BIOGRAPHIES A
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ABBATT - ADAMS - AGNEW - AINSCOW - AINSWORTH - ALBINSON - ALDRED - ALI - ALLANSON - ALLEN - ANDERTON - APPLEYARD - ARKWRIGHT - ARMITAGE - ARMSTRONG - ARROWSMITH - ASHMORE - ASHTON - ASHWORTH - ASPEN - ASPINALL - ASTALL - AYRE
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Paul Abbatt (1899-1971)
Toy Designer and Manufacturer
Born: 19 July 1899 Bromley Cross, Bolton. Died: June 1971
Educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Co-founder with wife Marjorie Abbatt (née Cobb) of pioneering educational toy company 'Abbatt Toys' 1932.
Influenced by Susan Isaacs qv.
Nicky Adams (1986-)
Professional Footballer
Born: 16 October 1986 Bolton
Educated: Sharples School.
Midfielder - played for Bury 2005 onwards.
Bertha Lizzie Agnew (1870-1930)
Political Activist and Feminist
Born: 1870
Died 1930 Bolton.
Educated: Katherine's Training College for Teachers
Arrived Bolton 1905 - Member Bolton Women's Suffrage Society - Chairman, Bolton Women Citizens Association - First woman on Bolton Council 1921-1927 (Smithills ward).
1923 one of first women JPs.
Later chairman of Bolton Women Peacemakers Council.
Alan Ainscow (1953-)
Professional Footballer
Born: 15 July 1953 Bolton
Played for Blackpool, Birmingham, Everton, Wolverhampton, Blackburn, and Rochdale.
Alyn Ainsworth (1924-1990)
Musical Director
Born: 22 August 1924 Victoria Grove, Bolton
Died: October 1990 London.
Educated: Canon Slade Grammar School
Joined BBC 1952 - Took over Northern Dance Orchestra as Senior Conductor 1952.
Wrote incidental music for Radio / TV comedy shows.
Peter Ainsworth (1790-1870)
MP Bolton 1835-1847 (Liberal)
Born: 24 November 1790 Bolton
Died :18 January 1870
Bleacher. Lived at Smithills Hall, Bolton.
Robert Ainsworth (1660-1743)
Lexicographer and Teacher. Born: 1660 Eccles, Manchester Died 14 April 1743 London Educated: Bolton Grammar School. Educated in Bolton - Later kept a school in Bolton. Moved to London 1698 - Ran boarding school in Bethnal Green, Latin being sole language used - no punishments but rewards for good work! 1714 began Latin-English dictionary - published 1736 - follower of Wesley - Fellow of the Society of Arts 1724.
Thomas Hargreaves Ainsworth (1795-1841)
Industrialist
Born: 22 December 1795 Bolton
Died :13 February 1841 Overijssel, Netherlands
Revived the textile industry in the Netherlands
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Imran Akram (1976-) Former boss of Bolton based CEO of Asons Solicitors
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Irfan Akram The sole owner, manager and head of finance and administration for Coops Law.
Kamran Akram (1977-)
Born Sep 1977 A former director of Asons Solicitors
Albert, Prince Consort (1819-1861) The husband of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Born 26 August 1819 Schloss Rosenau, Coburg, German Confederation Died 14 December 1861 Windsor Castle, England, United Kingdom aged 42 On October 11th 1851 the Prince Consort visited the village of Barrow Bridge.
John Albinson (1775-1854)
Antiquarian and Bibliophile
Born 1775 Bolton
Died 24 August 1854 16 Chapel Alley, Bolton.
"Land Agent, Surveyor and Clerk to the Trustees for Improving Greater Bolton" - 1832 Directory of Bolton. Occupied whole row of cottages in Chapel Alley - one to live in, the rest for 25,000 books plus documents, manuscripts and bric-a-brac - eccentric, generous to needy causes but dressed in patched clothes himself, opposed to anything new. Collection broken up on death - sold at Baths Assembly Rooms (Bridgeman St Baths) including 'pictures' by Rembrandt, Velasquez, Hogarth and Turner - books alone sold for 3,100 Guineas. Collection included The Bowyer Bible now displayed at Bolton Museum.
