Ron Elam collection of Local Yesterdays.

Many will remember the stall on Bellevue Parade where Ron Elam used to be on a Saturday selling items from his mass of historic postcards of South London views. This unique and irreplaceable collection was recently auctioned. We were concerned that if the collection was broken up the loss to our knowledge of the heritage of the area would be lost. Therefore, in collaboration with the Friends of Wandsworth Common, we have jointly acquired 897 postcards.

There’s a fair amount of work involved in just sifting through the 8 albums. Details of how to view them, for anyone who wants to see them now, and what to do with them all need to be resolved in the near future. The proposal is to ensure that these are held for public access.

Paschal Allen

  The death of Paschal, a long term member of the Society, was announced in April. He had been unwell for a number of years with Alzheimer’s.

In the wider world he will be remembered for his fine voice, he sang with the English Opera Group, and at Glyndebourne, the Aldeburgh and Edinburgh Festivals, and particularly the Royal Opera House.
  In the Society’s narrower orbit he was appreciated in smaller settings. He sang at the inaugural Society Soirée in 1986, and many others; those who had the pleasure of hearing him sing at our soirées or a musical evening at Earlsfield Road will feel particularly privileged. A fine singer and a lovely man, he will be much missed. A memorial concert is planned.