Leeke, Harold (1888-1958) CANON Charles Harold Leeke, former vicar of St Nicholas Church, Lincoln, was appointed Vicar of Grantham in 1939, succeeding the Rev G H Warde. A native of Lincoln, he was the son of Canon E T Leeke, chancellor and sub-dean of Lincoln Cathedral for many years. Canon Leeke was married with three […]
Whysall, William – Malster began pharmacy dynasty
William Whysall (1839-1913) THE son of a Belper farmer and malster, William Whysall came to Grantham when he was 30 to open a pharmacy. He had already spent serve nine years with the renowned pharmacist Mr Pedler of Fleet Street, and when he set up on High Street, became the first qualified pharmacist in town. […]
Pine, Bob – From Coal Board to college principal
Bob Pine (1940-1996) ROBERT Pine was born in Pontypridd, South Wales, and initially spent 10 years working for the National Coal Board. After passing his Certificate of Education he began teaching accountancy. He became principal lecturer at Southampton Technical College before taking up an appointment at Grantham College. He was a director of the college […]
Nauyokas, Richard – Nasty Nookie is not all bad
Richard Nauyokas (b1962) RICHARD Nauyokas sprang to fame playing himself in the TV reality series Lads Army and the sequel Bad Lads Army. Wide Westgate-born Richard – known as Nookie – was a pupil at Spittlegate School and then the Boys Central School. He joined the army in 1980, leaving as a Warrant Officer Class 2 […]
Peacock, Charles – bank manager was an all round sportsman
Maj Charles Milne Peacock (1872-1942) Born at Stoneley, west of Graffam Water, Major Charles Milne Peacock was the son of Gilbert Peacock, of Greatford Hall, Stamford. He was brother to Lady Kesteven and uncle to Lady Londesborough. He joined the 4th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment in 1891 becoming a Second Lt. He began his career in […]
Andrews, Christopher – Became one of Grantham’s most popular priests
Rev Canon Chris Andrews (B1947) THE Rev Canon Chris Andrews was appointed Vicar of St Wulfram’s (Rector of Grantham) in 1996 until his retirement in 2013. Born in pre-fab in Glen Parva, Leicester, he was the son of an aeronautical engineer who at the time was working with jet-engine developer Frank Whittle. The early years […]
Mills, Gary – Town manager had been Forest’s youngest player
Gary Mills (b1961) GARY Roland Mills started his football career with Nottingham Forest and became the club’s youngest league player after making his first team debut at the age of 16 in 1978. Born in Northampton, he played for a local village team before being spotted by a Nottingham Forest scout at the age of […]
More, Henry – Fellow Kings pupil may have influenced Newton
Henry More (1615-1687) THEOLOGIAN and philosopher Henry More’s father was Alexander More who had been mayor of Grantham on several occasions. He was the seventh son of Alexander and Anne. Alexander was financially well off and able to give his son a top class education. Little is known of his childhood except for a few […]
Hardy, Miles – Grantham’s peerless ploughman
Miles hardy (1851-1931) FRISKNEY-born Miles Hardy, who lived at 31 Wharf Road, was regarded at Britain’s best ploughman. He gained national fame when he won his first match at Bennington, near Boston, when he was only 16. He went on to win six other leading championships that year. He won his first England […]
Millhouse, Bernard – Auctioneer helped found Swimarathon
Bernard Millhouse (1914-2012) BERNARD Millhouse was born in Grantham, where he lived and worked all his life. In 1931 he joined auctioneers Goldings, founded by his father, Louis F. Millhouse, in conjunction with Mr Golding, in 1900. At the age of 23 he was accepted by the Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers and became a […]
Brownlow, Richard – Richard was the Chief Prothonotary
Richard Brownlow (1553-1638) WHEN Richard Brownlow was born in 1553, the future for England appeared remarkably unpromising. Young King Edward VI was dead of consumption, the nine-day Queen, Lady Jane Grey, had been executed, and Mary Tudor was on the throne. The country lacked stability and direction. Not until well into Elizabeth’s reign did England’s […]
Boyer, Phil – England international was boss at Town and Harrowby
PHILIP John Boyer is an English former footballer who played for various clubs during his career, including Southampton, Norwich City, Bournemouth and Manchester City. He has the rare distinction of having played over 100 league games for four different clubs. He also made one appearance for England. Born in Nottingham, Boyer attended Musters Road School, […]
Bradshaw, William – Grantham man buried in Egypt
William Bradshaw (1911-1942) WILLIAM George Bradshaw was the youngest son of Sir William and Lady Bradshaw, Bradshaw who was born at the family home on Harrowby Road Grantham. He was educated at New Somerby (St Anne’s) School from where he won a scholarship to King’s School. He was a keen sportsman and passionate about engineering, and […]
Luttrell, Sir Geoffrey – Commissioned the best known Psalter
Luttrell, Sir Geoffrey (1276-1345) SIR Geoffrey Luttrell III was a great great grandson of Sir Geoffrey de Luterel, a favourite of King John. His family seat was Irnham Hall at Irnham and he was referred to as the 2nd Lord of Irnham. His parents were Robert and Joan. He married Agnes Sutton, daughter of Sir […]
Millard ‘Monkey’ – Vicar kept a zoo in Grantham
Edwin ‘Monkey’ Millard (1874-1951) THE Rev Edwin “Monkey” Millard was Vicar of St Anne’s Church, Harrowby Road, for nearly 40 years. Born in Costock, Nottinghamshire, one of a family of nine, he came to Grantham as curate at St John’s Church. He was appointed Vicar of St Anne’s the following year. He was its first vicar, […]
Thompson, William – Remembered through cricket competition
WILLIAM Edwin Thompson is best known as the man who donated the Thompson Cup for local cricket teams to compete. He was, like his father and brother, a solicitor. Born at St Peter’s Hill, he moved to Manthorpe Road before returning to his father’s home on his death. He was a keen and able cricketer […]
Pinchbeck, Bert – Ran a mobile grocery around Harrowby
Bert Pinchbeck (1923-2011) George Herbert ‘Bert’ Pinchbeck, was born in Welham Street, Grantham, the elder son of Jim and Nell Pinchbeck. From the National School he won a scholarship to Grantham King’s School and on leaving worked in the offices of Bjorlows, Earlesfield Lane. He worked there for nearly 30 years, with only a break […]
Hine, John – His statue is at front of St Wulfram’s
John Hine (1857-1934) JOHN Edward Hine was an Anglican bishop in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Educated at University College School and University College, London. A medical doctor, after ordination he was sent as a missionary to Likoma and was soon promoted to be Bishop of the area, then moved to Zanzibar and […]
Pye, John – You just couldn’t gag John
John Pye (1933-2007) John Pye put a broad smile on the face of the great British public – most of whom had never heard of him. For John, who lived on Redcliffe Road, Grantham, was a gag writer who wrote rib-tickling gags for comedian Ken Dodd since 1963, this despite suffering from Parkinsons Disease for […]
Marsh, Alec – Top amateur rider
Alec Marsh (1908-1996) THE son of a wealthy Staunton-in-the-Vale farmer, Alec Marsh became champion amateur rider under National Hunt Rules in 1934, a position he held for three years. He rode in three Grand Nationals., the first being in 1937 when his mount Don Bradman fell at the first fence, although he remounted to complete the […]