A former Southwark historian was guest of honour at our Peckham Place development last month, where a residential building has been named in his honour.
John Beasley, who visited Beasley House with his son Michael and daughter Kathryn Chapman, had been editor of Peckham Society News for 28 years and has written many historical books about the area.
He said he was deeply touched by the naming.
Michael said: “We are immensely proud of all that dad has achieved in the borough since moving to London in 1960 and delighted that his contribution to Peckham in particular has been recognised in this way. It is an amazing honour, for a remarkable man.”
Mark Walford, senior project manager for Notting Hill Genesis, added: “We are committed to honouring important figures in Southwark’s history as part of our development programme here and none moreso than John Beasley, who has done so much to capture the borough’s past, is now being celebrated in the present and will continue to be remembered in the future.
It was an honour to meet John and his family, to discuss their experiences and memories of the area and show them around a development we are so proud of. We feel it is a fitting tribute to a significant figure in Southwark’s history.
Murray Maunder, project director for Higgins Partnerships, who built Peckham Place, said: “It was wonderful to meet John and his family and show him around the development. John has been an important part of the Peckham community and it is great to be able to mark his commitment to the area in this way.
Peckham Place was built on the site of the Wooddene Estate, part of the wider Acorn Estate. The development provides 54 socially rented homes as well as 201 for shared ownership and 78 for private sale. There are also new community facilities, retail space, a pocket park and an on-site energy centre to serve the new homes.