Wells - Notable People

Notable People

• Herbert E. Balch – cave explorer and founder of Wells Museum. His name was given to Balch Road, a council estate that was built in the 1950s.
• Mary Bignall-Rand – Gold medalist and world record breaker in the long jump at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
• Harry George Crandon – awarded the Victoria Cross during the Boer War.
• Sir Chris Clarke – county councillor for Wells from 1985 to 2005.
• Alexander Davie – born in Wells 1847, became 7th Premier of British Columbia.
• Roger Hollis – Director General of MI5.
• John Holloway – Governor of Newfoundland (1807–1809) and Admiral of the Blue.
• John Keate – born in Wells 1773, went on to become headmaster at Eton where he restored discipline with the birch, and once flogged 80 boys in one day.
• James Keene – professional footballer formerly of Portsmouth FC, playing for IF Elfsborg in Sweden.
• Harry Patch – last trench veteran of World War I, and at 111, briefly the oldest man in Europe and 3rd oldest man in the world. He was born in the nearby village of Combe Down and at the time of his death in July 2009 he was living in local care home Fletcher House.
• Hugh of Wells – native of Wells, Bishop, elder brother of Jocelin of Wells.
• Jocelin of Wells – native of Wells, Bishop, aided in creation of Magna Carta and largely responsible for the construction of the cathedral.
• Edgar Wright – film and television director. Directed Hot Fuzz, which was filmed in the city.