as the title role of Elektra, and Brünnhilde in Der Ring des Nibelungen, a role which she performed at the Bayreuth Festival in 2013 for Wagner's bicentenary. Brendan Clarke-Smith, a British Conservative Party politician and former teacher. He was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bassetlaw in the 2019 general election. Marjorie Bates lived in The Grange (now Grange Close). She was an artist specialising in watercolour and pastels, who painted a number of views of the village. Harry Cursham (27 November 1859 – 6 August 1941) was born in The Grange (now Grange Close) and was an English footballer and cricketer. He played football mostly for Notts County as well as cricket for Nottinghamshire. Cursham holds the individual goalscoring record for the FA Cup, with 49 goals in 44 games. He also played eight games for the England national football team, scoring five goals. Laura Knight, distantly related to Majorie Bates, visited the village many times, also basing much of her work on the surrounding environment. Captain John Deane, an adventurer and mercenary, lived in the village. His ship The Nottingham Galley sank off the coast of Boon Island, New England in 1710. Deane and his crew, trapped on the island, were forced to cannibalise a corpse shortly before being rescued. Deane subsequently served in the Russian navy under Peter the Great, and retired to Wilford in 1736. He is buried in the grounds of St Wilfrid's Church, Wilford. Henry Kirke White (1785–1806) lived at Wilford Crossroads, opposite Wilford House, between 1804 and 1805. He drew inspiration for much of his poetry from Wilford and the surrounding area. He died one year later having left to study at St John's College, Cambridge. William Wilberforce regularly stayed at Wilford House, the seat of his Uncle, Abel Smith often for months at a time. Wilberforce stayed for several months between the years of 1786 and 1789 during the height of his campaign for the abolition of slavery. Abel Smith, son of Samuel Smith, was a close friend, colleague, and chosen by Wilberforce to be the executor of his will. Jeremiah Brandreth was born here in 1785. In 1817 he participated in a conspiracy to overthrow the government, was arrested, tried for treason and hung with two accomplices. Their corpses were decapitated with an axe. Rev. Benjamin Carter founded the local primary school, whilst also establishing much housing and charitable