Notable people born in Waltham Forest
Name Born Significance Local connection
Albarn, Damon 1968 Rock musician (singer/songwriter with ‘Blur’, ‘Gorillaz’) Grew up in Leytonstone and attended George Tomlinson Primary School, Leytonstone
Albert, Jodi 1983 Actress (Hollyoaks) and model Born in Chingford
Annan, Jotham   Actor (The Browning Version) Attended Forest School, Walthamstow
Bailey, Danny 1964 Footballer (Exeter City; Slough) Born in Leyton
Bailey, David 1938 Photographer and film-maker Born in Leytonstone
Barklem, Jill 1951 Children’s writer and illustrator (Brambly Hedge books) Lived in Chingford
Barltrop, Chris   Ringmaster of Moscow State Circus Grew up in Chingford and attended Sir George Monoux School, Walthamstow
Barltrop, Robert 1922 Writer, notable for The Monument: Story of the Socialist Party of Great Britain (1975) Born in and grew up in Walthamstow and attended Sir George Monoux School, Walthamstow
Beckham, David 1975 Footballer (Manchester United; Real Madrid; LA Galaxy, England captain, 2000-2006) Born in Leytonstone, grew up in Chingford and attended Chase Lane Junior School, Chingford
Blake, Peter 1932 Artist (designed cover for ‘The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper album, 1967) Taught at Walthamstow School of Art
‘Blazin’ Squad’   Pop rap band active 2002-2006 All ten band members grew up in Chingford and attended Highams Park School
Boateng, Paul 1951 Politician and civil rights lawyer Former GLC member for Walthamstow
Bourne, Matthew 1960 Dancer and choreographer (New Adventures company) Grew up in Walthamstow and attended Sir George Monoux School, Walthamstow
Cameron, Jeremy   Writer (crime series is set in Walthamstow) Lives in Walthamstow
Chambers, Maurice 1987 Cricketer (Essex) Attended Sir George Monoux College, Walthamstow
Clarke, Nigel   TV presenter (Ukool) and dancer (STOMP) Attended Forest School, Walthamstow
Cohen, Harry 1949 Politician MP for Leyton
Coldwell, Terry 1974 Pop singer (member of ‘E17’) Grew up in Walthamstow
Cole, Terry   Stuntman Born in and lives in Walthamstow
Collen, Phil 1957 Rock musician (guitarist with ‘Def Leppard’) Lived in Walthamstow
Crush, Bobby   Popular pianist Grew up in Leyton and attended Leyton County High School for Boys
Dankworth, John 1927 Jazz musician Grew up in Highams Park and attended Selwyn Primary School, Highams Park and Sir George Monoux School, Walthamstow
Davies, Alan 1966 Comedian and actor (Jonathan Creek) Born in Chingford
Davies, Curtis 1985 Footballer (West Bromwich Albion captain) Born in Leytonstone
Day, Chris 1975 Footballer (QPR; Millwall) Born in Walthamstow
Deakins, Eric 1932 Politician Former MP for Walthamstow
Dever, Joe 1956 Computer game designer (Lone Wolf) Born in Chingford
Duncan Smith, Iain 1954 Politician (former leader of the Conservative party) MP for Chingford
‘E17’(formerly ‘East 17’)   Pop band active 1993-1999 Named after Walthamstow neighbourhood of the four original band members
Edmeades, Brian 1941 Cricketer (Essex) Attended Markhouse Road School, Walthamstow
Fenn, Joanne 1974 Athlete (ran at Athens Olympics, 2004) Born in Leytonstone and attended Mayville Primary School, Leytonstone
Fitzgerald, Patrik 1958 Punk rock singer/songwriter Grew up in Leytonstone
Foale, Marion 1939 Fashion designer (co-founder of Foale and Tuffin, 1961) Attended Walthamstow School of Art
