List of people from Walsall explained

Walsall (or ; locally) is a large market town and administrative centre in West Midlands County, England. Historically part of Staffordshire, it is located 9miles north-west of Birmingham, 7miles east of Wolverhampton and 9miles from Lichfield. This list a list of notable people who were born in, lived in, or were otherwise strongly associated with Walsall.

Culture

Acting

• Bobby Ash (1925–2007), British-Canadian actor born in Walsall^[1]
• Zoe Dawson (born 1979 in Walsall) actress, minor roles in the BBC soap opera Doctors
• Don Gilet (born 1967 in Caldmore) actor, roles in BBC productions Babyfather, EastEnders and 55 Degrees North.
• Jeffrey Holland (born Jeffrey Michael Parkes, 1946 in Walsall) actor, roles in TV sitcoms and in Hi-de-Hi!, attended Queen Mary's Grammar School.
• Matthew Marsden (born 1973 in West Bromwich) stage and film actor, brought up on the Yew Tree Estate in Walsall and schooled in Wednesbury and Great Barr.
• Peter McEnery (born 1940 in Walsall) stage TV and film actor. Gave Hayley Mills her first "grown-up" screen kiss in the 1964 film The Moon-Spinners.
• Sue Nicholls (born 1943 in Walsall) actress, played Audrey Roberts in Coronation Street.
• Erin O'Connor (born 1978 in Brownhills) model and TV actress, attended Brownhills Community School
• Meera Syal (born 1961) comedian, writer, playwright, singer, journalist, producer and actress. Brought up in Essington and attended Queen Mary's High School.
• Richard Wattis (born 1912 in Wednesbury – 1975), actor
• Frank Windsor (born 1927 in Walsall) actor, mainly on TV. Attended Queen Mary's Grammar School. Played DS John Watt in Z-Cars from 1962 to 1965.

Music

• Amar (born 1982), British Indian singer
• Andy C (born 1976), DJ, record producer and co-founder of RAM Records^[2]
• Blak_Prophetz aka Mark Duffus (born 1967 in Caldmore Green, Walsall) DJ, Musician, Record_Producer, Rapper attended Whitehall Infants, Blue Coat C of E Junior and Secondary School. Founder/Owner of the Record label Digital_Jukebox_Records.
• Rob Collins (1963 in Rowley Regis – 1996) musician,^[3] original keyboardist of The Charlatans
• Martin Degville (born 1961 in Walsall) lead singer and co-songwriter of the UK pop band Sigue Sigue Sputnik.
• Goldie aka Clifford Joseph Price, (born 1965 in Walsall) musician, DJ, graffiti artist, visual artist and actor, attended St. Francis of Assisi RC Secondary School in Aldridge
• Rob Halford (born 1951 in Sutton Coldfield) raised in Walsall, singer songwriter, lead vocalist for the heavy metal band Judas Priest.
• Noddy Holder (born 1946 in Caldmore) musician and actor, lead singer and guitarist in glam rock band Slade
• Tom Major-Ball (1879 in Bloxwich – 1962) music hall and circus performer^[4] and father of John Major, former Prime Minister
• Frank Mullings (1881 in Walsall – 1953) a leading English tenor^[5] with Beecham Opera Company and its successor, the British National Opera Company
• Mark Rhodes (born 1981 in Darlaston) singer and TV presenter, finished 2nd in the 2nd series of Pop Idol, lives in Wombourne.
• Jorja Smith (born 1997 in Walsall) singer-songwriter
• Connie Talbot (born 2000) from Streetly, teen singer^[6] 2nd place in the first series of Britain's Got Talent (series 1)
• Kathryn Tickell (born 8 June 1967 in Walsall) is an English musician, noted for her mastery of the Northumbrian smallpipes and fiddle.^[7]
• Dave Walker (born 1945 in Walsall) singer and guitarist,^[8] front-man for a number of bands; including Idle Race, Savoy Brown, Fleetwood Mac, and, briefly, Black Sabbath.
• John Cooke guitarist and bassist, member of Napalm Death, Venomous Concept, and Malevolent Creation.

