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Topic ID 2012

21/09/2006 by ridley

Famous dead people connected with Hertford

But they have to have led a good life! My daughter has asked for help with her primary school project to do an extended essay on a historical character - I thought someone connected to Hertford would be nice, e.g. Dick Turpin (his wife lived here), its exciting stuff and there is a horse involved (my kid has insisted is a must have). We just discovered that the essay has to be about someone who can be described as "a good person" and DT hardly qualifies. Any suggestions for local characters gratefully received!


0 replies

Archived Replies

Reply ID 26402

21/09/2006 by Berbatov

quote:
Originally posted by ridley
But they have to have led a good life! My daughter has asked for help with her primary school project to do an extended essay on a historical character - I thought someone connected to Hertford would be nice, e.g. Dick Turpin (his wife lived here), its exciting stuff and there is a horse involved (my kid has insisted is a must have). We just discovered that the essay has to be about someone who can be described as "a good person" and DT hardly qualifies. Any suggestions for local characters gratefully received!
Shame that he has to be a nice guy as this fella called Clibbon's story fascinated me as a kid when I had to do a similar project. http://www.grantham.karoo.net/paul/graves/clibbon.htm



Reply ID 26406

21/09/2006 by Elkiee

What about that guy who used to be in Last of the Summer Wine? Although not sure if he is deceased but havn't seen or heard of him for a while. Have forgotten his name. Think he used to live in Bengeo (or perhaps that does not qualify as Hertford! Tee hee!)


Reply ID 26407

21/09/2006 by azzza

The Chap who wrote the biggles books....errrmm.. I remember .. Captain W.E. Johns .. he wrote the books above a shop at the base of Port Hill ...


Reply ID 26408

21/09/2006 by azzza

quote:
Originally posted by Elkiee
What about that guy who used to be in Last of the Summer Wine? Although not sure if he is deceased but havn't seen or heard of him for a while. Have forgotten his name. Think he used to live in Bengeo (or perhaps that does not qualify as Hertford! Tee hee!)
He's still alive and lives in Ware I believe ..


Reply ID 26410

21/09/2006 by Ewoowar

Some ideas on this page......... http://www.richardhale.herts.sch.uk/information/history/school.htm


Reply ID 26413

21/09/2006 by Berbatov

Keith Burkinshaw, ex Spurs Manager. He signed Ossie Ardiles and Ricardo Villa and he lived in Bengeo Street. One of the best managers in football history.


Reply ID 26415

21/09/2006 by Marilyn

Eric Heffer the MP lived on Cowbridge, not sure he counts though!


Reply ID 26431

21/09/2006 by Leo Densian

quote:
Originally posted by Elkiee
What about that guy who used to be in Last of the Summer Wine? Although not sure if he is deceased but havn't seen or heard of him for a while. Have forgotten his name. Think he used to live in Bengeo (or perhaps that does not qualify as Hertford! Tee hee!)
Brian Wilde - lives in Scotts Road in Ware - used to drink up the Woodman at Chapmore End many moons ago


Reply ID 26433

21/09/2006 by JohnSmith

Actor Nigel Hawthorne. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001329/


Reply ID 26435

21/09/2006 by Berbatov

quote:
Originally posted by JohnSmith
Actor Nigel Hawthorne. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001329/
Ware?


Reply ID 26438

21/09/2006 by Leo Densian

Not quite Hertford but how about Arthur Martin-Leake? One of only 3 people to win the Victoria Cross twice. He was born and buried at High Cross.


Reply ID 26442

21/09/2006 by Berbatov

quote:
Originally posted by Leo Densian
Not quite Hertford but how about Arthur Martin-Leake? One of only 3 people to win the Victoria Cross twice. He was born and buried at High Cross.
Good shout.


Reply ID 26453

21/09/2006 by azzza

Dennis Maynard ... was a local drunk/druggie who was the 1st person I know to syphon electricity from his next door neighbour via an electric cable via his loft.


