Blog Archives - The Streatham Society

James Perry- MD Streatham Hill Theatre

27/12/2023

The death of James Perry MD of the Streatham Hill Theatre reported in Streatham News 27 December 1963

Image of PM Winston Churchill at the THeatre with his wife and James Walter Perry in 1952 for a production of The Yeomen of the Guard
Perry and his only child Phyllis were killed when the "Lakonia"caught fire 100 miles off the coast of Madeira. In total 128 deaths were recorded

Charles Burney

26/12/2023

Illustrated London News 26 December 1953 a recent acquisition of the National Portrait Gallery of Charles Burney, a "Streatham Worthy"

Charles Burney, organist and author of "The History of Music" and father of Fanny Burney in the original painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds to hang in the Thrale's house in Streatham among portraits by him of other close friends. When the portrait was sold in 1818 it was bought by the sitter's son, Dr Charles Burney and remained in the possession of his descendants till acquired by the Gallery.

Constance Lupino ( O'Shea)

26/12/2023

On This Day 26th December 1959 Constance Lupino ( O'Shea) died . A Streatham resident at 152 Leigham Court Road

Constance Gladys O'Shea (1892–1959), known professionally as Connie Emerald, was a British stage actress. She was born in England, of Irish descent. As well as her theatre work, Emerald also appeared in five films, including 1931's A Safe Affair.

She was married to the entertainer and film star Stanley Lupino, with whom she had a daughter Ida Lupino who became a Hollywood star. When Ida set up her own film production company in the 1950s, she named it Emerald Productions after her mother

Her sister was actress and film producer Nell Emerald.

Valerie Carton in Sleeping beauty

25/12/2023

Streatham News On This Day 25 December 1953. Sleeping Beauty at the Streatham Hill Theatre starring Anne Ziegler and Eddie Henderson and a young Valerie Carton playing the Princess.

Valerie the daughter of a Streatham Doctor lived at 61 Mount Ephraim Road and attended Streatham Hill High School for Girls and the Robinson School of Dancing before moving to Aida Foster's North London school of acting singing and dancing.

Her class mates at Foster's included 2 Streatham girls, Patricia Webb of 22 Abbotswood Road, one of the Streatham Queen of Trade's court ladies and also Miss England 1952, and Jean Galton (Williams) of Ockley Road who ran a dance school in Streatham. Valerie was also in the same class as famous actress Jean Simmons.

Ian Bostridge

25/12/2023

Ian Charles Bostridge CBE was born On This Day 25 December 1964. An English tenor well known for his performances as an opera and lieder singer

Ian and his elder brother, the biographer Mark, were brought up in Streatham. The family lived at 163 The High. His parents, Leslie and Lilly both were from working-class families and had gone to grammar school but left in their mid teens. They were keen on sport – Bostridge's great-grandfather had played for Millwall and Spurs – but both boys were "terribly shortsighted, hopeless at sport and bookish" and won scholarships to Dulwich Prep School and then Westminster. "

Gained a PhD on 17th and 18th century witchcraft from Oxford

Christmas Day at Tooting Bec Lido

25/12/2023

A Christmas tradition On This Day 25 December 1929- Tooting Bec Lido
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

Col. Stanley Preston OBE

24/12/2023

The Tatler On This Day 24 December 1947

Col. Stanley Preston of Streatham awarded an OBE
He was in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and lived at 218 Pullman Court.

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

Christmas 1908 in Streatham

24/12/2023

(Photo courtesy Kevin Kelly)

"Turf Romance" Wedding of Jack Sirett and Irene Cornelius

23/12/2023

The Western Mail On This Day 23 December 1930. The wedding of famous jockey Jack Sirett and Irene Cornelius of 27 (Leigham Court House) Mount Nod Road at St George's Hannover Square

Daughter of Henry and Diane Cornelius. Henry was a commercial traveller and Diane a racehorse owner

Wedding picture courtesy of Timothy Cornelius on ancestry

Luther Grosvenor

23/12/2023

Luther Grosvenor, former resident of 3 Rutford Road, was born On This Day 23 December 1946

Luther James Grosvenor is an English rock musician, who played guitar in Spooky Tooth, briefly in Stealers Wheel and, under the pseudonym Ariel Bender, in Mott the Hoople and Widowmaker.