List of people from Coventry

This is a list of people from Coventry, a city in the West Midlands region of England. The list is arranged alphabetically by surname.

Table of contents: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T W

A

• Jassa Ahluwalia (born 1990), actor, TV and radio presenter^[1]
• Bob Ainsworth (born 1952), former Labour Party politician, Member of Parliament for Coventry North East and Secretary of State for Defence^[2]
• Alice Arnold (1881–1955), politician, trade unionist and first female mayor of Coventry^[3]
• John Ash (1723–1798), English physician and founder of Birmingham General Hospital^[4]
• Martin Atkins (born 1959) drummer in post-punk and industrial groups Public Image Ltd, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, Pigface, and Killing Joke^[5]

B

• Neil Back (born 1969), rugby union player who played 66 times for England^[6]
• Angela Bailey (1962–2021), Canadian track and field athlete and Olympic medallist^[7]
• Gillian Barber (born 1958), actress^[8]
• Jessica Barry (born 1994), super featherweight boxer^[9]
• Ian Bell (born 1982), Warwickshire and England cricketer^[6]
• John Blakemore (born 1936), photographer^[10]
• Sara Blizzard (born 1970), weather presenter^[11]
• Jordan Bolger (born 1994), actor^[12]
• Laurence Boswell, (born 1959), Olivier Award-winning theatre director.^[13]
• John Bradbury (1953 –2015), drummer of the 2-tone band the Specials^[14]
• Charles Bray (1811–1884), ribbon manufacturer, social reformer and phrenologist^[15]
• Albert Brown (1858–1930), Coventry's first England international footballer^[6]
• Olivia Broadfield (born 1981), singer-songwriter for TV and film^[11]
• Sydney John Bunney (1877–1928), impressionist artist^[16]
• Jocelyn Burgener (born 1949), businesswoman and Canadian politician^[17]
• Joseph Butterworth (1770–1826), law bookseller, philanthropist, politician and Member of Parliament for Coventry from 1812 to 1818^[18]

C

• Sheila Carey (born 1946), middle-distance runner and Olympian^[19]
• Samuel Carter (1805–1878), solicitor and Member of Parliament for Coventry^[20]
• Tom Cartwright (1935–2007), Warwickshire and England cricketer^[6]
• Cathy Cassidy (born 1962), children's writer^[21]
• William Chattaway (1927–2019), sculptor and draughtsman^[22]
• Fontaine Chapman (born 1990), badminton player^[23]
• Lee Child (born 1954), novelist best known for his Jack Reacher series^[24]
• David Clements (born 1994), ice hockey player for Coventry Blaze and the British men's national team^[25]
• Paul Clews (born 1979), motorcycle speedway rider^[26]
• Rowena Cole (born 1992), middle distance runner^[27]
• Anketil de Coleshull (active in 1295), first known Member of Parliament for Coventry^[28]
• Ray Colledge (1922–2014), mountaineer^[29]
• Cyril Connolly (1903–1974), literary critic and writer^[30]
• William of Coventry (active c.1340–1360), Carmelite friar and historian^[31]
• Mary Creagh (born 1967), Labour Party politician and Member of Parliament for Coventry East^[32]
• Cyrus Christie (born 1992), footballer^[33]
• Cal Crutchlow (born 1985), MotoGP motorcycle racer^[34]

D

• Dominic Dale (born 1971), professional snooker player and commentator for the BBC and Eurosport^[35]
• Christopher Davenport (1598–1680), Catholic theologian, religious controversialist, and royal chaplain^[36]
• Dame Laura Davies (born 1963), professional golfer^[37]
• Neol Davies (born 1952), guitarist of 2 tone band the Selecter^[38]
• Peter Ho Davies (born 1966), writer^[39]
• Delia Derbyshire (1937–2001), composer of electronic music and creator of the theme music to the BBC TV series Doctor Who^[40]
• Marlon Devonish (born 1976), sprinter and Olympic gold medallist^[34]
• Lisa Dillon (born 1979), actress^[5]
• Reg Dixon (1915–1984), comedian^[41]
• Yvonne Dolphin-Cooper (born 1956), cricket umpire and member of the first-all female umpiring duo in ECB Premier League history^[42]
• Lee Dorrian (born 1968), heavy metal musician of bands Napalm Death, Cathedral, Septic Tank and With the Dead^[43]
• Thomas Edward Dunville (1867–1924) music hall comedian^[44]

