John ‘Buster’ Kidd (b1958) JOHN Kidd only arrived in Grantham in 1999 but more and more people are discovering him every day. Since opening Buster’s Blooms in the George Centre, he has proved that you don’t need expensive shelving for a greengrocers. Indeed, his operation was an extension of a market stall. John – known […]
Scoffin, Richard – Killer loco at victim’s funeral
Scoffin, Richard (1870-1914) Richard Scoffin, who lived at 124 Alexandra Road, was an inspector employed by the Great Northern Railway Company. He was with the Company for more than more than more than 27 years, coming to Grantham from Leeds, as a signalman in 1900. He was on duty at the nearest signal-cabin at the […]
Thompson, Brian -Checkie had the whole town rockin’
Brian ‘ Checkie’ Thompson (1938 – 2011) BRIAN ‘Checkie’ Thompson was the son the Great Gonerby village butcher. He was a pupil at the King’s School, where he enjoyed all sports and played cricket for the school after which he worked as a technical draughtsman for Aveling-Barford. With his wife, Barbara, he promoted dances and […]
Wright, Frank – The good doctor died in freak railway accident
Dr Frank Wright (1863-1895) The son of Dr James Wright, Dr Frank Wright won for himself popularity and a growing reputation, as a skilful surgeon. Dr Wright was an MRCS, England, 1885, LSA, (St. Bartholomew), Foster prizeman anatomy, 1888; a member of the Nottingham Medical Orthirurgical Society ; Prosector of Anatomy RCS, England, 1883-4 His […]
Peatman, Harold – Cricketer struck down at early age
Peatman, Harold (1884-1911) Harold Peatman Jenkinson of Rose Cottage, Dudley-road, was an enthusiastic cricketer. He played several seasons with the Long Bennington club, his native village. He was a member when Long Bennington at top the League, played afinal on Grantham’s Lonson Road ground against the rest of the League, where he took four wickets […]
Allen, Henry (1825-1911)
Retired railwayman became a publican Henry Allen (1825-1911) BORN at Peterborough, Henry Allen was superintendent of the loco at Grantham for 27 years. He came to Grantham in 1858, only five years after the railway station opened in the town, and worked for the Great Northern Railway Co for more than 40 years. When he […]
Wormall, Israel – Died through football accident
Israel Wormall (1881-1902) ISRAEL Wormall was only 21 when he died in Grantham Hospital. He was there following a football match, in which his left leg had been broken just below the knee at the London Road ground, playing for Grantham Avenue against Grantham Amateurs, in a Minor Cup match. He had slipped with his […]
Eaton, James – Was Grantham’s oldest medical practitioner
James Eaton (1836-1916) JAMES Eaton, M and L.&C5, Eng, and LS, Lond, of Abbey House, St Peters Hill died suddenly following a cold. He was still practising aged 80. Dr Eaton was born Grantham, where he lived most of his life. His father was physician and surgeon in town, his brother practised here, his uncle […]
Rogers, Bill – Able seaman became an able manager
Bill Rogers (1933-2013) William Vincent Rogers was born in 1933 at Thorpe, near Farndon, Newark. He joined the Royal Navy in 1948, aged just 15, in the gunnery section. He served for 12 years, ending up at HMS Sultan in Gosport, Hampshire. He mainly visited the Far East, Singapore, Hong Kong, served in Korea and […]
Curtis, Chris – Tragic end for talented footballer
Curtis Chris (1963-2005) GRANTHAM-born Chris was a fullback with Grantham Town, who previously played for Sleaford Town and Harrowby United before progressing through the Reserves to make his senior debut in the opening league fixture of the 1987/88 season at Merthyr Tydfil. He became an important member of that year’s side, until the arrival […]
Morgan, Dave – Time Machine man’s impressive record
David Morgan (b1949) BORN in Manchester, David James Morgan’s family moved to Ropsley when he was only five. He went to the village school and was in the first intake at the newly-opened Charles Read School, Corby Glen. He showed an interest in music at an early age and learned to play lead guitar. His […]
Carter, George – Naughty vicar cited in divorce case
Rev George Carter (1829-1894) GEORGE Carter, MA, LLB, DL, JP was Rector of Folkingham for 33 years having previously been curate of Coningsby. The son of Spalding solicitor J R Carter, he was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. In 1851, he married Elizabeth Henery, daughter of Mr. Thomas Munton Lawrance, of Dunsbv Hall, For upwards […]
Watts, Ela – You can always count on Ela
Ela Watts (b1952) GRAVITY FM and Belvoir Radio presenter Ela Watts was born Elaine Ivy May in Harrow Street, Grantham, and attended local schools, Spittlegate Primary, followed by Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School. On leaving school she joined the Midland Bank (later HSBC) until she left to start a family. While bringing up her children, […]
Pigott, Hugh – An auctioneer worth watching
Hugh Pigott (1921-1992) BORN near Brigg, Hugh Geoffrey Pigott moved to Grantham in 1956 to become proprietor of Bailey & Ambler estate agents, of St Peter’s Hill, and Norman Harcourt auctioneers of Wide Westgate. Famed for his extremely loud voice while selling produce and livestock in Westgate on market days and the adjacent cattle market, […]
Elmer, Betty – Betty will spin you a yarn
Betty Elmer (b1933) BORN in Anfield, Liverpool, in the shadow of a certain football ground, she was named after a contemporary film star – Betty Boop! Born Betty McGorian, her father was branch secetary for the NUR in the city. She is cousin to comedian Jimmy Mulville, who Hatrick production company creates Have I Got […]
Groves, Paul – Actor, stand-up, children’s TV writer and a Grantham teacher
Paul Groves (1930-2017) PAUL Groves began in the acting profession and went on to become one of Britain’s most prolific children’s writers. Born in Oxford in 1930, Paul showed a talent for acting at a young age and was encouraged by his father with whom he performed in amateur productions with. At the age of […]
Alexander, Mike – Grantham footballer became TV sports personality
Mike Alexander (1941- ) GRANTHAM Football Club has a long tradition of free-scoring centre forwards and one of the finest of them all was Mike Alexander. Originally on the books of Football League side Scunthorpe United, then Brigg Town, followed by Gainsborough Trinity. He was the first major signing made by legendary player-manager Terry Bly […]
Pigott, Nick – The professional trainspotter
Nick Pigott (b1951) BORN near Retford in 1951 and moving to Grantham at the age of four, Nick Pigott was brought up in the town and attended Gonerby Hill Foot and Little Gonerby primary schools before going to the National School in Castlegate. After a spell away, he returned to Lincolnshire in the late-1960s to […]
Birch, Azey – An incorrigible rogue
Tempest, Thomas Peter – The man who built St Mary’s
Canon Thomas Peter Tempest, (C1805-1861) AS a young theology student Thomas Peter Tempest, of Broughton Hall, near Skipton, was passing along the Great North Road, on his way home, when he spotted a house he liked with an adjacent paddock. That was in 1830, only one year after the Catholic Emancipation Act which allowed people […]