Latest news with #NathanMurdoch
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Mural of Peterborough strongman legend Walter Cornelius unveiled
A mural celebrating a "well-loved" strongman, lifeguard and entertainer has been completed in the city that became his Cornelius, who fled his native Latvia in the 1940s and settled in Peterborough, was known for stunts such as pushing a pea with his nose for a mile (1.6km) and attempting to fly across the River artwork was painted by local artist Nathan Murdoch on the back of the former TK Maxx and Woolworths building on Wentworth said when he found out about Mr Cornelius' story, he wondered: "Why is there not more about him in the city?" Mr Murchoch added he had received a great response on social media from people who knew the strongman, who died aged 60 in 1983. "The tales coming are really interesting and he was a very well-known and well-loved person of the city," he said. Mr Cornelius became a favourite with TV viewers after he first appeared on BBC children's programme Blue Peter in 1967, performing a stunt in which presenters Christopher Trace and John Noakes battered his body with returned to the show several times, but his summer day job was as a lifeguard at the lido in Peterborough, where he taught generations of children to swim. Mr Cornelius made the city his home after rowing 400 miles across the Baltic with a Russian bullet wound in his stomach, according to his friend Chris feats included breaking more than 50 World Records and walking on his hands for 153 miles (246km), said Mr Allen. He became known as the "birdman of Peterborough" after an unsuccessful attempt to fly across the Nene for charity on a pair of homemade wings. Yet, the only acknowledgement of Mr Cornelius's story and achievements in the city was a "birdman" silhouette weathervane at the Lido. So Peterborough Positive, the city's Business Improvement District (BID), decided to commission the mural. Pep Cipriano, its chief operating officer, said: "Walter was a colourful, eccentric character and lots of people have great memories of when he was fulfilling all these feats, including going on Blue Peter."He became a Peterborough celebrity and needed to be honoured - but he was also a lifeguard at the Lido and with its 90th anniversary next year; it's a nod to one of its most famous employees."He hopes the publicity will see more people coming forward to share their stories of Mr Cornelius, whose life he described as "a Hollywood film waiting to happen". Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Charity blown away by support to keep green space
A charity fighting to save its open green space from being turned into a housing development said it had been "blown away" by the community's support. The Green Backyard forms part of a plot on London Road, where Peterborough City Council suggested 48 homes could be built under its draft Local Plan. On Saturday, more than 600 people attended a community day to campaign against the idea. City artist Nathan Murdoch from Street Arts Hire supported the event by painting a mural of a girl trying to stop a bulldozer. The council encouraged residents to take part in a consultation on the proposals and said "the plan is still in draft form". Mr Murdoch was joined by other artists from Angry Pencils and local children who created their own art. Charity trustee Lewis Vurnam said the "powerful picture" reflected the situation. "Pictures speak a thousand words, and this one highlights our situation - It is a poignant one," he said. "On Saturday, it was beautiful to see the community come together for a positive cause. "The need for housing is apparent. But with those houses comes the need for infrastructure and green spaces. It is about working with council planners to see how we can keep this place." The organisation, set up in 2009, runs several projects, including the Men Shed, the community payback scheme and community gardening projects for adults and young people. Julie Danby, who runs Refill Revolution at the site, described it as an "oasis in the middle of the city centre". "It is really sad they want to take this away," she said. "There is hardly any open space in this part of the city. People are horrified it would be turned into houses. "We need everyone to comment on the draft plan and share their views on why the Green Backyard is so important for them and why they want to protect it. "We understand there needs to be new houses, but this is not the place for it." The council's consultation on its Draft Local Plan runs until 29 May. A council spokesperson said: "At this stage, the plan is still in draft form, so the public's feedback is essential in helping shape later versions. I encourage everyone to have their say." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Community garden threatened by housing plan Residents asked for views on 20-year city plan The Green Backyard Peterborough City Council
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Charity blown away by support to keep green space
A charity fighting to save its open green space from being turned into a housing development said it had been "blown away" by the community's support. The Green Backyard forms part of a plot on London Road, where Peterborough City Council suggested 48 homes could be built under its draft Local Plan. On Saturday, more than 600 people attended a community day to campaign against the idea. City artist Nathan Murdoch from Street Arts Hire supported the event by painting a mural of a girl trying to stop a bulldozer. The council encouraged residents to take part in a consultation on the proposals and said "the plan is still in draft form". Mr Murdoch was joined by other artists from Angry Pencils and local children who created their own art. Charity trustee Lewis Vurnam said the "powerful picture" reflected the situation. "Pictures speak a thousand words, and this one highlights our situation - It is a poignant one," he said. "On Saturday, it was beautiful to see the community come together for a positive cause. "The need for housing is apparent. But with those houses comes the need for infrastructure and green spaces. It is about working with council planners to see how we can keep this place." The organisation, set up in 2009, runs several projects, including the Men Shed, the community payback scheme and community gardening projects for adults and young people. Julie Danby, who runs Refill Revolution at the site, described it as an "oasis in the middle of the city centre". "It is really sad they want to take this away," she said. "There is hardly any open space in this part of the city. People are horrified it would be turned into houses. "We need everyone to comment on the draft plan and share their views on why the Green Backyard is so important for them and why they want to protect it. "We understand there needs to be new houses, but this is not the place for it." The council's consultation on its Draft Local Plan runs until 29 May. A council spokesperson said: "At this stage, the plan is still in draft form, so the public's feedback is essential in helping shape later versions. I encourage everyone to have their say." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Community garden threatened by housing plan Residents asked for views on 20-year city plan The Green Backyard Peterborough City Council
BBC News
14-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Peterborough artists support campaign to stop house building
A charity fighting to save its open green space from being turned into a housing development said it had been "blown away" by the community's Green Backyard forms part of a plot on London Road, where Peterborough City Council suggested 48 homes could be built under its draft Local Saturday, more than 600 people attended a community day to campaign against the artist Nathan Murdoch from Street Arts Hire supported the event by painting a mural of a girl trying to stop a bulldozer. The council encouraged residents to take part in a consultation on the proposals and said "the plan is still in draft form". Mr Murdoch was joined by other artists from Angry Pencils and local children who created their own trustee Lewis Vurnam said the "powerful picture" reflected the situation."Pictures speak a thousand words, and this one highlights our situation - It is a poignant one," he said. "On Saturday, it was beautiful to see the community come together for a positive cause."The need for housing is apparent. But with those houses comes the need for infrastructure and green spaces. It is about working with council planners to see how we can keep this place." The organisation, set up in 2009, runs several projects, including the Men Shed, the community payback scheme and community gardening projects for adults and young Danby, who runs Refill Revolution at the site, described it as an "oasis in the middle of the city centre"."It is really sad they want to take this away," she said. "There is hardly any open space in this part of the city. People are horrified it would be turned into houses."We need everyone to comment on the draft plan and share their views on why the Green Backyard is so important for them and why they want to protect it."We understand there needs to be new houses, but this is not the place for it."The council's consultation on its Draft Local Plan runs until 29 May.A council spokesperson said: "At this stage, the plan is still in draft form, so the public's feedback is essential in helping shape later versions. I encourage everyone to have their say." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
