List Of People From Swindon
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Swindon Swindon () is a town in Wiltshire, England. At the time of the 2021 Census the population of the built-up area was 183,638, making it the largest settlement in the county. Located at the northeastern edge of the South West England region, Swi ...
is a large town in
Wiltshire Wiltshire (; abbreviated to Wilts) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It borders Gloucestershire to the north, Oxfordshire to the north-east, Berkshire to the east, Hampshire to the south-east, Dorset to the south, and Somerset to ...
, England; its residents are called Swindonians and many have achieved notability throughout its history. *
Heidi Alexander Heidi Alexander (born 17 April 1975) is a British politician who has served as Secretary of State for Transport since November 2024. A member of the Labour Party, she has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Swindon South since 2024. Previously ...
Labour Party MP for Swindon South * Sam Allen – football manager at
Swindon Town Swindon Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. The team, known as the "Robins", currently compete in , the fourth level of the English football league system. Founded as Swindon A ...
* Joseph Armstrong – engineer and the second locomotive superintendent of the
Great Western Railway The Great Western Railway (GWR) was a History of rail transport in Great Britain, British railway company that linked London with the southwest, west and West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, ...
lived, worked and is buried in Swindon *
Dean Ashton Dean Ashton (born 24 November 1983) is an English former professional footballer. He made over 240 appearances as a forward in the Football League and Premier League for Crewe Alexandra, Norwich City and West Ham United, and was capped by Engla ...
– Premiership footballer, played for
West Ham United West Ham United Football Club is a professional Association football, football club based in Stratford, London, Stratford, East London, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league system, English f ...
, born in Swindon * Colin Bailey – drummer *
Ralph Bates Ralph Bates (12 February 1940 – 27 March 1991) was an English film and television actor, known for his role in the British sitcom '' Dear John'' and the 1975 series '' Poldark''. Biography Bates was born in Bristol, England. His parents we ...
– writer *
Carl Benjamin Carl Charles Benjamin (born September 1979), also known by his online pseudonym Sargon of Akkad, is a British right-wing YouTuber and political commentator. A former member of the Eurosceptic UK Independence Party (UKIP), he was one of its uns ...
– YouTuber, political commentator better known as Sargon of Akkad *
Billy Bodin Billy Paul Bodin (born 24 March 1992) is a professional footballer who plays for Burton Albion in EFL League One. He plays as a forward or as an attacking midfielder. Born in England, he played for the Wales national team. Bodin is the son of f ...
– footballer, born in Swindon * Mark A. Brennan – Canadian landscape painter, born in Swindon, 1968 * Jazz Carlin – swimmer, World Champion in 400m and 800m freestyle *
Lucy Cohu Lucy Ann Cohu (born 2 October 1968) is an English stage and film actress, known for portraying Princess Margaret in '' The Queen's Sister'', Evelyn Brogan in ''Cape Wrath'' and Alice Carter in ''Torchwood'': '' Children of Earth''. Early life ...
– actress, born in Swindon, 1968 *
Julian Clary Julian Peter McDonald Clary (born 25 May 1959) is an English actor, comedian, novelist and presenter. He began appearing on television in the mid-1980s. Since then, he has also acted in films, on television and in stage productions, including n ...
– comedian, formerly a resident of Rodbourne, but not born in Swindon. His family still lives in the area. *
Jamie Cox Jamie Cox (born 15 October 1969) is an Australian cricketer and former opening batsman for Tasmania in Australia's domestic competitions. He then played county cricket in England where he captained Somerset. He is a former member of the Cricke ...
– boxer, ABA light-welterweight champion. Won a gold medal for the England team at the
2006 Commonwealth Games The 2006 Commonwealth Games, officially the XVIII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Melbourne 2006, were an International sport, international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth held in Melbourne ...
in Melbourne, Australia. *
Jack Dangers Jack Dangers (born John Stephen Corrigan, 11 January 1965) is an English electronic musician, DJ, producer, and remixer best known for his work as the primary member of Meat Beat Manifesto. He lives in San Francisco. Career Prior to founding ...
– musician, producer, founder of electronic band
Meat Beat Manifesto Meat Beat Manifesto, often shortened as Meat Beat, Manifesto or MBM, is an electronic music group originally consisting of Jack Dangers and Jonny Stephens that was formed in 1987 in Swindon, United Kingdom. The band, fronted by Dangers (the only ...
*
Rick Davies Richard Davies (born 22 July 1944) is an English musician, singer and songwriter best known as founder, vocalist and keyboardist of the rock band Supertramp. Davies was its only constant member, and composed some of the band's best-known songs ...
– founder and member of the band
Supertramp Supertramp were a British rock band formed in London in 1970. Marked by the individual songwriting of founders Roger Hodgson (vocals, keyboards and guitars) and Rick Davies (vocals and keyboards), the group were distinguished for blending p ...
