Walsall (, or ; locally ) is a large market town and administrative centre in West Midlands County, England. Historically part of Staffordshire, it is located north-west of Birmingham, east of Wolverhampton and from Lichfield. This list a list of notable people who were born in, lived in, or were otherwise strongly associated with Walsall.
Culture Acting
Bobby Ash (1925–2007), British-Canadian actor born in Walsall Zoe Dawson (born 1979 in Walsall) actress, minor roles in the BBC soap opera Doctors Don Gilet (born 1967 in Caldmore) actor, roles in BBC productions Babyfather, EastEnders and 55 Degrees North. Jeffrey Holland (born Jeffrey Michael Parkes, 1946 in Walsall) actor, roles in TV sitcoms and in Hi-de-Hi!, attended Queen Mary's Grammar School. Matthew Marsden (born 1973 in West Bromwich) stage and film actor, brought up on the Yew Tree Estate in Walsall and schooled in Wednesbury and Great Barr. Peter McEnery (born 1940 in Walsall) stage TV and film actor. Gave Hayley Mills her first "grown-up" screen kiss in the 1964 film The Moon-Spinners. Sue Nicholls (born 1943 in Walsall) actress, played Audrey Roberts in Coronation Street. Erin O'Connor (born 1978 in Brownhills) model and TV actress, attended Brownhills Community School Meera Syal (born 1961) comedian, writer, playwright, singer, journalist, producer and actress. Brought up in Essington and attended Queen Mary's High School. Richard Wattis (born 1912 in Wednesbury – 1975), actor Frank Windsor (born 1927 in Walsall) actor, mainly on TV. Attended Queen Mary's Grammar School. Played DS John Watt in Z-Cars from 1962 to 1965.
Music
Joe Hicklin, vocalist of Big Special Amar (born 1982), British Indian singer Andy C (born 1976), DJ, record producer and co-founder of RAM Records Blak_Prophetz aka Mark Duffus (born 1967 in Caldmore Green, Walsall) DJ, Musician, Record_Producer, Rapper attended Whitehall Infants, Blue Coat C of E Junior and Secondary School. Founder/Owner of the Record label Digital_Jukebox_Records. Rob Collins (1963 in Rowley Regis – 1996) musician,MTV website, 10/31/1996 retrieved 16 February 2018 original keyboardist of The Charlatans (the English band, not the American band) Martin Degville (born 1961 in Walsall) lead singer and co-songwriter of the English pop band Sigue Sigue Sputnik. Goldie aka Clifford Joseph Price, (born 1965 in Walsall) musician, DJ, graffiti artist, visual artist and actor, attended St. Francis of Assisi RC Secondary School in Aldridge Rob Halford (born 1951 in Sutton Coldfield) raised in Walsall, singer songwriter, lead vocalist for the heavy metal band Judas Priest. Noddy Holder (born 1946 in Caldmore) musician and actor, English lead singer and guitarist in glam rock band Slade Tom Major-Ball (1879 in Bloxwich – 1962) music hall and circus performerThe miraculous Major-Balls, BBC News, 21 May 1999 retrieved 17 February 2018 and father of John Major, former Prime Minister Frank Mullings (1881 in Walsall – 1953) a leading English tenorArchive of British National Opera Company website retrieved 16 February 2018 with Beecham Opera Company and its successor, the British National Opera Company Mark Rhodes (born 1981 in Darlaston) singer and TV presenter, finished 2nd in the 2nd series of Pop Idol, lives in Wombourne. Jorja Smith (born 1997 in Walsall) singer-songwriter Connie Talbot (born 2000) from Streetly, English singer based in WalsallConnie Talbot at AllMusic retrieved 16 February 2018 2nd place in the first series of Britain's Got Talent (series 1) Kathryn Tickell (born 8 June 1967 in Walsall) is an English musician, noted for her mastery of the Northumbrian smallpipes and fiddle. Dave Walker (born 1945 in Walsall) singer and guitarist,Archive of The Dave Walker Page, 2004 retrieved 17 February 2018 front-man for a number of bands; including Idle Race, Savoy Brown, Fleetwood Mac, and, briefly, Black Sabbath. John Cooke guitarist and bassist of Napalm Death, Venomous Concept, and Malevolent Creation.
