On This Day 31 August 1917 Agnes de Selincourt died

Agnes de Selincourt (1872–1917), missionary and college administrator, was born at Alverstoke, Leigham Court Road, Streatham.

Educated at Notting Hill High School and Girton College Cambridge and Sommerville College Oxford.
Worked as a Missionary in Bombay and then first principal of the Lady Muir Memorial College, Allahabad.

In September 1913, just turned forty-one, Agnes De Selincourt became principal of Westfield College, Hampstead, University of London.
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'To maintain connection with the family' her brother Professor Ernest De Selincourt (1870–1943) was on her death immediately elected to the Westfield council and served until 1937.
(Janet Sondheimer)

​On This Day 30th August 1843 Cyril Flower son of Philip Flower of Streatham was born

Cyril Flower, 1st Baron Battersea (30 August 1843 – 27 November 1907) was a British Liberal politician and patron of art.

Flower was the eldest of five sons of Philip William Flower, of Furze Down, Streatham

His wife Mary, daughter of Jonathan Flower. He was born at Tooting in the 18th century Hill House and later lived in Streatham In Furzedown House , both of which were rural environs at the time. He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, and was called to the Bar, Inner Temple, in 1870.
His father had earlier established a successful merchant house in Sydney, Australia. In 1838, Philip William Flower, and brother sailed to Australia in order to establish themselves as merchants in Sydney. In 1842 the partnership of Flower, Salting & Co was formed, shipping wool, tallow and gold to London. In 1842/3, Philip returned to London, the other end of the firm’s shipping routes, leaving his brother to oversee operations in Sydney. Upon his return to London, Philip, formed the firm of P.W. Flower and Co., and his property included Collier’s Quay and other London wharves. From 1867, and with other partners, Philip began developing part of the newly-laid-out Victoria Street in Westminster, St Philips Square was named by Philip Flower as was St Philip’s Church in its centre, which was consecrated in July 1870.

Like his father, Flower also became involved in property development, and took on the development of Battersea's Park Town after the death of his father in 1872 (James Knowles, Junior was architect and surveyor for this developmen).

He also developed the mansion blocks lining the south side Prince of Wales Drive
In 1877 Battersea married Constance, daughter of Sir Anthony de Rothschild, whom he met in 1864 through his friendship

In 1888 Flower and his wife acquired two cottages at Overstrand for the purposes of creating a holiday home. In 1897 their architect, Edwin Lutyens, rebuilt and joined them to form a large mansion in extensive gardens, 'The Pleasaunce'.
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Image The Illustrated London News 5th June 1880
© Illustrated London News Group

2nd Lieutenant Harry Roderick Victor Jameson, born On This Day 29th August 1897, lived at 82 Christchurch Road

Harry was born on August 29th 1897, the fourth of six surviving children of Colonel Sydney Jameson and his wife, Ethel. He was originally at the Prep before, in the summer of 1910, coming to the College, where he joined his elder brother, Alistair, and would later be joined by his younger brother, Edward. He was at Dulwich for five years, leaving in the summer of 1915 whilst a member of the Army Class.
From Dulwich Harry went on to Sandhurst, passing out in April 1916 to take up a commission in the Seaforth Highlanders. The regiment was somewhat of a family tradition, as not only were his elder brothers already in the unit, but the 2nd Battalion, to which Harry was assigned, had once been commanded by their father. He went over to France that July, and for the next nine months was posted on the front line.
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On April 11th 1917 he was mortally wounded leading an assault at Greenland Hill, near Arras; although the action cost the lives of many of the men, including ultimately Harry himself, it succeeded in the short term in capturing the trench which had been its objective, and his command was universally praised by those who did survive. His eldest brother Ian – who, albeit not a fellow OA, was a fellow member of the Seaforth Highlanders – was also killed in action just ten days later, whilst his second cousin, Campbell Crabbe – who was a fellow OA but not a fellow Seaforth Highlander – had fallen in action at Loos, in September 1915.
(Duwich College)

Eileen Edith Lewenstein (Mawson) was born On This Day 28th August 1925. The family lived at 6 Glencairn Road

A ceramic artist, writer and editor. Her father worked for the Pearl Assurance Company and her mother was a keen amateur watercolourist.

She studied painting on a scholarship to the West of England School of Art, went on to Beckenham School of Art and, in 1944, took an art teaching diploma at the Institute of Education, London. Students were sent to the Central School of Arts and Crafts for practical classes.
Eileen Lewenstein founded 'Ceramic Review' in 1970
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Her contribution to ceramics is important and she stands well alongside other famous women who have enriched the world of ceramics; names such as Dame Lucie Rie, Ruth Duckworth, Susie Cooper, Tessa Fuchs, Marianna de Trey, Janet Leach and Katherine Pleydell-Bouverie. Examples of Eileen Lewenstein’s work can be seen, and appreciated, in the V&A museum and other notable museums and galleries.
(extracts Graham Gower)

​On This Day 28th August 2014 Glen Cornick died.

Glenn Cornick (23 April 1947 – 28 August 2014), founder member and bass guitarist of Jethro Tull and later Wild Turkey.
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Glenn married Judy Wong. The reception was held at Glenn's parents' pub, The Crown & Sceptre, Streatham Hill. Guests included members of the band, Mick Fleetwood & Jenny Boyd, Peter Green and (Chicken Shack's) Andy Sylvester.
(Image by Martha Escondeur)

Jack Pleasants (born Squire Pleasants was born 27 August 1874 A music hall comedian and singer. He lived at 17 Christchurch Road

Jack Pleasants was born in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, in 1875. He was popular in Northern music halls in the early part of the twentieth century.
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Billed as “The Bashful Limit”, he typically played the part of a "bashful fool", whose ostensible lack of experience with women could turn out to reveal hidden purpose.
He popularised the songs “I’m Twenty-One Today” and “I’m Shy, Mary Ellen, I’m Shy”, which remain the songs for which he is best remembered.