*
Diana Dors Diana Dors (born Diana Mary Fluck; 23 October 19314 May 1984) was an English actress and singer. Dors came to public notice as a Bombshell (slang), blonde bombshell, much in the style of Americans Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, and Mamie Van ...
– actress, born in Swindon; celebrated by a larger-than-life-statue outside the West Swindon cinema complex *
John Eatwell John Leonard Eatwell, Baron Eatwell, (born 2 February 1945) is a British economist who was President of Queens' College, Cambridge, from 1996 to 2020. A former senior advisor to the Labour Party, Lord Eatwell sat in the House of Lords as a non- ...
, Baron Eatwell, economist and Labour peer *
Harold Fleming (footballer) Harold John Fleming (30 April 1887 – 23 August 1955) was an English footballer who played as an inside forward for Swindon Town and the England national team. He is the only Swindon Town player to have featured for England. Club career Flem ...
– Swindon Town footballer 1907–1924, capped nine times for England *
John Francome John Francome (born 13 December 1952) is a retired seven-time British Champion jump jockey. He was previously a racing trainer and broadcaster with Channel 4, and is an author. Racing career Francome first rode a pony called Black Beauty at ...
– novelist, sports commentator and former jockey * Sam Fuller - drummer for punk rock band
Peter and the Test Tube Babies Peter and the Test Tube Babies are an English punk rock band, formed in Peacehaven, Sussex in 1978, by Derek "Strangefish" Greening and Peter Bywaters. Due to their humorous tongue-in-cheek lyrics, they have been considered part of the Punk p ...
*
Charlie George Frederick Charles George (born 10 October 1950) is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward. George began his career as a youngster with Arsenal and was part of their 1970–71 League and FA Cup Double-winning team, ...
- comedian and comedy writer *
Mark Harper Mark James Harper, Baron Harper (born 26 February 1970) is a British politician who served in the Cabinet as Chief Whip of the House of Commons from 2015 to 2016 and as Secretary of State for Transport from 2022 to 2024. A member of the Cons ...
Conservative Party politician was born in Swindon * Tommy Hatto – actor, most notable in the films '' Thor: The Dark World'' and ''
Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lynn Lopez (born July 24, 1969), also known by her nickname J.Lo, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer and businesswoman. Lopez is regarded as one of the most influential entertainers of her time, credited with breaking ...
:
Dance Again "Dance Again" is a song recorded by American singer Jennifer Lopez for her first greatest hits album, '' Dance Again... the Hits'' (2012). It features guest vocals from American rapper Pitbull. The song was written by Enrique Iglesias, Bilal "T ...
3D''. Born in Swindon. *
Justin Hayward David Justin Hayward (born 14 October 1946) is an English musician. He was the guitarist and frontman of the rock band the Moody Blues from 1966 until its dissolution in 2018. He became the group's principal vocalist and its most prolific son ...
– lead guitarist, vocalist and composer for
The Moody Blues The Moody Blues were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in May 1964. The band initially consisted of Graeme Edge (drums), Denny Laine (guitar/vocals), Mike Pinder (keyboards/vocals), Ray Thomas (multi-instrumentalist/vocals) and Clint W ...
*
David Hempleman-Adams Sir David Kim Hempleman-Adams, (born 10 October 1956) is a British industrialist and adventurer. He is the first person to complete the Explorer's Grand Slam, by reaching the Geographic and Magnetic North and South Poles, as well as climbin ...
– explorer * Alex Henshall – footballer for
Manchester City Manchester City Football Club is a professional association football, football club based in Manchester, England, that competes in the Premier League, the English football league system, top flight of Football in England, English footbal ...
. Born in Swindon. *
Nick Hewer Nicholas Radbourn Hewer (born 17 February 1944) is a retired British television presenter, company director (2010) and former public relations consultant from Swindon, England. From 2005 to 2014, he appeared as Alan Sugar's adviser in the Brit ...
– public relations officer and businessman. One of Alan Sugar's advisers on ''
The Apprentice An apprentice is someone who is in training for a trade, profession. The Apprentice or Apprentice may also refer to: Television * ''The Apprentice'' (American TV series), the original reality television series * ''The Apprentice'' (franchise), ...
''. Born in the town. * David Howell – Ryder Cup golfer and five-time winner on the
European Tour The European Tour, currently titled as the DP World Tour for sponsorship reasons, and legally the PGA European Tour or the European Tour Group, is the leading men's professional golf tour in Europe. The organisation also operates the European ...
*
Richard Jefferies John Richard Jefferies (6 November 1848 – 14 August 1887) was an English nature writer, noted for his depiction of English rural life in essays, books of natural history, and novels. His childhood on a small Wiltshire farm had a great influ ...
