Creations Of Leicestershire

Leicestershire making its mark!

These may shock you! Here is a list of ways Leicestershire have influenced today.

1. Walkie Talkies

Yes! The invention of walkie-talkies was actually born here in Leicester by the Canadian Don Hings, with many similar devices being developed by other inventors around the same time. Hings created his portable radio signaling system when working for CM&S. The first handheld walkie-talkie was the AM SCR-536 transceiver from 1941, also made by Motorola, named the Handie-Talkie. Don Hings invented the walkie-talkie in 1937.

A walkie-talkie, more formally known as a handheld transceiver, is a hand-held, portable, two-way radio transceiver. Its development during the Second World War has been variously credited to Donald Hings.

2. DNA Fingerprinting

DNA fingerprinting was invented at the University of Leicester, by Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys in 1984. It was first used as evidence in 1987 when baker Colin Pitchfork was the first criminal caught using DNA fingerprinting in Leicester. It was also used to clear the original suspect Richard Buckland. In 1984, Alec Jeffreys discovered the technique of genetic fingerprinting in a laboratory in the Department of Genetics at the University of Leicester. In 2012 Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys retired after more than 35 years’ service to the University.

DNA fingerprinting was invented in 1984 by Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys after he realised you could detect variations in human DNA, in the form of these minisatellites. DNA fingerprinting is a technique that simultaneously detects lots of minisatellites in the genome to produce a pattern unique to an individual. The subsequent impact of DNA on solving paternity and immigration cases, catching criminals, and freeing the innocent has been extraordinary, directly affecting the lives of millions of people worldwide.

3. Blue Peter

I’m sure we have all heard of this one! Blue Peter was in fact first aired on 16th October 1958. This very famous long-running show was edited by Biddy Baxter! Biddy Baxter was born on May 25, 1933, in Leicester, Leicestershire, England as Joan Maureen Baxter. After editing the show from 1965 to 1988. As editor of the programme, Baxter devised much of the format that is still used today.

4. Red Leicester

We are sure this won’t come as a surprise! Because of course, Red Leicester Cheese was created in Leicester! The cheese was originally made on farms in Leicestershire, England, with surplus milk, once all the Stilton desired was made. It was originally coloured with carrot or beetroot juice. It used to be called Leicestershire Cheese but came to be called Red Leicester. Red Leicester cheese was invented in 1745. It had been made on Sparkenhoe Farm by a Mr. George Chapman.

5. Stilton

There appears to be a running theme here! Leicestershire is also the creator of the famous Blue Cheese. Tradition has it that in 1730, Thornhill discovered a distinctive blue cheese while visiting a small farm near Melton Mowbray in rural Leicestershire – possibly Wymondham. He fell in love with the cheese and made a business arrangement that granted the Bell Inn exclusive marketing rights to Blue Stilton. Stilton cheese takes its name from the village of Stilton, in the east of England. The earliest reports of cheese made and sold here date to the 17th century.

Today, more than a million full stilton cheeses are produced each year. The cheese is made by blending pasteurised milk with starter cultures, a clotting agent, and blue-mould spores. It takes 78 litres of milk to make an 8kg cheese.

6. Blu Tack

The influence of Leicestershire. — Blu tack was invented in Leicester. Billions of packets of Blu Tack have been sold over the past four decades. It was invented at a glue factory in Leicester. It has become an iconic piece of stationery that is regularly used and purchased by many. We’ll be surprised if you have no Blu Tack in your house, school or work!

Leicestershire have influenced a few other things aswell. However these are the top few that we found either surprising or interesting!

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