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Do you have any famous family members?

(99 Posts)
Beswitched Sun 28-Mar-21 13:08:33

My nephew aged 9 was watching celebrity family fortunes the other day and apparently very disappointed that our family couldn't enter as we have no celebs amongst our number grin
Just wondering if any posters have well known relatives or friends?

Yiayia4 Sun 28-Mar-21 19:13:00

My great aunt was a very famous Spirtualist.

Gwenisgreat1 Sun 28-Mar-21 19:34:29

Don't know if this counts - my Great Uncle was a founder member of the Welsh National Party. He (Lewis Valentine) and another 2 members set fire to a bombing school being set up in Penyberth. The RAF had planning permission turned down in England but went ahead in Wales regardless. Lewis Valentine was also a Baptist Minister and should of been perfprming the wedding ceremony of my parents in 1937, but was otherwise detained at the time!!

Callistemon Sun 28-Mar-21 19:40:18

I don't have any famous family members myself (mine belong to DH) but I am thrilled to realise I have links to other Gransnetters through their famous relatives.

Eg Lloyd George knew my Father
Father knew Lloyd George

Ellianne if I guess correctly, my MIL knew your famous relative's mother quite well!!

Theone Sun 28-Mar-21 19:46:09

A comedian who is everywhere in TV! Sometimes irreverent, a bit "Marmite", but hilarious in some of his guises and a lovely soul in real life by all accounts - he wouldn't know me at all!

Ellianne Sun 28-Mar-21 20:00:34

Ellianneif I guess correctly, my MIL knew your famous relative's mother quite well!!

Off to check out the family tree
Callistemon. No doubt lots of Marys and Gwens!

Callistemon Sun 28-Mar-21 20:06:30

If I'm correct I think both of them had moved away from their origins ??????? and down to deepest Devon when they met.

Kate1949 Sun 28-Mar-21 20:23:37

My great uncle was a novelist. One of his stories is quite a famous film.

Sago Sun 28-Mar-21 20:36:54

I am related to the late Frank Finlay on my mother’s side and. Vernon Scannell (poet) on my fathers side.
My husband had a godfather who was a household name.

LauraNorder Sun 28-Mar-21 20:45:05

My great uncle Jack was the Wilson of Wilson, Keppel and Betty.
Orlin was very briefly a guitarist with a fairly well known 60’s band.
I have a cousin who is a script writer on a tv soap.
I used to have a shag pile carpet when they were fashionable. And yes we did.

Marydoll Sun 28-Mar-21 20:48:47

My BIL worked with Alex Salmond. Does that count or is it best kept quiet? ?

suziewoozie Sun 28-Mar-21 20:51:37

Marydoll

My BIL worked with Alex Salmond. Does that count or is it best kept quiet? ?

Oh well if we’re talking famous political connections via relatives I have a real rogues gallery .....

Hellogirl1 Sun 28-Mar-21 21:06:12

My grandma told me that her father was the local hangman

Aveline Sun 28-Mar-21 21:06:14

My DGS thinks he's on the way to fame and fortune having been put forward for a very significant Netflix role. We don't have the heart to tell him that it's a very long shot indeed. There will be plenty of others auditioning for that role but he's decided he's off to Hollywood so no point in working at school. Oh dear. Still it'll be educational for him in other ways I suspect.

Anniebach Sun 28-Mar-21 21:14:31

Not famous in the celebrity world, my great uncle , Lord x was
physician to the Queen, famous in the world of medicine

JuliaM Sun 28-Mar-21 21:29:18

Yes, My late uncle was a famous Architect who worked on some of the iconic London buildings, and was in charge of the refurbishment of Highgrove and several other smaller Royal residences. He lived for many years within a Gated community n Buckinghamshire, with Cilla Black and Wendy Craig as Neighbours.

MyStep Brother holds an OBE from his long Career in the Military. He is also a friend of Princess Anne, and the Late Queen mother through their Equestrian connections.

JuliaM Sun 28-Mar-21 21:46:41

I had a bit of a suprise a few days ago to find out that one of the Twin Boys that I used to sometimes Babysit in my 20s went on to become a famous Actor, with leading roles in Emerdale and Eastenders over the years. It felt strange to see the picture of the Bald headed middle aged man he is today!

Maggiemaybe Sun 28-Mar-21 22:29:08

Well, apart from my cousin who was one of the chubby Farley’s Rusk babies on 1950s adverts, no. To paraphrase Ringo, my lot aren’t even famous in our own family. Some of us have rubbed shoulders (and in one case, knuckle dusters) with some famous and infamous folk though.

timetogo2016 Wed 31-Mar-21 12:12:40

Thank you jainansworth.
Definatley not the same lol.

Blondiescot Wed 31-Mar-21 12:16:01

I'm related to the author James Hogg on my mother's side of the family, and possibly to Robert Burns on my father's side. We have traced the Hogg link back, and my father did find a tenuous link to Burns, but couldn't find definite proof. Given Burns' reputation with the ladies, however, it could well be true!

henetha Wed 31-Mar-21 13:15:33

The story, - much repeated, - says that on my birth mother's side, we are descended from the Howards of Norfolk, of whom Catherine Howard was a member.
So I am of royal blood grin

lilypollen Wed 31-Mar-21 13:49:05

I have Kays and Wareings in my family tree in the 19th century, in the right areas in Lancashire. When I've finished with my direct line I'd love to see if there's a connection to Peter or Vernon or Marcus!!

GrandmasueUK Thu 01-Apr-21 00:27:28

My uncle’s cousin was Robert Shaw of Jaws fame. My dad’s cousin’s daughter was Carol Dilworth from the Golden Shot, who is the mother of Chesney Hawkes.

Nicegranny Thu 01-Apr-21 00:52:21

I worked for a very famous British actor a few years ago and I was often seen out with this person. People used to quietly nudge me and whisper “is that actually so and so”.
I used to get very embarrassed.

Hipsy Thu 01-Apr-21 02:47:04

Your mention of Vernon Kay lilypollen reminded me that his wife Tess Daly is my third cousin.

BigBertha1 Thu 01-Apr-21 07:08:08

No but we have hopes for the future if one of them.