2010

Dick Francis

Steeplechase jockey and writer. Born Richard Stanley Francis in Coedcanlas, Wales. In his racing career, he won over 350 races and was champion jockey in the 1953-54 season. From 1953 to 1957 he was jockey to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. He was riding her horse Devon Loch to almost certain victory in the 1956 Grand National, when it inexplicably fell, close to the winning post. Retiring in 1957, he took up an equally successful career as a crime writer, producing over forty best-sellers. Died at his home on the Caribbean island of Grand Cayman.

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:
Dick Francis

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Rules Restaurant 2

Rules®. London's oldest restaurant. In the year Napoleon opened his campaign ...

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Frances Hodgson Burnett

Born as Frances Eliza Hodgson in Cheetham Hill on the edge of Manchester on 24 November 1849 and author of Little Lord Fauntleroy and The Secret Garden. She died, aged 74 years, on 29 October 1924...

Person, Literature, USA

1 memorial

Winifred Holtby

Born Yorkshire. Graduated with and maintained a long friendship with Vera Brittain. Writer, reformer and pacifist.

Person, Literature, Peace

1 memorial

Lady Antonia Fraser

Author. Born Antonia Margaret Caroline Pakenham, daughter of the 7th Earl of Longford. Best known for historical biographies such as 'Mary Queen of Scots' and 'Cromwell, Our Chief of Men'. She was ...

Person, Literature

2 memorials

Mary Prince

First African woman to publish her memoirs of slavery. Born Bermuda. The daughter of slaves, she was first sold aged 10 for £20. Eventually bought for $300 in 1818 by John Wood who moved his whole...

Person, Literature, Race Issues, Antigua, Bermuda

1 memorial

Samuel Beckett

Dramatist and author. Born Dublin as Samuel Barclay Beckett. Lived in Paris most of his life. His plays include: Waiting for Godot (1953) and Krapp's Last Tape (1958). Awarded the Nobel Prize in Li...

Person, Literature, Seriously Famous, Theatre, France

1 memorial

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Christine Granville

W8, Lexham Gardens, 1

Post-WW2 this house in the centre of London’s post-war Polish community was the cheap Shelbourne Hotel, run by the Polish Relief Society.

War served | WW2
2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator

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Claire Hitier-Abadie

SW1, Victoria Street

Prompted by by this horrible killing, a 'die-in' protest took place on 2 March and our photo comes from Oxford Street. Our picture of th...

2 subjects commemorated

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Philip Twells

Banker, barrister and MP for the City of London. Lived in Enfield where his widow built St Mary Magdalene Church on Windmill Hill in his memory. They also had homes in Grosvenor Place and Eastbour...

Person, Politics & Administration

2 memorials

Sarn Baggett

Built the ghost bike for his working colleague at Mosquito Bikes in Essex Road, from spare, otherwise unusable, parts.

Person, Benefactor

1 memorial

Haile Selassie

Former Emperor of Ethiopia. Born Tafari Makonnen Woldemikael. He led a revolution in 1916 and became regent and heir to the throne, to which he succeeded in 1930. 1935 - 6, following Italy's invasi...

Person, Royalty, Seriously Famous, Ethiopia

2 memorials