When Harry met John Cooper Clarke - and began a seven-year hunt to find the Great Mancunians

It started with a rushed photo-shoot under Blackfriars Bridge. The master of the gritty sonnet, edgy poet, John Cooper Clarke, generously posed for student Harry Yeates.

The location was important - just inside Salford, and next to the performer's life-sized stencil embossed on a wall by artist Stewy. JCC had performed at the Albert Hall in Manchester and the morning after the show, he agreed to meet Harry.

Harry's portrait won praise at Manchester College's end of year show in 2016. It also sowed the seeds for an inspired, long term quest, to find more suitable subjects, who would help hone the talents of students. Over the next two years a list of "Greater Mancunians" grew and included Johnny Marr, Andy Burnham, and famed Factory Records graphic designer, Peter Saville.

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The pandemic then brought the idea to a halt. But as restrictions eased it was resumed and by the end of this year it is expected 100 contributors will have been interviewed and photographed.

They chose include entertainers, community champions, hospital staff, politicians, and sports stars who shine a light on the "human side of the Manchester story". The project's conclusion will see 120 photographic portraits with words about each person's career or standing in the region created by Manchester College students. They will then be displayed at Manchester Central Library in 2024.

A book will also be published. It is likely to spark lively debate as to who should - and shouldn't - be on the list.

Harry Potts, is the main co-ordinator of the project, and is a tutor, and Head of Photography at the College. He previously worked as a news photographer for among others,