Wellington, Shropshire - Notable People

Notable People

The town's literary claims to fame include it being the birthplace of 19th century writer Hesba Stretton (1832–1911), and the first job of poet Philip Larkin was as librarian of Wellington Library from 1943 to circa 1945. The poet Philip Larkin described Wellington as a 'hole of toad's turds' and stated that his job as town librarian was to 'hand out tripey novels to morons'. The Rev Patrick Brontë lived in the town for year while serving a curacy before moving to Yorkshire and meeting his future wife there, Maria Branwell. The abolitionist Dr William Withering was born in the town in 1741; he also investigated digitalis, used in the treatment of heart disease. S. Parkes Cadman, who became a prominent clergyman in the United States, was born there in 1864. Several members of the pop group T'Pau (including vocalist Carol Decker and keyboardist Michael Chetwood) were from Wellington.

A pathway at the side of Wellington Library was named Larkin Way in honour of Philip Larkin, but this pathway was lost during re-development work on the library and the Borough Council is considering renaming the new, slightly different pathway, with the help of the public. This is not without controversy.

Other notable residents include:

• Richard Baxter (1615–1691), puritan church leader and scholar.
• Jonathan Corbett, TV presenter.
• George Downing (1685–1749), founder of Downing College, Cambridge.
• Thomas Campbell Eyton (1809–1880), naturalist.
• Henry Gauntlett (1805–1876), composer, organist and organ designer, born there when father was parish curate.
• Cecil Lawson (1851–1882), landscape artist, born there.
• Stewart Lee, comedian.
• Andrew Plimer (c. 1763–1837), miniature painter.
• Kamran Sheeraz (1973-), cricketer