Hometown honour for Sally
ACCLAIMED screenwriter and director Sally Wainwright has been bestowed with her hometown’s highest honour.
Sally, who grew up in Halifax, was made an Honorary Freewoman of the Borough of Calderdale, at Halifax Town Hall, on Wednesday evening.
The screenwriter, series creator, producer and director has won numerous top TV accolades including BAFTAs and Royal Television Society (RTS) awards.
These are for her work on primetime drama series including Gentleman Jack, Last Tango in Halifax and Happy Valley.
Her latest creation Gentleman Jack, starring Suranne Jones as the diarist, businesswoman and ‘first modern lesbian’ Ann Lister, has been shortlisted for an RTS award for Best Drama Series.
Around 150 people, including Sally’s family, Calderdale dignitaries and folk duo O’Hooley and Tidow who wrote and performed the Gentleman Jack theme, packed into the Victoria Hall for the ceremony.
It began with a formal procession with mayor of Calderdale Clr Dot Foster, Calderdale chief executive Robin Tuddenham, council leader Tim Swift and Sally.
It was followed by a rendition of the Gentleman Jack theme by the Calderdale Choir.
Sally, who was born in Huddersfield, signed the roll of honorary freedom, before accepting her freedom scroll from Clr Foster and unveiling her new plaque.
She joins a pantheon of Halifax residents, including Paralympian Hannah Cockroft and soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment, as free citizens of the borough.
Accepting the award Sally said: “I’ve been very lucky over the last few years.
“I’ve been given a few awards and accolades but being given my Freedom of the Borough in Halifax, my hometown, is the best.”
She added: “It’s really fantastic.”
Sally also paid tribute to Ann Lister.
She said: “That’s why we’re here today – because of Ann Lister.”
Visitor numbers to the Shibden Hall and estate – Ann and the Lister family’s home – have more than trebled since the estate featured on Gentleman Jack.
Visits to the nearby Bankfield Museum in Halifax, where costumes from the series were on display last year, almost trebled.
Local businesses, museums, hotels, events and attractions have reported an increase in income and there has been significant growth in the number of international visitors since the series first aired in spring 2019.
A second series of Gentleman Jack is currently in production while a fifth series of Last Tango in Halifax is currently showing on BBC1.
The ceremony closed with a performance of True Colors (originally performed by Cyndi Lauper) by the Calderdale Choir and a video featuring tributes to Sally from stars of her programmes, including Sarah Lancashire.