THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
Bob Hope, whose full name was Leslie Townes 'Bob' Hope, was born in London on May 29, 1903, although the Hope family had originally haled from the West Country. Hope's grandfather had helped to build the sea wall in Weston in 1883, before crossing the Atlantic to join stone carvers working on the Statue of Liberty.
The Hope family lived for a short time in Weston-super-Mare, in Orchard Street and at number 14 Lindley Terrace. Although the names have changed, researchers have been able to identify number 20 Southend Road as one of the former Hope residences. The family later emigrated to the US in 1907, and the story of Bob Hope's much loved work in the States, particularly entertaining soldiers through the USO, makes him an American icon.
Councillor John Crockford-Hawley, Chairman of the Town Council's Heritage Arts and Culture Committee, said that "Two Americans have now been honoured with Blue Plaques in Weston-super-Mare showing we are a seaside resort with clear trans-Atlantic appeal". Recently, Cllr Crockford-Hawley unveiled a Blue Plaque to former US Presdient Dwight D Eisenhower, to mark where he camped out with troops in Weston ahead of D-Day in 1944.
The Blue Plaque will be unveiled on September 11, at 2:30pm, at 20 Southend Rd, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 4JZ. If you can't attend but would like to learn more about the town's Blue Plaques, an online audio tour of the town's Blue Plaque history is available via wsm-tc.gov.uk/our-services/blue-plaques
