List of people from Hastings
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This is a list of notable people who have been or are associated with Hastings and
St Leonards-on-Sea St Leonards-on-Sea (commonly known as St Leonards) is a town and seaside resort in the Borough of Hastings in East Sussex, England. It has been part of the borough since the late 19th century and lies to the west of central Hastings. The origina ...
. This list is arranged alphabetically by surname: __NOTOC__


A

* Queen Adelaide (1792–1849), consort of William IV. Lived in St Leonards as a widow. *
Maggie Alderson Maggie Alderson (born 1959) is a London-born Australian author, magazine editor and fashion journalist. She is the former editor of ''ES'', the ''Evening Standard'' magazine (British Society of Magazine Editors, Editor of the Year, Colour Suppleme ...
(born 1959), author, magazine editor and fashion journalist, lives in Hastings. * John Armstrong (1893–1973), painter of imaginative subjects, designer of film and stage sets, mural painter and book illustrator. Born in Hastings * Jeremy Atherton Lin (born 1974), writer, lives in St Leonards-on-Sea. * Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex (1773–1843), son of George III. Lived in Hastings at some time. * Lieutenant-General Sir Fenton Aylmer, 13th Baronet (1862–1935), awarded the Victoria Cross in 1891 the Hunza–Nagar Campaign, India. Born in Hastings.


B

* John Logie Baird (1888–1946), lived in Hastings in the 1920s where he carried out experiments that led to the transmission of the first television image. * Kevin Ball (born 1964), ex-footballer and coach at Sunderland A.F.C., played in 1992 FA Cup. Born in Hastings. * Gillian Barge (1940–2003), stage, television and film actress. Born Gillian Bargh in Hastings. * Gareth Barry (born 1981), footballer, latterly at
Everton F.C. Everton Football Club () is an English professional association football club based in Liverpool that competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. The club was a founder member of the Football League in 1888 and has compe ...
, played in
2011 FA Cup Final The 2011 FA Cup Final was the 130th FA Cup Final, final of the FA Cup, the world's oldest domestic Association football, football cup competition. The final took place on 14 May 2011 at Wembley Stadium in London in front of 88,643 spectators an ...
and for England. Born in Hastings. * Andy Bell (born 1964), singer in 80s band Erasure, lived in Hastings from 2009. * Harold Bennett (1899–1981) actor (''Young Mr Grace''). Born in 1899 in Hastings. * Mark Benton (born 1965) TV and stage actor. Lives in Hastings. * James Blackshaw (born 1981) musician, principally with acoustic 12-string guitar. Based in Hastings. * Elizabeth Blackwell (1821–1910), first woman to qualify as a doctor. Lived in Hastings from 1879 until her death in 1910. * Euphemia Vale Blake (1817–1904), author, critic * Emma Blocksage (born 1979) (''Emma B''), model turned bodybuilder. Born in Hastings. *
Barbara Bodichon Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon (born Barbara Leigh Smith; 8 April 1827 – 11 June 1891) was an English educationalist and artist, and a leading mid-19th-century feminist and women's rights activist. She published her influential ''Brief Summary ...
(1827–1890), advocate of women's rights, painter and founder of Girton College. Spent her childhood in Hastings and retained connections through her life * Elsie Bowerman (1889–1973),
suffragette A suffragette was a member of an activist women's organisation in the early 20th century who, under the banner "Votes for Women", fought for the right to vote in public elections in the United Kingdom. The term refers in particular to members ...
, RMS Titanic survivor, and early female barrister. Her parents lived and worked in Hastings and St Leonards; she was raised, campaigned and lived there at various times. * Darren Boyd (born 1971), actor. Born in Hastings. * Jo Brand (born 1957), comedian. Brought up and educated in 6th Form in Hastings. * Thomas Brassey (1805–1870), railway pioneer ("the greatest railway builder in the world"), father of Earl Brassey. Lived and died in St Leonards. * Thomas Brassey, 1st Earl Brassey (1836–1918), politician and Governor of Victoria. MP for Hastings 1868–1888. Son of Thomas. * John Bratby (1928–1992), artist of the "kitchen sink school". Lived and died in Hastings. * George Bristow (1863–1947), St Leonards-on-Sea taxidermist at centre of the
Hastings Rarities The Hastings Rarities affair is a case of statistically demonstrated ornithological fraud that misled the bird world for decades in the 20th century. The discovery of the long-running hoax shocked ornithologists. The Hastings Rarities were a se ...
ornithology fraud. * Jimmy Broadbent (born 1991),
racing driver Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing, or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition. Auto racing has existed since the invention of the automobile. Races of various sorts were organise ...
, content creator, sim racer and e-sports commentator. Born and grew up in Hastings. *Dr
Gerald Brodribb Arthur Gerald Norcott Brodribb (21 May 1915 – 7 October 1999) was a cricket historian and archaeologist. Life and career Born in St Leonards-on-Sea, Brodribb was educated at Eastbourne College and read classics and English at University C ...
(1915–1999), cricket historian, author and archaeologist. Born in St Leonards-on-Sea and owned Hydneye House school in Hastings. * Nikki Bull (born 1981), footballer. Born and brought up in Hastings. *
Shayne Burgess Shayne Burgess (born 1 June 1964) is an English former professional darts player who competed in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) tournaments. He is known for his unorthodox throwing action, where he draws the point of the dart up close t ...
(born 1964), darts player known as ''Bulldog''. Born and lives in Hastings. * Edward Burra (1905–1976), painter, draughtsman, and printmaker. Lived and died in Hastings. *
Moss Burmester Moss James Burmester (born 19 June 1981) is a New Zealand swimmer and diver. His specialist event is the 200m butterfly in which he holds the Commonwealth record of 1:54.35 set at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Burmester was born in Hastings, New Z ...
(born 1981), New Zealand professional swimmer. Competed in 2008 Summer Olympics in the Men's 200m Butterfly against famous American Swimmer Michael Phelps and came in 4th place with a New Zealand record breaking time of 1:54:35. Born and raised in Hastings *
Paul Burston Paul Burston is a Welsh journalist and author. He worked for the London gay policing group GALOP and was an activist with ACT UP before moving into journalism. He edited, for some years, the LGBT section of '' Time Out'' and founded the Polar ...
(born 1965), author and journalist. Lives in Hastings. Burston's 2019 novel, ''The Closer I Get'', is partly set in the town. * Amanda Burton (born 1956), actress. Lives in Hastings. * James Burton (1761–1837), builder and developer, founder of the new seaside town of St Leonards-on-Sea. *
Decimus Burton Decimus Burton (30 September 1800 – 14 December 1881) was one of the foremost English architects and landscapers of the 19th century. He was the foremost Victorian architect in the Roman revival, Greek revival, Georgian neoclassical and Reg ...
(1800–1881), son of James Burton, architect and garden designer, continued his father's work.


