Margaret Bingley (b1947) MYSTERY and thriller writer Margaret Bingley was born in Sutton, Surrey and educated at Sutton High School for Girls then Rickard’s Lodge Secretarial College in Wimbledon. She began work at the BBC in London, and later moved to work for The Heinemann Group of Publishers at Lower Kingswood in Surrey, where she […]
Sewell, Ben – Grantham teacher was cricket mad
Ben Sewell (1906-1980) THE son of a Westgate Barber, V E Sewell, was deputy head of the Boys Central School. He was known throughout his life as ‘Ben’. Christened Vern Edward Sewell he was known as Ven within the family and outside as Ben. He was educated at Dame Margaret Thorold’s Grammar School, Sedgebrook, and […]
Pinchbeck, Fred – Worked on development of caterpillar tracks
Fred Pinchbeck (1882-1974) GRANTHAM-born Fred began his working life as an apprentice at Richard Hornsby’s ironworks. He became a millwright and spent much of his early life working on the development of the Caterpillar tractor, the brainchild of David Roberts. He even featured in a documentary film about the trials with the Army on Salisbury […]
Pinchbeck, ‘Cully’ – Played for Town against Queen’s Park
Cully Pinchbeck (1888-1969) IN adult life Arthur Pinchbeck was ironically nicknamed ‘Cully’, a deviation from ‘Curly’ due to his loss of hair at an early age. He was a moulder at Ruston & Hornsby who played centre-half for both Grantham Avenue and Grantham Town. He was more evident in Grantham FC’s matches in the latter […]
Flack, Denis – Denis gave swimmers plenty of flak
Denis Flack (1925-1989) DENIS George Flack came to Grantham in 1964 and became a legend in aquatic sports –especially water polo. Born in Lincoln, he was transferred by Ruston and Hornsby of Lincoln to Grantham in 1964 to work in the drawing office of Alfred Wiseman Ltd. He had taken an interest in water polo […]
Ward, Alex – Grantham musician played with Duke Ellington
Alex Ward (b1974) FORMER King’s School pupil Alex Ward lived in Lodge Way, Grantham, as a youngster. While there he was invited in 1989 to appear at the Glasgow International Jazz Festival, by top guitarist Derek Bailey, joining such luminaries as the Duke Ellington Orchestra and Humphrey Lyttelton. By the age of 15, he had […]
Chambers, Charles – Soldier mentioned in dispatches
Charles Chambers (1879-1965) Charles R Chambers was born in Grantham to Thomas and Rebecca Chambers, his mother dying giving birth. He was brought up at 17 Harrow Street where his father was an engine fitter/ steam engine erector who died following an accident with a traction engine in Derby in June 1897. The family had […]
Cafferata, Redmond – Owned brickworks and gypsum mines
Redmond Cafferata (1847-1913) REDMOND Parker Cafferata was born in Liverpool, the son of a stockbroker in the city. He was educated at the Jesuit College, Stonyhurst, then joined his father at Newark, where they had established gypsum mines at Beacon Hill. They also had a brickworks in Grantham. Redmond took over the company in 1877 on […]
Shaw, Barry – Football manager was in for the high jump
Barry Shaw (b1950) Although he played soccer for both of his schools, the National and St Wulfram’s, he had other pursuits on his mind. He enjoyed athletics, was a keen pole-vaulter and represented Lincolnshire at cross-country running. But after school, he was focussed on football. He began at Londonthorpe-base Wanderers, then joined Wiseman’s the following […]
Foster, Richard – Daredevil Dick tamed the big cats
Richard Foster (1892- ?) GRANTHAM-born Richard Foster became better known throughout Great Britain and Europe as Daredevil Dick the fearless lion tamer. Educated at Grantham Wesleyan School and King’s School, he joined the family butchers shop run by his father J C Foster, in Watergate. He enlisted for the mechanical transport unit during the […]
Garratt, Richard – Grantham draper served on all the councils
Richard Garratt (1866-1932) BORN at Dogdyke, near Tattershall Bridge, Richard Garratt lived in Lincolnshire all of his life, but the most significant part was in Grantham. He was apprenticed to a grocer and draper and later joined a drapery business in Alford. He later had interests in draperies in Boston and Spalding as well as […]
Dring, George – Killer won a Military Medal
George Dring (1917-2003) THE son of Fulbeck’s village blacksmith, George Dring went to the local school, worked on the land and became a fearless horseman, riding in point-to-points, hunting and showing the impulsive nature which characterised his way of handling his tank. But it was as Sergeant George “Killer” Dring, he was best known, with a […]
Pinchbeck, Frank – Newsagent served four kings
Frank Pinchbeck (1884-1953) BORN in Stanton Street, Frank Pinchbeck began work on W H Smith’s bookstall on Grantham railway station in 1898 as a 14-year-old and retired as manager of the one at Derby Midland station in 1947, the latter post he had held for 13 years. He also worked at Sleaford, Stamford, Nottingham and […]
Tomlinson, Clare – Barrowby girl’s a good sport
Clare Tomlinson (b1968) CLARE Tomlinson is an anchorwoman for the British satellite sports network Sky Sports, and has worked there for more than 10 years. She presents Football First, Sky Sports News on their late show ‘Through the Night’, as well as co-presenting BSkyB’s UEFA Champions League coverage alongside Richard Keys. She also became […]
Baxter, Frank – Nearly 30 years on Grantham Town board
Frank Baxter (1908-1996) BORN at Irnham, sport played a big role in Frank Baxter’s life. The eldest of nine children, he began his career as a joiner on Irnham Estate. After the end of the Second World War, he formed a joiner and decorating business, Baxter Bros, with his three brothers. As a cricketer, he […]
Ryder, Dudley – Grantham’s last Lord Harrowby
Dudley Ryder (1831-1900) DUDLEY Ryder married Lady Mary, daughter of Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter, in 1861. The marriage was childless. Harrowby died aged 69, and was succeeded by his younger brother, Henry. Lady Harrowby died in July 1917. Harrowby was Member of Parliament (MP) for Lichfield from 1856 to 1859 and for Liverpool from […]
Hughes, James – Soldier was unsuccessful politician
James Hughes (1780-1845) COLONEL James Hughes CB was a British Army officer and politician. In 1803, then a Captain in the 48th Foot, Hughes exchanged into the 18th Light Dragoons, the regiment in which he was to remain for the rest of his career. He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) […]
Barnwell, John – Former town manager became managers’ boss
John Barnwell (b1938) BORN at High Heaton, Newcastle, John Barnwell was an England Youth International who began his career at Bishop Auckland, before making appearances for Arsenal, (plus winning one England Under-23 cap whilst there), Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United. He retired from playing in June 1971 with a record of 50 goals in 327 […]
Mellor, John – Town MP was a top judge
John Mellor (1835-1911) JOHN William Mellor was an English lawyer and Liberal Party politician, at one time representing Grantham. Born in London, the eldest of the eight sons of Rt Hon. Sir John Mellor, of Otterhead, Devonshire, a Judge of the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court, young Mellor was educated at Trinity Hall, […]
Reiss, Bob – Grantham rector held St Paul’s pursestrings
Robert Paul Reiss (1943 – 2023) CANON Robert Paul Reiss became Canon Treasurer and Almoner at Westminster Abbey in 2005 until retiring nine years later. He was ordained a deacon in 1969 and a priest the following year. The cricket-loving priest was curate St John’s Wood, London from1969-73, before going to Bangladdesh as assistant missioner […]