Francis Henry Pullen (8 September 1915 – 17 January 1992) was an English businessperson and racehorse owner.
Early life He was born, the youngest of four children, as Francis Henry Pullen (later also known by his initials FHP) Radio Times April 1972 Six owners in search of a winnerto Arthur James and Alice Pullen (née Richards) at Catford, south London. His father died while serving with the Royal Marines during World War I and Alice Pullen worked as Laundress to raise her family. To help out, young Pullen found work feeding the local workhorses, earning a shilling a week, showing early entrepreneurial flair and sparking his love of horses. Pullen left school at 13,Radio Times magazine 7–14 April 1972 his first job being a cook in Woolworths tea rooms. Within a few years he rose to became a West End of London hotel chef1933 Marriage certificate Francis Henry Pullen & Annie Lily Burrows Nottingham ocupation status and address
War years Pullen enlisted in the British Army at the start of World War II and was one of the survivors of D-Day, landing at Gold Beach. Later during the conflict he helped liberate the Belgian town of Lessines. The grateful town gave him the freedom of the city and he later named three of his homes (one in Bromley, south London, one in Lee, South London and one in Looe, Cornwall, where he would holiday) Army Personnel Centre Historical Disclosures Section D/APC/HD/ABMO/164931 in honour of this town.
Pullen Shops
After he was demobilised from the army in 1948, Pullen, along with his brothers Arthur and Albert, opened a series of general hardware shops, selling a wide range of products. These included his own brand of bleach "Pulbro", "Aladdin Pink" paraffin, wallpapers and paints, DIY and home appliances, cutlery and crockery, dustbins. He also held the concession to sell ice-creams at Lewisham Theatre on Catford Broadway. Pullen also specialised in the supply and fitment of his own brand of fireplaces . Branches covered south London, the first of these being on Catford Broadway. Pullen also owned and rented out many lock-up garages.London Evening News 05/09/1961 page 10 Luxury flats and garages Pullen became a millionaire and he enjoyed his wealth, and by July 1965 had bought his first new Rolls-Royce - Silver Cloud III Coupe from James Young, a luxury coachbuilder located in Bromley.
Pullen Estates
Pullen started a business as a builder in a war-torn South London and became a member of the National House Building Council. Pullen became one of South London's leading property developers, and incorporated his business in 1962, using the slogan "We Build To Please" . Pullen specialised at first in renovating houses, before concentrating on new builds; his first being "Karen Court", Blyth Road, Bromley, a block of three maisonettes. Other early examples of Pullen's can be seen with Hazel Bank, South Norwood Hill The Evening News (London newspaper)26/04/1966 page 10 Hazel Bank 242 South Norwood Hill and the bungalows of Clarence Road, Croydon.LondonEvening News page 11 21/06/1966 Pullen began the process of buying up old Victorian houses in south London, demolishing them and building blocks of flats,ukmodernhousefanatics/topic/joyce_lowman_frank_pullen such as Tina Court, Knollys Road, Streatham and at Ravensbourne Park Crescent, Catford, along with Colin Court.
Innovative Designs and Global Projects
Pullen moved on to housing estates, building over one hundred major developments.The Evening News (London newspaper)05/10/1965 page 16 Centrally heated flats Hemel HemsteadThe Evening News (London newspaper)26/04/1966 page 10 Hazel Bank 242 South Norwood HillThe Evening News (London newspaper) page 13 24/05/1966 Mayfair Court BeckenhamThe Evening News (London newspaper) 05/12/1965 page 19The Evening News (London newspaper) page 14 Park Road BeckenhamThe Evening News (London newspaper)07/10/1969 page 19 Catling CloseThe Evening News (London newspaper)30/11/1965 Surbiton attractive mews with gardensThe Evening News (London newspaper) 17/07/1964 Park Road Stanwell At Iona Close in Catford stands a type of Pullen's apartments that were purpose-built for Lewisham Council. In his later buildings, Pullen often employed the services of the architect and Le Corbusier admirer Joyce Lowman.Architectural Review 160:965.229 Corbusier as structural rationalist by Joyce Lowman Early examples Escote Court, ShortlandsThe Evening News (London newspaper) 18/04/1970 page5. 16 Park Hill, Shortlands and Hurst Court Beckenham The Evening News (London newspaper) 15/11/1966 page 13 32 Southend Road Beckenham Pullen gained a reputation as a builder of innovative houseshttps://www.onthemarket.com/details/16897995/ and luxury apartments,The Evening News (London newspaper) 05/10/1965 Centrally heated flats overlooking sea Walmer Dealhttps://www.ukmoho.co.uk/html/architect/Joyce_Lowman.html and examples of these buildings can be found at Florida Court in Bromley, with three blocks in a low-density, five-acre landscaped plot. At Beulah Hill Pullen built Tropicana, a groundbreaking block of flats to Lowmans design, climbing up Spurgeon Road with balconies having a grand view over southwest London. Seychelle Court and Montreux Court in Beckenham continued his theme of building courts with exotic names.web Pullen also built the Parklands apartments (with roof gardens overlooking Kelsey Park), Parkwood court, Ingleside Close, Highgrove Court and Gatcombe Court again in Beckenham, the last three being the innovative "catslide" roof design, again by Joyce Lowman.
