NEVER can there have been a stranger claim to fame or a more curious connection – the chap from Shildon who has a nuclear missile named after him.

A fortnight ago, we told the tale of John Lilburne, the leader of the 17th Century group of political radicals called the Levellers.

He spent much of his life falling out with people such as Oliver Cromwell – who should have been on his side – and ended up being imprisoned for a variety of offences all linked to his outspokenness by a variety of rulers.

Lilburne was born in Sunderland, grew up in the lost medieval village of Thickley Punchardon, near Shildon, and was educated in Bishop Auckland. He described himself as “an honest, true-bred, free-born Englishman, that never in his life loved a tyrant nor feared an oppressor”.

Darlington military historian Bob Jackson says: “Although he is almost forgotten in England, his name is virtually revered in the United States, as parts of the US Constitution are said to be based on his writings.

“His premise that all men are born equal – the basis of the Fifth Amendment – is quoted in schools.

“In the US, Lilburne is known as ‘Freeborn John’ and ‘Honest John’. The Americans thought so highly of him that they even named a rocket after him – the ‘Honest John’ tactical nuclear missile of 1953.”

Bob is, of course, right on target.

The Honest John Short Range Tactical Battlefield Support System was the US’ first mobile nuclear rocket.

It was 27ft long, had a range of 12 miles and was free flight (ie: not a guided missile).

It was carried around on the back of a mobile rocket launcher, and was part of the US’ nuclear armoury until July 1982.

Shildon has several sons with odd claims to fame. TR Ferens, for example, was a Shildon miller’s son who has half of Hull named after him.

Daniel Adamson was a Shildon publican’s son who saved the Manchester Ship Canal and has a steam tug named after him.

But no one can have a more explosive claim to fame than the Shildon farmer’s son who had a nuclear weapon named after him.

IT was not really wise to name a nuke after Lilburne as he was famed for his volatility. He was possibly the most cantankerous person ever to live.

A contemporary said: “If the world was emptied of all but John Lilburne, Lilburne would quarrel with John and John with Lilburne.”

Fittingly, at his funeral in Kent in 1657, his mourners all fell out with one other.

One group wanted to throw a velvet pall over his coffin, but the other group didn’t, so they came to blows in a graveside scuffle.