List of people from the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan
This is a list of people from Wigan, in North West England. The demonym of Wigan is Wiganer; however, this list may include people from the wider Metropolitan Borough of Wigan—from Ashton-in-Makerfield, Hindley, Ince-in-Makerfield, Atherton, Greater Manchester, Leigh, Leigh people are called Leythers and do not like the association with Wigan as they are a separate town, but governed by Wigan council. Tyldesley and other outlying areas from Wigan. This list is arranged alphabetically by surname:
| Table of contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
A
- James Anderton, former Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police[1]
- Richard Ashcroft, lead singer of The Verve, born in Billinge[2]
- Chris Ashton, England rugby league and rugby union international, born in Wigan[3]
- Bill Ashurst, rugby league footballer of the 1960s and 70s for Great Britain, Wigan, Penrith Panthers, and Wakefield Trinity, born in Wigan[4]
B
- Tom Billington, professional wrestler under the ring name 'Dynamite Kid', one half of tag-team 'The British Bulldogs' with Davey Boy Smith, born in Golborne[5]
- Margery Booth, opera singer and World War II spy, born in Wigan[6]
- Thomas Burke, international operatic tenor; born in Leigh in 1890 and attended St Joseph's School in Leigh; the Leigh Wetherspoon's pub is named after him[7]
- Kay Burley, presenter and newsreader on Sky News, born in Wigan[8]
- James Burton, built several early cotton mills in Hindsford and Tyldesley, born in Clitheroe[9]
D
- Kathleen Mary Drew-Baker (1901–1957), psychologist, born in Leigh[10]
E
- Shaun Edwards, rugby league player and coach of London Wasps rugby union coach; Wales national rugby union team defence coach[11]
- Beth Ellis (1874-1913), novelist and travel writer
- Greg Ellis, actor and voiceover artist[12]
- Edward Entwistle, driver of Stephenson's Rocket[13]
F
- Georgie Fame, real name Clive Powell, R&B singer and keyboard player, born in Leigh[14]
- Andrew Farrell, former international rugby player of both codes, born and raised in Wigan[15]
- Brian Finch, Wigan-born script-writer who contributed 151 episodes of Coronation Street over a period of 12 years[16]
- Henry Finch (1633–1704), Presbyterian minister ejected from Church of England, born in Standish[17]
- Paul Finch, son of Brian Finch; now a scriptwriter and author as his father; creator of the "Heck" series of novels
- George Formby, Jr., comedian, ukulele player and actor[18]
G
- Joe Gormley, former president of the National Union of Mineworkers[19]
- Andy Gregory, former Wigan rugby league player, born and lives in Wigan[20]
- Mike Gregory, former Great Britain national rugby league team and Warrington Wolves captain, former Wigan Warriors coach, born in Wigan[21]
- John Elisha Grimshaw, recipient of the Victoria Cross, of "6 VCs before breakfast" fame[22]
H
- Eddie Halliwell, DJ[23]
- Roger Hampson (1925–1996), artist, printmaker and teacher, born in Tyldesley[24]
- Thomas Highs (1718–1803), inventor of cotton spinning machinery, born in Leigh[25]
- James Hilton, author of Goodbye, Mr Chips, born in Leigh[26]
- Arthur John Hope (1875–1960), architect and partner in Bradshaw Gass & Hope, was born and lived in Atherton[27]
I
- James Lawrence Isherwood, prolific impressionist/expressionist painter[28]
K
- Shaun Keaveny, born in Leigh; on 11 February 2011, broadcast his BBC 6 Music breakfast show live from Leigh Library[29]
- Thomas Kershaw (1819–1898), pioneer in creating imitation marble, born in Standish[30]
- Roy Kinnear (1934-1988), comedy actor, born in Wigan[31]
- Victoria Knowles (1976), author of bestselling book The PA[32]
L
- Eric Roberts Laithwaite (1921–1997), engineer, known for his development of the linear induction motor and Maglev rail system[33]
- Limahl, real name Christopher Hamill, pop rock/dance vocalist, lead singer of Kajagoogoo[34]
- James Lindsay, 24th Earl of Crawford (1783–1869), Earl of Balcarres, built Haigh Hall[35]
