Lewisham’s famous women: Miss Read (17 April 1913 – 7 April 2012) Miss Read was the pen name of Dora Saint, who wrote over thirty books from the mid-1950s to the mid-1990s. Dora Jessie Shafe was born on 17 April 1913 in South Norwood, London, the youngest of three daughters of Arthur Shafe and his wife Grace Read. Arthur served with the Royal Horse Artillery during the … [Read more...]
Sybil Phoenix OBE – community leader
Sybil Phoenix has devoted her life to helping other people, especially in Lewisham. Early years She was born Sybil Theodora Marshall on 21 June 1927 in Georgetown, British Guiana (now Guyana). Sybil's mother died when she was nine, and, as her father worked in the quarries outside of the capital Georgetown and returned home for only a few days each year, she went to live with … [Read more...]
Norman D’Alquen amateur photographer of Sunderland Road, Forest Hill
When I was writing about the Broadway Theatre I was lucky enough to get into an email conversation with the daughter of Norman D'Alquen, local businessman and amateur photographer who took the picture of the theatre under construction in 1932. I found his history interesting and hope you do to. Norman D'Alquen’s grandfather was from Arnsberg (Prussia). He came to live in … [Read more...]
Rosa May Billinghurst – suffragette and women’s rights activist
Lewisham’s famous women: Rosa May Billinghurst ( 1875 – 1953) Rosa May Billinghurst (commonly known as May Billinghurst) was born on 31 May 1875 at 35 Granville Park, Lewisham. She was the second of nine children. Her father, Henry Billinghurst, was a banker. Her mother, Rosa Brinsmead, was the daughter of a wealthy piano manufacturer. May was born healthy but at the age of … [Read more...]
Edith Lanchester – socialist and feminist
Lewisham's famous women: Edith Lanchester (1871-1966) Many people know of famous Catford born actress Elsa Lanchester, but what do you know of her socialist and feminist mother, Edith? Edith ‘Biddy’ Lanchester was born in Hove, Sussex on 28 July 1871. She was the fifth child of a family of eight. Her parents were Henry Jones Lanchester, an established architect (1834-1914) … [Read more...]