Page 4 - HGS Suburb News 145 - March 2021

Stobart – the woman Profumo – the Fellowship connection

on the black horse awarded the CBE for his
charitable activities in 1975.
abel St Clair Stobart (1862- German officers, and after a few and entering Balkan history as Toynbee Hall is linked to
M 1954) came to live in Turners days in a hotel were on their ‘the woman on the black horse’. the Suburb by its co-founder,
Wood when she married barrister way to the border. Her wartime experiences left Henrietta Barnett (what would
John Greenhalgh in 1911. She Undaunted, Mrs Stobart (she Mrs Stobart with what she she have made of Christine?).
was a feminist and suffragist who used her first husband’s name) called “a deep craving to find a Today that link is still celebrated,
believed that war gave women was back on the continent by spiritual antidote to the crude for example, by Suburb residents’
an opportunity to prove their the end of the year running an materialism which had been large donation made each year
worth. When the Red Cross all-women hospital near responsible for the horrors.” via the Proms. Up to about 15
refused to allow her freelance Cherbourg, and then early in The beautiful services at St Jude’s years ago, Toynbee would bring
Women’s Sick and Wounded 1915 she was on her way to appealed to her aesthetic sense, a group of people up from the
Convoy Corps to serve in the organise and direct a hospital though she soon found herself East End by coach every summer
First Balkan War in 1912 she unit for the Serbian Relief Fund. at odds with the vicar, her for an afternoon of tea, croquet
went anyway, set up a hospital When the Serbian army was forced former fellow prisoner Basil and entertainment laid on at
in Thrace and became a to withdraw, she accompanied Bourchier. She became an early Fellowship House. Profumo would
Bulgarian heroine. them on a three-month, 800 proponent of the ordination of lead some of these expeditions
Two weeks after Britain’s mile, fighting retreat through women to the priesthood. When – hence the photo. Two Suburb
entry into the First World War, Montenegro and Albania tending Bourchier argued there were no residents who helped with the
on 18 August 1914, she set off the wounded, protecting the women clergy in the Bible, Mrs teas back then, Irene Colomb
for Belgium with an all-woman many refugees who joined them, S. countered nor was there any and the late Nancy Gilkes,
team of nurses and doctors, boxing, tennis, or French Riviera remembered him as a man of
accompanied by her husband (all close to the vicar’s heart). considerable charm.
and the vicar of St Jude’s, the Mrs Stobart moved further So, although the Fellowship
Reverend Basil Bourchier. The from ‘crude materialism’ having connection with Profumo arises
evening before, at a public become convinced “of the truth from a sad background – the
meeting, she had been handed of survival [after death], the bleak life of the much maligned
a cheque for £200, raised from existence of a spirit world, and and unfairly prosecuted Christine
residents of the Suburb and a the possibility of communication Keeler and the suicide of Stephen
collection at St Jude’s, in support with that world.” She became a Eileen Whelan and John Profumo playing croquet Ward – pride can be taken in the
of her work. leading proponent of Spiritualism ast winter’s BBC serial ‘The Trial service for over 40 years at fleeting association with someone
Unfortunately, the three and officer of the British College L of Christine Keeler’, together Toynbee Hall. This East End whose distinguished public
Suburb residents arrived in of Psychic Science and turned with the questioning of politicians’ charity, dedicated to tackling service career was followed by a
Brussels the day before the the subject in to a hot topic on honesty, have been reminders that poverty, was founded by Samuel longer period of inspirational
Germans marched in. Although the Suburb in 1924 with lectures it was time to dust off the 20-year- and Henrietta Barnett in 1884, charity work.
they were given safe conduct and debates at the Institute and old photo of John Profumo and long before the Suburb had been Today his picture hangs in
passes out of the city, all three St Jude’s. Arthur Conan-Doyle Eileen Whelan enjoying a game thought of. Profumo began his Fellowship House, along with
were subsequently arrested, was a notable speaker. on Fellowship’s croquet lawn. voluntary work at Toynbee Hall those of illustrious chairmen
accused of spying and Although Mrs Stobart seems Visitors to Fellowship House shortly after his resignation from from our charity’s post war
condemned to be shot at dawn. to have brought the vicar, on Willifield Green may have Government. He was a talented history – Edward Parry, Eileen
But then a miracle occurred. originally hostile, to a more wondered about the copy hanging fundraiser and administrator – Whelan and John Hewson. One
Completing the documents open-minded position, she in the reception area. A ‘Sliding ingenious, charismatic and wonders if they shouldn’t be
which would have formalised decided to leave St Jude’s and Doors’ moment: if Christine Keeler compassionate. One of his early joined by a portrait of Christine
his own execution, John establish (with Conan-Doyle) hadn’t chosen to go swimming at achievements was greatly Keeler. After all, no Christine, a
Greenhalgh gave his address in her own ‘church’ known as The Cliveden on a summer’s day in enhancing the Toynbee Hall less effective Toynbee Hall, a
Hampstead Garden Suburb. It Spiritualist Community. 1961, most likely John Profumo Estate, badly damaged in the Blitz. poorer East End – and no
turned out the interrogating Mabel Stobart Greenhalgh wouldn’t have visited our Suburb He rose to become Chairman croquet with Eileen.
officer had visited the Suburb seems to have left the Suburb nearly 40 years later. Behind and then President and was ANDREW BOTTERILL
the previous year on a town- after the death of her husband that visit is the remarkable story Christine Keeler
planning study tour. As a result, in 1928 and died in a nursing of one man’s road to redemption
the ‘Suburb three’ were released, home in Bournemouth in 1954. – a road that touched the Suburb.
dined that night with the THE REVD ALAN WALKER To caricature Profumo as a
sharp-suited Lothario is, well, a
caricature. There’s more to it
than that. Education at Harrow
then Oxford was followed by a
stellar career: youngest MP in
the House in 1940, Army officer
PRECIOUS PAINTINGS/ARTWORK COSTUME in the North Africa, Italy and
STONES JEWELLERY Normandy campaigns, to Brigadier
JEWELLERY PORCELAIN PROPERTY and then a senior staff position
in post-war Japan. Back in the
WATCHES WINE & UK, he rose to become Minister
& CLOCKS MEN’S & LADIES ALCOHOL of War in 1960.
HIGH-END FASHION
CARS One slip, one lie about an
QUALITY affair led to his resignation in
NAMED GLASS SCULPTURE & BRONZES 1963. How quaint compared to
ministerial standards today. After
GOLD PROBATE VALUATIONS SILVER
his resignation from Government,
he never uttered one word publicly
about ‘The Keeler Interlude’.
That slip however, led to
Profumo’s full-time voluntary

