The comedian and actor Tony Hancock lived in Bournemouth for much of his early life, living first in his parent’s hotel before moving to a second hotel, run by his mother and step-father.(Rawlings p.129) http://birmingham.gov.uk/hancock http://www.themediabriefing.com/people/tony-hancock Actors Stewart Granger, then James Labache Stewart,(Rawlings p.127) Charles Gray,(Rawlings p.127) Lionel Jeffries http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/features/snapshotsofthepast/8489059.Bournemouth__a_town_with_so_much_character_/ and Christian Bale (Rawlings p.127) have also resided in the borough.
Bournemouth has been the home of sporting world champions: Ladies Wimbledon winner in 1977,Virginia Wade was born in the town, as was the boxer, Freddie Mills, who won the World Light Heavyweight title in 1948. http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/features/snapshotsofthepast/9044403.Boxing_champ_was_not_run_of_the_Mills/ http://www.bournemouth.gov.uk/NewsEvents/SpotlightFeatures/SupportingContent/BournemouthBrouchure08.pdf Another famous sportsman, the athlete Charles Bennett, lived in the town after he retired. Bennett, was the first British track and field athlete to become Olympic Champion, winning two gold medals and a silver at the Paris Games in 1900.