Rotherham The Unofficial Website

Famous People from Rotherham

Before I began collecting the information for this page we had a good old game of 'Name 10 Famous Belgians'. We remembered 10 famous Belgians all right, clever little so and sos that we are, though I will confess we had 'chocolate' as one of them and 'beer' as another.

When we came to play the same game with Rotherhamites it proved a tad more difficult. Although we were pretty sure that the infamous Jeremy Clarkson came from Rotherham (though I could well be wrong, in fact I wish I was) for reasons attached to the legalities of the word 'famous' we decided that omission was the only reasonable course. Somebody tells me that I am wrong - La Clarkson is actually from Doncaster. I can tell you that I breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

Jack Layden 'Good Old Sir Jack' was also postulated, but we asked six people who came from Rotherham and six people who did not, whether they had heard of him. Some of them knew of the pub. Sic transit gloria mundi as the Romans would have it.

My mother, when asked, mentioned Duggie Brown and Lynne Perrie. Now that had The Pedant scratching his head as he'd never heard of either. Still I've managed to find a bit of information about them for your delectation and delight.

A miller in exile has also suggested Jive Bunny, The Chuckle Brothers and Jack Hampshire. I have managed to find out quite a bit about the first, more than I really wanted to about the second, and zilch about poor old Jack other than the fact he appears in a list of cricket umpires. I will persevere. For a bit more information about Jack Hampshire, cricketer and umpire visit here.

Several people have mentioned Chris Wolstenholme, from the band Muse. I will confess that I have heard of neither the band or the man but I have found out some information for you.

Although I had rejected a page about Tony Capstick on the grounds that he was born in Mexborough and therefore a Doncaster lad, several persons thought that I should, none the less, dedicate a page too him. All right I give up - I've been ganged up on - here it is!

Colin has also mentioned that the actress and comedian Liz Smith was born in Kimberworth. Other than the fact that she was born in 1925 I have been unable to find out any personal facts about her. You know the one I mean - she specialises in dotty old women like her characters in The Vicar of Dibley, The Royle Family and I Didn't Know You Cared. If you have any more information please let me know.

Brian Blessed and Patrick Stewart have both been mentioned. However further investigation reveals that Blessed was born in Mexborough, which is admittedly only a snip over the border, but Stewart was born in Mirfield. So whilst they can both qualify as Yorkshire tykes neither are Rotherhamites by birth or by residence.

Top of Page