– Victorian nature writer, born at Coate * David Murray John – Swindon's town clerk 1938–1974 and a driving force behind Swindon's development and growth * Bob Kilby – speedway rider * Samuel Knaggs – British colonial administrator born in Swindon *
Josh Kumra Josh Kumra (born 20 April 1991) is an English singer and songwriter. In 2011, Kumra co-wrote and provided vocals for English rapper Wretch 32's highest-charting single to date, " Don't Go", which reached number one in the UK Singles Chart. ...
– singer and songwriter *
Mark Lamarr Mark Lamarr (born Mark Jones; 7 January 1967) is an English comedian, radio disc jockey and television presenter. He was a team captain on ''Shooting Stars (1993 TV series), Shooting Stars'' from 1995 to 1997, and hosted ''Never Mind the Buzzcock ...
– TV presenter, comedian, and radio DJ. Grew up in Park South. * Jon Lewis – England and Gloucestershire cricketer *
Melinda Messenger Melinda Jane Messenger (born 23 February 1971) is an English television presenter and former glamour photography, glamour model and Page Three girl. She presented the magazine programme ''Live from Studio Five'' and was formerly the co-Televisio ...
– former glamour model and television presenter *
Antony Micallef Antony Micallef is a British contemporary artist and painter working in London. He appeared on the British art scene after being a prize winner of the BP Portrait Award competition. Since then, his mix of political imagery fused with contempora ...
– artist *
Hannah Miley Hannah Louise Miley (born 8 August 1989) is a Scottish former competitive Swimming (sport), swimmer who specialised in the Individual Medley. Miley trained when she was younger at Inverurie Swimming Centre. She has represented Great Britain at ...
– swimmer, 400m medley champion at the World Short Course Championships *
Desmond Morris Desmond John Morris FLS ''hon. caus.'' (born 24 January 1928) is an English zoologist, ethologist and surrealist painter, as well as a popular author in human sociobiology. He is known for his 1967 book ''The Naked Ape'', and for his televis ...
– zoologist, ethologist and artist, born just outside Swindon and moved to the town as a child * Levi Lapper Morse – grocer and draper and
Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...
politician who was 2nd mayor of Swindon and an MP. *
William Ewart Morse William Ewart Morse (23 November 1878 – 18 December 1952) was an English businessman and Liberal Party politician, briefly Member of Parliament for Bridgwater and later a member of Wiltshire County Council. Family and education Morse was the ...
– Son of Levi Lapper Morse, Liberal Party politician, mayor of Swindon for 2 years and an MP. * Edith New – suffragette, born in Swindon *
Gilbert O'Sullivan Raymond Edward "Gilbert" O'Sullivan (born 1 December 1946) is an Irish singer-songwriter who achieved his most significant success during the early 1970s, with hits including " Alone Again (Naturally)", " Clair" and "Get Down". His songs are of ...
– Irish born, Swindon raised, singer/songwriter * William Overton – cricketer * Charlie Paynter – manager of
West Ham United West Ham United Football Club is a professional Association football, football club based in Stratford, London, Stratford, East London, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league system, English f ...
, 1932–1950 * Bob Peart – football player with
Burnley Burnley () is a town and the administrative centre of the wider Borough of Burnley in Lancashire, England, with a 2021 population of 78,266. It is north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River B ...
,
Swindon Town Swindon Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. The team, known as the "Robins", currently compete in , the fourth level of the English football league system. Founded as Swindon A ...
, Headington United,
Cheltenham Town Cheltenham Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in the town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. The team competes in EFL League Two, the fourth level of the English football league system. Founded in 1887, ...
*
Billie Piper Billie Paul Piper (born Leian Paul Piper; 22 September 1982) is an English actress and former singer who is best known for her portrayal as Rose Tyler in ''Doctor Who'' (2005–2006, 2008, 2010). She initially gained recognition as a singer a ...
– actress and former pop singer, played Rose in the 2005/2006 seasons and the 2008 season final of BBC Sci-Fi TV programme ''
Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...
'' * Don Rogers – Swindon Town footballer * Leonard Rwodzi (known professionally as S1mba) – rapper, born in
Zimbabwe file:Zimbabwe, relief map.jpg, upright=1.22, Zimbabwe, relief map Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Bots ...
but grew up in Swindon *
Rachel Shelley Rachel Shelley (born 25 August 1969) is an English actress, audio producer and model. She is best known for playing Helena Peabody in the Showtime series ''The L Word'' and Elizabeth Russell in the Oscar-nominated Bollywood epic '' Lagaan''. Ea ...
– actress (''
The L Word ''The L Word'' is a television drama series that aired on Showtime in the United States from 2004 to 2009. The series follows the lives of a group of lesbian and bisexual women who live in West Hollywood, California. The premise originated wit ...
