List of people from the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan explained
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, Leigh, Tyldesley, and other areas in the borough. 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
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A
- Andy Ainscow (born 1968), former footballer
- 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 1970s for Great Britain, Lancashire, Wigan, Penrith Panthers, Wakefield Trinity, and Runcorn Highfield, born in Wigan[4]
B
- Alan R. Battersby, (born 1925) is a FRS and organic chemist known for his work on the genetic blueprint, structure, and synthetic pathway of Cyanocobalamin.
- 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
- Kay Burley, presenter and newsreader on Sky News, born in Beech Hill, Wigan
- James Burton, built several early cotton mills in Hindsford and Tyldesley, born in Clitheroe
C
- Duncan Cleworth, born in Leigh and a member of Tyldesley Swimming Club competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
D
E
F
- Georgie Fame, real name Clive Powell, R&B singer and keyboard player, born in Leigh[11]
- Joseph Farington (17471821), watercolour artist, diarist and Royal Academician was born in Leigh where his father was the vicar.[12]
- Andrew Farrell, former international rugby player of both codes, born and raised in Wigan[13] and current head coach of the Ireland rugby union team
- Brian Finch, Wigan-born script-writer who contributed 151 episodes of Coronation Street over a period of 12 years[14]
- Henry Finch (16331704), Presbyterian minister ejected from Church of England, born in Standish[15]
- Phil Fletcher, puppeteer [16]
- George Formby, Jr., comedian, ukulele player and actor
G
H
- Eddie Halliwell (born 1979 or 1980), disc jockey[21]
- Roger Hampson (19251996), artist, printmaker and teacher, born in Tyldesley
- Keith Harris, music industry consultant & artist manager (Stevie Wonder), former chair of UK Music's Diversity & Equality Taskforce, grew up in Wigan.[22]
- Thomas Highs (17181803), inventor of cotton spinning machinery, born in Leigh
- James Hilton, author of Goodbye, Mr Chips, born in Leigh
- Arthur John Hope (18751960), architect and partner in Bradshaw Gass & Hope, was born and lived in Atherton
I
K
L
- Eric Roberts Laithwaite (19211997), engineer, known for his development of the linear induction motor and Maglev rail system
- John Lennard-Jones (18941954), born in Leigh and attended Leigh Grammar School. He was a physicist and Fellow of the Royal Society.
- Limahl, real name Christopher Hamill, pop rock/dance vocalist, lead singer of Kajagoogoo
- James Lindsay, 24th Earl of Crawford (17831869), Earl of Balcarres, built Haigh Hall[27]
- Luke Lowe (1889?), Wigan-born football player. He briefly played in the Football League Second Division.[28]
M
N
O
P
- Mary Pownall (18621937), sculptor, was the daughter of James Pownall the silk manufacturer. She was born and raised in Leigh.
- James Caldwell Prestwich (18521940), architect, born in Atherton, who designed many of Leigh's buildings including the town hall.
R
S
- Pete Shelley (19552018), born Peter Campbell McNeish in Leigh, singer, songwriter and guitarist with the Buzzcocks.[31]
- Nigel Short, chess grandmaster, grew up in Atherton and attended St Philip's School
- Davey Boy Smith, professional wrestler for the WWF and WCW as The British Bulldog[32]
- Danny Sonner, Wigan-born association football player who has represented Northern Ireland national football team[33]
- John Stopford, Baron Stopford of Fallowfield, physician and anatomist, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester[34]
T
- George Taylor, born in Wigan, footballer
- Georgia Taylor, actress best known for playing Toyah Battersby in Coronation Street
- Ella Toone, born in Wigan, footballer for England
- Addin Tyldesley who was born in Tyldesley and a member of the town's swimming and water polo club, competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London.
- Elizabeth Tyldesley, (15851654) the daughter of Thomas Tyldesley of Morleys Hall, Astley, was a 17th-century abbess at the Poor Clare Convent at Gravelines.
- Thomas Tyldesley, died in the Battle of Wigan Lane
W
- Charles Walmesley (17221797), Roman Catholic Titular Bishop of Rama; born in Langtree[15]
- Dave Whelan, businessman nicknamed "Mr Wigan", founder of JJB Sports, former owner of Wigan Athletic, and former owner of Wigan Warriors[35] [36]
- Katie White, member of The Ting Tings, born and brought up in Lowton[37]
- Danny Wilson, Wigan-born association football player and manager[38]
- Gerrard Winstanley, founder of the 17th-century Diggers, born in Wigan.[39]
- James Wood (16721759), Presbyterian minister of the first Atherton and Chowbent Chapels, led a force that successfully defended the bridge over the River Ribble at Walton le Dale in the Battle of Preston in 1715.[40]
- Thomas Woodcock, recipient of the Victoria Cross, born in Wigan[41]
- Caleb Wright (18101898), Member of Parliament and mill owner who built Barnfield Mills in Tyldesley
See also
References
Bibliography
Notes and References
- God's Cop : Biography of James Anderton (Michael Prince, 1989). New English Library Ltd.
