Young Richard Attenborough locked brother in padded cell in former asylum
SON OF LORD REVEALS PRANK RECALLING PROUD HISTORY AS PART OF CENTENARY PROJECT
MICHAEL Attenborough CBE, son of actor-director Richard, Lord Attenborough, has given an exclusive insight into his father’s childhood in Leicester alongside brothers, Sir David and John.
The theatre director and member of the famous dynasty has recorded his anecdotes for a “spoken-word installation” at the University of Leicester, which is marking its centenary this year.
It is part of the university’s contribution to the Rocket Round Leicester public art event which is raising funds for Loros hospice.
Michael recalls the Attenboroughs’ childhood in Leicester, including one prank which saw the young Richard lock David in a padded cell in the former Leicestershire and Rutland County Lunatic Asylum, now part of the university’s campus and called the Fielding Johnson Building.
Recounting a “proud” history in Leicester, the spoken installation will be made available to visitors to the university’s giant rocket sculpture in Centenary Square, metres away from College House, on the university campus where the boys lived as children.
The rocket sculpture, dubbed the “Relaxing Rocket”, was designed by artist Betti Moretti and inspired by the work and passions of Sir David and his brother Richard, as well as Leicester’s long-standing heritage of space research and exploration. Rocket Round Leicester is set to become the biggest art event the city has ever seen, where 40 giant rocket sculptures will land at locations across the city from this week until the end of September. Setting the scene of his family’s shared history with the university, Michael said: “We’ve always been very proud as a family of our association with Leicester, and I remember well coming to the university for the opening of the 18-storey Arts Tower, which is named for my grandfather Fred.
“Many, many, many years later I was asked to deliver a lecture on Shakespeare and walking through the door to that building was, as I am sure you can imagine, an emotional moment.” Michael’s grandfather Frederick was the second principal of University College – later renamed the University of Leicester – and moved into College House with wife Mary and his three sons in 1932.
Professor Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, said: “We are very grateful to Michael for sharing such touching – and sometimes amusing – tales of his family’s association with our University.
“It goes without saying that we are incredibly proud of the indelible contribution which the Attenboroughs’ have made to our heritage in the university’s first 100 years.”
Michael is patron of the Attenborough Arts Centre, the university’s public arts programme, and regularly meets with Vice-Chancellor Professor Canagarajah.
Rocket Round blasts off, Page 11
We’ve always been very proud as a family of our association with Leicester
Michael Attenborough, pictured above