Will Blackie
• A Midsummer Night's Dream (1981) — Puck
• The Class of Miss MacMichael (1978) — Stewart
• Raven (1977) — Raven
• The Flockton Flyer (1976, broadcast 1977) — Don Davis
• Four Idle Hands (1976) — Mike Dudds
• The Molly Wopsies (1976) — Alan Musgrove

Radio[link]

• The Tin Drum (1999) - Oskar Matzerath^[13]
• On The Ceiling - Saturday Play, BBC Radio 4, 7 February 2009^[14]

Theatre[link]

• Aladdin Sheffield Lyceum
• Fresh Kills
• True West
• The Green Man
• The Winter's Tale
• Dealer's Choice
• Carousel
• The Closing Number
• Johnny Oil Strikes Back
• The Lucky Ones
• The Merchant of Venice
• The Jew of Malta
• Measure for Measure
• The Revenger's Tragedy
• A Clockwork Orange
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
• The Beggar's Opera
• The God of Soho

Personal life[link]

Daniels is in a relationship with Jan Stevens, with whom he has a daughter, Ella (born c. 1990.^[15][16]). He is a Chelsea F.C. fan.^[17]

As a child Phil was a passenger, along with his parents, on a derailed carriage involved in the 1972 Eltham Well Hall rail crash, in which six people were killed and 126 injured.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Phil Daniels at the Internet Movie Database
• What's on TV profile
• "Phil Daniels: 'Playing to thousands of people with Blur is not as daunting as doing a play in a small theatre'", Interview by Hannah Olivennes, The Observer, 19 June 2011.