TV and radio

• Alex Lester (born 1956 in Walsall) radio broadcaster,^[9]
• Andrew Peach (born in Bloxwich c. 1970) BBC Radio presenter^[10]
• Bob Warman (born 1946) TV presenter,
• Leila Williams (born in Walsall 1937) beauty queen and Blue Peter presenter from 1958 until 1962

Visual Arts

• Orlando Dutton born in Walsall 1 April 1894, was an English-born Australian monumental, figurative and architectural sculptor^[11]

Politics

• William Dixon Allott, (1817–1892) born in Walsall, Mayor of Adelaide 1873–1874^[12]
• David Ennals, Baron Ennals (1922–1995) Labour Party politician born in Walsall^[13]
• Bruce George (born 1942) Labour Party politician,^[14] MP for Walsall South 1974–2010
• Eddie Hughes (born 1968) Conservative Party politician,^[15] MP for Walsall North 2017 to date.
• Joseph Leckie (Born Glasgow 24 May 1866 – 9 August 1938) after whom Joseph Leckie school, now an academy was named. MP for Walsall 1931 - 1938.
• Sir Harmar Nicholls (later Lord Harmar-Nicholls) (1912 in Walsall – 2000) Conservative Party politician,^[16] MP for Peterborough 1950–1974. Father of Sue Nicholls (see above).
• John Stonehouse (1925 – 1988) Labour Party politician,^[17] MP for Walsall North 1974–1976, notable for his unsuccessful attempt to fake his own death in 1974
• David Winnick (born 1933) Labour Party politician,^[18] MP for Walsall North 1979–2017.
• Jenny Tonge, Baroness Tonge (born 1941 in Walsall) politician,^[19] Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park in London 1997–2005, made a life peer in June 2005.
• Valerie Vaz (born 1954) Labour politician^[20] and solicitor MP for Walsall South 2010 to date.

Public service and commerce

• Francis Asbury (1745 Hamstead Bridge – 1816) joint founder of the Methodist movement in the United States, brought up in Gt Barr, emigrated 1771.^[21]
• Mike Ashley (born 1964), British billionaire retail entrepreneur focused in the sporting goods market^[22]
• Sir Terence Beckett (1923 in Walsall – 2013) businessman,^[23] chairman of Ford and later, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry
• Margaret Bromhall (born 1890 in Walsall)^[24] first radiotherapist appointed to a radiotherapy department, at North Middlesex Hospital in London^[25]
• John Henry Carless (1896 in Walsall – 1917) recipient of the Victoria Cross^[26] during the First World War
• Reverend Harry Moore Dauncey (1863 in Walsall – 1932) missionary in Papua New Guinea^[27]
• Sister Dora (1832–1878) Anglican nun^[28] and a nurse in Walsall. She is honoured for her compassion and her medical work by a statue in the centre of town.
• Michael L. Fitzgerald (born Walsall in 1937) Roman Catholic Cardinal,^[29] expert on Muslim-Christian relations
• Martin Fowler (born 1963 in Walsall) software developer^[30]
• Frederick Gibbs (born 1899 in Walsall) World War I Flying Ace^[31]
• Sir Harry Hinsley (1918 in Birchills – 1998) historian and cryptanalyst,^[32] worked at Bletchley Park and became Master of St John's College, Cambridge University
• Sir Len Peach (1932 in Walsall – 2016) Chief Executive^[33] of the National Health Service 1986 – 1989.
• Air Chief Marshal Stuart William Peach, Baron Peach (born Walsall, 1956) former RAF officer and Chief of the Defence Staff.
• Air Vice-Marshal Sidney Webster (1900 in Walsall – 1984) aviator^[34] and senior officer in the RAF

