Free guide to inside Fitzrovia Spring fitzrovia.org.uk/news Fitzrovia News Fitzrovia News is produced by residents and volunteers and distributed free to all businesses and residential addresses in Fitzrovia Issue 120, Spring 2011 Community Centre to open in spring The new £1.5 million Fitzrovia would make it easier to collabo - Community Centre in Foley rate with other projects. Street is due to open this spring. “We are very keen to retain It takes up a corner of the the FNA’s work with older peo - ground floor and basement of ple, its Bengali women’s art John Astor House, owned by projects, and its advice service, University College London for which there will be more pri - Hospital (UCLH). Rooms are vacy than at present,” she available for hire for a variety of added. community projects. There is also a courtyard The £1.5 million was provid - which Helena thinks “could be a ed by the UCLH through an proper garden involving lots of agreement with Camden different people.” The campaign Council to give Fitzrovia a new for allotments on the Middlesex community centre in return for Hospital site “was very popular permission to build the new hos - with all ages and ethnicities,” pital on Euston Road. she recalled. “Lots of climbing So although geographically plants could be grown here and in Westminster the new centre it could be a quiet green space comes under the jurisdiction of where people could garden or Camden, to whom it is leased by just read.” There will also be a the UCLH Trust. shed which could be used for The project co-ordinator, storing plants and other materi - Helena Roden, is optimistic als. about the opportunities afforded There are various sized by the new centre, although rooms which “could be used for recognising it is “a most difficult a film club or for dancing les - time to set up such an enterprise sons,” continued Helena, “but with funding in both Camden we hope local people come up and Westminster being with their own ideas.” reviewed.” The centre has to Overall the aim is for it to be “stand on its own feet financial - multi-use — hosting community Whitfield Gardens restored ly so modest charges for room as well as business projects. hire have to be made, to con - “This is a model that lots of tribute to the upkeep of such a community centres now use to valuable space,” she added. derive income,” she explained. to use after long closure The office and interview This could mean community Whitfield Gardens is open again after extensive refurbishments by Camden Council. The Friends of Open Spaces room which the Fitzrovia health projects, such as healthy Fitzrovia had worked with the council to approve designs. However, worry remains over maintenance of the planted Neighbourhood Association eating, drop-in play sessions for area and the nuisance caused by pigeons. The gardens re-opened shortly before the death of Bertie Dinnage who (FNA) is considering moving the under-5s, mixed with board sadly was unable to see the completed works which he worked so hard to realise with the people of Fitzrovia. See into, will amount to less space meetings, and public consulta - obituary on page 3. The Friends of Open Spaces Ftzrovia are looking for a secretary. Please contact Fitzrovia News. than it currently has in tion exercises. Tottenham Street, but says There are showers, a stain - Helena, it could have access to less steel kitchen, tea making other project spaces, and it facilities, toilets (including two Bertie Dinnage: 1932 – 2011 with disabled access), and stor - age spaces, in addition to the It is with great sadness that we report the death of Bertie rooms. Dinnage. He was a sportsman, architect, father, husband, The architect, Jim Monahan, lover of good food, community activist, and an associate edi - has added a completely new stairwell to the back of the cen - tor of Fitzrovia News . tre with coloured glass panels, Bertie had died peacefully at 11am Wednesday, 16 providing extra daylight and a February at the Marie Curie Hospice in Hampstead, with view into the courtyard. Keiko his wife at his side. Bertie had been very ill for the last “He has used top quality few months. materials and made the whole Friends, relatives and colleagues came together at the building look cared for. The funeral of Bertie Dinnage on Friday 25 February in the West builders, Kind & Co, have also Chapel of Golders Green Crematorium where they listened to done an excellent job,” conclud - a celebration of his life. Obituary on page 3. ed Helena.

