Nelson History Trail Could Feature Cricketer and Suffragette

Nelson may get a new town trail. The trail would highlight key people and events. Learie Constantine and Selina Cooper could be featured. Nelson Town Board discussed these ideas recently. They oversee regeneration work that is funded.

Learie Constantine played cricket. He came to England in the late 1920s and played for Nelson Cricket Club. People called him ‘Our Connie’. He was a top player.

Constantine fought racism. He later became a broadcaster and then served as a high commissioner. He became Britain’s first black peer in 1969.

Selina Cooper started working at age 12 in a textile mill. She campaigned for women’s voting rights. In 1889, she joined the Cotton Worker’s Union and the Women’s Co-operative Guild.

She advised workers who could not afford doctors. She spoke for women’s votes to a Prime Minister in 1910.

Some people want a Selina Cooper statue, but money for it went to another project. They may do something with pavements instead. Learie Constantine was a key Nelson cricketer. There is a gap in celebrating local heroes.

More money might become available for this. The town deal has project deadlines this year. New ideas might use a Long Term Plan.

The Plan has extra money over ten years and will fund smaller projects phased over time. There might be art in street paving, a council member suggested. He mentioned other historical figures too.

The council member suggested finding more money for art. Sponsorship could also help fund projects. Project leaders should explore multiple funding opportunities.

Constantine and Cooper are in a project called Pendle Radicals. It involves guided walks and information. The Clarion House links to history. Councils and the Heritage Fund support it.