Sport

• Norman Ashe (born 1943), footballer
• Fred Bakewell (1908 in Walsall – 1983) was a Northamptonshire and England opening batsman,^[35] renowned largely because of his unorthodox methods
• David Brown (born 1942 in Walsall) former English cricketer,^[36] attended Queen Mary's Grammar School played in twenty six Tests from 1965 to 1969
• Colin Charvis (born 1972 in Sutton Coldfield) attended Queen Mary's Grammar School in Walsall,^[37] a former captain of the Wales national rugby union team
• Leon Drysdale (born 1991), footballer
• Nick Gillingham (born 1967 in Walsall) swimmer,^[38] competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona
• Terry Holbrook (born 1945 in Walsall) football referee formerly in the Football League and Premier League
• Dean Keates (born 1978 in Beechdale) retired footballer and former First Team manager of Walsall.
• Vaughan Lee (born 1982) Mixed Martial Artist formerly competing in UFC.
• Mark Lewis-Francis (born Darlason 1982) 100 metres sprinter,^[39] member of the gold medal winning 4x100 metres relay team at the 2004 summer Olympics.
• Robert Marshall (1869–1937), cricketer
• Rupert Moon former Llanelli and Welsh rugby international, known as the "Walsall Welshman" he became a radio and television presenter in Wales.^[40]
• Lee Naylor (born in 1980 in Mossley) former professional footballer
• Jaydon Paddock (born 2001 in Walsall), English trampoline gymnast
• David Platt (born Walsall 1966) English-born^[41] Australian darts player
• Rachel Unitt (born 1982 in Bentley) England Women's footballer^[42]
• Ellie Simmonds (born Walsall 1994) Paralympian swimmer,^[43] won gold in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Paralympics.

Writing

• John Byrne (born 1950 in Walsall) comic book creator, raised in West Bromwich^[44]
• Peter Corey (born 1946 in Walsall) author of the Coping With children's book series and also a TV actor.
• Jerome K. Jerome (1859 in Caldmore – 1927) writer ^[45] and humourist,^[46] author of comic travelogue Three Men in a Boat (1889).
• Paul McDonald (born 1961 in Walsall) comic novelist^[47] and academic.^[48]
• Sir Henry Newbolt (1862 in Bilston – 1938) poet, novelist and historian^[49] and old boy of Queen Mary's Grammar School.
• Nick Redfern (born 1964 in Pelsall) author and UFO researcher^[50]

Science

• Lindon Eaves (1944–2022) geneticist and Anglican priest, born in Walsall
• John Edward Gray (1800–1875), zoologist, born in Walsall.^[51]

Murderers

• Raymond Morris (1929 in Walsall – 2014) convicted of the Cannock Chase murders in the late 1960s, served 45 years in prison.
• Louise Porton (born 1996) woman who murdered her two children in 2018, formerly lived in Walsall

