Plaques can be seen on the Notable Names Wall for the following people:
William Beldham
William ‘Silver Billy’ Beldham was an English cricketer who was born in Wrecclesham 1766. He played professionally for Farnham, Hampshire, Surrey, Marylebone, and England. He died in Tilford, 1862, aged 96.
Michael Blower
Michael Blower MBE FRIBA FRSA, born 1929, is a former councillor and Mayor of Waverley, Surrey County councillor and architect. Michael has committed decades of his life to recording and preserving west Surrey’s architectural heritage. Some of the key buildings where Michael has played an important role include the Farnham Maltings, the Farnham Pottery, the Victoria Garden and the New Ashgate Gallery. Michael has been pre-eminent in making a case for the preservation and restoration of Farnham’s cultural heritage. He has done this through his immense contribution to the Farnham Society, and the Farnham Building Preservation Trust and informally through his delightful watercolours and environmental viewpoint column in the Farnham Herald.
Charles Bone and Shelia Mary Mitchell
Charles Bone is a painter, muralist and ceramicist born in Farnham in 1926. He was married to Sheila Mary Mitchell, a figurative Sculptor specializing in Bronze and Terracota, from 1951 until her death in 2006. Bone has completed murals in Spain, Italy and Malta and was an honorary member of the medical art, Canadian artists, and botanical art societies. The two often held joint exhibitions of their work. An example of her work, a statue of William Cobbett atop a horse, can be viewed in Farnham Town Centre.
William Cobbett
William Cobbett is arguably the most influential person Farnham has ever produced. Cobbett was born in 1763 to a comparatively humble family, and as a small boy began his working life scaring the birds in the fields. He had little formal education but eventually became Member of Parliament for Oldham. Between these two occupations he was at various times: a professional soldier, farmer, publisher, author, journalist, pamphleteer, business man and one of the greatest of all political agitators. Generally remembered for his ‘Rural Rides’ and as the founder of ‘Hansard’, Cobbett, as a political journalist, was a thorn in the flesh of successive governments. For nearly 40 years he occupied a unique position of power using his brilliant pen to support the labouring poor by exposing corruption and dishonesty, earning himself the name, ‘The Poor Man’s Friend’. No ordinary individual before or since has had such a dominating influence in public affairs on both sides of the Atlantic. William Cobbett died in 1835 and is buried at St Andrew’s Church.
Nick Craig
Nick Craig was born in 1969 and began his sailing career at Frensham Pond Sailing Club. He has gone on to win many of the sailing world’s most respected racing titles and in 2011, it was calculated that he had won an impressive 37 world, European and national titles. Nick is cited as the world’s finest amateur racing sailor.
In 2011, Craig was awarded the Pantaenius UK Yachtsman of the Year, which is a remarkable achievement for an amateur sailor. He earned the award after winning the OK Dinghy World Championship for a record-equalling fourth time and the Endeavour Championship trophy for the fifth time. The Endeavour Championship is an annual invitation only event to find the overall dinghy champion of champions from the UK’s most popular dinghy racing classes.
Stephen Elmer
Stephen Elmer was born in 1715 and died in 1796. He resided in Farnham for all his life. He was a painter.
Harold Falkner
Local architect Harold Falkner was born in 1875 and had a profound influence on architectural style in Farnham for much of the 20th century. Falkner had considerable artistic talent and by the time he left school, at the age of 15, he had decided to become an architect. He studied art and wood carving, served an apprenticeship with a local builder and was articled to a London firm of architects. In 1897 he set up his own practice in Farnham. Falkner and his friend Charles Borelli, a wealthy businessman and property owner, campaigned actively for the preservation of local buildings on which Falkner would then do restoration work, often with suitable materials salvaged from other buildings. During his lifetime, Falkner received only limited recognition but his work is now much sought after. Falkner’s abiding legacy is his influence on the architectural style of Farnham, which stemmed from his love and concern for the town’s historic buildings. Harold Falkner died in 1963 and is buried in West Street cemetery.
