PRESS RELEASE - Two blue plaques installed for historic local figures

Two blue plaques dedicated to historic local figures Matthew Buckham and John McClure have been installed in Hinckley town centre.

The two men were nominated by local historian Greg Drozdz, with the support of Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council Heritage Champion, Cllr Paul Williams.

McClure's plaque is installed at the junction of New buildings and Wood Street and Buckham's plaque is installed on the corner of Stockwell Head and New Buildings, Hinckley.

In a post about Buckham's plaque on a local Facebook page, Drozdz wrote: "President Buckham, the son of Rev James Buckham of the Independent Chapel, now United Reformed Church, was only two when the family emigrated from Hinckley to the USA, much like his contemporary Myra King Merrick (blue plaque Mansion Street). Sailing from the wharf at Hinckley, the canal system took the family to Liverpool and the New World.

"He is notable as the longest serving President of Vermont University, 39 years, and the President who opened up his university to women scholars in 1871. He was a Professor of Greek and English as well as a practicing minister."

In a similar post about the achievements of McClure, Drozdz said: "This lonely Lancastrian, non-conformist, school master, rose to great heights nationally. With a BA from London University, the object of coming to Hinckley (1878-1882) was to raise funds for further studies.

"He was instrumental in the development of Hinckley Coral Union based within the URC church. He went on to read mathematics at Trinity College, Cambridge but then turned to law studies and graduated LLB in 1886, later elevated to LLD. He was called to the bar in 1890.

"He was appointed headmaster of Mill Hill School in London in 1891 - then a small non-conformist school but now one of the preeminent public schools in England. From 1889 to 1894 he held a professorship in Astronomy at Queen's College, London. He was a leading member of the Association of Headmasters - Treasurer and President.

"He was awarded a Batchelor of Music Honours degree and and then became a Doctor of Music from London University. He was the national chairman of the Congregational Union in 1919. His important contributions to educational, musical and religious life led to his knighthood."

Cllr Paul Williams, Heritage Champion at the Borough Council said: "I am delighted that through the blue plaque scheme we can recognise these two local men, who both have made huge contributions to their individual careers and in their individual professions are widely renown."