M
- Stuart Maconie, writer, DJ and presenter, attended St John Rigby school and has a star on the Wigan Walk[citation needed]
- Barry Mason, songwriter, born in Wigan
- Paul Mason (born 1960), journalist and broadcaster, born in Leigh[36]
O
- Edward Ormerod, mining engineer at Gibfield Colliery; invented the Ormerod detaching hook, an important mining safety device[37]
- Leon Osman, footballer for Everton[citation needed]
R
S
- Lemn Sissay, British author and broadcaster
- John Scott, K.C.M.G, D.C.L., Judicial Advisor to the Khedive, 1891-1898
- Nigel Short, chess grandmaster, grew up in Atherton and attended St Philip's School[41]
- Brian Simpson, MEP Chair of the Transport and Tourism Committee European Parliament[citation needed]
- Davey Boy Smith, professional wrestler for the WWF and WCW as The British Bulldog[42]
- Danny Sonner, Wigan-born association football player who has represented Northern Ireland national football team[43]
- Rob Speak, multiple BriSCA Formula 2 Stock Cars World Champion and National Points Champion; from Tyldesley[citation needed]
- John Stopford, Baron Stopford of Fallowfield, FRS, physician and anatomist, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester; born in Hindley Green[44]
T
- Simon Tong, born in Wigan; bassist/guitarist with bands The Verve; The Good, the Bad & the Queen; and Gorillaz[45]
- Thomas Tyldesley, died in the Battle of Wigan Lane[46]
W
- Charles Walmesley (1722–1797), Roman Catholic Titular Bishop of Rama; born in Langtree[17]
- Colin Welland, writer and actor, taught art at Manchester Road Secondary School, Leigh; born in Leigh
- Dave Whelan, businessman with the nickname "Mr Wigan" as a result of his involvement in the town's sport; founder of JJB Sports, owner of Wigan Athletic, and former owner of Wigan Warriors[47][48]
- Danny Wilson, Wigan-born association football player and manager[49]
- Gerrard Winstanley, founder of the 17th-century Diggers, born in Wigan[50]
- Thomas Woodcock, recipient of the Victoria Cross, born in Wigan[51]
- Caleb Wright (1810–1898), Member of Parliament and mill owner who built Barnfield Mills in Tyldesley[52]
See also
References
- ^ God's Cop : Biography of James Anderton (Michael Prince, 1989). New English Library Ltd. ISBN 0-450-49362-8
- ^ http://www.information-britain.co.uk/famousbrits.php?id=1727
- ^ "Chris Ashton England". ESPN.co.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ^ "Bill Ashurst". England Football Online. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ^ McCoy, Heath. Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling, Revised Edition.
- ^ "WWII knicker spy Margery Booth photos to be auctioned". BBC news. 10 September 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
- ^ Thomas Burke, histclo.com, retrieved 2 November 2009
- ^ "Kay Burley". Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ^ Tyldesley. 2 miles E.N.E. from Leigh (p113), Grace's Guide, retrieved 27 June 2012
- ^ "Dr Kathleen Drew-Baker (1901-1957)" (PDF). Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ^ Sue Mott (16 February 2008), Fear of failure spurs Shaun Edwards, London: The Daily Telegraph
{{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) Retrieved on 8 December 2008. - ^ [1]
- ^ "England's first engine-driver". Otago Witness. No. 2786. New Zealand. 7 August 1907. p. 78. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
- ^ Georgie Fame bisgraphy
- ^ https://www.wiganwarriors.com/news_full.asp?newsid=1144
- ^ Anthony Hayward (30 June 2007), Brian Finch, London: The Independent
{{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) Retrieved on 8 December 2008. - ^ a b "A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 6 – Standish with Langtree". British History Online. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ Richards, Jeffrey (2004), "Formby, George (1904–1961)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, retrieved 16 December 2008
- ^ Joe Gormley (1982). Battered cherub. Hamilton. ISBN 0-241-10754-7.
