Laurence Westgaph
Laurence Westgaph (born 28 February 1975), is a political activist and television presenter, specialising in British black history and slavery.[1]
Early years and education
Westgaph was born in Liverpool in 1975 to a mother of Nigerian descent and a Jamaican father. He grew up in the inner city area of Toxteth, with his father returning to the West Indies when he was a baby.[2] His ancestors also hail from Barbados and he is a descendant of slave trader Robert Cox.[3][4]
Westgaph left school at the age of 16. In 2008 he completed a Masters in Atlantic History at Liverpool University.[5]
Career
Westgaph began work as a model in Liverpool. He invested his earnings in property in the deprived Toxteth area of Liverpool. Westgaph became a vocal campaigner for regeneration of the area, helping to introduce new business and housing developments into the area, also speaking out against racism.[2]
Westgaph was given a Black Achievers Award for his work raising the profile of the history of Liverpool. He had produced a pamphlet titled "Read the signs" examining the history of Liverpool street names.[6]
His first media work was a column he wrote in the Liverpool Echo newspaper.[2]
Westgraph has appeared in a number of BBC TV and radio programmes. He worked on Inside Out and worked with Melvyn Bragg on the BBC Radio 4 programme The Routes of English, discussing slavery. He was part of a team who made a series for the History Channel in 2008 called 50 Things You Need To Know About British History. However it faced criticism for failing to include the likes of Winston Churchill and Queen Victoria. Westgaph also filmed a documentary for the History Channel titled Britain's Slavery Secrets, examining the slave trade's contribution to Britain.[5][2] Other figures he has worked with include John Peel and Trevor Phillips.
He is a founder member of the Liverpool Black Leadership Forum and is currently writing his first book and working on a PhD.[7] He produced a guide to Liverpool's involvement in the Atlantic slave trade for Historic England and gives walking tours in Liverpool covering the topic.[8][9]
Legal issues
In September 2009 he was convicted of grievous bodily harm after attacking a friend who had begun in a relationship with Westgaph's ex-partner. The victim was repeatedly punched and left with a broken eye socket as a result of the attack. Westgaph was given a nine-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.[10]
Personal life
He lives with his mother in Edge Hill, Liverpool.[2] He had a relationship with Natalie Inge and they have a child.[11]
References
- ^ Young, Lola (15 March 2007). "Lola Young on myths and ignorance surrounding the slave trade" – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ a b c d e "A very chequered history: The story behind the rise of the BBC historian who tore off his love rival's ear is deeply unsettling". Mail Online.
- ^ "BBC Inside Out -". www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ Wallace, Elizabeth Kowaleski (11 January 2006). "The British Slave Trade and Public Memory". Columbia University Press – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Historian and television presenter attacks best friend over girlfriend" Telegraph
- ^ "English Heritage". www.english-heritage.org.uk.
- ^ http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/site/On_Screen_Talent_Directory.pdf
- ^ Rossi, Alex (6 July 2020). "Black Lives Matter: The sinister history of slave trade behind Liverpool's magnificent monuments". Sky News. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Black Lives Matter: Liverpool 'not doing enough' over slavery links". BBC News. 8 June 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Jilted historian attacked friend". 4 September 2009 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ Britten, Caroline Gammell and Nick (5 August 2009). "Historian and television presenter attacks best friend over girlfriend" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.