Sybil Phoenix MBE, community leader and activist, founder of the Moonshot, Marsha Phoenix hostel and Marsha Phoenix Memorial Trust. The first Afro Caribbean woman to receive an MBE in the UK.
Olaudah Equiano, anti-slavery campaigner and author. Arrived at Deptford in December 1762 where he was sold by his master. His book 'The interesting narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African written by himself' was published in 1789.
Eleanor Marx (1855-1898), Socialist and activist for workers' rights. Sydenham resident.
Sir Henry Cooper
Phyllis Sylvester in 1961, Catford resident. Contributor to Lewisham Voices.
Kay Byefield and Paul Featherstone in the garden at Firhill Road, Bellingham, 1957. Contributor to Lewsham Voices.
Annie Horniman (1860-1937), Companion of Honour, founder of the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. Forest Hill resident
Ignatius Sancho. Born on a slave ship in 1729, he arrived in England in 1731 and lived at Blackheath. His book 'The Letters of Ignatius Sancho, An African' was published in 1782.
Air raid wardens playing chess, probably at Sydenham High School, Second World War. Painted by Emilio Tafani.
Dame Cicely Saunders (1918-2005), founder of the hospice movement and St Christopher's Hospice. Lewisham resident.
Thomas Clarkson. Campaigner against the Slave Trade, a frequent visitor to Hatcham House in New Cross, where he wrote part of his 'History of the Abolition of the Slave Trade'.
Clemence Dane (1888-1965), playwright, Oscar winner and novelist. Sydenham resident.
Archbishop Dr Desmond Tutu, Chair of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, lived in Chinbrook Road, Grove Park from 1972-1975. He was awarded the Freedom of the Borough in 1990
E. Nesbit (1858-1924), children's author, founder member of the Fabian Society. Lee and Grove Park resident.
John Hawkins, sea captain. Captained the Primrose, which sailed from Deptford to the Kingdon of Benin in 1553, and then made the first slaving trip to Guinea in 1562
Elsa Lanchester (1902-1986), actor and dancer. Born in Catford.
Peter the Great. Lived in Deptford at Sayes Court while studying shipbuilding at Deptford Dockyard
Heddle Nash (1894-1961), one of England's finest tenors. Born in Deptford
Lady Dacre of Lee, October 1805
Three air raid wardens, probably at Sydenham High School, Second World War. Painted by Emilio Tafani
Terry Waite CBE (b 1939), special envoy for the Archbishop of Canterbury, held hostage in Beirut for 4 1/2 years. Blackheath resident.
Kath Duncan (?1888-1954), communist and activist for workers' rights. New Cross resident.
Sydenham crossing sweeper, whose usual post was Cobb's Corner, late 1800s
William Wilberforce, anti-slavery campaigner and MP. Lived at Dartmouth Grove, Blackheath from 1785-1788, during which time he made many speeches in Parliament on abolition.
Rachel MacMillan, (1859-1917), pioneer of nursery education, co-founder of the Deptford school clinic.
Margaret MacMillan CBE, Companion of Honour (1860-1931), pioneer of nursery education, writer, London County Councillor for Deptford.
Emilio Tafani. Second World War artist, painted many portraits of the war effort in Sydenham
Noel Streatfeild OBE (1895-1986), children's author and Deptford Civil Defence worker.
Charles Belbin of Sydenham, plumber. c. 1840
Gladys Cooper (1888-1971), actor, theatre manager, born in Hither Green.
B.H. Whitelock, MBE, ALA, LSA, Borough Librarian of Lewisham. Painted by Irene M.B. Dyer
Linda Ludgrove (b1947), backstroke champion, Commonwealth Games gold medallist and European Champion. Sydenham resident.
A. Russell Cook, 'H' District Warden, Lewisham A.R.P. Second World War. Painted by Emilio Tafani
Beatrice Maude Drapper (d.1961), first woman Mayor of Deptford, J.P and member of the National food Council.
John Rivington (1812-86), grandson of the London publishing house Rivington. Sydenham resident
Two unknown women bus conductresses in the First World War, 1914-1918.
Mayow Adams of Old House, Sydenham. Benefactor and co-founder of Mayow Park
Brenton Pink and his house. Mr. Pink is a retired refuse collector who came to Britain from Jamaica in the fifties. “He lives in an extraordinary house in Lewisham. Inspired by a mixture of dreams, memories of his childhood and his religion, he has decorated his Victorian mansion with his own unique designs."
Alfred Carside, Headmaster of Brockley Road School
Portrait of Rachel - from Ladywell Centre, who contributed many stories during reminiscence sessions for the Tapestry of Tales project. This was commissioned by Urban Renaissance in Lewisham and produced by Simon Purins and Maire Quinn for Age Exchange. It is a work based on the memories of Lewisham elders and represents the life experience of people living in Lewisham over the course of a century of change
Edgar Wallace, author of over 170 novels, plus many plays and film scripts including 'King Kong'. Brockley resident.
Portrait of Hyacinth who shared her memories of childhood in Antigua and Barbuda and migration to Britain as part of the Tapestry of Tales project. This was commissioned by Urban Renaissance in Lewisham and produced by Simon Purins and Maire Quinn for Age Exchange. It is a work based on the memories of Lewisham elders and represents the life experience of people living in Lewisham over the course of a century of change
William Cockle, Deptford Beadle from 1841-1872
John Penn, 1805-1878, Marine engineer, founder of John Penn & Sons, lived at the Cedars, Belmont Hill
Robert Cocking, (c. 1776 – 1837) who had the distinction of being the first parachute accident casualty in the UK when he died during a descent from a balloon over Lee in October 1837.
F.W. Lucas, Headmaster of Colfe's Grammar School, 1895-1923
