Kendal-Greene, Desmond – Canteen manager was once Dracula
Desmond Kendal-Greene (1897-1955) A NATIVE of Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, Desmond Kendal-Greene left home at an early age for the famous London theatres. From 1920 until the outbreak of the Second…
Kendall, Denis – Grantham MP ran waterfront cabaret in Shanghai
DENIS Kendall came to Grantham in 1938 and stayed for 14 years and turned Grantham upside down.
Kendall, John – Grantham solicitor was always in good voice
John Charles Vicary Kendall (1947 – 2016) Born in Chesterfield, he was a pupil at the town’s Free Grammar School. After leaving school in 1965, John went on to…
Kendall, Tankerville – 52 years with same company
Tankerville Kendall (1892-1981) LIKE his brothers, on leaving school, Tankerville Eustace Kendall was apprenticed to Richard Hornsby Ltd. He joined the company in 1905 and retired as a draughtsman…
Kerr, David ‘Jock’ – Grantham Mayor who saved many lives
Jock Kerr (B1943) David ‘Jock’ Kerr’s early life was spent in a Glasgow orphanage. He began work in a nut and bolt factory in a Clyde shipyard, and over a…
Kerry, Jonny – Had to play by order of the Peaky Blinders
Jonny Kerry (b1990 – ) Jonny who was born in Grantham, was a young teenager learning piano when his grandfather presented him with a piano accordion. It was a…
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…
Kidd, Timothy – St Anne’s vicar worked for universities
Timothy Kidd (1925-2011) THE Rev Timothy Kidd, born in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire. During the Second World War he served in the Royal Navy. Mr Kidd studied economics at Durham…
King, Brud – Cribbage king was spot on
Harold Ernest King (1905-1988) HAROLD Ernest King, of College Street, was the oldest cribbage player in Grantham when he died, following a fall at home. The Grantham Cribbage League…
King, Robert Barley – Grantham’s first Labour Mayor
Robert Barley King (1850-1927) The son of agricultural labourer, Robert Barley King was born Hail Weston, Huntingdonshire, near St Neots. The only education lie received was at the village…
Knapp, Malcolm G – The history man
Malcolm G Knapp (1932-2018) Malcolm Gerald Knapp, was considered the leading expert about Grantham and its history, of his day Mr Knapp published a number of books…
Knight, Sarah – Sarah is Grantham’s favourite Knight-ingale
Sarah Knight (b1990) EVEN before she started school, Sarah Knight’s mum Amanda Parke had to keep her entertained with music. She would sit her on the washing machine and…
Knights, Baron – King’s boy became a Lord
Philip Douglas Knights (1920 -2014) PHILIP Douglas Knights (Baron Knights) CBE QPM is a retired British police officer. He was educated at King’s School, Grantham, then joined Lincolnshire Police…
Knott, Raymond – Plane crashed into American lake
Raymond Laurence Knott (1925 – 1944) BORN at Walton Gardens, Grantham, and educated at Grantham King’s School, Sub-lieutenant Raymond Knott died during a training flight in the USA during…
Koper, Grant – From Grantham Am-Dram to running his own theatre company
Grant Koper (b1990) Grant Koper was born at Aylesbury but moved to Grantham when he was eight. He was a pupil at William Robertson High School. Grant loved theatre and…
Lai, Jason – The music man
Jason Lai (b1974) UNLIKE Mozart, Jason Lai was not composing and playing piano when he was still in rompers. He was 11 before he began to take music lessons.…
Lamont, Rory – Bottesford youth played for Scotland
Rory Lamont (b1982) Rory Lamont, like his brother Sean, grew up in Bottesford and went to the primary school and Belvoir High. He took up rugby as a pupil…
Lamont, Sean – Bottesford youth became his country’s second most capped player
Sean Fergus Lamont, (b1981) LIKE his fellow rugby-playing brother Rory, Sean was born in Perth, Scotland and grew up in Bottesford, attending the village primary school. He played football…
Lane, Bronco loved boxing and dance
Peter Barry Lane (1941 – 2019) Barry Lane, affectionately known as ‘Bronco’, was brought up at a Bottesford smallholding. With his brothers Ian and Colin, he created a gymnasium…
Langley, Elizabeth – Charged with soliciting for walking on her own
As she pushed her way through the Oxford Street crowds to go home, she was arrested by PC Endacott charged with soliciting for prostitution, who claimed it was the…
Lank, Philip – Grantham’s music man
Philip Joseph Lank (1924-2018) Leicester-born Philip Lank moved to Grantham in May 1961, replacing Stephen ‘Solomon’ Mundy as organist and choirmaster at St Wulfram’s Church. He arrived…
Latham, Robert Gordon – Ethnologist and philologist