C

* Edward Capell (1713–1781). Shakespearian critic and censor of plays. Lived in Hastings. * Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881), man of letters. Lived at 117 Marina in the summer of 1864, in order to be near his ailing wife
Jane Carlyle Jane Baillie Carlyle ( Welsh; 14 July 1801 – 21 April 1866) was a Scottish writer and the wife of Thomas Carlyle. She did not publish any work in her lifetime, but she was widely seen as an extraordinary letter writer. Virginia Woolf ca ...
, who was in possession of caretakers. * Liane Carroll (born 1964), jazz musician, pianist, vocalist. Raised and lives in Hastings. * Richard D'Oyly Carte (1844–1901), founder of the Savoy Theatre, Savoy Hotel, and D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. Mother lived in Hastings, he is buried at Fairlight. * Tom Chaplin (born 1979), lead vocalist of rock band Keane. Born in Hastings with many connections to the local area (or '' Strangeland''). * George Chapman (1865–1903) (Seweryn Klosowski) murderer, Jack the Ripper suspect. Lived and worked (and murdered) for a time in Hastings. * Stuart Christie (born 1946), anarchist writer, publisher, would-be assassin of
Franco Franco may refer to: Name * Franco (name) * Francisco Franco (1892–1975), Spanish general and dictator of Spain from 1939 to 1975 * Franco Luambo (1938–1989), Congolese musician, the "Grand Maître" Prefix * Franco, a prefix used when ...
. Lives and works in Hastings. * Shirley Collins (born 1935), English folk singer. Born and raised in Hastings. *
Steve Cook Steve Anthony Cook (born 19 April 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Nottingham Forest. Club career Brighton & Hove Albion Born in Hastings, East Sussex, Cook made his first-team debut for Brighton & Hove A ...
(born 1991), footballer. Lives in St Leonards. *Dame Catherine Cookson (1906–1998), popular novelist. Lived and worked for much of her life in Hastings. * Anthony Crosland (1918–1977), Labour politician, government minister. Born in St Leonards. * Rob Cross (born 1990), PDC World Darts Champion. Lives in Hastings. * Aleister Crowley (1875–1947), occultist, philosopher. Went to school, lived for some time, and died in Hastings.


