Lyn Harding 1876~1952
Lyn Harding was a well known actor and star of the silver screen who for a time lived at a house called Logandene in Tile Kiln Lane, Leverstock Green. (See photos)
For full details concerning him and his stay in the village click here.
Percy & Malcolm Webster,
1862~1938 & 1890~1953
Percy & his son Malcolm Webster were both well know experts on horology, dealers in antiques and both served their term as Master of the Worshipful company of Clockmakers. Percy can be seen here in his role as Master (seated centrally). Percy lived at Sibleys Orchard and Malcolm at St. Michaels End. both are buried in Holy Trinity's churchyard. For full details click here.
Lady Dorothy Clayton East Clayton, nee Durrant 1906~1933
Lady Dorothy Clayton East Clayton, born Dorothy Durrant, was the daughter of Rev Arthur Durrant, vicar of Leverstock Green. Her life ended tragically following a flying accident at Brooklands in 1933 & she is buried in Holy Trinity Churchyard along with her parents. She was a talented sculptress, a keen aviator and explorer, and she was the probable model for Katherine Clifton in the novel The English Patient. She was widowed the year prior to her death, only a few months following her wedding. For her full story click here.
Cavin O'Connor
During the late 1950's he resided at Danehurst which had been the original Vicarage in Pancake Lane Leverstock Green, repudedly giving the house its name after the trees to be found in the grounds (hurst = wooded area) and his dog, a Great Dane.
For more information on Cavin O'Connor "The Strolling Vagabond" click here.
Dr. John Gregory
A local GP, Dr Gregory was also for a time Captain of the English squad for the Davis Cup. To be taken to a new page with details of Dr. Gregory and his involvement with Leverstock Green, click here.
MOSS EVANS
Arthur Mostyn (Moss) Evans,became a household name in the 1970's when he was general secretary of the T&G. Born in S. Wales, he came to live in Leverstock, Green sometime in the 1970's, presumably because he was based at Lucas on the industrial estate. Following his retirement in 1985 he moved to Norfolk where he eventually became Mayor of Kings Lynne in 1996. He died on January 12th 2002, and a memorial vase to him (inscribed: MOSS EVANS 1925-2002) can be found in Leverstock Green churchyard on the grave of his son Kevin, who died tragically young at the age of 26 on 4th October 1979.
HERBERT GRIMWOOD 1875~1929
Herbert Grimwood, star of stage and the silent moovie came to live in Leverstock Green sometime before 1914. On returning to the village after the war, bearing the rank of Captain, he organised some entertainment to help raise funds for the much needed Parish Room. In this he involved many of his West End contemporaries, so that for a short time in 1919, numerous well-known names from the London theatre, gave their time and expertise in order to help our village, including another well known Leverstock Green resident, Lyn Harding. See Stars of Stage & Screen In Leverstock Green. (Page still under construction.)
Although as yet I have no firm corroboration, it seems likley that Mrs Grimwood, of "Tempe" Pancake Lane was his wife. She ran a market garden along with her friend Miss Mortimer, and they were responsisble for starting the Leverstock Green WI in 1918. The 1933 WI diary refers to their Chairman as Mrs H Grimwood, yet we know her names to have been Mary Brenda. However the "correct" form of address is for a married women to take her husband's initial.
Although he died in the UK on November 29th 1929, Herbert Grimwood's body rests at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California.
Herbert Grimwood (R) with Douglas Fairbanks in the 1919 film:
When Clouds Roll By.
Some weblinks:
William Russell, probably best known for his TV parts as Sir Lancelot and Ian Chesterton in DR. Who, lived at Littel Cox Pond Farm, Leverstock Green Road for many years in the 1960's. (Not Co Pond as indicated in the Herald Express Articles - right - as that property was demolished in 1945.) Click on press cuttings to enlarge.
Wiliam Russell 1924 ~
William Lucas 1925~ 2016
Actor William C. Lucas (real name William Clucas) bought Leverstock Green Farmhouse from Tony & Margaret Shuffrey in about 1964/5 and was an active member of village society at a time when he was probably at his most well known. One of his most remembered roles being that of Dr. James Gordon in the 1972 Adventures of Black Beauty on television. He and his wife took an active interest in the life of the village, helping to promote village fete's and fundraising activities, and were active members of Holy Trinity Church, where his regular Bible readings during Sunday services are well remembered. In particular he is remembered for reading at and participating in the Harvest Festival services. The Lucas's two sons attended Leverstock Green Primary school in Pancake Lane and later the Rudolph Steiner School in Kings Langley. The picture on the right shows William Lucas outside the Palace Theatre Watford when he was taking part in pantomime one Christmas.
For more information see: http://lgchronicle20.homestead.com/PancakeLane.html
ABOVE, a scene from Black Beauty,
ABOVE RIGHT: two pictures from an article about Bill Lucas in the local paper the Evening Echo, 1967/1968. The first showing Bill in his workshop at the farm. He was a keen DIY man. The second showing Bill & his wife Minnie in the garden of Leverstock Green Farmhouse.
