Bury - Notable People

Notable People

• Victoria Wood, BAFTA award winning comedienne went to Bury Grammar School.
• John Kay, the inventor of the Flying Shuttle, one of the key inventions of the Industrial Revolution. He was born to a yeoman farming family at Park, a tiny hamlet just North of Bury, on 16 June 1704. A memorial to John Kay stands in the heart of Bury - in Kay Gardens. He also features as one of twelve subjects portrayed in the epic Manchester Murals, by Ford Madox Brown, that decorate the Great Hall, Manchester Town Hall and depict the history of the city. The piece shows John Kay being smuggled to safety as rioters, who feared their jobs were in danger, sought to destroy looms whose invention he had made possible. This was a key moment in the struggle between labour and new technology. He eventually fled to France and died in poverty.
• James Wood, Dean of Ely Cathedral and Master of St John's College, Oxford was born Bury in 1760. A pupil at Bury Grammar School, he won an exhibition to St John's College and was a college tutor from 1789 to 1814. During this time he published the 'Principles of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy'. He was appointed Dean of Ely in 1820. He served as Master of St John's from 1815 and left his library to the college upon his death in 1839.
• Sir Robert Peel (1788–1850), the 19th century Prime Minister best known today for the repeal of the Corn Laws and his introduction of the modern police force (hence the terms "Bobbies" and "Peelers"), was born in Bury. He is also notable for forming the famous British Police division, 'Scotland Yard' in London. A monument, Peel Tower, now exists to his memory. As this is situated nearly 1,000 feet above sea level, it is easily recognisable for miles around. The tower itself was not built for Sir Robert, but to provide work for local workers and was later dedicated to him. A statue of Sir Robert Peel stands in Market Place, outside the Robert Peel public house. You will notice that Sir Robert has his waistcoat fastened the wrong way round.
• Professor Sir John Charnley, born, son of a Bury pharmacist, in Bury in 1911. He wrote 'The Closed Treatment of Common Fractures', first published in 1950 which became a standard text for the subject. His subsequent achievement in developing hip replacement surgery, in 1962, is acknowledged as a ground breaking development that changed the approach to orthopaedic surgery. He established a centre for hip surgery at Wrightington Hospital, near Wigan where he worked. He was knighted for his work in 1977. The John Charnley Research Institute, Wrightington Hospital, near Wigan was named in his honour.
• Mark E. Smith, frontman and the only permanent member of post-punk band The Fall grew up in Prestwich in Bury. On the 2010 album Your Future Our Clutter is the track "Bury Pts. 1+3", with lyrics loosely relating to the place.
• Kelly, Barrie, sprinter who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, the 1966 and 1970 Commonwealth Games in Jamaica and Edinburgh and two European championships, Budapest in 1966 and Athens in 1969. He was British Champion, indoors and outdoors at 60 m and 100 m several times during this period.
• Parry, Gareth (Gaz), rock climbing. One of Britain's most successful rock climbers. A former British champion in 1996 and 2002. Competed for Great Britain at the highest level for many years. Current British bouldering team coach.
• Smith, Lawrie, yachtsman, arguably Britain's most successful racing sailor. Learnt to sail at Elton Sailing Club, Bury. Won bronze medal at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, and the Fastnet Race. Skippered British Challenger in the America's Cup and finished fourth in Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989/90.
• Richmal Crompton, author was born on Manchester Road, Bury (a plaque marks the house).
• Helen Flanagan Actress best known for her role as Rosie Webster in Coronation Street
• Suzanne Shaw Originally famous for winning the show Popstars and being a member of Hear'say, Shaw is now the star of West End shows as well as a singer, actress and television presenter.
• Nicky Ajose, current Peterborough United player
• Gary Neville, retired former Manchester United captain, and his younger brother Phil, Everton midfielder and captain and younger sister Tracey, former netball international.
• Elbow, the band, achieved the Mercury Music Prize in 2009, for their album The Seldom Seen Kid.
• Danny Boyle, Oscar-winning film director of Slumdog Millionaire.
• Andy Goram, Scottish international footballer.
• John Partridge, performer notably for playing the role of Christian in EastEnders
• Lisa Riley, Actress & Television Presenter best known for her role as Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale was born in Bury.
• Antony Cotton, Actor and television host best known for his role as Sean Tully in Coronation Street was born in Bury.
• Matt Littler, Actor best known for his role as Max Cunningham in Hollyoaks was born in Bury and was a former pupil of Elton High School.
• Gemma Atkinson, Actress and lad mags favourite was born in Bury.
• Vicky Binns, Actress best known for her role as Molly Dobbs in Coronation Street was born in Bury.
• Jennie McAlpine, Actress best known for her role as Fiz in Coronation Street was born in Bury and was a former pupil of St Gabriel's RC High School, Bury.
• Cherie Blair, barrister and former Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife was born in Bury.
• John Spencer, World Snooker Champion was born in Bury.
• Jazz Dhiman, Professional Actor and Artist - Lives in the area.
• Steve Evets, Professional Actor - Looking For Eric, Lives in the area.
• Ian Wallace, Professional Musician - Drummer with King Crimson, Don Henley, Bob Dylan and others was born in Bury and attended Bury Grammar School. His first group, The Jaguars, was formed in Bury with some school pals.
• Christian McKay He studied piano as a youth and had performed the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 at age 21. McKay subsequently halted his concert career and enrolled at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art to study acting. Played, to critical acclaim, Orson Welles in the film Me and Orson Welles
• Steve Halliwell Actor best known for his role as Zak Dingle in Emmerdale