A BLUE plaque has been placed at the childhood home of Hollywood icon Cary Grant.
Archibald Alexander Leach, born in Horfield in 1904, and his parents Elias and Elsie moved to 50 Berkeley Road, Bishopston, in 1906 and lived there until 1909 or 1910.
The family lived at six different addresses in Bristol during Archie’s childhood but he has fond memories of this place, where he lived when he started at Bishop Road School. According to the Ladies Home Journal in 1963, Archie, who went on to become Hollywood star Cary Grant, recalled his years there as “the happiest days for the three of us”.
With his signature tan, suave and sophisticated style, Grant was the consummate leading man who came to symbolise the authentic American hero. But despite his fame, he never forgot his roots in Bristol. He visited regularly, returning to see his mother, and happily posed for publicity photos in his native city. Such is Grant’s fame that his celebrated publicity photo in front of the Clifton Suspension Bridge continues to be recreated for selfies by visitors to the city.
In 2014 a new biennial festival – Cary Comes Home – was set up to celebrate his achievements with a season of film screenings, talks, walking tours and much more.
The blue plaque installed at 50 Berkeley Road late last year, shines a light on Grant’s “rags to riches” story.
It was unveiled by Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant and Dr Charlotte Crofts, director of Cary Comes Home.
Grant’s widow Barbara Jaynes said, “Cary often spoke ifondly of his childhood in Bristol, He cherished the memories of his early years, and I can only imagine the joy he would have felt knowing that his roots would be commemorated in such a meaningful way.
“This plaque is a beautiful tribute to his humble beginnings and the extraordinary path he forged in Hollywood and beyond.”