Was Oliver Cromwell the last famous person to live in St Ives?

After Oliver Cromwell upped and left, St Ives faded into obscurity, right?

Wrong!

St Ives has been home to a number of barely known B to Z list celebs, and hopefully you yourself are one to come.

Let’s take a look at famous people who’ve lived in St Ives over the years:

Famous people of St Ives

Oliver Cromwell – The finger-pointing icon

We know already Oliver Cromwell is St Ives’ greatest historical punchline.

You will find Cromwell to this day practically pointing a finger at you from the market square. Sometimes with a traffic cone on his head.

The English Civil War leader and Lord Protector, although more associated with nearby Huntingdon, certainly made his mark on St Ives.

Make sure you take the obligatory selfie next to Oliver Cromwell’s statue in the market square, striking a regal pose in his honor!

Joe Bugner – Heavyweight champ who fought Muhammed Ali

Oliver Cromwell aside, lets look at true champ Joe Bugner, a heavyweight champ!

Joe Bugner is a Hungarian-born boxer who made St Ives his home after fleeing the Soviet invasion in the late 1950s.

Bugner, who stood toe-to-toe with the likes of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, is undoubtedly a heavyweight in both boxing and St Ives history.

Prior to moving to nearby Houghton & Wyton, Joe Bugner lived in a white bungalow at the top of Needingworth Road, and was often seen driving around with his head sticking out the top of a Fiat 500.

So, next time you lace up your boxing gloves, remember, you’re walking the same streets as a man who went 12 rounds with Muhammed Ali!

Geoff Capes – The budgie-breeding strongman & shot put Olympian

And how about a local strongman?

Enter Geoff Capes, the burly shot putter and former World’s Strongest Man.

Not only did Geoff call St Ives home, he also ran training sessions at a local gym.

Rumor has it he also bred budgerigars in his spare time, which I’m sure is a popular hobby of the world’s strongmen.

Can you picture Geoff Capes, the gentle giant, whispering sweet nothings to his beloved birds while bench pressing a small car?

Sir Clive Sinclair – Our most inventive mind?

Now, let’s shift gears to the 1970s with Sir Clive Sinclair, the ingenious inventor known for his pioneering work in electronics and computing.

You’ve heard of the pocket calculator, right?

Some of us may even have one at the back of a drawer somewhere, slowly leaking battery acid.

Sinclair owned the big blocky mill in St Ives, easily seen from the quayside, and now prime flood-frontage living accommodation.

Rumour has it, residents of the mill today not only borrow sugar from their neighbours, but circuit boards as well.

Jonnie Peacock – A sprinting sensation & Olympic gold medalist

From electronics to lightning speed, St Ives was also the home to Jonnie Peacock, the Paralympic gold medalist.

As you walk along The Broadway, could you be stepping in the very footprints of this sprinting superstar, feeling the echoes of his gold-medal-winning strides? Faster than a boy racer?

Maybe the local tie to Jonnie Peacock will inspire you to dash to Waitrose a bit faster?

Eric Morecambe – Of Morecambe & Wise

Eric Morecambe was known to frequent the Golden Lion Hotel, entertaining the other guests and having them in stiches.

Yes, we’re talking about the famous comedian, one half of Morecambe & Wise, who made millions laugh on black & white TV.

In fact, according to The Hunts Post, Eric’s son Gary came to work at The Golden Lion in 1978 with the intention of learning the hospitality trade. It is also rumoured Eric Morecambe owner The Golden Lion for a time, as well as the Tudor Hotel in Fenstanton.

Can you imagine a swift half in The Golden Lion and being personally entertained by Eric Morecambe himself, cracking a joke or two?

Paul Tucker – One half of “The Lighthouse Family”

Musically inclined?

You might hum a tune or two knowing Paul Tucker, one-half of the Lighthouse Family, lived just along the thicket in Houghton village. For Huntingdon folk, Paul went to St Peters School.

Did Paul Tucker’s soulful tunes ever drift through your window, creating a soundtrack for your morning coffee?

I’m guessing not recently.

Bastien Schweinsteiger – A football maestro

Football fans, rejoice!

Bastian Schweinsteiger, the German midfield maestro, calls nearby Fenstanton home.

Imagine catching a glimpse of Bastien honing his skills in the local Warner’s park. Would his presence have inspired you to pick up a football and have a crack at the World Cup?

Other notable mentions

• David Wilkie, Olympic swimmer, made waves in St Ives’ rec pool with his mighty strokes.
• Terry Reid, the almost frontman for Led Zeppelin, grew up in St Ives.
• Ruby Wax, though rumored, was said to own property on Huntingdon Road.
• The Stranglers, yes, the punk legends, once resided in nearby Somersham.

And what of Joe Biden?

You may have read our satire piece on Joe Biden’s pending retirement to “Boomer Paradise” St Ives, and although this is entirely “fake news”, you have to ask why any celebrity wouldn’t want to retire to the beautiful town of St Ives?

From diarists to doctors, strongmen to storytellers, there is no reason St Ives shouldn’t be a frequent haunt for A-listers.

Don’t you think?

Further thoughts on the famous residents of St Ives

So there you have it. St Ives isn’t just a picturesque spot in Cambridgeshire, it’s a veritable hub of historic and modern-day celebrities!

Even though many of the above only made St Ives their temporary home, they’ve still made their mark on the history of our town.

We must wonder, what future famous people will call St Ives their home?

Will you be one of them?