Notable People
Three men born in or near the village of Farnworth achieved prominent positions in the Anglican church. They were William Smyth (c.1460–1514) who became Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, then Bishop of Lincoln and who built the grammar school in the village, Richard Barnes (1532–1587) who became Bishop of Carlisle, then Bishop of Durham, and Richard Bancroft (1544–1610) who became Bishop of London and then Archbishop of Canterbury.
During the late 19th century a number of prominent chemists and industrialists lived in Widnes. Amongst these was Ludwig Mond, co-founder of Brunner Mond & Company. He lived in The Hollies, Farnworth and there his two sons were born, both of whom became notable. Sir Robert Mond (1867–1938) became a chemist and archaeologist and his younger brother Alfred Mond, 1st Baron Melchett (1868–1930) became an industrialist, financier and politician.
Charles Glover Barkla (1877–1944) who was born in Widnes was the winner of the 1917 Nobel prize in physics. Born in the village of Farnworth was Roy Chadwick (1893–1947), the designer of the Avro Lancaster bomber. Thomas Mottershead (1893–1917), also born in Widnes, joined the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War; he was awarded the Victoria Cross and the Distinguished Conduct Medal posthumously for his gallantry. Another Widnes man, Thomas Wilkinson (1898–1942) of the Royal Naval Reserve, was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously in the Second World War.
Jack Ashley (1922–2012) was born in Widnes and was a local councillor there. He was then a Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent for many years. He became a Companion of Honour in 1975 and was invested as a Privy Councillor in 1979. In 1992 he was made a life peer as Baron Ashley of Stoke, of Widnes in the County of Cheshire. Gordon Oakes (1931–2005) who was born and educated in Widnes became a local Member of Parliament and a government minister.
Vince Karalius (1932–2008), international rugby league player, was born in Widnes. Andrew Higginson (b. 1977) is a professional snooker player from Widnes. Melanie Chisholm (b. 1974), who was born in Merseyside and went to school in Widnes, is a former Spice Girl known as Mel C or Sporty Spice. Actor David Dawson (b. 1982) was born and raised in Widnes. Former Tour de France rider Paul Sherwen was born in Widnes. Singer, songwriter and guitarist Natalie McCool was born in Whiston but raised in Widnes. George Nicholls (born 14 May 1944) born in Widnes, played rugby league for Great Britain and England, and in 1972 was in the team that won the Rugby League World Cup. The distinguished Victorian cricketer John Briggs, the only man to have taken a hat trick and scored a century in Ashes cricket, lived in the town from 1877 until the 1890s.
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