GIGS est. 1964 The home of traditional Fish & Chips Fully licensed Greek restaurant “The secret’s out. Gigs is back” 12 Tottenham Street 020 7636 1424 2 News and comment Fitzrovia News Spring 2011 Fitzrovia News, Spring 2011 News and comment 3

Fitzrovia News Obituary: Bertie Dinnage Planning news Formerly The Tower Residents fall out established 1973 By Clive Henderson, Sandra enced by the Scandinavian Saatchi building Wheen and Linus Rees architect Alvar Aalto — a Derwent London have sub - fitzrovia.org.uk/news after school humane modern architecture mitted plans to redevelop twitter.com/fitzrovianews Reginald Bertram Dinnage, influenced by landscape and the Saatchi block at 80 known as Bertie, was born in natural materials. facebook.com/fitzrovianews Occupation in Fitzrovia highlights pressing social issues with a 50 Crowland, Lincolnshire. His Later he took a special inter - [email protected] percent increase over exist - By Chris Webb young men and women”. father was the village baker and est in access for the disabled and ing floor space. A tiny pock - 020 7580 4576 However, support for the his mother, whose maiden name worked for Southwark Council. et park on Chitty Street is Squatters in Guy Ritchie's £6 Really Free School in Fitzrovia is was Wakefield, came from a Despite the introduction of com - included in the plans which million house in Fitzroy Square not fully inclusive. Edward family known for their culinary puter aided design (CAD) into local people feel is a feeble have left the building following Turner, co-chair of the Fitzrovia skills. architects’ offices he preferred to attempt to provide local Issue 120, Spring 2011/2011 a court order. The group calling Residents’ Association (FRA) As a young man Bertie took use a traditional drawing board. amenity. Private and afford - 1 March 2011 themselves the Really Free was reported saying Mr Rees’ part in long-distance running, Bertie was physically sturdy. able housing is also pro - School had occupied the empty behaviour is “shocking”. FRA rugby, and played cricket. He In an accident more than 20 posed on the site. Fitzrovia News is published building for less than a week, member Aimery de Malet later become a highly respected years ago he had survived death quarterly by the Fitzrovia MBE for local woman presenting public film screen - Roquefort echoed his sentiments architect, having had ambitions in a fall from several storeys. He Community Newspaper A Fitzrovia resident has received legacy of economic ings and lectures, in protest saying: “Many hard working to enter the profession from an escaped with some broken bones Middlesex Hospital site Group, and supported by the an MBE in recognition of her prosperity. The investiture was against the government’s educa - and ordinary Fitzrovia residents early age. He has entries in but came to walk with a stoop Kaupthing, Aviva Investors Fitzrovia Neighbourhood campaigning work, writes Peter held on 17 December 2010 and tion cuts. Ritchie, bought the now fear leaving their properties Pevsner’s Architectural Guide and a characteristic gait. and Exemplar Properties Association Whyatt . she received the honour from house in May 2010. empty, even to go away at the for London (Vol. 4: North & He came to live at Gordon intend to submit a new (registered charity no. 1111649) Oku Ekpenyon (pictured Prince Charles. The Really Free School have weekend. Consequently, this sets North East London). Mansions in Torrington Place in planning application in mid- 39 Tottenham Street, with her mother) has lived most Memorial 2007 aim to raise now made the Black Horse , a very dangerous precedent”. In a voluntary role he was the late 1960s. When the flats 2011 to develop the three- London, W1T 4RX of her life in Fitzrovia and money for a sculpture in the Rathbone Place their new home. Linus Rees, responded by chair of the Charlotte Street were later being bought and acre former Middlesex ISSN: 0967-1404 attended All Souls’ School. She is Rose Garden in Hyde Park. The pub has been empty since accusing Mr Roquefort of “hys - Association, secretary of the sold speculatively, Bertie with Bertie Dinnage (second from left) with friends (from left) Clive Henderson, Hospital site on Mortimer both a historian and a teacher. Oku says “We need to raise November 2010 and the group teria”. He told the West End Friends of Open Spaces others founded the residents’ Frank Dobson MP and Max Neufeld. Street. The scheme will be Editorial Team Oku became head of history at £1.5 million. This will help to have continued with their Extra : “I do not in any way con - Fitzrovia, an associate editor of association. He became the first designed by architects Mike Pentelow: an inner London secondary pay for the landscaping of the timetable of activities. However, done people private or Fitzrovia News; and a member chairman and persuaded self. exception to what was being Sheppard Robson and, if editor and features editor school. In the Queen’s birthday site, the design and erection of they have now been served with public property that is being of the Fitzrovia Trust, a charity Camden to buy the flats to pro - Communicating with people said by the councillor and sud - approved, is expected to be Linus Rees: honours list of June 2010 she was the sculpture, lighting, and the a notice to appear in court on used or is being occupied, but which acquires mixed use prop - tect the residents’ security of he did easily. He was diplomat - denly stormed off. But before completed by late 2014. assistant editor and fundraiser awarded an MBE for ‘voluntary creation of a quiet garden area Wednesday 2 March which that is not what is happening in erties to provide social housing tenure. ic, patient, even-tempered and leaving the room, he turned Pete Whyatt: services to the history of British (comprising seating, information could lead to their eviction. this case. and small business premises. He encouraged neighbourli - polite. Often you would hear the around and demanded that the news and production editor black people’. plaques and African flora) as an The media coverage of the “According to Camden’s sta - After leaving school