Simon Aldred (1975-)
Musician Born: 1975
Educated: Canon Slade School, Bolton.
Singer/songwriter with alt/indie rock band Cherry Ghost - initially a pseudonym for his solo work. Released debut album 'Thirst for Romance' in 2007.
Won an Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song with 'People Help The People' in 2008.
Monica Ali (1967-) Author Born: October 1967 Dhaka, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Educated: Bolton School Girls Division; Wadham College Oxford. Family left East Pakistan in 1971 during the civil war that eventually gave birth to Bangladesh. Wrote debut novel 'Brick Lane' - among runners up for 2003 Booker Prize.
Brian Melvyn Allanson (1927-) Politician Born: 9 January 1927 Bolton
Educated: Church Road Primary School, Bolton; Bolton School; Bolton Technical College; Manchester College of Science and Technology. Mayor of Bolton 1988 (Conservative). Structural Engineer
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Samuel Allardyce (1954-) English football manager and former professional player. Born 19 October 1954. Colloquially referred to as Big Sam. He was signed by Bolton Wanderers from Dudley Town in 1969 and spent nine years at Bolton, helping the club to win the Second Division title in 1977–78. He scored 21 goals in 184 appearances for Bolton Wanderers 1971-1980 He made a further 14 appearances for Bolton Wanderers in 1985-1986 He then returned to Bolton Wanderers as manager, leading the club to promotion out of the First Division via the play-offs in 2001, as well as a League Cup final and UEFA Cup qualification.
He was the manager of Premier League club West Bromwich Albion 2020-2021.
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Andrew Norrie Allen (1886-1949)
Author and composer
Born 8 May1886 in Bury
Died 1949 of cancer aged 63.
"I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside" Lived in St Georges Road, Bolton from about 1920 to 1932.
Graham Allen (1977-)
Professional Footballer
Born: 8 April 1977 Bolton
Defender - played for Tranmere and Everton.
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Harry Allen (1911-1992). Chief executioner Born 5th November 1911, in Denaby, near Denaby Main, in the West Riding of Yorkshire in Yorkshire. Died on 14th August 1992 in Fleetwood aged 80 He became a publican in Farnworth, Lancashire, at the old Rawson Arms Hotel in Peel Street, in the 1940s combining his role as executioner with running the pub, which he ran until the early 1950s when he took over another pub in Whitefield. The pub was burnt down at Farnworth. Britain’s last hangman. He became the chief executioner for the United Kingdom in 1956 when Albert Pierrepoint retired in that year.
Christopher Anderton (?-1650). Lord of the Manor of Lostock and Soldier Born: Lostock, Bolton. Died: 7 July 1650 London. Catholic Royalist in English Civil War - Took part in the first (failed) attack on Bolton February 16th 1642 with the Earl of Derby. His estates were sequestered by Parliament after the Civil War.
Thomas Anderton (1924-) Politician Born: 28 November 1924 Hemsworth, Yorkshire. Mayor of Bolton 1994 (Labour).
Served in the Royal Navy Coastal Force during the Second World War as a crew member on motor torpedo boats. Licensee of The Griffin public house in Great Moor Street, Bolton 1972-74.
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Lady Jane Lawson Andrews (nee Ormrod) (1878-1964) Born 1878 Heaton Died 1964 Northern Ireland Cemetery Comber Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Graveyard Comber, County Down, Northern Ireland Spouse James Andrews
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Jessie Andrews (nee Ormrod) (1874-1950) Born 3 Jul 1874 Died 26 Nov 1950 Northern Ireland Cemetery: Comber Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Graveyard, Comber, County Down, Northern Ireland. Spouse: John Miller Andrews
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John Andrews (1684-1743). His principal residence was Rivington Hall, which he bought from the Breres family in 1729. He had the beacon on top of Rivington Pike built in 1733.
HRH Princess Anne The Princess Anne Maternity Unit at The Royal Bolton Hospital was opened by HRH Princess Anne in June 1978, though it had opened to the public in May 1977.
