Erection date: 15/5/2010
Richard Beachcroft & Lord Randolph Churchill
Both Richard Beachcroft & Lord Randolph Churchill played a significant part in the history and development of Paddington Recreation Ground. During the 1880s, Mr R. M. Beachcroft, Secretary of the Paddington Cricket Club, took the initiative in the creation of Paddington Recreation Ground by inviting the local cricket club to a meeting to discuss the development of a local cricket ground. Beachcroft formed a committee and negotiated arrangements with the landowners to secure the site for cricket and other forms of outdoor recreation. Unfortunately the recreation ground was still merely held on a short lease.
On 9 July 1890 the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) visited the ground with his wife and their daughters. In welcoming the royal visitors Lord Randolph Churchill stressed the importance of saving the ground for sporting and educational purposes. He hoped that with the prince's patronage they would be able to raise the £50,000 needed to acquire the freehold of twenty-one acres from the land owners. From that date onwards the continual drive of Churchill, Beachcroft, the Paddington Vestry and other supporters maintained an intensive campaign to raise the funds and, furthermore, to bring in an Act to preserve the park for the community.
By 1893 the funds had been obtained and in June the Paddington Recreation Ground Act was passed. As a result of this Act the ground was preserved in perpetuity as a recreation ground. In time a further six acres were added to bring the site up to its present size of 27 acres.
In recognition of the debt owed to Beachcroft and Churchill, the gates into the Recreation Ground at Portsdown Road (now called Randolph Avenue) and Carlton Vale were officially named the Beachcroft and Churchill gates.
On Saturday 15th May 2010, The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Mr Duncan Sandys officiall renamed 'The Richard Beachcroft Pavilion' and 'The Randolph Churchill Gate' in recognition of the significant efforts by both individuals and their achievement in helping to secure Paddington Recreation Ground as a valuable amenity and sporting space for local residents.
Site: Beachcroft and Randolph Churchill (2 memorials)
W9, Randolph Avenue, Paddington Recreation Ground Pavilion
Westminster's attitude to plaques on this building seems to be: when you've got something to commemorate why stop at one plaque when you can erect two. See the Sir Roger Bannister plaques.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of plaquesoflondon.co.uk
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