Simon Blumenfeld

Background

Although he described himself as Jewish, he was born to a family of Sicilian refugees, who eventually settled in Whitechapel, in the East End of London.

Career

During World World War II he served in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, before becoming a scriptwriter for Stars in Battledess. At the end of the war he founded the entertainment magazine, with Norman Kark. He adopted a number of pseudonyms, including Sidney Vauncez (the Yiddish word for moustache), CV Curtis, and Peter Simon for his writing.

He founded the, which collapsed when sued for libel by the managers of Tommy Steele.

And then with Benny Green. Simon Blumenfeld died at Barnet General Hospital at the age of 97, on 13 April 2005.

Blumenfeld continued writing up until his death, and appeared in the Guinness Book of Records, as the "World"s Oldest Columnist". He was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium, where a memorial plaque remains in the "communist corner".

Works

More photos

• book

  • Phineas Kahn: Portrait of an Immigrant
  • Phineas Kahn. Portrait of an Immigrant