Bingley, Margaret – Thriller writer who turned to erotica
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.…
Birch, Azey – An incorrigible rogue
Azey Birch (1816-1901) IT is hard to not to feel some sympathy for Azey Birch and his family. On the one hand he spent much of his life appearing…
Bishop, Elaine – The lady loves opera and all that jazz
Elaine Bishop (b1982) MEZZO-soprano Elaine Duggan was born in Grantham, on Manthorpe estate, and was educated at St Mary’s and KGGS. She won a place at Hull University, gaining…
Bissell, Ron – The fighting bantam
Ronald Bissell (1924- ?) BORN in Rotherham, Ron Bissell never considered boxing a dangerous sport. When he lived in Grantham he maintained the most hazardous part of his career…
Black, Amanda – Grantham woman with the winning Formula
Amanda Black (b1982) Amanda Black went to Cliffedale Primary School, and lived with her parents in Manthorpe Road, Grantham, for most of her life, has won a coveted place…
Blackie, Ernest – Grantham Bishop married into pedigree family
BORN in Leamington Spa, Ernest Morell Blackie was an Anglican bishop.
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…
Blandford, Roger – In the footsteps of Newton
Roger David Blandford, FRS, FRAS (1949 – ) Roger David Blandford, FRS, FRAS is a British theoretical astrophysicist, best known for his work on black holes. He was born…
Bly, Terry – Norfolk man became a Grantham legend
GRANTHAM footballing legend Terence Geoffrey Bly came to town in 1964, as player-manager of the Gingerbreads but never lost his Norfolk accent. He had many great FA Cup memories…
Boles, Nick – The source of the apprentices
NICHOLAS Edward Coleridge Boles was elected as the Conservative MP for Grantham and Stamford in May 2011.
Bolton, Frank – Rugby enthusiast made ladies undies
Frank William Bolton (1939-2019) Frank Bolton was educated at Spittlegate Boys (Stonebridge) and King’s School. He first worked for the Inland Revenue in Grantham before being transferred to Beltchley.…
Bond, Alan – Jungle hero was born in Grantham
Alan Bond (1937-2019) Alan Bond was born at Grantham in July 1937. He joined the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment in 1955. At the end of his two years’ National Service,…
Bond, Andy – Plumber’s son became boss of supermarket giant
THE son of a plumber and a nurse mother, Andrew James Bond grew up in Grantham, and left the King’s School with four A Levels. He began his career…
Bond, Jack – Grantham man awarded Légion d’honneur
John Henry Bond (b1920) Born in Welby Street, Jack Bond and went to nearby Welby Street School. As a 19-year-old, he was conscripted into the 4th Battalion of the…
Borkertas, Kelly – Great singer, it’s in her Soul
Kelly Borkertas (b1981) Born in Taunton, Somerset, the family moved to South Witham when Kelly was two years old and has lived in and around Grantham since. She attended…
Bosnell, Mike – Signed for Town after leg break
Mike Bosnell (1932 – 2013) LINCOLN-born Mike Bosnell was a popular player with the London Road fans. The former Lincoln City Reserves striker, who after breaking his leg returned…
Bowen, Eric William – Went down with his ship
Eric Bowen (1921-1940) ERIC Bowden, of Bridge Street, Grantham, was signalman on HMS Afridi, one of the three Allied destroyers sunk by German warplanes off the coast of Norway…
Boyce, Reginald – Village policeman went into local politics
Reginald Boyce (1922-2013) REGINALD Arthur Boyce was born on July 6, 1922 at Wood Walton, Huntingdonshire and he attended Huntingdon Grammar School. On leaving school he trained as an…
Boyer, Phil – England international was boss at two Grantham clubs
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…
Boyer, Thomas – Sheep stealer transported Down Under
Thomas Boyer (1803- 1865) The second son of William & Ann Boyer, Thomas was born at Folkingham. The family moved to Swinstead when he was two and then to…
Bradley, Roderick – Grantham lad became a Gladiator
Roderick Bradley (B1983) Roderick Bradley was born in Grantham, and attended Oakham School between 1994 and 2001 before going to Loughborough to study art. He graduated in 2004 with…
Bradshaw, John – The man who introduced free newspapers to Grantham
John Bradshaw (c1943) John Bradshaw, launched some of the first local newspaper websites in the UK. One of his first acts in Grantham was create the Grantham Shopper in…
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…
Bradshaw, William – Grantham store manager became major CWS man