- Web site: Richard Ashcroft, famous people from Billinge.
- Web site: Chris Ashton England. ESPN.co.uk. 16 September 2014.
- Web site: Bill Ashurst. England Football Online. 16 September 2014.
- Book: McCoy, Heath. Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling, Revised Edition.
- News: WWII knicker spy Margery Booth photos to be auctioned. BBC News. 10 September 2010. 10 September 2010.
- Web site: Dr Kathleen Drew-Baker (1901-1957). Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester. 16 September 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141003001917/http://www.mosi.org.uk/media/33871089/drkathleendrew-baker.pdf. 3 October 2014. dmy-all.
- Web site: Edmonds, Edith. 2011. 27 September 2018. Benezit Dictionary of Artists.
- Retrieved on 8 December 2008.
- News: England's first engine-driver. Otago Witness. New Zealand. 2786. 7 August 1907. 78. 10 October 2010.
- http://georgiefame.absoluteelsewhere.net/bio.html Georgie Fame bisgraphy
- 10.1093/ref:odnb/9161. Farington, Joseph (1747–1821).
- Web site: Wigan Warriors - the Official Website . 2009-11-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20051127112021/http://www.wiganwarriors.com/news_full.asp?newsid=1144 . 27 November 2005 . dmy-all .
- Retrieved on 8 December 2008.
- Web site: A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 6 – Standish with Langtree. British History Online. 20 August 2012.
- News: Meet the Wigan puppet master behind Hacker T Dog . 17 January 2023 . Wigan Today . 28 December 2019.
- Joe Gormley (1982). Battered cherub. Hamilton. .
- Web site: Wigan Warriors - the Official Website . 2009-11-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071218054148/https://www.wiganwarriors.com/SquadMember.asp?teamid=5&id=193 . 18 December 2007 . dmy-all .
- Retrieved on 5 December 2008.
- Web site: Six VCs before breakfast. https://web.archive.org/web/20070305115542/http://www.gallipoli-association.org/6VCs_Before_Breakfast.htm. 2007-03-05. Chris Staerck.
- News: Atinc . Ihsan . Eddie Halliwell Interview . 11 May 2024 . . 11 August 2006 . 7 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230207183516/https://djmag.com/content/eddie-halliwell-interview . live .
- Web site: I just called to say.music tuition must be protected. TES. Henry. Hepburn. 26 June 2015. 2 December 2020.
- Retrieved on 8 December 2008.
- Web site: Explore The World of Painters & Stainers at Bolton Museum. 20 August 2012.
- Web site: KINNEAR, ROY - The Museum of Broadcast Communications. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101204134958/http://www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php?entrycode=kinnearroy. 2010-12-04.
- News: To her, PA means personal assassin. https://web.archive.org/web/20150709222417/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/newsreview/features/article1436183.ece. dead. 9 July 2015. 9 July 2015. The Sunday Times. 20 July 2014.
- http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/balcaress.htm Earls of Balcarres
- Book: Simpson, Ray . The Clarets Chronicles: The Definitive History of Burnley Football Club . Burnley . Burnley Football Club . 2007 . 978-0-9557468-0-2 . 486.
- Web site: Athlete and double Olympian Fred Norris has died, aged 85 . The Bolton News. 21 January 2007 . 1 June 2017 .
- Retrieved on 8 December 2008.
- News: Pete Shelley, lead singer of punk band Buzzcocks, dies at 63 . The Guardian. 8 December 2018. 6 December 2018 . Rawlinson . Kevin .
- Web site: Family, friends and fans worldwide mourn the tragic loss of wrestling legend Davey Boy Smith . https://web.archive.org/web/20160128133116/http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive2001/may20_smith-sun.html . dead . 28 January 2016 . 2002. Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer.
- Retrieved on 8 December 2008.
- Mitchell . G. A. . Lord Stopford of Fallowfield . Journal of Anatomy . 95 . Pt 3 . 437–440 . 1961 . 13771330 . 1244498.
- Retrieved on 8 December 2008.
- Retrieved on 8 December 2008.
- Web site: Katie enjoys the fame game - Leisure . Leigh Reporter . 2008-04-16 . 2012-01-01 . 27 August 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080827181146/http://www.leighreporter.co.uk/leisure/Katie-enjoys-the-fame-game.3986824.jp . dead .
- Retrieved on 8 December 2008.
- 29872?docPos=2. Winstanley, Gerrard (bap. 1609, d. 1676), author and Digger.
- 29872?docPos=2. Wood, James (called General Wood) (1672–1759).
- Web site: Woodcock, Thomas. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 16 September 2014.