1964

Bernard Sunley

Image source: blackwood-hodge.typepad.com

Property developer and philanthropist. Born 46 Jugela Street, Catford. Made his fortune in the re-building work after WW2. Died at home, 26 Harley Road, Hampstead.

This was the only picture we could find of him - a painting hanging on the wall in someone else's portrait photograph. Maybe he was very shy.

2015: Having read William Mitchell's book "Self Portrait: the Eyes Within" we can report that Sunley was not shy. He commissioned Mitchell a number of times and is reported as being a Vesuvius of a man: generous, quick to rage and keen on a drink.

2024: The 20th Century Society's page on Arlington House in Margate includes: "Having made his name and fortune building airfields during WWII, Sunley built extensively in the Caribbean in the 1950s, specialising in leisure and office complexes. Like many south Londoners, he was drawn back to the resort town of Margate ... Sunley died young of a heart attack in December 1964, aged 54. His investment in Margate did not prove to be a success. ... Bernard Sunley took the Caribbean model of ‘all-found’, beachfront, leisure developments, already familiar in Havana and Florida by 1960, and transported it to Margate."

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Bernard Sunley

Commemorated ati

Bernard Sunley

City of Westminster Bernard Sunley, 1910 - 1964, contractor and philanthropi...

Sunley and Icarus

Ayton also designed the unusual bronze plinth for this location, a garden ato...

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Other Subjects

International Exhibition + RHS Garden, South Ken

Under the direction of Prince Albert the profits of the 1851 Great Exhibition were used to purchase land in South Kensington for cultural and educational use. Most of the northern half was, 1861-88...

Event, Commerce, Museums / Libraries

1 memorial

Sycamore Laundry

It began as a business run by a Mrs. Buckland, who was said to have collected laundry in a barrow and washed and ironed it at home. In l880, Alexander Leman, married Mrs Buckland's daughter, and he...

Place, Commerce

1 memorial

Pimlico District Heating Undertaking

The first district heating system built in the UK, with the UK's largest thermal store, the accumulator. It supplies heat to 3,256 homes, 50 business premises and three schools. Owned and managed b...

Group, Commerce, Engineering, Social Welfare

1 memorial

Lord Wandsworth

Banker, Member of Parliament and philanthropist. Born Sydney James Stern in London. He worked in his father's law firm, before becoming Member of Parliament for Stowmarket. Became Baron Wandsworth ...

Person, Benefactor, Commerce, Politics & Administration

2 memorials

Richard R. Wale

Worked for the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society. Was on the building committee for the Bostall Estate in 1900 and was Chairman of the building committee for the Abbey Wood branch in 1912.

Person, Commerce, Politics & Administration

2 memorials