Bryan Appleyard (1951-)
Journalist and Author
Born: 24 August 1951 Manchester
Educated: Bolton School; Kings College, Cambridge
Financial News Editor and Deputy Arts Editor of the Times from 1976 to 1984. Freelance writer since 1984.
Three times winner of Feature Writer of the Year Award and twice commended in the British Press Awards.
Richard Arkwright (1755-1843)
Industrialist and Landowner. Born: 19 December 1755 Bolton.
Died: 23 April 1843 Willersley Castle, Derbyshire
Son of Sir Richard Arkwright qv. Successfully built up a cotton manufacturing and property empire in his own right and as heir to his father's business interests. A relatively enlightened employer by the standards of the time.
Sir Richard Arkwright (1732-1792)
Engineer and Industrialist. Born: 23 December 1732 Preston, Lancashire.
Died: 3 August 1792 Cromford, Derbyshire.
Inventor of Water Frame - Pioneer of the Factory System - Knighted 1786.
Wig maker and barber in Churchgate, Bolton from 1750 - gave up business in Bolton c.1767-8.
Was landlord of 'Black Boy' public house in Bolton 1762.
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James Christopher “Jimmy” Armfield (1935-2018) English professional football player and manager. Born 21 September 1935 Denton, Lancashire, England. Died 22 January 2018 Blackpool, Lancashire, England aged 82. He played the whole of his Football League career at Blackpool, usually at right back. Between 1954 and 1971 he played 627 games in all competitions, scored six goals, and spent a decade as the club's captain. He also represented the England national team 43 times between 1959 and 1966, and captained them in 15 games. Not long after the end of his playing career, Armfield became manager of Bolton Wanderers in 1971, leading them to promotion to the Second Division in the 1972–73 season as Third Division champions.
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Harold Armitage (1892-1955)
Politician Born: 3 April 1892 Huddersfield, Yorkshire.
Died: 16 May 1955
Educated: Huddersfield Higher Grade School; St John's College York (BSc in Economics)
Mayor of Farnworth 1953.
Schoolmaster
Michael Armstrong (1944-)
Film Director and Scriptwriter Born: 24 July 1944 Bolton AKA Sergio Casstner, Edward Hyde, Al Beresford.
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James Arrowsmith (1791-1870)
Politician Born: 30 March 1791 Darcy Lever, Bolton. Died: 10 October 1870 Sea Bank House, Southport, Lancashire
Mayor of Bolton 1840 (Liberal)
Cotton spinner - proprietor of Lever Street Mills. Father of Peter Rothwell Arrowsmith, Mayor of Bolton 1853-55 qv.
Peter Rothwell Arrowsmith (1816-1890)
Politician Born: 1816 Darcy Lever, Bolton
Died: 24 August 1890 Dalston, Carlisle, Cumberland
Mayor of Bolton 1853, 1854 (Conservative)
Cotton spinner and broker. Son of James Arrowsmith, Mayor of Bolton 1840-41.
Elizabeth Anne Ashmore (1895-1972)
Politician Born: 7 January 1895 Bamber Street, Bolton.
Died: 18 October 1972 Barlow Park Avenue, Bolton. Educated: Emmanuel School, Daubhill, Bolton; St Paul's School, Astley Bridge; Astley Bridge Baptist School Mayor of Bolton 1958. Started working life at Eagley Mills. Joined Cardroom Workers Association then Independent Labour Party. Elected Councillor for East Ward 1935. Held seat for over 34 years. Made Alderman 1945, JP 1947, Honorary Alderman 24 June 1970. Elizabeth Ashmore Children's Home (later Elizabeth Ashmore House) named after her in recognition of the immense amount of work that she had done on the Children's Committee. Her husband, Major Ashmore, was also Councillor and Alderman.
Teddy Ashton
See under: Charles Allen Clarke.
Edmund Ashworth (1800-1881)
Industrialist Born 17 November 1800 Turton, Lancashire.
Died 21 March 1881 Prince of Wales Hotel, Southport, Lancashire
Younger brother and business partner of Henry Ashworth qv. Co-owner of New Eagley Mills. Later took sole control of Egerton Mill while Henry retained New Eagley.
