Parkinson, Ann – First woman to die under anaesthetic
Ann Parkinson (C1820-1847) ANN Parkinson, of Spittlegate, hit the headlines and gets a mention in the medical annuls for all the wrong reasons. The wife of a gentlemen’s hairdresser,…
Parr, Tolefree – a distinguished Primitive Methodist
He was president of the Primitive Methodist Conference in 1917 and as he delivered his address at Holborn Hall, London, the first German air raid took place, with three…
Parry, John – Loved brewing and field sports
Major John Parry (1921-2002) Major John Parry, who died while fishing in Scotland aged 81, combined a successful career in the brewing industry with a lifelong passion for field…
Parry, Tom – Top UK journalist cut his teeth in Grantham
Tom Parry (b1974) Tom Parry is the Daily Mirror’s Special Correspondent. He was named Feature Writer of the Year at the British Press Awards 2014. Previously, Tom has been…
Parsons, Nicholas – Just a minute, Nicholas went to KGGS
CHRISTOPHER Nicholas Parsons and Lady Thatcher have two things in common
Partridge, Walter – D-Day hero enjoyed his allotment
Walter Alfred Charles Partridge (1920 – 2021) IRNHAM-born Walter Alfred Charles Partridge went to the village school and one in Lichfield, Staffordshire, before returning to his old home where…
Pask, Sidney – Founder of one of Grantham’s oldest businesses
Sid Pask (1914 – 2007) Grantham born Sidney Pask entered into an apprenticeship at North Road Garages, Great Ponton, on leaving school. He married Monica Helen Martin in 1938…
Pattinson, Sir Lawrence Arthur – From light infantry to RAF boss
Air Marshal Sir Lawrence Arthur Pattinson (1890 – 1955) Sir Lawrence Arthur Pattinson was a Royal Air Force officer who became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Flying Training Command. He…
Pattinson, Sir Robert – Was Grantham’s MP for one year only
Sir Robert Pattinson, (1872-1954) SIR Robert Pattinson was elected as Grantham MP in 1922, but it only lasted a year. He had unsuccessfully contested the Grantham Division as Liberal…
Paynter, George – died of polio shortly after joining the Army
Second-Lt. George Paynter (1933-1954) THE son of Brig-Gen Sir George Paynter and Lady Payntor, of Eaton Grange, Eaton, 20-years-old Second-Lt. George Paynter A godson of King George V, was…
Peacock, Nicholas – Grantham soldier killed in Ulster
Nicholas David Peacock (1968-1989) Grantham-born Nick Peacock was a pupil at St Wulfram’s School. He joined the Royal Anglian Regiment, holding the rank of private, but was killed less…
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…
Peatman, Harold – Cricketer struck down at early age
Peatman, Harold (1884-1911) Harold Peatman Jenkinson of Rose Cottage, Dudley-road, was an enthusiastic cricketer. He played several seasons with the Long Bennington club, his native village. He was a…
Penn-Berkeley, Steven –Grantham apprentice built factories worldwide
Steven Penn-Berkeley (b1962) Grantham-born Steven was a pupil at then town’s St Wulfram’s School. Nicknamed ‘Tosh’, in 1978 he became an apprentice motor mechanic at North Road Garages, Inner…
Percival, Arthur – Founder of Grantham Model Aircraft Society
Arthur Percival (1911-1979) ARTHUR Hosea Percival was the founding father of Grantham Model Aircraft Society. Later a life member, under his chairmanship the club grew to become the largest…
Petley, Roy – One of UK’s top artists
Roy Petley (b1950) Roy Petley is a British painter. He paints en plein air to depict the wide expanse of English beaches and the gentle allure of Venetian landscapes.…
Pidd, Edwin – Worked for the same employer for 70 years
Edwin Pidd (1853-1939) EDWIN Pidd was employed by Grantham engineers Ruston Hornsby & Sons for 70 years and will still working there when he died, aged 86. A member…
Pigott, Hugh – An auctioneer worth watching
Hugh Pigott (1921-1992) BORN near Brigg, Hugh Geoffrey Pigott moved to Grantham in 1956 to become proprietor of Bailey & Ambler estate agents, of St Peter’s Hill, and Norman…
Pigott, Nick – The professional trainspotter
Nick Pigott (b1951) BORN near Retford in 1951 and moving to Grantham at the age of four, Nick Pigott was brought up in the town and attended Gonerby Hill…
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…
Pinchbeck, Annie – Was knocked over by top jazz trumpeter
Annie Pinchbeck (1888-?) ANNIE Elizabeth Pinchbeck –known to everyone as ‘Annie Pinch’, was a loveable eccentric. She never married and invested her money in property, owning several houses in…
Pinchbeck, Bert – Ran a mobile grocery around Harrowby
Bert Pinchbeck (1923-2011) George Herbert ‘Bert’ Pinchbeck, was born in Welham Street, Grantham, the elder son of Jim and Nell Pinchbeck. From the National School he won a scholarship…
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…
