A Herne Hill-based actor, most famous for his role as the ‘hapless’ Frank Spencer in the 70s sitcom ‘Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em’, has been nominated to receive a blue plaque.
Michael Crawford OBE CBE (Michael Patrick Smith), 80, moved to Herne Hill at the age of ten, where he attended Oakfield Preparatory School in West Dulwich. He had a few stage roles as a teenager and by age fourteen, he was working steadily as an actor.
He is perhaps most famous for his role as Frank Spencer in the 70s sitcom ‘Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em’ – and later for his portrayal of the original Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ in 1986.
In 2002, he was voted 17th in a BBC television poll of ‘100 Greatest Britons.’
Crawford lived at 16 Half Moon Lane, Herne Hill, above the David Greig store (now the Peachy Goat vegetarian restaurant) where his stepfather worked as a grocer.
The distinctive ‘DG’ tiling of the former David Greig store can still be seen at the address, which is now a vegetarian restaurant, Peachy Goat.
In recognition of his career achievements, Michael was made an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II, and a Commander of The British Empire (CBE) in 2014 for his services to charity, namely the Michael Crawford Children’s Charity and The Sick Children’s Trust.
To vote for Michael Crawford or any of the nominees for a Southwark Blue Plaque, please email isabel@southwarknews.co.uk or admin@southwark.org.uk with the name of the person you want to nominate. Voting closes on Thursday 1st June.