I live in Salford. The once vibrant market is now an Aldi, grey tracksuit bottoms are the predominant sartorial choice and so much is being sold off to foreign investors. The council is a disgrace. However, Miss Delaney is right, Salford is like a "terrible drug"; I too am addicted and don't want to leave.
An incredibly moving film and what a lovely woman Shelagh was; not only did she possess a unique talent, clearly informed by her true understanding of the people of her home town, but she was also very nice, (I know that we are not meant to use that word, but she really was). I love her intelligent observations, delivered in a gentle, non-strident manner. The Salford at the time of the film appears to be a vibrant and happy place, despite its poverty. RIP Shelagh Delaney
So matter of fact but articulate at the same time. Morrissey nicked her style of language. Loved this bit: 'The chaos of middle age. Too late to start again and too early to give up.'
Borne in Salford, suffered the same fillings, except I got away, 60 years later I have reconnected with my home through my sister, I feel the pull to return, but due to my health the pandemic I can not return just yet. I look back at my childhood and am thankful for the experience I had the schools I went to and my family. For some reason out of the 6 kids 4 became nurses, I worked at Salford Royal. Anyway it is good that I am able to use RU-vid to look back. Thanks.
Most everybody feels connected to their hometown - wherever they're from. That's not uncommon. Most people also want to escape from there, too. That's a natural for part of growing. I sure do hope you found wholeness in your life
Monitor was one of the BBC's gems. The theme music (Dag Wiren's Serenade for Strings) and Huw Wheldon's reassuring, knowledgeable voice, set us up for a weekly treat. And this is one of Ken Russell's early films, when he was learning and developing his craft, with a superb subject, Shelah Delaney. This is the north of England of my earliest childhood. Unlike Delaney, I was happy to escape it. But the memories are powerful, and the place is superbly captured here. What a wonderful discovery.
I have only just discovered this lady Shelagh Delaney . she most certianly gives a fascinating insight into Northern life. I shall most certainly take an interest in learning more about her and her writings
Shelagh Delaney was a brilliant young woman - failed by UK Education - but her mind was more alive, creative than most English Literature Professors - and ten time more talented A beautiful raw talent - like Joe Orton - John Braine - and Keith Waterhouse. we were fortunate to have so much talent exploding and the same time.....
Delaney was very much a voice of her time. The 'Kitchen Sink' genre was always in danger of being taken over by middle-class pretenders, but writers like Delaney (and, not forgetting, Sillitoe, McGrath, Waterhouse etc) gave it the air of authenticity that presented the struggles of the common folk in a lively and engaging way.
Gee Shelagh is so right, and describes my life so well. I was a restless one, born 1946, and raised in what was then Salford 5. Army at 16, emigrated at 27, and have had a great life for a Salford lad who's headmaster said would end up in the bowels of ships. How wrong was he. Also faces I remember from my younger years shown in this video.
This is a fantastic document of the era. Got to say she was very easy on the eye back then, and also comes out as very intelligent woman and a good observer of everyday life.
Fascinating interview. She makes many deep and intelligent observations about her life and society in general. She also has a languid sensuality about her which is appealing.
Thanks for posting ,it is sad she is no longer alive, but her spirit and zest for life will live on , remember watching a scene being shot in the church yard by the old Market Hall in Stockport, for the Film" A Taste of Honey" about 1960. This was attapted from Shelagh Delaney,s stage play which had been staged in the West End and on Broadway. The film by Tony Richardson was shot around Manchester also in Blackpool. .
What a fascinating portrait of this smart emancipated selfmade woman and of her hometown Salford. Her views on the restlessness of the people and the architecture of the new suburbs are spot on. Would have loved to hear her views on whatever subjects.
Fascinating interview w/ a very talented & insightful lady. I grew up in a working class Irish Catholic section of Cleveland,Ohio. It is interesting how similar to each other are these various industrial towns and the people who lived in them.
