​On This Day 1 August 1974 tennis player Cyril Eames died

Cyril Gladstone Eames lived at Beclands, a mansion in Tooting Bec Gardens, Streatham after it was converted to flats on 1929. He also lived at 42 Westwell Road
Cyril was a member of the British Davis Cup Team in 1928 and in 1925 he coached the Duke of York. He was a member of the Telford Park Tennis Club.
Image of Cyril Eames courtesy of National Portait Gallery

On This Day 31 July 1912 Peter Stephens was born

Peter John Stephens (31 July 1912 in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire – 11 June 2002) is known for writing his historical fiction books for teens and three children’s books. He was also a poet, a lyricist for operas and musicals, and a playwright.
His play, A Power of Dreams, was produced off-Broadway with Anne Meara of Stiller and Meara starred.
He was the brother of Richard Waring, the US-based actor, and son of Thomas E. Stephens, whose portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower hangs in the Smithsonian Gallery of Presidents and Evelyn Mary Waring. Retaining his British citizenship, Peter John wrote articles for the British Information Service, Rockefeller Center, New York City.
Image 2 portrait of Peter Stephens by his father
He was briefly married to the novelist, Henrietta Buckmaster, before Marcia Nichols Holden, a foster daughter of Harry Sidney Nichols, was a poet and editor. Her son from a previous marriage was Anton Holden
He died of prostate cancer at home in Streatham.

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This postcard shows the view along Thrale Road looking north  from the junction with Penwortham Road. The estate agency run by Charles Tinniswood can be clearly seen on the northern side of the junction. Thrale Road was developed on the western edge of the Streatham Park Estate which was the home of the Thrale family after whom the road is named. In the latter half of the 18th century

Streatham Park became a fashionable centre for society and here Henry Thrale and his wife, Hester, entertained the leading luminaries of the day, including David Garrick, Edmund Burke, Oliver Goldsmith,  Sir Joshua Reynolds, and Dr. Samuel Johnson. The estate was sold in 1863 and the fine old mansion was demolished and land given over for development. Thrale Road, formerly known as Green Lane, was laid out in 1888 and a number of large, impressive Victorian houses were erected here.
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(John Brown and Photo Courtesy Frances Partridge Collection)

​On This Day 29 July 1911 The Law Lord Leslie Scarman was born in Streatham

Leslie George Scarman, Baron Scarman OBE PC QC (29 July 1911 – 8 December 2004) was an English judge and barrister, who served as a Law Lord until his retirement in 1986.

He was born in Streatham at "Westerfield", 5 Telford Avenue but grew up on the border of Sussex and Surrey. He won scholarships to Radley College and then Brasenose College, Oxford, as a Classical Scholar, graduating in 1932 with a first.

He was appointed head of the Law Commission from 1965 to 1973, during which time 27 Commission-inspired statutes were made law.

As a judge, Scarman's career had some controversial decisions. Although widely regarded as a liberal, he upheld the blasphemy conviction of Gay News (1979), punctured the GLC's Fares Fair low-cost public transport policy (1981), and supported the banning of trade unions at GCHQ (1985).

He is best known for chairing the public inquiry on the causes of the race riots in Brixton in 1981. He also chaired inquiries into the Northern Ireland riots of August 1969 (1969–1972), the Red Lion Sq
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Photos ©National Portrait Gallery

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On This Day 28 July 1906 the Lido opened on Tooting Bec Common

"Bathing Ponds, Tooting Bec Common, Streatham"

The idea for the lido was initiated by the Rector of St Nicholas, Tooting and Wandsworth borough mayor Rev John Henry Anderson.

Before (1929) and now (2020). The historic 53 Mount Ephraim Lane completely redeveloped by owner, Cellist Chris Gist.

The stunning gardens are being used as a venue for a series of musical events - Secret Garden Concerts in the month of August.
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https://secretgardenconcerts.com