Steel City Survivors Richard Hawley, Pete McKee, Nick Banks and more celebrated in inspirational new book – buy here
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From famous faces to unsung heroes, Neil Anderson’s new book celebrates more than 40 people who helped reinvent Sheffield – with profits supporting homeless young people, writes Graham Walker.
Stars turned out for a city that refused to give in.
Richard Hawley, Pete McKee and Pulp drummer Nick Banks joined a celebration of Sheffield’s remarkable reinvention as a new book supporting young people facing homelessness enjoyed a hugely successful launch.
Steel City Survivors, by author and social historian Neil Anderson, was unveiled at the city’s Factory Floor venue.
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It can also be bought here dirtystopouts.com and is available at Waterstones in Sheffield.
Many of the book’s 40-plus contributors attended, joining guests from entertainment, sport and business for an evening celebrating the determination and creativity that helped reshape the city.
Former sports minister Richard Caborn was also among those attending the launch, held just days after Sheffield was shortlisted for UK City of Culture 2029.
There was even a surprise appearance from TV quiz giant Mark Labbett, better known to millions as The Beast from ITV's The Chase.
Although he doesn't feature in the book, South yorkshire based Mark, a Sheffield United fan, was there to support a friend who runs pub quizzes in Sheffield – and perhaps swot up on a few fascinating facts about the Steel City himself!
And with a room packed with people who helped shape Sheffield's history, he couldn't have picked a better place to brush up on his local knowledge.
Sales on the night nearly exhausted the supply of books brought to the venue.
Neil, who spent 18 months researching and interviewing contributors, said: “You spend months listening to people individually, hearing about the setbacks, the risks and the determination it took to keep going. Then, suddenly, so many of them are together in one room. That was quite something.
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“To have Richard Hawley, Pete McKee, Nick Banks and so many other contributors come along was a real honour. These are people who have helped shape Sheffield in very different ways, and their generosity in sharing their stories has made this book possible.”
The programme included speeches from project funder David Slater and representatives of Roundabout, alongside on-stage interviews with three contributors.
The illustrated, 200-page book charts four decades of resilience, creativity and enterprise.
It explores what happened after the collapse of traditional industries left Sheffield facing an uncertain future, tracing the emergence of new businesses, sporting achievements and an internationally influential cultural scene.
Profits from the book are going to Roundabout.
David Slater said: “I wanted to help ensure that this remarkable chapter of Sheffield's history was captured for future generations.
“And there's something particularly fitting about using a celebration of the city's past to help young people build a better future.
“Roundabout does tremendous work supporting young people facing homelessness, and I'm delighted that this project will contribute to that.”