Laurence Westgaph
Encyclopedia
Laurence Westgaph is a British historian
, activist and television presenter, specialising in British black history and slavery
.
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. His ancestors also hail from Barbados and he is a descendant of slave trader Robert Cox
Westgaph left school at the age of 16. In 2008 he completed a Masters at in Atlantic History at Liverpool University.
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.
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.
His first media work was a column he wrote in the Liverpool Echo
newspaper.
Westgraph has appeared in a number of BBC
TV and radio programmes. He worked on Inside Out
and worked with Melvin Bragg on the BBC Radio Four 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. Other figures he has worked with include John Peel
and Trevor Philips.
He is a founder member of the Liverpool Black Leadership Forum and is currently writing his first book and working on a PhD.
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.
In 2000 he given a community order after being found to have had sex with a 15 year old girl. However the judge noted that she had given "every impression" of being older. He was declared bankrupt in 2008 with his discharge suspended indefinitely.
, Liverpool. He had a relationship with Natalie Inge and they have a child.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, activist and television presenter, specialising in British black history and slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
.
Early years and education
Westgaph was born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
in 1975 to a mother of Nigerian descent and a Jamaican father. He grew up in the inner city area of Toxteth
Toxteth
Toxteth is an inner city area of Liverpool, England. Located to the south of the city, Toxteth is bordered by Liverpool City Centre, Dingle, Edge Hill, Wavertree and Aigburth.-Description:...
, with his father returning to the West Indies when he was a baby. His ancestors also hail from Barbados and he is a descendant of slave trader Robert Cox
Robert Cox
Robert Cox may refer to:* Robert E. Cox , American optician and telescope maker* Robert Edward Cox , American Medal of Honor recipient* Robert O. Cox, mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 1988–1991...
Westgaph left school at the age of 16. In 2008 he completed a Masters at in Atlantic History at Liverpool University.
Career
Westgaph's began work as a modelModel (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
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.
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.
His first media work was a column he wrote in the Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
The Liverpool Echo is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is published Monday to Saturday, and is Liverpool's evening newspaper while its sister paper, the Liverpool Daily Post, is the morning paper...
newspaper.
Westgraph has appeared in a number of BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
TV and radio programmes. He worked on Inside Out
Inside Out
Inside Out was a hardcore punk band from Orange County, California. It was fronted by Zack de la Rocha, later of Rage Against the Machine.-Biography:...
and worked with Melvin Bragg on the BBC Radio Four 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
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
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. Other figures he has worked with include John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
and Trevor Philips.
He is a founder member of the Liverpool Black Leadership Forum and is currently writing his first book and working on a PhD.
Legal issues
In September 2009 Westgaph was convicted of grievous bodily harmGrievous bodily harm
Grievous bodily harm is a term of art used in English criminal law which has become synonymous with the offences that are created by sections 18 and 20 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861....
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.
In 2000 he given a community order after being found to have had sex with a 15 year old girl. However the judge noted that she had given "every impression" of being older. He was declared bankrupt in 2008 with his discharge suspended indefinitely.
Personal life
He lives with his mother in Edge HillEdge Hill
Edge Hill may refer to:Australia*Edge Hill, Queensland, inner suburb of Cairns, Queensland, Australia and home to Botanical Gardens*Edge Hill State School in Edge Hill, QueenslandUnited Kingdom*Edge Hill, Merseyside, a district of Liverpool, England...
, Liverpool. He had a relationship with Natalie Inge and they have a child.