John Gooderson (1859-1939) BORN in Heckington, John Gooderson was educated at Grantham, before joining Richand Hornsby & Sons for whom he worked for 57 years. He retired in 1928 His father had been a foreman at the firm for several years John, who lived in Harrow Street, was a member of the Free Gardeners’ Society, […]
Thorold, Ernest – Spent most of his life as Army chaplain
Ernest Thorold (1879- 1940) THE Third son of the Rev. A C Thorold, Dr Ernest Hayford Thorold CB, CBE, OBE, was born and died at at Marston Hall, Marston. He was educated at Highgate School and Queen’s College, Oxford ordained a deacon in 1904 and a priest 1905. He was curate of Battersea from 1904-06, […]
Winn, Ellen – Housemaid was a favourite of royalty
Ellen Winn (1859-1894) MISS Ellen Whaley Winn was only 34 when she died, at Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight, Queen Victoria’s favourite home. She was highly thought of among the aristocracy for whom she worked, including Sir William Welby-Gregory (Denton Manor), Earl Manvers (Thoresby Hall), her Majesty Queen Victoria (Windsor Castle), Pincess Leiningen […]
Allport, Archibald – Postmaster preached for 58 Years
Archibald Allport, (1861-1939) BORN in America, Archibald John Allport arrived in the UK at Cheltenham as in infant, moving shortly afterwards with his family to Grantham. His early career was as a headcutter (hairdresser) before starting his own business in Dudley Road, sub-postmaster and general storekeeper, the former position he held for 38 years, retiring […]
Freeman, Levi – Levi was a drummer – but wasn’t into music
Levi Freeman (1871-1939) LEVI Freeman was a professional footballer, mainly in non-league soccer. In his early days he was a prominent figure soccer circles Apart from Grantham Rovers, he played with Hyde, Gainsborough Trinity, Kettering, and Leicester Fosse (later known as Leicester City). In the course his playing career, he played in every position except […]
Burton, George – A pioneer of Grantham’s motor trade
George Burton (1855-1921) GEORGE Richmond Burton was born at Bingham, but lived in Grantham for most of his life, including many years at Church Trees where his business was. He came to Grantham in around 1880 and set up business as an ironmonger. But it was as a local pioneer in the motor trade is […]
Nash, Sir Philip – From Grantham apprenticeship to many directorships
Maj Gen Sir Philip Nash (1875-1936) MAJOR-General Sir Philip Arthur Manley Nash, KCMG, CB, was the son of the Rev William Nash, Rector of Old Somerby, (including the parish of New Somerby) from 1875 until his death in1905. Sir Philip’s boyhood was spent at Somerby, and he was educated at Somerfields, Oxford, and Radley College, […]
Shaw, Stanley – Was killed on the same day his brother died of his wounds
Stanley Shaw, (1887 -1915) Together with two brothers, Alan and Arthur, were among the first to volunteer their services on the outbreak of hostilities in the First World War. He was an old boy of Grantham King’s School. He was a motor cycling enthusiast, and keen member of the Grantham Golf Club. He was the […]
Briggs, Ron – Mayor and landlord was a former submariner
Ron Briggs (1923-1996) PERHAPS the proudest moment came for Ron Briggs came in 1963, Grantham Borough’s Quincentenary Year, when as the town’s Mayor he had to escort the Queen Mother on her visit to town. Born in Little Ponton, Ron went to the Boys Central School, Sandon Road. He then joined the Royal Navy, serving […]
Hand, William – Started work aged 10
William Hand (1865- 1939) WILLIAM Hand was the eldest son the late Richard Hand, who was bandsman in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. He began work aged 10 with R Hempstead and Co, boiler makers on Dysart Road. He then crossed the road to work for Grantham Boiler and Crank, from where he joined […]
Shaw, Alan Louis – Killed by an unlucky ricochet
Alan Louis Shaw (1884 -1915) ALAN Shaw was the son of Alexander Shaw, owner of the tannery alongside the Grantham Canal, near the gasworks. He went to King’s School and was a member of the Old Boys Society, before joining the family business. He was a keen motorcyclist and an honoured member of the Grantham […]
Walls, Eric George – A seed merchant all of his working life
Eric George Walls (1893-1954) BUSINESSMAN Eric Walls was a native of Sleaford, where he worked at the headquarters of seed merchants Charles Sharpe since leaving school. Then in 1924 he was appointed manager of their Grantham branch, at The Grange, Market Place, where he worked for about 30 years. An enthusiastic bowler his jovial disposition […]
Pidd, Edwin – Worked for the same employer for 70 years
Edwin Pidd (1853-1939) EDWIN Pidd was employed by Grantham engineers Ruston Hornsby & Sons for 70 years and will still working there when he died, aged 86. A member of the company’s fire brigade, he was probably the oldest fireman in the country. He lived in Inner Street for 60 years. In his younger days […]
Pacey, Herbert – Headmaster became Mayor of Grantham
Herbert Pacey (1918- 2004) HERBERT Pacey had a pretty full life in Grantham, being a headteacher, sportsman and mayor of the town. Born at Marston, he began as a teacher at Spittlegate School, as senior physical training instructor and gardening master a career interrupted by war service in the Royal Navy. He was headteacher of Ropsley […]
Beeden, Harry – Housing chairman had estate named after him
Harry Beeden MBE (1873-1941) BORN at Thorpe, near Newark, he was the grandson of William Beeden, a Freeman the Borough Grantham. He was educated at the Grantham National and British Schools, in Grantham, and for 16 years was with the firm of Messrs W. B. Harrison and Sons, Watergate, from which retired, and took over […]
Coley, George – Leading figure in the chess world
Beech, William – Musician joined the Army aged 11
Wiiliam Beech (1883-1941) WILLIAM Beech was one of Grantham’s foremost musicians. He was conductor of the Empire Theatre orchestra and was musical director of the Opera House, Buxton. Grantham-born, he joined the Army aged only 11 as a drummer boy. He also played violin at Army concerts. He was on the staff of the 4th […]
Dowd, John – Man died of a single blow at Grantham pub
John Dowd (1897-1954) AFTER seeing active service for his country, John Dowd died in a fight outside a Grantham pub. Born in Crowland, he did his war service with both the Leicestershire Regiment and the King’s Royal Rifles. He was also at Spitalgate RAF station for some time where he met his wife. He stayed in […]
Docherty, John – The killer who wouldn’t die
John Docherty (1926 – ?) JOHN Docherty tried to take his own life, was sentenced to death, but survived both. From the north-east of England, but described as a clerk of ‘no fixed abode’, he was engaged to Sybil Hoy, of Felling, Co Durham. The couple had met some three years earlier, when he was […]
Short, Harold – Harold was recruited to run iconic pub
Harold Short (1930-2005) HAROLD Short was born at Great Ponton on November 5th and died on his birthday some 75 years later. His wife Betty died four weeks later. On moving to Grantham they lived in Witham Terrace, at the bottom of East Street. While working as a barman in the Recruiting Sargent, Great Gonerby […]