‘Planet Tooting’ is the jewel of Wandsworth, London Borough of Culture, this walk reveals some of its extraordinary black history!
There is some extraordinary black history here on ‘Planet Tooting’ and we are showcasing it in this informative and entertaining guided walk, part of Wandsworth Black History 365! Music plays a big part – this is the hometown of Sadie Crawford ‘The Lost Woman of British Jazz’ and a few years ago a blue plaque was placed on the house where she was born. Another plaque is on a West Indian bakery on Mitcham Road, once a recording studio dubbed ‘Studio Two’ where some of the biggest names in reggae music laid down their tunes. It was here that the legendary Dennis Bovell first heard Janet Kay and conjured up the unforgettable lovers rock anthem, ‘Silly Games’.
Fellow chart-topping seventies superstars, Boney M even have a link with ‘The Vegas of South London’… prepare to find out more! The world famous Tooting Granada saw early appearances by groundbreaking artists like Lena Horne, Little Richard and Sam Cooke. Jimi Hendrix played there on his first UK tour.
A street is named after an African King from Botswana. Khama III came to Britain in 1895 with two other kings to petition Queen Victoria and stop Cecil Rhodes driving a racist railroad through their lands. Uganda Street, Moffat Road and Rev James Boyle are a nod to the missionary heritage of this area. Famous firsts include Daphne Steele, pioneering NHS hospital matron, and Jane Waring-Roberts, the first ‘First Lady of Liberia’ who is buried in Streatham Cemetery. Our area also became the home of Constance Cummings-John, educationalist, women’s rights campaigner and the first woman mayor of an African city.
From Bob Marley to CLR James, from John Archer to ‘Mad Professor’, this fascinating, vibrant corner of London has seen so many notable figures pass through. The Southern Syncopated Orchestra lit-up this country after World War One and we have connections with two of their members, Evelyn Dove and Pete Robinson. Mixed Blessings Bakery, ‘The Lone Fisherman, Vital Ital Herbs , Music Specialists, Kimmie’s Jerk Joint and Skin of Love are ready to welcome you – come check them out on this incredible two hour tour!
A Wandsworth resident for over 30 years, Geoff Simmons runs a community history project in south west London called Summerstown182 alongside his job as a graphic designer. This involves Guided Walks and Talks, working with schools and putting up plaques. Over the last ten years a trail of these have emerged along the Wandle Valley, shining a light on some of the lesser-known history in this area.
They range from the youngest soldier to serve this country in the First World War to a ground-breaking plaque acknowledging Romany Gypsy and Traveller heritage in Wandsworth. ‘Planet Tooting’ is an ongoing initiative championing the outstanding migrant contribution to our neighbourhood which resulted in a blue plaque on Tooting Market. Recently we celebrated the ‘Corruganza Boxmakers’, 44 courageous young women whose strike action was a marker in the struggle for women’s rights in the workplace. Earlier this year we put up a plaque for Titanic bugler, Percy Fletcher. Have a look on Geoff’s blog for more details or follow @summerstown182 on Instagram or Twitter.
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Tooting Black History Walk
‘Planet Tooting’ is the jewel of Wandsworth, London Borough of Culture, this walk reveals some of its extraordinary…