18/02/2021
New book ‘A Brush with the Past’ celebrates Allan Brigham’s legacy of Cambridge local history
A new book has been published of Cambridge local history written by popular local historian Allan Brigham, who died last year. Allan was working on the publication until his death in September, and its title ‘A Brush with the Past’ is a nod to his job as a City Council road sweeper.
Allan swept the streets of Cambridge for almost four decades. He was also an accomplished Blue Badge Guide, leading history tours around the city for thousands of tourists and residents. Rather than focusing on the more traditional history and buildings of the University, Allan’s ever popular ‘Town not Gown’ tours highlighted the lives of the ordinary people of Cambridge. With tales of iron foundries, railways, council housing and baths, he brought their stories to life.
‘A Brush with the Past’ brings together nine of Allan’s local history research interests, including published articles and lectures, and is richly illustrated with archive images plus a selection of Allan’s own photographs of the city he loved. The book has been edited by fellow local historian Becky Proctor, who worked with Allan for many years at the Cambridge Folk Museum (now the Museum of Cambridge) and on the recent Mill Road History Project.
Becky says, “It was a real privilege to work with Allan on his book. Readers will enjoy nine chapters of Allan’s most popular articles and talks, all written in his own inimitable style which made him such an incredibly successful tour guide and lecturer. Over the years I went on many of Allan’s tours, and the book gives me a sense that Allan is still guiding us round the city!”
You can buy the book for £10 (plus £2.20 second class postage) through this link: https://hannahbrigham.wixsite.com/allanbrigham
