On 1 July 1921 the South London Press reported on a recent fund-raising during which they presented a minstrel show. Much frowned on now, at that time, minstrels shows, in which performers appeared in evening dress and blackface and sang negro spirituals and popular ballads, were regarded as perfectly acceptable forms of entertainment.

The Police Minstrels were founded in 1872 and raised £250,000 for police charities. They were disbanded in 1932.

The “W” division of the Metropolitan Police played at the unveiling and dedication of the memorial in May 1922.

The South London Press report is given verbatim.

SOUTH LONDON PRESS
1 July 1921

STOCKWELL WAR MEMORIAL.
Police Minstrels Help by Concert at Brixton Theatre.
The Metropolitan Police Minstrels can always be relied upon to give a good entertainment wherever they go and their visit to the Brixton Theatre on the afternoon of June 23, when they gave a performance in aid of the Stockwell Memorial Fund, was quite up to expectations. They put up a rattling good show which was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience, which, by the way, in no sense represented the number of tickets sold. The programme, long and well varied, included two sketches, which are as popular now as on the day they were first submitted, and the Minstrels are now in their forty-ninth season. One sketch was entitled “A Parisian Romance,” written and composed by Mr. J. W. Olive, C.B.E. (assistant Commissioner) (president of the Minstrels), which was capitally presented and thoroughly deserved the warm applause accorded at the fall of the curtain. The other was a Black and White number entitled, “A Jamaican Love Match,” for which Mr. Olive was also responsible. This also reached a high point of excellence and was much appreciated. The characters in both were capitally portrayed. Interspersed between the sketches were a number of items by individual members of the Minstrels. Mr. F. Loud gave “The Gay Cavalier” in costume, in tip-top style, his rich baritone voice being especially pleasing in this and a ballad, “Memories at Eventide.” A well-executed song and dance was added by Messrs. W. C. Eade and J. Rushmore, and Mr. F. T. Masters was heard to advantage in whistling and comic songs. The interlocutor, Mr. A. Crouch, contributed a monologue and other items were given by Messrs. C. Dean, J. D. Morgan, J. Hillier and E. Heard. Prior to the enertainment the band of the “W” Division, Metropolitan Police, under Bandmaster F. W. Sylvester, rendered many choice selections, the band inspector being Chief Inspector T. Coombs. The duties of the stage manager were in the able hands of Mr. W. Baker, with Mr. F. T. Masters as assistant. Mr. Fred Melville granted the use of the theatre and Messrs. J. Clarke and L. Charles were chiefly responsible for the arrangements. A party of about 20 patients from the Surgical Neurological Hospital, Tooting, was amongst the audience. The fund will benefit considerably as a result of the matinee, and a reminder is issued by the hon. secretary of the committee, 282, Clapham-rd., that names to be included on the roll of honour must be registered by August 3.

The foundations of the memorial have now been laid and work on the actual clock tower is to begin forthwith. It is hoped that this will be completed by the end of October.

The efforts to build a memorial to the men of Stockwell and surrounding areas who lost their lives in the First World War started soon after the war ended, and Stockwell was praised for its energy and decisiveness in opting for a publicly-funded monument that would be handed to Lambeth Borough Council for upkeep. However, the project dragged on because construction was more expensive than anticipated – and the committee inevitably came in for criticism. This piece appeared in the South London Press on 17 November 1921.

SOUTH LONDON PRESS
17 November 1921

STOCKWELL WAR MEMORIAL.
Chairman of the Committee Replies to “Uncalled-for Statements.”

The Stockwell War Memorial is now approaching completion, and as reported on page 4 of this issue, Lambeth Borough Council has decided to lay out the site on which the memorial stands, so that the public will have the benefit of a very fine monument, but also an open space suitably laid out to beautify the neighbourhood.

Mr. Wallace M. Young (Chairman of the Executive Committee), in a letter to the Editor of the “South London Press” states that apart from the Borough Council’s expenditure, there is still about 600 required for the Memorial itself, and he makes an appeal for donations, large and small. The committee are anxious there should be no debts at the unveiling ceremony, the date of which will be announced very shortly. Mr Young proceeds to point out that the committee are always willing to receive fair criticism, but consider that some of the statements made by borough councillors, who are opposed to the scheme, at the debate on February 9, are quite uncalled-for. “For instance, Alderman Bostock wanted to know if any of the committee had an interest in the contract and future winding of the clock. To this I can answer emphatically “No”. Another councillor stated that the memorial would never be completed or paid for. He probably is not aware that all contractors required to know where the money is to come from before signing a contract, as was the case of the builder of the monument. The committee have therefore made themselves responsible for the money.”

