Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 1, 2026

List of people from Swindon

Swindon is a large town in Wiltshire, England; its residents are called Swindonians and many have achieved notability throughout its history.Heidi Alexander – Labour Party MP for Swindon South Mehdi Hasan - British-American broadcaster and journalist Sam Allen – football manager at Swindon Town Joseph Armstrong – engineer and the second locomotive superintendent of the Great Western Railway lived, worked and is buried in Swindon Dean Ashton – Premiership footballer, played for West Ham United, born in Swindon Colin Bailey – drummer Ralph Bates – writer Carl Benjamin – YouTuber, political commentator better known as Sargon of Akkad Billy Bodin – 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 – actress, born in Swindon, 1968 Julian Clary – comedian, formerly a resident of Rodbourne, but not born in Swindon. His family still lives in the area. Jamie Cox – boxer, ABA light-welterweight champion. Won a gold medal for the England team at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. Jack Dangers – musician, producer, founder of electronic band Meat Beat Manifesto Rick Davies – founder and member of the band Supertramp Diana Dors – actress, born in Swindon; celebrated by a larger-than-life-statue outside the West Swindon cinema complex John Eatwell, Baron Eatwell, economist and Labour peer Harold Fleming (footballer) – Swindon Town footballer 1907–1924, capped nine times for England John Francome – novelist, sports commentator and former jockey Sam Fuller - drummer for punk rock band Peter and the Test Tube Babies Charlie George - comedian and comedy writer Mark Harper – Conservative Party politician was born in Swindon Mehdi Hasan, journalist, born in Swindon Tommy Hatto – actor, most notable in the films Thor: The Dark World and Jennifer Lopez: Dance Again 3D. Born in Swindon. Justin Hayward – lead guitarist, vocalist and composer for The Moody Blues David Hempleman-Adams – explorer Alex Henshall – footballer for Manchester City. Born in Swindon. Nick Hewer – public relations officer and businessman. One of Alan Sugar's advisers on The Apprentice. Born in the town. David Howell – Ryder Cup golfer and five-time winner on the European Tour Richard Jefferies – 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 – singer and songwriter Mark Lamarr – TV presenter, comedian, and radio DJ. Grew up in Park South. Jon Lewis – England and Gloucestershire cricketer Melinda Messenger – former glamour model and television presenter Antony Micallef – artist Hannah Miley – swimmer, 400m medley champion at the World Short Course Championships Desmond Morris – 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 politician who was 2nd mayor of Swindon and an MP. William Ewart Morse – 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 – Irish born, Swindon raised, singer/songwriter William Overton – cricketer Charlie Paynter – manager of West Ham United, 1932–1950 Bob Peart – football player with Burnley, Swindon Town, Headington United, Cheltenham Town Billie Piper – 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 Don Rogers – Swindon Town footballer Leonard Rwodzi – rapper, born in Zimbabwe but grew up in Swindon Rachel Shelley – actress, born in Swindon Tim Smith – 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, member of the Royal Society, designed Princess Coronation Class engines, born in Wellington Street, Swindon in 1876 Ben Thatcher – football player with Ipswich Town F.C. Mark G. Thomas – scientist Alfred Williams – hammerman at the GWR works 1892–1914, author, poet and collector of folk songs Tom Wisdom – actor XTC – pop rock band from Swindon Terry Chambers – founding member, drummer from 1972 to 1982. Born in Swindon. Dave Gregory – lead guitarist from 1979 to 1999. Born in Swindon. Colin Moulding – founding member, second songwriter, vocalist, and bassist for the band. Born in Swindon. Andy Partridge – founding member, guitarist and chief songwriter. Born in Malta, raised in Swindon, where he lives. Thaila Zucchi – Italian/British singer and actress, starred in Balls of Steel

Last revised
Jul 1, 2026
Read time
≈ 4 min
Length
990 w
Citations
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Swindon is a large town in Wiltshire, England; its residents are called Swindonians and many have achieved notability throughout its history.

References

References

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  2. "Swindon History | Joseph Armstrong | GWR Chief Mechanical Engineer | SwindonWeb". www.swindonweb.com. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  3. "Swindon People | Julian Clary 'Honorary' Swindondian | SwindonWeb". www.swindonweb.com. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  4. "Comedian Julian Clary steps back to school in Cricklade". Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  5. "Ten things to celebrate about Swindon No 4: The sculptures. B – 'Diana Dors'". Born again Swindonian. 15 June 2013. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015 – via Internet Archive.
  6. "Mark Harper: "I will vote Conservative, but I can understand why many of our supporters aren't going to'". Politics Home. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  7. Turvill, William (10 March 2022). "Mehdi Hasan on making it in America and why media can't 'reset the clock' on Trump". Press Gazette. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  8. E. Alex Chung (23 April 2024). "Mehdi Hasan Wants to Debate You". New York Magazine. Retrieved 28 August 2025.(subscription required)
  9. "Edith New SUFFRAGETTE". SWINDON HERITAGE BLUE PLAQUES. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  10. Homewood, Ben (4 June 2020). "Making Waves: S1mba". Music Week.
  11. UCL (13 February 2019). "Mark Thomas". UCL Division of Biosciences. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  12. Alfred Williams Heritage Society