Sacha Craddock was born in New Zealand, moving to England in 1968 and lived in Oxford, studying at the Oxford College of Further Education for her A-levels.
Sacha was one of the earliest to arrive at Tolmers in the first wave of squatters in October 1973. She took up occupation of 117 Drummond Street with Jamie Gough and Corinne Pearlman and immediately made friends with Jeyant Patel, owner of the Diwana restaurant at 121 Drummond Street and John and Ethel Vine, owners of the grocery shop next door at 115.
Sacha became involved in left-wing politics. She took a job at University College Hospital as a cleaner and soon became trade union convener and representative.
In 1975 Sacha moved to 12 Tolmers Square which became a social hub for the north side of the Square.
In 1979, after the eviction and demolition of Tolmers Square, Sacha shared a house at 89 Great Russell Street next to the British Museum with Jamie Gough, Dave Taylor and Corinne Pearlman where they continued the lifestyle of communal living, parties and large meals which had been developed at 12 Tolmers Square.
Sacha obtained a BA at Saint Martin’s College of Art and an MA at Chelsea College of Art and Design.
She went on to develop a career in art as a writer, curator, teacher and consultant. www.sachacraddock.com
For the last 20 years, Sacha has been chair of the board of trustees of New Contemporaries .
Sacha still lives at 89 Great Russell Street and has one daughter.
The pleasure of living freely in a world within a world was palpable. The seventies seemed to be very much about differences, collecting together, allowing, encouraging, and tolerating.
Outside 12 Tolmers Square, 1975
Sacha and Atalia at Tolmers first Carnival, 1974
Sacha and Doug at the front door of No 12 Tolmers Square
Christmas banquet at 142 Drummond Street, 1975
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