11/04/11…Famous Thame residents to be honoured in Blue Plaques unveiling

FOUR Blue Plaques commemorating the homes of some of Thame’s more illustrious past residents will be unveiled in the town on Thursday, April 14.

The initiative is sponsored by The 21st Century Thame Partnership in association with the Oxfordshire Blue Plaques Board and all residents are welcome to the attend. The unveiling ceremonies will take place as follows:

11.30 am at 14 Wellington Street (site of the former workhouse) where Henry Boddington, founder of the famous Manchester brewery, lived as a young man. He had been born at Thame Mill in 1813, the son of the miller who later became master of the workhouse. In 1832 the family went north to Manchester in search of greater prosperity. Henry found employment with Strangeways Brewery and rapidly rose to the top. He went on to build up the brewing empire known as Boddingtons which remained under family direction until 1989.

11.50 am at 39 North Street where Alfredo Campoli, virtuoso violinist, lived in retirement. Thame was the home town of his wife, Joy. Born in Rome in 1906, he became famous as a child prodigy, making his debut as a soloist at the age of 13 at the Wigmore Hall. In the 1920s and 30s, he became a household name through radio broadcasts and recordings, performing with his Salon Orchestra at the Dorchester Hotel and other palm court venues, and in wartime gave many recitals for civilians and the armed services. After the war he re-established his reputation as a great classical performer, going on concert tours all over the world, to huge acclaim. His playing was characterised by an extraordinary beauty of tone and phrasing, likened to bel canto singing.

12.10 To the James Figg Pub for the unveiling of the plaque to James Figg, famous early prize fighter, born 1684 in Thame, possibly in Priestend. The former Greyhound Inn (now named after him) is traditionally held to have been his headquarters in his early days. His boast was: “Here I am Jemmy Figg from Thame. I will fight any man in England.” Most of his life was spent in London and from 1719 he could claim the title Champion of England for all kinds of contests of skill whetherit was boxing, wrestling, swordplay or fighting with cudgels. He was only once defeated. He was tutor and trainer as well as contestant and opened Figg?s Amphitheatre on Oxford Street, much frequented by the nobility.

14.15 at 42 High Street. William Butler Yeats, the great Irish poet and Nobel Laureate lived here during 1921 and this house was the birthplace of his son Michael Butler Yeats, the Irish Senator.