Selling items of value has never been simpler.

WHETHER YOU’RE CLEARING A HOME, MOVING OR REMODELLING, I WILL GET
THE BEST PRICES FOR ANY ITEMS OF VALUE YOU’RE LOOKING TO SELL

• I AM AN INDEPENDENT BROKER ACTING SOLELY ON YOUR BEHALF
• I SELL THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT AUCTION HOUSES, HIGH-END
DEALERS, COLLECTORS AND PRIVATE CLIENTS
• HAVING BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR OVER 10 YEARS LOOKING AFTER MANY,
MANY CLIENTS, YOU WILL ALWAYS RECEIVE MY PERSONAL DISCREET
ONE-TO-ONE SERVICE (REFERENCES AVAILABLE)
• THERE IS NO COST OR OBLIGATION MEETING WITH ME AT YOUR HOME
OR STORAGE FACILITY
• PROBATE VALUATIONS CARRIED OUT
• CLIENTS IN THE UK AND EUROPE
• BASED IN ST JOHNS WOOD

Perry Field | 07802 157500

Under the current government guidelines as of 4th January 2021, house clearances and probates should
continue, so please don’t hesitate to contact me at any time for a home visit, or you can also send photos of
any items you might like to sell to me via whatsapp on 07802 157500 or my email: perryfield@hotmail.com.
MOST IMPORTANTLY I AM HAVING REGULAR COVID TESTS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MY CLIENTS.

4 SUBURB NEWS IS PRODUCED AND DELIVERED TO YOU BY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS