Richard Knight
Richard Knight is Screen Yorkshire’s production liaison and education manager. Before that he worked in the film industry mainly as a location manager. Richard lives in Sheffield with his partner Anita and their daughter.
What’s your first Yorkshire memory? My home county is Staffordshire and I was brought up on a farm, so my first encounter with the county was when my school arranged a trip for some sixth formers. We came up to Sheffield for an environmental conference – the highlight of which was undoubtedly the talk given by David Bellamy.
What’s your favourite part of the county – and why? The area that encircles Sheffield. I’m a member of a cycling group, and we call ourselves No Excuses Thursday – it’s a gang of fortysomething lads who, no matter what, congregate after work on that particular day and go off on a ten to 15-mile bike ride. The scenery as we roll along is stunning. It’s like going around the rim of the world, with lots of trails to choose from, and some wonderful views.
What’s your idea of a perfect day, or a perfect weekend, out in Yorkshire? It’ll be getting out as a family and having some time up near Coxwold and Easingwold. It’s a lovely part of the county.
Do you have a favourite ride, or view? Think of a beautifully clear and sunny day, and being at the very top of
Houndkirk Moor. Turn and look over Sheffield and, when the visibility is perfect, you can see to the Humber Estuary, and to Ferrybridge and the three power station cooling towers.
Which Yorkshire sportsman, past or present, would you like to take for lunch? Joe Root. I was at Headingley on the day when he made his maiden century and the place went ballistic for this extraordinarily talented young man. I had the pleasure of working with him on a commercial we were shooting in Sheffield, and I’ve never been one to be lost for words but, on this occasion, I was so in awe of this hugely talented and charismatic young man, that I couldn’t even pluck up the courage to tell him how much I admired him.
Which Yorkshire stage or screen star, past or present, would you like to take for dinner? Doncaster’s Dame Diana Rigg. One of my very first jobs was working as a runner (which is really a “general dogsbody”) on a period-set TV series that she did called The Mrs Bradley Mysteries, and she was so charming, kind and welcoming to this humble beginner.
If you had to name your Yorkshire ‘hidden gem’, what would it be? So many people think of the county being either big cities – or stone walls, sheep and glowering skies. I’d direct them to the Wolds, which are so soft and gentle and full of surprises around every corner. In particular, I’d offer that walk from the little car park down to the deserted village of Wharram Percy. You slip down into the valley and there’s the ruins of the church, and of the homes. It’s such a beautiful place.
If you could choose somewhere, or some object, from or in Yorkshire to own for a day, what would it be? Headingley cricket ground.
What do you think gives Yorkshire its unique identity? The landscape and the people. As far as the countryside is concerned, it is extraordinary in its variety – you can go from pancake flat in that area from Doncaster to Goole and over to the coast, and then you travel a few dozen miles north and you are on huge cliffs and rolling moors.
Do you have a favourite restaurant, or pub? My local, which is the
Greystones, in Sheffield. Nice people, great beers and a back room in which there are some first-class bands and singers. Oddly enough, a lot of our cycle trips seem to involve a call there!