Former Leeds Chancellor Melvyn Bragg’s first memoir dives deep into his childhood

Back In The Day: A Memoir by Melvyn Bragg is the broadcaster’s first memoir at age 82.

Former University of Leeds Chancellor Lord Melvyn Bragg has published his first memoir aged 82. 

Back In The Day: A Memoir recalls the writer and broadcaster’s childhood in Cumbria, beginning with his father’s return from the war and the family moving to the flat above the pub, at the heart of their community.  

In an interview with the Yorkshire Post, he said recent ill health spurred him to write the book, having previously been uninterested.  

He told the YP: “I thought if I could only ever write one more book what would it be about and I knew it had to be about the place and the people where I grew up.”  

Lord Bragg also said being asked to be Chancellor of the University of Leeds was a ‘surprise and a delight’. 

He told the YP:

I had 15 very interesting years there and in all that time I never met one student at Leeds who wasn’t having a wonderful time. 

Lord Bragg is set to appear at this year’s Ilkley Literature Festival (add AHC news story link), running from Friday 7 October to Sunday 23 October.  

For more information, visit the festival website. 

Picture of Lord Bragg via Wikimedia Commons.