D

*
Mark Davis Mark Davis may refer to: Entertainers *Mark Davis (talk show host), American radio talk show host * Mark Jonathan Davis (born 1965), American actor/singer and creator of Richard Cheese *Mark Davis, American bassist and founding member for the band ...
(born 1972), champion snooker player. Lives in Hastings. * Martin Degville (born 1961),
Sigue Sigue Sputnik Sigue Sigue Sputnik were a British new wave band formed in 1982 by former Generation X bassist Tony James. The band have had three UK top-40 hit singles, including "Love Missile F1-11" and " 21st Century Boy". The band's music, image and insp ...
singer and writer. Lives and works in St Leonards and Hastings. *
Paul Denman Paul Spencer Denman (born July 1957). English songwriter and bass guitarist. With Sade Adu, Andrew Hale, and Stuart Matthewman, Denman gained worldwide fame as the bass guitarist of the English band Sade. He is also a member of the English ba ...
(born 1957), songwriter and bass guitarist with the band
Sade Sade may refer to: People * Marquis de Sade (1740–1814), French aristocrat, writer, and libertine * Sade (singer) (born 1959, Helen Folasade Adu), British Nigerian musician and lead singer of the eponymous band * Sade Baderinwa (born 1969), WAB ...
. Lives in St Leonards with his fashion designer wife Kim Denman. *
Eugénie de Montijo ''Doña'' María Eugenia Ignacia Agustina de Palafox y Kirkpatrick, 19th Countess of Teba, 16th Marchioness of Ardales (5 May 1826 – 11 July 1920), known as Eugénie de Montijo (), was Empress of the French from her marriage to Emperor Napo ...
(1826–1920), 16th Countess of Teba and 15th Marchioness of Ardales, the last Empress consort of the French. Stayed in Hastings as a refugee. * John Digweed (born 1967), DJ, record producer and actor. Born in Hastings. *
Tymon Dogg Tymon Dogg (born Stephen John Murray) is an English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Dogg's career started early with shows at the Cavern and Peppermint Lounge in Liverpool when he was 15. As well as pursuing a solo career, he coll ...
(Stephen John Murray) (born 1950) singer-songwriter, musician. Lives in Hastings. * Barry Dransfield (living), folk singer, fiddler, cellist and guitarist. Lives and works in Hastings. *Sir Alfred Dyer (1865–1947), journalist, chief executive, and Conservative Party politician. Lived in Hastings and died in St Leonards.


E

* Elizabeth Eiloart (1827–1898), novelist (as Mrs C. J. Eiloart), feminist and suffragist. Retired to St Leonards. *
Ernest Elmore Ernest Carpenter Elmore (4 November 1901 – 8 November 1957) was an English theatre producer and director, and writer of crime and fantasy novels. He wrote his crime novels under the pseudonym John Bude. Life Elmore was born in Maidstone, Kent ...
(1901–1957), theatre producer, director, writer (as "John Bude"). Died in Hastings. *
Maya Evans Maya (Anne) Evans is a councillor on Hastings Borough Council representing Hollington ward in East Sussex. Since being first elected in 2018, Maya has been Armed Forces champion of Hastings (responsible for helping homeless veterans), led a wor ...
(born 1979), political activist, peace campaigner. From Hastings.


