Martin Wainwright Explained

Martin Wainwright MBE is a British journalist and author. He left The Guardian after 37 years at the end of March 2013.^[1]

Early life

Wainwright was born in Leeds, and educated at Shrewsbury School and Oxford University. His father Richard Wainwright was the Liberal MP for Colne Valley (1966–70, February 1974–87) after a career in accountancy.^[2]

Career

Wainwright was The Guardian's Northern Editor^[3] for seventeen years until the end of 2012, when he was succeeded by Helen Pidd.^[1] His contributions to the newspaper have mostly reflected this emphasis^[4] but not exclusively.^[5]

He has written several books on northern or countryside topics, including a biography of the unrelated Alfred Wainwright and a guide to the Coast to Coast Walk. Other books are on the Morris Minor and Mini cars. He writes a blog about another interest, moths.^[6]

Wainwright was awarded an MBE in the 2000 New Year Honours, "For services to the National Lottery Charities Board in Yorkshire and Humberside."

He was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Leeds in 2013.^[7]

Personal life

Wainwright is chair of the trustees of the Scurrah Wainwright Charity, named after his grandfather Henry Scurrah Wainwright OBE (1877-1968), a Leeds chartered accountant with interests in social reform and delphiniums,^{[8] [9]} and a trustee of the Andrew Wainwright Reform Trust, named for his brother who died in 1974.^{[10] [11]}

One of Wainwright's two sisters, Hilary, is the radical academic who has long been associated with the Red Pepper magazine.

His two sons are both journalists – Oliver^[12] is the Guardian's architecture and design critic^[13] and Tom is the Economists Mexico City bureau chief.^[14]

Selected publications

• Wainwright: the Man Who Loved the Lakes, 2007, BBC Books,
• Guardian Book of the Countryside (By Ruth Petrie & Martin Wainwright), 2008, Cornerstone,
• A Mini Adventure: 50 years of the iconic small car, 2009, Aurum Press,
• True North 2009, Guardian Books,
• Morris Minor; the Biography: sixty years of Britain's favourite car 2010, Aurum Press,
• The Coast to Coast Walk (Recreational Path Guides), 2010 (revised ed), Aurum Press,
• Wild City: Encounters with Urban Wildlife, 25 May 2011, Aurum Press,

External links

• Web site: Martin Wainwright. Journalisted. 14 February 2011. Listing of published articles

Notes and References

1. Martin Wainwright "The Northerner - into 2013", The Guardian (blog), 31 December 2012
2. News: Barnes. John. Obituary: Richard Wainwright. 15 February 2011. The Independent. 5 February 2003. London.
3. News: Martin Wainwright: Profile. The Guardian. 14 February 2011. London. 3 October 2007.
4. Web site: Martin Wainwright. Journalisted. 14 February 2011. (Listing of published articles)
5. News: Wainwright . Martin. Ministers fight to keep Queen's head on stamps after sell-off. 14 February 2011. The Guardian. 20 December 2010. London.
6. Web site: Martin's Moths. 15 February 2011.
7. Web site: University of Leeds honours outstanding achievements . University of Leeds . University News . 11 July 2013 . 28 December 2016.
8. News: Hickling . Michael . Overend . David . Digging up past of our gardens . 22 June 2022 . Yorkshire Post . 4 June 2010 . en.
9. Web site: The Scurrah Wainwright Charity. The Wainwright Trusts. 22 June 2022.
10. News: Obituary: Richard Wainwright . 22 June 2022 . The Guardian . 17 January 2003 . en.
11. Web site: The Andrew Wainwright Reform Trust. The Wainwright Trusts. 4 July 2011.
12. News: Oliver Wainwright. London . The Guardian. 3 October 2012.
13. News: Games on. London . The Guardian. Oliver. Wainwright. 22 November 2006.
14. http://www.economist.com/mediadirectory/tom-wainwright Tom Wainwright at economist.com