There is an exceptionally long and impressive list of Lincolnshire celebrities from all walks of life – history, literature, science, entertainment, journalism and sport – who were born or resided in the county.
Alfred Lord Tennyson, the poet laureate after William Wordsworth, was born 6 miles from Horncastle in the Wolds village of Somersby. According to local legend, Tennyson seemed to have quite a dislike for the city, saying, “Of all the horrors, a small country town seems the greatest to me.” James Fenton, poet, journalist, and literary critic, was born in Lincoln.
Grantham, was the birthplace of celebrities as diverse as scientist and discoverer Sir Isaac Newton, former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and radio and television star Nicholas Parsons.
George Boole, a pioneer of Boolean algebra and the binary notation of the same name, was born in Lincoln in 1815. It was his discovery that, many decades after his death, would make modern computers possible.
Actor Eric Thompson, perhaps best known as the narrator of the 1960s children’s television series “The Magic Roundabout,” was born in Sleaford in 1929. He was the father of award-winning Emma Thompson. Jennifer Saunders, the actress, comedian and writer (French and Saunders, Absolutely Fabulous) was also born in Sleaford, while Jim Broadbent, the Oscar-winning actor was born in Wickenby in 1949. Bernie Taupin, Elton John’s songwriter, was born in Anwick on the way to Horncastle. One of the best actors in the UK, John Hurt, went to Lincoln School. Jonathan Kerrigan, from the ITV drama Heartbeat, is from Lincoln, as is Jason Bradbury, a television host and comedian.
Some famous people from Lincolnshire who attended Lincoln School include, Mark Byford, Deputy Director General of the BBC, Peter Day, BBC announcer, Steve Race, radio host and host of Radio 4 My Music, Alex Henshaw, pilot of Chief testing of Spitfire and Sir Neville Marriner, the director who arranged and directed the music for the film Amadeus.
Sir John Franklin, the sea captain, explorer and later Governor of Tasmania, was born in Spilsby, while George Bass, who helped map the Australian coast in 1797, was born in Aswarby. Cecil Rhodes, the famous explorer and businessman, spent part of his childhood at The Manor House in Sleaford.
Athletes include footballers Joe Baker, Lee Chapman (Lincoln), Gary Crosby, and Mark Wallington (Sleaford). Tennis star Daniel Cox, international cricket umpire Darrell Hair, equestrian and writer Marion Rose Halpenny, and Olympic swimming medalist Paul Palmer are all from Lincoln.
Some other notable Horncastle residents include Peter “Biff” Byford, lead singer of the heavy rock band Saxon, Henry Simpson Lunn, religious leader and founder of half of the Lunn Poly travel agent chain, and William Marwood, public executioner.
The list is by no means exhaustive of Lincolnshire famous people!