THE SOCIETY – THE BLUE PLAQUE TRAIL AND LEAFLETS Promoting our Heritage The Blue Plaque Trail LEAFLETS 1. Beach House (1820) Road 2. (1775-1817) Stanford Sq. 3. St. Pauls (1812-2012) Chapel Road 4. Philp McCutchan (1920-1996) 107 Portland Road 5. (1930-2008) 14 Ambrose Place 6. Gladys Morgan (1898-1983) 30 Salisbury Road 7. W.H.Hudson (1841-1922) 8 Bedford Row 8. Dr Frederick Dixon (1799 – 1849) Union PlaceC 9. Alma Cogan (1932-1966) – 29 Lansdowne Road

6 Sandell Building, Station Road 1 Beach House (Built in 1820) Brighton Road Opened by The London and South Coast Railway 3 Plaques: as the first Worthing Station on Nov 25th 1845. - King Edward VII (1841-1910) Stayed in The Worthing Threatened with demolition in 1971 and later 1907/8/9/10 restored by Frank Sandell and Sons (Worthing Ltd.) - Edward Knoblock (1874-1945) Playwright of in 1988. Society “Kismet” lived here 1917-1923 - In 1937 provided sanctuary for 60 refugee children fleeing the destruction of Guernica during Conserving, Preserving the Spanish Civil War 7 Henfrey Smail (1909-1979) 6 Landsdowne Cl THE WORTHING Naturalist , writer on transport history and Leaflet available describing the History of the House and Worthing’s leading local historian lived in this house

from its completion in 1930 until his death. Safeguarding our Heritage 2 Harold Pinter (1930-2008)14 Ambrose Place SOCIETY Playwright Actor and Director lived here 1962-1964 Leaflet available describing his life

8 Gladys Morgan (1898-1983) 30 Salisbury Rd 3 St Pauls (1812-2012) Chapel Road. Comedienne, Star of Stage, Radio, and TV lived Designed by John Biagio Rebecca and here from 1958 to 1983. consecrated in 1812 as a Chapel-of-Ease to St Leaflet available describing her life Mary’s Broadwater. Created a Parish Church in THE BLUE PLAQUE 1893 and dedicated to St. Paul. A place of Anglican worship until 1995 and now a TRAIL 9 . W.H.Hudson (1841-1922) 8 Bedford Row Community Centre. Writer on Countryside matters stayed here and at Leaflet available describing the History of the Building No. 14 on various occasions from June 1918. Leaflet available describing his life 4 Jane Austen (1775-1817) Novelist stayed here at Stanford Cottage (Now 10 Private William Cooper, Cranmer Road Pizza Express in Stanford Square, off Warwick 24th Regiment of Foot who fought the gallant Street) from 18th September 1805 to the year end. Zulus at Rourke’s Drift 1879 lived and died here. A heritage trail through the town taking Leaflet available describing her visit to Worthing

in those sites where a Blue Plaque has been Warnes (Built in 1899) Marine Parade erected to commemorate notable people, 5 11 Provident House, Grafton Road 2 Plaques: Formerly the Worthing Soup Kitchen 1892-1922 buildings, or events in the town’s history. - George Warne (1864-1916), an early motoring Erected by The Worthing Provident Relief Society enthusiast who, in 1899, promoted his new hotel and designed by A.T.Cooke. For more information about the Society as The Motorist’s Mecca and its activities go to our Web Site at: - Famous visitors included King Edward VII, King 12 Philip McCutchan (1920-1996), 107 Portland Rd George V, Emperor Haille Selassie, Winston Author of Contemporary Thrillers and Historical www.worthingsociety.org.uk Churchill, General Montgomery, General Military Fiction lived here from 1963 to 1996. Eisenhower and John Philip Sousa. Closed in Leaflet available describing his life Reg. Charity No. 286899 1985 and burned down in 1987.