TV and radio Alex Lester (born 1956 in Walsall) radio broadcaster,BBC Local Radio, Saturday night with Alex Lester retrieved 16 February 2018 Andrew Peach (born in Bloxwich c. 1970) BBC Radio presenterBBC Radio Berkshire, Andrew Peach retrieved 16 February 2018 Bob Warman (born 1946) TV presenter, Leila Williams (born in Walsall 1937) beauty queen and Blue Peter presenter from 1958 until 1962
Visual arts Orlando Dutton born in Walsall 1 April 1894, was an English-born Australian monumental, figurative and architectural sculptor
Politics
William Dixon Allott, (1817–1892) born in Walsall, Mayor of Adelaide 1873–1874 David Ennals, Baron Ennals (1922–1995) Labour Party politician born in WalsallHANSARD 1803–2005 → People (E) Mr David Ennals retrieved 16 February 2018 Bruce George (born 1942) Labour Party politician,TheyWorkForYou.com – Bruce George MP retrieved 16 February 2018 MP for Walsall South 1974–2010 Eddie Hughes (born 1968) Conservative Party politician,TheyWorkForYou.com – Eddie Hughes MP retrieved 16 February 2018 MP for Walsall North 2017 to date. Joseph Leckie (Born Glasgow 24 May 1866 – 9 August 1938) after whom Joseph Leckie school, now an academy was named. MP for Walsall 1931 - 1938. Sir Harmar Nicholls (later Lord Harmar-Nicholls) (1912 in Walsall – 2000) Conservative Party politician,HANSARD 1803–2005 → People (N), Sir Harmar Nicholls retrieved 17 February 2018 MP for Peterborough 1950–1974. Father of Sue Nicholls (see above). John Stonehouse (1925 – 1988) Labour Party politician,HANSARD 1803–2005 → People (S) Mr John Stonehouse retrieved 16 February 2018 MP for Walsall North 1974–1976, notable for his unsuccessful attempt to fake his own death in 1974 David Winnick (born 1933) Labour Party politician,TheyWorkForYou.com – David Winnick Former MP retrieved 16 February 2018 MP for Walsall North 1979–2017. Jenny Tonge, Baroness Tonge (born 1941 in Walsall) politician,TheyWorkForYou.com – Baroness Tonge retrieved 16 February 2018 Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park in London 1997–2005, made a life peer in June 2005. Valerie Vaz (born 1954) Labour politicianTheyWorkForYou.com – Valerie Vaz MP retrieved 16 February 2018 and solicitor MP for Walsall South 2010 to date.
Public service and commerce
Francis Asbury (1745 Hamstead Bridge – 1816) joint founder of the Methodist movement in the United States, brought up in Gt Barr, emigrated 1771. Mike Ashley (born 1964), British billionaire retail entrepreneur focused in the sporting goods market Sir Terence Beckett (1923 in Walsall – 2013) businessman,The Guardian, Obituary, 12 May 2013 retrieved 17 February 2018 chairman of Ford and later, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry Margaret Bromhall (born 1890 in Walsall) first radiotherapist appointed to a radiotherapy department, at North Middlesex Hospital in London John Henry Carless (1896 in Walsall – 1917) recipient of the Victoria Cross during the First World War Reverend Harry Moore Dauncey (1863 in Walsall – 1932) missionary in Papua New GuineaRev Harry Moore Dauncey (Biographical details), British Museum retrieved 17 February 2018 Sister Dora (1832–1878) Anglican nun retrieved 17 February 2018 and a nurse in Walsall. She is honoured for her compassion and her medical work by a statue in the centre of town. Michael L. Fitzgerald (born Walsall in 1937) Roman Catholic Cardinal,BBC News, 16 September 2006, Pope's remarks reveal harder stance retrieved 17 February 2018 expert on Muslim-Christian relations Martin Fowler (born 1963 in Walsall) software developerA Conversation with Martin Fowler, 9 December 2002 retrieved 17 February 2018 Frederick Gibbs (born 1899 in Walsall) World War I Flying AceFrederick John Gibbs, The Aerodrome, 2015 retrieved 17 February 2018 Sir Harry Hinsley (1918 in Birchills – 1998) historian and cryptanalyst,Sir Harry Hinsley: The Influence of ULTRA in WW2, 26 November 1996 retrieved 17 February 2018 