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…
Pinchbeck, Lionel – Turned bowls into a spectator sport
Lionel Frank Pinchbeck (1919-1977) LIONEL Frank Pinchbeck became one of Grantham’s best known characters in the 1950s/60s. Large crowds would gather around Wyndham Park bowling green when he was…
Pinchbeck, Norman – Football and cricket were his passions
Norman Pinchbeck (1918-1979) SPORTS mad Norman Doughty Pinchbeck had trials for Norwich City when he was in his teens, but his father wouldn’t allow it. Instead he made him…
Pinching, ‘Pinch’ – A Damned good drummer
Andrew ‘Pinch’ Pinching (b1965) DRUMMER in The Damned, Andrew Pinching, was born in Grantham and went to the King’s School. He was a member of BMARCo Amateur Boxing Club. He…
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…
Piper, Rae – Grantham dancer created Horrible Histories
Rae Piper (b1978) Rae Piper was born in Bristol and moved to London at the age of 17. She met fellow dancer, Granthamian Paul Chantry, in London when introduced…
Poole Berry, Harry – Doctor died of overwork
Harry Poole Berry, (1859 – 1922) Dr Harry Poole Berry MRCS, MB (London) was the son of GP Dr H P Berry of Bayswater, London. After qualifying at Guy’s…
Porter, William – Went to law school with William Cecil
William Porter (1526-1593), The son of Augustine Porter and Ellen Porter (nee Smith) of Belton. He entered Gray’s Inn in the same year as William Cecil, who was apparently…
Pougher, Annie – Kept a boarding house for stars visiting Grantham
Annie Pougher (1868-1945) MARY Ann Ayscough was born near Caistor before her family moved to Great Grimsby. Her father drowned when his ship the Robert & Charlotte, went down with all…
Pougher, George – A man who followed his dream
GEORGE Pougher was a clerk in Grimsby’s dock office,
Pratt, Martin – Popular Grantham teacher served in the SAS
Martin Pratt (1952-2011) Martin Pratt was head of technology at Central Technology and Sports College Martin Pratt, who was forced to retire through ill health aged 56. He died…
Pratt, Thomas – worked at Journal for 69 years
Thomas Pratt (1847-1925) THOMAS Pratt joined the Grantham Journal as an apprentice printer in November 1856 aged only nine years old and was paid just one shilling (5p) a…
Preston, Henry – Founder of town museum
OUR knowledge of the history and archaeology of the area around Saltersford is largely due to Henry Preston, who worked for the Grantham Waterworks Company for 50 years. He…
Pridmore, Dennis – Teacher was a cricketer who refused to retire
Robert Dennis Pridmore (1928-2015) BORN in Corby Glen, Dennis worked in the family taxi business for his first five years, with a break for National Service. In 1954 he…
Proctor, Harvey – was King of the castle
Harvey Proctor (b1947) HARVEY Proctor was born in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, the son of a master baker. He went to Scarborough High School for Boys, then the University of…
Proctor, Jim – Jim just kept singing
James Proctor (1930-2012) JAMES Ivan Proctor was born in Grantham, the son of Frank and Alice Proctor, of Houghton Road. He was a keen singer and was a long-serving…
Pulford, Nicola – Grantham girl became a diva
Nicola Pulford (b1982) Lincolnshire soprano, Nicola Pulford, went to school at KGGS. While there, she entered the Grantham Music Festival, winning most vocal categories, under the tuition of Anne…
Pye, John – You just couldn’t gag John
John Pye (1933-2007) John Pye put a broad smile on the face of the great British public – most of whom had never heard of him. For John, who…
Pykett, Joyce – Deputy head of Grantham school
Joyce Pykett (1921-1979) GRANTHAM born, Joyce Pykett became deputy headteacher at St Hugh’s School. Educated at Brownlow Infants, National and KGGS, she trained to become a teacher at Sheffield.…
Quinn, Paddy– Ulsterman ran local judo club
John ‘Paddy’ Quinn (1929-2014) John Quinn (Paddy), was born near the foot of the Mourne mountains in Hilltown, Northern Ireland. He worked on the family farm from an early…
Ramsden, John – left WBA for his home town club
John Ramsden (1932 – 2022) Born in Redcross Street, Grantham, he was the son of former Mayor Lloyd Ramsden. He went to National School before joining the Boys Central,…
Ramsden, Mike – Mayor’s son died in dentist’s chair
Michael Edward Ramsden (1942 – 1955) On the 8th of March 1955 Michael Edward Ramsden, the 12 years old son of Lloyd Ramsden of Redcross Street, collapsed and died…
Ray, Don – Got on his bike for business success
Donald Richard Ray (1932-2018) Born in Catford in 1932, Don’s father was in the RAF, his mother was a Granthamian. He was educated at the King’s School and worked…
Raymonde, Roy – Noted for his work in Punch and Playboy