WORTHING SOCIETY - THE BLUE PLAQUE TRAIL

WORTHING SOCIETY - THE BLUE PLAQUE TRAIL MAP

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The Worthing Society

Conserving, Preserving and Safeguarding our Heritage Heritage Leaflet No: 1 BEACH HOUSE S a AUSTEN f e STENYBEACH g HOUSE u a r d (c 1820) i This is the first of a series of leaflets being n produced by the Worthing Society g to accompany the plaques erected throughout the Town to commemorate notable people, buildings, o and events in the town’s history. u For more information about the Society r and its activities go to our Web Site at: www.worthingsociety.org.uk H For Membership Enquiries please contact Membership Secretary Susan Miller on 01903 219884 Reg. Charity No. 286899 e r Beach House is one of the last surviving Beach-Side villas with iron gates to separate the house from the Brighton The picture shows the of the Regency Period. Built in 1820 it has been home to a Road. unveiling ceremony by the Deputy Mayor of Worthing, wide diversity of people and organizations and still Christine Brown (right) and His visitors included remains an outstanding example of Regency architecture. Maria Teresa Grijalba, one Arnold Bennett , of the original evacuees It was designed by John Biagio Rebecca, the architect J.B. Priestley , and Sir who travelled over from responsible for the design of a number of buildings in Compton Mackenzie Venezuela especially for the event. Worthing including the town’ s first large church (when the House was (St.Paul’s) and (for the poet, Percy Bysshe converted into flats in After the war Worthing Council wanted to demolish the Shelley). The original owner of the building was a Mr. 1982 the names of these authors, together with Rebecca House but due to the determined opposition of local Robert Carey Elwes who sold the house in 1846 to Sir and Ayrton, were given to the flats) A blue plaque groups led by Pat Baring of the local Civic Society a Public Frederick Adair Roe, Chief Magistrate of the Bow Street commemorating Knoblock’s stay in the House can be Enquiry was held in 1948 and as a result a Preservation Office and head of the Bow Street Runners , London’s found on the right hand side of the entrance to the Order was served under the Town and Country Planning Police Force. After his death his wife continued to live in building.(see map overleaf) act of 1947. However the Building continued to the house until she died in 1876 when it was sold to Sir deteriorate due to neglect until, in 1982, it was sold to a In 1927 the House was sold to Worthing Corporation and Robert Loder, Conservative Member of Parliament for private developer who converted the building into 7 flats. served as a temporary Town Hall from 1929 – 1933 and as New Shoreham. He died in 1888 and the House passed to Since then it has been well maintained and remains one the headquarters of the Air Training Corps during the his son , Sir Edmund Giles Loder who lived there until of the few buildings left in the Town to remind us of our Second World War. 1911 . Between 1907 and 1910 King Edward VII stayed at past heritage. It now has Grade II* Listed status. the House several times while visiting Sir Edmund Loder During the Spanish Civil War in 1936, Beach House was As important as the House is itself, its setting is equally and his family. A blue plaque commemorating these used to house children evacuated from their homes in the important. visits can be found on the left hand side of the entrance Basque province of Biscay. The children were fleeing to the building. (see map overleaf). The grounds used to provide bombing and starvation after the destruction of the town an uninterrupted view from of Guernica by the Nazi Luftwaffe. They were supported When he moved from the House, Sir Edmund offered it to the sea with the House and cared for entirely by local volunteers. Worthing Council for the sum of £16,000 but the deal fell framed by plantations of through and for some years Beach House was left vacant. rd On the 23 May 2007 a blue plaque commemorating elm, ilex and Sycamore. (see During the First World War it was used as a doll-making their stay in the House was erected on the right hand picture above) but over the years there has been factory for the employment of refugees. side of the steps leading to the building’s entrance by encroachment into this open space and a significant loss Worthing Council and “the Basque Children of ’37 of trees. It remains at risk from Council Planners but any In 1917 the House was bought by the playwright , Edward Association UK” (see map overleaf) attempt at further encroachment is met by vigorous Knoblock (1874 – 1945) who used the proceeds from his resistance from local residents, conservation groups and play “Kismet” to purchase and refurbish the House with who take an active interest in the the help of the architect, Maxwell Ayrton, who had been Building and its setting. a pupil of Lutyens. Ayrton added a new forecourt and wall

The Worthing Society

Conserving, Preserving and Safeguarding our Heritage Heritage Leaflet No: 2 JANE AUSTEN S a STENYBEACH f e HOUSE g u a r d (1775-1817) i This is the second of a series of leaflets being n produced by the Worthing Society g to accompany the plaques erected throughout the Town to commemorate notable people, buildings, o and events in the town’s history. u For more information about the Society r and its activities go to our Web Site at: www.worthingsociety.org.uk H For Membership Enquiries please contact Membership Secretary Susan Miller on 01903 219884 Reg. Charity No. 286899 e 219884m r Jane Austen, one of the greatest writers in the English Downstairs, a central hallway divided four square Austen scholar Deirdre le Faye suggests that perhaps it language, arrived at Stanford Cottage Worthing, on rooms, whose attractive south-facing bow-windows was during these autumn evenings that Jane made a Wednesday 18th September 1805. Aged 29 and as yet remain in place today. A central staircase led to four, fair copy of her early work, 'Lady Susan', adding the unpublished, the future famous novelist had journeyed possibly five bedrooms on the first floor, having Conclusion as she did so. It is possible that the Austen with her brother Edward from his Godmersham estate uninterrupted sea views to the south and downland to ladies remained in Worthing until after Christmas, as in , together with her sister Cassandra, Edward's the north. Four smaller rooms occupied the attic the next definite news of their movements is in January wife and daughter Fanny, and governess Ann Sharp. space, whose chimneys and side windows can be seen 1806. Mrs Austen and family friend Martha Lloyd were already from the twitten (passageway) running along the east settled in Worthing to complete the family party. side of the house. Stanford Cottage may have What is certain is that Jane Austen later drew on her Notably absent was Jane's beloved father, Reverend resounded with Jane Austen's piano playing since observations of early Worthing, for her final, but George Austen, whose unexpected death earlier in Edward Stanford, the property's owner, was a piano unfinished novel 'Sanditon', the story of an up-and- January had left the Austen ladies facing an uncertain dealer by trade. coming in . This precious future. The lease on their home in Bath having fragment of 12 chapters, written only a few months expired, they left the city to visit family and friends The Austens' home was very well situated close to all before her untimely death in 1817, celebrates not only before taking up temporary residence in the newly amenities, the twitten being particularly useful as a Jane Austen's literary genius, but also the little town fashionable health resort of Worthing. direct short cut through open land to the circulating which unwittingly hosted and inspired 's best- library on the seafront. Today's Stagecoach office is all loved female novelist. The advent of sea-bathing in the 18th century had a that remains of the once elegant 4-storey Stafford's transforming effect on the fortunes of the former Marine Library, which in 1805 served as Worthing's fishing and agricultural hamlet. Worthing's magnificent post-office. It may have been here, or at the coastline, firm sands, safe bathing and mild climate Colonnade library on the north-west corner of Warwick attracted wealthy visitors in search of a sea-cure. Street and High Street, that Jane Austen attended a Moreover, in 1798 the successful six-month visit of raffle, where as Fanny's diary records, ' Aunt Jane won Princess Amelia, youngest daughter of George III, gave and it amounted to 17/s' (shillings). the town the royal seal of approval. Demand for suitable visitor accommodation soon outstripped supply Jane Austen, an enthusiastic sea-bather, would no and by 1805 the population had increased to c.2000. doubt have soon joined Fanny in a 'delicious dip' from Elegant terraces and marine villas were springing up one of Worthing's 30 bathing-machines, which were, seemingly everywhere, to the amazement of older according to the 1805 town guide, segregated, so that locals. The town's ongoing rapid expansion came 'every proper attention is paid to decency'. under the watchful gaze of newcomer Jane Austen, as she absorbed the air of excitement, optimism and On Sundays, the Austens attended St Mary's, feverish industry around her. Worthing's parish church in Broadwater, a mile's walk through fields dotted with cows. A record of Jane's Stanford Cottage (Now Pizza Express in Stanford Square, off Stanford Cottage, the Austen ladies' Worthing meeting with the rector on November 4th indicates that Warwick Street) showing the position of the commemorative residence, is a late 18th century property, built of local she would have been here when news of the Battle of plaque erected by the Worthing Society in 2010 creamy-yellow brick (now painted), set in its own Trafalgar broke, bringing joy but also concern for her grounds, with accommodation on three floors. Jane two naval brothers who were both officers serving Copyright Janet Clarke 2013 Austen's carriage would have drawn up outside the overseas at that time. wooden gates in Warwick Street, which opened onto a large courtyard with a feature sweet chestnut tree.