Reply ID 26455

21/09/2006 by Ewoowar

quote:
Originally posted by JohnSmith
Actor Nigel Hawthorne. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001329/
He lived in Cold Christmas. Although he used to travel nto London by train from Hertford North.


Reply ID 26457

21/09/2006 by Ewoowar

There are some interesting characters here........ http://www.neton8.co.uk/n8/HertfordTownCouncil/History_of_the_Castle_History_and_Tours_of_Hertford_Castle_11.asp?page=4445


Reply ID 26460

21/09/2006 by IainC

There's William Westall and Samuel Stone. Not much of a horse angle, though...


Reply ID 26462

21/09/2006 by Nicky

Henry Moore? the foundation could probably give you some help? Not strictly Hertford but close enough! Kim Wilde used to live in Ware (I think) but shes still alive. An actor from Oliver Twist used to live nearby in one of the local villages, but I have forgotten his name.........I'll come back to you on this one when I remember [:D] Sorry no horses.......I could make a story up for you maybe about a headless horseman that rides one of the bridle paths at night? [}:)] actually just had another thought, Edward Tudor is from Much Hadham...I bet he rode a horse!


Reply ID 26470

21/09/2006 by Kate

The horse requirement is the difficult bit! Queen Elizabeth I spent much of her childhood at Hertford Castle, and must have riden horses! Any book on Hertford will provide information on her links to the town. The one I've just looked in (The Book of Hertford by Cyril Heath) says there's a book of prayers written out by the Queen and dated Hertford 1545. It says she often came to Hertford and in 1561 (aged 28) spend £1,975/2/3.5 on a 16 day visit (sadly doesn't say on what!). I recall reading somewhere that she used to go to the top of Queen's Road and look at the view - perhaps she rode there on her horse! I remember she came up quite a bit in lessons when I was at primary school, but oddly never the Hertford connection even though I attended local schools.


Reply ID 26488

22/09/2006 by ridley

All good stuff thanks but probably not the right person yet: Unless I'm mistaken WE Johns he didn't actually have a very interesting life he just sat here in Hertford and wrote about someone fictional who did. Ditto the actors - turning up and 'acting' heroic isn't the same as actually being it in real life. Kings Queens etc where's the good in just being born in to it? Unless they did a bit of the actual fighting there's no hero angle - Liz I sat at home and had other people do her dirty work assassinations etc. Many of the others have temporary associations with Hertford at best. That comment about Elizabeth 1 spending 1600 quid in 16 days... was she the Colleen Mcloughlin of her day! Alfred Wallace’s tale is a maybe, he could be written up as comic\heroic\failure in a "Ripping Yarns" style: "In four years Wallace collected the astonishing total of 125,660 specimens, including more than a thousand species new to science. Tragically the collection was destroyed by fire on the return voyage" That’s is just so ridiculous!! Martin-Leake sounds a very possible but there's still no horse connection. William Westall - he could draw quite well and also travelled a bit. Samuel Stone - not exactly Mr nice guy - travelled as far as he could just to get away from us. Sounds a bit intolerant. Where's the rest of Hertford's heroes?? Keep em coming or we'll be forced to use Azza's suggestion which is a good ‘un! PS: MPS??????? Come on I take that one a joke...!! Burkinshaw????? I'm a Newcastle and Hertford Town follower !!!


Reply ID 26489

22/09/2006 by spooky

Henry Moore - not from Hertford but still the dullest artist of the last or ANY century. Not even as dull as Kim's music which is going some.


Reply ID 26491

22/09/2006 by shunt

The actor from Oliver Twist, mentioned earlier, was Steve Marriot, ex front man with the Small Faces. Doesn't fit the criteria though. We seem to be very short on horse riding heros in Hertford!


