Tom Smith
A strange one today, folks.
Following on from yesterday's post about a road north of Maze Hill, Gemma has just moved into Tom Smith Close (just South of the station) and she's understandably wondering who the hell Tom Smith is/was.
Of course, it's a bugger to Google as there must be about twenty million Tom Smiths online at any point in time.
One, 18th Century Commodore Thomas Smith is in some paintings in the NMM - but it would seem a bit casual just to call a Commodore 'Tom.'
The only other Thomas Smith I found in local books is a rather obscure schoolteacher who taught at the Paragon School in Blackheath in the mid 19th Century. I'd say it was unlikely it was named after him...
My best guess is that he was a councillor of great merit and/or influence around the time the block was built - what - thirty years ago? And indeed, I have found a Labour councillor, Tom Smith, who was elected in the Marsh Ward in 1968, though I can discover no more about him than that - just what his deeds were to have a close named after him is now shrouded in the mists of history.
Anyone know who Tom Smith was, and why he had a close named for him?
Following on from yesterday's post about a road north of Maze Hill, Gemma has just moved into Tom Smith Close (just South of the station) and she's understandably wondering who the hell Tom Smith is/was.
Of course, it's a bugger to Google as there must be about twenty million Tom Smiths online at any point in time.
One, 18th Century Commodore Thomas Smith is in some paintings in the NMM - but it would seem a bit casual just to call a Commodore 'Tom.'
The only other Thomas Smith I found in local books is a rather obscure schoolteacher who taught at the Paragon School in Blackheath in the mid 19th Century. I'd say it was unlikely it was named after him...
My best guess is that he was a councillor of great merit and/or influence around the time the block was built - what - thirty years ago? And indeed, I have found a Labour councillor, Tom Smith, who was elected in the Marsh Ward in 1968, though I can discover no more about him than that - just what his deeds were to have a close named after him is now shrouded in the mists of history.
Anyone know who Tom Smith was, and why he had a close named for him?
Labels: Ask The Phantom
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
08:20
9 Comments:
No idea about Tom Smith - the Committee Services dept at the Town Hall will have records on Cllr Smith if you're desperate.
Its a standing rule at Greenwich that Mayors, prominent Cllrs and (shudder) Leaders have buildings or roads names after them.
The Chris Roberts Home for the Delusionally Insane, anyone?
That's really unfair.
Delusionally Insane people are usually quite harmless. I'm sure they'd be upset to hear themselves compared with Our Great Leader.
I always understood it was named after Cllr Tom Smith. Who was not everyone's cup of tea. (Cllr) Mary Mills may have overlapped, or might know someone who could tell you more.
Sorry, can't help as regards Cllr Tom Smith
I'm currently a little saddened that Woolwich seems set to lose a local building that I'd always liked as a piece of post-war modernism.
Fortunately, when it came to me trying to find out who it had been named after was a piece of cake: fortunately it's got to be a whole lot easier finding out about past councillors called Peggy Middleton, than to find ones with a name like Tom Smith.
I've long been intrigued by William Barefoot who has a drive named after him in Mottingham. This piece encouraged me to Google his name for the first time.
There's a good story there- Wikipedia reveals that he was a local councillor and Labour Party grandee in the 1920's. He wrote a history of the Woolwich Labbour party and perhaps, best of all, encouraged the creation of Well Hall Pleasaunce. Sadly he died of a heart attack in the Council Chamber at Woolwich Town Hall.
When I first heard of him I thought he was called William Bearfoot and may have had something in common with the great Red Indian runner Deerfoot (or at least very hairy feet).
Cllr Mr. Roberts has delusions that he can run a bath, let alone Greenwich Council.
I never met Tom Smith - but I will send your comments to (ex-councillor)Debbie - or perhaps she is a a Phantom follower. She is his grandaughter.
Greenwich Council produced a pamphlet some years ago called "What's in a name" with short biographies of people who have had local buildings named after them. The only copy I know of is in Eltham Library.
Thomas Edward Smith (1918-1974) was a Labour Party member and Trade Unionist. He was Sheriff! of Greenwich in 1963 and appointed CBE in 1968.
When the Conservative Group on Greenwich Council suggested naming a building after a popular recently retired Tory councillor a couple of years ago Chris Roberts & co managed to kick the suggestion into the long grass.
Talking of said Chris Roberts, he appears to be deserting East Greenwich for the challenges of Glyndon (a ward between Plumstead and Thamesmead) ............. and such is the stress that he has been spotted again sleeping overnight in his Town Hall bunker. You would have thought a man with his very generous allowances from greenwich and london Councils might be able to afford the cab back the couple of miles to his Plumstead home. Pity the poor people that found him!
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