Bridgwater - Notable People

Notable People

  • Admiral Robert Blake was born in Bridgwater, and attended the local grammar school (Bridgwater Grammar School For Boys). His home is now the Blake Museum and contains details of his career amongst its exhibits of local history and archaeology.
  • Donald Crowhurst (1932–69), who tried to fake a round-the-world solo yacht journey, set up his business in the town and was a Town Councillor.
  • Sir Paul Dukes was born in Bridgwater, an alumnus of Caterham School, and went on to be the premier SIS agent in pre-revolution Russia. Known as the Man with a Hundred Faces, he eluded Bolshevik capture and is still the only man to be knighted based on his exploits as a spy.
  • Peter Haggett CBE FBA (b.1933), eminent academic geographer and professor at University of Bristol, educated at Dr Morgan's Grammar School in Bridgwater
  • Chris Harris, English performer, director and writer who starred in Into the Labyrinth. He has starred in and directed the pantomime at the Theatre Royal, Bath since 2001.
  • Charles Kent, England rugby player.
  • Robert Dibble, England rugby player. Played club rugby for Bridgwater & Albion RFC and Newport RFC.
  • Tommy Woods (rugby), England rugby player. Played club rugby for Bridgwater & Albion RFC and Rochdale Hornets.
  • Sergeant Ben Knight, Bridgwater airman who died in an Afghanistan RAF Nimrod plane crash. Sgt Knight was only 25 when he was killed along with 13 comrades from the 120 Squadron when the Nimrod came down near Kandahar on 2 September 2006.
  • David Luckes MBE. England and Great Britain hockey player - 1989-2000 brought up in Bridgwater.
  • Simon (1984) and Richard Mantell (1981), brothers and field hockey players for England, were both born in Bridgwater.
  • Breaker Morant Anglo-Australian Boer War Soldier.
  • Kim Newman, science fiction novelist, horror film expert, TV presenter and film critic, educated at Dr Morgan's Grammar School in Bridgwater.
  • Henry Phillpotts, Bishop of Exeter, born in Bridgwater in 1778.
  • Andrew Plimer, portrait miniature artist, born in Bridgwater 1763.
  • Jean Rees, artist and co-founder of the Bridgwater Arts Centre. b 1914.
  • James Sully, psychologist, born in Bridgwater in 1842.
  • Fanny Talbot born in Bridgwater in 1824, philanthropist and friend of John Ruskin who donated first property to the National Trust.

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