Are birthday plans a little behind the times?

November 04, 2009

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STANDING tall ... John Bright’s statue looks down on Rochdale from Broadfield Park.

ROCHDALE would appear to be lagging behind when it comes to planning the bi-centenary of the birth of one of the town's most famous sons.

A fortnight ago Birmingham City Council unveiled a newly refurbished statue of parliamentary reformer John Bright.

But as yet nothing has been officially determined in his home town of Rochdale for the event, which occurs on 16 November 2011. He has a statue in the town, of course, which was originally in Town Hall Square and has looked down from Broadfield Park since the 1930s.

It was Bright's belief in political freedom and reform which inspired the likes of both Abraham Lincoln and Joseph Chamberlain. He served as an MP for Birmingham for three decades.

The statue of Bright in Birmingham has undergone extensive cleaning and restoration and will now go on permanent display at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

MP Bill Cash, whose great grandfather was a cousin of Bright, said he believed the stone's restoration was important to the city explaining: "The restoration is an historic step to restoring Bright to his rightful place. In my opinion, he was the greatest individual Parliamentarian in the 19th century and he rates with the greatest statesmen that this country has ever had. His moral force and convictions and the way he stood up for the British parliament and British values of democracy are as important today as when he created the political changes in the 19th century."

A Rochdale Council spokesman said:"We are currently planning our exhibitions programme for 2011 and are sure we will be commemorating his bi-centenary in the programme, although nothing has been confirmed yet."

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Rochdale deserves better (04/11/2009 at 09:24)

John Bright and Richard Cobden would be turning in the graves to see what has happened to liberalism in Rochdale over the past 50 years.

The late Ludovik Kennedy was a truly great Liberal who lost the 1957 bi-election. Isn't it ironic that one of the vocal supporters of Gentleman Jack McCann, the winning Labour Party candidate, was "lifelong liberal" Cllr Cyril Smith?

After Jack McCann MP's death in 1972, Rochdale was treated to Alderman Cyril Smith - a "liberal" MP that was pro capital and corporal punishment.

This was also the time that so-called redevelopment (demolition and concrete pouring) ripped the heart and soul out of Rochdale town centre. No wonder John Bright's statute was moved away.

Now the good name of Bright and Cobden is used to front a mystery trust that according to the Electoral Commission has donated money to Rochdale Liberal Democrats.

Who donated cash to the Cobden Bright Trust? How much? When? Why is it secret?

selfexiled (04/11/2009 at 09:53)

The reporters on the Observer staff really do need to get their research in order.John brights statue was until the reforming of the junction of dane street the esplanade and what was then Manchester road in front of the entrance to Broadfield Park and was not actually in the Park itself.That Reforming was done in the 1970s and the statue was moved into the Park then.

Harrysmate, Rochdale (04/11/2009 at 09:58)

John Bright is arguably the most notable and influential person ever to have been born in Rochdale. He is certainly our most famous 'son' in Parliamentary terms. Bill Cash is correct in his description of John Bright and his immense contribution in the 19th Century. It would be remiss of the Council to let the bicentenary of his birth pass without suitable recognition. Perhaps we could start by restoring his grave where he lies in the Society of Friends burial ground, off George Street, and perhaps clean his statue on the park slopes. It's not long since his statue was adorned with a football scarf around his neck, and a can of lager in his outstretched hand. The moron who did it, probably wouldn't even know who John Bright was. Let's give the man the tribute he deserves.

Red Flag (04/11/2009 at 11:53)

John Bright exploited the poor of Rochdale and immigrant irish families by using them as cheap labour for his cotton mills. He wanted the Corn Laws scrapping so that he didn't have to increase their wages. He was little more than a carpetbagger in the deep south of america expoiting slave wages there too.

Always be wary of victorians who have big statutes erected in their memory.

Harrysmate, Rochdale (04/11/2009 at 14:57)

Always be wary of anybody who spouts tripe under the shadow of a 'Red Flag'.

Rawhide, Rochdale (05/11/2009 at 08:34)

This is typical of the current Rochdale mismanagement.

During the 1960's destruction of our town centre the John Bright statute was moved.

During the recent town centre regeneration "consultation" fiasco we were treated to a "vision" of a new half billion pound civic centre, interchange and more shops with the "vision" of a central "iconic statute" that the public might get involved with.

This was like spending £500,000,000 on Titanic MKII with no iceberg protection but allowing the public to choose what type of champagne get smashed at the naming ceremony.

Pathetic.

We demolish, forget or ignore our heritage for the glitz of a bland Brave New World of regenerated smoke and mirrors. The public don't want it but it gets steamrollered through and we all pay dearly for it.

No doubt John Bright's statute will now be used by senior council executives and their shameless puppets as a cheap sop to "rebrand" Rochdale.

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