Gavin Weightman (4 March 1945 – 18 December 2022) was a British journalist and documentary filmmaker who specialised in the social history of London and Britain from the 18th century.[1]
His books included The Making of Modern London, co-authored with Steve Humphries (recently re-issued by The Ebury Press); The Frozen Water Trade; Signor Marconi's Magic Box; and The Industrial Revolutionaries.[2] His journalism included many articles for New Society magazine in the 1970s.
Gavin Weightman was born on 4 March 1945 in Gosforth, Northumberland to Doreen (née Wade), a teacher and translator, and John Weightman, a broadcaster. The family lived in West Hampstead, but spent the summers in Northumberland. He attended Haberdashers' Boys' School with a scholarship, but left there aged 17 to start a career as a journalist.[3]
In 1974, he began work for New Society magazine. From 1978–1982, he worked as a reporter and presenter for The London Programme.[3]
For London Weekend Television, he produced and directed The Making of Modern London (1815–1914), The River Thames, Bright Lights Big City, Brave New Wilderness, and City Safari, among other series.[4]
Personal lifeedit
Weightman's first marriage to Myra Wilkins ended in divorce. Together they had two children.[3]
In 2009, Weightman married Clare Beaton, a children's author and illustrator after a long term relationship. They had one son.[3]
Weightman lived in north London and latterly concentrated on writing social history books.[5] He died at the Royal London Hospital on 18 December 2022, at the age of 77.[6]
Publications (selected)edit
1983: The Making of Modern London, 1815-1914 with Stephen Humphries (Sidgwick & Jackson)
1984: The Making of Modern London, 1914-1939 with Stephen Humphries (Sidgwick & Jackson)
1986: City Safari: Wildlife in London with Mike Birkhead (Sidgwick & Jackson)
1987: Christmas Past with Stephen Humphries (Sidgwick & Jackson)
1990: London River: The Thames Story (Collins & Brown)
1991: The Seaside (Collins & Brown)
1991: Picture Post Britain (Collins & Brown)
1991: London Past (Collins & Brown)
1992: Bright Lights, Big City: London entertained, 1830-1950 (Collins & Brown)
1992: Rescue: the history of Britain's emergency services (Boxtree, Channel Four)
1998: Polar Explorers (Explorers and Exploration series, Grolier Educational)
1998: North America (Explorers and Exploration series, Grolier Educational)
2003: Signor Marconi's Magic Box: The Most Remarkable Invention of the 19th Century & The Amateur Inventor Whose Genius Sparked a Revolution (Da Capo Press)
2003: What the Industrial Revolution Did for Us (BBC)
2003: The Frozen-Water Trade: a true story (Hyperion)
2005: London's Thames: the river that shaped a city and its history (St Martin's Press)
2007: The Industrial Revolutionaries: the creation of the modern world, 1776-1914 (Atlantic)
2007: The making of Modern London: a People's history of the Capital from 1815 to the present day (Ebury Press)
2011: Children of Light: how electricity changed Britain forever ( Atlantic)
2011: Restoration Home:the essential guide to tracing the history of your house (BBC Books)
2012: Secrets of a Titanic Victim: the story of the Real My Fair Lady ( backstory.la)
gavin, weightman, march, 1945, december, 2022, british, journalist, documentary, filmmaker, specialised, social, history, london, britain, from, 18th, century, born, 1945, march, 1945gosforth, northumberland, englanddied18, december, 2022, 2022, aged, whitecha. Gavin Weightman 4 March 1945 18 December 2022 was a British journalist and documentary filmmaker who specialised in the social history of London and Britain from the 18th century 1 Gavin WeightmanBorn 1945 03 04 4 March 1945Gosforth Northumberland EnglandDied18 December 2022 2022 12 18 aged 77 Whitechapel London EnglandChildren3His books included The Making of Modern London co authored with Steve Humphries recently re issued by The Ebury Press The Frozen Water Trade Signor Marconi s Magic Box and The Industrial Revolutionaries 2 His journalism included many articles for New Society magazine in the 1970s Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Publications selected 5 References 6 Gavin Weightman s Official WebsiteEarly life editGavin Weightman was born on 4 March 1945 in Gosforth Northumberland to Doreen nee Wade a teacher and translator and John Weightman a broadcaster The family lived in West Hampstead but spent the summers in Northumberland He attended Haberdashers Boys School with a scholarship but left there aged 17 to start a career as a journalist 3 In 1967 he started a degree in sociology at Bedford College London 3 Career editAfter leaving school Weightman worked on the Brighton and Evening Angus and the Richmond and Twickenham Times 3 In 1974 he began work for New Society magazine From 1978 1982 he worked as a reporter and presenter for The London Programme 3 For London Weekend Television he produced and directed The Making of Modern London 1815 1914 The River Thames Bright Lights Big City Brave New Wilderness and City Safari among other series 4 Personal life editWeightman s first marriage to Myra Wilkins ended in divorce Together they had two children 3 In 2009 Weightman married Clare Beaton a children s author and illustrator after a long term relationship They had one son 3 Weightman lived in north London and latterly concentrated on writing social history books 5 He died at the Royal London Hospital on 18 December 2022 at the age of 77 6 Publications selected edit1983 The Making of Modern London 1815 1914 with Stephen Humphries Sidgwick amp Jackson 1984 The Making of Modern London 1914 1939 with Stephen Humphries Sidgwick amp Jackson 1986 City Safari Wildlife in London with Mike Birkhead Sidgwick amp Jackson 1987 Christmas Past with Stephen Humphries Sidgwick amp Jackson 1990 London River The Thames Story Collins amp Brown 1991 The Seaside Collins amp Brown 1991 Picture Post Britain Collins amp Brown 1991 London Past Collins amp Brown 1992 Bright Lights Big City London entertained 1830 1950 Collins amp Brown 1992 Rescue the history of Britain s emergency services Boxtree Channel Four 1998 Polar Explorers Explorers and Exploration series Grolier Educational 1998 North America Explorers and Exploration series Grolier Educational 2003 Signor Marconi s Magic Box The Most Remarkable Invention of the 19th Century amp The Amateur Inventor Whose Genius Sparked a Revolution Da Capo Press 2003 What the Industrial Revolution Did for Us BBC 2003 The Frozen Water Trade a true story Hyperion 2005 London s Thames the river that shaped a city and its history St Martin s Press 2007 The Industrial Revolutionaries the creation of the modern world 1776 1914 Atlantic 2007 The making of Modern London a People s history of the Capital from 1815 to the present day Ebury Press 2011 Children of Light how electricity changed Britain forever Atlantic 2011 Restoration Home the essential guide to tracing the history of your house BBC Books 2012 Secrets of a Titanic Victim the story of the Real My Fair Lady backstory la 2015 Eureka how invention happens Yale University Press 2020 The Great Inoculator The untold story of Daniel Sutton and his medical revolution Yale University Press References edit Gavin Weightman HarperCollins Archived from the original on 27 September 2011 Retrieved 24 April 2009 Amazon com gavin weightman Amazon a b c d e f Taylor John 3 February 2023 Gavin Weightman obituary The Guardian Gavin Weightman Archived from the original on 2 March 2011 Gavin Weightman Official Website Gavin Weightman Biography Children of Light Frozen Water Trade Industrial Revolutionaries Gavin Weightman death notice The Times 24 December 2022 Retrieved 24 December 2022 subscription required The British Library has many faculty reading lists clarification needed Gavin Weightman s Official Website editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gavin Weightman amp oldid 1218639194, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