Robert Gordon Latham (1812-1888) Robert Gordon Latham FRS was an English ethnologist and philologist, born at Billingborough. The eldest son of Thomas Latham, vicar of Billingborough, he entered Eton…
Lawrance, John Compton – A most unpopular judge
John Compton Lawrance (1832 –1912) The son of Thomas Munton Lawrance, of Dunsby Hall, and his wife Louisa Compton, was educated at Grantham Kings School. He was called to…
Layne, David – GI from Great Gonerby knew how to jump to it
David Layne (b1944) Great Gonerby-born David Layne was educated at Spittlegate Infants School, then Spittlegate Primary at Stonebridge House. After that he was educated privately. Aged 21, he decided…
Layne, Wally – Grantham draper had an incredible war
Wally Layne (1916-1995) WALTER Henry Layne (Wally to his friends) was born in Brigg. He attended Brigg Grammar School. Prior to the outbreak of war he worked with his…
Leadbeater, Legsy – Town favourite became a Welsh scout
David Leadbeater (b1957) Born at Barnsley, David Leadbeater was a former top-scorer with the Hull City Reserves team who followed new Grantham manager, Geoff Barker, from Bridlington Trinity after…
Leadenham, Sidney – Won prizes with his Shire horses
BORN at Great Ponton, Sidney Leadenham’s family then
Lee, Mick – Singer turned to disco
Michael Albert Lee (1949-2018) Grantham born and bred, Mick was a popular figure on the music scene. He sang with several groups in the 1960s/70s, including Magic Roundabout. At…
Lee, Rothwell – Brought thousands of jobs to Grantham
Rothwell Lee (1881-1963) ROTHWELL Lee was the grandson of the founder of John Lee and Son (Grantham) Ltd and continued to run the family business. The company was in…
Lee, Walter – Journal editor sang opera
WALTER Clifton Lee was a journalist throughout his life, the last 12 of which were as editor of the Grantham Journal.
Lee, Walter – Photographer recorded Grantham’s war Day by Day
Walter Lee (1891 – 1969) Born in Grantham in 1891, Walter served his apprenticeship under the guidance of Alfred M Emery, whose premises were on London Road. In 1917…
Lee, William – Businessman looked after his community
William Lee (1855-1921) THE son of John Lee, who had started John Lee & Son (Grantham) Ltd in 1845, William Lee was a chip off the entrepreneurial block. Under…
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…
Leeson, Stanley – Died in accident at work
Stanley Leeson (1909-1938) BORN in Grantham, Stanley Leeson was Grantham’s billiards champion. An employee at Aveling Barford, he was engaged to Gwen Shepherd when he died following an accident…
Leeson, Trevor – Trevor keeps on rocking
Trevor Leeson (b1943) BORN in Great Gonerby, Trevor Thomas Leeson is one of Grantham’s best known musicians. Educated at Spittlegate School and King’s School, Trevor started his musical career in…
Lewis, Graham – Grantham musician makes Sweden rock
Edward Graham Lewis (b1953) GRANTHAM born Edward Graham Lewis is a famous rock musician in Sweden. His father was in the RAF and posting in East Anglia provided his…
Lidierth, Dick – Came from Ireland to join Machine Gun Corps in Grantham
BORN in Liverpool, Sergeant Richard Lidierth moved with his family as a child to Boris, in County Carlow, Ireland. He joined the British Army when he was old enough,…
Lidierth, Ellen(1893-1937)
BORN in Eire, Ellen Donohue married Dick Lidierth, a member of the Machine Gun Corps, whom she met in Liverpool. On Dick’s demob in 1919 the couple moved to…
Linnecor, Bert – Grantham Town favourite scored hat-trick against Liverpool
Bert Linnecor (1933 – 2012) ALBERT Roy Linnecor was a popular Grantham Town player who had made 281 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham City, and Lincoln…
Linnel, George – a memorial life in Grantham
George H Linnel (1853-1915) George H Linnel was born at Great Gonerby, the son of James Linnel who was landlord of the Rutland Arms coaching inn, in the village.…
Lipscomb, Jessie – Grantham woman was a top sculptress
SCULPTRESS Jennie Lipscomb was born in Grantham, the daughter of a colliery agent and a barmaid. She won the Queen’s Prize in 1882 and the National Silver Medal in…
Little, John – Local footballer inspired many a Meccano mechanic
John Little (1932 – ) BORN at Swindon, John Little’s father was training to be a pilot at RAF Spitalgate where he met and married a local girl. But…
Locking, Brian – A Shadow was his former self
Brian ‘Liquorice’ Locking almost missed out on a successful 40-year career
Lockton, Charles – the market man
Charles Lockton (1830-1925) FRUITERER and greengrocer Charles Lockton carried out his business in in Castlegate for 70 years. He began work at Spittlegate Ironworks when he was none…