Fortune, Quinton 1977 Footballer (Bolton Wanderers) Attended Forest School, Walthamstow
Foss, Harrison 1988 Actor (Life Begins) Born in Chingford
Foster, James 1980 Cricketer (Essex; England) Born in Leytonstone and attended Forest School, Walthamstow
Fox, Samantha 1966 Model and pop singer Lives in Chingford
Gerrard, Neil 1942 Politician MP for Walthamstow
Gibson, Terry 1962 Footballer (Coventry; Wimbledon) Born in Walthamstow
Gomersall, Sir Stephen   Diplomat (former ambassador to Japan) Attended Forest School, Walthamstow
Gooch, Graham 1953 Cricketer(Essex; England captain, 1988-1993) Born in Leytonstone and attended Norlington High School, Leyton
Goodman, Jon 1971 Footballer (Millwall; Wimbledon) Born in Walthamstow
Gordon, Aloysius (Lucky)   Jazz pianist, involved with Christine Keeler during Profumo affair Lived in Leytonstone
Grace, Nickolas 1949 Actor (Brideshead Revisited) Attended Forest School, Walthamstow
Grandage, Michael 1962 Theatre director Lived in Leyton
Greenaway, Peter 1942 Film director, notable for The Draughtsman’s Contract (1982) Attended Forest School, Walthamstow and Walthamstow School of Art
Greenstreet, Mark   Actor (Brat Farrar; Trainer) Lived in Leyton
Hall, Fitz 1980 Footballer (Crystal Palace) Born in Walthamstow
Harper, Jacqui   TV presenter: BBC News and Sky News Attended Walthamstow School for Girls
Harris, Steve 1957 Rock musician (bass guitarist with ‘Iron Maiden’) Born in Leytonstone
Harvey, Brian 1974 Pop singer (member of ‘E17’) Grew up in Walthamstow
Haseldine, Patrick 1942 Diplomat Born in Leytonstone
Hayes, Martin 1966 Footballer (Arsenal) Born in Walthamstow
Hayes, Paul1983Footballer (Scunthorpe United)     Grew up in Leyton and attended Barclay Junior School, Leyton
Hearn, Barry 1949 Sports promoter Chairman and owner of Leyton Orient Football Club
Hendy, John 1971 Pop singer (member of ‘E17’) Grew up in Walthamstow
Hennessy, Peter   Journalist and historian Lives in Walthamstow
Hewer, John 1922 Actor (Captain Birdseye in TV adverts) Born in Leyton
Hillage, Steve 1951 Rock musician (guitarist with ‘Gong’) Born in Chingford
Holdsworth, David 1968 Footballer (Sheffield United; Birmingham) Born in Walthamstow
Holdsworth, Dean 1968 Footballer (Wimbledon; Bolton Wanderers) Born in Walthamstow
Hollick, Helen 1953 Writer, notable for The Pendragon’s Banner trilogy (1994) Born in and lives in Walthamstow
Holmes, Richard 1946 Military historian and TV presenter (War Walks) Attended Forest School, Walthamstow
Hoyte, Justin 1984 Footballer (Arsenal) Born in Leytonstone
Huddle, Roger   Activist (co-founder of Rock Against Racism) Born in Walthamstow
Hussain, Nasser 1968 Cricketer (Essex; England captain, 1999-2003) Attended Forest School, Walthamstow

Sources

Waltham Forest Local Studies Library: biography files and newspaper index.

Websites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
http://knowhere.co.uk/
www.answers.com/
www.forest.org.uk/
www.towntalk.co.uk/

Thanks are due to everyone who has contributed information to this index, especially Neil Bhupsingh, David Boote,

David Chapman, Roger Colori, Peter Cormack, the Rev. Raymond Draper, Guy Osborne, David Pracy, Chris Prince, Nigel Sadler, Barry Smith, Dave Watkins, Linda Weston and Robert Wilkinson.

Waltham Forest Archives and Local Studies Library
July 2007