Old Scarlett, whose real name was Robert Scarlett, was born around 1496 and served as sexton and gravedigger at Peterborough Cathedral for decades. Living to the remarkable age of 98, he is said to have buried two queens – Katherine of Aragon in 1536 and Mary,...
John Clare (1793–1864) is celebrated as one of England’s finest rural poets, famed for capturing the beauty of the countryside and the voices of rural life with rare authenticity.
Walter Cornelius (c. 1913–1983) was one of Peterborough’s most colourful local legends. A Latvian-born strongman and stunt performer, he settled in the city after World War II and became famous for his daring – and often eccentric – public feats. These included...
John Fletcher (1579–1625) was one of the most celebrated playwrights of the early 17th century and a key figure in the golden age of English theatre. Born in Rye, Sussex, Fletcher grew up in Peterborough, where his father, Richard Fletcher, served as Dean of...
A pioneering surgeon at Peterborough Infirmary (now the Museum) from 1862 to 1906. A Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, he was the first in Britain to remove a growth from the larynx and a leading advocate for purpose-built operating theatres to reduce...
Born in Peterborough in 1989, Louis Smith is one of Britain’s most successful male gymnasts. Specialising in the pommel horse, he made history at the 2008 Beijing Olympics by winning bronze – Team GB’s first individual Olympic gymnastics medal in a century. He went...
Born in Peterborough in 1978, Jake Humphrey is a well-known British television presenter, best recognised for his work in sports broadcasting. He began his career in children’s television with CBBC before moving into sports coverage, becoming a familiar face on BBC...
Born Keith Palmer in Peterborough in 1967, Maxim is best known as the charismatic MC of the pioneering electronic music group The Prodigy. Joining the band in 1990, his deep, commanding voice and dynamic stage presence became a key part of their explosive live...
Character actor Larry Taylor was born in Peterborough and went on to enjoy a long career in British film and television. Often cast in supporting or background roles, he appeared in a wide variety of productions from the 1960s through the 1980s, bringing a...
Born in Spain, Catherine of Aragon was the first wife of King Henry VIII and Queen of England from 1509 to 1533. A daughter of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile, she was renowned for her education, piety, and political acumen. Her marriage...
Born in Peterborough, Sir Henry Hodge became one of the UK’s most respected and progressive legal minds, dedicating his career to championing the causes of children, immigrants, and disadvantaged communities. Educated at Oxford, he began his career with the Child...
Born in Peterborough, Paul Nicholas is a multi-talented actor, singer, and producer whose career has spanned stage, screen, and music for more than five decades. He first found fame in the 1960s as a pop singer, enjoying chart success with hits like Reggae Like It...
Born in Peterborough, Eric Dodson was a versatile British character actor whose warm, authoritative presence made him a familiar face on television and film from the 1960s through the 1980s. After serving in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, Dodson...
Born in Peterborough, James Blades became one of the world’s most respected percussionists and an influential teacher whose students shaped orchestras across the globe. He began his musical journey locally, playing in brass bands before moving on to formal training...
Born and raised in Peterborough, George Alcock was one of Britain’s most remarkable amateur astronomers, celebrated for discovering five comets and several bright novae with nothing more than patient observation and an extraordinary memory for the night sky. A...
Although born in Swardeston, Norfolk, Edith Cavell’s story has strong roots in Peterborough. As a young woman she attended Laurel Court School, set within the precincts of Peterborough Cathedral, where she was taught music, drawing, English literature, and modern...
Born in Alwalton, near Peterborough, Sir Frederick Henry Royce rose from humble beginnings to become one of Britain’s most celebrated engineers. Apprenticed in the railway works at Peterborough before moving to London, Royce developed a talent for precision...