From its earliest days as an industrial centre, Oldham has had more than its share of people who have gained national prominence - initially for their political views mainly as a result of the many workers' associations and unions that sprang up with industrialisation.

Amongst the most famous of these were radical reformers John Fielden and William Cobbett, both of whom were elected by Oldham after the passing of the 1831 Reform Act, and suffragette Annie Kenney.

In the past century Oldham has continued its tradition of attracting outstanding personalities ahead of the rest of the country by giving Winston Churchill his first parliamentary seat. Churchill's inaugural address was made from the steps of Oldham Town Hall in 1900.

But not all of Oldham's great and good have had such gravitas - certainly not Lancashire comedy legend Uncle Piehead, who came from the town and was in a long tradition of Oldham comics, thespians and broadcasters that have included Eric Sykes, Dora Bryan, Bernard Cribbins, Cannon and Ball, Syd Little (of Little and Large), Philip Schofield, Anne Kirkbride and various members of television's Coronation Street cast.

Louise Brown, the world's first test tube baby, was born in Oldham in 1978 thanks to the pioneering method of invitro-fertilisation developed by Mr Patrick Steptoe and Professor Robert Edwards. The Wrigley family, of chewing gum fame, hail from Dobcross.

Amongst sporting personalities with an Oldham connection are Michael Atherton, David Platt, Paul Scholes and Andy Ritchie, now manager of Oldham Athletic. If artists and performers are a measure of a town's status, then Oldham's reputation is assured. In addition to opera diva Dame Eva Turner and artist Helen Bradley, the most famous of all the town's musical sons is Sir William Walton, whose works are still regularly performed throughout the world and remembered by the annual Oldham Walton Festival as well as the stained glass roof of The Spindles Shopping Centre in the heart of Oldham. The stained glass roof is the creation of renowned artist Brian Clarke, himself Oldham born.

More contemporary performers from Oldham include musician Wayne Marshall, Mark Owen (of Take That fame), The Inspiral Carpets, N-Trance and (for those with memories of the sixties) Barclay James Harvest. Elephant Stone and Love Will Tear Us Apart, arguably two of the best records ever to come out of Manchester, were recorded in Oldham.