Page 2 - HGS Suburb News 136 - Autumn 2018

John Charles Tozer the war and stored. They rented stopping the car to look inside! complicated part for a client – positioning them strategically
and then design a machine to
a garage in Hampstead Way and
John was always happy to
where John could see them
1926 -2018 spent the next two years putting help friends and neighbours in make it. ThrustSSC, the British from his window at Finchley
the Close to repair things, start
Memorial Hospital. At this time
the cars back together. John
jet-propelled car developed by
– who lives in Laguna Beach, went on to win many trophies cars and even climb up drain- Richard Noble in 1997, which the biggest smile that Helen can
California, and until recently, in the car; he also managed to pipes to get in windows when broke the land-speed record that remember on John was for a
made an annual visit to London. learn to fly. locked out. Sometimes there was it still holds today used John’s large brown Labrador Therapy
As a child, John’s summer ‘Narramore & Tozer’ was a queue of neighbours at his braking system. He was invited to Dog at the Royal Free who was
holidays were spent in thus born, making components garage needing help with a practice run and was presented actually allowed on his bed.
Salcombe, South Devon, where for a multitude of industries. something. If John ever said, with a model of the car. John was very proud of James
he began his love affair with Starting in Kentish Town before “you will have to buy a new” In the 1980s John began and Jo. James inherited John’s
sailing boats. It was from a moving to Camden Town, John something then you really did restoring an Austin 7, and then determination in deciding in his
nearby village in Devon that the was now back to the part of have to. John did not often use won more trophies. An Austin early 20’s to live in California.
first Tozer, a ‘Boot Maker’ came town where the Tozers had the word “buy”. 10 followed and finally, at 75, As John was fascinated by
to London in the 18th Century. made piano hammers. When a bird-bath was after a heart bypass operation machines, James is fascinated
As a teenager during the war, Then he met Helen in 1961 needed, John cast the bowl in he said, “I need a new sports car” by modern technology. Jo has
John always said from a very John made a wireless, a and they married in 1962, bought concrete in an upturned metal and bought his 1936 Triumph inherited John’s love and skill
young age that all he ever gramophone and set up a a house in Willifield Way and dustbin lid, it’s still in use today. Gloria, which was sold after his in making things, particularly in
wanted to do was to make telephone system for three of had James in 1963 followed by John always enjoyed feeding stroke, in 2013. restoring and furnishing houses.
things – this he certainly did, all his friends in Wildwood Road Jo in 1965. The Amilcar and and watching the birds in the Hearing and speech became In a note from his friend
his life, and with steely to phone one another. This Melanie went, and a family- garden, and had a hedgehog major problems but he always Sue, she writes “Everyone who
determination to the end. involved crawling through sized sailing boat bought. John house. He fed the hedgehogs enjoyed meeting dogs at the met him, loved him. But none
John was born on 19th of neighbours back gardens in the turned their two-bedroom house every day. He thought that they shops or on the Heath, where as much as those of us (probably
December 1926 in Wildwood dead of night laying cables. into a three-bedroom, not what might be descendants of some these impediments were not a hundreds) whose houses are
Road. He never wanted to live At 16 John was in the Home most people do on their own, of the hedgehogs that had been factor. He loved his children’s littered with gadgets, repairs,
anywhere else except Hampstead Guard. He was sent to collect his but John liked making things. saved during the war. On the dogs and in hospital after a fall, products and projects that he
Garden Suburb, and never did. kit from somewhere in Golders In 1967 a larger house was heath, trenches had been dug he was able to watch live videos designed or made or fixed, or
With his parents, Charles and Green and returned home, on needed to accommodate Helen’s to prevent enemy aircraft from of James’ new puppy, Kenzie, in sometimes just encouraged us to
Kitty, younger sister Mary and his bike, with a rifle and hand father, not to mention the boat landing. At night, hedgehogs San Diego, and Jo brought her attempt ourselves – he was the
the ever-present dogs, he lived grenades! At 18 in 1945 John and cars, so the move was made fell into those trenches and in dogs, Harvey and Gemma, to visit most helpful person in the world.”
at both 78 and 102 Wildwood was called up into the army. He to Reynolds Close. Over the years, the morning had to be rescued
Road, then later at 11 Heathgate. joined the Royal Artillery, was John painted and papered every by him and Mary.
John’s grandfather W.C. Tozer stationed in Germany, and was wall, ceiling, door and window, There were two big events in
had done well making piano taught to drive and maintain all put in central heating and built Reynolds Close: the hot summer
hammers and had bought types of vehicles. numerous cupboards. Christmas of 1976 was immediately followed
himself and his two sons, one During the 1950s important presents were also always made by a big flood and parts of
of whom was John’s father, events took place which affected for James and Jo. The ‘Wendy Reynolds Close were underwater.
‘new’ houses at the very the rest of his life. Through a House’, still in the front garden, John, along with others,
founding of the Suburb. So Suburb friend, Rex Clutton, he a model railway, a dolls house, a embarked on lifting all the
grandparents, aunts, uncles and was invited to join a syndicate fort, a puppet-theatre and many manhole-covers to drain the
nine cousins all lived nearby. in the ownership of a beautiful, bikes of all shapes and sizes, water with John using his
John went to Kindergarten 40-foot sailing yacht, ‘Melanie’. depending on what was to be inflatable dingy. In 1987 a great
at Henrietta Barnett School and Then together with Rex and found in a skip, and all made to storm hit. Daniel recalls John
then to Leas House Prep School Ron Narramore, a friend and look like new when finished. up-righting a tree by “an
on Kingsley Way. At Leas House Leas House friend, he bought John always reckoned that improbable system of ropes and
John made friendships that three French Racing Cars – Hampstead Garden Suburb had pulleys”. It still stands today.
would last his whole life. There called Amilcars – that had been very high quality skips – John John, who was admired by
is now just one left – John Mack taken to pieces at the start of could never pass a skip without all his colleagues, could make a John with his Amilcar at Silverstone

Twinkle, twinkle little star...