E

• Mary Eaves (c. 1805/6–1875), midwife^[45]
• Thomas Edwards (1729–1785), Anglican clergyman, divine and writer^[46]
• George Eld (1791–1862), antiquary and editor of the Coventry Standard^[47]
• Evelyn Evans (1910–2005), British librarian who founded libraries in Ghana^[48]
• John Eyre (born 1771), painter and engraver, transported to New South Wales as a convict^[49]

F

• Nan Fairbrother (1913–1971), writer and environmentalist^[50]
• Tom Farndon (1910–1935), speedway rider^[51]
• Jade Faulkner (born 1993), gymnast and Olympian^[52]
• Colleen Fletcher (born 1954), former Labour Party politician and Member of Parliament for Coventry North East^[53]
• Richard Forster (c.1546–1616), physician and astrologer^[54]
• Danusia Francis (born 1994), gymnast and Olympian^[55]
• Mary Franklin (1800–1867), schoolmistress^[56]
• Connie Frazer (1925–2002), poet and writer^[57]
• Emma Fryer (born 1980), comedian and actress^[58]

G

• Cathy Galvin (born 1959), poet and journalist^[59]
• David Gee (1793–1872), oil painter^[60]
• Frederick Gibberd (1908–1984), English architect, town planner and landscape designer^[61]
• Chelsie Giles (born 1997), judoka and Olympic medallist^[62]
• Neelam Gill (born 1995), international fashion model^[63]
• Lady Godiva (died between 1066 and 1086), Anglo-Saxon noblewoman and figure of legend^[64]
• Andy Goode (born 1980), former England international rugby union fly-half^[65]
• Bobby Gould (born 1946), former footballer and manager^[66]
• Melissa Graham (born 1975), singer-songwriter in band Solid HarmoniE^[5]
• Danny Grewcock (born 1972), rugby union lock who played for England^[6]
• Theresa Griffin (born 1962), Labour Party politician and former Member of the European Parliament for the North West England constituency^[67]
• Alfred Robert Grindlay (1876–1965), inventor, industrialist and politician^[68]
• Joseph Gutteridge (1816–1899), silk weaver, microscopist and naturalist^[69]

H

• Terry Hall (1959–2022), lead singer of the 2-tone band the Specials^[70]
• Mary Dormer Harris (1867–1936), local historian, translator, writer and suffragist^[71]
• Nigel Hawthorne (1929–2001), actor^[65]
• Vince Hill (1934-2023), traditional pop music singer and songwriter^[72]
• Edward Hopkins (c. 1675 – 1736), Whig Member of Parliament for Coventry^[73]
• Amy Hurlston (1865–1949), journalist, editor, social campaigner, suffragist and trade unionist^[74]

I

• Frank Ifield (1937-2024), English-Australian country music singer, yodeller and guitarist^[75]
• Langton Iliffe, 2nd Baron Iliffe, businessman and peer; owned the controlling interests in newspapers in Birmingham and Coventry, including the Birmingham Post, the Birmingham Mail and the Coventry Evening Telegraph^{[citation needed]}
• Harold Innocent (1933–1993), actor^[76]

J

• Margot James (born 1957), Conservative Party politician, former Member of Parliament for Stourbridge and Minister of State for Digital and Creative Industries^[77]
• William Jesson (1580–1651), dyer, politician and former Member of Parliament for Coventry in the Short Parliament^[78]
• Yasmin Javadian (born 2000), judoka and Commonwealth Games medallist^[79]
• JAY1 (born 1998), rapper and songwriter^[65]
• Dominic Jephcott (born 1957), actor^[80]
• Sally Jones, tennis player, writer and TV presenter^[81]
• Gillian Joseph (born 1969), newscaster and weekend anchor of Sky News at Ten^[82]
• Graham Joyce (1954–2014), fantasy and speculative fiction writer^[83]

