Great West Way Travel Magazine | Issue 08

KATE WINSLET Famous for her portrayal of Rose in Titanic amongst other big titles, Kate Winslet is a Reading girl at heart. Born in the town in 1975, Kate grew up in <strong>West</strong> Berkshire where her parents still live today, and went to school in Redroofs Theatre School in Maidenhead. Kate has also appeared in the Divergent films, Finding Neverland, The Reader and Steve Jobs. She has been commemorated by the town with a recycling lorry named after her called ‘Kate Binslet’, a name suggest by local people who recognise her as a local treasure. CARY GRANT Born in 1904 in Horfield, Bristol, Cary Grant moved to the US and became a Broadway actor and later on, signed to Paramount Pictures. Grant was the first actor to be asked to play James Bond on screen but turned it down, however the bond franchise did use 3 other Bristolians – Caroline Bliss, Samantha Bond and Naomie Harris as Miss Moneypenny. You will find a life-sized statue of Cary Grant in Millennium Square in Bristol and street art to commemorate him on Gloucester Road. BILL BAILEY Bill Bailey is a British comedian, musician, actor and author born in Bath in 1965. He spent most of his childhood growing up in Keynsham between Bath and Bristol. Bill’s works include Never Mind the Buzzcocks, a global tour of Bewilderness, multiple appearances in QI and Have I Got News for You. Bill often returns to the area performing at gigs and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Bath in 2018. KATE HUMBLE Famous on Britain’s television screens for her love of nature and wildlife, Kate Humble is <strong>Great</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>Way</strong> born and bred. Born in Wimbledon in 1968, Kate grew up around Bray spending most of her time outdoors with horses and in the countryside. She attended school in Reading and then married husband Ludo Graham, a television producer, in Newbury in 1992. Kate has filmed many programs along the <strong>Great</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>Way</strong> including Animal Park with Ben Fogle at Longleat. 20 <strong>Great</strong><strong>West</strong><strong>Way</strong>.co.uk

THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE The <strong>Great</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>Way</strong> is familiar with England’s royalty particularly with King Charles residing in the Cotswolds and Henry VIII’s former home Hampton Court Palace on the River Thames. The Duchess of Cambridge is no exception as she is a <strong>Great</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>Way</strong> resident through and through. She was born in Reading in 1982 and lived in Bucklebury near Newbury where her family still live. Catherine attended Marlborough College in Wiltshire whilst she was growing up, as did HRH Princess Eugenie. MARY BERRY The baking phenomenon that is Mary Berry is another lady who is <strong>Great</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>Way</strong> through and through. Born in Bath is 1935, Mary moved to France to train at The Cordon Bleu in Paris and then returned to the <strong>Great</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>Way</strong> to live in Henley on Thames. Mary has received may accolades in her time but our favourite ones include Freedom of the City of Bath and an Honorary Graduate of Bath Spa University. IMAGES © SHUTTERSTOCK / STEVE VAS / FEATUREFLASH MICHAEL BOND Michael Bond, the author of the international sensation Paddington Bear was born in Newbury in 1926 and moved to Reading as a young child. The story of a bear from deepest darkest Peru was first published in 1958 and since then has sold a staggering 35 million copies, been translated into over 40 languages and later turned into a television series and a film. JANE SEYMOUR Jane Seymour was the ‘fairest of all the king’s wives’ as she became Henry VIII’s wife on 30th May 1536. She gave the king a long awaited son but sadly died from ‘childbed fever’. Born at Wolfhall in Marlborough, Jane grew up in Wiltshire then moved to Hampton Court Palace to be with the King. After her death, she was the only one of Henry’s 6 wives to be given a queen’s funeral, and you can find her buried next to him at Windsor Castle. → <strong>Great</strong><strong>West</strong><strong>Way</strong>.co.uk 21