Our grateful thanks to Roger Hutchings for giving the Society permission to use the photos. Below is a clip from a local newspaper
DEATH OF MR. S. DOVEY
ROMANCE OF A STREATHAM BUSINESS
‘Recollections of the old days, when the now populous district of West Streatham was grazing ground for cattle, and where, on the eight acres of land in the vicinity of the present Blegborough Road, stood a dairy farm, are recalled this week by the passing of Mr. Samson Dovey, proprietor of the Streatham Park Laundry, who died at his home at Penrith-street.
A Worcester farm lad, Mr. Dovey, with his young wife, came to Streatham more than forty years ago and set up in business as a launderer.
From this small beginning he built up the present Streatham Park Laundry, which now employs more than forty hands.
Not content to work the laundry business alone, Mr Dovey had an eight-acre field in the vicinity of the present Eardley Road Schools. Here he worked his dairy farm.
Hard work brought its fruitful results. From his little place in Eardley-road Mr. Dovey migrated to Blegborough-road, and then erected the present laundry buildings.
WELL-KNOWN FIGURE IN THE DISTRICT
A well-known figure in the district, he will be recalled particularly from his association with another old resident, Mr. Frank Parker, of whom he was an inseparable companion till the latter moved to the East Coast. Mr. Parker was tall and slim, and Mr. Dovey inclined to rotundity – hence the two companions became familiar figures.
Mr. Dovey, who was 72, leaves a widow, one son and three daughters. The son, Mr. E. H. Dovey, and a daughter, Mrs. J. T. Collings, now carry on the business.
A member of the St. Leonard’s congregation from his earliest days, Mr. Dovey was also a keen Conservative. He was a life member of the Streatham Conservative Association.
At the funeral at Streatham Cemetery yesterday (Thursday) afternoon, many wreaths from old friends, employees of the firm, relatives, and acquaintances in Worcester (besides the family tokens) were laid on the grave.
The mourners were Mr. A. (sic) Dovey (brother), Mr. E. H. Dovey (son), Mrs. A. Middleton, Mrs. J.T. Collings, and Mrs. Harris (daughters), and Mr. J. T. Collings (son-in-law)’.