Wow! a special talent with the ability to transfer life and surroundings she observed to the written word, which she transferred to theatre and film which ignited both genres. Some truly magical accomplishment.
Feminists owe her a big debt but then so does the average man who appreciates a smart and down to earth, earthy woman. It took a concerted group to create the sexual revolution and Shelagh work is the strongest effort waged in British theatre for certain. Nothing as yet has come along to properly take off where she let. May Shelagh will continue to inspire. Bless her.
The lad heading the ball could have given Sterling a lesson in balance...typing this the day after City caved in to Chelsea in FA Cup semi-final 2021...
Shelagh Delaney, a true original. And thoroughly unaffected in spite of her early success. She ought to have had a longer theatrical career. We let her go as Jeanette Winterson said.
Kiitos. "A Taste of Honey" As I am writing this I am listening to Swedish Public Service radio play "Doft av Honung" from the 60s. Thanks for the upload
Shelagh - if you ever get to read this I was very touched by the recent repeat of your 1960 Monitor. So much of what you had to say could easily apply to nowadays half a century later! You were ahead of your time in your thinking. How are you nowadays? Shame we can't see some more of your broadcasts. All the best.
It's striking how contemporary she seems. She was definitely a woman well ahead of her time. To have that kind of talent and courage at such a young age was remarkable.
Yes, thank you for posting this. Thank you very much! I had seen it a few years ago at the NFT in London. And, this very evening I am going to see the fabulous Lesley Sharpe play Dora Brian's role in the film version on stage at the National Theatre. I am a Ken Russell fan!!! And, his genius was apparent way back then....
6:32 The days when factories would dump chemical waste directly into canals and rivers. The River Mersey was also in a terrible state in 1960 with hardly any marine life. At least now there are stringent pollution laws in the U.K.
I got away from Salford... but I miss it dearly.. the lower Broughton I grew up in is long demolished , even the very streets I knew have gone. It's tragic what it's become...proper Salford lass, god bless her.
I wonder if the housing estate at around 10:00 is still standing, it was probably just a few years old when this was filmed. And the terrible pollution at 14:50 and also in the canals and rivers, I didn't realise that pollution was so bad.
the late Shelagh Delaney was truly beautiful, inside and out; her passion was in her work, and she is seen as a passionate woman in this wonderful film.
Fascinating clip, I think Sheila was prescient in speaking about the restlessness in Salford and probably across the country. The swinging 60s was on its way..
She could be talking about today, still relevant. Housing, education, social depression, just plain dead end nothing to look forward to for the young.I'm from Dublin and twinned with Manchester, mirror image. ✊☘️
Pretty lady and well spoken. I would have liked to know which secondary modern schools she went to and then which Grammar school she was moved to.... I would think she was moved to the grammar because they noticed she did have potential to go onto academic qualifications if she wanted.
@MRGRAYMUSIC Your gran was and will always be a great woman and important influence on so many-many who have no idea. Feminists owe her a big debt but then so does the average man who appreciates a smart and down to earth, earthy woman. It took a concerted group to create the sexual revolution and Shelagh work is the strongest effort waged in British theatre for certain. Nothing as yet has come along to properly take off where she let. Shelagh Delaney 1939-2011
A nice portrait but it's very restrained for a film by Ken Russell. What is that frothy substance in the river? "Even the river's romantic....if you can stand the smell."
Most of the effluent dumped in the Irwell at that time was byproduct of the textile industry. Bleach, dye and detergent churned up into a stinking froth which unfortunately binds itself to sewage. I lived in Salford from the late 70s until a few years ago. It took until the early 2000s to really noticeably recover.
She is magnificent! From her Wiki: 'Morrissey said, "I've never made any secret of the fact that at least 50 per cent of my reason for writing can be blamed on Shelagh Delaney."' BTW, who's the man at 1:15 - her hubby? He seems a bit dour, or maybe even pissed off at the film crew being in his house.
