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 (Fanny) Burney

Born King's Lynn, Norfolk, father was Dr Charles Burney. Diarist, novelist: Evelina (1778), Cecelia (1782), Camilla (1796) and playwright. Her first novel, Evelina, was a big success and she ent...

Person, Literature, Theatre, Belgium, France

2 memorials

Sir J. M. Barrie

Playwright and novelist. Born Kirriemuir, Scotland. Moved to London, Bloomsbury, in 1885 for his writing career. Less than 5 foot tall he was not very successful with women and developed a habit of...

Person, Literature, Theatre, Scotland

5 memorials

Leo Tolstoy

Novelist. Born to an aristocratic Russian family. 1870s had a spiritual awakening and become a fervent Christian anarchist and pacifist.

Person, Literature, Politics & Administration, Religion, Seriously Famous, Russia

1 memorial

T. S. Eliot

Poet and publisher. Born Saint Louis, Missouri as Thomas Stearns Eliot. His works include: The Waste Land, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats (on which Lloyd Webber based Cats), Murder in the Cath...

Person, Literature, Poetry, Seriously Famous, Theatre, USA

7 memorials

Mabel Dearmer

Novelist, playwright, translator and illustrator. Born Jessie Mabel Prichard White, daughter of Surgeon-Major William White. Her illustrations were accepted by the Yellow Book. 1892 married Percy ...

Person, Art, Literature, Theatre, Balkans

War dead, WW1

2 memorials

Previously viewed

Hurlingham Yacht Club

From Hurlingham Yacht Club: "Our Hurlingham Yacht Club has had an interesting and exciting history. Our members originally formed the Club long before the First World War. Its current name was adop...

Group, Sport / Games

1 memorial

Queen's Hall

Opened in 1893 designed by the architect Thomas Knightley. He is said to have used the bellies of dead mice as a guide for the shade of grey that he required (but see below). He aimed at, and accor...

Place, Music / songs

1 memorial

Stanley Kubrick

Film director who settled in outer London and made many of his films here. Born New York City. The first film made in England was Lolita in 1962. He lived close to the film studios at Elstree and...

Person, Cinema, Seriously Famous, USA

1 memorial

Korean War memorial

SW1, Victoria Embankment, Victoria Embankment Gardens - Whitehall section

The phrase "distant obligation..." references a cabinet meeting on 25 June 1950 at which, in the context of British involvement, Korea wa...

3 subjects commemorated, 13 creators

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Swedish Church

There were enough Swedes in London (mainly sailors) for a congregation to form in 1710 and the first church was set up in Wapping in 1728 (pictured), opened by and named for (the future queen) Ulri...

Building, Religion, Sweden

2 memorials