This month's crop of plaques include one to one of our most famous and loved
comedian and magicians, Tommy Cooper (1921 - 1984). His name appears
outside the Teddington Studios in Broom road, Teddington. Welsh
born Tommy entertained the troops during WW2 and later, just like many
up-and-coming comics, started work at London's Windmill Theatre. Before
entering show business, he was a guardsman. He had his own successful TV series
during the 50s and 60s and is also remembered for the red fez he took from a
waiter "...just like that..."
One of our best known actors, playwrights and composers has a
plaque outside the Belgravia home he lived in - 17 Gerald Road SW1 -
between the years of 1930 and 1956. Born in Teddington, he also lived in
Sutton. He first appeared in public at the age of 8 at Sutton Town Hall. He
wrote many successful plays, films and musicals such as Blithe Spirit,
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Bitter Sweet, In Which We Serve and Brief Encounter. He was, of course,
Sir Noel (Pierce) Coward (1899 - 1973).
Famous in a completely different field was the aptly named Thomas
Crapper (1837 - 1910). He was an English plumber who lived at 12
Thornsett Rd SE26 and gained fame after inventing the syphonic toilet
flush! Although he never took out a patent on it, he installed 30 at
Sandringham House for Queen Victoria following which he became flushed
with success! His name can still be found on manhole covers in many public
buildings.
The English novelist and author of the Just William
stories for
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children, Richmal Crompton (1890 - 1969) lived at The Glebe,
Oakley Rd, Bromley Common. After being struck down by polio in 1903,
she took to writing and had 50 books published.
If you are an Arsenal fan, you might have passed the
plaque to Charles Cruft (1852 - 1939) at Ashurst Lodge, Highbury
Grove N5. He was the General Manager of Spratts Dog Foods for
30 years and held his first dog show in 1886. It continues as a show for
high standards in his name... Crufts.
Where the Biological Building at Gower St WCl now stands, was
the site of the home of scientist Charles Darwin (1809 - 82). It
was Darwin who started the theory that we all descend from monkeys or
apes. I suppose it could be true, as I have often heard of some 'faces' in
our trade referred to as 'animals'...!
Bernie Pressman (M31J)
Information courtesy Discovering London Plaques, Derek Sumeray, published
by Shire Publications |