- ^ http://www.wiganwarriors.com/SquadMember.asp?teamid=5&id=193
- ^ Dave Hadfield (21 November 2007), Mike Gregory: Inspirational Warrington and Great Britain rugby league forward, London: The Independent
{{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) Retrieved on 5 December 2008. - ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20070305115542/http://www.gallipoli-association.org/6VCs_Before_Breakfast.htm
- ^ Radio 1 announces new dance show The Residency, BBC Online, 5 May 2005 Retrieved on 21 December 2008.
- ^ Roger Hampson 1925–1996 Nationality: British, BBC and the Public Catalogue Foundation, retrieved 10 October 2012
- ^ Inventions and inventors, Manchester City Council, retrieved 14 May 2011
- ^ James Hilton, jameshiltonsociety, retrieved 2 November 2009
- ^ Atherton Cenotaph designed by A J Hope, wigan.gov.uk, retrieved 4 April 2010
- ^ James Lawrence Isherwood, Wessexgallery.com.au Retrieved on 8 December 2008.
- ^ Shaun Keaveny, BBC6Music, retrieved 2 November 2011
- ^ "Explore The World of Painters & Stainers at Bolton Museum". Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ http://www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php?entrycode=kinnearroy
- ^ "To her, PA means personal assassin". The Sunday Times. July 2014. Retrieved July 2014.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Obituary – Professor Eric Laithwaite, Imperial College, retrieved 9 November 2009
- ^ Limahl biography
- ^ Earls of Balcarres
- ^ Paul Mason, BBC Newsnight
- ^ Edward Ormerod and Co Ltd, retrieved 27 February 2011
- ^ Richards, Jeffrey (2004), "Randle, Frank (1901–1957)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, retrieved 16 December 2008
- ^ Midwinter, Eric (2004), "Ray, Ted (1905–1977)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, retrieved 16 December 2008
- ^ Old Bryn Hall, Wigan Archaeological Society Retrieved on 8 December 2008.
- ^ Nigel Short, chessbase.com, retrieved 26 April 2013
- ^ "Family, friends and fans worldwide mourn the tragic loss of wrestling legend Davey Boy Smith". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. 2002.
- ^ Danny Sonner, London: The Guardian, archived from the original on 9 June 2011
{{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) Retrieved on 8 December 2008. - ^ Mitchell, G. A. (1961). "Lord Stopford of Fallowfield". Journal of Anatomy. 95 (Pt 3): 437–440. PMC 1244498. PMID 13771330.
- ^ "Simon Tong". BBC. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
- ^ Blackwood, Gordon (2004), "Tyldesley, Sir Thomas (1612–1651)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.), Oxford University Press, retrieved 30 August 2010
{{citation}}: Unknown parameter|subscription=ignored (|url-access=suggested) (help) - ^ Brian Viner (18 October 2003), Dave Whelan: Whelan's millions have set Wigan buzzing, London: The Independent
{{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) Retrieved on 8 December 2008. - ^ Whelan sells stake in JJB Sports, BBC Online, 8 June 2007 Retrieved on 8 December 2008.
- ^ Rob Stewart (26 August 2008), Hartlepool manager Danny Wilson putting experience to good use in Carling Cup clash, London: The Daily Telegraph
{{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) Retrieved on 8 December 2008. - ^ Gerrard Winstanley, ElmbridgeMuseum.org.uk Retrieved on 5 December 2008.
- ^ "Woodcock, Thomas". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ^ Caleb Wright, mill owner of Tyldesley and MP, 1810–1898, Tyldesley and District Historical Society, retrieved 7 November 2008