Frank Pullen facts for kids
Frank Pullen (born Francis Henry Pullen, 8 September 1915 – 17 January 1992) was a clever English businessman and a passionate owner of racehorses. He started from humble beginnings and built a successful property empire, leaving a lasting mark on South London.
Quick facts for kids
Frank Pullen
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Frank Pullen
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| Born | 8 September 1915 |
| Died | 17 January 1992 (aged 76) |
| Resting place | London Road Cemetery Bromley, London |
| Occupation | Businessman: Property Developer Racehorse owner/breeder |
Contents
Frank Pullen's Early Life
Frank Pullen was born in Catford, South London, in 1915. He was the youngest of four children. Sadly, his father passed away during World War I while serving in the Royal Navy. This meant Frank's mother, Alice, had to work hard to support her family during a tough time called the Depression.
To help out, young Frank found a job feeding local workhorses. He earned a small amount, just a shilling a week. This early job showed his knack for business and, more importantly, sparked his lifelong love for horses. When he was 17, Frank got married and became a chef.
Serving in World War II
When World War II began, Frank Pullen joined the British Army. He was part of a very important event called D-Day, landing on Gold Beach. This was a huge operation to free Europe from enemy control.
Later in the war, Frank helped free the Belgian town of Lessines. The people of Lessines were so thankful that they gave him a special honor: the freedom of their city. Frank never forgot this kindness. He later named three of his homes "Lessines" – one in Bromley, one in Lee, South London, and another in Looe, Cornwall, where he enjoyed holidays.
Building Homes with Pullen Estates
After leaving the army in 1948, Frank Pullen started his own business. He became a builder in South London, which was still recovering from the war. He joined the National House Building Council, showing his commitment to quality.
Frank quickly became one of the top property developers in South London. In 1962, he officially made his business a company, using the slogan "We Build To Please". At first, Frank focused on fixing up old houses. But soon, he started building new ones. His first new project was "Karen Court" in Bromley, which had three maisonettes (apartments on two levels). He also built bungalows in Croydon.
Frank then moved on to bigger projects, like blocks of flats. Examples include Tina Court in Streatham and buildings in Catford. He eventually built over a hundred large housing developments. Some of his apartments in Catford were even specially built for the local council.
For his later buildings, Frank often worked with a talented architect named Joyce Lowman. Frank became known for creating modern and luxurious homes. You can see his work at Florida Court in Bromley, which has three buildings set in a large, beautiful garden area.
At Beulah Hill, Frank built "Tropicana," a very unique block of flats designed by Joyce Lowman. These flats climbed up Spurgeon Road and had amazing balconies with great views over southwest London. He continued this theme of giving his buildings exotic names with Seychelle Court and Montreux Court in Beckenham.
Frank also built the Parklands apartments in Beckenham, which had roof gardens overlooking Kelsey Park. Other notable buildings in Beckenham include Parkwood Court, Ingleside Close, Highgrove Court, and Gatcombe Court. The last three featured Joyce Lowman's innovative "catslide" roof design.
Frank developed many properties along Sydenham's Wells Park Road. He also built the entire Brasted Close in Orpington, Kent, including Chevening Court. This was one of his last large estates, where he went back to naming his buildings after royal places.
Frank Pullen often visited Kenya, where he set up a horse racing complex in Nairobi. He also started an ambitious project there to build a whole township, including schools and hospitals. Later, he formed Bromley Industrial Consultants in Pall Mall, London, to help developing countries grow.
Pullen Shops and Success
Besides building homes, Frank Pullen also opened a chain of general hardware shops. These shops sold a huge variety of products, from his own brand of bleach called "Pulbro" to "Pink" paraffin, wallpapers, paints, DIY tools, home appliances, cutlery, crockery, dustbins, and even ice-creams! His first shop was on Catford Broadway, and branches spread across South London. He also owned and rented out many garages.
Frank Pullen became a millionaire. He enjoyed his wealth, and in 1965, he bought his first brand-new luxury car: a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Coupe.
A Passion for Racehorses
Frank Pullen was able to follow his lifelong love for horse racing, training, and breeding. He chose the colors Chocolate and Blue for his racing silks, which are the special outfits jockeys wear. He became good friends with Peter Bromley, a famous racing commentator.
Frank was a very popular owner with many race horses. Many of his horses were trained at Josh Gifford's yard in Findon, Sussex. In 1972, he was even interviewed by the Radio Times magazine about his horses. He had bought a special horse for that year's Grand National race at Aintree based on Josh Gifford's advice.
Later, former jockey Bob Champion bought a racehorse named "Just Martin" for Frank Pullen. Frank had actually built Bob Champion's horse yard. When Bob became a trainer, Frank Pullen was his very first horse owner.
Frank Pullen's Final Years
Frank Pullen officially retired from business in 1988. He passed away at the age of 76 in 1992 at his livery yard in Orpington, Kent. He is buried at London Road Cemetery in Bromley.
Even Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who loved horse racing, sent a letter of condolence to Frank's widow when she heard of his death. This shows how respected and well-known Frank Pullen was.
