James Bason (1920-2013) James William Bason was headmaster of Belton Lane Primary School for 17 years. Born in Fakenham, Norfolk, he was the son of a station master and lived in various railway towns during his childhood. He began work as a printer’s apprentice around 1935 but when war was declared he joined the Royal […]
Shelbourne, Terry – A master of his art
Terry Shelbourne (1930 – 2021) BORN in Agnes Terrace, Terence John Shelbourne has always had a flair for art. It wasn’t inherited. His father, Frederick, was an engineer at Ruston & Hornsby while his grandfather was a taxidermist (his work included two polar bears that used to be in the town museum. He first went […]
Elliott, Charles – Singer could play any stringed instrument
Charles Elliott (1852-1903) CHARLES James Elliott was in the Goods Department Grantham Station for more than 30 years, rising to the position of chief accounts clerk. Six years before his death, he was promoted to chief goods clerk the Great Northern Station in Peterborough. He had lived in Grantham most of his life before the […]
Escritt, Henry – Employer cared for his workers
Henry Escritt (1836-1913) HENRY Escritt was born at Ross-in- Holderness, Yorkshire, and was educated at Great Driffield, but played a substantial part in Victorian Grantham. Possessing the indomitable perseverance and determination to succeed of the typical Yorkshireman, he came to Grantham in 1860, described as “ robust in body, alert mind, and equipped with a […]
Garrett, George – Big George is everyone’s favourite citizen –
George Richardson Garrett (b1946) GEORGE Garret is someone virtually everyone in Grantham knows and no one has a bad word for. Born in Welby Street when it was full of terraced houses, and later moving to George Street, George caught whooping cough at an early age, and the damage it did was to affect the […]
Thompson, Colin – Central pupil became a Posh boy
Colin Thompson (1942 – 2020) PETER Colin Thompson was born in Mombassa, Kenya. When his family returned to England, he became a pupil at the Boys Central School, where he was captain of the school soccer team. He was also the goalkeeper. After school, he joined Grantham Colts. He scored on his Grantham Town debut […]
Baumber, Jill – GP gave Grantham precious GIFTS
Jill Baumber (1941-2008) DONCASTER-born Jill Lester came to the Grantham area in 1973 after marrying pharmacist Noel Baumber. She moved with her family to Hamburg and Bremerhaven after the end of the Second World War then settled in York, attending St Anne’s School there. She studied medicine at St Andrew’s University, becoming vice-president of the […]
Kidd, John – ex fooballer was veg king
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, […]