Cobham Greats
Cobham Heritage Trust invites you to help celebrate people — past and present — who have shaped our village. Every few months, we plan to have banners on the High Street which will feature local “Greats”, with links to their stories.
Cobham, Downside and Stoke D’Abernon have been home to remarkable people through the centuries. We’re highlighting those who were born, lived, worked here, or made a lasting impact.
Vote for your favourites
For the first 10 Greats! display in Autumn, choose from our shortlist of 20 names below. Just collect a leaflet from Farrants, tick the box next to the names you think deserve to be in the top 10 "Cobham Greats" and put your completed leaflet in the box by Friday 26 June 2026.
Know someone we’ve missed? Just add their name for the Cobham Greats! future displays in the box below.
All entries will be entered into a draw on our stand in Church Street at One Summer’s Day on the 28th June with a prize of a meal for a family of four at Pizza Express in Cobham.
Only one entry per person.
| 1. | Matthew Arnold (1822-1888), was a poet and cultural critic remembered for his sensitive verse and social commentary. On his retirement in 1873, Arnold lived for some years in Painshill Cottage, where the natural surroundings contrasted sharply with his former City life. Cobham reflected the order and refinement he valued; its tranquil landscapes and genteel calm giving him the reflective space that shaped his meditations on culture, faith, and country living. | 11. | Sir Albert Noel Cambell Macklin (1886-1946), was an innovative automotive engineer and boat designer, much of this work being achieved on his Fairmile estate where he transformed its garages into workshops for pioneering car production, notably the Invicta and Railton marques. At the onset of World War II he founded Fairmile Marine, designing fast ‘Fairmile’ launches for the Royal Navy. His Cobham base became a crucial hub of wartime boat design and manufacture, later becoming the Admiralty Oil Laboratories. |
| 2. | Blair Athol, a celebrated 19th century British Thoroughbred racehorse, achieved distinction by winning the 1864 Derby. After a successful stud career, he was sold to the Pound Stud in Cobham for £12,500, (some £2 million today). He remained an imposing figure in old age, frequently seen exercising along Cobham’s quiet country lanes. His presence in the village and his legacy as a four time leading sire ensured Cobham’s place in the story of one of Britain’s most admired racehorses. | 12. | Leonard Martin, F.R.I.B.A. (1869-1936), was an internationally renowned architect famous for his innovative housing designs. Living at Overbye in Church Street from 1897 to 1917, Martin influenced the appearance of many properties in Cobham. He was responsible for carrying out a thorough restoration of Church Stile House and extensive additions to Pyports. He purchased and partially rebuilt the neighbouring property St Bridgets, and built two other properties in Church Street; Homestead and Beech House. |
| 3. | Mary Petre Bruce (1895-1990), born Mildred Mary Petre, was a British record breaking motorist, aviator, and speedboat racer who lived in Cobham. She achieved many records during the 1920s and 1930s, and in 1930, was the first woman to fly solo around the world (except ocean crossings). Historians rank her, alongside Amy Johnson, as a major female aviation pioneer of the interwar period. Mary’s presence brought glamour to the village and her achievements inspired many, leaving Cobham a great legacy of courage and innovation. | 13. | Sir Robert McAlpine, (1847-1934), was a self made industrialist who founded the McAlpine construction dynasty. His innovation in the application of Ferro-concrete prompted his nickname ‘Concrete Bob’. He established his seat at Knott Park on the Fairmile, anchoring the family’s presence in the area. His legacy continued through major engineering works and the meteoric rise of his family firm. He constructed a family mausoleum in 1934 of reinforced concrete, exhibiting his connection to the building industry. It can be seen on the South side of Cobham Cemetery. |
| 4. | Sir Charles Harvey Combe (1863-1935) was born at Cobham Park. In accordance with his family’s long stewardship he became an important part of the village’s political and social fabric. He became a Conservative MP in 1892 and after leaving Parliament in 1897, concentrated on supporting local charities. His later appointment as High Sheriff of Surrey reinforced his enduring Cobham presence. As a brewer, he became director of Combe & Co., which later merged into the major London brewery Watney Combe & Reid. | 14. | Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin (1916-1999), was born in New York, later becoming a British subject. In 1964, his vision of nurturing exceptional young musicians in a supportive environment resulted in the founding of the Yehudi Menuhin School at Stoke d’Abernon. He remained closely attached to the site throughout his life and is buried on the school grounds, symbolising his lasting bond with the community. His legacy continues through the school’s global reputation for musical excellence. |
