BIOGRAPHIES P
Robert Howard Page (1963-)
Musician and author Born 1963 in Bolton. He has published seven crime fiction novels.
including "The Bang Goes The Weasel Trilogy"
​
Thomas Anthony (Tom) Parker (1988-2022) Singer Born 4 August 1988 Bolton
Died 30 Mar 2022 of complications from glioblastoma aged 33 Educated Thornleigh Salesian College, Bolton; Manchester Metropolitan University. Member of boy band 'The Wanted' who had number one singles in 2011 with 'All Time Low' and 'Glad You Came'.
James Parkes (1893-1980) Politician Born 1893 Farnworth, Bolton Died 1980 New Zealand Francis Street Congregational School; Manchester School of Commerce (after War service) Mayor of Bolton 1953.
John Parkinson(1861-1935) Architect Born 1861 Scorton, Lancashire Died 1935 California, USA Educated St Luke's Day School; Bolton Mechanics Institute. Arrived in Bolton from Swinton 1870 - lived in Victory area - served apprenticeship and attended night school in Bolton aged 16-21. Designed the first 'skyscraper' in Los Angeles and Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles City Hall, Union Station.
Robert Parkinson (1862-1936) Politician Born 1862 Chipping, Lancashire Died 13 August 1936 Bolton Mayor of Bolton 1919, 1920 (Conservative) In 1881 he was a tobacconist's apprentice in Blackburn and by 1901 he had begun a tobacco manufacturing business of his own on Newport Street, Bolton.
​
William Parr (1882-1912)
Electrical engineer
Born 10 Oct 1882 Hindley Green, Lancashire
Died 15 Apr 1912 at sea
Lived 1891 & 1901 Chorley New Road Horwich where his father was a caretaker at the Loco Works.
Employed at Horwich Loco Works
Joined Harland & Wolff, Belfast in 1910
Part of the team that designed the Titanic.
He lost his life on the maiden voyage.
James Riddick Partington (1886-1965) Chemist Born 20 June 1886 Bolton Died 9 October 1965 Southport Science and Art School; Manchester University Chair of Chemistry, Queen Mary College; Emeritus Professor of Chemistry. University of London Served as a Lieutenant in the Munitions Inventions Department during the First World War and was awarded an MBE for his work there 7 June 1918. Wrote many books, culminating in his 'History of Chemistry' - a multi-volume opus that remained unfinished at his death.
​
Dr. Edwin James Patchett (1854–1931)
Medical Practitioner
Born 15 Dec 1854 Ribchester, Lancashire, England
Death 6 Jul 1931 Bolton, Lancashire, England.
80/82 Rishton Lane, Bolton
​
Anwer Ibrahim Patel (1954-) Born Oct 1954 Yakub Ibrahim Patel (1953-) Born Aug 1953
Pharmacists Anwer Patel and his brother, Yakub, who own the Cohens Group took over the firm Roocrofts in 1995 after David Roocroft, the then managing director, retired after more than 40 years in the company.
​
Kriti Pathak Bolton businessman taking over the global brand founded by his parents, the late Laximishanker and Shanta Gaury Pathak, who helped make Indian cuisine one of the nation's popular dishes. In 2007 the Pathak family sold its Indian food business to Associated British Foods, which took on the firm's business and brand - except for its operations in India.
Abraham Walter Paulton (1812-1876) Politician and Journalist Born 1812 Bolton Died 6 June 1876 Boughton Hall, Surrey. Leading figure in the Anti-Corn Law League. Editor of 'The League' - the circular journal of the Anti-Corn Law League. Edited the Manchester Examiner and Times 1848-54.
Abraham Walter Paulton (1812–1876) English politician and journalist. He was son of Walter Paulton of Bolton, Lancashire, where he was born into a Roman Catholic family. He was sent to Stonyhurst College to be educated for the priesthood, but on leaving at the age of sixteen or seventeen he was apprenticed to a surgeon named Rainforth at Bolton. Paulton took interest in politics, especially in the Corn Laws, and became a public speaker. In July 1838 he was in the Bolton Theatre when a lecturer on the corn laws faltered. Paulton took the stage, succeeded with audience, and undertook to lecture on the same subject the following week. Paulton gave up on the medical profession, was introduced to Richard Cobden, and engaged himself as a lecturer for the Anti-Corn-Law League.
Walter Paulton local brewer Father of Abraham Paulton
​
Keith Peacock (1945-) English former footballer and manager. Born 2 May 1945 Barnehurst. He played his entire professional career for Charlton Athletic. On 21 August 1965, he became the first substitute ever to be used in the Football League when he replaced injured goalkeeper Mick Rose after 11 minutes of an away match against Bolton Wanderers.