Bertie ness and new tenants were wel - mantra ‘Ask Bertie’ when neigh - folding chairs he had lent to the West End sorting Fiona Green: Oku is Chair of Memorial oasis of remembrance. To ensure Fitzroy Square occupation has tistics, Bloomsbury ward has the took an engineering course and comed into Gordon Mansions in bours had been puzzling over an meeting be returned to him arts and listings editor 2007, a project to create a perma - that the memorial does not fall provoked a more contentious highest number of vacant prop - later studied at the Architectural a harmonious way. When right- intractable repair; and when immediately. He made them all office plans Brian Jarman: nent memorial to honour of the into disrepair, a fund will be response than the actual occupa - erties in the whole of the bor - Association in Bedford Square. to-buy came in tenants and relationships between neigh - stand up while he folded the The Post Office sorting writer and sub-editor millions of enslaved Africans established for its continuing tion. Focussing solely on the ough. In the mid-1960s he lived with leaseholders continued together bours broke down Bertie was chairs and walked out leaving office along Rathbone Place Barb Jacobson: whose enforced labour con - maintenance.” occupying of a well-known film “I am more concerned about his first wife Valerie for some in one organisation. With his called in to mediate. everyone with nowhere to sit. and Newman Street will be associate editor tributed to the Industrial For more details: director’s house, the mainstream people losing their homes over years in Buffalo, Canada, where architectural background he In a deposition to the But it was his kindness and the site of a large redevelop - Jennifer Kavanagh: Revolution and Great Britain’s www.memorial2007.org.uk press completely missed the the next few months as the he left his designs upon many ensured that the flats retained Council about a planning appli - care for living things that ment. Outline proposals are associate editor point of the Really Free Schools’ housing benefit changes come buildings in the city. their character, and were not cation, Bertie put in a sentence defined him. One day he due to be presented shortly, Chris Webb: message and described Fitzrovia into effect and as people lose For much of his working life “standardised” by building about Gordon Mansions being a stopped to look at a small tree but implementation will be sub-editor as “Up-market” (The their jobs in both the public and he worked at the London repairs. community like Coronation near his home and said: “Oh, I constrained by the Crossrail Bloomsbury ward Independent) giving the wrong private sector, and Camden and Borough of Haringey architects’ Many people at Bertie and Street. Perhaps that was poetic meant to bring a bottle of water development. Contributors: impression of our diverse neigh - Westminster will see a lot more department where he led a num - Keiko’s wedding and at gather - licence but there is some truth in for that tree”. Not only had he John Axon councillors’ surgeries bourhood. homeless families in 12 months’ ber of municipal buildings and ings in their flat over the years it. He also encouraged people to managed to get the tree planted Goodge Street corner Sally Beerworth Linus Rees, chair of trustees, time. Our organisation is very housing developments. enjoyed Bertie’s cooking. He treat the Council with courtesy. in the first place, but he had development Clifford Harper 6.00-7.00pm on the first and third Fridays of the month at Fitzrovia Neighbourhood concerned about that,” said Mr He had the unusual distinc - was a great homemaker and There were limits to his been looking after it. There are plans being Clive Henderson Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre, 39 Tottenham Street, W1T 4RX Association (FNA) commented Rees. tion of having six mentions in very accomplished in DIY. He patience and many years’ ago at He was secretary then chair worked up to re-develop on Denise Julien on the Fitzrovia News website: the Pevsner guide for London. had never bought a bed but a meeting with residents and a of the Charlotte Street And on the second and fourth Fridays of the month at the south corner of Goodge Max Neufeld “Fitzrovia as a whole is not uni - His design for a library is influ - made all the beds in his flat him - local councillor Bertie took Association (CSA) dealing with Marchmont Community Centre, 62 Marchmont Street, WC1N 1AB Street and Tottenham Court Charles New versally well off. It is also home planning and environmental Free council tax Road. One of the buildings Guy O’Connell Adam Harrison, Milena Nuti, and Abdul Quadir : 020 7974 3111 to the poor and marginalized”, issues. He also successfully Residents of Fitzrovia living is the oldest on Goodge Jess Owen [email protected], [email protected], and “Hostels that support vul - GGiveive youryour cchildhild a greatgreat sstarttart iinn life.life. applied for a Lottery grant, for near giant building projects are Street. Helena Roden [email protected] nerable people are due to be which he and others pho - Sunita Soliar shut and community services considering a campaign to get tographed every building in Sandra Wheen are under threat because of the their council tax paid by devel - Fitzrovia to build up an archive Primark sweat Kipper Williams opers, writes Guy O’Connell . E E K S government cuts.” T W O W and exhibition. Mr Rees also called the The The demolition of the His particular love was councils for Printed by: Really Free School “inspiring Middlesex Hospital and the E Fitzrovia’s public spaces. He 6 Fitzroy Square: The Perfect Venue plans someday to build up there RE Sharman & Co Ltd, F * designed and modelled a chil - planning again prove the massive disrup - C ARE Newark Road, The perfect venue for meetings, launches, D AY dren’s playground in Crabtree Peterborough PE1 5TD tion to people living with the Fields. Both he and Max permission sharmanandco.co.uk seminars, dinners, wedding receptions and noise, dust and lorries. Neufeld, as experienced archi - Camden and Westminster’s other corporate events. One