William Bradshaw (1877-1955) SIR William Bradshaw, who managed Grantham’s Co-op, went on to become chairman of the Co-operative Wholesale Society. The son of a Derbyshire miner, Sir William began…
Branson, Bryan – Was Grantham’s oldest citizen at 96
Bryan Branson (1833-1929) WHEN Bryan Branson died at his son’s Eton Street home aged 96 he was the oldest citizen in Grantham. He spent his working life, some 70-odd…
Branson, Sam – Maths teacher kept the records straight
Samuel Branson (1928 – 2021) Sam Branson graduated from Bristol University with 1st class honours in Mathematics and began his working life first at a school in Wellingborough, and…
Briggs, Ron – Mayor and landlord was a former submariner
Ron Briggs (1923-1996) PERHAPS the proudest moment came for Ron Briggs came in 1963, Grantham Borough’s Quincentenary Year, when as the town’s Mayor he had to escort the Queen…
Brindley, John – Bill scored one of the fastest goals on record
Brindley, Bill (1947 – 2007) ALTHOUGH christened John Brindley, the Nottingham-born footballer was always known as ‘Bill’. A former England Schoolboy and Youth International, he began his career at…
Brisco, Bert – The ‘Sinner’ who liked the Angel
BORN in London, Bert remained a proud Londoner all his life even though he spent the last 35 years living in Grantham. This was not his first time in…
Broughton, John – Local cricketer gave his name to national sports chain
John Jarvis Broughton (1873-1952) BORN in Grantley Street, Grantham, John Jarvis Broughton went on to play cricket for Lancashire during the 1901-2 seasons. He was brought up by his…
Broughton, Matthew – King’s lad played for Forest
Matthew Broughton (1880-1957) Born in October 1880 in Grantham, Matthew Broughton was a King’s School student. He was the cousin of John Jarvis Broughton, who went on to give…
Broughton, Spence – Highwayman was hanged for 36 years
SPENCE Broughton who was born in a village east of Grantham (it is not recorded which one) was a highwayman
Brown, Archibald – Head died in his car
Archibald Charles Brown BA (1905-1948) ARCHIBALD Brown was headteacher at the Boys CE School (National) in Castlegate. Born in Southend-on-Sea, he trained at Reading University and was a graduate…
Brown, Charles Thomas – Australian soldier died in Grantham
Charles Thomas Brown (1883-1917) Charles Brown was born at Widden Creek, New South Wales, Australia. He was a 33-year-old, single farmer from Denman, when he enlisted with the Australian…
Brown, Joe – Britain’s favourite cockney rocker is an honorary Yellowbelly
Joseph Brown, MBE (b 1941) Joe Brown was a rock n roll singer and guitarist for more than five decades. He was a stage and television performer in the…
Brown, Ken – Former banker took holy orders
THE Rev Kenneth Arthur Charles Brown, of Lenton, was born in Maidstone, Kent. After his National Service in the RAF based in Egypt, Ken began a career in banking,…
Brownlow, 6th Baron – Baron played part in King’s abdication
FAMED for his part in the dramatic abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936, Peregrine Francis Adelbert Cust, 6th Baron Brownlow, of Belton House, was regarded in Grantham as…
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…
Bryan, Albert – Wounded soldier died in hospital
Albert Bryan (1888-1917) BORN at Ropsley, most of his working…
Bryant, Ken – National School head for a decade
Ken Bryant (1928-2011) Bachelor Ken Bryant, was headmaster at The National School, Grantham, from 1965 to 1975 and had previously been head/deputy at three primary schools in Devon. Born…
Bullock, David – Plucky Central Old Boy awarded a George Medal
David Bullock (1942-1980) DAVID Edward Bullock was the son of serviceman Fred Bullock and his wife, who lived in Agnes Terrace (off East Street). He went to both Spittlegate…
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…
Bundy, Mike – Teacher who lived for sport
MICHAEL Davies Bundy who was born at Trelewis, Glamorgan, became a major influence on many a Grantham youngster’s sporting ambitions. He attended Trelewis Junior School,
Burbage, Thomas Edward – Soldier died eight days after his wedding
Thomas Burbage (1907-1941) THOMAS Edward Burbage died with tragic suddenness in Harrogate General Hospital, just eight days after his marriage. Brought up in Oxford-street, Grantham, he served his apprenticeship…
Burch, Ivan – Grantham-born man who joined the Black Watch
Ivan Burch, (1926-2014) Ivan Stanley Burch born above a fish and chip shop on Grantley Street on February 15th 1925. He attended Spittlegate School, Launder Terrace, then lived at…
