List of people from St Helens, Merseyside

The following is a list of people from St Helens, Merseyside in northern England, United Kingdom.

Notable families

Beechams

The Beecham dynasty is one of the most notable families to be associated with St. Helens. Thomas Beecham opened his first factory, in St. Helens, 16 years after selling his products from a small premises in nearby Wigan.^[1]

His son Joseph Beecham built up the business and promoted classical music in the town. Conductor Sir Thomas Beecham, son of Joseph, was born in St Helens.

Pilkingtons

A liveried Pilkingtons trailer

The Pilkington dynasty is another notable family associated with St. Helens having founded the largest glass manufacturer in the United Kingdom as well as inventing the float glass process which was subsequently licensed for use by other glass manufacturers.

Authors

Carole Matthews, Author of 33 bestselling books.
Una McCormack, Best-selling science fiction author and lecturer in creative writing.

Entertainment

Bernie Clifton, comedian and entertainer
Tim Follin, video game music composer
George Groves is credited with being Hollywood's first "sound man", as he was the recording engineer on the seminal Al Jolson picture, The Jazz Singer (1927), as well as many other early talkies
Michael Parr, actor
Emma Rigby, actress
Johnny Vegas, actor, comedian and presenter
David Yates, feature film director who is credited with the final four Harry Potter films, was raised in Rainhill (a village in the Borough of St Helens)
Pauline Yates, actress.
Elton Welsby, television presenter, noted for his coverage of crown green bowls

Singers and musicians

Jacqueline Abbott, singer with The Beautiful South
Rick Astley, vocalist from Newton-le-Willows
Peter Edward Clarke, (better known by his stage name "Budgie", a well known drummer with, among others, The Slits, Siouxsie and The Banshees and The Creatures);
The Lancashire Hotpots, comedy folk band
Jeffrey Walker, bassist and lead vocalist of Carcass

Politics

Richard Seddon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, from Eccleston, a village in the Borough of St. Helens and the country's longest-serving Prime Minister to date, holding the office from 1893 until 1906.
Richard Pilkington, Member of Parliament for Newton from 1899 until 1906
Richard Pilkington, Member of Parliament for Widnes (1935 to 1945) and Poole (1951 to 1964)
Thérèse Coffey: Member of Parliament, from Billinge, a village in the Borough of St Helens.
James Sexton, Member of Parliament for St Helens from 1918 to 1931

Other

Ann Barnes former police commissioner for Kent
David Bernstein former chairman of The Football Association
John William Draper scientist
Dorothy Catherine Draper, artist
Carol Kefford, senior British nurse
Peter Moore serial killer
John Rylands, Victorian philanthropist
James Waterworth, English Catholic missionary priest
Criminal Jon Venables spent some time in jail at the Red Bank Secure Unit.
Sir Edmund Vestey, 1st Baronet: Food moguls.
William Vestey, 1st Baron Vestey: Shipping Magnate.

Sport

Rugby league

St Helens is particularly known for producing many professional rugby league players, many have played for St. Helens.

Lee Briers, has represented Great Britain and Wales
Keiron Cunningham, has represented Great Britain and Wales
Eric Fraser, has represented Great Britain
Steve Ganson, referee
Kurt Haggerty, has represented Ireland
Alan Hardman, has represented England
David Hull
Les Jones
Tim Jonkers
Frank Lee
Scott Moore
Alex Murphy
James Roby
Mike Roby
Adam Swift
Luke Thompson
Paul Wellens

Football

Alan A'Court: Footballer, England international.
Jack Bamber: Footballer, England international.
Conor Coady : Footballer, England international.
John Connelly: , England 1966 World Cup winner.
Bill Foulkes, full-back for Manchester United between 1952 and 1970 and was a survivor of the Munich air disaster in 1958.^[2]
Chris Foy, referee
Kellie-Ann Leyland
Tommy Lucas, Footballer, England international.
Bill Luckett: Footballer.
David Mercer: Footballer, England international.
Lily Parr: Footballer.
Ray Ranson: Footballer
Hubert Redwood: Footballer.

Motor sport

Geoff Duke, multiple Isle of Man TT winner and motorcycle Grand Prix road racing world champion
Colin Hardman, sidecar racer. Winner of the 1989 Isle of Man TT Sidecar Race 'A'
Andy Middlehurst
Richie Worrall, speedway rider
Steve Worrall, speedway rider

Darts

Stephen Bunting, darts player
Dave Chisnall, darts player
Michael Smith, darts player, 2022 Grand Slam of Darts and 2023 PDC World Championship winner.
Alan Tabern, darts player

Cricket

Keith Harris, List A cricketer
David Russell, first-class and List A cricketer
Ken Shuttleworth, cricketer who has represented England

Other

Ian Gregson, Canadian paralympian
Dan Highcock, wheelchair basketball player
Tommy Horton, Golfer
Rachael Letsche, trampolinist
Martin Murray, boxer
Gary Stretch, boxer, actor

References

^ ""Best for me, best for you" - a history of Beecham's Pills 1842–1998" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
^ Kilmurray, Andrew, ed. (6 February 2008). "Busby Babe Bill Foulkes joins Munich tribute". St Helens Star. Retrieved 28 November 2015.

External links

Media related to People of St Helens, Merseyside at Wikimedia Commons

[PharmacyJournal?-1] ""Best for me, best for you" - a history of Beecham's Pills 1842–1998" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2016.

[2] Kilmurray, Andrew, ed. (6 February 2008). "Busby Babe Bill Foulkes joins Munich tribute". St Helens Star. Retrieved 28 November 2015.

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