Eric James Adamson (1919-2007) ERIC James Adamson was born at Liverpool and was educated at the Jesuit College of St Francis Xavier. His first job was with the Admiralty in Altrincham, before being called-up for the Army. He served throughout the Second World War, leaving with the rank of major. He married Marion at All […]
Gujral, Dan Vaibhav – aka Rhesus Gene
Dan Vaibhav Gujral (b1981) Dan Vaibhav Gujral is a Grantham-based contemporary musician He became interested in music while still at school (hated school so not saying) and by the early 90s he’d joined various choral groups performing both local and national shows winning several awards for singing in the process. It was while in these […]
Bland, Matt – Motor dealer who changed Grantham’s night scene
Matt Bland (1915-2009) MATTHEW Bland was very much a hands-on entrepreneur who was involved in many businesses. Born in a caravan at Long Eaton, he was the son of a showman. The family moved to Stanton Street, Grantham, and Matt opened his business Streamline Taxis at the outbreak of war, which was taken over by […]
Manners-Sutton, George – Grantham MP in 18th Century
George Manners-Sutton (1723-1783) LORD George Manners-Sutton was born at Kelham Hall, near Newark, as Lord George Manners, the third son of John Manners, 3rd Duke of Rutland. He married Diana Chaplin in 1749 (d. 1767), only daughter of Thomas Chaplin of Blankney, by whom he had nine children. He entered Parliament in 1754, succeeding his […]
Manners, Frances – Duchess was a horse-breeder
Frances, Duchess of Rutland (1937 – ) FRANCES Helen Sweeny was born in Marylebone Lane, London, in 1937, the daughter of American amateur golfer Charles Sweeny, and his first wife, Margaret Whigham. She became the second wife of Charles John Robert Manners in 1958, and with it the title Duchess of Rutland. They lived […]
Ogden, Edwin – Planted the seeds of competion against former employer
Edwin Ogden (1861 -1936) BORN at Muston, Edwin Ogden moved to Sleaford at an early age, when his father was appointed as a coachman to seed merchant Charles Sharpe. At the age of 21 he was appointed manager of Mr Sharpe’s Grantham shop, on the corner of Market Place (later a gentleman’s club). He worked […]
Dennis, Richard – A professional publican
Richard Dennis (1918-1981) RICHARD Dennis spent 17 years of his life running pubs in the Grantham area. He began his work at Stamford with Stamford Electrical but eventually took over the Five Bells at Edenham. After that he ran the Hare and Hounds, Burton Coggles, and the Waggon and Horses on Grantham’s Manthorpe Road. He […]
Basford, Robert Alexander (1881 – 1955)
Robert Alexander Basford (1881 – 1955) – founded Independent Labour Party Grantham-born, Robert Basford was an outstanding personality in both the local Labour Party and Trade Unions. He studied political economy and developed a broad knowledge of home and international affairs. Both he and his wife Lilian (she was Grantham Mayor in 1946) were founders […]
Clay, Alan – Joined Grantham Town after beating Rommel
Alan Clay (1920– 1981) Born at Sleaford. Alan Clay made his debut for Grantham in January 1947 at home to Barnsley Reserves, scoring his first goal just over two months later at Peterborough United. Originally playing for Sleaford Town, he joined the Royal Tank Regiment during the Second World War and was with the Eighth […]
Foster, Gladys – Baker’s daughter became Grantham Mayor
Gladys Foster (1929-2012) GLADYS Foster, formerly Herriott, was a long serving councillor both for the county and district. A KGGS old girl, Mrs Foster was president of the Grantham and District Scout Association and a governor of Gonerby Hill Foot Primary School. She had represented Grantham for 29 years, first on Kesteven then Lincolnshire County […]
Bryant, Ken – National School head for a decade
Ken Bryant (1928-2011) Bachelor Ken Bryant, was headmaster at The National School, Grantham, from 1965 to 1975 and had previously been head/deputy at three primary schools in Devon. Born in Southampton, after leaving the National School he was appointed head of Sladen School in Kidderminster, from where he retired in 1990 and returned to live […]
Michelson, Ray – Ray was into newspapers – read all about it!
Ray Michelson (1934-2010) GRANTHAM businessman Ray Michelson was a tireless charity campaigner for Help the Aged. Born in Leicestershire, he was brought up in Ropsley. After leaving school. he worked in a variety of roles for Chandler’s Oil and Gas, Co-op Insurance and builders merchants Jackson Shipley. He later set up in business as a […]
Hardy, Joan
Joan Hardy (1922-2013) JOAN Marguerite Emma Hardy, was the only daughter of Mr and Mrs Walter Meadows. She attended St Anne’s School in Grantham, from 1926 to 1932, followed by Spitalgate Girls’ School until 1935. In January 1942 she married Oliver Hardy a union that lasted 69 years. Her first job was as a housemaid […]
Newcome, John – Pharmacist followed in father’s footsteps
John Newcome (1871-1931) PHARMACIST John Newcome practised his art at a shop on the corner of High Street and Market Place, which a year after his death was demolished to make way for the art deco Burton’s Tailoring store. It was a family business begun in 1832 which his father had joined in 1851. John […]
Bosnell, Mike – Signed for Town after leg break
Mike Bosnell (1932 – 2013) LINCOLN-born Mike Bosnell was a popular player with the London Road fans. The former Lincoln City Reserves striker, who after breaking his leg returned to the game with Holbeach United, signed for The Gingerbreads. He first played for Grantham in the November 1954 Midland League game at London Road against […]
Willoughby, Lady Jane – a member of UK’s rich-list
Lady Jane Willoughby (b1934) NANCY Jane Marie Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby, owns one of the nicest piles in the Grantham area – Grimsthorpe Castle. She is an English peeress and the daughter of the late Gilbert James Heathcote-Drummond-WIlloughby and Nancy Phyllis Louise Astor. She was a train bearer and Maid of Honour to […]
Simpson, John James – Fruity John grew much of his own
John James Simpson (1841 – 1907) JOHN Simpson was a fruiterer and greengrocer who grew much of his own produce at his market garden. He came from an old Grantham family and could name several freemen of the borough among his ancestors. He began business in Watergate in a small way, and built up his […]
Lockton, Frederick William – Fancied all kinds of birds
Frederick William Lockton, (1883-1931) FRED Lockton was well known throughout the country as a bird fancier, a specialist in British birds and hybridising. He was on the committee of Grantham Victory Cage Bird Society and was a judge at shows across the country. For 25 years he played for and on the committee of Grantham […]
Proctor, Jim – Jim just kept singing
James Proctor (1930-2012) JAMES Ivan Proctor was born in Grantham, the son of Frank and Alice Proctor, of Houghton Road. He was a keen singer and was a long-serving member of St Wulfram’s Choir and together with his brothers Stanley and Ralph were regular performers with the Grantham Operatic Society, where he consistently played the […]
Hutchinson, James – Agent to the Brownlow family
Col James Hutchinson (1844-1924) JAMES Hutchinson was born and died at Manthorpe Lodge, Manthorpe Road. The eldest son of Simon Hutchinson, he was educated at the King’s School and on leaving joined his father in Earl Brownlow’s estate office. He was appointed agent on his father’s death in 1867 – by coincidence the same day […]