Lee Brickley, a mature student at the University of Wolverhampton, has channelled his fascination with the city into a compelling A-Z book detailing its rich and varied history. The 38-year-old author, known for his works on true crime, ancient history, and the paranormal, drew inspiration from his history studies to craft “The Unofficial Wolverhampton: An A–Z of People, Machines, Music and Trouble” - a collection of stories described as brilliant, grim, funny, shocking and completely unexpected.
Lee’s journey began last year when he enrolled in a history degree at the university. The city’s past was vividly brought to life during his early modules, prompting him to research extensively and eventually compile unique tales that would appeal to a broader audience beyond traditional history enthusiasts.
Among the fascinating episodes Lee highlights is the dramatic balloon flight of September 5, 1862. This event saw meteorologist James Glaisher and aeronaut Henry Coxwell ascend in a large gas balloon from Stafford Road gasworks. The balloon reached perilous heights, with Glaisher losing consciousness and Coxwell, affected by freezing temperatures, having to manoeuvre the valve with his teeth to descend safely. Though this adventure inspired the 2019 film “The Aeronauts,” the movie relocated the story to London and replaced Coxwell with a fictional character named Amelia Wren.
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The book also recounts the infamous 1990 paint attack on the Revolver Records headquarters at Goldthorn Hill. The Stone Roses' band members, following a dispute over the re-release of their single “Sally Cinnamon,” doused label boss Paul Birch, his wife Olivia, and their premises in blue and white paint, resulting in significant criminal damage and subsequent arrests.
Lee’s volume goes further, celebrating pioneering engineers, forgotten campaigners, Olympic champions, international footballers, writers, musicians, and local companies - capturing stories that once deeply affected thousands of residents.
Reflecting on his motivation, Lee shared with BirminghamLive, “I’ve been writing professionally for about 15 years on folklore and local matters. After experiencing homelessness during my late teens and missing out on higher education, I found myself in a stable place last year and decided to pursue a degree. The history course ignited my obsession with Wolverhampton.”
He added, “I wanted to create a book that was not just another history text but a popular history that tells these stories in context, highlighting their significance and potential, especially for those seeking compelling narratives for films or other creative projects.”
Living in Cannock, Lee has been heartened by the book’s reception, which saw 500 copies sold within three days, including to readers in the United States and Australia. He remarked, “Wolverhampton is often overlooked, despite its remarkable achievements in automotive production, music, and more. This book aims to spotlight those stories.”
“The Unofficial Wolverhampton: An A–Z of People, Machines, Music and Trouble” is available on Amazon for £3.99 (Kindle) and £12.99 (paperback).