The Worthing Society

Conserving, Preserving and Safeguarding our Heritage

Heritage Leaflet No: 3 S St. Paul’s a ChurchBE f e ACH g HOUSE u a AUSTEN r STENYBE d i This is the third of a series of leaflets being producedACH by the Worthing Society n to accompany the plaques erected g

throughoutHOUSE the Town to commemorate notable people, buildings, o and events in the town’s history. u For more information about the Society and its activities go to our Web Site at: r www.worthingsociety.org.uk For Membership Enquiries please contact Membership Secretary Susan Miller on 01903 219884 H Reg. Charity No. 286899 e

By the 1880’s the town was larger and Church current beach and is now underwater. The At the end of the 18th century Worthing was just a attendance greater so work was undertaken on an building is partly stuccoed. small agricultural and fishing village by the sea extension . Money for the £3,680 work was with no church for Christian worship . The closest The interior of the church was finished by a parish church was St. Mary’s in Broadwater. Worthing man, Edward Hide. Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, presented the church with the By an Act of Parliament it was decided to build a royal coat of arms in thanks to the people of Chapel-of-Ease and land occupied by the present Worthing for showing such generosity and building was purchased. Subscriptions amounting kindness to her two daughters, Princesses Amelia to £7,000 were raised for a building fund and and Charlotte when they stayed in the town. The everyone involved in the work was required to organ was given to the church by Edward Ogle, purchase one or more pews. nicknamed "King Ogle" by Worthing residents on account of his autocratic behaviour. The Church was opened and consecrated in 1812 as the Worthing Chapel of Ease. It was built so After closure in 1996 and following a detailed that the residents and visitors to the newly created raised by an appeal to the public to contribute, review the building was converted into a cafe and town of Worthing would not need to travel to the which they did over a five-year period. An community centre for weddings, concerts etc. parish church in Broadwater. As a growing resort, extension eastwards was not possible due to the and adjacent assisted accommodation. it was felt that for the town to prosper, residents proximity of Chapel Road , so the building was and visitors would demand a local church or enlarged to the west and the chancel moved from chapel.The Chapel of Ease gave its name to the east to the west end – an unusual position for Worthing town centre's principal north-south an Anglican Church. The Chapel was upgraded to route, Chapel Road. Parish Church status and dedicated to St. Paul in October 1893. It continued to be a popular centre The Reverend William Davison was appointed for Christian worship until it closed in 1996, due the chapel's first chaplain. The Reverend Davison to an unsafe roof. By this time it had been went on to set up schools for boys, girls and classified with a Grade II * listing. infants in the town with money raised from the congregation. The girls' school he established was Designed by John Biageo Rebecca , who also the original . designed Beach House, and built by Ambrose The commmemorative plaque was unveiled on Cartwright, who also built nearby Ambrose Place, the 27th of September 2012 by the then Mayor of Being funded by the sale and leasing of pews, the the building has a Doric portico with four Worthing, Councillor Charles James, shown in chapel was a proprietary chapel. This policy columns facing Chapel Road, with a bell cupola the picture above alongside David Sumner , the effectively excluded the poor from the church behind it. The building's yellow bricks are made Chairman of the Worthing Society. which was criticised . from the blue clay taken from Worthing Common (also known as the Saltgrass), the green space which in the 19th century existed south of the

