Haringey News

Greig City benefactor honoured in Hornsey

By Elizabeth Pears

10:15am Monday 6th September 2010

A WEALTHY benefactor whose generous donations helped set up a Hornsey secondary school will be celebrated with a plaque erected in his honour.

David Greig made his fortune after turning the humble family food shop founded by his father in 1870, at 32, High Street, Hornsey, into the UK's first supermarket chain.

His company celebrated its centenary in 1970, but Mr Greig died on January 23, 1952, aged 86, in Lambeth. The 219 shops were sold in 1972 and the name disappeared from the shop fronts all over the country.

Mr Greig married his long-term fiancee, Hannah, in 1889 at St Mary's Church, in Hornsey.

His name lives on in Haringey because of his generosity in setting up funds in memory of his parents, to support Church of England education in Hornsey.

Mr Greig helped the St Mary's schools in times of hardship, and personally gave money to push forward the building of the new St Mary's school in Rectory Gardens. Greig City Academy sits just doors down from the family's shop and former home then known as St Mary's Terraces.

The businessman is among a select group of Haringey's notable residents whose legacies and achievements have been recognised in a community scheme spearheaded by resident John Hajdu.

Mr Hajdu, also chairman of the Muswell Hill and Fortis Green Association, approached Haringey Council with the idea in 2007.

Gothic author Charlotte Riddel was honoured with a plaque near her former home in Tottenham earlier this year, former ANC president Oliver Tambo was celebrated in 2007, and Victorian poet Coventry Patmore who penned The Angel of the House.

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