IDEAS have been mooted on how to continue celebrating Spa legend John Heminge for generations to come as the town prepares to celebrate 400 years since he saved Shakespeare’s work for the World.
Mr Heminge, born and bred in the town, helped compile and release ‘The First Folio’ in 1623 which included classics, such as Macbeth and Julius Caesar.
Before that, 18 of the 36 plays had never been published and some of The Bard’s most famous scripts may never have survived.
Town historian Paul Jones has suggested the town make more of its ‘super Shakespearian link’ and said plans to unveil a plaque at St Peter’s Church next month, where Heminge was baptised, could be just the start.
Tying Heminge with the town’s current annual events or performing Shakespeare plays in Lido Park or Vines Park are among his biggest ideas.
A current 400th anniversary exhibition at Droitwich Heritage Centre includes a copy of The First Folio and next month’s Christmas lights switch-on will be Heminge-themed.
Droitwich Business Association co-chair Paul White, who was unaware of Droitwich’s Shakespeare link until recently, said developing lasting celebrations could be something big for the town and is happy to discuss ideas further.
Town council leader Coun Bob Brookes suggested a ‘Heminge Day’ after this year could be brilliant for the town and urged anyone with ideas to get in touch.
He said: “This year’s celebrations for Heminge are going to be special and I would very much be in favour of continuing to tell his story, especially if it attracts tourism and footfall.”
Coun Dave Davidson, on Paul Jones’s suggestion, contacted many professors and historians about the pronunciation of Heminge.
Lucy Munro, a Professor of Shakespeare and Early Modern Literature, and Daniel Blank, an Assistant Professor in Early Modern Literature, both told him the Spa legend’s name would have been pronounced ‘Hemming(s)’.
Coun Davidson called for more to be done to promote this ‘interesting fact’ in history so many Droitwich Hemings’ can know about their likely distant relative.