The Worthing S Society

Conserving, Preserving and Safeguarding our Heritage Heritage Leaflet No: 4 S PHILIP McCUTCHAN a f e g u a r d (1920-1996) i This is the fourth of a series of leaflets being n produced by the Worthing Society g to accompany the plaques erected throughout the Town to commemorate notable people, buildings, o and events in the town’s history. u For more information about the Society r and its activities go to our Web Site at: www.worthingsociety.org.uk H For Membership Enquiries please contact Membership Secretary Susan Miller on 01903 219884 Reg. Charity No. 286899 e r Philip McCutchan was born in Cambridge in 1920. His His greatest successes, however were his historical 107 Portland Road was a popular destination for the childhood was divided between His parents’ home in Naval and Military series. His Naval novels were set in London based editors from his several different and and his grandparents’ homes, Conington two different periods in history: Lt St Vincent Halfhyde publishers. They would be met at the station by Hall, near Cambridge and Glenlo Abbey in County served in ’s Navy, while Lt Cameron’s Elizabeth and would spend the morning working on the Galway. Philip’s father was a Master Mariner who adventures took place in World War 2, drawing heavily latest book with Philip. This would be followed by lunch achieved his Master’s Ticket under sail and was still on his own experiences at sea. and a trip to the beach before catching the train back serving in the era of the Nuclear Submarine. to London. One of the editors from Weidenfeld and The military novels were written under his pseudonym of Nicholson became such a close family friend she was Philip always wanted to join the Royal Navy and applied Duncan MacNeil. This was a strategy suggested by his invited to both children’s weddings. to Dartmouth. However, to his disappointment, he failed publisher, who felt that readers would be confused to the Maths paper for the entrance exam and passed read such accurate novels about two very different fields Philip died in 1996. He never really retired and his last automatically into Sandhurst. There he spent one by the same author. His eye for detail was so acute that novel was published in the August after his death. miserable term before war broke out and he decided to he would receive fan mail from old soldiers who had fulfil his ambition by joining the Royal Naval Volunteer served on the North West Frontier of India saying they Reserve as an Ordinary Seaman. He was quickly spotted felt he must have served there with them. In reality he as officer material and served as a Lieutenant for the had never even been there. The protagonist in these remainder of the war. He saw action escorting North novels was Captain James Ogilvie of the 114th Queen’s Atlantic convoys and in Operation Torch. After the war Own Royal Strathspeys. he spent three years in the Merchant Service making voyages to East and South Africa, Australia and India These characters were all brought alive through the before returning to London to take up a post with the pages of McCutchan’s novels but in a sense they also Anglo Oranian Oil Company. The City lifestyle did not almost became part of the family. His routine was to suit him. So, by now married to Elizabeth, and with his start at 8am and work until lunchtime tapping out the ambition to write becoming stronger, he tried his hand stories, using two fingers, on a noisy but trusty at Prep School Teaching. This experience provided rich typewriter: only towards the end of his life did he begin The son and daughter (left of picture) of Philip McCutchan material for one of his earliest published novels, “For the to use an electric typewriter with a word processing at the unveiling of his commemoration plaque Sons of Gentlemen”. Later Philip and Elizabeth opened a facility. Smoking his pipe or with a cigarette at Myrtle Cottage, 107 Portland Road, Worthing tea shop in the village of Rowlands Castle. This enabled continuously burning, in the room beside the plaque, he on the 6th July 2013 him to start writing more seriously and his early produced manuscript after manuscript. His London successes included Radio Plays and Short Stories. publishers would say they knew when a “Philip McCutchan” was in the building, as the pages smelled so By 1963 his writing career and his family were well strongly of smoke. His publishers also described him as Copyright Rosie Speer 2013 established and he moved to 107 Portland Road, “green fingered.” By this they meant he could “just do Worthing. At the time he was writing his “Commander it”. They knew his writing was so reliable his work Shaw” novels, with the sixth of these being published would need very little editing. As a result he had three or shortly after he moved in. Commander Shaw worked for four books a year published until the total reached over British Intelligence, a tough character with a licence to 130. kill. Following this series Philip began writing Crime fiction and in 1967 he became Chairman of the Crime In 1990 the Public Lending Right Law was passed and it Writers’ Association. quickly proved that he was one of the top most borrowed Library Authors. He had been active in campaigning for authors to be paid a sum of money each time their books were borrowed and he was delighted when this finally came to fruition.

The Worthing S Society

Conserving, Preserving and Safeguarding our Heritage Heritage Leaflet No: 5 S HAROLD PINTER a f e g u a r d (1930-2008) i This is the fifth of a series of leaflets being n produced by the Worthing Society g to accompany the plaques erected throughout the Town to commemorate notable people, buildings, o and events in the town’s history. u For more information about the Society r and its activities go to our Web Site at: www.worthingsociety.org.uk H For Membership Enquiries please contact Membership Secretary Susan Miller on 01903 219884 Reg. Charity No. 286899 e r In 1962 builders moved into 14 Ambrose Place, in the In 1958 his first major play “The Birthday Party” On Christmas Eve 2008 Harold Pinter died leaving a heart of Worthing’s theatreland to renovate the building. received a mixed reception. His next play “The distinguished legacy. His ephemeral work as an actor It was reported the house had been purchased by Caretaker” written in 1959 initially presented at the Arts and director of greatness is recalled by those who saw Harold Pinter regarded by many as the most exciting Theatre Club transferred to the Duchess Theatre in the his performances, and much is written. dramatist of the day. Theatregoers, who were West End in May 1960, won awards and ran for 444 accustomed to stars appearing at the Connaught performances. The play opened on Broadway in October His work for film, television, and radio, prose and Theatre with a repertory company which had achieved 1962. poetry emphasise his versatility. His concern for national prominence, were thrilled that this young major language, way with dialogue, the private world he talent would soon be amongst them. Why did he choose The Caretaker transformed Pinter’s life, giving him public created, his deep understanding of theatre, ensure to come to Worthing and buy a house in Ambrose Place. and international recognition and relative wealth. He had his place as one of the most important dramatists of time to write. the 20th Century. Harold Pinter was born on the 10th Ocotober 1930 in Hackney, to Jewish parents of Polish origin. He attended During the summer of 1960 he moved from Chiswick the highly selective High School Hackney Downs where High Road to a larger flat in Kew. Three years later he Joe Brearley the English Master was a guiding influence. moved with Vivien and son Daniel to 14 Ambrose Place. He loved literature, was encouraged to write prose and Harold Pinter used his own name when he played Mick poetry and contributed to the School Magazine. He in a Guy Vaesen production of his hit play at the excelled at games and loved , his favourite Connaught. pastime. Aged 16 Harold was persuaded to act in School productions. Joe Brearley remained a friend until he died Whilst in Worthing he wrote “The Homecoming” which in 1973, and visited him in Worthing. Pinter Peter Hall regarded as Pinter’s “greatest and biggest acknowledged his debt to his teacher in prose and play”. An enactment of dysfunctional family relationships poetry. He left school in 1948. it opened at the Aldwych Theatre directed by Peter Hall in June 1965 and on Broadway in January 1966, winning Pinter spurned University and became a professional three major awards. actor. In 1951 he joined the great Irish actor manager Anew McCaster for a six month tour of Shakespeare to During 1962 Pinter wrote a screen adaptation for the Ireland learning about stagecraft, directing and acting. film “The Servant” and was paid £3,000. His play for He toured with Sir Donald Wolfit’s Company but disliked television “The Lover” starring Vivien Merchant and Alan his overbearing manner, leaving to spend years with Badel won praise and awards. Pinter was in demand and various repertory companies, ever learning stage his screenplay written in 1965-66 earned him £20,000. technique. It is uncertain when he began to write plays In 1966 he was awarded a CBE. His star continued to but through much of the 1950’s he earned a threadbare rise. Among his later stage plays were “The Hothouse”, existence in various reps. In June 2009 the Mayor of Worthing, “Betrayal”, “Old Times” ; his screenplays included “The Councillor Noel Atkins, unveiled the plaque to commemorate Harold Pinter’s time in Worthing. In Bournemouth he worked with Guy Vaesen, the Quiller Memorandum”, “The Last Tycoon”, “The French Lieutenant’s Woman” and “The Remains of the Day”. He is shown above accompanied by David Sumner, director who took Pinter under his wing, and they Worthing Society Chairman became lifelong friends. He had a tempestuous In late 1963 Guy Vaesen left the Connaught and in 1964 relationship with leading lady Vivien Merchant, an Pinter moved with his family from Worthing to a very actress of talent and allure. They married at a grand large house in Hanover Terrace, Regent’s Park. Bournemouth Registry Office in September 1956. They Copyright David Sumner 2014 all worked together at the after Guy In 2002 he became a Companion of Honour. In 2005 he

Vaesen became resident director in April 1957, Pinter was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. using the stage name David Baron for reasons only he knew.

