I’m John Erskine, and I’ve recently finished a PhD in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at the University of Sheffield. My thesis is here.
I returned to study in 2012, after a career in economic development, mostly spent in Local Government. I’ve also worked at Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency for Yorkshire and the Humber; and for the Homes and Communities Agency, the UK Government’s agency for regeneration and housing. Like many public servants, I was consigned to the scrapheap by Eric Pickles and Grant Shapps in the early years of the Coalition Government, and took the opportunity to start a PhD.
I’m a long-standing member of the Labour Party, and served for thirteen years on Leeds City Council. I now live in a small village near Sheffield, which sometimes to my chagrin, lies in the political construct called ‘Rotherham’…
I intend to use this blog as a space for thinking aloud about a range of topics, some related to my PhD research on coalfield communities in Yorkshire, and others which definitely are not…
informaleconomist 
Hi John,
I run the history Twitter account that featured the William Megahey Tweet that you liked. I am very interrsted in your family history. Do you mind if I explore this further.
Martin Molloy