Works director of the Brilliant Sign Company in 1938.
Walter David Lambert was born on 7 May 1876 in Nunhead, Surrey (now Greater London), one of the twelve children of David Robert Lambert (1850-1923) and Jessie Amelia Lambert née Pearman (1851-1927). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1876 in the Camberwell Registration District, Surrey (now Greater London). On 8 August 1876 he was baptised at St James, Hatcham Church, Lewisham, Surrey (now Greater London).
In the 1881 census he was shown as aged 4 years and a scholar, living at 11 Selden Road, Peckham, Surrey (now Greater London) with his parents and two siblings: Amy Jessie Lambert (1874-1962) - a scholar and Florence Amelia Lambert (1878-1951), together with a female boarder. His father was described as a printer's compositor.
When the 1891 census was undertaken he was shown as aged 14 years and a publisher's clerk, residing in three rooms at 37 Gordon Dwellings, Camberwell, London, with his parents and four siblings: Amy Jessie Lambert - a domestic servant; Florence Amelia Lambert; Grace Sophia Lambert (1881-1966) and Winifred Ada Lambert (1884-1971). His father was listed as a print compositor.
He was shown in 1901 census as aged 24 years and a sign writer's clerk, boarding at 37 Daneville Road, Camberwell, the home of Francis and Sarah Feltham and family that included their daughter Alice Gertrude Feltham (1874-1965) - a mantle manufacturer.
On 15 April 1902 he married Alice Gertrude Feltham in St Giles Church, Camberwell High Road, Camberwell, where in the marriage register he is shown as 25 years, a bachelor and a commercial clerk residing at 37 Daneville Road, Camberwell, the son of David Robert Lambert, a printer, whilst his wife was described as aged 25 years and a spinster also living at the same address, the daughter of Francis Feltham, a commercial clerk.
When he completed his census form on 2 April 1911 he showed himself as an employer and a director of a limited company, a shop front and facia sign manufacturer. He was living in a seven roomed property at 78 Forest Road, Kew Gardens, Kew, Surrey (now Greater London), with his wife and five of their surviving children: Walter Frank Lambert (1902-1990); William David Lambert (1903-1994); Stanley Victor Lambert (1905-1997); Leslie Francis Lambert (1906-1982) and Norman Leonard Francis (1909-1983), together with two female domestic servants. He stated that his wife had given birth to six children, but that only five were still alive.
The census form that he completed on 19 June 1921 shows him as aged 45 years, 1 month, a works director of a shopfitting and sign-making company, Brilliant Sign Co. Ltd at Paragon Works, 131 Uxbridge Road, London, W12. He was still residing in the seven roomed property at 78 Forest Road, Kew, with his wife and their six children: Walter Frank Lambert - a clerk at the Royal Insurance Co, Piccadilly, St James, London; William David Lambert - an ironmongery warehouse clerk employed by Stedal & Co., Broad Street, London, WC2; Stanley Victor Lambert - who was learning carpentry, shopfitting and joinery at Kings Cross, London, N1; Leslie Francis Lambert - in whole time education; Norman Leonard Francis - in whole time education and Muriel Gertrude Lambert (1912-1989) - also in whole time education, together with his sister Winifred Ada Lambert - a theatre booking office clerk employed by Berners Hotel, Berners Street, London, W1.
On 27 October 1925 he and his wife embarked at Southampton, Hampshire, aboard the liner Prins Der Nederlanden of the Nederland Royal Mail Line. They were bound for Genoa, Italy and according to the ship's manifest occupied a 2nd class cabin. He was shown as aged 49 years and a director. Their address was recorded as 78 Forest Road, Kew.
Telephone directories in 1927 list him at Cambrai, Gunnersbury Lane, London, W3, but from 1930 onwards at 163 Gunnersbury Lane, London W3.
The 1939 England and Wales Register, that confirms his date of birth, also shows him as a Director of Brilliant Signs Ltd and living at 163 Gunnersbury Lane, London, W3.
His death was registered as aged 84 years in the 4th quarter of 1960 in the Ealing Registration District, Middlesex. Probate records confirm his address as 163 Gunnersbury Lane, Acton, Middlesex and that he died on 20 December 1960 at 23 Kenilworth Road, Acton. Probate was granted on 20 March 1961 to his widow and his effects totalled £21,986-2s-11d.
He is shown as 'W. D. LAMBERT ESQ. WORKS DIR.' on the Brilliant Sign Company Jubilee memorial plaque in Havilland Mews, Stowe Road, London, W12.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk and Andrew Behan.
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