man living between two tects, volunteered to project planning committee’s caved office re-builds on Charlotte manage the scheme. Camden in to pressure from the New Street told us he was driven out instead brought in their own West End Company and The Georgian Group’s elegant of his home by the construction designers, and produced a less Editorial and social granted planning permis - eighteenth-century headquarters noise coming from two direc - sensitive (and more expensive) sion for a new Primark overlooking Fitzroy Square provide tions at once. New plans are scheme. meetings: clothing store to have a a unique location for all types of being submitted for develop - In later life he came to enjoy 7:30pm 1st Tuesday street widened and a deliv - private and corporate events in the ment work and a recent meeting his home life more and would ery bay constructed. heart of central London. heard a push to get firms who prefer to stay in to listen to of every month The Fitzrovia take on long projects to reim - music, watch television, cook Neighbourhood Association, Fitzrovia Neighbourhood burse locals for their lost ameni - and eat good food, and devote Charlotte Sttreet Association Centre, We cordially invite local ty. xx LargeLarge ooutdoorutdoor pplaylay areas more time to his wife Keiko. and local residents had 39 Tottenham Street, businesses and individuals to visit Building work must fit with xx QQualifiedualified & ffriendlyrienddlyly staffstaff Bertie’s care for his commu - made objections. London W1T 4RX our building and get a taste of the the Environmental Protection xx Structured,Structured, playplay bbasedased llearningearning nity and his gentle civility are The decison effectively authentic Georgian experience… Act as well as with planning xx FFreshresh ffoodood ppreparedrepared oonn ssiteite ddailyaiilly now part of the very fabric of All Welcome destroys part of the mediae - regulations, but the disruption xx CChildcarehildcare vvouchersoucherss! aaccepted!ccepted Gordon Mansions. We shall be val Hanway Street and will can be very tough for anyone reminded of him in each other, Our new address: disturb residents with the For booking enquiries, living with it for long in the red brick, and in the 179 Tottenham Court noise and block the street availability and rates please contact: periods. Some projects take painted porticoes he liked so ForFor awardaward wwinninginnnning earlyearly yyearsears educationeducation acrossacross London,London, with 18.5 tonne delivery Advertise in Rob Kouyoumdjian on Road, London twelve months or more, and in much. vehicles. Primark have paid 020 7529 8921 or these cases, where residents pleaseplease callcall 02020 77834834 86798679 or emailemail [email protected]@leyf.org.uk. Bertie is survived by two W1T 7NZ the over £2 million in sec - Fitzrovia News [email protected] lives are turned upside down, sons (from his first wife pre- tel: (020) 7636 9222 tion 106 agreement money there are many residents push - deceased) and his wife Keiko. Our rates are very fax: (020) 7637 3553 ing for recognition that their to the councils to facilitate reasonable and we the decision. [email protected] own enjoyment of basic services Reginald Bertram Dinnage. Born Residents and conserva - distribute 5,000 copies www.goodgelaw.com are put on hold as a 16 January 1932, Crowland, tionist were very disap - result. Watch this space, or con - Lincolnshire; died 16 February 2011 throughout Fitzrovia. tact us if you'd like to get *All*All newnew pparentsarents willwill bbee creditedcredited withwith ttwowo wweekseeks feesfees (pro(pro rrata)ata) atat thethe eendnd ooff ttheirheir firstfirst sixsix mmonthsonths wwww.leyf.org.ukwwwww.leyf.org.uk pointed with the decison. iinn anyany oneone ooff ourour 1919 nnurseriesurseries wwithith thisthis aadvert.dvert. Hampstead, London. [email protected] involved. RegisteredRegistered CharityCharity NNo.o. 299686299686 4 Features Fitzrovia News, Spring 2011 Fitzrovia News, Spring 2011 News 5

Right: Gum Art, by artist Ben Wilson, on pavement Leaving the lights on to snack outside 28 Tottenham Street. The first piece on Art of culinary sacrifice, I couldn’t Discovering the Drill Hall By SALLY BEERWORTH Intervention Trail. resist picking up bags of their Popcorn is one of the few foods Sea Salt & Pepper, Caramel Kiss By Alexander Stevenson For us local residents the the - that you tend to eat in the dark; and White Chocolate flavours. Do you know the Drill Hall? atre offers free or cheap tickets it is treated like a bad date, that Despite the overpromise of get - I’m ashamed to say that as a rel - and the opportunity to use the you would prefer to entertain ting a bit of action from the atively recent mover to Fitzrovia meeting spaces it has at very Art trail with a difference with the lights off. This week caramel, I Hoovered up every I didn’t. Yet in many ways it low or no cost. It is also keen to however, I discovered some piece. I also rather worryingly North Soho 999 and the biogra - epitomises all that is good about recruit local people as volun - By GARRY HUNTER popcorn that I wanted to eat found myself with an over - phy of legendary Fitzrovian the area. Soldiers, Nijinksy, les - teers to help them run front of Independent arts group with the lights on…over and whelming to desire, to mug the Julian Maclaren-Ross. If you bian and gay campaigners and house at their shows. Fitzrovia Noir will launch it’s over, and over. Mad Men wannabe who walked wish to attend, please join us vacuum had been used to suck stars of Radio 4 have all crossed As for the future, like all arts Intervention Art Trail this I picked up some packets of past me with a bag of the stuff. outside , the fun out of the food product paths there. And by the way it organisations they face chal - Spring, creating what is hoped Love Da Pop at Reynolds Café Funnily enough, it wasn’t Rathbone Place on Saturday in question. Yet in this case, it also puts on a lot of good plays. lenges. Their major public fun - to be a biennale event alternat - on Charlotte Street. Reynolds are the popcorn that I enjoyed so April 2 at 2 pm. The tour lasts just seemed to make it