List of people from St Helens, Merseyside explained

The following is a list of people from St Helens, Merseyside in northern England, United Kingdom.

Notable families

Beechams

See main article: Beecham (pharmaceutical company).

The Beecham dynasty is one of the most notable families to be associated with St. Helens. Thomas Beecham opened his first factory, in St. Helens, 16 years after selling his products from a small premises in nearby Wigan.^[1]

His son Joseph Beecham built up the business and promoted classical music in the town. Conductor Sir Thomas Beecham, son of Joseph, was born in St Helens.

Pilkingtons

See main article: Pilkington.

The Pilkington dynasty is another notable family associated with St. Helens having founded the largest glass manufacturer in the United Kingdom as well as inventing the float glass process which was subsequently licensed for use by other glass manufacturers.

Authors

• Carole Matthews, Author of 33 bestselling books.
• Una McCormack, Best-selling science fiction author and lecturer in creative writing.

Entertainment

• Bernie Clifton, comedian and entertainer
• Tim Follin, video game music composer
• George Groves is credited with being Hollywood's first "sound man", as he was the recording engineer on the seminal Al Jolson picture, The Jazz Singer (1927), as well as many other early talkies
• Michael Parr, actor
• Emma Rigby, actress
• Johnny Vegas, actor, comedian and presenter
• David Yates, feature film director who is credited with the final four Harry Potter films, was raised in Rainhill (a village in the Borough of St Helens)
• Pauline Yates, actress.
• Elton Welsby, television presenter, noted for his coverage of crown green bowls

Singers and musicians

• Jacqueline Abbott, singer with The Beautiful South
• Rick Astley, vocalist from Newton-le-Willows
• Peter Edward Clarke, (better known by his stage name "Budgie", a well known drummer with, among others, The Slits, Siouxsie and The Banshees and The Creatures);
• The Lancashire Hotpots, comedy folk band
• Jeffrey Walker, bassist and lead vocalist of Carcass

Politics

• Richard Seddon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, from Eccleston, a village in the Borough of St. Helens and the country's longest-serving Prime Minister to date, holding the office from 1893 until 1906.
• Richard Pilkington, Member of Parliament for Newton from 1899 until 1906
• Richard Pilkington, Member of Parliament for Widnes (1935 to 1945) and Poole (1951 to 1964)
• Thérèse Coffey: Member of Parliament, from Billinge, a village in the Borough of St Helens.
• James Sexton, Member of Parliament for St Helens from 1918 to 1931

Other

• Ann Barnes former police commissioner for Kent
• David Bernstein former chairman of The Football Association
• John William Draper scientist
• Dorothy Catherine Draper, artist
• Carol Kefford, senior British nurse
• Peter Moore serial killer
• John Rylands, Victorian philanthropist
• James Waterworth, English Catholic missionary priest
• Criminal Jon Venables spent some time in jail at the Red Bank Secure Unit.
• Sir Edmund Vestey, 1st Baronet: Food moguls.
• William Vestey, 1st Baron Vestey: Shipping Magnate.

Sport

Rugby league

St Helens is particularly known for producing many professional rugby league players, many have played for St. Helens.

• Lee Briers, has represented Great Britain and Wales
• Keiron Cunningham, has represented Great Britain and Wales
• Eric Fraser, has represented Great Britain
• Steve Ganson, referee
• Kurt Haggerty, has represented Ireland
• Alan Hardman, has represented England
• David Hull
• Les Jones
  • Tim Jonkers Frank Lee
• Scott Moore
• Alex Murphy
• James Roby
• Mike Roby
• Adam Swift
• Luke Thompson
• Paul Wellens

Football

• Alan A'Court: Footballer, England international.
• Jack Bamber: Footballer, England international.
• Conor Coady : Footballer, England international.
• John Connelly:, England 1966 World Cup winner.
• Bill Foulkes, full-back for Manchester United between 1952 and 1970 and was a survivor of the Munich air disaster in 1958.^[2]
• Chris Foy, referee
• Kellie-Ann Leyland
• Tommy Lucas, Footballer, England international.
• Bill Luckett: Footballer.
• David Mercer: Footballer, England international.
• Lily Parr: Footballer.
• Ray Ranson: Footballer
• Hubert Redwood: Footballer.

Motor sport

• Geoff Duke, multiple Isle of Man TT winner and motorcycle Grand Prix road racing world champion
• Colin Hardman, sidecar racer. Winner of the 1989 Isle of Man TT Sidecar Race 'A'
• Andy Middlehurst
• Richie Worrall, speedway rider
• Steve Worrall, speedway rider

Darts

• Stephen Bunting, darts player
• Dave Chisnall, darts player
• Michael Smith, darts player, 2022 Grand Slam of Darts and 2023 PDC World Championship winner.
• Alan Tabern, darts player

Cricket

• Keith Harris, List A cricketer
• David Russell, first-class and List A cricketer
• Ken Shuttleworth, cricketer who has represented England

Other

• Ian Gregson, Canadian paralympian
• Dan Highcock, wheelchair basketball player
• Tommy Horton, Golfer
• Rachael Letsche, trampolinist
• Martin Murray, boxer
• Gary Stretch, boxer, actor

Notes and References

1. Web site: "Best for me, best for you" - a history of Beecham's Pills 1842–1998. 6 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20100327010659/http://www.pharmj.com/pdf/xmas2002/pj_20021221_beechams.pdf. 27 March 2010. dead.
2. News: Busby Babe Bill Foulkes joins Munich tribute. St Helens Star. Andrew. Kilmurray. 6 February 2008. 28 November 2015.