Madge Green
Madge Green, born in 1927, was the driving force behind the Farnham in Bloom volunteers for so many years. She was an accomplished journalist, a prized gardener and flower arranger who took Farnham to her heart when she moved here in 1955. Amongst Madge’s many claims to fame as a journalist were her interviews with the Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher when she was Prime Minister, and Dame Barbara Cartland. Madge loved flower arranging became a national judge for the National Association of Flower Arrangement Society and helped establish the society’s hugely successful Aldershot branch.
In Farnham, Madge founded the Farnham and District Charity Support Group with a group of friends, and it was this same group of friends that Madge would go on to adopt the fledgling Farnham in Bloom project in 1990 with the sole aim of making Farnham a beautiful town in which to live, work and visit. The team cleared litter, watered and deadheaded plants and cleared graffiti giving Farnham the edge over neighbouring towns. Over the next 15 years, Madge and her green-fingered team won numerous awards including prizes from South East in Bloom, a special mention in the Queen Mother’s birthday awards and a nomination to represent South East in Bloom. In 2005, Madge handed over the reins to Farnham Town Council, and Farnham in Bloom has gone from strength to strength thanks to the strong foundations built by Madge and her team. Madge Green passed away in 2017.
Arthur Hackney
Arthur Hackney who was born in Yorkshire in 1925 and studied at Burselm School of Art, Yorkshire and later at the Royal College of Art in London. He served in the Royal Navy between 1942 and 1946 and, in 1949 he won a travelling scholarship to Rome with the Royal college of Art. Arthur Hackney later became a teacher followed by head of printmaking at the West Surrey College of Art and Design until he retired. He was honoured as a Senior Fellow of the Royal Society of Painter/Printmakers and member of the Royal Watercolour Society. He died in 2010.
His work is held in many public collections including the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Henry Hammond
Henry Hammond was born in 1914. He studied at the Croydon School of Art until, at the age of 20, he won a scholarship to the Royal College of Art. He is best known for his brush decorated stoneware, but also worked in porcelain and in his early days as a potter.
In 1939 he was offered a job as the pottery instructor at the West Surrey College of Art. He was unable to accept as he had been called to serve his country in the Second World War. After his return from war, Henry Hammond spent some time in St Ives with the studio potter and art teacher Bernard Leach. He later returned to Surrey to take up the role of pottery instructor until he retired in 1980. After the war, Henry Hammond shared a studio in Bentley with colleague and potter Paul Barron. Together they helped to build up the ceramics department at Farnham School of Art.
Henry was awarded the MBE in 1980. He passed away in 1989.
Mike Hawthorn
Mike Hawthorn’s father Leslie owned the Tourist Trophy Garage in East Street and from an early age, young Michael (born 1929) was riding motorcycles and driving cars. As a young man he began to make his name in motor racing circles and in 1952 finished fourth in the World Championship. Further successes followed including winning the Drivers’ World Championship title from Stirling Moss. Mike Hawthorn crowned his career by winning the World Motor Racing Championship in 1958 and announced his retirement from racing to concentrate on his other interests. Sadly on 22 January 1959, just three months after his retirement, he was killed in a road accident on the Guildford bypass and was laid to rest in West Street Cemetery. More information on the ‘Farnham Flyer’ as Mike Hawthorn was nicknamed can be found on the Mike Hawthorn website.
Barbara Inkpen
Born in 1949, Barbra Inkpen (later Lawton) was an Athlete who won gold in the High Jump at the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games and competed in both the 1968 Mexico City and 1972 Munich Olympic games. She broke the British record for the High Jump seven times over the course of her life. She passed away in 2021, aged 72.
Henry Jackson MBE and Madge Jackson MBE
Born in 1923 and 1926 respectively, Henry and Madge Jackson founded the Rural Life Living Museum in Tilford after they began to collect old farming equipment and wished to preserve it by putting it on display. They both received MBEs for their work. Madge died in 2003, aged 77 and Henry died in 2004, aged 81.