taste I had gone there to meet der Camden Council is facing ing with the established London the people who believe in graz - much, as the packaging (no I approximately 90 minutes and is fresher than other popcorn…my Julie Parker, the energetic and huge cuts and, according to Festival of Architecture every ing, and therefore that we didn’t eat it, I did consider it followed by a book signing cheeks were left very confused enthusiastic Chief Executive and Parker ‘has to make some other year. should all be walking around obviously.) There is something event upstairs at the as to why they weren’t flushed Artistic Director. She has been hideous and grisly decisions’. With funding from perpetually with something in wholesome about food that Wheatsheaf, Rathbone Place from a food additive overdose, there since the late 1970s and led But Parker feels better placed Westminster Arts and support our mouths…other than our comes in red & white striped from 4 to 6.30 pm, featuring especially after eating something the ongoing development of the than many to weather the storm from many local individuals and feet. I liked these people, well as wrapping; it reminds me of Paul’s writings, works by local that had my taste buds doing Drill Hall. These days two the - given the reputation they have independent businesses, the much as I can like anyone who something that I might have authors and books by artists fea - cartwheels. The only part of my atres, a bar and six rehearsal built up over the years. More group will install contemporary sells lentils. The café’s redeem - been handed by the owner of tured on the art trail. See body capable these days of rooms all jostle for attention. As positively, in the near future she art in 25 non-gallery locations ing feature is that they are sell - the corner shop when I was a she showed me round we were stretching up Charlotte Street, www.fitzrovianoir.com for doing gymnastics are my taste The drop-in service for under fives at the Drill Hall is obviously very excited about ing the kind of popcorn that kid…without the trauma of his able to peer in at different taking in Andrew Jose hair - updates. highlights just how ghastly buds. some of the upcoming shows. The cartwheels may just have vegetable handling fingernails. rehearsals. In one room, group Stonewall started, and dressers, Palms of Goa restau - As a plus, Reynolds Café on some of the stuff we have been variety of other activities: it runs She particularly recommends something to do with the Love Da Pop’s striped packag - Deafinitely Theatre, a profes - Drill Hall also played a leading rant, across into The Surplus Charlotte Street is generously shoveling in the dark really is. a drop-in service for under fives Julia Pascal’s new cabaret show flavours that were added to corn ing is sealed with an old-fash - sional deaf-led theatre company role in the campaign to have Store and Jonathan Quearney offering a free coffee on April 2, The Love Da Pop popcorn is on Mondays, does an enormous ‘I expect the royal wedding to kernels. In my day, your only ioned wooden laundry peg, I were going through their paces. Section 28 repealed. tailors on Windmill, back onto from 10am to 4pm to anyone made by hand, using organic amount of work with schools get some attention from Julia’, as choice of flavouring was salt, or assume because they know I will In a couple of others were some Although Drill Hall still has Charlotte to Chivers Flowers presenting one of the art trail corn kernels. Personally I have and youth theatre groups and well as the one man show from more salt…and as a result I still end up with it all over me, and youth theatre groups. Generally a focus on gay and lesbian work and Reynolds Café, into residen - maps that will be widely distrib - never felt compelled to eat any - hosts recordings for radio ‘the unbelievably talented Ty can’t resist opening my mouth quickly need to make a mad there was a buzz. - it is the only theatre group in tial windows on Scala Street, uted in all of the participating thing purely because it was shows. These have included: Jeffries.’ Now that I know about when I go for a swim at the dash for the washing machine. If Back in 1881 the Drill Hall London which has this focus – it then Pollock’s Toy Museum and venues in the run up to the ‘organic’, I am not even really the News Quiz, the Now Show, the Drill Hall I can’t wait. beach. I eat a few more packets I will was built to be, well, a drill hall now has a much broader theatre The Hope pub on Whitfield event from Friday, March 25 to sure what it means. I had always and That Mitchell and Webb www.drillhall.co.uk Miss Hope performs at the Drill As I have never learnt the art have enough laundry equipment for the Bloomsbury Rifles, a programme. It also manages a Street, along Tottenham Street Saturday April 16. assumed that it meant a large sound. Hall to finally qualify as a woman. I local volunteer force. past the Nail Bar, south down assumed this was possible, as it Supposedly the intricately Cleveland taking in The Button seemed that even their pop corn carved statues on the front are of Shop and west across Mortimer machines had qualified as the craftsmen who built it and to Ligne Roset and Mortimer’s women; I learnt that Megan and members of these reserve forces Sohemian Society welcomes you Café. Singing the Blues Foxy were the names given to who used it. Over time, the The route past the Middlesex the popping machines, used to artists gradually took it over By CLIVE JENNINGS new biography of Julian was now more famous as a The Sohemian Society started at Hospital site is a homage to the By GUY O’DONNELL late drinking license. The appli - of club or what kind of tunes lovingly assist in make my graz - from the soldiers (without using If you are in the vicinity of Maclaren-Ross, Fear & Loathing homosexual pick-up joint fre - The French House in Dean first art project that brought the Fans of live music in Fitzrovia cation is being made on behalf may be heard there in the ing fodder. force) and occasionally former Rathbone Place in the early in Fitzrovia and the book quented by gawping sightseers. Street, where old