Name Anne Naysmith | Parents Marie Smith | |
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Died February 10, 2015, Chiswick, United Kingdom | ||
Anne naysmith
Anne Naysmith (1937 - 10 February 2015) was a British classical pianist who became notable later in life for sleeping rough in Chiswick, West London.
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She was born Anne Smith in Essex in 1937. Her family moved to Hounslow, West London when she was eight. The 'Nay' was added much later.
Naysmith studied with Harold Craxton and Liza Fuchsova at the Royal Academy of Music, and gave a well received recital at Wigmore Hall in 1967, but experienced personal difficulties in the late 1960s and was evicted from her house in Prebend Gardens, Chiswick. Following her eviction Naymsith slept in her car for 26 years until 2002 when it was towed away following campaigning from neighbours to have it removed. Naysmith then lived in a handmade shelter next to Stamford Brook Underground station.
The Guardian noted parallels with Mary Shepherd, the subject of Alan Bennett's 1999 play The Lady in the Van, who had also been a classical pianist.
Naysmith died after being hit by a truck.
