Derbyshire greats honoured with blue plaques

Members of the public have chosen six of Derbyshire’s “great and good” to be honoured in the county’s 2011 blue plaque awards.

Derbyshire County Council started the scheme in 2009 to celebrate well-known local people.

This year’s winners include Henry Royce, co-founder of Rolls-Royce, and Sir Joseph Whitworth, who standardised the industrial screw.

Anyone nominated must have died at least 20 years ago.

The other winners were:

• William Barron of Borrowash – a 19th century gardener who designed the
  gardens at Elvaston Castle.

• Samuel Slater, Belper – known as the father of the American Industrial
  Revolution.

• John Smedley, Lea Bridge and Matlock − regarded as the man who made Matlock. Smedley turned his father’s ailing cotton mill at Lea Bridge into a highly
  successful enterprise.

• Alison Uttley, Cromford and Dethick − an author of more than 100 books,
  Uttley is most famous for the Little Grey Rabbit children’s stories based on her
  childhood at Castle Top Farm, Cromford, where she was born in 1884

Work is now under way to find locations for the plaques.

Dad’s Army star Arthur Lowe honoured with blue plaque

A blue plaque dedicated to Dad’s Army star Arthur Lowe was unveiled at his
Derbyshire birthplace by comedy co-star Ian Lavender.

Lavender, who played Private Pike in the long-running sitcom, was in Hayfield
to lead the tribute to the much-loved Captain Mainwaring actor.

The ceremony was organised by Derbyshire County Council following a vote on
its website.

Lavender said he thought Lowe would have been “chuffed” with the honour.