F

*Jo Fairley (born 1956), journalist, entrepreneur and co-founder of
Green & Black's Green & Black's is a British chocolate company founded in 1991. The company produces a range of organic food products, including: chocolate bars, ice cream, biscuits and hot chocolate. Green & Black's was bought by Cadbury in 2005, and later b ...
. Lives in Hastings Old Town. * Karl Ferris (born 1948), photographer, including album covers for
Jimi Hendrix James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...
,
Donovan Donovan Phillips Leitch (born 10 May 1946), known mononymously as Donovan, is a Scottish musician, songwriter, and record producer. He developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelic rock and world mus ...
and The Hollies. Born and grew up in Hastings. * Jon Finch (1942-2012), actor. Lived in Hastings towards the end of his life. * Michael Foster (born 1946), politician, government minister, MP for Hastings & Rye 1997–2010. Born, lives, works in Hastings. *
Myra Frances Myra Frances (13 April 1942 – 30 March 2021) was a British actress known for her role in the drama series '' Survivors'' and in '' Doctor Who''. Career In the 1974 ''Second City Firsts'' episode "Girl", Frances and Alison Steadman performed t ...
(1942–2021), actress. Born in Hastings. * Kim Fuller (born 1951), television, film and radio writer and producer. Brother of Simon Fuller. Born in Hastings. * Simon Fuller (born 1960), music and celebrity manager (e.g. The Spice Girls), TV producer, created Idols (TV series). Born and brought up in Hastings. * Harry Furniss (1854–1925), caricaturist and ''
Punch Punch commonly refers to: * Punch (combat), a strike made using the hand closed into a fist * Punch (drink), a wide assortment of drinks, non-alcoholic or alcoholic, generally containing fruit or fruit juice Punch may also refer to: Places * Pun ...
'' cartoonist. Lived and worked in Hastings Old Town towards the end of his life. * Steve Furst (born 1967), comedian and actor. Lived in St Leonards.


G

* David Gemmell (1946–2006), novelist. Lived and died in Hastings. *
Mary Gentle Mary Rosalyn Gentle (born 29 March 1956) is a UK science fiction and fantasy author. Literary career Mary Gentle's first published novel was ''Hawk in Silver'' (1977), a young-adult fantasy. She came to prominence with the '' Orthe'' duology, w ...
(born 1956), science fiction and fantasy author. Went to school and lived in Hastings. * Adrian Gray (born 1981), international darts player. Based in St Leonards. *
William Alexander Greenhill William Alexander Greenhill (1 January 1814, Stationers' Hall, London – 19 September 1894, Hastings) was an English physician, literary editor and sanitary reformer. Biography William Alexander Greenhill was the youngest of three sons of Georg ...
(1814–1896), doctor, literary editor and sanitary reformer. Lived and practiced in Hastings and St Leonards.


H

*
Sid Hadden Sidney Hadden (26 August 1877 – 2 November 1934) was an English cricketer. Hadden's batting style is unknown, but it is known he fielded as a wicket-keeper. He was born at Hastings, Sussex. He made his first-class debut for Essex agai ...
(1877–1934), cricketer. Born in Hastings. * Henry Rider Haggard (1865–1936), writer. Lived and wrote in St Leonards 1917–1923. *
Claire Hamill Josephine Claire Hamill (born 4 August 1954) is an English singer-songwriter. In addition to her solo career, she has collaborated with Wishbone Ash and Yes's Steve Howe. Life and career Claire Hamill was born in Port Clarence, County Durham ...
(born 1954), singer-songwriter. Lives in Hastings. *
Dean Hammond Dean John Hammond (born 7 March 1983) is an English retired footballer. He previously played in the Football League for Brighton & Hove Albion, Leyton Orient, Colchester United, Leicester City and Southampton. Football career Brighton & Hove ...
(born 1983), footballer. Born in Hastings. * John Wesley Harding (born 1965) (Wesley Stace), singer-songwriter and author. Born in Hastings. *
David Hare David Hare may refer to: *David Hare (philanthropist) (1775–1842), Scottish philanthropist *David Hare (artist) (1917–1992), American sculptor and photographer *David Hare (playwright) (born 1947), English playwright and theatre and film direc ...
(born 1947), playwright, screenwriter and theatre and film director. Born in St Leonards. * John Holmes (1924–1980), cricketer. Born in Hastings. * Richard Hughes (born 1975), drummer of the rock band Keane which was formed in Hastings and Battle.


