Grimsby - Notable People

Notable People

Grimbarians (natives of Grimsby) were mainly born at the former Grimsby Maternity Hospital in Second Avenue, Nunsthorpe, Grimsby. However, the close proximity to Cleethorpes meant that many Grimbarians were actually born at the now defunct Croft Baker Maternity Hospital in Cleethorpes. Those born and/or brought up in the area include:

• Shirley Bloomer (b 1934) winner of the French Open Singles and Doubles titles in 1957, and the French Open Mixed title in 1958.
• Quentin Cooper, presenter of Radio 4's Material World, and film correspondent for BBC Radio 2 grew up in the town, attending Wintringham School
• Peter "Mars" Cowling - Bass player in the Pat Travers Band for many years.
• Keeley Donovan, weather presenter for BBC North
• Michele Dotrice (b 1948), actor, Betty Spencer in the 1970s comedy Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
• Brenda Fisher (b 1927), cross-Channel and long distance swimmer
• Helen Fospero, newsreader for Sky News and Five News
• Freddie Frinton (1909–1968), comedian famous for playing a drunk, although in real life he was teetotal, actor in 1960s BBC comedy Meet The Wife.
• Freddie Frith (b 1909) - former Grand Prix motorcycle racing world champion.
• Phil Gladwin (b 1963), television screenwriter, Warriors of Kudlak
• Vivean Gray (b 1924), actor, Nell Mangel in Australian soap opera Neighbours, her father was once a fish merchant on Grimsby Docks
• Edmund de Grimsby, judge and clergyman, was born in Grimsby and probably died here in 1354.
• Dan Haigh (b 1981), bass guitarist in rock group Fightstar, was born and brought up in the town
• Patricia Hodge (b 1946), actor, Rumpole of the Bailey and Jemima Shore Investigates. Her parents used to manage the now defunct Royal Hotel in the town. She attended Wintringham School in Grimsby.
• Ian Huntley (b 1974), Soham double child murderer, was born at Grimsby and lived there until the late 1990s.
• Madge Kendal (1848–1935), theatrical actor. Dame Kendal Grove, in Nunsthorpe, is named after her.
• Matt Kennard (b 1982), television actor, best known for starring in UK daytime drama Doctors, as nurse Archie Hallam.
• Duncan McKenzie (b 1950), footballer, Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Everton.
• Amy Monkhouse (b 1979) lawn bowler.
• Darren Pattinson (b 1978), England Test cricketer, born in Grimsby
• Michael Pearce (artist) (b 1965), artist, born in Grimsby
• Julie Peasgood (b 1956), actor, Fran in soap opera Brookside, grew up in Grimsby and attended Wintringham School
• John Whitgift (1530–1604), Archbishop of Canterbury under Queen Elizabeth I
• Patrick Wymark (1926–1970), actor. Wymark View was named after him.
• Numerous well-known snooker players come from the town, the best-known being Ray Edmonds (b 1936), Dean Reynolds (b 1963), Mike Hallett (b 1959), and Sean Storey (b 1971).

People with a connection to the town

• John Hurt (b 1940) - actor, spent his formative years in the town while his father was a minister at St Aidan, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.
• Norman Lamont (b 1942), Conservative MP and former Chancellor of the Exchequer, brought up in the town
• David Ross - businessman, co-founder of Carphone Warehouse was brought up in the town. His grandfather J Carl Ross was the founder of the Ross Trawler Company and who moved into frozen food.
• Matt Kennard (b 1983), actor, Archie in Doctors, also The Bill, Coronation Street and Heartbeat
• Ernest Worrall (1898–1972), painter known for works depicting Grimsby during World War II, lived in the town from 1932 until the 1960s and taught at Wintringham Grammar School.