ERNEST A.L. HAM
Ernest Austin D’Lacey Ham was born in Wareham, Dorset on 21st June 1874. One of a family of four boys and three girls, several of whom showed artistic abilities.
His ancestors came from France in 1190 as ‘aides-de-camp’ to Phillip Augustus, King of France. Here they joined Richard I (Richard the Lion Heart or ‘Coeur de Lion’) on his third holy crusade to ‘The Holy Land’.
Over the centuries, the family name was changed from D’Lacey to take on the English name of Ham.
The family came to Southall in 1889. Mr. Joel Ham was ‘Clerk in Charge’ for the building of Norwood Green Police Station, completed in 1890.
Their first residence was No.1 Ossulton Villas, Norwood Road. These Victorian houses had three storeys with a basement. A long flight of steps led to the front door.
According to Ernie’s many interesting anecdotes ‘it was a favourite pastime on a winter evening to climb up to the front attic and watch for the lights of the stage coach going along the Bath Road’.
He was educated at Christ’s Hospital, or better known in those days as the ‘Blue Coat School’.
He married Rosa Lidstone. She was from another old Southall family. Her Grandfather, Peter Bell, built many of the houses, both in St. John’s and Waltham Road.
All his life, he was a martyr to chronic asthma, and other chest complaints. For this reason, all his leisure time was spent in the open air. He travels around with his little sketch book and easel in all weathers. His other hobbies were cycling and bowls. For many years he was a keen member of Southall Bowling Club.
After his marriage in 1901 at St. John’s Church, he lived at No. 8 Florence Road. He often recalled how at that period, one could walk to the top of that road and watch the trains passing between Southall and Hayes stations.
His only employment throughout his life was as a sales representative for Abbott Bros. of High Street, Southall. A superb craftsman in all kinds of woodwork, many orders drifted down from Harrods and other London firms. His ‘Poker-work’ is somewhere in the Royal Palaces. One wonders how many of his illuminated addresses (so fashionable at the beginning of this century (20th)) are still to be found. Mention must be made of many water colour and oil paintings of the Devon and Cornish coast, also of another favourite holiday haunt, Castle Combe.
His one ambition was to preserve the history of Southall in small oil paintings. Over 70 of these were presented to the library after his death. Many more are in private collections.
A staunch church attendee, he regularly worshipped at St. John’s and was a Sideman there for many years.
Ernest died on 1st February 1958 aged 83 years.
E.M. Barnett