Gosport Celebs past and present
who either live/lived or worked in Gosport or
are/were regular visitors

Richard "Dickie" Dawson was born Colin Emm in Gosport and lived in Durley Road and at 91 Queens Road.  At 14 he joined the Merchant Navy and took up boxing during his three-year stint. Back in Gosport he worked as a conductor on Provincial buses.  Remembered by most for Hogan's Heroes (Cpl Peter Newkirk).  website link

Diana Dors was a regular visitor to Gosport up until her death in 1984.  Her connections with Gosport were the family of Colin Emm, whom she married in 1959 and was divorced from in 1967.  website link

Nat Gonella, jazz singer and musician who moved to Gosport in 1977 and lived in Clayhall Road with his wife.  Raglan House in Gordon Road was his home in his later years.  He died in 1998.  Many accolades on the jazz websites.  website link

Peter O'Flaherty, the bass guitarist with Simon Dupree & the Big Sound, was born and brought up in Gosport (The Crossways), and went to St Mary's School in Anns Hill Road.  From 1963 to 1973 − before, during and after the Dupree years − he lived above Hugs the Jewellers in the High Street.  In 1973 he emigrated to Auckland, New Zealand, where he still lives.  Before finding fame with the Big Sound he played in local Gosport band The Classics.  Visit his website

Tony Ransley, the drummer with Simon Dupree & the Big Sound, was born and brought up in Gosport.  After pop fame he ran a gents hairdressing salon in Brockhurst Road Gosport.  Believed to be now living in the Stubbington area.  Before the Big Sound he played in local Gosport band The Classics along with Peter O'Flaherty.    website link

Phil Shulman,  vocalist, sax and trumpet player with Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, was born in Glasgow but moved to Portsmouth early in his life.  During the Dupree years he lived in Portsmouth, as did his brothers Ray and Derek (Simon Dupree).  After leaving Gentle Giant, which the Shulmans formed after the Big Sound, Phil went back to teaching, and then, until a couple of years ago, he ran the Rainbow's End gift shop in Stoke Road Gosport with his wife.  Now retired and living in Hardway.  For more about the Shulmans and Gentle Giant visit blazemonger website.

Mike Hugg (Hug) hails from Gosport and was the drummer with Manfred Mann, and the co-founder of the group.  He co-wrote the hit single 5-4-3-2-1, which was also the theme tune for Ready Steady Go.  A prolific writer of catchy tunes, he had a hit single under the name Highly Likely with the theme song for Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads sitcom (What Happened To You). Still touring with The Manfreds.   website link

Marcus Patric  is soon to be seen in new ITV soap Echo Beach.  Gosport born and bred Marcus previously starred in Hollyoaks as fireman Ben Davies.  Echo Beach starts on ITV in January 2008.  website link

George Costigan was brought up in Gosport.  Widows (TV 1983) Rita Sue and Bob Too (film 1986 - Bob) The Beiderbecke Connection (TV 1988) So Haunt Me (sitcom 1992) The Hawk (film 1992) Calendar Girls (film 2003) The Long Firm (TV 2004) See No Evil (TV 2006 - Inspector Mounsey).  George's parents followed his career from their home in Forton Road.  website link

Diane Keen lived and went to school in Gosport.  From the Cuckoo Waltz (TV sitcom) in 1975 through to the BBC's Doctors 2008.  website link

Keith Allen lived in Gosport and went to Brune Park school.  From TV series Martin Chuzzlewit (1994), Bodies (TV 2004), through to Robin Hood (TV 2006 - Sheriff of Nottingham).  website link

Ian Bartholomew was brought up in Gosport and went to Brune Park School.   Harry, The Bill, Without Motive, and plenty of theatre.   website link

Wally Barnes was a promising boxer as a boy in Gosport in the 1930s, but he chose football and went on to play for Southampton and Arsenal (FA Cup winning side 1950), and internationally for Wales.

Roger Black, the former world champion 400-metre runner, was brought up in Gosport, the son of a doctor, and now runs a motivational company as well as TV presenting.  website link

Trevor Jesty is another well-known sporting name from Gosport.  Trevor played cricket for England, and Hampshire amongst other counties.  website link

Davina McCall - big brother's Davina visits dad in Gosport.  website link

Lilian Harry, best-selling author, was born and brought up in Gosport, and some of her wartime romantic novels are set in Portsmouth.  Lilian now lives in Dartmoor.  The Girls They Left Behind, PS I Love You, Wives and Sweethearts, to name but a few of her books.  website link

Philippa Gregory, best-selling author - Wideacre, A Respectable Trade (book and TV), The Other Boleyn Girl (book and TV).  Philippa was a reporter for the Portsmouth News in the early 1980s and was based in the Gosport branch office in the High Street.  Her byline in those days was Pippa Gregory.  website link

Joe Jackson, the singer songwriter, moved to Gosport from Paulsgrove when he was a teenager and lived in Shaftesbury Road.  He started writing songs at age 11 and is usually associated with "Is She Really Going Out With Him" and "It's Different For Girls".   website link

Gary Glitter, glam rock star.  Before the glitter tarnished, the leader of the gang was a frequent face in Gosport, the Marina being a long-term base for him and his boat.  And for a time he was a member of the Alverstocracy − in his pre-glitter days he lived in Ellachie Mews.

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(The Prince of Wales doesn't qualify, even if he has danced with a girl who's danced with a man who lives in Gosport)
 

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