Blog Archives - The Streatham Society

James Holmes Lucking of the "Pines"

17/2/2021

On This Day 18 February 1905 this appeared in the Illustrated Police News

James Holmes Lucking of the "Pines" 43 Streatham Hill left an estate valued at £265k in 1905. A serious amount of money- £32m approx. today

Illustrated Police News 18 February 1905.Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Born in Reading James Lucking made his fortune in Australia- unsuccessful in sheep farming he opened a drapery business- Miller and Lucking in Adelaide where the shop prospered with the discovery of gold in 1850 in the area.

Read more about "The Folks Who Lived On The Hill" in Janet Weeks' book available from the Streatham Society.

You will be amazed at the list of very wealthy people who lived in the area https://www.streathamsociety.org.uk/people.html

Graham Vivian Sutherland- born in Streatham -Furzedown

17/2/2021

On This Day 17th February 1980 Graham Sutherland of Streatham died

In 24 August 1903 the artist Graham Vivian Sutherland was born at 8 Pendle Road.

Eldest of the three children of George Humphrey Vivian Sutherland (1873–1952), barrister and civil servant at the Board of Education, and his wife, Elsie Foster (1877–1957).

Technically gifted and endlessly imaginative, Graham Sutherland is one of the 20th century’s most influential and inventive voices, capturing the character of Britain before, during and after the Second World War.
(Sources Rosie Lesso and Roger Berthoud)

Henry Marion Genochio

17/2/2021

On This Day 17 February 1922 lieutenant Henry Marion Genochio, Royal Engineers, of Victoria Barracks Cork and 6 Woodfield Ave was murdered in Cork.

The son of Henry Genochio, formerly deputy Chief Inspector of HM Customs and Excise
Buried with full military honours at Streatham Cemetery, Garratt Lane and a service at St Leonard's Church

(Source Bloody Sunday)

Gyp from Streatham and 14 other Animal VC winners at Crufts

16/2/2021

On This Day 17 February 1932 this article appeared in the Sketch

15 "VC" dogs assembled at Crufts. Included Gyp from Streatham (top left).

"Three children were sleeping in a tent which caught fire- Gyp rushed in, dragged away the bedclothes and roused the children.

The animal "VC" is known as the "Dickin Medal". Maria Dickin who founded the PDSA was a resident in Mount Nod Road, Streatham

Norah Essex of Dixcot Streatham Park, Streatham (Furzedown)

16/2/2021

This appeared in the Sketch 100 years ago 16 February 1921. Norah Florence Essex, daughter of Sir Walter (Richard) Essex, wallpaper manufacturer and MP of Dixcot Streatham Park.
Image © Illustrated London News Group

Luke Hansard- director of Martin's Bank

16/2/2021

On This Day 16th February 1912 Luke Hansard executed his will

He was a Director and General Manager of Martin's Bank.

He married Eleanor Webster of Manor Park Streatham at St Leonards in 1886 and lived at "Elmfield" Streatham. The family is connected to Hansard's who officially record Parliamentary debates

The paintings have another Streatham connection. The artist lived in Mount Ephraim Road
PHILIP STREATFEILD (1879-1915) 'Portrait of Mr Luke Hansard' and 'Portrait of Mrs Hansard'.

Carl Erhardt- ice hockey player

15/2/2021

On This Day 15 February 1897 Carl Alfred Erhardt was born

An ice hockey player, born at Sunbeams, Cator Road, Beckenham.

In 1933 he signed with Streatham, the club with which he became most closely associated. He played his first international for Britain in February 1931 at the world championships in Poland, scoring twice in an 11–0 defeat of Romania. His next international was the 1934 world championships in Milan, where he scored against Italy and Belgium. In 1935 he captained the British team that won European silver and world bronze medals at Davos, beating the Czechs 2–1 in overtime.

Erhardt became vice-president of BIHA between the years 1936 and 1970. He stopped playing in the semi-professional English national league after the Olympics. His final season playing was 1937/8 with the Streatham Royals, winners of the London Provincial League, as increasingly his business commitments intervened.

(Jonathan H. Westaway)

(Article Daily Mail 21 February 1936 With thanks to Reach PLC. Digitised by Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited. All rights reserved)

Born on Valentines Day 1916- Richard Valentine Moore

14/2/2021

Richard Valentine Moore was born on Valentines Day On This Day 14th February 1916

Richard Valentine Moore, GC, CBE (14 February 1916 – 25 April 2003), known as Dick Moore, was an officer of Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who was awarded the George Cross for the "great gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty" he showed in rendering mines safe during the Blitz of 1940 despite having "no practical training'"

Moore lived at 60 Drewstead Road, Streatham

Moore was born in London in 1916 and educated at the Strand School and at University of London, where he obtained a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He worked for the County of London Electricity Supply Company from 1936 until war was declared in September 1939.

Commissioned into the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1939, he joined the Naval Unexploded Bomb Department from HMS Effingham, serving as an assistant torpedo officer.

German forces began to drop naval mines and bombs over London in September 1940 but many failed to explode, posing a stark threat to civilians.

Richard Valentine Moore, who was born on Valentine’s Day in 1916, was one of the naval staff who volunteered to make these unexploded bombs and mines safe – even though he had only received basic training. Alongside Lieutenant-Commander Dick Ryan and Chief Petty Officer Reginald Ellingworth, he travelled across London, Essex and Kent, defusing unexploded missiles.

On September 21, 1940, Richard, Ryan and Ellingworth were called to Dagenham to defuse three German mines.

While Richard set to work on a mine outside a factory, his colleagues decided to tackle a mine further ahead. Tragically, their mine exploded, killing them both.

All three men were awarded the George Cross – Lieutenant-Commander Ryan and Chief Petty Officer Ellingworth posthumously – for “great gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty”.

Richard was among the first recipients of the George Cross, an honour which ranks second only to the Victoria Cross.

25 years ago On This Day 13 February 1996 the Hyde Farm Conservation area was created by Lambeth Council.

13/2/2021

Read all about the History of Hyde Farm Estate by Graham Gower, available from the Society and when in stock at the Hyde Farm Cafe in Emmanuel Road
https://www.streathamsociety.org.uk/publications.html

Leon Charles Francis Clerc

13/2/2021

On This Day 13 February 1924 Leon Charles Francis Clerc died.

A resident of 56 Prentis Road, a lamp manufacturer, refiner, distiller and importer of a range of products, including petroleum. Owner of the Pharos Chemical Works, Hackney.

Also Secretary of the French Chamber of Commerce