​
Andrew Peak (1810-1889) Horwich industrialist and benefactor
Born 17 Dec1810 Horwich, Lancashire, England. Died 18 Dec 1889 Lancashire. In 1881 living at 2 Lee Lane, Horwich / Fine brick and terra cotta manufacturer employing 96 men and 26 boys Gorton Cottage was his former home.
Maxine Peake (1974-) Actress Born 14 July 1974 Westhoughton, Bolton. Educated Westhoughton High School; Canon Slade School; University of Salford; RADA. Appeared in TV series 'Dinnerladies', 'Clocking On' and 'Shameless'. Played Myra Hindley in controversial 2006 TV drama 'See No Evil: The Moors Murders'. Began acting career with Bolton Octagon Youth Theatre Club aged 13.
Robin Pemberton-Billing (1929-2012) Born April 5, 1929 Died November 18, 2012, aged 83 Founder and artistic director of the innovative Octagon Theatre in Bolton which is admired for its flexible and intimate auditorium. The son of the eccentric aviator, inventor and right-wing politician Noel Billing, who had himself run away from home at the age of 13 and who put his two children into a Kent children’s home. Robin didn’t live with is father until he was eight, Noel Billing dying when Robin was 19, and he was educated at Kingston Technical College. He ran away to join the Royal Navy when he was 17, and it was during his service that he met and married his wife, Maggie, who was in the Women’s Royal Naval Service.
​
Frederick John Perry (1909-) British tennis player. Born 18 May 1909 in Stockport. In 1912 the family moved to Bolton and reputedly lived at 14 Hulton Lane. His father Sam was a rising figure in the Co-operative Party, and by 1915 his promotion took the family to Wallasey and then on to Ealing.
James Neil (Jimmy) Phillips (1966-) Professional Footballer Born 8 February 1966 Bolton. Educated Canon Slade Grammar School, Bolton Defender - played for Bolton Wanderers 1983-87 & 1993-2001, Glasgow Rangers, Oxford United and Middlesbrough.
Ernest Rixon (Ernie) Phythian (1942-) Professional Footballer Born 16 July 1942 Farnworth, Bolton Midfielder - played for Bolton Wanderers 1959-1962, Wrexham and Hartlepool United.
James Pilkington (1518-1575) Born 1518 Rivington, Bolton. Died 23 January 1575 Bishop Auckland, Durham Educated Manchester Grammar School; Pembroke Hall, Cambridge; St John's, Cambridge First Protestant Bishop of Durham 1561-76 Master of St. John's College, Cambridge. Founded Rivington Grammar School 1566.
​
Regan Pilkington (c.1974-)
Competitor from Bolton on TV's Gladiators.
Harry Pilling (1903-1987) Industrialist Born 25 November 1903 Bolton Died 1987 Bolton Aged 16 in 1919 he founded the Astley Dye & Chemical Company in Astley Bridge, Bolton - manufacturers of 'Miracle Acdo' washing powder and later 'Glo White'.
Vincent (Vince) Pilling (1932-) Professional Footballer Born 8 January 1932 Bolton He played for Bolton Wanderers 1952-1955.
Thomas Baron Pitfield (1903-1999) Composer and Artist Born 5 April 1903 Bolton Died 11 November 1999 Bowden, Cheshire Educated Ridgeways Endowed School; Bolton Municipal Secondary School; Bolton Technical School; Royal Manchester College of Music; Bolton School of Art
Clare Eve Pollard (1978-) Poet, Playwright, Columnist and Broadcaster Born 1978 Bolton Educated Turton High School; Cambridge University Published poetry collections include 'The Heavy Petting Zoo', 'Bedtime' and 'Look, Clare, Look!'. Plays include 'The Weather'.
Kerry Pollard (1944-) Politician Born 27 April 1944 Pinner, Middlesex. Educated Thornleigh Grammar School, Bolton MP for St Albans 1997-2005 (Labour)
Richard (Dick) Pollard (1912-1985) Cricketer Born 19 June 1912 Westhoughton, Bolton Died 16 December 1985 Westhoughton, Bolton Batsman and Bowler - played for Lancashire 1933-1950, England and MCC.
Michael Pollitt (1972-) Professional Footballer Born 29 February 1972 Farnworth, Bolton Goalkeeper - played for Lincoln, Darlington, Oldham, Gillingham, Brentford, Chesterfield, Rotherham United and Wigan Athletic.
John Popplewell (1756-1829) Philanthropist Born 1756 Bolton Died 1829 Woodford, Essex Educated Marsden's Endowed School, Bolton Left over £15,000 to local good causes including scholarships and the foundation of 'Popplewell's Great and Little Bolton Clothing Charity' to "provide clothing and bread for the poor of the Township". There is an informative memorial tablet in the entrance to Bolton Parish Church.