Quaker. Prominent member of Anti-Corn Law League. President of Manchester Chamber of Commerce 1875-77. Chairman of Turton Urban District Council from 1872-80.
Lancashire Magistrate from 1847. Lived at Egerton Hall.
Henry H Ashworth (1794-1880)
Industrialist Born: 4 September 1794 Turton, Lancashire Died: 17 May 1880 Florence, Italy Educated: Ackworth School, Yorkshire.
Owner of Henry Ashworth and Sons, Cotton spinners and manufacturers New Eagley Mills, Bolton which he inherited from his father, John Ashworth.
Quaker. Helped establish a British School in Bolton (All Saints Street Board School) - Liberal paternalist - thought education would create a better work force - A leader of the Anti-Corn Law League and friend of Cobden - Anti-Trade Union.
First Chairman of Directors of Bolton and Blackburn Railway Company - line runs past site of his house - old Oaks station behind Canon Slade School. - Died of 'Roman Fever'.
Prof Alan Ashworth (1960-)
Biochemist / Molecular Biologist
Born: 26 August 1960 Bolton
Educated: Thornleigh Salesian College; Bolton, Imperial College, London; University College, London
Director of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre at the Institute of Cancer Research
Co-discoverer of BRCA2 gene with Professor Mike Stratton in 1995 - an important landmark in breast cancer research.
Albert Aspen (1934-)
Wrestler
Born 1934
Educated White Bank School, Bolton
British Open Featherweight champion - won 6 national championships outright and runner-up 6 times in 15 years - Competed in Rome and Tokyo Olympics - Bronze Medals in the Commonwealth Games 1958, 1962 and 1966.
Retired through arthritis and injuries. Father of Brian Aspen qv.
Brian Aspen (1959-)
Wrestler Born 1959 Farnworth, Bolton
Son of Albert Aspen qv.
Won Commonwealth Games bronze medals in 1978 and 1986, gold medal in 1982.
Edmund Aspinall (1858-1940)
Politician Born: 1858 Spring Gardens, Bolton.
Died: 30 November 1940 Vesperholme, Chorley New Road, Bolton. Educated: Settle's Private School, Antelope Court, Bolton
Mayor of Bolton 1923 (Conservative)
Butcher. Made Freeman of County Borough of Bolton October 21st 1925.
Founded Aspinall's Buildings on Deansgate, Bolton - now occupied by Whittakers store. The building also originally included Aspinall's butchers. the Aspin Hall dance hall.
Ian Aspinall (1961?/1969?-)
Actor. Born: 1961?/1969? Bolton, Lancashire to Pakistani immigrants.
Educated: Tonge High School
He played Mubbs Hussein in BBC1 soap “ Holby City” from 2001 to 2006,
Gordon Astall (1927-)
Professional Footballer
Born: 22 September 1927 Horwich, Bolton
Died 21 Oct 2020 aged 93
Right Winger - played for Plymouth Argyle, Birmingham City, Torquay United and England.
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Stephanie Anne Astin (1957-1993)
Born: 13 Feb 1957
Died: 27 Jun 1993
Buried at cemetery at St Peter's Church, Church Road, Halliwell, Bolton
Anthony David Atherton (1958-) Born Mar 1958 He sold his online electrical retail company Dabs.Com to British Telecom in 2006.
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Aults Menswear
Established in 1891.
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Edward Bibbins Aveling (1849-1898) A prominent English biology instructor and popular spokesman for Darwinian evolution, atheism, and socialism. Born 29 Nov 1849 London, England Died 2 Aug 1898 Battersea, London, England Eleanor Marx (daughter of Karl) and her partner Dr Aveling spoke at the Spinners Hall Bolton on 'The Evolution of Socialism'.
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Anthony Axford (1935-2016)
Farnworth businessman
Born Apr 1935
Died 2016 aged 81
He started Anthony Axford timber merchants in Farnworth in 1960.
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Kristian Ayre (1977-)
Actor Born: 19 November 1977 Bolton
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