Schooldays
Did you go to school in Walthamstow? Want to see pictures?
Pictures and stories here!
John H. Knowles is the originator & editor of Walthamstow Memories,
a project started in 2001. He is the consultant for digital media to the Noël Coward,
Julian Slade and Terence Rattigan Estates.
You can read his personal memories of life at Walthamstow here.
In 2015, John retired and has passed the Walthamstow Memories site to Daniel Quinn.
Read about it here
John Newell has known John Knowles for over 70 years and grew up in Walthamstow,
from 1945 til 1968. John worked in the commercial catering trade designing and fitting
Hotel and School kitchens and the like. He had his own business for 15 years.
He is a keen photographer and has been a Camera Club Chairman and member for over 35 years.
You can read his personal memories of life at Walthamstow here.
In 2001 the two Johns created the WM site and the picture in the site's logo was taken by John Newell
Although born & raised in Florence, Italy, his grandparents and several members of his
family lived in Walthamstow during the first part of 1900.
He has worked for the British
Consulate in Florence, then as a freelance programmer and later as a professional
calligrapher.
Plays piano & guitar, and likes crooning.
He started helping John in
the project in Jan 2009.
In 2015, John Knowles has passed to Daniel "all the works" concerning
the Walthamstow Memories site.
In the same period, Daniel has moved from Italy to Spain and has
retired from his profession.
Personal Site: Daniel Quinn
Dave Hughes an ex-pupil of Sidney Chaplin school, Dave has two main interests: music and charity. In 1993 he began setting up band nights for local musicians at the Nag's head in Walthamstow Village. By 2003 he was putting on his established acts at the Plough Inn at Wood Street. In 2011 he was fundamental in the organization of the Walthamstow Memories "Gathering". During 2018 to 2020 he has compiled and released 8 CDs which not only included local musicians but many more acts from the 1960s onwards that he has met or arranged nights for in the past, names like four original members of Country Joe and the Fish, The Groundhogs, Hawkwind, Julie Felix and many many more. He's an excellent fundraiser for several charities.
Has a life time interest in local history and for the last ten years he's been a keen amateur genealogist. A retired local authority Housing Manager and a former Walthamstow resident, he still lives in Waltham Forest. He is a father to three birth and two adopted children. Newly married, he first came to Walthamstow in 1960 and with his wife ran her grand-parents' Fish & Chip Shop in the top of High Street. He and his wife were Foster Carers for very many Walthamstow children and he was a founding member and first Chairperson of Waltham Forest Foster Care Association, as well as a co-opted member of Waltham Forest Social Services Committee. In the 1970's he ran a successful Youth Club at Priory Court in Walthamstow. Formerly, he was heavily involved in Waltham Forest Tenant Associations and was the founder and first Chairperson of the Waltham Forest Tenants & Residents Association.
Appointed our site's honorary Consultant for History & Genealogy in August 2011
Very sadly, Bill passed away in December 2017. His constant assistance to the WM site and to its many visitors and followers shall be greatly missed. Always ready to answer to so many queries on Walthamstow's past, on family genealogy and on general facts, he always had a good word for everyone. Although we never met in person, we were very good e-friends since the beginning. R.I.P. Bill!