Pullen developed extensively down Wells Park road, Sydenham and with Chevening Court built the whole of Brasted Close in Orpington, Kent. This is one of Pullen's last estates, reviving his old practice of naming his structures after Royal Houses. Pullen was a frequent visitor to Kenya where he created a racing complex in Nairobi and embarked on an ambitious project there to build a township including schools and hospitals. Pullen went on to form Bromley Industrial Consultants, based in Pall Mall, London, with the purpose of helping developing nationshttps://www.flickr.com/photos/192304031@N07/54948120383/in/dateposted-public/https://www.flickr.com/photos/192304031@N07/54947044007/in/dateposted-public/https://www.flickr.com/photos/192304031@N07/54948231200/in/dateposted-public/
Race horses
Pullen was also able to indulge in his lifelong passion of horse racing, training and breeding.Halifax Evening Courier 20/12/1976 page 2 He chose the colours Chocolate and Blue for his racing silks, to show his humble origins as these were the colours of his old school, Holmbeach Elementary Lewisham, where he left with no qualifications.Radio Times magazine 7–14 April 1972 His friends included Peter Bromley, racing commentator, and Dick Barton creator Ted Mason. Pullen went on to be a popular owner with a string of race horses. When Pullens favorite jockey Josh Gifford took up training in 1969, Pullen became his first owner at his yard in Findon, Sussex Sheffield Star Green 'Un 19/03/1983 page 23. He went on to having over 100 winners with him Western Daily Press 27/01/1976 page 18 Frank Pullen, 100 winners as ownerDaily Mirror 11/02/1976 Charlotson wins for south coast specialist Frank PullenDaily Mirror page 28 17/03/1975 Man on the Moon Josh Gifford Frank PullenDaily Express 13 January 1983 page 28Maidstone Telegraph page27 15/12/1978 Mannyboy* Bob Champion; Jonathan Powell (1981). Champion’s story : a great human triumph. London: Gollancz. pp. 216p.,24p. of plates : ports.; 23 cm.. .Daily Mirror 27/11/1972 page26 Frank Pullen wins £23,000 Rabble RouserDaily Mirror 08/02/1976 Man on the Moon wins at Lingfield Park Racecourse for Frank Pullen It was as such that he was interviewed by the Radio Times magazine ("Six owners in search of a winner" by Russell Twisk) in 1972, having especially bought "Fair Vulgan" on Josh Gifford's recommendation for that year's Grand National at Aintree.The Radio Times, 8–14 April 1972 Former jockey Bob Champion bought racehorse "Just Martin" for Pullen. Pullen had built Champions yardThe Sporting Life (British newspaper), 24 January 1992 and Pullen became Champions first owner when he took up training.Bob Champion Facebook page 21/11.2020 Just Martin became Champions first winner as a trainer Daily Mirror 07/09/1982 page 24 Just Martin
Personal life and death Pullen married Annie Lily (known as Poppy) Rudd-Burrows in 1933 and they had 3 children, Maureen Josephine, Francis Arthur James (known as Frankie) and Colin Patrick. In 1953 he started a relationship with German emigre Erna Funk, and they went on to have two daughters Deirdre and Alice. Pullen formally retired in 1988 and he died, aged 76, at his livery yard in Orpington,https://www.equoevents.co.uk/Venues/View/320 Kent, and is buried at London Road Cemetery, [email protected] Plot number RB 15a Racing enthusiast Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother sent Frank's widow a letter of condolence upon hearing of his death.The Sporting Life, 24 January 1992
References
Glengall Court, Codrington Hill, Brockley. Evening News newspaper, 07/09/1965
Karen Court, Grove Lane, Camberwell. Evening News newspaper 06/04/1965 page 12
External links The Radio Times, 8–14 April 1972 The Sporting Life, 24 January 1992 This is Findon Village – The Horses of Frank H. Pullen Architectural Review 160:965.229 Corbusier as structural rationalist by Joyce Lowman Pictures and information about Pullen * Evening Standard article about Pullen buildings