…how I wonder what you…were? have discovered Uranus had he
In January, we will celebrate been alive today!
Twelfth Night and remember Our ancestors experienced a
the star that led the Wise Men night sky that inspired science, Note how the person standing under the
to a stable in Bethlehem. Our religion, philosophy, art and light becomes more visible the more
thoughts will turn naturally to literature and yet as a result of light is directed downwards
the night sky. our choices today, millions of friendly lighting when it is
Long winter nights provide children across the globe will needed, where it is needed and
ample opportunity, particularly never know the wonder of the Map showing light pollution in the Hampstead Garden Suburb (centre – on the edge only as much as is needed.
around the time of the new Milky Way (we live on one of its of densely lit (purple central London. Hampstead Heath is shown in pale pink and If you would like to find out
moon, to gaze in wonder at the minor spurs, the Orion Arm). yellow, the rest of the Suburb is dark pink. As well as being close to central London, more about dark-sky friendly
stars. It might be a sign of age So what of London and the the Suburb is close to densely lit Golders Green, Crouch End and Upper Holloway lighting, dark skies, dark sky
but it seems to me that we see South-East? Data from American obesity, cancer etc.) and on the So where do we go from parks, communities, or events
fewer stars than before. weather satellites has enabled economy and our energy here? Since 1988, the charities go to the International Dark Sky
These pictures, sent by a Over the past fifty years, city measurement of the amount of supplies (energy waste due to International Dark Sky Association Association (IDA) www.darksky.
friend, and taken at night lights have increasingly blotted light spilling up into the night overly bright and ill-directed (based in US) and the Campaign org, Campaign for Dark Skies
looking over Bath in 1950 and out the view of the night skies – sky. The Campaign to Protect lighting schemes). for Dark Skies (the campaigning (CfDS is the campaigning arm
2000 respectively, may, however, one wonders quite how William Rural England (CPRE) has mapped Increased security is often the arm of the British Astronomical of the British Astronomical
offer a different explanation. Herschel, who lived in Bath, would light pollution levels in England reason given for installing outdoor Society) have been campaigning Association) www.britastro.org/
and found that between 1993 lighting schemes; however, there to reclaim our dark skies so that dark-skies or Campaign to
and 2000 the country got 26% is little hard evidence to support we can all, once again, enjoy the Protect Rural England www.
Hall and Randall Plumbers brighter and the South-East 19% this. Despite the popularity of magic of starlit skies. We can do cpre.org.uk websites.
brighter. On the 2015 maps external lighting, Home Office much to support them by the We may yet rediscover the
below dark purple shows the statistical evidence indicates that choices we make. wonder of the night skies the
Plumbing and Heating Services • Property Maintenance places with the highest levels of the presence or absence of lights ‘Dark skies’ do not necessarily Wise Men saw for ourselves…
light pollution and dark blue is of little or no importance. mean no lighting, but dark-sky ISABELLE FLICKER
the places with very little light Indeed, such lighting, if
pollution. Just look below at installed incorrectly, can make
the difference! one less safe by making victims Welcome to St Jude’s
Fortunately, there is growing and property more visible to
awareness of the negative impact criminals. It can also create deep Sunday December 16:
of lighting, not only on our ability areas of shadow in which would- 6pm Nine Lessons and Carols, followed by mince
to see the night sky and the be criminals can hide. The pies and mulled wine
stars, but also on wildlife and International Dark Sky website
the wider natural environment www.darksky.org has a number Christmas Eve:
Central Heating, Plumbing Repairs & Advisory Service (disruption of circadian rhythms; of videos under its heading 4pm Nativity Play
increase in carbon emissions); on ‘Resources’. The video ‘Ambush’ 11.30pm Midnight Mass
Look no further... your local plumbers human health (links to depression, makes interesting viewing. Christmas Day:

Emergency repairs, blocked pipes, drainage, 8am Mass of the Dawn
guttering, roofing, central heating and boilers. 10.30am Christmas Celebration
12 months guarantee, 40 years experience followed by seasonal
132 Manor Way, Borehamwood, Herts, WD6 1QX refreshments

Web: www.hallandrandallplumbers.com All Welcome
Email: office@hallandrandall.com
Tel: 020 8953 2094 • Fax: 020 8905 1602

Evenings: Garry 020 8207 3286 • Greg 020 8953 9828

SAINT JUDE-ON-THE-HILL • THE PARISH CHURCH OF HAMPSTEAD GARDEN SUBURB
www.stjudeonthehill.com
11495
Map showing light pollution in the UK in 1993 and 2000 (source: CPRE)
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