Pioneers
Some of the faces that have helped shape our
history
Will Thorne was a campaigner for workers
rights and founded one of the first trade unions for unskilled
workers.
Thomas Frye founded the Bow Porcelain
factory, one of the area's most important businesses; he was one
of the area's pioneering industrialists.
Kamal Chunchie founded, in the early 20th
century, the Coloured Men's Institute - one of the first-ever
community centres for ethnic minorities.
Keir Hardie was MP for South West Ham in 1892
and was a prominent advocate of civil rights. Bringing together
various left-wing groups, he became the Labour Party's first
leader.
Director Joan Littlewood staged controversial and
daring plays with her partner Gerry Raffles, putting the Theatre
Royal Stratford East firmly on the map.
War hero Jack Cornwall, from Manor Park was awarded the
highest commendation - the Victoria Cross - for bravery during the
battle of Jutland
Poet Gerard Manley Hopkins was born in Stratford and
studied at Oxford University. Creator of a pioneering poetic form,
sprung verse, his most famous poem tells of the death on a
shipwreck of five local nuns.
A resident of Stratford for most of her adult life,
Elizabeth Fry was the leading prison reformer
of her generation.
Swimmer Edward Temme swam the icy waters of the English
Channel in both directions. He lived in Plaistow, and was an early
member of the town's swimming club
Champion footballer and England Captain
Bobby Moore was a player and captain for
Newham's West Ham Football Club
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