1927 ~ 2017
Sir Roger Moore, famous for his roles as Sir Wilfred of "Ivanhoe" 1958/59; Simon Templar,"The Saint" between 1962 & 1969; "Lord Breet Sinclaire" in The Persuaders with Tony Curtis, 1971-1973 and 007 James Bond (MFI Secret Agent) between 1973 & 1985, and recently knighted for his work with UNICEF, was reported as living in Tile Kiln Close, Leverstock Green in the 1960's. (See Press-cutting below from 2003. In April 2017 The Hemel Hempstead Gazette also reported that Sir Roger Moore had lived in Tile Kiln Close in the 1960's This was seen by Sir Roger, who contacted the Gazette denying he had ever lived in Hemel. (See further press cutting below. Click here to visit the official Roger Moore website.)
Christopher Trace 1933 ~1992
One of Blue Peter's (BBC TV's children's weekly magazine programme), very first presenters, Christopher Trace lived for a time in the village in digs along Blacksmiths Row.He presented the programme from 16th October 1958 - 24th July 1967. He was still living in the village when we first moved into Leverstock Green in 1981.
For more information see:
The Lord Morris of Handsworth, a.k.a. Sir Bill Morris
I understand that when Bill Morris,veteran leader of the TGWU, first moved to Hemel Hempstead (he is still resident within the Borough of Dacorum), he lived in the "Lakedistrict" area of the village.
For further information see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2988858.stm;
Fred Buglass BEM 1905~1998
For a full biography on Fred Buglass, past President and Chairman of Leverstock Green Village Association, and sometimes known as "Mr Leverstock Green", click here.
John Lawson 1932 - 2009
Stained Glass Artist
John lived in Leverstock Green for more than half his life, moving into the family home in The Horshoe when it was newly built in the 60s.
For further details about John and his work click here.
RIGHT: An example of John's work from Holy Trinity Leverstock Green showing St. Alban & St. Benedict.
TOM HATTON - actor
CLICK TO LINK TO INDIVIDUAL
After seeing the article (right) in the Gazette I contacted Tom Hatton in New York and this is what he told me:
I grew up in Leverstock Green from 1982-1988 and attended what was then Westwick School. I also played for a Leverstock based football team called Hobbs Hill Hornets and lived on a road called Greenacres.
After moving to Berkshire, I attended Nottingham University and then worked in London before traveling extensively. I now live and work in New York as an actor and producer (further details can be found on the above page of my website.)
Tom's Official Website:
This page was last updated on: June 29, 2019
THE LEVERSTOCK GREEN CHRONICLE
an in-depth history of one village in Hertfordshire UK.
Click to link to principle LG Chronicle web pages.
Summer 1949 -
A new hard tennis court was opened in Leverstock Green adjacent to the Parish Hall. Local resident and Davis Cup Tennis Captain Dr. Gregory officially opened the court. [Herts Advertiser ]
DISTINGUISHED AND FAMOUS FACES
ASSOCIATED WITH LEVERSTOCK GREEN
20th & 21st CENTURIES
Warning to MAC users of SAFARI,
Apple’s default internet programme.
When using SAFARI, formatting, of text-boxes and other items can be distorted and/or overlayed. Switching to a different browser e.g. Opera, will usually correct this.
PETER MONKHOUSE 29 Jul 1912 - 23 Apr 1950
In the late 1940's/early 1950, racing driver Peter Monkhouse lived at Dell Cottage Westwick Row with his wife Eileen nee Cantry. . He used to garage his car at Leverstock Green Farm, home of the Shuffreys. [info from Margaret Shuffrey, 2007]
He had born in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. In partnership with Ian Connell, Monkhouse started the Monaco Motor and Engineering Co. Ltd. at Watford in 1935 for car servicing and maintenance. Monaco Motor and Engineering Co. Ltd., of Watford, UK began building automobiles and auto engines in 1935. During WWII, they built aircraft engines under sub-contracts to the major engine manufacturers. Design of the Monaco Aero Engine was a post-WWII effort. Monaco Engines, Ltd. took over this engine design from the automobile company in c.1948 and the engine was, in turn, sold to Associated Equipment Co., Ltd. in 1949.
Peter Monkhouse was co-driver to Ian Connell in the 1938 Brooklands & Donnington Grand Prix. He died in 1950 in Verona Padua after an accident at the Mille Miglia in which he was the passenger.
A relative of Eileen Monkhouse contacted me in 2017 as she was trying to trace Eileen as part of her family tree. Eileen was known to be still living in Dell Cottage in 1970 and possibly longer, but she had been unable to trace her since. As she could not trace a death certificate it is just possible she is still alive (she was born in 1922), or more likely that she remarried. If anyone can give me information concerning Eileen Monkhouse (nee Cantry) post 1970 please do contract me.
Sheila Macqueen -
Renowned Flower Arranger,
Author and Gardener.
Roger Moore in his best known roles.
Having problems with links not working?
Then please....
I shall be giving a talk to the Hemel Hempstead Local History & Museum Society in November this year. (2019)
Full details of venue, cost etc. can be found on the HHLH&MS website: http://www.historysochemel.bravesites.com/this-year-s-programme. Why not join us? (Visitors £2)
Once the talk is over I shall build a new webpage dedicated to Sheila. Please visit again in Jan/Feb 2020 for more information
Barbara Chapman
