Early Life
Kershaw was born in Rochdale on 9 November, 1959. His sister who was also born in Rochdale is fellow broadcaster Liz Kershaw. The son of a headmaster and headmistress, Kershaw's parents instilled in him the ethics of education and self-improvement at an early age. As a party trick aged two, he would name the whiskered military men in his father's history books of the Great War, but he never felt the love or pride from them that he did get from his grandparents, who provided a home from home. Watching the first American space walk on TV in 1965 made a strong impression of adventure, possibility and achievement on the young Kershaw, as did his education at the hands of the German ex-refugee nuns at Rochdale Convent. He was then educated at Hulme Grammar School in Oldham in Greater Manchester where he took A-Levels in History, Economics and Spanish. He left the Economics examination half way into the alloted time in order to attend a Bob Dylan concert but still achieved a Grade A pass in the subject. He then studied politics at the University of Leeds from which he failed to graduate. His decision to apply for a place there being solely with an eye on the position of Entertainments Secretary for Leeds University Union. Kershaw was appointed Entertainments Secretary in 1980, midway through his second year. A full-time commitment to a non-sabbatical office, he booked bands including Ian Dury, Dire Straits, The Clash, Elvis Costello, Iggy Pop, and Duran Duran - the latter paid £50 from Kershaw's own pocket to support Hazel O'Connor.
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