Famous Locals
Hesba Stretton - Best Selling Author
"Hesba Stretton" was born in Wellington in 1832. Her real name was Sarah Smith but when she became a writer she changed it; Hesba is made up of the first letter of her brother and sisters' names, Stretton was chosen because she had fond memories of visits to All Stretton in Shropshire.
In her lifetime Hesba became a best selling author. Her most popular book "Jessica's First Prayer" sold over one and a half million books! Hesba was a devout Christian and was very concerned about children living on the streets and in the slums of Victorian cities. These are themes she wrote about in her stories. She also helped to form the London Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children which later became the N.S.P.C.C.
Captain Webb - Cross Channel Swimmer
Matthew Webb was born in 1848, at Dawley, where his father was the local doctor; he was one of twelve children. Matthew showed a love of water and fearless temperament from an early age, he learnt to swim in the river Severn and as a child saved his younger brother from drowning.
Captain Webb became the first person to swim the English Channel on the 25th August 1875. It was a gruelling feat taking him over 21 hours. He became a national hero and there were great celebration in his home town of Dawley. Captain Webb went on to do more daring swimming challenges; he died attempting to swim the rapids at Niagara Falls.
In 1909 his brother erected a memorial in his honour at Dawley, it is inscribed with Captain Webb's motto - "Nothing Great is Easy"
Captain Webb was again remembered when the poet Sir John Betjeman wrote a poem "A Shropshire Lad" about him. Read this poem and find out more about Captain Webb atmattrutherford.com