Tankerville Kendall (1892-1981) LIKE his brothers, on leaving school, Tankerville Eustace Kendall was apprenticed to Richard Hornsby Ltd. He joined the company in 1905 and retired as a draughtsman in 1957 with the same firm. His father William V Kendall had been a timekeeper there. He was a sidesman at St Wulfram’s Church, where he […]
Pulford, Nicola – Grantham girl became a diva
Nicola Pulford (b1982) Lincolnshire soprano, Nicola Pulford, went to school at KGGS. While there, she entered the Grantham Music Festival, winning most vocal categories, under the tuition of Anne Abbott, before continuing her studies at Trinity College of Music, London. She was also a member of St John’s Choir under conductor Geoffrey Winter and has […]
Crabtree, Theophilus – a very liberal secretary
Theophilus Crabtree (1853-1901) Theodore Richardson Crabtree was the secretary of Grantham Liberal Association and private secretary to the town’s MP and his cousin, Arthur Priestley. Born in Pontefract, he was the son of a Primitive Methodist minister. Privately educated, he came to live with his uncle, Eli Crabtree at Great Ponton. He was said to […]
Beecroft, Albert – Constable who dealt with late drinkers in his own way
Albert Beecroft (1898-1979) BORN in Buckminster, Albert Beecroft joined the Grantham Borough Police in 1928 and became something of a legend. He was a respected member of the force and it is legendary that if he caught people drinking after time they would be ‘fined’ in the form of buying him a drink. Small boys […]
Mottershaw, Tony – Kobalts founder enjoyed the Streetlife
Tony Mottershaw (b1942) THE young Anthony Mottershaw lived at Cowes Road and went to Earlesfield Primary School and Spitalgate Boys then on to St Wulfram’s Secondary School. He worked at Aveling-Barfords and also at Kontaks, had a few great years at Granfrieght and then moved on to EMEB up until he relocated to Paignton, where […]
Needham, John – part owner of Grantham newspaper
John Needham (1870-1930) Nottingham-born Joseph Henry Needham was an apprentice in the printing trade before turning his career to journalism. His first job was in Boston, then he came to Grantham to work on the Grantham Times, before becoming part-proprietor on the Grantham Advertiser. When the National Insurance Act was introduced in 1911, he became […]
Baxter, Jim – Taken prisoner at Dunkirk
Jim Baxter (1915-1982) JAMES Robert Baxter was a master painter and decorator and a partner in the Grantham-based firm, Baxter Bros. He enjoyed cricket and was reputed never to have dropped a catch. He also played football for Corby Glen. He joined the Royal Engineers on the outbreak of war but was taken prisoner at […]
Hack, Pete – Popular local sportsman
Pete Hack (1949-2004) PETER Edward Hack was a highly respected local footballer, but it was on the field of play that tragedy struck. Born in Melton Mowbray, he attended Redmile Primary School, then Belvoir High School and for a short time went to St Hugh’s, in Grantham. A keen footballer, he played for Woolsthorpe on […]
Ogden, Montague – Railwayman became Grantham Mayor
Montague Ogden (1905 – 1981) A RAILWAY man, Montague Ogden was Mayor of Grantham 1966-67 and served on Kesteven County Council and was a member of the Education Committee. His wife, Annie, died in the January of his mayoralty He held every office in the local Labour party from secretary to parliamentary agent . He retired after […]
Manners, David – The Duke is a top gun
David Manners, 11th Duke of Rutland (b1959) David Charles Robert Manners, 11th Duke of Rutland is the elder son of the 10th Duke of Rutland by his second wife, the former Frances Sweeney. He succeeded his father in the titles in January 1999. The Sunday Times Rich List 2013 estimated a personal fortune of £125m […]
Smith, Kenneth – Hero awarded George Cross
Kenneth Smith GC (1921-1945) HUMBY hero Kenneth Smith was awarded the George Cross for his actions during the Second World War. Unfortunately, it was posthumous. He saved many lives, civilian and comrades, when he dashed into a house and carried out an active German timebomb which exploded in his hands. Born and resident at Great […]
Mitchinson, Lily – Grantham landlady was a high flyer
Burdett, Susan – Died tragically young
Susan Burdett (1953-1979) SUSAN Patricia Burdett had a promising future when she died aged only 26. The former KGGS pupil was teacher of home economics at the Alderman White Comprehensive, Beeston, and about to take up a similar appointment at Grantham College. She was secretary of Gonerby Tennis Club, a member of St Wulfram’s Guild […]
Matthews, Stanley – Stan the Man keeps on rockin’
Stan ‘ The Man’ Matthews (b1936) BORN in Grantham, Stanley Herbert Matthews was educated at first Huntingtower School then the Boys Central School. Throughout his life he was destined to meet local musicians -Trevor Leeson, Vince Eager, Roy Clarke, etc – at both his schools and place of work. He loves rock ‘a’ roll and […]
Topps, Frank – Butcher was a cut above the rest
Frank Topps (1945-2013) BORN in Grantham, Frank Robert Topps, was the son of Harold and Ethel Topps Aged 19, he started his own butchery business in Great Gonerby. He built up a successful, mobile business, procuring some of his meat from his own smallholding, where he kept cattle and pigs. It remained a family […]
Hurst, Thomas – Was King’s Chaplain in Cromwell’s Grantham
Thomas Hurst (1598-1674) THOMAS Hurst was born in Barrowby, and became Rector of Barrowby and Leadenham in 1629, having gained a Doctorate in Divinity. He was a chaplain to King Charles I, and during the Civil War he spent two years away from his parishes preaching to the Royalists. As a result he lost his […]
French, David – Grantham artist who painted Shergar
David French (1939-2019) DAVID French was born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk and after studying at his local college of art and the Bath Academy, he trained as a teacher in Derby. Moving to Grantham with his two young children in 1964, he taught his subject at St Hugh’s before being appointed as Lecturer in Fine […]
Cooper, Lady Diana – Mother to Lord Grantham’s creator
Lady Diana Cooper (1892-1986) DIANA Cooper, Viscountess Norwich, was a prominent social figure in London and Paris, widely acknowledged as the beauty of the century. Born Lady Diana Olivia Winifred Maud Manners, at Belvoir Castle, she was officially the youngest daughter of the 8th Duke of Rutland and his wife, the former Violet Lindsay, an […]
Fowler, Benjamin – Grantham surgeon saved French soldiers
Benjamin Fowler (1917-1982) BENJAMIN John Fowler was consultant surgeon at Grantham Hospital from 1962 until his retirement 20 years later. He was born and brought up in Peterborough and a student at Guy’s Medical School, London and in 1941 obtained his MB and BS qualifications. He saw wartime service with the Army in the Middle […]
Finn, Courtney – Driving force behind the blue plaques
Courtney Finn (b1941) BORN in Northampton, Courtney was educated in his home town before graduating at Leeds University in 1963. He gained experience with various companies across the country, including Proctor & Gamble, Cheseborough Ponds and Bovril before coming to Grantham in 1978 as the last managing director of Barfords of Belton, in time for […]