J

*
Andrew Jefford Andrew Jefford (born 1956) is an English journalist, poet, and writer, the author of various books and columns on wine, whisky, travel and perfume. Education The son of a Church of England clergyman and the eldest of three brothers, Jefford gr ...
(born 1956), journalist, radio presenter, poet, magazine editor, wine writer. Lives in Hastings. * Sophia Jex-Blake (1840–1912), feminist and founder of the London School of Medicine for Women. Born in Hastings. * Houn Jiyu-Kennett (1924–1996) (Peggy Teresa Nancy Kennett), Rōshi (Zen Buddhist teacher). Born in St Leonards. *
Thomas H. Jukes Thomas Hughes Jukes (August 26, 1906 – November 1, 1999) was a British-born American biologist known for his work in nutrition, molecular evolution, and for his public engagement with controversial scientific issues, including DDT, vitamin ...
(1906–1999), biologist known for nutrition, molecular evolution, and public engagement with controversial scientific issues. Born in Hastings.


K

* Sheila Kaye-Smith (1881–1956), author. Born, lived and worked in St Leonards. *
Leigh Kennedy Leigh Kennedy (born June 4, 1951, in Denver, Colorado) is an American science fiction writer who has lived in the United Kingdom since 1985. Kennedy's story " Her Furry Face" was a nominee for the Nebula Award for Best Short Story. She was marrie ...
(born 1951), writer. Lives in Hastings. *Steve Kinch (living), bass guitarist with Manfred Mann's Earth Band. Lives in Hastings. *
Jules Knight Julian "Jules" Knight (né Kaye; born 22 September 1981) is an English actor and singer. He is best known for being a member of the British vocal group Blake and his portrayal of Harry Tressler in the medical drama '' Holby City''. He left Blak ...
(born 1981) (Julian Kaye), singer, actor. Born and raised in Hastings.


L

* Anne Lister (3 April 1791 – 22 September 1840), resided in 15 Pelham Crescent in the early 1820s for a short period before returning to Shibden Hall, Halifax. * Alex Lester (born 1956),
BBC Radio 2 BBC Radio 2 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It is the most popular station in the United Kingdom with over 15 million weekly listeners. Since launching in 1967, the station broadcasts a wide range of content. ...
presenter. Lives in St Leonards. *
Peter Ling Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a sur ...
(1926–2006), writer and creator of ''
Crossroads Crossroads, crossroad, cross road or similar may refer to: * Crossroads (junction), where four roads meet Film and television Films * ''Crossroads'' (1928 film), a 1928 Japanese film by Teinosuke Kinugasa * ''Cross Roads'' (film), a 1930 Brit ...
''. Lived and worked in Hastings. *
Geoff Love Geoffrey Love (4 September 1917 – 8 July 1991) was a prolific British arranger and composer of easy listening and pop versions of film themes. He became famous in the late 1950s, playing under the pseudonym of Manuel and The Music of The Mou ...
(1917–1991), band leader and composer. Worked on Hastings Pier in the 1930s. * Johann Löwenthal (1810–1876), professional chess master. Died in St Leonards. * Anders Lustgarten (born 1977),
playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays. Etymology The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...
. Lives in Hastings. * Mary Elizabeth Southwell Dudley Leathley (1818– 1899), writer, lived in Hastings until her death in 1899.


M

* George MacDonald (1824–1905), children's writer. Lived in Hastings. * Doon Mackichan (born 1962), actress and comedian. Lives in Hastings. *
Clark Masters Clark John Masters (born 31 May 1987) is an English goalkeeper who currently plays for side Billericay Town. Starting his career with Brentford in 2004, he moved on to Southend United four years later, and Aldershot Town in 2009. He has ha ...
(born 1987), football goalkeeper. Born in Hastings. * Ernest R. Matthews (1873-1930), expert on coastal erosion, born in Hastings. *
Simon Mawer Simon Mawer ( ; born 1948, England) is a British author who lives in Italy. Life and work Born in 1948 and was educated at Millfield School in Somerset and at Brasenose College, Oxford, Mawer took a degree in Zoology and has worked as a biology ...
(born 1948), novelist. Has a house in Hastings Old Town. *
Maria McErlane Maria McErlane (born 9 December 1957, in Buckinghamshire, England) is a British actress and presenter specialising in comedy. She has been acting since 1984. She has appeared in several TV series, including ''The Fast Show'', '' Gimme Gimme Gim ...
(born 1957), actress, radio and TV presenter. Lives in Hastings and London * Paul Merton (born 1957), TV presenter and comedian. Local resident. *
Spike Milligan Terence Alan "Spike" Milligan (16 April 1918 – 27 February 2002) was an Irish actor, comedian, writer, musician, poet, and playwright. The son of an English mother and Irish father, he was born in British Raj, British Colonial India, where h ...
(1918–2002), comedian and writer. Served in Bexhill area in WW2 and later lived in Rye. * George Mogridge (Old Humphrey) (1787–1854), writer, poet and author of children's books and religious tracts. Lived in Hastings until his death. *
George Monger George Monger (3 March 1840 – 9 August 1887) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Details Mo ...
(1840–1887), awarded the Victoria Cross, aged 17, at the
Siege of Lucknow The siege of Lucknow was the prolonged defence of the British Residency within the city of Lucknow from rebel sepoys (Indian soldiers in the British East India Company's Army) during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. After two successive relief att ...
. Lived and died in Hastings. * Charles Moore (born 1956) Journalist. Born in Hastings *General James Murray (1721–1794), distinguished British soldier, Governor of Quebec. Lived in Hastings, built
Beauport Park Beauport Park is a house near Hastings, East Sussex, England. It is located at the western end of the ridge of hills sheltering Hastings from the north and east. Roman occupation In 1862, the Rector of Hollington Church found a huge slag hea ...
.


