As part of their 50th anniversary celebrations, the Putney Society unveiled two blue plaques in memory of local poet Gavin Ewart and arts minister Lord Hugh Jenkins.
The ceremony on January 10 at Kenilworth Court in Lower Richmond Road - where Ewart once lived - was attended by over 70 people including Ewart’s widow, Margo and Jenkins niece, Amanda Clarke.
Acclaimed poet Ewart had his first poem published in 1933 when he was just 17. He went on to receive the Cholmondeley Award for Poetry, was a member of the Royal Society for Literature and often composed poems about his life in Putney.
Jenkins went from Putney MP in the dramatic 1964 General Election to being appointed by Harold Wilson as Minster for Arts. He was a controversial figure determined to bring arts closer to the people and successfully lifted charges for museums, set up a new Arts Council, and was knighted in 1981.
The plaque was the third installed by the Putney Society following their commemoration to Captain Laurence Oates in 2006.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here