A 92-year-old Peckhamite and local historian has written ‘Peckham Personalities’, a book about the “kaleidoscopic personalities” that have lived in Peckham throughout history.
The limited-edition book, intended as an historical record, is not for sale. Derek Kinrade is instead donating copies to local people and libraries, including the Southwark Archives in Borough.
Derek, who spent his career in the civil service and became an author in later life, moved to Peckham 1988 and instantly “fell in love”.
“I fell in love with Peckham. I liked the fact it was down-to-earth, had a multicultural society and, on the whole, got on well.
“It was bit downtrodden, a bit depressed and had the occasional murder. But it was an interesting place and a very artistic place.”
Derek started documenting Peckham’s history to “demonstrate that it’s always been a force to be reckoned with”.
The book explores the lives of 58 different people with a connection to Peckham, from pioneering theologians to gentleman cricketers.
All the personalities are deceased and many, such as the Georgian-era gardener Peter Collinson, were celebrities in their time but largely forgotten now.
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In his introduction, Derek writes: “Peckham has, through its various incarnations tended to a certain uniqueness. It has invoked a curious pride and affection, at times in spite of its criminality.”
Derek says he is proud of how Peckham has changed in his 30 plus years living there. He said: “When we came it was ‘up and coming’ and now it’s ‘up and come’.
“I’m terribly aware of what is going on and the music that attracts you people even if I’m on the outside of it.”
Derek is an active partner in the Peckham Heritage Regeneration Partnership, a group of volunteers and organisations that protects Peckham’s heritage.
In 2017, Derek met Nancy Coleman-Frank, 80, who came to the UK from California to research the Georgian-era gardener Peter Collinson.
Love blossomed and in 2018 they married. Derek describes his wife, who helped inspire ‘Peckham Personalities’ as “miraculous”.
Derek has lived through seventeen Prime Ministers, one less than the queen. His favourite of all was Clement Attlee and he thinks Boris Johnson is too “flamboyant”.
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Derek is now collaborating on a book about Peckham’s architecture, with architect Benedict O’Looney, which he hopes to publish in September.
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Hi Derik
My Names Alan Peagam
Peckham born 1948 and bred moved to Eltham SE9 in 2001 / Welling in 2013 / Still there,
In the early nineties i started writing bit of poetry (I call word Juggling) about the UK media events that were happening at the time,
In 1992 i wrote about the fire of Windsor & sent a copy to Her Majesty & to my surprise i received a letter of thanks from Buckingham palace,
I wrote about 30 + – in all the last one being about the death of our Princess Diana
Would you like me to email you a copy,
Looking forward to your early reply?
Alan