Famous Enfieldians by Brad Ashton
Did you know who your neighbours are? Or were? Enfield once housed the famous fox hunting Chase commemorated by naming some of our major throughfares such as Chase Road and Chase Side. They could have been named Disraeli Avenue or William Pitt The Elder Lane, two illustrious
Prime Ministers, former residents of the area. Or even John Keats Close after the poet who lived here too.
Other famous former Enfieldians included Reg Varney who, while playing Stan Butler in On The Buses, famously opened Britain’s very first ATM machine in Enfield. Incidentally, in Reg’s stand-up comedian days his straight man was the young Benny Hill. Warren Mitchell grew
up in Southgate and was a song and dance man prior to gaining fame as Alf Garnet in ‘Til Death Us Do Part. The loud-mouth Cockney role was originally written for Peter Sellers who backed out at the last minute when offered a small part in The Ladykillers film. Ron Moody, alias Shakespeare’s
Fagin lived next door to The Cherry Tree pub on Southgate Green. Martin Shaw’s home was just round the corner in The Mall while he starred in TV’s The Professionals.
Very versatile comedian Bruce Forsyth was born and bred in Enfield. As was David Jason whose fame came as comedy con man Del Trotter and then turning legitimate as Detective Inspector Jack Frost. Though David has since moved from the area is still remains patron to Enfield’s local amateur Dramatics Incognito Theatre. Comedian Ted Ray and singer Frank Ifield enjoyed rubbing shoulders with their wealthy neighbours in Southgate’s Broad Walk.
Goonish musician George Chisolm, heavyweight actor Ray Winstone and Love Island presenter Caroline Flack were also from our section of North London. As were “Back to Black” singer Amy Whitehouse and more recently multi-award winning Adele, all proud of their Enfield background..
Simon Cowell claims Britain’s Got Talent, but Enfield certainly made a great contribution.