David Morgan (b1949) BORN in Manchester, David James Morgan’s family moved to Ropsley when he was only five. He went to the village school and was in the first intake at the newly-opened Charles Read School, Corby Glen. He showed an interest in music at an early age and learned to play lead guitar. His […]
Carter, George – Naughty vicar cited in divorce case
Rev George Carter (1829-1894) GEORGE Carter, MA, LLB, DL, JP was Rector of Folkingham for 33 years having previously been curate of Coningsby. The son of Spalding solicitor J R Carter, he was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. In 1851, he married Elizabeth Henery, daughter of Mr. Thomas Munton Lawrance, of Dunsbv Hall, For upwards […]
Watts, Ela – You can always count on Ela
Ela Watts (b1952) GRAVITY FM and Belvoir Radio presenter Ela Watts was born Elaine Ivy May in Harrow Street, Grantham, and attended local schools, Spittlegate Primary, followed by Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School. On leaving school she joined the Midland Bank (later HSBC) until she left to start a family. While bringing up her children, […]
Pigott, Hugh – An auctioneer worth watching
Hugh Pigott (1921-1992) BORN near Brigg, Hugh Geoffrey Pigott moved to Grantham in 1956 to become proprietor of Bailey & Ambler estate agents, of St Peter’s Hill, and Norman Harcourt auctioneers of Wide Westgate. Famed for his extremely loud voice while selling produce and livestock in Westgate on market days and the adjacent cattle market, […]
Elmer, Betty – Betty will spin you a yarn
Betty Elmer (b1933) BORN in Anfield, Liverpool, in the shadow of a certain football ground, she was named after a contemporary film star – Betty Boop! Born Betty McGorian, her father was branch secetary for the NUR in the city. She is cousin to comedian Jimmy Mulville, who Hatrick production company creates Have I Got […]
Groves, Paul – Actor, stand-up, children’s TV writer and a Grantham teacher
Paul Groves (1930-2017) PAUL Groves began in the acting profession and went on to become one of Britain’s most prolific children’s writers. Born in Oxford in 1930, Paul showed a talent for acting at a young age and was encouraged by his father with whom he performed in amateur productions with. At the age of […]
Alexander, Mike – Grantham footballer became TV sports personality
Mike Alexander (1941- ) GRANTHAM Football Club has a long tradition of free-scoring centre forwards and one of the finest of them all was Mike Alexander. Originally on the books of Football League side Scunthorpe United, then Brigg Town, followed by Gainsborough Trinity. He was the first major signing made by legendary player-manager Terry Bly […]
Pigott, Nick – The professional trainspotter
Nick Pigott (b1951) BORN near Retford in 1951 and moving to Grantham at the age of four, Nick Pigott was brought up in the town and attended Gonerby Hill Foot and Little Gonerby primary schools before going to the National School in Castlegate. After a spell away, he returned to Lincolnshire in the late-1960s to […]
Birch, Azey – An incorrigible rogue
Tempest, Thomas Peter – The man who built St Mary’s
Canon Thomas Peter Tempest, (C1805-1861) AS a young theology student Thomas Peter Tempest, of Broughton Hall, near Skipton, was passing along the Great North Road, on his way home, when he spotted a house he liked with an adjacent paddock. That was in 1830, only one year after the Catholic Emancipation Act which allowed people […]
Mason Alan – TV Gardener was to the Manor borne
Alan Mason (b1952) ALAN’S distinguished career began as Head Gardener to Mr and Mrs George Lane-Fox at Bramham Park, in Wetherby in West Yorkshire, which has one of the finest examples of a French-style garden in England. He went on to spend nine years as Gardens Manager to the Earl and Countess of Harewood, at […]
Fane, Julian – The man who began a nuclear ‘war’
Julian Fane (b1938) JULIAN Francis Fane is the son of Francis and Joyce Fane. He married Mary Julia Allday, daughter of Michael William Allday, in1965. Educated at Marlborough College, Marlborough, he graduated from Emmanuel College, Cambridge University, in 1966 with a Master of Arts (MA). He was a magistrate for the Sleaford division for […]
Wise, Jeff – Jeff’s was strictly ballroom
Hornsby, James – Man who made engines was a leading horseman
James Hornsby (1835 -1910) JAMES Hornsby was the second son of industrialist Richard Hornsby, the founder of Richard Hornsby and Sons, Grantham, one of the largest agricultural and general engineering works in the world. At the end of his scholastic education he showed considerable inventive ability, and he passed through the various departments at the […]
McCorquodale, Lady Sarah – Sister of the People’s Princess
Lady Sarah McCorquodale (b1955) LADY Sarah McCorquodale is the older sister of Diana, Princess of Wales. Born The Honourable Elizabeth Sarah Lavinia Spencer, she acquired the courtesy title in 1975, when her grandfather died and her father became the 8th Earl Spencer. She was educated firstly at Riddlesworth Hall School, in Norfolk, then West Heath […]
Chantry, Paul – St Hugh’s pupil is laud of the dance
Paul Chantry (b1983) PAUL Chantry is not a conventional ballet dancer. In his late teens, on an acting course, he was inspired by a demonstration by a dance company and the big bit him immediately. He grew up on Cambridge Street, and now lives just outside the town centre. Paul went to Little Gonerby School, […]
Dale, Jesse – The man who couldn’t leave Grantham quickly enough
Jesse Dale (1840 – ) JESSE Dale was the man responsible for Grantham getting a new Guildhall in 1868. But he wasn’t a politician, or even an architect. He was a professional pick-pocket. Born in Nottingham, Jesse came to Grantham Market in 1864 and was caught robbing Mr Latter, of Great Gonerby, of a purse […]
Hall, Tim – Rocking the housing market
Tim Hall (1968- ) BORN in Nottingham, Tim’s early years were spent in Sutton-on-Trent where he went to the Sutton-on-Trent primary school. He then went to Wellow House School before going to the Kings School in Grantham when the family moved to Long Bennington. His Grandma was a pianist in her own ragtime band, and […]
Hornsby, William – Top industrialist became town’s Mayor
William Hornsby (1838-1907) INDUSTRIALIST William Hornsby inherited his post with the family firm, Richard Hornsby & Sons but proved to be every bit as astute as his father. He also inherited his father’s poor health. Born on Christmas Day 1838, he was the third son the late Richard Hornsby, who in 1815 founded the business. […]
Grosset, Tom – The drummer you just can’t beat
Tom Grosset (b1990) GRANTHAM-born Tom Grosset is not only a drummer, but a very fast drummer. In fact he is officially the fastest in the world. Born in August 1990, Tom grew up in Denton, where he attended the village school. The family moved to Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada in 1996. Tom started showing a […]