K

• Jackie Kabler (born 1966), TV presenter and writer^[84]
• Tamla Kari (born 1988), actress^[85]
• Charlotte Kelly (born 1977), singer and member of R&B group Soul II Soul^[86]
• Richard Keys (born 1957), sports TV presenter^[87]
• Guz Khan (born 1986), comedian and actor^[88]
• Sarah Jane Kirk (1829–1916), New Zealand temperance leader, suffragist and human rights activist^[89]
• Thomas Kirk (1828–1898), New Zealand botanist, teacher, public servant, writer and churchman^[90]
• Aimee Knight (born 1997), former Green Party and Liberal Democrats politician and transgender activist^[91]
• Neil Kulkarni (1972–2024), music critic and writer^[92]

L

• Billy Lane (1922–1980), angler and author^[93]
• Philip Larkin (1922–1985), poet, novelist, and librarian^[94]
• Lisa Lashes (born 1971), music producer and electronic dance music DJ^[95]
• John David Lawson (1923–2008), engineer and physicist^{[citation needed]}
• Jen Ledger (born 1989), drummer and co-vocalist of the Christian rock band Skillet^[96]
• Yasmin Liverpool (born 1999), 200m and 400m sprinter^[97]
• Leon Lloyd (born 1977), retired English rugby union footballer, played for Leicester Tigers^[98]
• Alice Lowe (born 1977), actress, screenwriter and film director^{[citation needed]}

M

• Sharon Maguire (born 1960), film director best known for directing Bridget Jones's Diary^[99]
• Margery Manners (1926–1997), music hall performer and TV actress^[100]
• Clint Mansell (born 1963), lead singer of rock band Pop Will Eat Itself and film music composer^[5]
• Tom Mann (1856–1941), trade unionist and activist^[101]
• John Marquez (born 1970), actor^[102]
• Ian Marter (1944–1986), actor^[11]
• Beverley Martyn (born 1947), folk rock singer, songwriter and guitarist^[103]
• Dame Clare Marx (1954–2022), surgeon and former president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England^[104]
• Sian Massey-Ellis (born 1985), football referee in English Premier and Football Leagues^[105]
• Brian Matthew (1928–2017), BBC Radio 2 broadcaster^[106]
• Reg Matthews (1933–2001), England football goalkeeper^[107]
• Sinead Matthews (born 1980), actress^[108]
• Panjabi MC (born 1970), recording artist, rapper, record producer and DJ^[109]
• Dave McCalla (born 1973), GB 4-man Bobsleigh Athlete, Olympian. Competed at 2002 Winter Olympic Games, Salt Lake City Utah^[110]
• Jamie McGough, former boxer turned playwright^[111]
• Millie McKenzie (born 2000), professional wrestler and longest reigning CPW Women’s Champion^[112]
• Carla Mendonça (born 1961), actress^[113]
• Clara Milburn (1883–1961), diarist and housewife whose writing gives an insight into domestic life during the Second World War^[114]
• Brian Mitchell (born 1967), Australian Labor Party politician^[115]
• David Moorcroft (born 1953), athlete, Olympian and former world record holder for the men's 5,000 metres^[116]
• Billie Myers (born 1971), pop singer best known for her hit song Kiss the Rain

N

• Dave Nellist (born 1952), Militant tendency politician in the Labour Party, former Member of Parliament and current National Chair of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC)^[117]
• Rhoda Holmes Nicholls (1854–1930), watercolour and oil painter^[118]
• Simon Norton (1578–1641), dyer, politician and former Member of Parliament^[119]

O

• Hazel O'Connor (born 1954), singer-songwriter and actress^[120]
• Patricia O'Connor (born 1941), soccer player and captain of the first Australia women's national soccer team^[121]
• Christine Oddy (1955–2014), Labour Party politician and former Member of the European Parliament for the Midlands Central constituency^[122]
• Clive Owen (born 1964), actor^[123]

P

• Julins Palmer (d. 1556), English Protestant martyr^[124]
• Henry Parkes (1815–1896), statesman and founder of modern Australia^[125]
• Robin Parkinson (1929–2022), actor^[126]
• Bharti Patel, actress^[127]
• Elizabeth Percival (1906–1997), research chemist^[128]
• April Phillips (born 1965), screenwriter, director and producer of film and theatre^[129]
• Jill Phipps (1964–1995), animal rights activist^[130]
• Pamela Vandyke Price (1923–2014), wine expert and writer^[131]

