Page 2 - HGS Suburb News 139 - Summer 2019
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Combat Stress Concert
A SUBURB ARCHIVIST
incendiary bomb, which had fallen in their garden. With her
husband Bruce Saunders, and children Matthew and Katherine,
OBITUAR Y Ann finally settled in a house on Meadway Gate in 1980.
Ann studied history at University College London, where she
Ann Saunders MBE was a pupil of Ernst Gombrich, and subsequently gained a PhD
at Leicester for a thesis on the history of The Regent’s Park. Her
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1930 2019 first job was at the City of York Art Gallery and she then returned
to London to become Deputy Librarian at Lambeth Palace from
1952 to 1955. After this, she worked briefly as an Assistant
Keeper at the British Museum, before moving to be local history
librarian at St. Marylebone. Later she worked as a sub-editor for
the British Journal of the Archaeology Association and lectured
in history at Richmond College and for the London programme
of the University of Connecticut.
As the Newsletter of the Society of Antiquaries records, she Music loving Suburb residents Wives Choir’s latest album,
was known in the scholarly world as “a tireless historian of London have an opportunity to listen to ‘Remember’, and a variety of
and an editor of exceptional assiduity”, whose “astonishingly some fine music and contribute music from military marches to
productive career encompassed the writing of more than a dozen to a worthwhile cause. There is stage and screen favourites with
books on London”, and whose “longevity as an editor of learned a fundraising concert to look the Royal Naval Volunteer Band
journals must have very few equals, and hardly any peers.” forward to in the autumn, – Northwood HQ.
Ann was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in which will take place at the Free The concert starts at 7.30pm,
May 1975, and became a member of its Council. She was an Church, North Square, on with special guest Martin Bell.
Hon. Fellow of University College, London and a Governor of Saturday 5 October. Tickets cost £15 or £13 concessions
Bedford College. From 1975 she was Honorary Editor for the There will be an evening of (over 65 and under 16). To book,
London Topographical Society, overseeing the publication of music and song to commemorate you can call Combat Stress on
Ann Saunders, a distinguished historian who lived for many nearly 60 books, maps and other items. Her many publications the centenary of the forces’ 07710 098667, or just e-mail
years on the Suburb, died on 13th February this year. She had a on the capital city include The Art and Architecture of London: mental health charity Combat hgscombatstress@gmail.com.
great love and deep knowledge of London, the city of her birth. An Illustrated Guide; Saint Paul’s: The Story of the Cathedral; Stress. Included will be songs Cash and cheques only, payable
She was a Trustee of the Hampstead Garden Suburb Archives Tudor London: A Map and a View; and the first edition of from the North London Military to ‘Combat Stress’.
Trust, and as Chairman rather reluctantly oversaw the transfer of London County Council Bomb Damage Maps 1939–45.
the bulk of its collection away from the Suburb to the safekeeping She was a captivating speaker at Gresham College and many
of the London Metropolitan Archives in Clerkenwell, after a period other institutions. Locally she lectured regularly to the Hendon
of uncertainty about its future, and compiled a comprehensive and District Archaeological Society (HADAS), of which she was
Handlist to the collection. President between 1998 and 2001. She also served as President
Ann’s father George Cox-Johnson came from a Dorset of the Camden History Society and the St Marylebone Society.
farming family. Two of his brothers became Anglican clergymen As Mike Pitts FSA and Adrian James FSA wrote in their
while George went into teaching and became headmaster of obituary for the London Topographical Society, “she spoke with
Cosway Street School in St Marylebone before changing career captivating authority and a regal presence.” Don Cooper,
and becoming managing director of the Portman Building Society. Chairman of HADAS, writes that “it was a joy to listen to her.”
He married Joan Loreille, a music hall artist who had become Her lectures at Gresham College (illustrated with what she called
a teacher, and they lived at first in St John’s Wood, where Ann lantern slides) on the subjects of London early in James I’s reign
was born, and then in Hendon. Joan was a worshipper at St (2004) and Napoleonic war monuments in St Paul’s Cathedral
Jude’s Church and had a great affection for the first vicar, the (2005) can be seen online in Gresham College video recordings.
Reverend Basil Bourchier. She listed among her recreations in ‘Who’s Who’ not only
Ann was sent to Henrietta Barnett School at the age of four “studying London” but also “embroidery, cooking” and “visiting
and remained there until she was sixteen when she moved to churches”. Her interest in costume led to her being Hon Editor
Queens’ College in Harley Street for the sixth form. She did not of the Costume Society for over 20 years between 1967 and
enjoy her time at Henrietta Barnett. 2008. She was a Liveryman of the Horners’ Company and was
The family came to live on the Suburb just before the Second awarded an MBE in the 2002 New Year honours.
World War and resided at several addresses. Her father died in
1941 from a heart attack following his successful disabling of an The Hampstead
Garden Suburb Archives Trust
exists to preserve the history and culture of the Suburb
Website: www.suburbarchives.com · Contact: 020 8455 8813 or 8455 2877 · Email: suburbarchives@gmail.com
2 SUBURB NEWS IS PRODUCED AND DELIVERED TO YOU BY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS