Character created by David McKee in the 1967 book Mr Benn - Red Knight. Dressed in black suit and bowler hat he sets out from his house each day to visit a fancy-dress shop where he tries on an outfit, has an adventure and then returns home. He appeared in several children's books and in a 13-part animated BBC series in 1971-2. and now, 2013, tweets @TheRealMrBenn.
Other Subjects
Richmal Crompton
Writer. Born Richmal Crompton Lamburn in Manchester Road, Bury. She became a teacher, but had to give up when she contracted poliomyelitis, and was left without the use of her right leg. She was th...
Normansfield Asylum
See Lost Hospitals of London for an excellent history of this hospital. Briefly: The White House, a mansion with 5 acres of grounds, was built in 1866. Dr Langdon Down and his wife Mary bought it ...
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
A charity campaigning and working in child protection in the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands. Founded as the London Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children by Earl Shaftesbury, Ben...
Peggy Jones
One of the 11 "children of England" present on 7th July 1933 when The Princess Royal laid a foundation stone for a nurses home for the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.
Amy Johnson Junior School
Former primary school, presumably named for Amy Johnson, the connection being the (sort of) proximity of Croydon Airport.
Previously viewed
Mercers' Company
Records go back to 1348. From the Guild‘s website: "In its widest sense mercery could describe all merchandise, although in London the term evolved to mean the trade specifically in luxury fabrics,...
Edward, Duke of Kent
Born London, son of George, Duke of Kent and Marina, the Duchess. Since 1967 Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England.
Bill & Daphne Abbs
NW6, Webheath Estate
In memory of Bill and Daphne Abbs, formerly chairman and secretary of Webheath Tenants Association for over 30 years, who worked tireless...
Skiffle
A short lived music genre of the 1950s. A mixture of jazz, blues and folk music, it originated in the United States earlier in the century. In Britain, its main performer was Lonnie Donegan, who be...
Daniel Mendoza
Pugilist. Born in the Aldgate parish, date uncertain (possibly 1765). Champion who proudly billed himself as 'Mendoza the Jew'. He also taught the sport and wrote 'The Art of Boxing', published ...
Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them