R

• Roddy Radiation (born 1955), lead guitarist of the 2-tone band the Specials^[132]
• Julianne Regan (born 1962), lead singer and songwriter of the rock band All About Eve^[5]
• Ann Rollason (1760s–1846), printer and bookseller who published the Coventry Mercury newspaper from 1813 to 1846^[133]
• Alison Rose (born 1961), former diplomat and British ambassador to Belgium^[134]
• Roy Rutherford (born 1973), boxer who held the British featherweight title in 2003 and the English super featherweight title from 2004 to 2005^[135]

S

• Selaine Saxby (born 1970), Conservative Party politician and former Member of Parliament for North Devon^[136]
• Doc Scott (born 1971), drum and bass DJ and producer, also known as Nasty Habits^[137]
• Henry Sewall (1544–1628), draper, politician and former Member of Parliament^[78]
• Ciara Sexton (born 1988), Irish dancer and choreographer^[138]
• Thomas Sharp (1770– 1841), antiquary^[139]
• Eileen Sheridan (1923–2023), road record-breaking cyclist^[140]
• Tarsame "Taz" Singh Saini (1967–2022), lead singer of the band Stereo Nation^[141]
• Rachel Smith (born 1993), rhythmic gymnast and Olympian^[142]
• James Starley (1830-1881), inventor and father of the bicycle industry.^[143]
• Thomas Stevens (1828–1888), weaver and inventor of Stevengraph woven silk pictures^[144]
• Graham Stevenson (1950–2020), trade union leader and former National Secretary for the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU)^[145]
• Graham Sykes (1937–2008), competitive swimmer and Olympian^[146]
• Graham Symonds (1937–2006), competitive swimmer and Olympian^[147]

T

• Les Tarrant (1903–1979), bantamweight boxer and Olympian^[148]
• Dick Taylor (born 1945), long distance runner and Olympian^[149]
• Dame Ellen Terry (1847–1928), leading English actress of the late 19th and early 20th centuries^[150]
• Conor Thomas (born 1993), Coventry City footballer^[151]
• Freya Thomas (born 2001), footballer^[152]
• Peter Thomas (1944–2023), footballer who made two international appearances for the Republic of Ireland^[153]
• Geoff Thompson (born 1960), BAFTA-winning writer and martial artist.^[154]
• Donald Trelford (1937–2023), editor of The Observer newspaper from 1975 to 1993^[155]

V

• Joseph Vernon (1738–1782), boy soprano and actor^[156]
• Manjinder Virk (born 1975), actress, director and writer^[157]

W

• George Wagstaffe (born 1930), sculptor^[158]
• Rowena Wallace (born 1947), actress^[11]
• Melissa Walton (born 1990), actress^[159]
• Kevin Warwick (born 1954), cybernetics scientist^[123]
• Pete Waterman (born 1947), record producer, songwriter, radio and club DJ and television presenter^[160]
• John Watts (1818–1887), educational and social reformer^[161]
• Billie Whitelaw (1932–2014), actress^[162]
• Tony Whittaker (1932–2016), solicitor and politician, co-founder and first leader of PEOPLE, forerunner of the Ecology Party and Green Party UK^[163]
• Sir Frank Whittle (1907–1996), inventor of the jet engine^[164]
• Daphne Wilkinson (born 1932), freestyle swimmer and Olympian^[165]
• Arthur Wills (1926–2020), composer, organist and Director of Music at Ely Cathedral (1958–1990)^[166]
• Callum Wilson (born 1992), footballer^[167]
• River Wilson-Bent (born 1994), middleweight boxer^[168]
• Mark Wood (born 1966), explorer^[169]
• Tom Wood (born 1986), rugby union flanker^[6]
• Hilda Woodward (1913–1999), pianist for the band Lieutenant Pigeon^[170]

Z

• Salma Zahid (born 1970), Liberal Party of Canada politician^[171]