Media    From 1969 

Booker Prize

Categories: Benefactor, Literature

Literary award. Originally known as the Booker–McConnell Prize, after the company Booker, McConnell Ltd who first sponsored the event. When administration of the prize was transferred to the Booker Prize Foundation in 2002, the title sponsor became the investment company Man Group, which opted to retain "Booker" as part of its official title.

We've always wondered at the naming of this award for book-writers so we checked: The business of Booker, McConnell used to be sugar, rum etc. in British Guiana - with a questionable reputation for its treatment of the workforce. In 1952 Jock Campbell took over the company and turned this around becoming a benevolent company. He also initiated the company's interest in literature. So the name of the prize is just more more example of nominative determinism.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Booker Prize

Commemorated ati

Hugh Walpole

This plaque is possibly spurious. It has definitely upset the Chairman of the...

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Other Subjects

Reuben Foundation

Reuben Foundation

Their website: "Contributing to the Advancement of Healthcare & Education Around the World".

Group, Benefactor

1 memorial
Stenton Covington

Stenton Covington

A prominent local resident living in Gibson's Hill, he donated £3,000 towards the establishment of the Rookery in Streatham. He was also involved in saving Norwood Grove for the public. Stenton Th...

Person, Benefactor, Commerce, Gardens / Agriculture, Liveries & Guilds

2 memorials
James Thomas

James Thomas

Architect who works close to the site of Min Joo Lee's death, and regularly cycles through the junction.  He worked with the local cycle shop, Cyclesurgery, to produce the ghost bike and organised ...

Person, Benefactor

1 memorial

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Newlon Housing Trust

Newlon Housing Trust

From the picture source website: "Newlon Housing Trust was established in 1967 when philanthropic members of the New London Synagogue decided to club together to buy properties that could be rented...

Group, Property, Social Welfare

2 memorials
Mario Alberto Campora

Mario Alberto Campora

Ambassador. Born in Mendoza, Argentina.  He entered the diplomatic service in 1955, and held posts in Washington, The Hague and New Delhi. He subsequently became ambassador of Argentina to Belgium ...

Person, Politics & Administration, Argentina, Belgium, India, Netherlands, USA

2 memorials
Octavia Hill

Octavia Hill

Housing reformer and co-founder of The National Trust.  Born at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, her father's eighth daughter (yes, really).  She believed that social housing should be small houses (rather...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture, History, Property, Social Welfare

9 memorials
War Savings Campaign

War Savings Campaign

Second World War gives a good description of the story behind these plaques.  Each year the fundraising was given a different focus:  Communities would have a fund-raising committee which worked wi...

Event, Philanthropy

2 memorials
Poets' Corner

Poets' Corner

The popular name for the south transept of Westminster Abbey. Geoffrey Chaucer was the first person to be interred here, although it was for his position as Clerk of Works to the Palace of Westmins...

Place, Literature

1 memorial