Failsworth - Notable People

Notable People

The weaver, poet, essayist and writer, Benjamin Brierley, was born in Failsworth and was famed for his work in the Lancashire dialect. A statue was erected of him in 1898 in Queens Park, Manchester. A bronze statue is in the public gardens by The Pole.

In the field of politics, Sir Elkanah Armitage was a 19th century industrialist, Liberal Party politician and former Lord Mayor of Manchester. In the modern era, David Heyes MP, represents the Ashton under Lyne parliamentary constituency for the Labour Party.

Gary Mounfield is a musician who was a member of the internationally renowned band, The Stone Roses during the Madchester period and later joined the Primal Scream. Dale Longworth is a musician and music producer with the electronic music group, N-Trance, who found fame with the record Set You Free. James Mudriczki, Lowell Killen, Kevin Matthews, Tony Szuminski (and former member Neil McDonald) make up the line-up for the Alternative rock band Puressence. The band have charted in the Top 40 on a number of occasions and have large fanbase throughout Greece.

Broadcaster, journalist and retired cricketer, Michael Atherton, was raised in the Lord Lane area of the town. The former Lancashire and England captain has a road, Atherton Close, named after him opposite the cricket club in Woodhouses where he played in his youth. Boxer, Anthony Farnell, is a former WBU Middleweight champion who was known as the Woodhouse Warrior. Retiring at the age of 25, Farnell has since become a fight trainer and owns a gym (Arnie's Gym) in nearby Newton Heath where he has tutored David Barnes (BBBoC Light welterweight champion), Anthony Crolla (2006 ABA Lightweight champion) and Frankie Gavin (2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships gold medal winner). Former Manchester United footballer, Ronnie Wallwork, lived in Woodhouses. Supermodel Agyness Deyn was raised in the area before her family re-located to Ramsbottom.