Reply ID 26495

22/09/2006 by Nicky

What about Kev? [;)]


Reply ID 26497

22/09/2006 by sloopjohnb

Thomas Clarkson - anti slave campiagner. Apparently had a vision on his way to London from Wisbech and his memorial stone is on Westmill hill. If you travel on the old bit of the A10 every day you pass it. Not really Hertford born and bred, but a local connection and there is also a modern myth surroundng him concerning US airmen who cleaned the stone. Not true but a good story. My article on subject on my website if you Google Clarkson. Might not display as my domain name appears suspended owing to Bankers draft getting lost. But can have a copy of the article if you wish.


Reply ID 26502

22/09/2006 by Ray_by_the_Beane

Oliver Cromwell (and Fairfax) spent some time at what is now the Salisbury Hotel. Also some of the New Model soldiers were executed at a field on the meads between Hertford and Ware (Cocks Lane?) for being radicals/Agitators.


Reply ID 26524

22/09/2006 by buzz

quote:
Originally posted by Nicky
Henry Moore? the foundation could probably give you some help? Not strictly Hertford but close enough! Kim Wilde used to live in Ware (I think) but shes still alive. An actor from Oliver Twist used to live nearby in one of the local villages, but I have forgotten his name.........I'll come back to you on this one when I remember [:D] Sorry no horses.......I could make a story up for you maybe about a headless horseman that rides one of the bridle paths at night? [}:)] actually just had another thought, Edward Tudor is from Much Hadham...I bet he rode a horse! I think Kim Wilde used to live in Tewin with her parents


Reply ID 26525

22/09/2006 by buzz

quote:
Originally posted by Leo Densian
quote:
Originally posted by Elkiee
What about that guy who used to be in Last of the Summer Wine? Although not sure if he is deceased but havn't seen or heard of him for a while. Have forgotten his name. Think he used to live in Bengeo (or perhaps that does not qualify as Hertford! Tee hee!)
Brian Wilde - lives in Scotts Road in Ware - used to drink up the Woodman at Chapmore End many moons ago Not entirely unknown at the Salisbury either


Reply ID 26529

22/09/2006 by 60sDJ

quote:
Originally posted by azzza
Dennis Maynard ... was a local drunk/druggie who was the 1st person I know to syphon electricity from his next door neighbour via an electric cable via his loft.
Is it as bad if you syphon a tv signal from next door using a cable.....and access their wireless router too? Whaaa? Whaaat? Just asking!!!![:D]


Reply ID 26537

23/09/2006 by John Drake

How about Dr Thomas Dimsdale who developed the small pox vaccination, in the 18th C. Based in / around Hertford for many years he used to vaccinate the needy in what was then and is now the Old Pest House on the corner of Byde & Fanshawe Street.


Reply ID 26538

23/09/2006 by Titus Groan

Jane Wenham? [url]http://www.hertford.net/history/janewenham.asp[/url]


Reply ID 26585

24/09/2006 by Nicky

Frederick Forsyth....I think lives in Cole Green which is sort of Hertford? Probably owns a horse, but I think he is still alive and kicking.


Reply ID 26586

25/09/2006 by Ewoowar

quote:
Originally posted by Nicky
Frederick Forsyth....I think lives in Cole Green which is sort of Hertford? Probably owns a horse, but I think he is still alive and kicking.
He was very much still alive on Thursday when he was interviewed on Radio 5.


Reply ID 26596

25/09/2006 by Leo Densian

Adam Ant lived in Little Berkhamsted as I recall. OK, he's not dead but there was a horse connection - the 'Stand and Deliver' video. No? I'll get me coat....[:I]


Reply ID 26625

25/09/2006 by andy120t

Bob Hill (Cowbridge) - famous classic motorbike racer - must be able to wring some horsepower out of that.


Reply ID 27645

07/10/2006 by burmilla_turbo

quote:
Originally posted by Nicky
Frederick Forsyth....I think lives in Cole Green which is sort of Hertford? Probably owns a horse, but I think he is still alive and kicking.
Most definitly still alive, I did some work at his house this week.


35 replies