George Fordham, one of the foremost jockeys of his generation, was born in Cambridge in 1837, but spent a considerable time living in Slough.

His first race was in 1850, and his first win came in 1851. He was the most successful jockey in the country every year between 1855 and 1869, with the exceptions of 1864 and 1866. His most successful year was 1862, when he won 165 races. It was during this period, in 1863, that he moved to Slough for the first time.

During his career, Fordham won a number of significant races, including the One Thousand Guineas 7 times, the Oaks 5 times, the Two Thousand Guineas twice, and had one Derby win. He was also very successful in France, winning the French Oaks, and the French Derby twice.

Fordham retired from racing in 1875, but a run of financial losses forced him to come out of retirement in 1878. He had a series of successes, including his lone Derby win - on Sir Bevys in 1879, before retiring for good in 1884.

Following the death of his first wife in 1879, Fordham moved to Brighton, but he moved back to Slough in 1884, and lived here until he died in 1887. He was buried in St Lawrence's churchyard, where the inscription on his gravestone reads "'Tis the pace that kills".