'', ''
Ghost Whisperer ''Ghost Whisperer'' is an American supernatural television series, which ran on CBS from September 23, 2005, to May 21, 2010. The series follows the life of Melinda Gordon ( Jennifer Love Hewitt), who has the ability to see and communicate w ...
''), born in Swindon *
Tim Smith Tim, Timothy or Timmy Smith may refer to: Musicians * T. V. Smith (born 1956), British singer and songwriter *Tim Smith (Cardiacs) (1961–2020), English singer-songwriter and frontman of Cardiacs **"Tim Smith", a 2009 song by the Wildhearts from ...
Radio 2 broadcaster and co-presenter of Radio 2's " Steve Wright in the Afternoon" * Sir William Arthur Stanier – Chief Mechanical Engineer of the
London, Midland and Scottish Railway The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMSIt has been argued that the initials LMSR should be used to be consistent with London and North Eastern Railway, LNER, Great Western Railway, GWR and Southern Railway (UK), SR. The London, Midland an ...
, member of the
Royal Society The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, re ...
, designed
Princess Coronation Class The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Coronation Class is a class of express passenger steam locomotives designed by William Stanier. They were an enlarged and improved version of his previous design, the LMS Princess Royal Class, and ...
engines, born in Wellington Street, Swindon in 1876 *
Ben Thatcher Benjamin David Thatcher (born 30 November 1975) is a former professional footballer who played as a left-back. He played for a number of English clubs, and has featured in more than 300 English league games, all of which were in the top two ...
– football player with
Ipswich Town F.C. Ipswich Town Football Club is a professional association football, football club based in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. The club currently competes in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football league system, English football ...
* Mark G. Thomas – scientist *
Alfred Williams Alfred Hamilton Williams (born November 6, 1968) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker and defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos ...
– hammerman at the GWR works 1892–1914, author, poet and collector of folk songsAlfred Williams Heritage Society
/ref> *
Tom Wisdom Tom Wisdom (born 18 February 1973) is an English actor of theatre, film, and television. His performing roles include Astinos in the film ''300'' and the Archangel Michael in the television series ''Dominion''. Career On television, Wisdom pl ...
– actor (''
300 __NOTOC__ Year 300 ( CCC) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Constantius and Valerius (or, less frequently, year 1053 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomination 300 ...
'', ''
The Boat That Rocked ''The Boat That Rocked'' (titled ''Pirate Radio'' in North America) is a 2009 comedy-drama written and directed by Richard Curtis about pirate radio in the United Kingdom during the 1960s. The film has an ensemble cast consisting of Philip Se ...
'') *
XTC XTC were an English rock band formed in Swindon in 1972. Fronted by songwriters Andy Partridge (vocals, guitars) and Colin Moulding (vocals, bass), the band gained popularity during the rise of punk and new wave in the 1970s, later playing ...
– pop rock band from Swindon **
Terry Chambers Terry Peter Chambers (born 18 July 1955) is an English drummer who was a member of the band XTC from 1972 to 1982 and the popular Australian–New Zealand group Dragon between 1983 and 1985. He appears on all of XTC's albums between '' White Mu ...
– founding member, drummer from 1972 to 1982. Born in Swindon. ** Dave Gregory – lead guitarist from 1979 to 1999. Born in Swindon. **
Colin Moulding Colin Ivor Moulding (born 17 August 1955) is an English bassist, singer, and songwriter who was one of the core members of the rock band XTC. Moulding wrote their first three charting UK singles: " Life Begins at the Hop" (1979), " Making Plans f ...
– founding member, second songwriter, vocalist, and bassist for the band. Born in Swindon. **
Andy Partridge Andrew John Partridge (born 11 November 1953) is an English guitarist, singer-songwriter and record producer best known for co-founding the band XTC. He and Colin Moulding each acted as a songwriter and frontman for XTC, with Partridge writing a ...
– founding member, guitarist and chief songwriter. Born in Malta, raised in Swindon, where he lives. *
Thaila Zucchi Thaila Lucia Zucchi (; born 19 January 1981) is a British singer and actress of English and Italian descent. She began her career as a member of the British band allSTARS* before transitioning into nude acting, appearing in '' Big Brother 8'' ...
– Italian/British singer and actress, starred in '' Balls of Steel''


References

{{reflist
Swindon Swindon () is a town in Wiltshire, England. At the time of the 2021 Census the population of the built-up area was 183,638, making it the largest settlement in the county. Located at the northeastern edge of the South West England region, Swi ...
People The term "the people" refers to the public or Common people, common mass of people of a polity. As such it is a concept of human rights law, international law as well as constitutional law, particularly used for claims of popular sovereignty. I ...