William Whitaker (1830-1914) BORN in Leeds, 15-year-old William Whitaker came to Grantham as an apprentice to tailor George Gibbon in 1845. In 1869, on the death of Mr Gibbons, William took over the business and gave his name to it until his retirement in 1904 when his son Frederick took over. Aged 20, he volunteered […]
Cecil, William – King School old boy was a fan of Queen
SIR William Cecil was born in Bourne, in 1520, the only son of Richard Cecil, owner of the Burghley estate (near Stamford), and his wife, Jane (nee Heckington). William was educated first at The King’s School, Grantham, then at Stamford School, which he later saved and endowed. In May 1535, at the age of fourteen, […]
Dawson, Ivan – Grantham Mayor died on Germany visit
Ivan Dawson (1930-1985) IVAN Dawson was a Labour councillor and one of the founders of Grantham Twinning Association. And it was on a visit to twin Town Sankt Augustin – where he was an honorary citizen – that he had a heart attack and died in a German hospital. First elected as a borough councillor […]
Bundrick, Rabbit – Grantham was rock star’s country retreat
John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick (b1948) JOHN Douglas “Rabbit” Bundrick, born in Houston, Texas, is an American rock keyboardist, pianist and organist. He is best known for his work with The Who and associations with others including Eric Burdon, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Roger Waters, Free and Crawler. Bundrick is noted as the principal musician for […]
Crawford, Anne – Star of stage and screen
Anne Crawford (1920- 1956) FILM star Anne (real name Imelda) Crawford was born in Haifa, (then Palestine), to a Scottish engineer working on the railways. She was brought up in Edinburgh and studied acting at RADA. From there she worked in rep in Manchester. She had a tiny role in Prison Without Bars and better […]
Cust, John (1779-1853)
Was too Conservative to read the Times John Cust (1779-1853) JOHN Cust succeeded Brownlow Cust in 1807 and was raised to Earldom in 1815. A stern and forbidding man, he was reputed to be so conservative he would not even allow The Times into his home, Belton House. Yet he was a progressive landlord […]
Leeke, Harold – Vicar hated litter, especially used condoms
Leeke, Harold (1888-1958) CANON Charles Harold Leeke, former vicar of St Nicholas Church, Lincoln, was appointed Vicar of Grantham in 1939, succeeding the Rev G H Warde. A native of Lincoln, he was the son of Canon E T Leeke, chancellor and sub-dean of Lincoln Cathedral for many years. Canon Leeke was married with three […]
Whysall, William – Malster began pharmacy dynasty
William Whysall (1839-1913) THE son of a Belper farmer and malster, William Whysall came to Grantham when he was 30 to open a pharmacy. He had already spent serve nine years with the renowned pharmacist Mr Pedler of Fleet Street, and when he set up on High Street, became the first qualified pharmacist in town. […]
Pine, Bob – From Coal Board to college principal
Bob Pine (1940-1996) ROBERT Pine was born in Pontypridd, South Wales, and initially spent 10 years working for the National Coal Board. After passing his Certificate of Education he began teaching accountancy. He became principal lecturer at Southampton Technical College before taking up an appointment at Grantham College. He was a director of the college […]
Nauyokas, Richard – Nasty Nookie is not all bad
Richard Nauyokas (b1962) RICHARD Nauyokas sprang to fame playing himself in the TV reality series Lads Army and the sequel Bad Lads Army. Wide Westgate-born Richard – known as Nookie – was a pupil at Spittlegate School and then the Boys Central School. He joined the army in 1980, leaving as a Warrant Officer Class 2 […]
Peacock, Charles – bank manager was an all round sportsman
Maj Charles Milne Peacock (1872-1942) Born at Stoneley, west of Graffam Water, Major Charles Milne Peacock was the son of Gilbert Peacock, of Greatford Hall, Stamford. He was brother to Lady Kesteven and uncle to Lady Londesborough. He joined the 4th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment in 1891 becoming a Second Lt. He began his career in […]
Andrews, Christopher – Became one of Grantham’s most popular priests
Rev Canon Chris Andrews (B1947) THE Rev Canon Chris Andrews was appointed Vicar of St Wulfram’s (Rector of Grantham) in 1996 until his retirement in 2013. Born in pre-fab in Glen Parva, Leicester, he was the son of an aeronautical engineer who at the time was working with jet-engine developer Frank Whittle. The early years […]
Mills, Gary – Town manager had been Forest’s youngest player
Gary Mills (b1961) GARY Roland Mills started his football career with Nottingham Forest and became the club’s youngest league player after making his first team debut at the age of 16 in 1978. Born in Northampton, he played for a local village team before being spotted by a Nottingham Forest scout at the age of […]
More, Henry – Fellow Kings pupil may have influenced Newton
Henry More (1615-1687) THEOLOGIAN and philosopher Henry More’s father was Alexander More who had been mayor of Grantham on several occasions. He was the seventh son of Alexander and Anne. Alexander was financially well off and able to give his son a top class education. Little is known of his childhood except for a few […]
Hardy, Miles – Grantham’s peerless ploughman
Miles hardy (1851-1931) FRISKNEY-born Miles Hardy, who lived at 31 Wharf Road, was regarded at Britain’s best ploughman. He gained national fame when he won his first match at Bennington, near Boston, when he was only 16. He went on to win six other leading championships that year. He won his first England […]
Millhouse, Bernard – Auctioneer helped found Swimarathon
Bernard Millhouse (1914-2012) BERNARD Millhouse was born in Grantham, where he lived and worked all his life. In 1931 he joined auctioneers Goldings, founded by his father, Louis F. Millhouse, in conjunction with Mr Golding, in 1900. At the age of 23 he was accepted by the Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers and became a […]
Brownlow, Richard – Richard was the Chief Prothonotary
Richard Brownlow (1553-1638) WHEN Richard Brownlow was born in 1553, the future for England appeared remarkably unpromising. Young King Edward VI was dead of consumption, the nine-day Queen, Lady Jane Grey, had been executed, and Mary Tudor was on the throne. The country lacked stability and direction. Not until well into Elizabeth’s reign did England’s […]
Boyer, Phil – England international was boss at Town and Harrowby
PHILIP John Boyer is an English former footballer who played for various clubs during his career, including Southampton, Norwich City, Bournemouth and Manchester City. He has the rare distinction of having played over 100 league games for four different clubs. He also made one appearance for England. Born in Nottingham, Boyer attended Musters Road School, […]
Bradshaw, William – Grantham man buried in Egypt
William Bradshaw (1911-1942) WILLIAM George Bradshaw was the youngest son of Sir William and Lady Bradshaw, Bradshaw who was born at the family home on Harrowby Road Grantham. He was educated at New Somerby (St Anne’s) School from where he won a scholarship to King’s School. He was a keen sportsman and passionate about engineering, and […]
Luttrell, Sir Geoffrey – Commissioned the best known Psalter
Luttrell, Sir Geoffrey (1276-1345) SIR Geoffrey Luttrell III was a great great grandson of Sir Geoffrey de Luterel, a favourite of King John. His family seat was Irnham Hall at Irnham and he was referred to as the 2nd Lord of Irnham. His parents were Robert and Joan. He married Agnes Sutton, daughter of Sir […]