The Worthing Society

Conserving, Preserving and Safeguarding our Heritage Heritage Leaflet No: 6 S GLADYS MORGAN a f e g u a r d (1898 - 1983) i This is the sixth of a series of leaflets being n produced by the Worthing Society g to accompany the plaques erected throughout the Town to commemorate notable people, buildings, o and events in the town’s history. u For more information about the Society r and its activities go to our Web Site at: www.worthingsociety.org.uk H For Membership Enquiries please contact Membership Secretary Susan Miller on 01903 219884 Reg. Charity No. 286899 e r Gladys Morgan was one of a rare breed from the golden Gladys’s big opportunity came when she was asked It was because of all her broadcasting commitments in days of twice-a-night variety – a Welsh, female, stand- to audition for Mai Jones, Welsh Rarebit’s producer. the South of England in the 1950s that Gladys made up comic. She made Worthing her home for 47 years. To Up until then Gladys had worked in a Lancashire the decision to move the family to Worthing in 1958 the general public she is probably a forgotten name, but accent influenced by her idol, the outrageous and it was there that she died in 1983, aged 85. to variety enthusiasts and performers she is still held in Northern comic, Frank Randle. At last she was able high esteem. Her style was big and broad, although to use her native Welsh accent and she proved so In 2006 BBC Radio Wales paid tribute to the ‘Welsh physically Gladys was the exact opposite, being a petite successful that she became a regular on the show for Queen of Comedy’ with a thirty-minute celebration 4’10” tall. Dressed in her trademark striped blazer and several years. Frankie Howerd heard her and wrote and, in December 2012, at the instigation of Geoff beret, she had a vividly expressive face and a toothless Gladys a ‘fan’ letter, saying that she had ‘the most Bowden of the British Music Hall Society, a Blue smile. But her calling card was her laugh – a high- striking personality I’ve heard for many a day’, and Plaque was unveiled outside Gladys’s Worthing home pitched maniacal cackle that proved to be hugely booked her as a permanent member of his radio at 30, Salisbury Road, by Gladys’s daughter, the infectious. When she made her debut on the popular series, The Frankie Howerd Show. In the ‘50s Gladys singer and comedienne Joan Laurie. radio programme, Welsh Rarebit, in 1950, she was given and her family toured the variety halls incessantly a three minute spot. She filled that first appearance with and her popularity further increased when she joined just her laugh. She came on, laughed, the audience the cast of Educating Archie, starring ventriloquist erupted, she laughed again and before she got round to Peter Brough and his dummy Archie Andrews. In using her script, her three minutes were up, and a star 1956 Gladys had the honour of representing radio was born! and television at the Women Of The Year luncheon at the Savoy Hotel. Like Hylda Baker, Gladys had to wait until middle age (she was 52) before she achieved her fame. Born in Sadly, very little of Gladys’s work exists in the BBC Swansea in 1898, Gladys had been treading the boards archives, but she was incredibly busy on radio and in concert party, pantomime and revue for forty years television during the 1950s and early 1960s in such with limited success. Blessed with a fine soprano voice, shows as Workers’ Playtime, Midday Music Hall, she started out in the profession as a singer, until one Blackpool Night, The Good Old Days and Sunday fateful day in an Isle of Man concert party when she was Night At The London Palladium. asked to play the part of an old deaf woman in a comedy sketch. From then on Gladys was hooked on The family appeared at the laughter-making. She married the comedian Frank Laurie London Palladium for a Gladys’s daughter unveiling the commemorative plaque and toured as a double act, with Frank as the ‘comic’ season in 1961, with their at 30, Salisbury Road, Worthing and Gladys as the ‘feed’, but bookings were scarce. Fate friend Frankie Vaughan, and on the 11th December 2012 took a hand when they were playing Liverpool in a week for five years Gladys toured Accompanied by (from the left) :- of cine-variety. An agent caught their act and suggested South Africa in an old time that they swop roles as Gladys had a gift of a face for music hall production. So Roy Hudd (well known entertainer and President of comedy. They did this and the act Morgan and Laurie successful was she there, the British Music Hall Society) Wyn Calvin (comedian and Vice President of was born and plentiful dates followed. During the war that the family recorded a The British Music Hall Society) the couple worked for ENSA, the organisation set up to radio series, The Morgans, David Sumner (Chairman of the Worthing Society) entertain troops, and their daughter, Joan, and her for Springbok Radio. Councillor Charles James. (Mayor of Worthing) husband, Bert, joined the act. In 1965 Gladys appeared in the film The Wild Affair Copyright Geoff Bowden 2013

with Nancy Kwan, Terry Thomas and Bud Flanagan.

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Conserving, Preserving and Safeguarding our Heritage Heritage Leaflet No: 7 W.H.HUDSON S a BEACH HOUSE f AUSTEN e g STENYBEACH u a HOUSE r d i (1841 – 1922) This is one of a series of leaflets being n produced by the Worthing Society g to accompany the plaques erected throughout the Town o to commemorate notable people, buildings, and events in the town’s history. u For more information about the Society r and its activities go to our Web Site at: www.worthingsociety.org.uk H Reg. Charity No. 286899 e r William Hudson, naturalist, writer and ornithologist at 8 Bedford Row and finally 3 Woodleigh Road, West used to obtain these feathers The aim of the society was born on 4th August 1841 near Buenos Aires. His Tarring, where she died on 19th March 1921. She is was to discourage the wearing of feathers as fashion, parents were David and Caroline and he had 4 buried at Broadwater Cemetery and Hudson arranged unless the bird had been killed for food, except for the brothers and 2 sisters, with whom he would explore for the plot to be thickly planted with daisies. He poor ostrich, from which feathers could be taken the local countryside. This was the start of his interest wanted it to be “a continuous white sheet of flowers”. without killing the bird. Hudson was elected in wildlife and nature that he was keen to pass on to A stone was placed there inscribed “I will not fail Chairman of the Committee in 1894. other children later in life. thee” th Hudson came to England arriving in in On 18 August 1922, seventeen months after the death 1869 at the age of 28.. He described Southampton as Hudson loved Sussex, in particular the quaintness of of his wife, Hudson died in his sleep at the age of 81 at “a beautiful place, wide clean macadam streets, grand Shoreham. He was often at the old church with the Tower House. He was buried with Emily in old elm and horse-chestnut trees - parks covered with lichen of years “coat after coat, the living on the dead” Broadwater Cemetery. velvety turf”. The green countryside all seemed He delighted in the old High Street, with its odd name magical to him. He left Southampton and wandered of Raptigal. Another favourite place was Shoreham Beach , where he loved to sketch. One day, whilst through the countryside finding trees, birds and wildflowers. He eventually arrived in London and there in the company of his friend Morley Roberts and lodged at 40 St. Lukes Road, Bayswater. In 1876 he with the help of a local clergyman rescued three girls married his landlady, Emily Wingrave, who was who had got into difficulties, this despite the fact that 15years older than himself. Hudson could not swim. He was in the water up to his neck, it was only his height that allowed him to go into Hudson and Emily came to Worthing in 1914, for her the deeper water and aid the girls .Another favourite health. In fact they were both very unwell. They haunt was the once famous Swiss Gardens, sadly not resided at “The Cottage”, a lodging house in Park much of which remains today. He despised , Road, run by a Mrs Crabb. Hudson described it as a which he called a priestly cathedral town of drinking decent place with a garden at the back and only a shops. Chanctonbury Ring and a hawthorn wood in short walk to the seafront. Although called “The Findon were a particular favourite as was Devils Cottage” it was a rambling house with 14 rooms and Dyke. Although Worthing was not well liked by with the garden occupied an area of 2 acres. Sadly this Hudson, he was often seen in the old library. Hudson’s house is long gone. Hudson particularly liked to relax book “Nature in Downland” begins in August 1899. in the garden, listening to the birds. When he He spends many hours on Kingston Hill, near Lewes, recovered, he left the invalid Emily there and went off where there were great views of the Sussex . In His grave bears the inscription: “He loved birds and travelling. She worried about him as he was not in the September 1899, he stayed in “Sea View” Goring, green places, and the wind on the heath, and saw the best of health and they did write to each other almost Jefferies house, some twelve years after his death. brightness of the skirts of God” In his will, he left daily. He visited Worthing and when there was no Hudson had a strange encounter whilst walking by the £8225 to the RSPB to be used to provide village room at “The Cottage” he stayed at 14 Bedford Row church. He was thinking of Jefferies and came face to schools with illustrated pamphlets intended to instil in and later Huntington face with a tramp, who greatly resembled the portraits young children a love of wild birds. He had been very House, 8 Bedford of the great man. Hudson was deeply moved by this concerned throughout his life that many young boys Row, which bears our experience. used to trap and kill birds and steal their eggs. blue plaque. The RSPB to which Hudson left nearly all his estate, In 1924 the Hudson Memorial Bird Sanctuary was Emily after leaving started life as The Plumage League in Manchester in erected in Hyde Park. In May 1991 a memorial to Bath Road stayed in a 1889.Then in 1891 joined forces with the Fur, Fin and Hudson and Jefferies was opened in Broadwater boarding house in the Steyne, later she joined Hudson Feather Club in Croydon. Extreme cruelty was often Cemetery. This can still be seen there today.

