David Manners, 11th Duke of Rutland (b1959) David Charles Robert Manners, 11th Duke of Rutland is the elder son of the 10th Duke of Rutland by his second wife, the former Frances Sweeney. He succeeded his father in the titles in January 1999. The Sunday Times Rich List 2013 estimated a personal fortune of £125m […]
Smith, Kenneth – Hero awarded George Cross
Kenneth Smith GC (1921-1945) HUMBY hero Kenneth Smith was awarded the George Cross for his actions during the Second World War. Unfortunately, it was posthumous. He saved many lives, civilian and comrades, when he dashed into a house and carried out an active German timebomb which exploded in his hands. Born and resident at Great […]
Mitchinson, Lily – Grantham landlady was a high flyer
Burdett, Susan – Died tragically young
Susan Burdett (1953-1979) SUSAN Patricia Burdett had a promising future when she died aged only 26. The former KGGS pupil was teacher of home economics at the Alderman White Comprehensive, Beeston, and about to take up a similar appointment at Grantham College. She was secretary of Gonerby Tennis Club, a member of St Wulfram’s Guild […]
Matthews, Stanley – Stan the Man keeps on rockin’
Stan ‘ The Man’ Matthews (b1936) BORN in Grantham, Stanley Herbert Matthews was educated at first Huntingtower School then the Boys Central School. Throughout his life he was destined to meet local musicians -Trevor Leeson, Vince Eager, Roy Clarke, etc – at both his schools and place of work. He loves rock ‘a’ roll and […]
Topps, Frank – Butcher was a cut above the rest
Frank Topps (1945-2013) BORN in Grantham, Frank Robert Topps, was the son of Harold and Ethel Topps Aged 19, he started his own butchery business in Great Gonerby. He built up a successful, mobile business, procuring some of his meat from his own smallholding, where he kept cattle and pigs. It remained a family […]
Hurst, Thomas – Was King’s Chaplain in Cromwell’s Grantham
Thomas Hurst (1598-1674) THOMAS Hurst was born in Barrowby, and became Rector of Barrowby and Leadenham in 1629, having gained a Doctorate in Divinity. He was a chaplain to King Charles I, and during the Civil War he spent two years away from his parishes preaching to the Royalists. As a result he lost his […]
French, David – Grantham artist who painted Shergar
David French (1939-2019) DAVID French was born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk and after studying at his local college of art and the Bath Academy, he trained as a teacher in Derby. Moving to Grantham with his two young children in 1964, he taught his subject at St Hugh’s before being appointed as Lecturer in Fine […]
Cooper, Lady Diana – Mother to Lord Grantham’s creator
Lady Diana Cooper (1892-1986) DIANA Cooper, Viscountess Norwich, was a prominent social figure in London and Paris, widely acknowledged as the beauty of the century. Born Lady Diana Olivia Winifred Maud Manners, at Belvoir Castle, she was officially the youngest daughter of the 8th Duke of Rutland and his wife, the former Violet Lindsay, an […]
Fowler, Benjamin – Grantham surgeon saved French soldiers
Benjamin Fowler (1917-1982) BENJAMIN John Fowler was consultant surgeon at Grantham Hospital from 1962 until his retirement 20 years later. He was born and brought up in Peterborough and a student at Guy’s Medical School, London and in 1941 obtained his MB and BS qualifications. He saw wartime service with the Army in the Middle […]
Finn, Courtney – Driving force behind the blue plaques
Courtney Finn (b1941) BORN in Northampton, Courtney was educated in his home town before graduating at Leeds University in 1963. He gained experience with various companies across the country, including Proctor & Gamble, Cheseborough Ponds and Bovril before coming to Grantham in 1978 as the last managing director of Barfords of Belton, in time for […]
Cheesman, Walter – former soldier became attaché at the British Embassy, Cairo
Col Walter Cheesman (1898-1981) COL Walter J W Cheesman, CBE MC enjoyed a colourful career in the Army and diplomatic service. Born in Kent, he was give the Emergency Decoration for his services in Nigeria and was decorated by King Hussein of Jordan. He was commissioned into the Rifle Corps and also served in the […]
Stancer, Les – Notts County player ran Grantham pubs
Les Stancer (1925 – 2021) GRANTHAM born Lesley Stancer played for Notts County during the Second World War, mainly friendlies, plus one FA Cup appearance in the Autumn of 1945. Les was soon playing for Grantham and scored on his debut in January 1946 against Mansfield Town Reserves. He made seven appearances for the […]
Irving, John – Convicted thief became top surgeon
John Irving ( C1750-1795) JOHN Irving became a top surgeon, thanks to a transgression made while living in Grantham. It was in September 1783 when he was accused of stealing a silver cup from Grantham widow Frances Clark. He was found guilty of larceny at Lincoln on 6 March 1784 and sentenced to transportation to […]
Ebbutt, Alfred – from bikes to motors
Alfred Ebbutt (1891-1981) BORN in Witchford, Cambridgeshire, Alfred Norris Ebbutt was only a few months old when his family moved to Caythorpe. After leaving school he took an apprenticeship with Hornsby ‘s and was an engineer when he became one of the first locally to volunteer for service in the First World War. He was […]
Carter, Jeff – Jeff needs fast film and a high speed shutter
Jeff Carter (b1964) JEFFREY Stuart MacLean Carter was born in Bristol and grew up in Banbury, Oxfordshire. He joined the RAF in 1982 and moved to Grantham in November 1990 with wife Julie, from the north of Scotland, following his second posting to RAF Cottesmore in Rutland where he served as an electronics engineer on […]
Hutchins, Bill – The fisherman’s friend
Bill Hutchins (1932-2012) WILLIAM Hutchins, was born in Kirton End, near Boston, and had a twin sister, Winnie. The family moved to Grantham and Bill was educated at Spitalgate School and then The King’s School, Grantham. From from the age of 15 he worked at men’s outfitters George Mills, becoming manager. He was made redundant […]
Mullin, Mick – One of Grantham’s great characters
Mick Mullin (1957-2008) Born at Dulwich Hospital, London, Michael Adolphus Mullin was the son of Oscar and Cora Mullin. After leaving Charles Read School, Corby Glen, he worked at Vacu-Lug for the rest of his life. He was well known on the local soccer pitches and played variously for, Grantham United, Lincoln City, Stamford, […]
Manners, Charles – The model for novelist’s heros
Charles Manners, 10th Duke of Rutland (1919-1999) Charles John Robert Manners, 10th Duke of Rutland was the son of John Manners, 9th Duke of Rutland. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, and became a captain in the Grenadier Guards. He married, firstly, Anne Bairstow Cumming Bell, in 1946 and following their divorce […]
Barford, Edward – Factory boss had impressive war record
Edward Barford (1898-1979) EDWARD James Barford was the head of engineering company Aveling Barford. He was the grandson of the founder of Barford & Perkins, of Peterborough, pioneers in the development of internal combustion engine road rollers. In the First World War he enlisted at the age of 17 as a private while at Rugby […]