| 5. | Dame Jilly Cooper (1937-2025) was a bestselling author who spent much of her childhood in a house called ‘Allercot’ in Brook Farm Road and attending Brooklands School in Fairmile Lane. Her reflections of the village at war and warm memories of the social proclivities of the affluent attendees at the Brook Farm riding stables, helped shape her sharp observations of English society, later reflected in her sometimes racy novels such as Riders. | 15. | Caroline Molesworth (1794-1872) was a British botanist and meteorologist who moved to Cobham Lodge in 1823 after her mother inherited the estate. From there, she began meticulous daily observations of weather and plant life, continuing over some decades. Her records, later published as The Cobham Journals, provide valuable insight into nineteenth century climate and ecology. Molesworth’s dedication made Cobham not only her home but also a site of enduring scientific significance. |
| 6. | Maria Theresa Earle (1836-1925), pen name Mrs C. W. Earle, was a horticulturalist and author who lived at “Woodlands” in Fairmile Lane, she developed extensive gardens that became well regarded for their design and plant variety. Her published works on gardening, though critically diverse, were popular and influenced figures such as Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lutyens. While she maintained a London home, Cobham served as the primary setting for her horticultural experiments and literary production. | 16. | Sir Thomas Octave Murdoch Sopwith (1888-1989), was a self-taught pilot who founded the Sopwith Aviation Company Ltd. at Brooklands. During World War I he produced many military aircraft, the Sopwith Camel single-seat fighter being the most famous. His only twin-engined model, was named the ‘Sopwith Cobham’. In 1920 he founded Hawker Aircraft Co. during which time he moved to Compton House in Cobham. Before the government realised the impending need, Sopwith had designed the famous World War II fighter the Hurricane, thus contributing greatly to eventual victory. |
| 7. | Sir Charles Hamilton (1704-1786), an 18th century aristocrat and landscape designer, purchased land near Cobham in 1736 to create Painshill which became the canvas for his artistic vision. Inspired by his Grand Tours of Europe, he transformed the estate into a masterpiece of naturalistic design, introducing exotic trees and ornamental follies, blending horticulture, architecture, and romantic scenery. Hamilton’s legacy endures in the restored gardens, where his passion for beauty and innovation continues to shape the local cultural identity. | 17. | Arthur Tozer (d. 1952) established Tozer Seeds at Pyports in 1944. Due to its proximity, Cobham became a centre for market gardens supplying vegetables to London. Arthur contributed to maintaining and expanding the company’s role as the UK’s largest independent plant breeder and seed merchant. The business was developed further by Dermot Dawson whose son continues the legacy, currently chairing the business and combining local heritage with modern agricultural innovation for global markets. |
| 8. | General Lord Henry Hugh Manvers Percy, VC, KCB (1817-1877), was born at Burwood House in Cobham. He was a distinguished Army officer renowned for his bravery during the Crimean War. Though his military career frequently took him away, he maintained ties to Cobham through family and social connections. Between 1855 and 1865 he was Aid-de-Camp to Queen Victoria. Percy’s legacy endures in Cobham’s historical memory as a figure of honour and service. | 18. | William Watts (1752-1851), was an English engraver renowned for his architectural prospects. After a career producing finely detailed prints, he lived briefly in Mill Hill but in 1814, seeking the quiet charm of Surrey, he purchased a small property in Cobham. There he spent his later years, eventually losing his sight. Watts died in Cobham just months short of his hundredth birthday, leaving a legacy of precision and artistry in British engraving. |
| 9. | John Lodge (1943-2025), was a renowned bassist and vocalist of The Moody Blues, living in Cobham for many years. In the mid 1980s, when the band’s Threshold Records shops faced closure, Lodge was determined to keep the original Cobham branch open, reflecting his affection for the town. He became a familiar local figure while continuing his international music career. Lodge’s presence linked the village to rock history, blending global fame with a strong sense of community. | 19. | Robert George Dylan Willis MBE (1949-2019), moved to Cobham with his family as a child, where his early cricketing experiences became deeply rooted in the nearby Stoke d'Abernon CC, developing a lifelong affiliation. He played for England from 1971 to 1984, appearing in 90 Test matches and 64 One Day Internationals, his Cobham roots played a crucial role in his contributions to English cricket. His ashes are buried at Stoke d'Abernon CC. |
| 10. | Vernon Lushington (1832-1912), was a British judge, civil servant, and advocate of positivist philosophy. From 1877 to 1903, he lived with his family in Pyports on Downside Bridge Road. While retaining a London home, Lushington valued Cobham for its tranquil environment and historical charm. Whilst in the village, he actively engaged in intellectual and artistic circles, reflecting his belief in combining public service with cultural life. Cobham provided both retreat and inspiration during his distinguished career. | 20. | Gerrard Winstanley (1609-1676), was a political activist. Moving to Cobham in 1643, local hardships shaped his radical vision for farming common land prompting the Digger experiments in 1649–1650 on nearby Littleheath. The village became central to his political and spiritual transformation, becoming waywarden of Cobham in 1659, overseer of the poor in 1660 and churchwarden of St Andrew’s church in 1667–68. He is widely regarded as an important early influence on socialist and communist ideology and his name is honoured on a memorial in Moscow. |
