Battersea Boys & Girls - The famous or infamous, who were born, lived in or worked at Battersea
Warning: cannot vouch for the accuracy of this information which is gleaned from a variety of sources
Alec (Alexander Arnold Constantine) Issigonis, born Smyrne, Turkey 1906, knighted 1969, died 1988, designed the Morris Minor and the innovative front-drive Mini-Minor. Received a mechanical engineering diploma from Battersea Polytechnic.
Don Cockell, the boxer who took Rocky Marciano to 9 rounds in San Francisco, was born on 22th September, 1928, in Battersea and was by trade a blacksmith, he worked at HCW Wells in Clapham. After the fight Rocky said "He's got a lot of guts. I don't think I ever hit anyone else more often or harder."
G K (Gilbert Keith) Chesterton, novelist known best for his Father Brown Mysteries, born Battersea May 29th, 1874, died June 14th, 1936
George Shearing, born 13 August 1919, blind from birth, youngest of a family of nine, son of a coalman and world famous jazz pianist.
John Burns, born Battersea 1858, died 1943, born into poverty, became a Liberal Cabinet Minister.
Johnny Briggs, born Battersea, 1935, son of a carpenter, has played Mike Baldwin in the long running TV soap Coronation Street 1976-2006. Now deserted both Battersea and Stourbridge for Florida - no comment.
Margaret Tarrant, born Battersea 1888, died 1959. Illustrator of children books during the first half of the 20th century
Michael Bryant CBE, 1928-2002, born in London and educated first at Battersea Central School with whom he was evacuated during WW2 to Hawkley in Hampshire and then to Battersea Grammar School then located in Petersfield.
Buster Merryfield, Uncle Albert from Old Fools and Horses, born 1920 and grown up in Battersea. His autobiography is 'During the War and other encounters' (Summersdale 1996)
Ronald 'Buster' Edwards of the Great Train Robbery in 1963 (and later flower seller at Waterloo Station) was sometime resident although he spent 3 years in Mexico and some more years as Her Majesty’s guest.
George Alfred Henty (1832-1902). Lived at 33 Lavender Gardens. Journalist and writer of boys adventure books (typically set in the Empire and now totally politically incorrect)
Ian Hislop, Battersea resident, editor of Private Eye, panellist on "Have I Got News For You?" and listed by the Mirror as one of Britain's 100 Least Influential People.
Neil and Christine Hamilton, sometime residents.
Paula Wilcox, actress and sometime resident.
Jimmy Wheeler (Catchphrase "Aye, aye, that's your lot"), lived sometime at Latchmere Road. Born Ernest Remnant in 1910, he took the stage name of 'Jimmy' after George Formby called him 'Lucky Jim'; 'Wheeler' came from his father's act of Wheeler and Wilson.
Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (born Leytonstone, 13 August 1899), attended Salesian College in 1908
Jack Dee, comedian and resident
Simon and Yasmin Le Bon owned a house in 24 Octavia Street, Battersea while their while their new home in Chelsea was renovated, later sold to Warren Cuccurullo and used as a studio (Duran Duran is not my music - but I hope that the neighbours at numbers 22 & 26 liked it!)
Timothy Spal, Actor (Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
where he played a Brummie!!)
He used to live just by the side of John Burns Primary School (my
informant, Bob Wilcox was in the year above him). Born 1957,
his mother a hairdresser and father a Postal worker. Also went to
Battersea County School.
Micheal Aspel, TV presenter (sometime known as Micheal
Asprin),
apparently was born in Battersea Village and went to Emanuel
School.
See also The Knowere Guide - Local Heros modern "Celebrities" living at Battersea.