Peter Down (1948-2018) BOTTESFORD-born, Pete moved to Grantham with his family at the age of five to Heathfield Road on Beeden Park estate (flat tops). After two years at Bottesford Primary School he moved first to Earlesfield Primary then Springfield Secondary School becoming one of the first intake at the newly-built St Hugh’s in about […]
Fletcher, Frederick – Wine merchant saved from sinking ship
Frederick Fletcher (1831-1913) FREDERICK Fletcher, who lived at “The Cottage”, Westgate (later the Westgate Club), took an active part in the public life of the town. Grantham-born, his father John was a wine and spirit merchant in Westgate, while in later years, after his marriage, Mr Fletcher carried on a similar business. He was educated […]
Gutch, Eliza – alias St Swithin
Eliza Gutch (1840-1931) BORN Eliza Hutchinson on St Swithin’s Day, at Manthorpe Lodge, Little Gonerby-cum-Manthorpe, she was an English author and contributor to Notes and Queries using the pseudonym St Swithin. She was a founder member of the Folklore Society. Her knowledge of folklore was utilised by Joseph Wright in his English Dialect Dictionary, to […]
Shrapnel, Norman – King’s old boy became a top journalist
Norman Shrapnel (1912-2004) NORMAN Shrapnel was an English journalist, author, and parliamentary correspondent. Born in Grimsby, he was educated at The King’s School, Grantham. In 1947, after war service in the RAF, he joined the Manchester Guardian as reporter, book reviewer, and theatre critic. He became the paper’s (and the later Guardian’s) parliamentary correspondent in […]
Jackson, Jimmy – Bourne to play for Grantham Town
James Jackson (b1948) BOURNE born, after signing from Bourne Town, Jimmy started out as a striker at Grantham and scored on his debut in the first home game of the 1969/70 season against Boston FC. Although he fitted well into the team straight away, Jimmy had to settle with substitute appearances in both of that season’s […]
Hill, Martin – Former farmer leads the county
Martin Hill (b1954) LEADER of Lincolnshire County Council Martin John Hill OBE, was born in Leicester and brought up in Lincolnshire, near Grimsby. He has been the chairman of Heydour Parish Council since 1991. He has represented Folkingham Rural on Lincolnshire County Council as a Conservative since 1993 and as its leader of since 2005 […]
Burbage, Thomas Edward – Soldier died eight days after his wedding
Thomas Burbage (1907-1941) THOMAS Edward Burbage died with tragic suddenness in Harrogate General Hospital, just eight days after his marriage. Brought up in Oxford-street, Grantham, he served his apprenticeship a hairdresser with Fosters of Westgate. He left the town for a short period, returning to take up business on his own account as hairdresser, at […]
Taylor, Gerry – Gerry gave the Gingerbreads bite
Gerry Taylor (b1946) GERRY Taylor was what was euphemistically known as ‘hard’. His nickname was ‘Bites-yer-legs’ in deference to Leeds United strong man Norman Hunter. Sleaford-born Gerry signed for Grantham from Sleaford Town having previously been on the books of Lincoln City as well as playing Sunday League football for Sleaford Rangers. His day job […]
Carnell, Frederick Neville – Pub landlord was ex-sailor
Frederick Neville Carnell (1891-1954) Fred Carnell served in the Royal Navy for 27 years, retiring with the rank of warrant officer. On retiring, he became warden of the WAEC hostel at Honington for three years. From there he moved into the licensed trade, He was landlord at the Blue Horse Hotel. London Road, for six […]
Everton, Walter – Survived one rail disaster only to die in another
Walter Everton (1894-1940) WALTER Everton escaped one of the Grantham area’s worst rail tragedies, only to succumb to another four years later. The railwayman who escaped from the Barkston disaster of 1936 being off work through an attack of sciatica, met his death in 1940 while on duty. He was knocked down and killed by […]
Knight, Sarah – Sarah is Grantham’s favourite Knight-ingale
Sarah Knight (b1990) EVEN before she started school, Sarah Knight’s mum Amanda Parke had to keep her entertained with music. She would sit her on the washing machine and together they sang Abba, Cher, Alison Moyet and Shirley Bassey. When dad Richard came home from work at the weekends, he would play her all of […]
Mountain, Bob – Bob was a hat-trick hero
Bob Mountain (b1956) BORN at Wombwell, Robert Mountain began his football career at Bolton Wanderers and then made one appearance for Huddersfield Town during the 1973/74 season, before joining Frickley Athletic, Mexborough Town and Bridlington Trinity. He was signed for Grantham by his former Manager, Geoff Barker, making his debut in the December 1980 league […]
Bowen, Eric William – Went down with his ship
Eric Bowen (1921-1940) ERIC Bowden, of Bridge Street, Grantham, was signalman on HMS Afridi, one of the three Allied destroyers sunk by German warplanes off the coast of Norway during the withdrawal troops from Namos. His father, who had served in the 1914-18 campaign had died when Eric was only eight, from the effects of […]
Howarth, Arthur – Bishop made a fortune selling confessions
Arthur Howarth (1868-1942) ARTHUR William Howarth (son of Thomas Howarth and Anne Collins) was born 1868 in Bradford, Yorkshire and became the Bishop of Corby (Glen). He was only one to hold the post. Originally a Methodist, Fr Howarth was appointed Roman Catholic priest in the village in 1900. Everything went well until in he […]
Jarvis, Nick – Boxer’s son was a ladykiller
Corradine, Malcolm – Local boy was speedway ace
Malcolm Corradine (b1953) HEAVY plant and equipment at Alyson Hire and driving the digger in the creation of Woodland Waters at Ancaster, which he now runs, aren’t Grantham businessman Malcolm Corradine’s only links to machinery. While most local people associate him with those two well-known enterprises – fewer realise the impact he made in sporting […]
Goold, Ebenezer – Founder of the Grantham Brotherhood
Ebenezer Goold (c1880 -1940) EBENEZER Goold MA Mus.Bac was a pioneer and an outstanding figure in the Brotherhood Movement, and at one time a Congregational minister. He helped form the Grantham Brotherhood in 1905 and held the office of national secretary, and became president the national movement in 1927. He put to good use his […]
Ingram, Joseph – The man who climbed St Wulfram’s
Parachute Joe (1850-1922) ‘Professor’ Joseph Ingram probably came to Grantham only once, but his visit in 1893 made a big impression. Having a request to climb St Wulfram’s spire turned down by the vicar, Rev Glaister, he did it anyway. With neither ladders nor scaffolding, he started at the ground, and once he reached the […]
Neal, Alan – Forest fan seldom got to the City Ground
Alan Neal (1925-2011) BORN in Grantley Street, Grantham, Alan Frederick Neal was the youngest of eight children. The family worshipped at St John’s Church, and at one time his father Percy and six of his sons sang in the choir. They moved to Victoria Street when Alan was seven. His mother Florence died when he […]
Lee, William – Businessman looked after his community
William Lee (1855-1921) THE son of John Lee, who had started John Lee & Son (Grantham) Ltd in 1845, William Lee was a chip off the entrepreneurial block. Under him, the firm grew extensively, not only in Grantham, but Stamford and a fur-cutting factory at Easton-on-the Hill. Much of the growth was in the export […]