International sports stars, actors, TV presenters and more, lots of people born in the city are very familiar faces.
Here is our tribute to 20 of the more well-known names linked to the city. This is not a definitive list – just a flavour of what we have had to offer the worlds of music, theatre, broadcasting, sport and beyond.
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. Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff
A Prestonian born and bred. Born in 1977, he was a pupil at Greenlands County Primary School and Ribbleton Hall High School where he passed nine GCSEs. He played cricket for the Lancashire Schools under 11s and under 15s teams as a boy. A fast bowler, batsman and slip fielder, he became an integral part of the England team and was named 'Man of the series' during the 2005 Ashes where England was victorious. He was then awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Year Honours and the Freedom of the city of Preston. Now has made a very successful transition to being a TV presenter and personality.
. Edith Rigby
Born in 1872, Edith Rigby (born Rayner) was an English Suffragette who founded a school in Preston, Lancashire, called St Peter's aimed at educating women and girls after the age of 11. A prominent activist and contemporary of Sylvia Pankhurst, she married Dr Charles Rigby and lived with him in Winckley Square in Preston. She was jailed seven times for her beliefs in fighting for the equal rights of women.
. Nick Park
Nicholas 'Nick' Park was born in 1958 in Preston, Lancashire, and is best known as creator of Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep. Brought up in Brookfield, Preston, his family later moved to nearby Walmer Bridge. He attended Cuthbert Mayne High School (now Our Lady's Catholic High School). His sister still lives in Longton. Park has been nominated for an Academy Award a total of six times, and won four with Creature Comforts (1989), The Wrong Trousers (1993), A Close Shave (1995), and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005).
. Ranvir Singh
Ranvir Singh is a Lancashire-born journalist, best known for her presenting roles on ITV Breakfast programmes Daybreak and Good Morning Britain. She was educated at Kirkham Grammar School and graduated from the University of Lancaster with a degree in English and Philosophy. She later completed a journalism course at the University of Central Lancashire.
. Sir Tom Finney
Preston's favourite son. The late Sir Thomas 'Tom' Finney, remembered in above video clip, was an English footballer, famous for his loyalty to his League club, Preston North End, for whom he made 569 first-class appearances, and for his performances in the England national side. Born at home in Preston next to the Deepdale Stadium, his name is synonymous with the town and he is much loved by the people of the city. He was knighted in the 1998 New Year Honours.
. Kenny Baker
Born in 1934, the actor and musician lived in Preston at the time of his death in 2016. He is best known for portraying the character R2-D2 in six of the Star Wars films. Baker, who stands 3 ft 8 in (112 cm) tall had formed a successful comedy act called the Minitones with entertainer Jack Purvis when George Lucas hired him to be the man inside R2-D2 in 1976. He was in multiple other films and later had a stand-up career.
. John Inman
Born in Preston in 1935, the comedy actor and pantomime artist is best known for playing Mr. Humphries in Are You Being Served?
5. Sir Tom Finney
Preston's favourite son. The late Sir Thomas 'Tom' Finney, remembered in above video clip, was an English footballer, famous for his loyalty to his League club, Preston North End, for whom he made 569 first-class appearances, and for his performances in the England national side. Born at home in Preston next to the Deepdale Stadium, his name is synonymous with the town and he is much loved by the people of the city. He was knighted in the 1998 New Year Honours.
6. Kenny Baker
Born in 1934, the actor and musician lived in Preston at the time of his death in 2016. He is best known for portraying the character R2-D2 in six of the Star Wars films. Baker, who stands 3 ft 8 in (112 cm) tall had formed a successful comedy act called the Minitones with entertainer Jack Purvis when George Lucas hired him to be the man inside R2-D2 in 1976. He was in multiple other films and later had a stand-up career.
7. John Inman
Born in Preston in 1935, the comedy actor and pantomime artist is best known for playing Mr. Humphries in Are You Being Served?
8. Roy Barraclough
Again born in Preston in 1935, actor is best known as Alec Gilroy in Coronation Street