Hedley Churchward
Hedley Churchward (1860-1929) was a talented scenic artist.
Born in Aldershot, England, he studied under the famous theatrical designer, Spong, at Drury Lane, helped in the original production of several of Tennyson's plays and enjoyed the personal friendship of the poet. After some years in Australia he came to South Africa in the 1880's.
Later in his life he famously converted to Islam after a pilgimage to Mecca, changing his name to Mahmoud Mobarek.
He worked as scenic artist for Frank de Jong, Ben Wheeler, Luscombe Searelle and Leonard Rayne in Cape Town, Kimberley and the Witswatersrand.
A very gifted artist, he spent his later years in Johannesburg, where he died.
Sources
Eric Rosenthal. 1966. "Southern African Dictionary of National Biography". Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd, London and New York.
Material held by NELM: [Collection: FLETCHER, Jill]: 2005. 75. 17. 14.
Eric Rosenthal. 1982. From Drury Lane to Mecca. Cape Town: Howard Timmins.
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