By John Silverton
Alan Bennett’s filmed story of The Lady in the Van (2015), related the saga of Miss Shepherd, the eponymous ‘Lady’ of the title, who for fifteen years camped on Bennett’s driveway in Gloucester Crescent, Camden Town. The film ends with her demise and revealing a blue plaque dedicated to her affixed to the front of the house. But there never was a blue plaque. However, twenty years after Alan Bennett’s death I expect there to be one to commemorate this celebrated writer and playwright.
I say twenty years because nominees must have been dead for two decades to qualify for a blue plaque, decisions wisely being made with a degree of hindsight. Eastbourne has a generous sprinkling of ceramic blue plaques commemorating writers, artists, explorers and heroes.
Charles Dickens (1812 – 1870) made several visits to Pilgrims, 4 Borough Lane, during the 1830s and no doubt across the road to the Lamb Inn. Lewis Carroll (1832 – 1898), author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, stayed at 7 Lushington Road. Cyril Connolly CBE, (1903 – 1974), eminent journalist and critic, lived at 48 St Johns Road. Author Jeffrey Farnol (1878 – 1952), lived at 14 Denton Road. He wrote more than forty romance novels and with Georgette Heyer (from Brighton) established the Regency Romantic genre.
Mabel Lucie Attwell (1879 – 1964), artist, lived at Ocklynge Manor, Mill Road. The only woman with a blue plaque in Eastbourne, she is remembered for her cute portraits of children and a range of toddler dolls packaged in illustrated boxes during 1950s that preceded the Barbie adult doll phenomenon.
Eric Ravilious (1903 – 1942), Eastbourne’s famed artist and engraver – Towner gallery have an important collection of his works – lived his childhood years at 11 Glynde Avenue. He lost his life during a reconnaissance flight near Iceland during the Second World War.
Another victim of war was CSM (Company Sergeant Major) Nelson Victor Carter (1887 – 1916), 12th Royal Sussex Regiment, posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for outstanding gallantry during the trench warfare in France, 1916. His VC is displayed at the Redoubt Museum and the blue plaque at 33 Greys Road.
One of the heroic explorers of Antarctica was Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874 – 1922) who resided at 14 Milnthorpe Road. Knighted by Edward Vll, he was part of the great trio of polar explorers along with Sir Walter Scott and Roald Amundsen. Appropriately, his was the first blue plaque erected in Eastbourne.
The idea of commemorative blue plaques was suggested to Parliament by William Ewart MP, 1863, and the first plaque – honouring poet Lord Byron – erected in 1867. The plaques usually commemorate a link between a location and a famous person, but can record an event or former use of a building, thus serving as a historical marker. The scheme is run by English Heritage. Many celebrities have more than one plaque to their name, an ideal quiz question as to who has the most plaques? (Answers below).
Among the plaque bearers are a host of comic performers, including Charlie Chaplin, Tony Hancock and Tommy Cooper (1921 – 1984). Cooper’s plaque is at his Edwardian house in Chiswick, London, where he lived with his wife, Gwendoline Henty. Gwendoline was an entertainer from Eastbourne and they regularly stayed at a Victorian cottage, 7 Motcombe Lane. But no blue plaque. Instead the cottage displays a unique black iron silhouette of the famous man, replete with trademark fez and magic wand.
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The comedians’ motto is “Always leave them laughing” and Tommy did exactly that. He collapsed and died on stage. The audience thought it was part of his act and carried on laughing.
Answers to blue plaque questions.
Most blue plaques of men: John Wesley, founder of Methodism, 47, and Charles Dickens 43.
Most blue plaques of women: Queen Victoria 14.
