Blog Archives - The Streatham Society

Bennoit Abraham Hollander

27/12/2020

On This Day 27 December 1942 the violinist, conductor and composer Bennoit Abraham Hollander died. He lived at 23 Westwell Road.

Born in Amsterdam and in his 20s was playing in Wagner Concerts at the Albert Hall.

"I disliked Wagner himself as much as I loved his music and if there was anyone I disliked more than Wagner it was his wife"

First president of Barbarians

26/12/2020

On This Day 27 December 1939 William Carpmael died
William Percy Carpmael (May 1864 – 27 December 1936) was the founder and first president of the rugby union Barbarian Football Club. Carpmael was born the eldest of eight in "Briscobel", Streatham.

The 1891 Census records him living with 5 siblings and his parents William and Frances plus domestics at "Briscobel"

He won a blue for rugby union whilst at Jesus College, Cambridge

Carpmael was an all-round sportsman and was footballer, a Streatham Tennis champion and played cricket for Streatham.

William Percy Carpmael was a Patent Agent working for Carpmael and Ransford , Chancery Lane, a company to which his father and grandfather were also involved. The family lived at various locations in Streatham Hill.

Gwyn Parry-Jones and the Metropolitan Opera

26/12/2020

On This Day 26th December 1963 the opera singer Gwyn Parry Jones died

On the 20th September 1933 this was in the Bystandern The Metropolitan Opera Company with Gwyn Parry Jones successfully launched at Streatham

Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Judge Coventry's leaves £5k to his housekeeper

25/12/2020

On This Day 26 December 1930 this was in the papers. The bequest of Judge Coventry of "Redcroft" 3 West Drive, Streatham Park.

He died 5th November 1930, a retired county court judge who was the "father of the boat race" rowed for Cambridge in the Oxford and Cambridge Boat race. 1860 and 1861.

He left a £5,000 bequest to his housekeep Kate Locke

Boxing Day 1961. Jack and Jill

25/12/2020

Boxing Day is the traditional start date for Pantomimes

On This Day 26th December 1961 Jack and Jill at the Streatham Hill Theatre
(Thanks Anne Russell for the programme)

Cast includes Streatham's very own Tommy Trinder of Wellfield Road

Christmas Day 1929 Tooting Bec Lido

24/12/2020

On This Day, 25 December 1929- Tooting Bec Lido, Streatham

According to the label on the back of Christmas Day 1/3, the race took place at 8.30 in the morning. It was won by S. H. Hawkins.
(Janet Smith)

Sidney H Hawkins is recorded living with Jane at 223 Streatham High Road

Baron Lew Grade a 1906 Christmas baby

24/12/2020

On This Day, Christmas Day 1906 Lew Grade was born

Lew Grade, Baron Grade, (25 December 1906 – 13 December 1998), born Louis Winogradsky, was a Ukrainian-born British media proprietor and impresario. Lew Grade and his brothers Leslie and Bernard lived at 43 Pullman Court. Bernard created a leisure empire at EMI and Lew became head of Associated Television- ATV and was responsible for many of Britain's most popular TV shows

Ida Lupino at Christmas (Many thanks Michelle Simon for the pictures)

24/12/2020

Merry Christmas from Ida Lupino, her third husband Howard Duff, and their daughter Bridget Duff

Ida and the Lupino family lived at 152 Leigham Court Road and Ida attended St Helen's School, Streatham

Merry Christmas

24/12/2020

#ThrowbackThursday takes us back to c1905 Tooting Bec Road at Tooting Bec Common, Streatham

24/12/2020

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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