N

*
Marianne North Marianne North (24 October 1830 – 30 August 1890) was a prolific English Victorian biologist and botanical artist, notable for her plant and landscape paintings, her extensive foreign travels, her writings, her plant discoveries and the ...
(1830–1890), botanical painter with permanent gallery at Kew Gardens, London. Born in Hastings.


O

* Titus Oates (1649–1705), instigator of the "
Popish Plot The Popish Plot was a fictitious conspiracy invented by Titus Oates that between 1678 and 1681 gripped the Kingdoms of England and Scotland in anti-Catholic hysteria. Oates alleged that there was an extensive Catholic conspiracy to assassinate C ...
". Lived in Hastings when his father was Curate of All Saints. * Jane Omorogbe (born 1971), actress, TV presenter, journalist. Brought up in Hastings. * Grey Owl (Archibald Belaney) (1888–1938), author, nature conservation pioneer, and Canadian icon. Born in Hastings.


P

*Sir
Woodbine Parish Sir Woodbine Parish KCH (14 September 1796, London – 16 August 1882, St. Leonards, Sussex) was a British diplomat, traveller and scientist. The son of Woodbine Parish, of Bawburgh Old Hall, Norfolk, a major in the Light Horse Volunteers ...
(1796–1882), diplomat, traveller and scientist. Lived in St Leonards. *
Cecil Parker Cecil Parker (born Cecil Schwabe, 3 September 1897 – 20 April 1971) was an English actor with a distinctively husky voice, who usually played supporting roles, often characters with a supercilious demeanour, in his 91 films made between ...
(Cecil Schwabe) (1897–1971), actor. Born in Hastings. * Coventry Patmore (1823–1896), poet and critic. Lived in Hastings. * Sergiusz Piasecki (1901?–1964), best-selling author in Poland. Lived in St Leonards. * William Thomas Pike (1838–1924), publisher, journalist, writer, editor. Born in St Leonards, lived for some years in Hastings. *
Fiona Pitt-Kethley Fiona Pitt-Kethley (born 21 November 1954) is a British poet, novelist, travel writer and journalist, who is the author of more than 20 books of both poetry and prose. She lived for many years in Hastings, East Sussex, and moved to Spain in 200 ...
(born 1954), poet, novelist, travel writer and journalist. Lived in Hastings for many years. * Poly Styrene (1957-2011) of X-Ray Spex. Lived in St Leonards. *Professor
Roy Porter Roy Sydney Porter, FBA (31 December 1946 – 3 March 2002) was a British historian known for his work on the history of medicine. He retired in 2001 from the director of the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine at University College L ...
(1946–2002), historian of medicine and psychiatry. Retired to St Leonards. * Christopher Priest (born 1943), novelist. Lives in Hastings.