Others

• Thomas Hughes, (1818–1876), Anglican minister and abolitionist

Notes and References

1. News: Langan. F.F.. May 25, 2007. 'Uncle Bobby' took on Sesame Street: After a start in British music halls, he kept children spellbound with a popular Toronto television show. The Globe and Mail.
2. Web site: Andy C wins DJ Mag Top 100 DJs 2017 Highest Drum & Bass Award. 8 April 2019. DJ Mag. 20 October 2017.
3. https://web.archive.org/web/20161227055641/http://www.mtv.com/news/508495/the-real-dope-on-charlatans-rob-collins/ MTV website, 10/31/1996
4. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/348932.stm The miraculous Major-Balls, BBC News, 21 May 1999
5. https://web.archive.org/web/20091118081729/http://www.divine-art.com/AS/BNOC.htm Archive of British National Opera Company website
6. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/connie-talbot-mn0001014030/biography Connie Talbot at AllMusic
7. Web site: Hickman. Pamela. 26 September 2015. Kathryn Tickell talks about Northumbrian music, about the fiddle and the Northumbrian pipes. 15 September 2017. Pamela Hickman's Music Interviews.
8. https://web.archive.org/web/20041115173438/http://www.geocities.com/davewalkerpage/bio.html Archive of The Dave Walker Page, 2004
9. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03ffzlw BBC Local Radio, Saturday night with Alex Lester
10. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p001d7m9 BBC Radio Berkshire, Andrew Peach
11. News: 6 January 1923 . Born in Walsall . 6 . The Walsall Observer, and South Staffordshire Chronicle . Walsall, West Midlands, England.
12. News: 22 November 1892. Obituary. South Australian Register. 25 May 2018.
13. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-david-ennals/index.html HANSARD 1803–2005 → People (E) Mr David Ennals
14. https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/10223/bruce_george/walsall_south TheyWorkForYou.com – Bruce George MP
15. https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/25699/eddie_hughes/walsall_north TheyWorkForYou.com – Eddie Hughes MP
16. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/sir-harmar-nicholls/index.html HANSARD 1803–2005 → People (N), Sir Harmar Nicholls
17. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-john-stonehouse/index.html HANSARD 1803–2005 → People (S) Mr John Stonehouse
18. https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/10645/david_winnick/walsall_north TheyWorkForYou.com – David Winnick Former MP
19. https://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/10599/baroness_tonge TheyWorkForYou.com – Baroness Tonge
20. https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/24852/valerie_vaz/walsall_south TheyWorkForYou.com – Valerie Vaz MP
21. Asbury, Francis . I . 108-109 . 1.
22. Web site: Mike Ashley: Sports Direct's media-shy owner enters spotlight. 29 January 2018.
23. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/may/12/sir-terence-beckett The Guardian, Obituary, 12 May 2013
24. Web site: Winifred Harriet Bromhall. 2020-01-25. geni_family_tree. en-US.
25. Book: Haines. Catharine M. C.. International Women in Science: A Biographical Dictionary to 1950. Stevens. Helen M.. 2001. ABC-CLIO. 978-1-57607-090-1. en.
26. Web site: vconline.org.uk.
27. http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/term_details.aspx?bioId=40436 Rev Harry Moore Dauncey (Biographical details), British Museum
28. https://archive.today/20150211215439/http://cms.walsall.gov.uk/index/history_of_walsall_s_sister_dora_and_the_steam_engine.htm Walsall Council archive, History of Walsall's Sister Dora and the steam engine
29. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5352404.stm BBC News, 16 September 2006, Pope's remarks reveal harder stance
30. https://www.artima.com/intv/martin.html A Conversation with Martin Fowler, 9 December 2002
31. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/gibbs1.php Frederick John Gibbs, The Aerodrome, 2015
32. https://web.archive.org/web/19990117024915/http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/Research/Security/Historical/hinsley.html Sir Harry Hinsley: The Influence of ULTRA in WW2, 26 November 1996
33. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2016/08/29/sir-len-peach-businessman-and-public-servant--obituary/ The Telegraph, 29 August 2016, Obituary
34. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37407/page/32 The London Gazette (Supplement), 1 January 1946. p. 32, No. 37407
35. http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/8960.html ESPN cricinfo Database
36. http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/9252.html ESPN cricinfo Database
37. https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/8417146.Charvis_no_longer_with_Dragons/ South Wales Argus, 28 September 2010, Charvis no longer with Dragons
38. https://web.archive.org/web/20060426235352/http://www.staffsasa.co.uk/nickgill.htm Staffs ASA archive, NICK GILLINGHAM
39. https://www.iaaf.org/athletes/great-britain-ni/mark-lewis-francis-171521 Mark Lewis-Francis profile at IAAF
40. News: Thomas. Simon. The remarkable life of Rupert Moon, one of Welsh rugby's great characters. WalesOnline.
41. http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/PlayerDetails.aspx?playerKey=1401 Player profile on David Platt from Dartsdatabase
42. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29461344 BBC Sport, 2 October 2014, Rachel Unitt:
43. https://web.archive.org/web/20120524052931/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/paralympics-gb/8725575/Eleanor-Simmonds-Paralympics-GB-London-2012-Olympics.html The Telegraph, Eleanor Simmonds, Paralympic Sport, Paralympics GB
44. http://lambiek.net/artists/b/byrne_john.htm "Comic creator: John Byrne"
45. Jerome,_Jerome_Klapka. 15. x.
46. http://www.jeromekjerome.com/ Jeromekjerome.com website
47. Web site: 25 January 2008. Black Country – Features – From Saddles to Chuckles. 18 May 2014. BBC.
48. https://www.wlv.ac.uk/about-us/our-schools-and-institutes/faculty-of-arts/school-of-humanities/staff/dr-paul-mcdonald/ University of Wolverhampton Staff Page
49. Newbolt,_Henry_John. 19. x.
50. http://nickcelebritysecrets.blogspot.co.uk/ Nick Redfern's Celebrity Secrets blog
51. Gray, John Edward . 12 . 391 . 1.