List of people from St Helens, Merseyside
The following is a list of people from St Helens, Merseyside in northern England, United Kingdom.
Notable families
Beechams
The Beecham dynasty is one of the most notable families to be associated with St. Helens. Thomas Beecham opened his first factory, in St. Helens, 16 years after selling his products from a small premises in nearby Wigan.[1]
His son Joseph Beecham built up the business and promoted classical music in the town. Conductor Sir Thomas Beecham, son of Joseph, was born in St Helens.
Pilkingtons
The Pilkington dynasty is another notable family associated with St. Helens having founded the largest glass manufacturer in the United Kingdom as well as inventing the float glass process which was subsequently licensed for use by other glass manufacturers.
Authors
- Trisha Ashley, Best-selling romance author.
- Carole Matthews, Author of 33 bestselling books.
- Una McCormack, Best-selling science fiction author and lecturer in creative writing.
Entertainment
- Bernie Clifton, comedian and entertainer
- Tim Follin, video game music composer
- George Groves is credited with being Hollywood's first "sound man", as he was the recording engineer on the seminal Al Jolson picture, The Jazz Singer (1927), as well as many other early talkies
- Michael Parr, actor
- Emma Rigby, actress
- Johnny Vegas, actor, comedian and presenter
- David Yates, feature film director who is credited with the final four Harry Potter films, was raised in Rainhill (a village in the Borough of St Helens)
- Pauline Yates, actress.
- Elton Welsby, television presenter, noted for his coverage of crown green bowls
Singers and musicians
- Jacqueline Abbott, singer with The Beautiful South
- Rick Astley, vocalist from Newton-le-Willows
- Peter Edward Clarke, (better known by his stage name "Budgie", a well known drummer with, among others, The Slits, Siouxsie and The Banshees and The Creatures);
- The Lancashire Hotpots, comedy folk band
- Jeffrey Walker, bassist and lead vocalist of Carcass
Politics
- Richard Seddon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, from Eccleston, a village in the Borough of St. Helens and the country's longest-serving Prime Minister to date, holding the office from 1893 until 1906.
- Richard Pilkington, Member of Parliament for Newton from 1899 until 1906
- Richard Pilkington, Member of Parliament for Widnes (1935 to 1945) and Poole (1951 to 1964)
- Thérèse Coffey: Member of Parliament, from Billinge, a village in the Borough of St Helens.
- James Sexton, Member of Parliament for St Helens from 1918 to 1931
- Liz Twist (born 1956), Labour MP Blaydon
Other
- Ann Barnes former police commissioner for Kent
- David Bernstein former chairman of The Football Association
- John William Draper scientist
- Dorothy Catherine Draper, artist
- Carol Kefford, senior British nurse
- Peter Moore serial killer
- John Rylands, Victorian philanthropist
- James Waterworth, English Catholic missionary priest
- Criminal Jon Venables spent some time in jail at the Red Bank Secure Unit.
- Sir Edmund Vestey, 1st Baronet: Food moguls.
- William Vestey, 1st Baron Vestey: Shipping Magnate.
Sport
Rugby league
St Helens is particularly known for producing many professional rugby league players, many have played for St. Helens.
- Lee Briers, has represented Great Britain and Wales
- Keiron Cunningham, has represented Great Britain and Wales
- Eric Fraser, has represented Great Britain
- Ray French, has represented England
- Steve Ganson, referee
- Kurt Haggerty, has represented Ireland
- Alan Hardman, has represented England
- Neil Harmon
- David Hull
- Les Jones
- Tim Jonkers
- Frank Lee
- Scott Moore
- Alex Murphy
- James Roby
- Mike Roby
- Adam Swift
- Luke Thompson
- Paul Wellens
Football
- Alan A'Court: Footballer, England international.
- Jack Bamber: Footballer, England international.
- Conor Coady : Footballer, England international.
- John Connelly: , England 1966 World Cup winner.
- Alex Finney, part of the FA Cup winning Bolton Wanderers side to play in the White Horse Final at Wembley Stadium.
- Neil Fisher
- Bill Foulkes, full-back for Manchester United between 1952 and 1970 and was a survivor of the Munich air disaster in 1958.[2]
- Chris Foy, referee
- Kellie-Ann Leyland
- Tommy Lucas, Footballer, England international.
- Bill Luckett: Footballer.
- David Mercer: Footballer, England international.
- Lily Parr: Footballer.
- Ray Ranson: Footballer
- Hubert Redwood: Footballer.
- Mark Winstanley: Footballer.
- Nathan Sheron: Footballer.
Motor sport
- Geoff Duke, multiple Isle of Man TT winner and motorcycle Grand Prix road racing world champion
- Colin Hardman, sidecar racer. Winner of the 1989 Isle of Man TT Sidecar Race 'A'
- Andy Middlehurst
- Richie Worrall, speedway rider
- Steve Worrall, speedway rider
Darts
- Stephen Bunting, darts player
- Dave Chisnall, darts player
- Michael Smith, darts player, 2022 Grand Slam of Darts and 2023 PDC World Championship winner.
- Alan Tabern, darts player
Cricket
- Keith Harris, List A cricketer
- David Russell, first-class and List A cricketer
- Ken Shuttleworth, cricketer who has represented England
Other
- Alan Ashcroft, rugby union, has represented England and the British and Irish Lions
- Dan Highcock, wheelchair basketball player
- Tommy Horton, Golfer
- Rachael Letsche, trampolinist
- Martin Murray, boxer
- Charles Pilkington (1850-1918), English alpinist and colliery engineer
- Gary Stretch, boxer, actor
References
- ^ ""Best for me, best for you" - a history of Beecham's Pills 1842–1998" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
- ^ Kilmurray, Andrew, ed. (6 February 2008). "Busby Babe Bill Foulkes joins Munich tribute". St Helens Star. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
External links
Media related to People of St Helens, Merseyside at Wikimedia Commons