Raymonde, Roy (1929-2009) Roy Raymonde was an award-winning cartoonist, advertising artist and illustrator whose work appeared regularly in Punch, Playboy, the Sunday Telegraph and other publications for more than…
Rayner, Jimmy – Grantham’s goal-scoring machine
James Patrick “Jimmy” Rayner (1935-2009) Born Cornsay, near Durham, he began his football career at Langley Park Juniors and Grimsby Town, before moving to Bury, Hartlepool United, Barrow and…
Raynor, Brian – Grantham biker won Isle of Man GP
Brian Raynor 1961 – 2021 Grantham-born Brian went to Huntingtower primary school then on to St Hugh’s Secondary School. After leaving school in 1977, he began his apprenticeship with…
Read, Wilf – Father of Grantham scouting
Wilfred E Reed 1900 – 1986 Regarded locally as the “father of Scouting,” Mr Wilfred E. Read was associated with the Scout movement from its pioneering days, and initially…
Redfern, Alastair – Solicitor became a bishop
Alastair Redfern (b1948) BISHOP of Derby Alastair Llewellyn John Redfern was previously Bishop of Grantham for eight years. Redfern was educated at Christ Church, Oxford. Having practised as a…
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…
Resurrector – Electro-music man studied at Harlaxton
Resurrector – Grant McDonald Chambers (b1971) RESURRECTOR, real name Grant McDonald Chambers, was born in New Haven, Conneticut. He is an electronic music producer best known as founder of Colorado/San…
Rickards, Trevor – The restoration man
Trevor Rickards (b1956) BORN and educated at Melton Mowbray, on leaving school at 17, he became a graduate trainee manager with supermarket giant Tesco. As part of his provisions…
Rickett, Dennis – Dennis knew his plaice
Dennis Rickett (1946 – 2022) BORN in Portsmouth, Dennis William Rickett came to Grantham when his father bought several fishmongers shop in the area called Rutland Fisheries. He went…
Rider, Elizabeth – Mother of God! Local woman sacked Ted in Line of Duty!
Elizabeth Rider (b1958) Elizabeth Rider, who lives near Grantham, is an English actress, sometimes credited as Liza Rider. She has appeared in many TV dramas, but rose to unpopularity…
Ridgway, William – Put Harlaxton on a world educational map
William L Ridgway, (1920-2013) Dr William L Ridgway was born in Evansville, Indiana. A Central High School graduate, he enjoyed a distinguished, 40-year career as an ophthalmologist in…
Rigby, Victoria – Actress-singer-pianist-dancer-writer-teacher – is there nothing this Grantham thespian can’t do?
Victoria Rigby (b1990) Victoria was born in Grantham with Scottish and Geordie roots and went to KGGS. She read English at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and graduated in 2011…
Rivers, Henry – Publican was a Japanese PoW
Henry Rivers (1919-2009) Henry Hyman Peace Rivers, was born at Stowmarket, Suffolk, one of six children. He married his first wife, Elsie, and they had three children. During the…
Roach, Heather – Lincolnshire’s first female police chief officer
Heather Roach (b1967) Born in Chesterfield, Heather moved to Lincolnshire when she was about six. She was educated at the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Alford. Her first job was…
Roberts, Alf – A Premier father
Alfred Roberts was a grocer, lay preacher, alderman and Mayor of Grantham
Roberts, Beatrice – Mother to a Prime Minister
Beatrice Ethel Roberts (1888- 1960) Beatrice Ethel Stephenson was born at 10 South Parade, Grantham, in August 1888. She was officially the daughter of Daniel Stephenson, who was…
Roberts, Bill – major builder became village undertaker
Joseph William Roberts (1917-2009) Bill Roberts, was born into a farming family at Sutton-cum-Granby. He attended school at Granby and Bottesford, where his talent for woodwork was formed. He…
Roberts, David – Grantham manager developed the caterpillar track
DAVID Roberts is perhaps one of the least known pioneers of engineering.
Robertson, John – Scottish international ran a village pub
John Robertson (b1953) BORN in Uddingston, John Neilson Robertson is a former Scottish footballer. He had played for Scotland at Schoolboy and Youth levels and for Drumchapel Amateurs before…
Robertson, Sir William – From private to field marshal
SIR William Robertson holds the unique distinction of rising from private to field marshal in the British Army
Robson, Ian – young reporter was slain in frenzied attack
Ian Joseph Edward Robson (1977 – 1995) Ian Robson, of Sleaford, was a trainee rep[orter with the Grantham Journal. After attending Carre’s Grammar School, he went to Lancaster University,…
Rogers, Bill – Able seaman became an able manager
Bill Rogers (1933-2013) William Vincent Rogers was born in 1933 at Thorpe, near Farndon, Newark. He joined the Royal Navy in 1948, aged just 15, in the gunnery section.…