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…
Burgon, Archie – Grantham footballer went on to play for Spurs
NOTTINGHAM- born, Archie Burgon played at Colwick, Burton Joyce, Nottingham Forest and Newark Town, before joining Grantham in 1932. There is little information on his
Burns, Kenny – Scottish international played for Grantham
Burns, Kenny (1953- )KENNETH Burns is a former Scotland international footballer, best known for his time with Nottingham Forest, where he played a vital role in their European Cup…
Burrows, Allan – Painter became a major property developer
Allan Burrows (1930-2011) ALAN Burrows was a leading and highly regarded local businessman. Born in Great Ponton he attended the local primary school and then the Boys’ Central School,…
Burrows, Fred – Top engine driver was twice Mayor of Grantham
FRED Burrows worked for the railway for 50 years, and retired as a mainline driver. He was one of the first to drive the Mallard and regularly drove the…
Burton, George – A pioneer of Grantham’s motor trade
George Burton (1855-1921) GEORGE Richmond Burton was born at Bingham, but lived in Grantham for most of his life, including many years at Church Trees where his business was.…
Burton, Horace Wilford – Pioneer in the motor trade
Horace Wilford Burton (1885-1931) Horace Burton was born at Church Trees, off Swinegate, where he was in business as a motor engineer. He had originally gone into his father’s…
Bury, Sir William – a Colonel in Cromwell’s Army
Sir William Bury (1605–1669) Sir William Bury (‘Berry’ on some documents) fought for the Parliamentary causes during the English Civil War and was a colonel in the Cromwell’s New Model Army during Interregnum Commonwealth government…
Bury, Sir William – A Colonel in Cromwell’s Army
Sir William Bury (c. 1605–1669) Sir William Bury (‘Berry’ on some documents) fought for the Parliamentary causes during the English Civil War and was a colonel in the Cromwell’s New Model Army during Interregnum Commonwealth government…
Bury, Thomas – Became Baron of the Exchequer
Thomas Bury (1655–1722) The youngest son of Sir William Bury, Thomas was born at Linwood, Lincolnshire. He made his home at Cistercius Place (The Grange) Grantham. In February 1667,…
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…
Cain, Syd – Grantham man worked on four James Bond movies
Sydney Basil Cain (1918-2011) Syd Cain was a British production designer who worked on more than 30 films, including four in the James Bond series in the 1960s and…
Cameron, Henry – Editor of the Grantham Chronicle
Henry Cameron (1849-1931) LONDON-born Henry Cameron had a printing business in town which he was still running when he died aged 82. His daughter then took it over. As…
Cameron, Lucy Lyttelton – Writer went to Jane Austin’s old school
Lucy Lyttelton Cameron (1781-1856) Lucy Lyttelton Cameron was born in Stanford-on-Teme, taking her name from her godmother Lady Lucy Fortescue Lyttelton. Her father George Butt was the vicar in…
Campbell, John Arthur – The man who brought the cinema to Grantham
John Arthur Campbell OBE (1878-1947) JOHN Campbell spent the last 40 years of his life in Grantham, and he certainly made a big difference for the residents. Born in…
Campbell, Judy – Grantham actress created a showbiz dynasty
BORN in Welby Gardens, Grantham, film, stage and television actress Judy Campbell made her name as leading lady in many of Noel Coward’s West End plays, and as a…
Campbell, Malcolm – Grantham man ran America
Malcolm Campbell, (b1934) MALCOLM Campbell was 40 when he started running, then didn’t know how to stop. Born with a truly Scottish name, at Ton Pentre, in the Welsh…
Capes, Geoff – Britain’s Strongest Man gets the bird
GEOFFREY Lewis Capes, of Stoke Rochford, is a former British, and twice Commonwealth Games shot put champion, and former two-time winner of the World’s Strongest Man title. Capes stood…
Carey, Terry – Best singer in the East Midlands and that’s official
Terry Carey (b1955) POPULAR local singer Terence Joseph Carey was born in 1955 in Belfast. He came to Grantham in 1966 and lived above the hairdressers on Wharf Road…
Carnell, Frederick Neville – Pub landlord was ex-sailor
Frederick Neville Carnell (1891-1954) Fred Carnell served in the Royal Navy for 27 years, retiring with the rank of warrant officer. On retiring, he became warden of the WAEC…
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…
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 …