The Worthing Society

Conserving, Preserving Heritage Leafletand No: 8 Safeguarding our Heritage Heritage Leaflet No: 8 DR.Safeguarding FREDERICK DIXON our Heritage FRCS FGS

(1799 – 1849)

This is one of a series of leaflets being produced by the Worthing Society to accompany the plaques erected throughout the Town to commemorate notable people, buildings, and events in the town’s history. For more information about the Society and its activities go to our Web Site at: www.worthingsociety.org.uk

Reg. Charity No. 286899 Dr Frederick Dixon the rooftops towards the sea. In the 1830s and by many of the most prominent geologists of the 1840s it became one of the social centres of time, all friends and acquaintances of Dr Dixon. Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons Worthing, particularly for musical soirees, as Like many geologists of the time, Frederick was also Fellow of the Geological Society Frederick was most proficient on the pianoforte. an antiquarian, and a founding member of the Dr Frederick Dixon was born on 6 March 1799, the At a Public Meeting on 20 August 1829, chaired by Sussex Archaeological Society, established in Lewes youngest of 3 sons of the Rev. Joseph Dixon, Rector Rev. Henry Dixon, it was decided to establish a in 1846. He was very active for this county-wide of the small downland parish of Sullington. Inheriting Dispensary in the town, for the benefit of all the society, serving on the Committee, organising and ‘a small fortune’ from a distant relative enabled townsfolk; shortly thereafter, the Worthing chairing Meetings, acting as the Worthing Joseph to ensure the future prospects of all his sons: Dispensary opened its doors in a disused building Correspondent, and publishing 3 short papers in the he bought a Commission in the Army for his eldest next to the Theatre in Ann Street. Dr Dixon was the early annual issues of the Sussex Archaeological son, William, and sent Henry and Frederick to Eton Chief Surgeon, assisted by the other doctors in the Collections. He had a Sussex-wide reputation. College, to be educated as ‘gentlemen’. Henry town. It became so successful by 1840 that new Dr Dixon died suddenly and unexpectedly on 27 proceeded to University and followed his premises were urgently needed and a splendid new September 1849, at the early age of 50 years and 6 father into the Church and eventually became Rector Dispensary was built in Chapel Road in 1846 on a months, from a fatal water-borne disease. His of , while Frederick was apprenticed to the block of land just north of the Old Town Hall, in the funeral service was held in St Paul’s Church, which leading surgeon of the day, Sir Astley Cooper, at town centre. All the while, Frederick insisted that was overflowing with all the town’s mourners, rich Guy’s Hospital, for his medical education. On 5 ‘the common people’ of Worthing should receive and poor alike; thereafter, a long funeral cortege January 1821 Frederick became a Fellow of the Royal basic medical treatment, such as it was, as well as the wound its way over the Downs to the Dixon family College of Surgeons, upon payment of the entrance social elite. tomb in Sullington Churchyard. fee of 10 guineas. Attendant upon his lifelong interest in and collecting After settling all matters concerning Frederick’s In 1825 Frederick married Maria Grant, daughter of of rocks and fossils of , Frederick was estate, on 25 March 1851 Maria Dixon rented the the family associated with Westminster School; elected a Fellow of the Geological Society on 13 house at No. 3 Union Place to tenants of suitably- they spent their honeymoon in the eastern March 1840, sponsored by the nationally-eminent high social status, and retired to London. The short Mediterranean, visiting all the ancient sites in Egypt geologists, Roderick Murchison, Charles Lyell and but dynamic period of the Dixons in Worthing was and calling on Captain William Dixon and his family, Gideon Mantell. He became a close friend and well and truly over. who was stationed on Corfu at the time. The young regular correspondent of Richard Owen, of Copyright Anthony Brook 2017 couple came to live in Worthing in 1827 in the ‘dinosaur’ fame, who visited the Dixons on several newly-built, large house at No.3, Union Place, the occasions. During the 1830s and 1840s Frederick On June 22nd 2017 amassed a substantial collection of Sussex fossils, the Mayor of middle one of 5 residences built on the north side Worthing some of which are superbly engraved in the 40 Plates of this new road, laid out in the mid-1820s to Cllr Alex Harman, connect the High Street with St Paul’s Church in at the back of his posthumously-published volume, unveiled the plaque Chapel Road. Dr Dixon’s house stood on the slight usually known by its shortened title of ‘The Geology accompanied by rise a little way to the north of the contemporary of Sussex’. This landmark volume contains chapters Worthing Society built-up area, with fine views over open ground and Chairman, Susan Belton

