List of people from Ashford, Kent
From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
This is a list of people from Ashford in South East England. It may include people from the town of Ashford and the wider Borough of Ashford, in Kent.
- Alexander Arnold, plays character Richard Hardbeck on Skins
- Bob Astles (born 1924), former associate of Ugandan presidents Milton Obote and Idi Amin; born in Ashford[1]
- Alfred Austin (1835-1913), poet, appointed Poet Laureate in 1896, died in Ashford[2]
- Ben Bruce (born 1988), lead guitarist and backing vocalist of metalcore band Asking Alexandria
- Patsy Byrne (born 1933), actress, known for playing Nursie in the BBC sitcom Blackadder II; born in Ashford
- Roger Dean (born 1944), artist featured on the album covers of the band Yes; born in Ashford
- Lisa Dobriskey (born 1983), won the Commonwealth Gold 1500m athletics event in 2006; born in Ashford
- Josh Doyle (born 1981), guitarist, singer and founder of hitmakers the Dumdums; currently a solo artist working out of Nashville Tennessee; born in Willesborough Hospital
- Sir John Fogge – Lord of Repton Manor; restored the parish church in 13th century and, at his own expense, built most of the bell tower
- Frederick Forsyth (born 1938), author and occasional political commentator, known for thrillers such as The Day of the Jackal, The Dogs of War, The Odessa File, Icon and The Fist of God
- Barry Fuller (born 1984), professional football player; born in Ashford
- John Fuller (born 1937), poet and author; Fellow Emeritus at Magdalen College, Oxford; born in Ashford
- Stephen Hills (1771-1844), architect, designed the original Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg
- Bob Holness, television presenter; born in Ashford, attended Norton Knatchbull Grammar School
- Sir Sydney Nicholson (1875-1947), choir director, organist and composer; founder of the Royal School of Church Music; died in Ashford
- Dudley Pope (1925-1997), writer; born in Ashford
- Vic Reeves (born 1958)
- Mark Rylance (born 1960), actor and theatre director; born in Ashford
- Sir Malcolm Sargent (1895-1967), conductor, organist and composer; born in Ashford
- Jamie Staff (born 1973), BMX cycling world champion; track cycling Commonwealth Games and world championship gold medalist; born in Ashford
- Oli Sykes (born 1986), vocalist for alternative metal band Bring Me The Horizon
- James Tredwell (born 1982), Kent and England One Day International cricketer; born in the area
- Tom Varndell (born 1985), professional rugby union player; born in Ashford
- Dr John Wallis, internationally recognised as one of the greatest mathematicians, credited by Sir Isaac Newton as being the founder of his theory of gravity
- Simone Weil (1909-1943), French philosopher and mystic, died in Grosvenor Sanatorium and is buried in the town's Bybrook Cemetery
- John Wells (1936-1998), actor, writer and satirist; began his television career as a writer on That Was The Week That Was; born in Ashford
Notes and references
- ↑ "Guilt by association?", BBC HARDtalk, Bob Astles interviewed by Tim Sebastian on 7 January 2004.
- ↑ "Alfred Austin (British Poet)", Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 31 August 2010, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online
