Artist Harold Riley unveils Shelagh Delaney plaque

Artist Harold Riley has unveiled a plaque on the childhood home of his late friend – renowned playwright Shelagh Delaney.

Mr Riley, who was born and bred in Salford, unveiled the commemorative plaque today (Wednesday) during a special ceremony organised by Salix Homes, as we know manage the semi-detached house on Duchy Road where Shelagh grew up.

Mr Riley was great friends with Shelagh Delaney and was honoured to unveil the plaque on her former home, where the writer lived until she was 22.

Mr Riley shared his fond memories of Shelagh who he first met when she was a pupil at Pendleton High School.

He said: I am very honoured to come and unveil this plaque for Shelagh. She was one of the people in my life that I loved very much. We first got to know each other at school. We were, as they say in Salford, ‘going out together’.

Shelagh was always very forthright, she was a person with great charisma and she was beautiful. The most interesting thing about her, more than anything else, was the warmth inside her. And more than anything else, she shouldn’t be forgotten.

Shelagh Delaney, who was born on November 25, 1938, was one of the first working class, female playwrights, who famously penned critically acclaimed play A Taste of Honey when she was just 18-years-old.

A Taste of Honey, which tackled controversial issues of its era, was set in 1950s Salford and enjoyed a run of success on Broadway before it was adapted into an award-winning film in 1961.

Salix Homes has installed the plaque on Shelagh Delaney’s childhood home in recognition of her contribution to Salford and the arts and to mark the inaugural year of Shelagh Delaney Day, which takes place on November 25.

Sue Sutton, our chief executive, said: Shelagh Delaney was one of the greatest writers of her time and Salix Homes is very proud to install this commemorative plaque on her former home. It was in this house that Shelagh Delaney was inspired to write her most famous work – A Taste of Honey – and this plaque will help ensure her legacy lives on for generations to come.

We are delighted that Harold Riley was able to perform this ceremony for us today. Like Shelagh Delaney, we know Mr Riley is a very proud Salfordian who is passionate about this great city and the fact that he and Shelagh were such great friends makes it even more fitting that he should be here on this momentous occasion.

World-renowned artist Mr Riley, who did a pen and pastel portrait of Shelagh Delaney in the 1960s, has dedicated much of his own career to capturing Salford and its people through his paintings, drawings and photographs.

His deep affection for the city cemented his famous friendship with L.S Lowry, who he first met when he was a student, and the pair worked on a project together to document life in Salford through their art.

Shelagh Delaney, who sadly died in November 2011, will also be remembered later this year during the inaugural Shelagh Delaney Day on November 25, which would have been her 76th birthday.

Mayor of Salford Ian Stewart added: Shelagh Delaney was only 18 when her creativity and talent burst onto the national consciousness and it was from right here, in the heart of Salford, that this young woman wrote of her experiences of her hometown. She truly represents the Spirit of Salford.

I hope that this is just the beginning of a continuing honouring and recognition of Shelagh Delaney, her contribution to the artistic life of the city and her position as an inspirational figure for generations of Salfordians to come.

The main celebrations for Shelagh Delaney Day will take place at Salford Arts Theatre and the event will be marked with a host of film screenings, performances, art and competitions.