Frank Pullen facts for kids
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 |
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.
Contents
Early Life and First Jobs
Frank Pullen was born in Catford, south London, England. He was the youngest of four children. His father, Arthur James Pullen, sadly passed away during World War I. This meant his mother, Alice Pullen, had to raise her children during a tough time called the Depression.
Young Frank started working early to help his family. He fed local workhorses and earned a small amount of money each week. This early job showed his talent for business and began his lifelong love for horses. Later, he worked as a cook and then became a hotel chef.
Serving During 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. This was when Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy, France. Frank Pullen was one of the brave soldiers who landed on Gold Beach.
Later in the war, he helped free the Belgian town of Lessines. The people of Lessines were so thankful that they gave him a special honor. Frank Pullen later named three of his homes after this town. These homes were in Bromley, Lee, South London, and Looe, Cornwall.
Building a Business Empire
Pullen Shops: From Bleach to Ice Cream
After the war ended in 1948, Frank Pullen started a new adventure. He teamed up with his brothers, Arthur and Albert. Together, they opened a chain of general hardware shops. These shops sold many different items.
They offered their own brand of bleach called "Pulbro." They also sold paraffin, wallpapers, and paints. Customers could find DIY tools, home appliances, cutlery, and crockery. Even dustbins and ice-creams were available! Frank Pullen also specialized in selling and installing his own brand of fireplaces. Their shops were mostly in south London, with the first one on Catford Broadway. Frank Pullen also owned many small garages that he rented out.
By July 1965, Frank Pullen had become a millionaire. He enjoyed his success and bought his first new Rolls-Royce - Silver Cloud III Coupe. This luxury car was made by James Young in Bromley.
Pullen Estates: Constructing Homes
Frank Pullen then started a new business as a builder. He helped rebuild parts of South London after the war. He became a member of the National House Building Council. Soon, he was one of South London's top property developers. In 1962, he officially registered his business. His company's slogan was "We Build To Please."
At first, Pullen focused on fixing up old houses. Then, he started building brand new ones. His first new building was "Karen Court" in Bromley. It was a block of three maisonettes. You can also see some of his early bungalows in Clarence Road, Croydon. Frank Pullen began buying old Victorian houses in south London. He would then replace them with modern blocks of flats. Examples include Tina Court in Streatham and Colin Court in Catford.
Innovative Designs and Global Projects
Frank Pullen went on to build over one hundred major housing developments. At Iona Close in Catford, he built apartments specifically for Lewisham Council. For his later buildings, he often worked with architect Joyce Lowman. She was a fan of the famous architect Le Corbusier.
Pullen became known for building creative and luxurious apartments. You can see examples at Florida Court in Bromley. This development has three blocks set in a large, beautiful five-acre garden. In Beulah Hill, Pullen built Tropicana. This was a groundbreaking block of flats designed by Lowman. It featured balconies with amazing views over southwest London.
He continued this theme with Seychelle Court and Montreux Court in Beckenham. These buildings also had exotic names. Pullen also developed the Parklands apartments, which had roof gardens overlooking Kelsey Park. Other Beckenham projects included Parkwood Court, Ingleside Close, Highgrove Court, and Gatcombe Court. The last three featured an innovative "catslide" roof design, also by Joyce Lowman.
Pullen developed many properties along Wells Park Road in Sydenham. He also built the entire Brasted Close in Orpington, Kent, with Chevening Court. This was one of his last large estates. He returned to his old practice of naming buildings after Royal Houses.
Frank Pullen often visited Kenya. There, he created a racing complex in Nairobi. He also started an ambitious project to build a township. This plan included schools and hospitals for the community. He later formed Bromley Industrial Consultants in Pall Mall, London. This company aimed to help developing nations.
A Passion for Racehorses
Frank Pullen was able to follow his lifelong love for horse racing. He enjoyed training and breeding horses. He chose the colors Chocolate and Blue for his racing silks. He was friends with Peter Bromley, a famous racing commentator.
Pullen became a popular owner with many race horses. Many of his horses were kept at Josh Gifford's yard in Findon, Sussex. In 1972, he was interviewed by Radio Times magazine. The article was about owners looking for a winner. He had bought a horse specifically for that year's Grand National race at Aintree. Former jockey Bob Champion bought the racehorse "Just Martin" for Pullen. Frank Pullen had also built Bob Champion's horse yard. Pullen became Champion's first owner when Champion started training horses himself.
Family and Legacy
Frank Pullen married Annie Lily Rudd-Burrows, known as Poppy, in 1933. They had three children: Maureen Josephine, Francis Arthur James (Frankie), and Colin Patrick. Later in his life, Frank Pullen also had two daughters, Deirdre and Alice, with Erna Funk.
Frank Pullen officially retired in 1988. He passed away at the age of 76 on January 17, 1992. He died at his livery yard in Orpington, Kent. He is buried at London Road Cemetery in Bromley. Racing enthusiast Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother sent a letter of sympathy to Frank's widow after his death.
