City mourns loss of a giant

A longstanding friend and admirer of Leicester

The city of Leicester joined in tributes to film icon Lord Richard Attenborough, who died on Sunday just five days short of what would have been his 91st birthday.

During a movie career which spanned several decades, Lord Attenborough starred in the classic films The Great Escape, Brighton Rock and Jurassic Park, as well as earning two Academy Awards for his work on 1982 biopic Gandhi.

Although born in Cambridge, he was brought up in Leicester, where his father was principal of University College (later Leicester University) and his mother chaired the board of the Little Theatre. Together with his brother David, who would become equally distinguished as a naturalist and broadcaster, he attended the Wyggeston Boys’ Grammar School, and credited the city as a significant influence on his outlook on life. Indeed, it was at the Little Theatre where he gave many of his earliest acting performances.

A passionate advocate of social inclusion, Lord Attenborough co-founded the Embrace Arts Centre at the University of Leicester, which promotes and encourages engagement in the arts by people with disabilities. He also entrusted the city of Leicester with his collection of ceramics by the artist Pablo Picasso, which are on permanent display at the New Walk Museum. Both he and David were made Honorary Freemen of the City of Leicester in November 1989.

Although he retained a great affection for Leicester throughout his life, which was evident in a message he sent to the then Lord Mayor in 2011, it was not entirely unlimited. When moving to west London in the late 1940s to pursue his acting career, Attenborough became a keen supporter of Chelsea Football Club, and served as a director for 13 years before stepping down due to work commitments in 1982. He subsequently held a number of roles before being made Life President of the Club in 2008.

In a statement whose sentiments will be echoed by many who had the privilege to work with him, Chelsea said, “Lord Attenborough was a thoroughly lovely and talented man who used his fame and influence for the good of the many causes close to his heart. We will always be grateful that our football club was one of them.”

Ironically, Chelsea’s final game during his lifetime was a 2-0 home victory against Leicester City.

Lord Attenborough is survived by his wife Sheila, two brothers and two of his three children. There will be many in Leicester and elsewhere who will feel and share in the family’s loss.