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 […]
Brindley, John – Bill scored one of the fastest goals on record
Brindley, Bill (1947 – 2007) ALTHOUGH christened John Brindley, the Nottingham-born footballer was always known as ‘Bill’. A former England Schoolboy and Youth International, he began his career at Nottingham Forest in 1964. Three years later he made headlines by scoring only 10 seconds after coming on as substitute in a match against Southampton. Bill […]
Leeson, Stanley – Died in accident at work
Stanley Leeson (1909-1938) BORN in Grantham, Stanley Leeson was Grantham’s billiards champion. An employee at Aveling Barford, he was engaged to Gwen Shepherd when he died following an accident at work aged only 29. He was working on a disc and bobbin sander, when the piece of wood he was working on shot out of […]
Cummins, Rex – A big man in every sense
Rex Cummins (1936-2013) REX Cummins, ran several business ventures in Grantham. He was raised in Lincoln and as a youth enjoyed motor racing, horse-riding and rugby. His family ran an electrical business in the city and Rex took and apprenticeship as an electrical engineer at excavator builders, Ruston Bucyrus. After marrying Eileen in 1958, they […]
Bamford, Patrick – International footballer was born in Grantham
Patrick Bamford (b1993) FOOTBALLER Patrick Bamford was born in Grantham, and joined Nottingham Forest’s Academy as an eight-year-old after playing junior football for Muskham Cougars. He attended Nottingham High School where he did French, History, Biology and General Studies and got a good set of A-Level results. He was an unused substitute during Forest’s League […]
Houghton, Douglas – Chauffeur to the AB bosses
Douglas Houghton, (1901-1941) DOUGLAS Houghton was a native of Stone, near Rochester, who came to Grantham following the creation of Aveling-Barford. He first became connected with Aveling Porter at Rochester, where served as apprentice fitter. During the Great War joined HM forces, and served in the Army of Occupation in Germany. On his return he […]
Kathleen, Duchess of Rutland – The Duchess was niece of prime minister
Kathleen, Duchess of Rutland (1894- 1989) KATHLEEN was the wife of the 9th Duke of Rutland and mother of the 10th Duke. Born Kathleen Tennant, in London, she was the third and youngest daughter of Francis John Tennant of Innes, Morayshire and Lympne Castle, Kent, and the grand-daughter of the Scottish industrialist and Baronet, Sir […]
Ironmonger, Charles – Joiner was an active trade unionist
Charles Ironmonger (1862-1941) BORN in Holbeach, Charles Ironmonger was apprenticed as a joiner, a profession he brought to Grantham in 1883. He first worked in town for John Hawley but over the years worked for most of the town’s leading joiners including a department at Ruston and Hornsby’s engineering works His last job was building […]
Jenas, Dennis – a star man in Albuquerque
Dennis Jenas (B1960) Dennis was actually born Genas, in Nottingham, but changed his name as he wanted to be known as DJ at school. He is a former Clifton All Whites and Ajax, Nottingham, striker who had previously had trials with Nottingham Forest. Dennis made his debut for Grantham Town FC in the August 1979 […]
Wellbelove, Leslie – Leslie lived for music
Leslie Wellbelove (1905-1954) Leslie Wellbelove, of Dudley Road, lived for music. He was a member of Ruston and Hornsby’s Prize band, for several years, until illness forced him to give up playing wind instruments. He was an expert on the cornet and tenor-horn. He also played the string bass, piano and xylophone. Born in Kent, […]
Bacon, Vic – Gas man was on cue at the Con Club
Albert Victor Bacon (1910-1941) ALBERT ‘Vic’ Bacon was the son of Mr and Mrs H Bacon, of Elmer Street North. Educated at the National School he entered the employment men’s outfitter P W Sheppard, High Street as errand boy. A year later he was engaged by the Gas Company as assistant collector to the late Mr Weston, […]
Martin, Charles -Died after the other Flanders battle
Charles Edward Martin (1908 – 1940) AMONG those who paid the supreme sacrifice as a result of the battle of Flanders was Private Charles Edward Martin of Grantley Street. He died in a military hospital in England on Sunday from machine-gun bullet wounds. The story of how he, along with another soldier, were sent to […]