Tom Francis
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| Area | Mitcham |
|---|---|
| Copyright 1 | London Borough of Merton |
| Picture Reference | Mit_TomFrancis_B5 |
| Original Format | Photo |
| Photographer / Origin of Photo | Tom Francis |
| Notes / History | Described as ‘The Man who was Mitcham’, living in Mitcham for the most of his life, he recorded his own memories and the contemporary scene of Mitcham during the early twentieth-century through the use of his camera. Francis received his education locally, in Mitcham, at the Quaker School in Saffron Walden. He was a life-long member of the Society of Friends, elected to the parish council of Mitcham, was chairman of the Civic Society, president of the Chamber of Commerce, and was a member of the River Wandle Open Spaces Committee. He was interested in the protection of Mitcham’s local history and habitat. Francis loved to play cricket with his son, between the wars, and regularly played for local village teams. Francis was not a professional photographer but it was his interest in capturing his surroundings and local people and places that provides us with an insight into the lives of those who came before us. |
