Wingfield Avenue is named for H. E. (Pat) Wingfield
Wingfield Avenue is named for H. E. (Pat) Wingfield, vice-president and sales manager of Imperial Rattan Co. Ltd. (see Trinity Street) from 1933 until his untimely death in 1940. Imperial Rattan was one of Stratford's most successful furniture factories.
Though Pat Wingfield was in Stratford for only seven years, he became involved in the community, especially as a member of the Stratford Industrial Commission and of the Stratford Salvage Committee, both of which were trying to rebuild Stratford's economy during the Depression years and to assist the unemployed.
Pat Wingfield was born in Dunnville, Ont., and was a graduate of the University of Toronto. He was prominent in the Canadian furniture industry and president of the furniture manufacturers association at the time of his death. He was also a Boy Scout leader and a member of the Stratford Badminton Club. Source: Streets of Stratford, 2004.
Imperial Rattan Furniture Co. later Imperial Furniture Manufacturing.
Harry W. Strudley (see Parkview Drive) moved his company to Stratford in 1910.
Harry Strudley (1870-1961) and his son Donald (1901-1985).
Wingfield Farm and Stratford
The Wingfield Farm stories and plays by Dan Needles have a strong Stratford connection. His father, Bill Needles, was a member of the original Stratford Festival company and lived and worked here.
Bill Needles was part of 47 Stratford seasons and played more than 100 roles before his death in 2016. Dan Needles tells about his father, Bill Needles
Son Dan, who has performed Wingfield in Stratford, visited his father during the summers though he spent much of his time with his mother and siblings in rural Ontario. Dan Needles – Author, playwright, public speaker Ontario
Wingfield's World holds the complete collection of Wingfield stories, following stockbroker-turned-farmer Walt Wingfield as he meets the neighbours, tries to plow the fields with two broken down racehorses and struggles through Persephone Township’s ferocious winters. Over six seasons on the farm, Walt falls in love, becomes a father and bonds with an eccentric community.