R

*
Milan Rai Milan Rai (born 1965) is a British writer and anti-war activist from Hastings. He is co-editor with anti-war artist Emily Johns of the magazine ''Peace News''. Along with fellow activist Maya Evans, he was arrested on 25 October 2005 next to t ...
(living), political activist. Lives in Hastings. * Rainier III, Prince of Monaco (1923–2005), went to school at
Summerfields, St Leonards-on-Sea Summerfields was a boys' preparatory school in the St Leonards-on-Sea area of Hastings, East Sussex. It occupied the buildings previously known as Bohemia House. Bohemia House was built in 1818, by the architect John (Yorky) Smith, and occup ...
. * Thomas Rendle (born 1986), international chess master. Born and brought up in Hastings. *
Tim Rice-Oxley Timothy James Rice-Oxley (born 2 June 1976) is an English musician, best known for being the keyboardist, singer and songwriter of the pop rock band Keane. In 2010, he formed a side-project, Mt. Desolation, with his Keane bandmate Jesse Quin. ...
(born 1976), pianist and songwriter of the rock band Keane. born and brought up in Hastings. *
Henry Handel Richardson Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson (3 January 187020 March 1946), known by her pen name Henry Handel Richardson, was an Australian author. Life Born in East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, into a prosperous family that later fell on hard tim ...
(Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson) (1870–1946), author. Died in Hastings. * Lee Richardson (1979–2012), speedway rider. Born in Hastings. * Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828–1882), poet, illustrator, painter and translator. Lodged, worked and was married in Hastings. * Amber Rudd (born 1963), former MP for Hastings and Rye 2010-2019. Lived on Tackleway, Hastings. * Neil Ruddock (born 1968), ex-footballer, actor. Lived in Hastings.


S

* Craig Sams (born 1944), co-founder of
Green & Black's Green & Black's is a British chocolate company founded in 1991. The company produces a range of organic food products, including: chocolate bars, ice cream, biscuits and hot chocolate. Green & Black's was bought by Cadbury in 2005, and later b ...
. Lives in Hastings Old Town. * Alex Sanders (Orrell Alexander Carter, "Verbius") (1926–1988). "King of the Witches". Lived in Hastings. * Edward Sargent (1842–1914) American architect. Born in Hastings. * Malcolm Saville (1901–1982), author of children's books. Born in Hastings. *
Paul Smith Paul Smith or Paul Smith's may refer to: Music * Paul Smith (composer) (1906–1985), American film music composer * Paul Smith (pianist) (1922–2013), Los Angeles jazz pianist * Paul Smith (rock vocalist) (born 1979), vocalist and songwriter of ...
(born 1976), footballer. Born in Hastings. *
Thomas Henry Sparshott Thomas Henry Sparshott (31 December 1841 – 10 January 1927) was an English Anglican priest, also known as Rev Tom. He served as a missionary in East Africa and in Mombasa, Kenya, as curate and vicar to various English congregations, as chapla ...
(1841–1927), Anglican priest and missionary, retired to Hastings and died there. * Derek Stepan (born 1990), ice hockey player. Born in Hastings. * Suggs (Graham McPherson) (born 1961), lead singer of
Madness Madness or The Madness may refer to: Emotion and mental health * Anger, an intense emotional response to a perceived provocation, hurt or threat * Insanity, a spectrum of behaviors characterized by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns * ...
. Born and brought up in Hastings. *
Screaming Lord Sutch Screaming Lord Sutch (10 November 1940 – 16 June 1999), who had his name legally changed from David Edward Sutch, was an English musician and perennial parliamentary candidate. He was the founder of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party an ...
(1940–1999), founder of the
Monster Raving Loony Party The Official Monster Raving Loony Party (OMRLP) is a political party established in the United Kingdom in 1982 by the musician David Sutch, also known as "Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow", or simply "Lord Sutch". It is notable for its ...
. Lived in Hastings.


T

*
Bernard J. Taylor Bernard J. Taylor is a writer and composer of musicals and stage plays. His stage works have been produced around the world and translated into German, Romanian, Polish, Hungarian, Spanish and Italian. He is also the writer of 14 novels and thre ...
. Composed a number of his works whilst resident in Hastings. * Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881–1955), French theologian, writer and philosopher. Studied in Hastings. * David Tibet (David Michael Bunting) (born 1960), poet, artist and musician. Lives in Hastings. *
Claud B. Ticehurst Claud Buchanan Ticehurst FRGS (8 January 1881 – 17 February 1941) was a British ornithologist. Early years Born at St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex he was a brother of Norman Frederic Ticehurst (1873-1960) and their father was Dr. A. R. Ticeh ...
(1881–1941), ornithologist. Born in St Leonards. * Tulsen Tollett (born 1973), rugby league player. Born in Hastings. * Robert Tressell (Robert Noonan) (1870–1911), author of ''
The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists ''The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists'' (1914) is a semi-autobiographical novel by Irish house painter and sign writer Robert Noonan, who wrote the book in his spare time under the pen name Robert Tressell. Published after Tressell's death fro ...
'' set in Mugsborough (Hastings). Lived and worked in Hastings. * Alan Turing (1912–1954), pioneering computer scientist. Lived at Baston Lodge in St Leonards in his youth. * Tony Tyler (James Edward Anthony Tyler) (1943–2006), author, writer on computer topics and for NME. Lived in Hastings until his death.