The committee now hope that a benefactor will come forward and relieve them of a difficulty which has arisen with regard to providing the clock as the committee had not seen fit to accept a previous offer of a clock owing to the donor intimating that he would require his firm’s name on each of the dials. The committee feel that anything upon the memorial in the nature of an advertisement would be distasteful to the subscribers.
© South London Press

On 7 January 1921 the South London Press reported on the recent fund-raising fancy dress party, and on the offer to provide a clock by Sidney Sanders of James Walker & Co. There are traces of Sanders in the faded shop fascia under Brixton railway arch.

The clock was eventually donated by Dr. Foord Caiger, in memory of his son Frederick, who was killed at the Somme in 1916.

The Palladium mentioned in the text is one of the lost cinemas of Stockwell and is now occupied by a bar.
Lambeth Baths were at 156 Westminster Bridge Road. They were demolished in 1945 in an enemy air raid.
The traces of Sidney Sanders’ business can be seen under the railway bridge in Brixton.

SOUTH LONDON PRESS
7 January 1921

WAR MEMORIAL FOR STOCKWELL.
Further efforts to Raise the Necessary Funds.
OFFER OF A CLOCK.
In aid of the Stockwell War Memorial Fund a fancy dress dance was held in the Princes Hall, Lambeth Baths, on the 29th inst. Some 400 attended the dance, many being in fancy dress, and the judges, Mr. H. G. Purchase, M.P. (Kennington), Messrs. W. H. Hall (“Swan,” Stockwell), C, Francis (Stockwell Palladium), with Mrs. Burberry and Mrs. Henry King, had a by no means easy tasks. Prizes were awarded to those representing a pearlfisher, Spanish lady, cowboy, a vacquero, ‘Arry and ‘Arriet, two Highland lasses, butterfly, D.O.R.A., and two representations of the Stockwell Memorial. The booby prize was put up for auction with two other articles given buy donors in the hall and realised over £24. Mr. D. H. Jones was the M.C., and the thanks of the committee were given to Mr. W. H. Jones for the use of the decorations, and Mr. Frank Tilton for tastefully decorating the hall. Another fancy dress dance is being held on January 26.

Mr. Samuel Bowller (hon. secretary of the Fund) writes to us from 282, Clapham-rd., S.W.9 as follows:-
“I have much pleasure in announcing that Mr. Sidney Sanders, the proprietor of Messrs. James Walker and Co., jewellers,of 387, Brixton-rd., has generously offered to provide the clock for the Stockwell Memorial, at a cost of approximately £150. The clock will be of the best quality by one of the most celebrated London turret clock manufacturers, and will have four opal dials, each four feet in diameter. It may be remembered that some time ago I put forward a suggestion that donations could be earmarked for specified parts of the monument, or that could be in kind. Mr. Sanders is the first response to this suggestion, and constitutes a fine lead. Will some one now offer to provide the doors, the lettering of the Roll of Honour, the figure, or some other part? A list of different items is being prepared with estimated costs, and will be sent to anyone who wishes for a copy. Preparations are now being made ot commence operations on the ground, and the committee are most anxious to secure the further amount required to complete the scheme.”

The committee appeals for funds to complete the project. To help the money-raising efforts, the committee suggests that benefactors donate for particular parts of the structure or donate items themselves. This article appeared in the South London Press on 12 November 1920.

SOUTH LONDON PRESS

STOCKWELL WAR MEMORIAL.
Building of Clock Tower to Commence at Early Date.

It was stated in a recent issue of the “South London Press” that the Lambeth Borough Council had signified their intention of taking over the site for the Stockwell War Memorial. It has not been without difficulty that this fine site has been secured for the Committee have been engaged on the task and some time ago Mr. Thos. Parsons took over the job and succeeded in unravelling the threads and presenting an acceptable title to the Town Clerk. The funds in hand now exceed £2,000, but owing to the enhanced cost of material and labour, a further sum of about £1,500 is required. The Committee are now seeking to raise that sum and tenders are being asked for the work. It is hoped to commence operations on the ground at an early date. Subscribers who desire an either ear-mark their subscriptions for some particular part of the memorial, or present such a part.

The latest subscription list includes £10. 10s. from the Bon Marche (Brixton); Mr. J. Gale, £10; Stockwell Green Slate Club, £15; Messrs. Bradshaw and Bradshaw, £5; Mr. L. W. Harrison, £5; M. S. Bowller, £2. 14s.; half proceeds of gala at Messrs. Hugh Stevenson and Sons Ltd. Sports Grounds (Summers Town).