Sir Harry Preston of Brighton

Leaves From An Unwritten Diary, the life and times of Sir Harry Preston

1927: A Few Friends

In October 1927, a group of some of the most eminent people in the country held a dinner in honour of Harry, at the Piccadilly Hotel in London. They had arranged a commemorative Chippendale silver salver to be made, engraved with all their signatures. An inscription across the centre read; “Presented to HARRY PRESTON by a Few Friends October 17th 1927“.

The commemorative silver salver awarded to Harry in 1927 with more than 100 signatures
The commemorative silver salver awarded to Harry in 1927 with more than 100 signatures

126 signatures adorned the surface of the silver salver, including H.R.H. Edward, Prince of Wales (‘Edward’ is inscribed just above the centre).

Other names from all walks of business, sport and entertainment included; Edgar Wallace (writer), Viscount Churchill, Walter Sickert (artist), Seymour Hicks (actor), Jeffery Farnol (writer), Sidney Dark (journalist), Duff Cooper (politician), Sir Alfred Fripp (Royal surgeon), Bertram Mills (circus owner) and Curtis Moffat (photographer).

“ ‘Our great and gallant little sportsman’ were the words in which Lord Decies referred to one of the most striking personalities of the day at the dinner given in his honour at the Piccadilly Hotel last week. The silver salver presented to Harry Preston had the signatures of almost all the celebrities in the land, and in the centre was that of HRH the Prince of Wales“.

Harry described the night as one of the most moving experiences of his life. “I cannot tell you how my knees shook as I came into the Piccadilly Hotel that night, and found myself in your midst“.

But it was Harry’s wife whose words that evening made him blush…”I am especially happy tonight, because for once I know where Harry is“.

1926: Brighton Town Councillor

Sometime after the ‘Battle of Lewes Road‘ in 1926, Harry became a Brighton town councillor, being elected to the council in a Tory seat.

But it appears Harry’s involvement in the Lewes Road event was still very much in everyone’s minds. The Herald said of the election meeting; “There was so much hooting when he attempted to speak that only a few of his words reached the audience“.

1926: Battle of Lewes Road

During the May 1926 General Strike, Harry aged 66, was enlisted as a volunteer mounted ‘special’ policeman. The General Strike was a UK wide strike called by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in defence of mineworkers who were being asked to accept longer working hours and reduced wages. It lasted nine days, from 4th to 12th May.

On 11th May 1926 a crowd of 4,000 people, strikers, sympathisers and onlookers, had gathered at the tram depot in Lewes Road in Brighton. The Chief Constable, Charles Griffin, asked the crowd to disperse, but when they refused he sent in 300 foot police and 50 mounted specials who advanced in wedge formation into the crowd. It is believed that the mounted specials were led by ‘Sergeant’ Harry Preston, with Harry Mason, the well-known professional boxer acting as his second in command. What followed was a violent and bloody incident which became known as the ‘Battle of Lewes Road’.

Harry does not confirm his involvement in the incident in either of his books, and refers to it only as “ugly doings at the Tram Depot”. But it appears his reputation took a heavy knock, and his popularity with the public never really recovered.

1925: Jack Dempsey Charity Fight

Harry’s annual charity tournaments at the Brighton Dome became regarded as one of the country’s chief sporting fixtures.

Harry Preston walks arm in arm with world heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey in Brighton, 1925
Harry walks arm in arm with world heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey in Brighton, 1925

In 1925 Harry achieved one of his greatest successes when he persuaded Jack Dempsey, the world heavyweight champion, to perform at the Brighton Dome annual event.

Perhaps the greatest event he put on was in 1925, when he convinced the then world heavyweight champion, American Jack Dempsey, to fight at the venue. This was Dempsey’s only ever appearance in the UK and he did it completely free of charge thanks to Preston’s persuasion. Dempsey is still considered one of the all-time greats and as the newspapers at the time commented, securing his appearance was a truly impressive feat.

– Brightondome.org

1922: Ideal Home Feature

In November 1922 the Ideal Home Magazine ran an 8-page feature entitled ‘A Country Cottage at Ansty Sussex, the residence of Harry J Preston Esq. of Brighton’. The article features a photo of him sitting in white spats outside the porch of his country home, Apple Tree Cottage, smoking a cigar and accompanied by his favourite bull terrier.

The caption reads;

“The porch of the cottage and its owner, Mr Harry J. Preston, with his favourite bull terrier, Sambo. The kennels in the grounds are the birthplace of many prize winners, one now being a mascot on H.M.S. “Queen Elizabeth.“