Lockton, Frederick William – Fancied all kinds of birds
Frederick William Lockton, (1883-1931) FRED Lockton was well known throughout the country as a bird fancier, a specialist in British birds and hybridising. He was on the committee of…
Longden, Bruce – PE teacher became a world class coach
Bruce Longden (1920-2012) BORN in Sheffield, Bruce studied at Woodhouse Grammar School, before moving on to Loughborough College (now University), where he graduated in 1962 in Physical Education…
Lounds, William – Present at Dublin’s Easter Rising
William Arthur Haydon Lounds (1896-1918) WILLIAM was the son of Arthur Edward and Sarah Elizabeth Lounds, born at 2 Greenhill Road, Grantham. Educated at the National School, on leaving…
Lovelock, Reg – awarded MBE for services to community
Reginald Frank Lovelock (1925-2016) Aged 19, Mr Lovelock contracted polio and lost the use of his right arm. Having taught himself to write left handed he went on to…
Lumley, Joanna – Fabulous star lived in Grantham
Joanna Lumley (b1946) Joanna Lamond Lumley, OBE FRGS was born in Kashmir, India, the daughter of a major in the Gurkha Rifles, and spent most of her early childhood…
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…
Macartney, Jack – Grantham’s footballing legend
TESTAMENT to Grantham Town legend Jack Macartney’s finishing prowess
Mackay, Elsie – Disappeared over the Atlantic
MYSTERY surrounded the disappearance of society lady Elsie Mackay who
Mahon, George – long term vicar of Colsterworth
Canon George Mahon (1862-1938) VICAR of Colsterworth, Canon George Edward Mahon, served the Lincoln Diocese for more than 50 years – but only two parishes. Having gained his MA…
Malagoli, Gianni – Began cutting hair as a 10-year-old
Gianni Malagoli (b 1947) Gianni Malagoli was brought up on his family’s farm in Modena, Italy. He was just 10-years-old when he first picked up a pair of scissors…
Malan, Adolph ‘Sailor’ – Air ace learned to fly at Grantham
Adolph Gysbert ‘Sailor’ Malan DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar (1910-1963) BETTER known as Sailor Malan, Adolph Gysbert Malan, was a South African fighter pilot in the Royal Air…
Malik, Rami – Moving near Grantham led to string of Golden Globes for actor
Rami Said Malek (b1981) Rami Malek is an American actor best known in the UK for his portrayal of Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury in the biopic Bohemian Rhapsody…
Mallinson, Pete – There’s Something Nasty in the Woodshed
Pete Mallinson (b1956) BORN at Hill View, Grantham, Peter Mallinson was the son of Wilfred and Joyce had recently moved to Grantham where his father was the Mayor’s officer…
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…
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…
Manners, David – The Duke is a top gun
David Manners, 11th Duke of Rutland (b1959) David Charles Robert Manners, 11th Duke of Rutland is the elder son of the 10th Duke of Rutland by his second wife,…
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…
Manners, Lady Theresa – Life was rock ‘n’ roll for her ladyship
Lady Theresa Manners (b1962) Lady Helen Theresa Margaret Manners is the former lead singer of the short-lived 1980s British rock band The Business Connection, which was founded by the…
Manners, Lady Violet – Model daughter with ‘Bad Manners’
Lady Violet Manners (b1993) Lady Violet Diana Louise Manners is the eldest child of David Manners, 11th Duke of Rutland and Emma Manners, Duchess of Rutland She is…
Manners, Violet – Was both artist and model
Violet Manners (1856-1937) Marion Margaret Violet Lindsay was born in 1856. She was a was a British artist and noblewoman. A granddaughter of the 24th Earl of Crawford she…
Manton, John – One of UK’s top gunmakers
Manton, John (1742-1834) SPITTLEGATE brothers John and Joseph Manton left an indelible mark on gunmaking the world over. The Manton family ran a corn-milling business at Swallow’s Mill, Bridge…
Manton, Joseph – The father of British gunmakers
Joseph Manton (1760-1835) JOSEPH Manton and his brother John left an indelible mark on gun-making the world over. The Manton family ran a corn-milling business at Swallow’s Mill, Bridge…
Mapletoft, John – Grantham’s top man on the tables
John Mapletoft (b1936) John Mapletoft was a pupil at Huntingtower Road and The Boys Central schools. He worked as a milkman, delivered bread for Webster’s bakery, had a spell…
Marks, Harry – Maths teacher for more than 30 years
In January 1928 he took the post of mathematics master at The King’s School, Grantham. Harry Marks undertook much of the organisation of the school and