U

* Barry Upton (born 1954) musician, songwriter, producer. Born in Hastings.


W

* Trevor Watts (b1939), free jazz saxophonist. Resident in Hastings * Winifred Wagner (1897–1980), manager of
Bayreuth Festival The Bayreuth Festival (german: link=no, Bayreuther Festspiele) is a music festival held annually in Bayreuth, Germany, at which performances of operas by the 19th-century German composer Richard Wagner are presented. Wagner himself conceived ...
1930–1945. Born in Hastings. * Sarah Waldegrave, Countess Waldegrave (Sarah Whiter) (1787–1873), philanthropist. Born and lived in Hastings, benefactor to several local institutions. *
Thomas Attwood Walmisley Thomas Attwood Walmisley (21 January 181417 January 1856) was an English composer and organist. Life and career He was born in London, the son of Thomas Forbes Gerrard Walmisley (1783–1866), a well-known organist and composer of church music a ...
(1814–1856), organist, Professor of Music at Cambridge. Lived in Hastings (Fairlight). *
Alexia Walker Alexia Laurette Walker (born 26 November 1982) is an English former cricketer who played as an all-rounder. She was a right-handed batter and right-arm fast-medium bowler. She appeared in three One Day Internationals for England in August 2001 ...
(born 1982), cricketer. Born in St Leonards. *Dr Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward (1791–1868), doctor, botanist, inventor. Died in St Leonards. * Matthew Waterhouse (born 1961), actor and writer. Lives in Hastings. * Gwen Watford (1927–1994), film, stage and television actress. Brought up in Hastings. * Paul Watson (born 1975), footballer. Born in Hastings. *Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1 May 1769 – 14 September 1852) soldier, statesman, defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, MP for Rye. Stationed in, and lived in Hastings at some time. *
Henning Wehn Henning Wehn (; born 10 April 1974) is a German stand-up comedian based in the UK. Career Wehn studied Business Administration in Münster and worked in customer relations. In 2002, he moved to the United Kingdom to work in the marketing dep ...
(born 1974) German comedian. Lives in St Leonards. *
Randall Wells Albert Randall Wells (1877–1942) was an English Arts and Crafts movement, Arts and Crafts architect, craftsman and inventor. He was the son of an architect, Arthur Wells of Hastings. After a practical training in joinery and founding as well a ...
(1877–1942), ''Arts and Crafts'' architect, craftsman and inventor. Partner with architect father Arthur Wells in Hastings. * Anna McNeill Whistler (c. 1831–1881), Whistler's Mother. Lived and died in Hastings. * Dean White (born 1958), footballer. Born in Hastings. *(William)
Hale White William Hale White (22 December 183114 March 1913), known by his pseudonym Mark Rutherford, was a British writer and civil servant. His obituary in ''The Times'' stated that the "employment of a pseudonym, and sometimes of two (for some of 'Ma ...
(1831–1913), novelist as Mark Rutherford. Lived in Hastings at some time.


Y

* Mike Yardy (born 1980), cricketer, Sussex captain, played for England. Grew up in Hastings. * Paula Yates (1959–2000), television presenter. Had a house in Hastings before she died in 2000.


See also

*
List of people from Sussex This is a list of people from Sussex, a historic county in southern England. The following are people who were either born, brought up or have lived for a significant period of time in Sussex, or for whom Sussex is a significant part of the ...


References

{{reflist


External links

* /www.hastings.gov.uk/community_living/tourism_culture/arts_culture/famous_residents Hastings Borough Council - Famous Residents website* /www.1066online.co.uk/hastings-history/famous-residents/ Famous Residents of Hastings & St Leonardsat 1066 online Hastings People from Hastings People from Hastings