I'm researching a famous son of Sydenham, Skip Martin (born as Alec Horowitz, aka Alec Goodhead, in 1928, died in 1984). Skip lived all his life in Lewisham, born in Knighton Park Road, and lived variously in Dukesthorpe Road, Kirtley Road, Larkbere Road and Bryden Close.
Skip was a small person, a dwarf, who acted with some very famous actors in some great films from the late 50s to the early 70s: with Boris Karloff in Corridors of Blood (1958), Peter Cushing in Hellfire Club (1961), Shirley MacLaine (in her TV series 1972), Ringo Starr in Son of Dracula (1973), The Goodies TV series (1970), Vincent Price in Masque of the Red Death (1964), Christopher Lee in Circus of Fear (1966), Hammer films' Vampire Circus (1972) and Robin Asquith in Horror Hospital (1973).
I've done some genealogical research and know that he lived all his life with his mother - Gladys Horowitz (died 1990) - and that his father, George Horowitz, was a sports journalist (died 1947).
While Skip was not working in films he is said to have worked as a tobacconist, a salesman and - possibly - as a circus performer.
Does anyone remember him as a local character? The Lewisham Local Studies library have drawn a blank. I have today visited his grave in Hither Green Cemetery. He was known as Alec to his friends and family and had siblings who may still be alive...
I can post a link to my wordpress blog if anyone is interested in his filmography, but it's really his family life in Lewisham I'm interested in. Thank you!