The Worthing

Society

HeritageConserving, Leaflet Preserving No: 8 and Safeguarding our Heritage Heritage Leaflet No: 9 ALMA COGAN SafeguardingALMA COGAN our Heritage

(1932 – 1966) This is one of a series of leaflets being produced by the Worthing Society to accompany the plaques erected throughout the Town to commemorate notable people, buildings, and events in the town’s history. For more information about the Society and its activities go to our Web Site at: www.worthingsociety.org.uk

Reg. Charity No. 286899 Alma’s radio career began with regular appearances on Variety Shows and enjoyed cabaret seasons in New York Alma Cogan Gently Bentley, starring Dick Bentley, in 1952 but her big and at The Talk Of The Town. break came when Joy Nichols left the hit radio show Take Popular Singer, Star of Stage, Radio, Records It From Here in 1953 and the BBC decided to replace Joy At the height of her fame Alma and TV with two ladies: June Whitfield to join the comedy team did return to appear on stage in and Alma to supply the songs. Take It From Here, listened Worthing. On 26th July 1959 she Known as ‘The Girl With The Laugh In Her Voice’, Alma to by millions, was a wonderful shop window for Alma’s topped the bill in a Sunday Cogan was one of the most popular singing stars to talent and she stayed with the show for over two years. concert at the Pier Pavilion and emerge in Britain in the 1950s and was reputed to be the Soon, she was in demand for all the variety shows of the that Christmas starred in highest paid British female star during that era. She had day, making frequent appearances on Midday Music Goldilocks And The 3 Bears at more hit records in the British charts in that decade than Hall, Workers’ Playtime, Henry Hall’s Guest Night, the Connaught Theatre from any other girl singer (18 in total), and in the 1960s she Blackpool Night and many others. 21st December 1959 - 23rd became an international star, topping the charts in Japan January 1960. (where she knocked Elvis Presley off the No. 1 spot), Her recording career began in 1952 and at a recording Sweden and Israel as well as having hits in India, session the following year she had a fit of the giggles and Germany, Denmark, Norway and Iceland. Wally Ridley, her HMV recording manager, noticed that Alma never married, although her name was linked with this gave Alma’s voice a very attractive bubbly quality Alma was born in London on the 19th May 1932. Her Cary Grant and John Lennon, but towards the end of her and ‘the laugh in the voice’ trademark was born. Ridley parents were Mark and Fay Cogan and she had an older life she did find romance with Brian Morris, manager of gave Alma mainly novelty songs to record and in 1954 brother Ivor and a younger sister Sandra. The family later London’s Ad Lib club. Alma died, tragically young, of she entered the charts with Bell Bottom Blues where it moved to and Reading before arriving in ovarian cancer on 26th October 1966. She was just 34 climbed to No. 4 and sold 100,000 copies. She quickly Worthing in the 1940s when Mark opened a shop in years of age. followed that with Little Things Mean A Lot, I Can’t Tell A Warwick Street. The family lived above the shop for a Waltz From A Tango, Never Do A Tango With An Eskimo, while before moving to Placilla, 29, Lansdowne Road. At Twenty Tiny Fingers, Sugartime, Willie Can and that time Alma fancied a career as a fashion designer and Dreamboat, which took her to the coveted No.1 spot in Thanks to generous enrolled at of Art studying dress and the charts in 1955. donations from members textile design. This proved useful in her later career as of the Alma Cogan she used her expertise to design the huge, extravagant Television proved an ideal medium for the glamorous International Fan Club, a dresses that became a trademark of the singer. Miss Cogan and her flamboyant gowns. In 1957 she was Blue Plaque was unveiled given her own show by the BBC and also made many at 29, Lansdowne Road Alma loved singing and entered the Sussex Queen Of appearances on the fledgling ITV channel, and in the late by Alma’s close friend, Song competition in Brighton and won first prize. It was ‘50s and early ‘60s was the star and commere of a high the entertainer Lionel whilst living in Worthing that Alma first auditioned for budget series of variety shows. Blair, on 22nd September the BBC and, at just 16 years of age, successfully 2017 auditioned for the chorus of a new West End musical, Live appearances figured large in the Cogan diary. She High Button Shoes. The show ran for almost a year and headlined variety tours all over the country and the constant commuting between Worthing and London appeared in summer seasons and pantomimes. She each day eventually became too much for Alma so the starred at the London Palladium for eight months of 1956 Copyright Geoff Bowden 2017 family moved back to London. in the revue Rocking The Town; appeared in three Royal