Blue Plaque Unveiling

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BLUE PLAQUE UNVEILING - 28th JUNE, 2002

On 6th May, 1956, a temporary metal plaque was unveiled by Anna Freud to mark the centenary of her father's birth.   On 28th June, 2002, Freud, together with his daughter, Anna (1895-1982), pioneer of child psychoanalysis, were honoured with English Heritage Blue Plaques, unveiled by actor, comedian and author, John Cleese and his wife, psychotherapist, Alyce Faye Cleese, both Patrons of the Freud Museum. They were introduced to the large group of supporters and well-wishers, by Erica Davies, Director of the Freud Museum.

Alyce Faye Cleese, a former pupil of Anna Freud's, spoke first, stating "She was one of the reasons why I came to London... Now she stands as the equal of her father." Anna Freud continued to live at Maresfield Gardens until her death in 1982, when she left the house and its iconic contents - including Freud's famous couch - as a museum. Poignantly, as Alyce Faye was speaking about Anna Freud's work with children, a child cried for its mother. The child was 19 month-old Mary Astor, great-great granddaughter of Freud himself, there with her mother, Freud's great granddaughter, novelist, Susie Boyt.

Anna Freud's plaque had been unveiled for all of 10 minutes when John Cleese, true to form, pulled the wrong cord and covered it up again. It was a light-hearted moment in a ceremony full of moving memories and reflections. During his speech, John Cleese, who unveiled the Sigmund Freud plaque, said "The fact that this treasure house and the objects are here is one of the very few things we can thank the Nazis for". The Nazis had publicly burned Freud's books in 1933, but it was not until 1938 that he applied for permission to leave Vienna with his family. He moved eventually to Maresfield Gardens, which he described as "our last address on this planet", and died there on 23rd September 1939.

Finally, some sad news. During the ceremony, Alice Colonna, a child psychoanalyst, paid tribute to the late Dr Albert Solnit, who had recently died in a car accident in Bethlehem, Conneticutt, aged 82. Dr Solnit was a collaborator and friend of Anna Freud, a member of the Joint Committee of the Freud Museum, psychoanalyst, researcher, founder of the Yale Child Study Institute and the psychiatrist who helped introduce the idea that family law and custody disputes should focus on child's needs. He will be sadly missed.

A brief record of the event...

The plaques before mounting
Mounting the plaques
Audience gathering

John and Alyce Faye Cleese
The Mayor of Hampstead
Committee members at the party

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On 6th May, 1956, a temporary metal plaque was unveiled by Anna Freud to mark the centenary of her father's birth. On 28th June, 2002, Freud, together with his daughter, Anna (1895-1982), pioneer of child psychoanalysis, were honoured with English Heritage Blue Plaques, unveiled by actor, comedian and author, John Cleese and his wife, psychotherapist, Alyce Faye Cleese, both Patrons of the Freud Museum. They were introduced to the large group of supporters and well-wishers, by Erica Davies, Director of the Freud Museum.
	Alyce Faye Cleese, a former pupil of Anna Freud's, spoke first, stating "She was one of the reasons why I came to London... Now she stands as the equal of her father." Anna Freud continued to live at Maresfield Gardens until her death in 1982, when she left the house and its iconic contents - including Freud's famous couch - as a museum. Poignantly, as Alyce Faye was speaking about Anna Freud's work with children, a child cried for its mother. The child was 19 month-old Mary Astor, great-great granddaughter of Freud himself, there with her mother, Freud's great granddaughter, novelist, Susie Boyt.
Anna Freud's plaque had been unveiled for all of 10 minutes when John Cleese, true to form, pulled the wrong cord and covered it up again. It was a light-hearted moment in a ceremony full of moving memories and reflections. During his speech, John Cleese, who unveiled the Sigmund Freud plaque, said "The fact that this treasure house and the objects are here is one of the very few things we can thank the Nazis for". The Nazis had publicly burned Freud's books in 1933, but it was not until 1938 that he applied for permission to leave Vienna with his family. He moved eventually to Maresfield Gardens, which he described as "our last address on this planet", and died there on 23rd September 1939.
	Finally, some sad news. During the ceremony, Alice Colonna, a child psychoanalyst, paid tribute to the late Dr Albert Solnit, who had recently died in a car accident in Bethlehem, Conneticutt, aged 82. Dr Solnit was a collaborator and friend of Anna Freud, a member of the Joint Committee of the Freud Museum, psychoanalyst, researcher, founder of the Yale Child Study Institute and the psychiatrist who helped introduce the idea that family law and custody disputes should focus on child's needs. He will be sadly missed.

The plaques before mounting	Mounting the plaques	Audience gathering
John and Alyce Faye Cleese	The Mayor of Hampstead	Committee members at the party