John Henry Knight
John Henry Knight (born 1847) came from a wealthy family and was able to pursue a wide variety of interests. He was born at Weybourne House but later lived at Barfield. Amongst his many inventions was what is believed to be the first ever British petrol-driven car to run on the road. It was whilst his chauffeur was driving this car in Castle Street in 1897 that he was summonsed for driving a locomotive without a licence and for speeding. John Henry Knight was a founder member of the Automobile Association and entertained them at Barfield on the first club ‘run’. He was also a keen photographer and pioneer of early colour photography. His photographs are an important record of Farnham and the surrounding countryside in the early years of the 20th century. His interest in technology and change is also reflected in his writing with such publications as, ‘Electric Light for Country Houses’ and ‘Reminiscences of a Country Town’. He died in 1917.
Russ Mantle
Russ Mantle was born in 1936 and was a world class cyclist who is the first Briton to cycle 1,000,000 miles over the course of his life. Among other accomplishments Russ won 28 open time trials during his racing career which began in the 1950s and he held a plethora of local records. Throughout his lifetime he was an active member of Farnham and Surrey cycling clubs and still rode at the age of 85. Russ Mantle died in 2023, aged 87.
Kitty Milroy
Eleanor Catherine Wallace Milroy, who was fondly known as Kitty, was born in 1885 and lived in the Farnham area. Kitty was a regular visitor to St Mark’s Church in Hale. Her artistic contribution to Farnham is what earned her a place on the notable names wall. Kitty enrolled in the Slade School of Art in 1906. The school had recently opened its doors to female students and was a renowned centre in mural art. Kitty created the murals in St Mark’s Church between 1911 and 1920. The murals are a great example of the Arts and Crafts movement depicting the Annunciation, the Benedictine and the Gospels, and featured local scenes. Visit St Mark’s website to find out how to view the murals.
Rachel Morris
Gold medal paralympic champion in Bejing 2008, Rachel Morris road training is a familiar sight in Farnham.
Born in 1979 in Guildford, Surrey, Rachel grew up in Farnham where she attended St. Peter’s School. She completed a Duke of Edinburgh programme with the Royal Yachting Association (ROA) at Frensham Pond Sailing Club. It was this experience that introduced Rachel to sailing, a sport in which she reached international level before being forced through illness to turn her hand to other sports after her 17th birthday.
Rachel is an inspirational speaker and is the only British hand cyclist to be crowned double world champion. Rachel was awarded BBC Surrey ‘Sports personality of the Year Award’ in July 2009.
See Rachel Morris’s official website for information about her career to date.
Jean Parratt MBE
Jean Parratt MBE, born in 1935, contributed so much to the life of Farnham and had an amazing knowledge of things that had made Farnham what it is today. From 2004 to 2015 Jean, alongside her husband Ted produced a monthly newspaper, ‘the Farnham Diary’. In 2004, Jean was awarded an MBE for her ‘Service to the Community of Farnham’, characteristically joking that her MBE stood for a Member of Britain’s Eccentrics. In 2010, she was amongst the first to be awarded a Services to Farnham Award presented by the Mayor of Farnham.
For many years, Jean was a familiar face at the Museum of Farnham particularly at the popular Saturday Museum Club, wrote ten illustrated books on Farnham and was also a popular lecturer in schools over a wide area and to collectors’ and wives’ groups (and even to motorcycle clubs). Jean died in 2016 and is remembered as a pillar of the community, and as a teacher, historian, researcher, journalist, author, and raconteur.
Sir Peter Pears
Peter Pears was a British tenor who was born in Farnham in 1910 and died in 1986, aged 75. He worked closely with his personal and professional partner, composer Benjamin Britton. He was knighted in 1978.
Brenda and Sid Simner
Brenda was nominated for a prestigious plaque following a glittering career as a ballroom dancer. Brenda and her husband and dance partner Sid’s first ballroom competition was at The Borough Hall in Godalming. They went on to represent Surrey at the Royal Albert Hall and danced old time ballroom for the Home County South Team for the television show Come Dancing. Amongst their many achievements, the pair were undefeated champions for three years running at the British Championships during the 1980s. In 1988, they won Le Classique De Danse award for the most outstanding amateur old-time dancing. After they turned professional, the couple established the Remnis Dance School in Farnham. They hosted weekly and monthly tea dances and classes from 1989 until 2017. Sid Simner passed away in 2021, aged 79.