Merrick Posnansky (1931-) Archaeologist and Academic Born 1931 Bolton Educated Bolton Church Institute / Canon Slade Grammar School, Bolton; University of Nottingham Member of Bolton's small but thriving Jewish community in the 1930s and 40s. Author of around 200 monographs, articles, reviews and books including 'Africa and Archaeology: Empowering an Expatriate Life'. Specialised in African archaeology and historical anthropology. Following completion of his University studies became Warden of Prehistoric Sites in Kenya and spent 20 years working in Kenya, Uganda and Ghana. Past Director of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. Emeritus Professor of History and Anthropology at University of California Los Angeles.
​
Colin Kynaston Potter (1877–1964)
Chemical Manufacturer Born 27 Sep 1877 Bolton, Lancashire, England
Son of Edmund Peel Potter (1847-1933) Died 28 Feb 1964 Honiton, Devon, England
Edmund Peel Potter (1847-1933) Chemical Manufacturer
Born 25 Feb 1847 Manchester, Lancashire, England.
Died 6 Sep 1933 Kendal, Westmorland, England.
The Edmund Potter Hospital was orginally a private home, Fernclough, purchased by Edmund Peel Potter from his mother-in-law in about 1900 and given to the Bolton Hospital as a convalescence home about 1920.
​
Robert Potter (1795-1854)
Architect
Born 1795 Staffordshire, England
Died 1854
Architect of The Church of England educational institution, Bolton.
His father Joseph Potter Snr (1756–1842)
Alfred Potts (1867-1945) Politician Born 1867 Bolton Died 24 April 1945 Newton le Willows, Lancashire Mayor of Bolton 1922 (Labour) Trade Union Official. Bolton's first Labour Mayor. Became an office boy in the Parks Superintendent's Office at 14, and later a member of the outdoor staff, remaining with the Parks Department for 20 years. He worked 15 years during the winter as a stoker at the Corporation Gas Works.
Arthur Poulsom (1913-1988) Politician Born 18 May 1913 Tonge Moor, Bolton Died 16 February 1988 Bolton Mayor of Bolton 1986 (Conservative), Chairman of Turton Urban District Council: 1972-73 (Conservative) Worked in building and civil engineering industries. Company Secretary at Wm Wadsworth & Sons Ltd, Lift Manufacturers.
Michael James Powell (1975-) Professional Cricketer Educated Lawrence Sheriff Grammar School, Rugby Batsman and bowler. Played for Warwickshire and MCC.
Hovis Presley (1960-2005) Performance Poet, Humorist and Broadcaster Born 3 August 1960 Bolton Died 9 June 2005 Bolton Educated Thornleigh Salesian College, Bolton; Bradford University Real name Richard Henry McFarlane. Much loved, talented and undervalued live performer who chose to avoid the fame and success he could easily have attained. Published book 'Poetic Off Licence' and appeared on radio and latterly on BBC3 TV poetry show 'Whine Gums'. ied following a heart attack aged 44.
Joseph Thomas Price (1902-1973) Born 9 October 1902 Died 1 February 1973 Lambeth, London Educated Salford Grammar School MP Westhoughton 1951-1973 (Labour) Opposition Whip 1954-1959.
​
John Priestley (-1885) Licensed victualler He married Sarah Ann Brandwood, the daughter of John Brandwood, who had taken over The Commercial on her father’s death. Priestley became a councillor spending three years representing the Conservatives from 1879 to 1882 in the same Exchange ward that had rejected his father-in-law just a few years earlier. Sadly, Priestley died a young man. The former chemist turned licensed victualler died at the Commercial Hotel in June 1885 at the age of 43.
Bryan Pringle (1935-2002) Actor Born 19 January 1935 Glascote, Staffordshire Died 15 May 2002 Wandsworth, London Morris Green Day School Bolton; RADA Son of Rev Craster Pringle, Vicar of St Bede's, Morris Green, Bolton. Starred in 'The Dustbinmen', 'Drowning By Numbers'.
Paul Pritchard (1967-) Climber and Writer Born 1967 Bolton Began climbing at 16 eventually graduating to major expeditions around the world. Suffered serious head injury while climbing in Tasmania in 1998 which left him partly paralysed and brain damaged. Wrote 'Deep Play' which won the 1997 Boardman/Tasker Award for mountaineering literature and won that award again in 1999 for 'Totem Pole' - an account of the round the world trip that ended with his near-fatal accident. Has continued to climb, travel and write since his injury and published his inspirational third book 'The Longest Climb' in 2005 recounting his new life and adjustment to disability.
P J Proby American-born pop singer PJ Proby once lived in Bolton
The Prodigy In 1991, the club Pleasuredrome hosted raving royalty The Prodigy, as a youthful version of the band performed debut single Charly. Pleasuredrome formerly Blighty’s Chapel Street, Farnworth
​