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 […]
Longden, Bruce – PE teacher became a world class coach
Bruce Longden (1920-2012) BORN in Sheffield, Bruce studied at Woodhouse Grammar School, before moving on to Loughborough College (now University), where he graduated in 1962 in Physical Education and Geography. He went on to teach for two years in Romford, Essex, before becoming Head of PE at Kings School, Grantham, for four years. Then […]
Down, Pete – Local lad played in Wembley final
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 […]