Ron Stonehouse
Born in Badshot Lea in 1928, Ron was an accomplished athlete in his own right during the 1950s, running a mile in 4 minutes 11 seconds. He began his athletics career with the then Farnham Athletics Club and was actively involved in its amalgamation in 1966 with Aldershot Athletics Club when it became Aldershot, Farnham and District Athletics Club. He soon entered a career in coaching and it was there that his greatest achievements lie.
Ron Stonehouse trained Olympic runner Christina Boxer at Aldershot, Farnham and District Athletics Club, as well as numerous other local athletes, many to national and international level. Christina competed in three Olympics in the 1980s.
He also spotted the potential of 14-year-old Bernie Ford, coaching him to international level. Bernie twice won the national English cross-country title and finished third in the world competition in 1976. In the 1980s, Ron also trained Roger Hackney, Commonwealth silver medallist who competed in three Olympics.
Ron is remembered locally, however, for training many young athletes from Farnham, Aldershot and the surrounding area, both formally and informally. He continued to coach into his 70s and in 1981 was voted Farnham Sports Personality of the Year. He passed away in 2018.
George Sturt
Local author George Sturt was born in Farnham in 1863 and originally prepared for a career in teaching. On his father’s death in 1884, however, Sturt had to take over the running of the family wheelwright’s business in East Street. Sturt’s true ambition was to become a writer and he found his success in sensitive but unsentimental depictions of rural life in and around the Bourne where he lived. His first success, under the pen name ‘George Bourne’, was The Bettesworth Book (1901) which centred around the character, ‘Bettesworth’ who was his odd-job man and gardener. Other similar books followed. ‘The Wheelwright‘s Shop’ (1923), a vivid account of the work and workmen was an immediate success. George Sturt’s final published work was ‘A Small Boy in the Sixties’ (1927) in which he recorded details of his early life as a boy growing up in Victorian Farnham. George Sturt died in 1927 and is buried in Green Lane cemetery.
Sir Jeffrey Tate CBE
Sir Jeffrey Tate CBE was born in 1943 and attended Wrecclesham Primary School before joining Farnham Grammar School in 1954. He was born with spina bifida but was determined not to let his disability stand in his way. He graduated from Cambridge and, indebted to the medical profession for enabling him to walk, he originally trained and qualified as a doctor.
Sir Jeffrey’s passion for music was evident from a young age and never diminished. It was a chance meeting with the English operatic tenor John Kentish that led to Sir Jeffrey taking up his hobby professionally. He went on to enjoy a distinguished international career, guest conducting almost every major orchestra and opera house in the world. He received a knighthood for his services to British Music Overseas in 2017 and passed away the same year.
The Carpenters of The Great Roof of Westminster Hall
The roof of Westminster Hall was assembled by carpenters in Farnham in 1395 and then was moved via carts to London to be put in place.
Graham Thorpe
Graham Thorpe is a former Cricket player born in 1969. He represented England in 100 test matches from 1993 until his retirement in 2005.
Ray And Beryl Tindle
Sir Ray Tindle was born in 1926 and was educated at Torquay Boys’ Grammar School, having been evacuated from London during the War. After leaving school he enlisted in the 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, an infantry regiment in the British Army and rose to the rank of captain.
Sir Ray met his childhood sweetheart Beryl at school when they were aged seven and were married in Streatham in 1949. Moving to the local area in the 1960s, Ray and Beryl made a huge impact to Farnham over the next 50 years. Sir Ray and Lady Tindle were always supporting local charities and organisations. Sir Ray, affectionately known as Mr Farnham, helped numerous local schools, charities and individuals with specific help and was known for his charm and shrewd business sense.
Sir Ray set up the Tindle Group of regional newspapers and radio stations. At its peak the group owned more than 220 publications.
