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 […]
Cheesman, Walter – former soldier became attaché at the British Embassy, Cairo
Col Walter Cheesman (1898-1981) COL Walter J W Cheesman, CBE MC enjoyed a colourful career in the Army and diplomatic service. Born in Kent, he was give the Emergency Decoration for his services in Nigeria and was decorated by King Hussein of Jordan. He was commissioned into the Rifle Corps and also served in the […]
Stancer, Les – Notts County player ran Grantham pubs
Les Stancer (1925 – 2021) GRANTHAM born Lesley Stancer played for Notts County during the Second World War, mainly friendlies, plus one FA Cup appearance in the Autumn of 1945. Les was soon playing for Grantham and scored on his debut in January 1946 against Mansfield Town Reserves. He made seven appearances for the […]
Irving, John – Convicted thief became top surgeon
John Irving ( C1750-1795) JOHN Irving became a top surgeon, thanks to a transgression made while living in Grantham. It was in September 1783 when he was accused of stealing a silver cup from Grantham widow Frances Clark. He was found guilty of larceny at Lincoln on 6 March 1784 and sentenced to transportation to […]
Ebbutt, Alfred – from bikes to motors
Alfred Ebbutt (1891-1981) BORN in Witchford, Cambridgeshire, Alfred Norris Ebbutt was only a few months old when his family moved to Caythorpe. After leaving school he took an apprenticeship with Hornsby ‘s and was an engineer when he became one of the first locally to volunteer for service in the First World War. He was […]
Carter, Jeff – Jeff needs fast film and a high speed shutter
Jeff Carter (b1964) JEFFREY Stuart MacLean Carter was born in Bristol and grew up in Banbury, Oxfordshire. He joined the RAF in 1982 and moved to Grantham in November 1990 with wife Julie, from the north of Scotland, following his second posting to RAF Cottesmore in Rutland where he served as an electronics engineer on […]
Hutchins, Bill – The fisherman’s friend
Bill Hutchins (1932-2012) WILLIAM Hutchins, was born in Kirton End, near Boston, and had a twin sister, Winnie. The family moved to Grantham and Bill was educated at Spitalgate School and then The King’s School, Grantham. From from the age of 15 he worked at men’s outfitters George Mills, becoming manager. He was made redundant […]
Mullin, Mick – One of Grantham’s great characters
Mick Mullin (1957-2008) Born at Dulwich Hospital, London, Michael Adolphus Mullin was the son of Oscar and Cora Mullin. After leaving Charles Read School, Corby Glen, he worked at Vacu-Lug for the rest of his life. He was well known on the local soccer pitches and played variously for, Grantham United, Lincoln City, Stamford, […]
Manners, Charles – The model for novelist’s heros
Charles Manners, 10th Duke of Rutland (1919-1999) Charles John Robert Manners, 10th Duke of Rutland was the son of John Manners, 9th Duke of Rutland. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, and became a captain in the Grenadier Guards. He married, firstly, Anne Bairstow Cumming Bell, in 1946 and following their divorce […]
Barford, Edward – Factory boss had impressive war record
Edward Barford (1898-1979) EDWARD James Barford was the head of engineering company Aveling Barford. He was the grandson of the founder of Barford & Perkins, of Peterborough, pioneers in the development of internal combustion engine road rollers. In the First World War he enlisted at the age of 17 as a private while at Rugby […]
Adamson, Eric – Knew all the right customs
Eric James Adamson (1919-2007) ERIC James Adamson was born at Liverpool and was educated at the Jesuit College of St Francis Xavier. His first job was with the Admiralty in Altrincham, before being called-up for the Army. He served throughout the Second World War, leaving with the rank of major. He married Marion at All […]
Gujral, Dan Vaibhav – aka Rhesus Gene
Dan Vaibhav Gujral (b1981) Dan Vaibhav Gujral is a Grantham-based contemporary musician He became interested in music while still at school (hated school so not saying) and by the early 90s he’d joined various choral groups performing both local and national shows winning several awards for singing in the process. It was while in these […]
Bland, Matt – Motor dealer who changed Grantham’s night scene
Matt Bland (1915-2009) MATTHEW Bland was very much a hands-on entrepreneur who was involved in many businesses. Born in a caravan at Long Eaton, he was the son of a showman. The family moved to Stanton Street, Grantham, and Matt opened his business Streamline Taxis at the outbreak of war, which was taken over by […]
Manners-Sutton, George – Grantham MP in 18th Century
George Manners-Sutton (1723-1783) LORD George Manners-Sutton was born at Kelham Hall, near Newark, as Lord George Manners, the third son of John Manners, 3rd Duke of Rutland. He married Diana Chaplin in 1749 (d. 1767), only daughter of Thomas Chaplin of Blankney, by whom he had nine children. He entered Parliament in 1754, succeeding his […]
Manners, Frances – Duchess was a horse-breeder
Frances, Duchess of Rutland (1937 – ) FRANCES Helen Sweeny was born in Marylebone Lane, London, in 1937, the daughter of American amateur golfer Charles Sweeny, and his first wife, Margaret Whigham. She became the second wife of Charles John Robert Manners in 1958, and with it the title Duchess of Rutland. They lived […]
Ogden, Edwin – Planted the seeds of competion against former employer
Edwin Ogden (1861 -1936) BORN at Muston, Edwin Ogden moved to Sleaford at an early age, when his father was appointed as a coachman to seed merchant Charles Sharpe. At the age of 21 he was appointed manager of Mr Sharpe’s Grantham shop, on the corner of Market Place (later a gentleman’s club). He worked […]
Dennis, Richard – A professional publican
Richard Dennis (1918-1981) RICHARD Dennis spent 17 years of his life running pubs in the Grantham area. He began his work at Stamford with Stamford Electrical but eventually took over the Five Bells at Edenham. After that he ran the Hare and Hounds, Burton Coggles, and the Waggon and Horses on Grantham’s Manthorpe Road. He […]
Basford, Robert Alexander (1881 – 1955)
Robert Alexander Basford (1881 – 1955) – founded Independent Labour Party Grantham-born, Robert Basford was an outstanding personality in both the local Labour Party and Trade Unions. He studied political economy and developed a broad knowledge of home and international affairs. Both he and his wife Lilian (she was Grantham Mayor in 1946) were founders […]