Jennie Fletcher (19 March 1890 – 17 January 1968), British competitive swimmer
Later known by her married name Jennie Hyslop, Jennie was a British competitive swimmer, Olympic gold medallist, and former world record-holder. In 1905 she set a new world record in the 100-yard freestyle that stood for seven years. She was selected for the 1908 Olympics, but the women’s swimming events were cancelled due to a shortage of participants. At the 1912 Summer Olympics, she won a gold medal in the 4×100-metre freestyle relay and a bronze medal in the individual 100-metre freestyle race. In 1971 she was inducted to the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an “Honor Swimmer”.
Fletcher was born in an underprivileged family of 11 siblings and had to combine swimming with daily 12-hour work. In 1913 she began teaching swimming in Leicester, which ended her competitive career as she turned from an amateur into a professional. In 1917, she married and emigrated to Canada, where she gave birth to a daughter and five sons.
David Weston (1935–2011), industrial artist and author.
David Weston was born in Belgrave, Leicester, in 1935 to an aircraft engineer father. He initially worked as a draper while pursuing painting in his spare time.[1] Weston’s first gallery and workshop were located in Leicester in the late 1960s, at the junction of Barkby Road and Fairfax Road. He supported his artistic endeavours by providing a picture framing service.
Weston gained recognition as “the Railway Artist” in the 1980s after some of his paintings were accepted by the London Transport Museum.[3] He was featured in two television documentaries, including “Beware of Trains,” which was broadcast in 1981.[1]
Selected paintings from Weston’s History of the Great British Steam Locomotive and Rolls-Royce Fantasia were reproduced as interval slides used by ITV Schools in 1981, 1985 and 1986. In 2009, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) by the University of Leicester.[1]
He lived out his final years with his wife Mary at their home in Kirby Bellars, Leicestershire. He died at the age of 75 on 10 May 2011
Thomas Edgar Sidwell (30 January 1888 – 8 December 1958), English cricketer.
A right-hand batsman and a wicketkeeper, Sidwell made 392 appearances for Leicestershire County Cricket Club between 1913 and 1933. His 551 catches and 127 stumpings were a county record until beaten by Roger Tolchard, and his keeping skill made him a rival of incumbent national keeper Herbert Strudwick though Sidwell was never selected for England. Two of his three centuries came in the 1928 season where he hit 1,153 runs, and he batted in both the lower and top order.
George Walton (3 December 1863 – 30 June 1921), English cricketer.
Walton was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm fast-medium. Walton made his first-class debut for Leicestershire against the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1894 at Lord’s. He made seven further first-class appearances for Leicestershire in 1894, with his final first-class appearance coming against Nottinghamshire in the 1895 County Championship.[1] In nine matches, he scored a total of 88 runs at an average of 6.76, with a high score of 24,[2] while with the ball he took 17 wickets at a bowling average of 24.94, with best figures of 4/64.[3]
He died at Belgrave on 30 June 1921.
Tony Sibson, Boxer
Tony Sibson was Commonwealth and European champion and a three-time world title challenger. His speed coupled with rugged power enabled him to be ranked as one of the best middleweights in the world and ultimately challenge Marvin Hagler for his world crown.