Sir Ray was made the first Freeman of Farnham for his philanthropy, civic pride and passion for the local community and was the prime mover in saving some key Farnham assets that faced an uncertain future, as well as helping unemployed people through his Tindle Enterprise Centres. He purchased the Wrecclesham Community Centre and gifted it to the town, provided key finance to enable the Bishop’s Meadow Trust to purchase the water meadows and he purchased the historic Church House and the adjacent magistrate’s court.
Sir Ray’s contribution to the Farnham Society, the Farnham Chamber of Commerce and Farnham Castle and his patronage of so many other community organisations was legendary, as was his knack of bringing together key players when there were controversial local matters under discussion.
Sir Ray referred to Lady Tindle as ‘his rock’ for her support and her additional contribution in supporting the town through the opening of the Downing Street Charity Shop in 1987. She ran it with her team of volunteers for 35 years and during this time over £30,000 was raised for various charities. Lady Tindle was made an MBE in 2008 for her voluntary services to Farnham.
Farnham Town Council is particularly grateful to Sir Ray for being the inspiration and sponsor of the Services to Farnham Awards which recognise the service by individuals to the town he loved. In 2014, a newly refurbished area of the Town Hall was named the Tindle Suite in honour of Sir Ray and Lady Tindle’s philanthropy and service to the town.
Ray Tindle passed away in 2022, aged 96 and Beryl Tindle in 2024, aged 97.
Augustus Montague Toplady
Augustus Toplady (1740-1778) is mainly remembered today as author of the hymn ‘Rock of Ages’ although in his short life time he became a noted theologian. Toplady’s father was an army officer and it is thought the Toplady family were travelling to Portsmouth where Major Toplady joined his ship taking him for service in Columbia. Whilst in Farnham, Mrs Toplady went into labour and she was taken into a small cottage which formerly stood on the site of 10 and 11 West Street. Augustus was christened in St. Andrew’s Parish Church where there is a plaque to his memory. Augustus Toplady was educated at Westminster School and Trinity College Dublin. He became a vehement critic of John Wesley and an extreme Calvinist.
John Verney
Born in 1913, John went on to become a decorated war hero, with both a Military Cross and Legion D’honneur, he fought in several campaigns and was one of the first members of the SAS and SBS.
John was a talented artist and published author too. As a painter, he often added a touch of humour to his work. One of his works can be seen on display at Farnham Town Council and depicts the great debate to save the Farnham Maltings. Although John Verney wasn’t able to persuade his colleagues on that particular occasion, his tremendous legacy is that he did succeed and his successors have built on his vision to create a cultural jewel for Farnham. John Verney’s many books included ‘Going to the Wars’ which is a personal account of his time in World War II, his ‘Callendars’ series of children’s books set in Farnham, and his wonderful illustrated ‘Dodo’ pads and address books which are still in print today.
As a trained architect, John Verney had a passion for Farnham’s ancient buildings. He led a committee looking at the grading of local buildings and was a founder of the Farnham Building Preservation Trust. He was an active member of The Farnham Society and was their chairman from 1962 to 1965.
In 1968 John Verney was elected as the local councillor for Castle Ward. He held the seat through the 1971 election and only left the Farnham Urban District Council when it was merged and became Waverley District Council in 1974.
John Verney was married to Jan and together they had seven children. They lived in Farnham for 30 years before moving to Suffolk. He died in 1993, aged 80.
Jonny Wilkinson
A key player in the winning 2003 Rugby World Cup team and voted BBC’s sports personality of the year that year. Jonny Wilkinson was born locally in Frimley, Surrey in 1979 then attended Pierrepont School, Frensham and Lord Wandsworth College near Odiham, Hampshire. Jonny played for Farnham Rugby Club juniors as a youngster and returns to his old haunts when the England team are training at Pennyhill Park. For more information on Jonny Wilkinson’s successes on and off the field see his official website.
William Willet
William Willet was born in Farnham in 1856. He was a builder and a campaigner for the introduction of Daylight Savings. He died in 1915, aged 58. He was the great-great Grandfather of Coldplay Lead Singer Chris Martin.
