Blog Archives - The Streatham Society

Pierre Vladmiroff who died 50 years ago

25/11/2020

Pierre Vladmiroff (1893-1970), Dancer; husband of Felia Doubrovska died On This Day 25 November 1970

He appeared in Pavlova at the Streatham Hill Theatre

Vladimiroff studied at the Imperial Ballet School in St Petersburg and joined the Maryinsky Theatre in 1911, where he was promoted to principal four years later. In 1912 and 1914 he appeared with the Ballets Russes in several of Nijinsky's roles and in 1913, he partnered Kyasht at the Empire in the dance episode The Gamblerwhich she created for All the Winners. He rejoined Diaghilev's company, 1921-2, and danced the Prince in the London production of The Sleeping Princess. After further seasons with the Ballets Russes, 1925-8, he became Anna Pavlova's regular dance partner. ©National Portrait Gallery

John Walter Bartholomew (Jack Barty)

25/11/2020

On This Day 25th November the actor and writer John Walter Bartholomew (Jack Barty) died.

Streatham-born and a resident of 47 Christchurch Road

Whittards of Chelsea (or Streatham)

25/11/2020

On This Day 25th November 1935 Walter Whittard died

35 Streatham Hill - Rydal Mount. Later Streatham Hill College on the site of what is today Corner Fielde (Opposite Telford Avenue Streatham)

At census date in 1881 the house was occupied by John Alfred Whittard a Leather Factor and his wife Catherine, 6 children including Walter a Tea Buyer, a visitor Thomas Underhill a Tea buyer and three servants.

At the age of 17 Walter quit the family leather business out of frustration with his father’s way of running things, and took a job with a tea trader in London’s bustling city centre. Eight years later – aged just 25 – he opened his own shop in bustling Fleet Street, with a simple philosophy: to “buy the best”.

The walls would have been lined with huge tea caddies, and filled with the scent of roasting coffee. Walter insisted on blending his tea and roasting his coffee on site; he also had a keen eye for a marketing opportunity, and targeted the nearby law courts by describing his tea as “The Barrister’s Refresher”.

Wartime shortages and a bomb that destroyed stock and blending equipment restricted operations for several years.

Walter and his two brothers who joined the business relocated to Chelsea.

(extracts from Whittards - history

Inventor of the Maxim machine gun and many other things

24/11/2020

On This Day Hiram Maxim died, 24 November 1916. A resident of `'Sandhurst Lodge` Streatham

Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim (5 February 1840 – 24 November 1916) was an American-born British inventor, best known as the creator of the Maxim Gun, the first portable fully automatic machine gun.
The elaborately named Sir Hiram Maxim’s Captive Flying Machines at Blackpool Pleasure Beach is possibly the oldest, still-operating amusement ride in Europe, but it was a horrible disappointment to its eponymous creator.

Hiram Maxim was a prolific inventor of mousetraps, sprinkler systems, and eventually, weaponry. His most successful invention, the world’s first portable machine gun, saw extensive use in World War I and earned him a knighthood (although his work on the roaring machine would later make him deaf).
Maxim may have even invented the incandescent light bulb prior to Thomas Edison, but according to legend, Edison was simply more well-versed in patent law and stole the credit out from under Maxim. With such a diverse portfolio, it is little wonder that the inventor tried his hand at early aeronautics, which led to the development of the so-called “captive flying machines.”
(extracts Atlas Obcura)

Maxim died at his home at "Sandhurst Lodge", Streatham High Road, (Ice Rink site) on 24 November 1916 at the age of 76.

He is buried in West Norwood Cemetery with his wife and his grandson, Lt. Colonel Maxim Joubert.

Whistler's assistant- painter of murals at Streatham Hall

22/11/2020

On This Day 23 November 1930 Walter Greaves died

Walter Greaves (1846–1930), boat builder and painter, the son of Charles William Greaves, a Chelsea boat builder and waterman, and his wife, Elizabeth Greenway, was born on 4 July 1846 at 31 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea.

He and his brother became studio assistants to James McNeil Whistler and were taught by him to paint.

In 1911 an exhibition of Greaves's paintings closed after he was accused of passing off unfinished works by Whistler as his own. His reputation ruined, it was not until 1921 that he was rescued from penury by prominent artists including Augugtus John and William Nicholson.

The brothers were struggling financially when a friend secured a commission to decorate the Streatham Hall. "For nearly 20 years they walked from their home at Chelsea to Streatham,, several days in the week, summer and winter, attired in their well-known garb, viz., silk hat and frock-coat, with cuffs much in evidence, wearing pink and yellow ties respectively"

Images Walter Greaves by Powys Evans 1928 © National Portrait Gallery and Walter Greaves and Alice Greaves on the Embankment
C.1880–90

(Source Christian Brinton and Tom Pocock)

D'Oyly Carte at the Streatham Hill Theatre

22/11/2020

This was showing at the Streatham Hill Theatre On This Day 23 November 1959

The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company performing Gilbert and Sullivan Operas

Ken Mackintosh- band leader

22/11/2020

On This Day 22 November 2005 Ken Mackintosh died

He lived with his wife Elsie at 26 Streatham Common South. He also has his rehearsal rooms in Streatham

Kenneth Victor Mackintosh, saxophonist and band-leader: born Liversedge, Yorkshire 4 August 1919; married 1944 Elsie Burton (died 1986; one son, one daughter); died Mitcham, Surrey 22 November 2005.

Stenton Covington

21/11/2020

On This Day 22 November 1935, 85 years ago. Stenton Covington died. Commomertaed by a plaque at the Rookery, a fountain at Norwood Grove and a road on the area
He played a vital part in the formation of Norwood Grove and its 32 Acres of Beautiful grounds which are today maintained by Croydon Council.
(Daphne Marchant)

Zoom Talks

21/11/2020

We have six fabulous Zoom talks confirmed- tickets for the first four are now available- please book via Eventbrite. The talks are free and open to Streatham Society members and non-members but limited to 100 attendees

"Dr. Page’s War Episode 2 Northern Russia 1918-1919 The Continuing Story" on 14th December 2020 at 7:30pm
www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/streatham-society-31488784265

" Great Exhibition and Great Expectations: the everyday and the unexpected at the Crystal Palace- 1851 to present day" on 18th January 2021 at 7:30pm
bit.ly/35532Mm

“The Telford Park Estate – Then and Now” by Chris Sluman Monday, 15 February 2021 at 7:30pm
http://bit.ly/2IpzCzJ

"The Suffrage Photographs of Christina Broom, 1908-1913" by Beverley Cook on Monday 29th March 2021 7:30pm
bit.ly/35QEzuF

"Remembering Mrs Thrale of Streatham Park" by Cassie Ulph
Details to follow

"The Wandle and the Industrial Revolution" by John Philips.
Details to follow

Madamme Tussaud wax artist

20/11/2020

On the 21 November 1958 this article appeared in the Norwood News.

The sculptor Jane Jackson . Her studio was in Telford Ave- she did a bust of Duncan Sandys for Madamme Tussauds in 1958 and also 80 figures for the museum including the Queen and Prince Philip.

Next Meeting

Our next talk is on 7th April2026. A double-bill of talks on The Effects of Climate Change on Open Green Spaces and Oceans by Kevin Martin of the Royal Botanical Gardens Kew and Tom Bolton of the Marine Society.

Our latest copy of the newsletter (263 Winter 2025) is out for delivery or has been posted

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