With a new development taking shape at Wilton Park with Bewley Homes and Inland Homes developing hundreds of new properties now that challenge begins in what to call the new roads being created within the estate. Here Kari Dorme a Beaconsfield Society member writes about the submission she prepared for choosing possible names for the roads, ways, streets and cul de sacs that are to come ... a fascinating insight into the important names from our town you will enjoy reading... personal favourite is Mr Hickey - he certainly sounds s fun guy :-) Read on...there are plenty of names to play around with for sure...
Over the past decade, I have organised many events on behalf of the Beaconsfield Society to celebrate and commemorate some of our town’s most famous residents associated with literature and the arts and to mark significant historical events in the town.
These have helped raise awareness and foster pride in our town’s story and have attracted very positive publicity in local and national press and also on the TV on the BBC.
I believe that Beaconsfield has a fantastic opportunity to honour its famous residents when the Wilton Park development takes shape. In naming new roads on the development after them we can go beyond the ubiquitous street names that modern developments often tend to attract and celebrate our rich past.
My colleague and I have therefore drawn up the following list of people associated with Beaconsfield over the centuries, whose names could make interesting place names. I hope this will be of interest to you.
In the event that this is not within your remit, please could you let me know whom I should contact to progress this idea.
Kari Dorme
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Twins Francis and Riversdale Grenfell
Lived at Wilton Park until their parents died whereupon their uncle Field Marshall Lord Grenfell of Butler’s Court became their guardian.
Francis was awarded one of the first Victoria Crosses of World War I (not the first)
Please note there is already a Grenfell Road in Beaconsfield but Francis or Riversdale could be used.
Alison Uttley
Children’s writer and the creator of Little Grey Rabbit stories. A resident of Beaconsfield 1938- 1976. Plaque erected Beaconsfield Town Council garden.
Robert Frost
America’s premier poet resident of Beaconsfield 1912. He was published for the first time whilst in Beaconsfield and wrote some of his most famous poems here. Plaque erected Reynolds Road.
Edmund Waller
Poet and politician lived in Little Hall Barn, Windsor End later in Hall Barn which he designed.
There is already a Waller Road in Beaconsfield.
Bagley
Builders of the early part of new Town; bellringers, one was a Churchwarden at St Mary’s. Members of Cricket Club, of which one was Captain; played at Wilton Park.
Enid Blyton
World Famous children’s writer, resident of Beaconsfield 1938-1968.
Blyton Close Beaconsfield is on the site of her house, Green Hedges. Plaque erected Beaconsfield Town Council garden.
Sir Terry Pratchett
Renowned fantasy author born near Beaconsfield 1948. Plaque erected Beaconsfield Library.
Charsley
For over 150 years men of the Charsley family were Beaconsfield’s solicitors. Amongst other offices they held were Clerk of the Turnpike Trust, Clerk to Beaconsfield UDC, Steward of local estates, School Manager, and Churchwarden. One of their womenfolk, Matilda, carved St Mary’s pulpit and font. Another, Fanny Anne, published illustrations of Australian wildflowers in tribute to which the Australian daisy was named Helipterum charsleyae.
Edmund Wingrove
Advanced from holding the heads of the horses of Charsley’s clients to becoming Clerk of their practice and of that of their successors, Baily Gibson; awarded MBE for services to the law.
Du Pre
From about 1760 the Du Pre family-owned Wilton Park Estate. There is already a Du Pre Crescent in Wilton Park Beaconsfield
Tapping
The Tapping family provided a Parish Clerk, members of St Mary’s choir, and bell-ringers
Thomas Frederick Lane
The landlord of White Hart, Chairman of Beaconsfield UDC, county councillor, organist, President of Camera Club Society.
Lady Ann Hyde
Her husband was introduced to the Gunpowder Plot by her uncle, Edmund Waller. He was hung; Waller was pardoned. Their graves are adjacent to one another in St Mary’s churchyard. She founded one of Beaconsfield’s charities .There is already a named Hyde Green in Beaconsfield
William Hickey
Drinker, gambler, womaniser. Lived in Little Hall Barn. Noted for his ‘Memoirs’.
Reith
First Director-General of BBC; lived at Harrias House.
Norman Collins
Spent his childhood in the house which is now the Nationwide branch in Penn road. Former Head of BBC Television resigned to become a leader of the campaign to end its monopoly. Coined the term ‘Independent Television’ in place of ‘Commercial Television’. Author: ‘London Belongs to Me’, ‘Children of the Archbishop’ etc.
Kendrick
Colonel Thomas Kendrick, OBE masterminded and commanded an intelligence operation from Wilton Park, Latimer House and Trent Park to record the conversations of senior German commanders and thousands of German POWs. It was at these sites under his direction that information was finally confirmed of Hitler’s deadly weapons programme of V1 and V2, as well as the atomic bomb. This intelligence shortened the war and saved lives and is now recognised on a par with Bletchley Park.
Fritz Lustig
Fritz Lustig worked as a secret listener at Wilton Park and Latimer House. Like other secret listeners, he had fled Nazi Germany as a Jewish refugee and volunteered for the British Army. He was transferred to the Intelligence Corps and signed the Official Secrets Act. He met his future wife Susan Cohn at Wilton Park - she was also engaged on top-secret work. He first raised awareness of his clandestine role over a decade ago and this enabled the story to be finally told by historian Dr Helen Fry.