| The Streatham Society |
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 In the Narthex of St Leonard's Church is a large tombstone in memory of Elias Durnford Esq. of Norwood who died On This Day 17th May 1774 aged 54.
He was the deputy Treasurer of His Majesty's Ordnance at the Tower of London (John Brown- St Leonard's Streatham)
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 On This Day 16th May 1915 George Leslie Pratt was killed Eldest son of George Pratt who owned a department store in Streatham, George Leslie Pratt was tragically killed in WW1 He attended Dulwich 1903-1906 and the address given for him is Camden House, Bank Buildings, 426-450 Streatham High Road Born on May 28th 1890, George was the eldest of four children of George and Florence Pratt; his father ran George Pratt & Co., a gentleman’s outfitters and early department store on Streatham High Road which was, at the time, the largest shop in Streatham and later became part of the John Lewis Partnership. In September 1914, the month after Britain declared war, he volunteered for military service, at first as a member of the University and Public Schools Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. That December George was granted a commission in the 3rd Battalion of The Queen’s and spent the next four months stationed at Chatham before, in March 1915, being attached to the 2nd Battalion with whom he went over to the front for the first time. After just two months in France however he was dead, having been killed in action near Festubert on May 16th. (Source Dulwich College)      Two former residents of Streatham who were born On This Day 16 May
Bernard Braden a Canadian-born British actor and comedian was born on 16 May 1916. He lived with his wife Barbara Kelly in Streatham. (© reserved; collection National Portrait Gallery, London) Roy Hudd a comedian and actor who sadly passed away in 2020 was a resident of Hoadly Road. He was born 16 May 1936  This advert for the sale of Hill House was in the papers on 15 May 1844
(courtesy Angie Boon) With its Park and Gardens and 14 acres and melon ground. An inviting purchase for a nobleman or a wealth citizen or a professional man of high pretentions.  On This Day 15th May 1910 Constance Cummings was born
She played the title role in Bernard Shaw's Sant Joan in the Old Vic performance at the Streatham Hill Theatre in 1939 She admitted: "I didn't know how to read the verses. That was a sloppy thing. I should have had more sense." Ronald Bergan writes: In 1930, the 20-year-old Cummings was brought to Hollywood by Sam Goldwyn to co-star with Ronald Colman in The Devil to Pay, but was replaced at the last minute by 17-year-old Loretta Young. However, her disappointment was allayed when Columbia Pictures snapped her up, gave her a contract and cast her as prison warden Walter Huston's naive daughter in Howard Hawks's The Criminal Code the following year. Columbia was so impressed by this debut that they starred Cummings in 10 films in two years, even though most were modest productions. The exception was Frank Capra's New Deal fantasy, American Madness (1932) (Source: Guardian obituary and The Sketch 18 October 1939 Image © Illustrated London News Group)  A very sad day- the closure of E and A Wates On This Day 14 May 2021 after 120 years of Trading in Mitcham Lane, Streatham. The business also had 2 outlets in Tooting which ceased operating some years ago Image 1 Roger Wates outside store on 12 May 2021 Image 3 Streatham Villas, courtesy of Kevin Kelly. Image 2 and 4 Courtesy E and A Wates https://eawates.com/history.htm Good luck for the future for Roger and staff and thanks for your many contributions to the area  Lance Corporal William Stirling Claridge was killed On This Day 13th May 1915. Resident of 24 Becmead Ave William was born in Tulse Hill on June 10th 1895, the second child of John Claridge, a linen company manager, and his wife Anne. After he had left Dulwich he remained a keen member of the Old Alleynians, regularly turning out for the team. Once hostilities commenced William joined up, becoming a member of the London Rifle Brigade and subsequently going over to France on 8th November; during the subsequent winter he spent a significant amount of time in the front line trenches. On May 13th 1915 he was fighting at the second battle of Ypres when he passed away, a month short of his 20th birthday.   Our #ThrowbackThursday for this week takes us back to 1980 and Mitcham Lane in Streatham.
Parade of shops between the Furzedown pub (Park Tavern/ Samuel Johnson) and E and A Wates (Photo courtesy of Streatham/Furzedown resident Kevin Kelly)  On This Day 13 May 1871 John Bockett died The Bockett monument is situated in St Leonard's Church in memory of John Bockett's wives The inscription reminds us of how large the Streatham Parish was when it stretched to the southern end of Clapham Common John Bockett moved to Streatham in 1829 and lived at "Westbury" the site of Clapham South underground station Born in 1790 and a supporter of the British and Foreign Bible Society He was Guardian of the Poor of Streatham and was active in the Balham part of the parish and was one of the first churchwardens of St Mary's church in 1855 (Source John Brown- Streatham Society)  |
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