Anthony Newley
1931 – 1999
Entertainer
Was a pupil at this school and lived at
14 Oswald Street, now the site
of Heanor Court, from 1931
until the mid 1940’s.
Anthony Newley was born at Homerton Hospital, Hackney on September 24 1931. He was brought up by his mother, Ms. Gracie Newley, at 14 Oswald Street and went to Mandeville School on the same street. With the Blitz during World War II, Newley and his school mates had to move to safety. Fortunately for Tony, his guardian in Morecambe, Lancashire (Hertfordshire) during this time, was George Pesckett, who introduced the young Newley to the world of theatre and musicals. So began a life long passion with the world of acting and music.
At 14 Tony joined the famous Conti School of Acting as a tea boy and pupil. In 1948 he played the Artful Dodger opposite Alex Guiness’ Fagan in Oliver Twist directed by David Lean. He went on to form a highly successful partnership with Leslie Bricusse with musicals such as “Stop the World - I Want to Get Off”, “The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd” and “The Good Old Bad Old Days”. They also collaborated on writing the lyrics to Goldfinger, and the music and lyrics to the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Newley also had a successful musical career with chart topping records, often novely in style, such as Pop Goes the Weasel and Strawberry Fair.
The plaque to Anthony Newley was unveiled by his mother on 20th June 2000.
Page updated: 28 Feb 2007