worked at Bletchley Park and became Master of St John's College, Cambridge University James Alexander Holden (1 April 1835 – 1 June 1887) was the businessman who founded the South Australian company which eventually produced the Holden automobile. Samuel Leeds (born 1991), social media influencer, property trainer and investor Sir Len Peach (1932 in Walsall – 2016) Chief ExecutiveThe Telegraph, 29 August 2016, Obituary retrieved 17 February 2018 of the National Health Service 1986 – 1989. Air Chief Marshal Stuart William Peach, Baron Peach (born Walsall, 1956) former RAF officer and Chief of the Defence Staff. Sir Edwin Thomas Smith (6 April 1830 – 25 December 1919) was an English-born South Australian brewer, businessman, councillor, mayor, politician and philanthropist. Air Vice-Marshal Sidney Webster (1900 in Walsall – 1984) aviatorThe London Gazette (Supplement), 1 January 1946. p. 32, No. 37407 retrieved 17 February 2018 and senior officer in the RAF
Sport
Norman Ashe (born 1943), footballer Fred Bakewell (1908 in Walsall – 1983) was a Northamptonshire and England opening batsman,ESPN cricinfo Database retrieved 16 February 2018 renowned largely because of his unorthodox methods David Brown (born 1942 in Walsall) former English cricketer,ESPN cricinfo Database retrieved 16 February 2018 attended Queen Mary's Grammar School played in twenty six Tests from 1965 to 1969 Colin Charvis (born 1972 in Sutton Coldfield) attended Queen Mary's Grammar School in Walsall,South Wales Argus, 28 September 2010, Charvis no longer with Dragons retrieved 16 February 2018 a former captain of the Wales national rugby union team Leon Drysdale (born 1991), footballer Nick Gillingham (born 1967 in Walsall) swimmer,Staffs ASA archive, NICK GILLINGHAM retrieved 16 February 2018 competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona Terry Holbrook (born 1945 in Walsall) football referee formerly in the Football League and Premier League Dean Keates (born 1978 in Beechdale) retired footballer and former First Team manager of Walsall. Vaughan Lee (born 1982) Mixed Martial Artist formerly competing in UFC. Mark Lewis-Francis (born Darlason 1982) 100 metres sprinter,Mark Lewis-Francis profile at IAAF retrieved 16 February 2018 member of the gold medal winning 4x100 metres relay team at the 2004 summer Olympics. Robert Marshall (1869–1937), cricketer Rupert Moon former Llanelli and Welsh rugby international, known as the "Walsall Welshman" he became a radio and television presenter in Wales. Lee Naylor (born in 1980 in Mossley) former professional footballer Jaydon Paddock (born 2001 in Walsall), English trampoline gymnast David Platt (born Walsall 1966) English-bornPlayer profile on David Platt from Dartsdatabase retrieved 16 February 2018 Australian darts player Rachel Unitt (born 1982 in Bentley) England Women's footballerBBC Sport, 2 October 2014, Rachel Unitt: retrieved 16 February 2018 Ellie Simmonds (born 1994) Paralympian swimmer,The Telegraph, Eleanor Simmonds, Paralympic Sport, Paralympics GB retrieved 16 February 2018 won gold in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Paralympics.
Writing
John Byrne (born 1950 in Walsall) comic book creator, raised in West Bromwich"Comic creator: John Byrne" URL retrieved 25 July 2006 Peter Corey (born 1946 in Walsall) author of the Coping With children's book series and also a TV actor. Jerome K. Jerome (1859 in Caldmore – 1927) writer and humourist,Jeromekjerome.com website retrieved 16 February 2018 author of comic travelogue Three Men in a Boat (1889). Paul McDonald (born 1961 in Walsall) comic novelist and academic.University of Wolverhampton Staff Page retrieved 16 February 2018 Sir Henry Newbolt (1862 in Bilston – 1938) poet, novelist and historian and old boy of Queen Mary's Grammar School. Nick Redfern (born 1964 in Pelsall) author and UFO researcherNick Redfern's Celebrity Secrets blog retrieved 17 February 2018
Science