cronies of members of Fitzrovia Noir have been left in the dark over of a pension fund, and calls to future. I now find myself craving soldiers have been known to evening, you will occasionally touched a nerve in both men. Indeed it was not uncommon for Maclaren-Ross, including artist together. This was a group the sudden closure of one club the head office for an outline of Organisers of the London more, but I am torn between pop in to reminisce. In the early see a bunch of disparate types, They felt an urge to celebrate the smart couples to go there after Jack Daniel and physician response involving painting, col - and plans to re-open another at what the new venue might look Blues Festival coming up this going back, just in case my 1900s Diaghilev's famous Ballet myself included, disappear into Soho (which of course included supper in Mayfair to spot the Jimmy Winston, reminisced lage, film and photography that the same venue. "Charlotte like also went unanswered. spring have told us of other beloved popcorn is stacked a lit - Russes rehearsed there with the upstairs room of The Fitzrovia before it was designat - “bohemians”. The new drinking about their old drinking partner, saw former patients, local peo - Street Blues" bolted its doors So live music may yet return, clubs on the outskirts of tle too close to the seaweed Nijinsky and it became known Wheatsheaf pub to attend a talk ed to be only south of Oxford hole of choice was The and then moved to The ple and workers visiting the some weeks ago despite build - but there's no clue yet what style Fitzrovia that will be hosting peanuts at Reynolds…it is as a good albeit occasional artis - at The Sohemian Society - but be Street, in the 1960’s) that was Wheatsheaf, a couple of minutes Wheatsheaf for readings from remnants of the hospital during ing a big reputation in the events this spring. almost worth the risk. tic venue. advised, Sohemia is more than a disappearing in a culture of walk south, in Rathbone Place. Paul Willetts. its demolition in 2008, to be London gig scene over eighteen In the late 1970’s the seeds club, it is a state of mind. “anti-smoking campaigns, Built between the wars, in the Over seven years, an impres - photographed, interviewed or months. were sown for what the Drill While their website explains obsessive risk avoidance, con - then popular mock tudor style, sive roster of guest speakers, all portrayed in the ruined interi - The club hosted live bands Hall has now become. ‘It was in that “The Sohemian Society cerns about diet, pubs with sofas it was very different to its aspiring to be as loquacious as ors. seven nights a week, including a the days of the ism,’ says Parker, exists to promote greater aware - and fear of 'offensive' state - Georgian neighbours on either Maclaren-Ross, has covered Intervention co-curator blues jam session on Mondays. ‘feminism, communism, etc and ness of the characters and events ments.” side, and a lot more genteel than almost every aspect of Soho and Graham Carrick says the bur - It mixed a roster of names on the there was a vibrant and varied associated with the history of It was 2003, The Sohemian The Fitzroy. This was the sec - bohemian pursuits. The most geoning commercial art activity verge of being signed alongside London Arts scene’. So they Soho covering areas such as the Society was born and Julian ond home of Maclaren-Ross, recent meeting on 18 January in Fitzrovia will be counterbal - big acts well-known in the busi - Fitzrovia’s decided to set up a theatre com - arts, crime, sex, and politics,” it Maclaren-Ross was declared its who would arrive punctually at featured Professor Frank Mort anced by this important show - ness. In December 2009, "Time pany that focused on gay and also subverts any notions of con - “president in death”. opening time – lunchtime and speaking on the theme of: case of independent practice: Out" described the three floor lesbian productions. They were vention by adding the rider that To appreciate the importance evening session - breeze straight “Capital Affairs: 1950’s London ‘Since Stuart Shave's Modern Art venue as "London's largest blues given a grant by Camden “Soho is a spiritual as well as a of their spiritual patron, and the through the Public Bar and into and the making of the pioneered Eastcastle Street as a club," and in the run-up to Council who have been staunch geographical location: a vortex relevance of The Wheatsheaf as the rear Saloon Bar, where he Permissive Society.” Also con - gallery destination, Fitzrovia has Christmas fans could be seen supporters ever since. of louche living, artistic creativi - a venue for meetings, you need would hold court at the left ducted walks around the low seen a recent boom in commer - laughing and joking on the As well as producing plays ty, cultural nonconformity and to imagine Fitzrovia in 1943. hand end of the bar, where it spots of the neighbourhood have cial art activity. The trail aims to pavement having a smoke Finest with gay and lesbian themes free expression.” The artistic and literary set that was easier to get served. been organised at the twilight spotlight independent art prac - before heading back inside. and promoting gay and lesbian Marc Glendenning, who had formerly frequented The MacLaren-Ross’s anecdotes were hour. The meetings are very tice, bridging Fitzrovia's history But then, music fans turning Your local Estate Agent for 23 years talent, the Drill Hall also became founded The Sohemian Society Fitzroy Tavern had moved on oft retold, and he was prone to informal: no Maclaren-Ross with its cultural future.’ up at the venue just north of a natural focal point for cam - with Ian Farrow, explains its ori - when the erstwhile centre of all dominate the conversation, but dress code, I assure you, and The first art piece, a minia - Tottenham Street found a clo - paigns. It was at the Drill Hall, gins to me. Farrow had given things bohemian had become a his encyclopaedic knowledge of drinking during the talks is ture artwork by ‘Gum Man’ Ben sure note pinned on the door says Parker, that the gay rights Marc a copy of Paul Willetts victim of its own success, and both contemporary literature encouraged. All are welcome for Wilson and already located on outside instead of their night and film made him stimulating the entrance fee of around £3. the pavement by 28 Tottenham out. On the website a statement company. He was a prolific You have nothing to lose but Street, is a response to a conver - appeared alongside the photos All Saints Church Margaret Street writer, drinker, drug taker and your inhibitions. sation with a local resident. of artists saying: "It is with great occasional tramp. More information at: Gum Man will be on the streets sadness that we are unable to The inaugural meeting of www.sohemians.com of Fitzrovia, working his Your neighbourhood church as featured in Fitzrovia News, Summer 2010 operate Charlotte St. Blues any detailed magic during the art longer. We would like to thank A diverse congregation warmly welcomes you to worship with us in the trail that runs from March 25 all our customers, musicians, catholic tradition of the Church of England with glorious music in one of through to April 16. staff and suppliers for support - London's finest church buildings. Art trail producer Lucietta Beauty Room UK ing us so well over the past year. Williams comments: ‘It is espe - We hope to bring you something Sales Lettings Commercial Sunday Main Services cially important to note that the equally special in the near 11.00am High Mass Offers 20% discount with this voucher trail features work by both local, future." 6.00pm Evensong & Benediction national and international artists at Walkers Hairdresser, 131 Whitfield Street, Emails to the website from 39 Foley Street and will be opened out to local Fitzrovia News went unanswered The church is open throughout the week and there are regular Fitzrovia, London W1T 5EH residents, schoolchildren and 020 7580 1010 by the time we went to print, services. their families via artist-led London 020 7383 3347 [email protected] just as a new notice has For more details please see www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk walks.’ Loukia Adamou appeared outside the venue. or call the parish office 020 7636 1788 A series of free tours by writ - www.ldg.co.uk W1W 7TP Camden Councillors have been ers with extensive published Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm sent fresh plans for another live If you come new to All Saints because of this advertisement works on the local area, starts Facials - Waxing - Body Treatments - Eye Treatments music club at the venue with a please tell us that you saw it in Fitzrovia News with Paul Willets, author of 6 Fitzrovia News Spring 2011 Fitzrovia News, Spring 2011 7

Linus Lisa at London Graphic Centre

Maria and Rustam at the Bay Leaf Richard Sacha at Scala House Michael at Gaucho Tim at The Hope People of Tottenham Street

By FIONA GREEN Thanh at Symphony George at George’s shoe repairs Dan at cycle shop I have lived in Tottenham Street for 48 years and in celebration of Jonas at Urgent Cabs Barb at Fitzrovia Neighbourhood this and as part of our Transition Centre Town initiaive I undertook this Terence Gianni and Daniela at Fitzrovia private dining club project to photograph 45 people Samina and Yoram at Fitzrovia Neighbourhood who live and work in my street. Centre The street is about 300 yards long with Tottenham Court Road at one end with Cleveland Street with the old Middlesex Hospital site at the other end. Not everyone wanted to appear in the paper and I A COSMOPOLITAN COMMUNITY respect that, nevertheless the cosmopolitan character of the area show with no less than 15 nationalities represented here. The Middlesex site concerns and troubles us all because, like the Odeon site in Grafton Way (empty 54 years) this site has been empty for four years. How much longer do locals have to wait for this space to be regenerated to help our commu - nity which was once one we used to depend upon? How much longer will the Mike at film production studios beautiful chapel be left to decay Brenda in a sea of mud? The idea for my project came from a trip to East Berlin in 1960 Katie born at 28 on a teacher delegation - when the Berlin Wall was still in place Kate at Feilden Clegg Bradley - everywhere where ordinary men and women were working or making a contribution they Nuno and Roberto at Perugino Cafe Mariwen and Zerian at the Complete Chris at Gigs fish and chip shop were recognised: photos inside Cobbler hospitals, on building site hoardings, all over. I am grateful to the Fitzrovia Noir artists who lend their pho - tos from the Middlesex Hospital collection to represent that part of the street, and artist Nancy Fouts who used to live at num - ber 26 for her poster designed for the Fittzrovia Charlotte Street festival of 1973. The show was generously sponsored by Mike Pentelow and Gaucho restaurant and has appeared at the Coningsby Gallery. It now shows at both Gig’s fish and chip shop and the Jose at Matteos Stephenie and Michael at Berkeley Scott Raj and Kelly at Goodge Law Fitzrovia Private Diners’ Club at Ann-Linn and Erling Thu and Ben at Beautiful Nails Studio Josie our postie Yusuf our street cleaner either end of the street. Andrew at Coningsby Art Gallery 8 Fitzrovia News Spring 2011 Fitzrovia News Spring 2011 9 John gave radio breaks to The mysterious wedding guest Adrian Mole, Joe Orton A short story by she said. ‘Your appointment.’ and Evelyn drew her arms over SUNITA SOLIAR When Evelyn arrived home her face. She was screaming she put the dress and the when Peter came in. lthough the appointment and Tom Stoppard Meadowvale information pack ‘Evelyn, good Lord!’ He would only last an hour or Aso in the afternoon, Evelyn on the kitchen table. It wasn’t a shook her into focus. had taken the whole day off. The bad place, she supposed, for that She pointed. ‘Her! Get her Ramsay and cast the actor I’ve wanted to meet Mr Tydeman sneakiness of it all exhausted her. type of place. It would only be away from me!’ By BRIAN JARMAN Kenneth Cranham in the lead for many years. And for most of On Great Titchfield Street she six months, that was a way to ‘Who, Evelyn? Get who those years, to be precise, I want - role. ‘We put it on at the squinted at the sky: winter had think about it. She opened a away?’ ed to find out if he was real. WAS MOLE’) and put it out as a Cambridge Theatre and the rest been buffed bright and she could cupboard and pushed The cigarette was no longer It was to John Tydeman of half an hour play on a Saturday is history,’ says John. see through to the yellow promise of daffodils. She turned quickly Meadowvale under a packet of there and the burns had disap - the BBC, you may recall, that 13 afternoon. John went on to produce a ‘I was here at home,’ says into Bella’s bridal shop – they had shortbread. peared. The photograph was ¾-year-old Adrian Mole sent his huge range of drama, from planned it before and so she would Those little nuances of the back. poems. The creation of Sue John. ‘The phone rang five times Shakespeare to Becket, from do it. She liked the comfort of dark that transform coats into Peter chuckled. ‘What’s rat - Townsend, his diaries were one – all agents. It was very unusu - Coward to Stoppard, whose plans and routines, controllable and unextraordinary: they made night terrors told her someone tled you, eh?’ Loosening his tie of the wonders of the publishing al.’ career he’d also helped launch. these days hers, and not anyone was in the living room. She went he went into the kitchen and world in the 1980s, a little akin The publisher Methuen com - Before going to university at else’s. in and fumbled for the lamp laid the table. ‘New dress?’ to Harry Potter now. But where - missioned Sue to write a whole Cambridge he’d wanted to act She moved furtively towards switch. ‘It’s nothing.’ A maximum of as Potter’s life is magic, Mole year’s worth of Mole’s diary. himself. a rack – looking was alright. The The stranger sat cross-legged six months was what the oncolo - wrote of the mundane life of a ‘In the course of this Sue ‘But then I met people who laces and silks glimmered with in an armchair. A cigarette gist had said. She’d only known teenager in the Midlands. would send me postcards and were far better than me – Derek delights to come: shared bath - wisped from her hand. for a few weeks. They couldn’t In the diaries, Mr Tydeman poems as if from Mole, so I just Jacobi, Ian McKellen, Corin room shelves, children. Lately, ‘How did you get in here?’ even give her next spring. would give encouraging replies fell in with the game,’ says John. Redgrave.’ John Tydeman in his Great Titchfield Street flat. Picture by Charles New children seemed to be every - ‘You let me in.’ ‘Water?’ Peter called. ‘The to Mole’s efforts: ‘Our Poetry John was no stranger to So he took up directing and where – through the windows of ‘I…?’ Evelyn looked over her new lawyer arrived today. She’s Department is inundated with developing new talent. It was liked to encourage new writing. ‘He was the best actor,’ says ‘I’ve always maintained you buses, on park benches. At least shoulder in the vague direction a filthy habit of smoking though. autumnal pieces. The smell of when he was a young BBC gen - He tried TV drama but found it John. ‘He acted with his voice. should be able to walk to work. I she and Peter had had the of the front door. She remem - I can’t imagine dating a smoker.’ bonfires and the crackling of eral trainee after university in boring. Laurence Olivier did not have a could be from bed to desk in Illustration by CLIFFORD HARPER shelves. Silly not to have mar - bered closing it. ‘What’s her name?’ leaves pervade the very corri - 1959 that a playwright called Joe ‘The scripts were better in good voice. It was rather thin.’ five minutes. You could have ried a few years ago: she hadn’t Ash fell from the cigarette ‘Gillian. You alright?’ He dors. Good try, but try again, Orton walked into his office. radio,’ he says. ‘And you’re If you ask him who wrote drinks in the evening and totter spoilt anything then. Reaching She placed it on the sales white. ‘All the same, I’d like to onto a side table. Evelyn noticed smiled, and it made her think of eh?’ John was spending three months your own master. What takes a the best plays for radio, his home quite happily.’ for a satin sleeve, she felt it tug desk. ‘I’ll take it.’ eat alone.’ burn marks on the wood. long walks on the beach…all the I’m pleased to report that in various departments and just couple of months in radio takes intriguing answer is The BBC drama watering sharply away, and a voice leapt The assistant frowned. ‘Don’t ‘When’s the wedding?’ ‘We don’t smoke,’ she said. moments she didn’t want to John Tydeman is alive and well happened to be working in you a couple of years in TV. The Shakespeare. holes were The George, The through her. you want to try it on?’ ‘Next spring.’ give up. Peter was perfect, too and living in Great Titchfield Drama at the time. machinery drives you mad.’ ‘The best radio play is Stag, and , ‘Touching’s going too far.’ ‘No. I thought that lady was The stranger dealt the brunt good for her, really. And she was Street – and very real. He retired ‘Joe was wearing bovver And actors like radio drama Macbeth,’ he says. ‘The witches, which was known as Studio YG. ‘You ought to wear a bell!’ going to fight me for it.’ of her eyes, forcing Evelyn to always the one ruining it. as Head of Radio Drama at the boots and khaki. He said he’d too. the ghosts, the language. He loves the area because it’s Evelyn said. ‘I’m sorry, it didn’t The assistant put it in a suit say, ‘We planned for spring.’ ‘The whites of They’d gone on a picnic once. BBC fourteen years ago. just come out of prison,’ says ‘They certainly don’t do it Shakespeare is always identify - amazingly quiet and you can say not to touch…’ carrier. ‘Because we don’t do ‘The thing is though – do He’d prepared the wine, the It was an acting friend who John. ‘He’d been had up for for the pay,’ he says. ‘But they ing people and describing the walk anywhere. He regrets the The stranger was blonde, refunds.’ She pointed to a sign. you mind?’ She spooned her eyes had a food…all she’d had to make was sent him Sue Townsend’s origi - defacing library books. He was don’t have to learn lines. And it action.’ passing of local shops – butchers slightly younger than Evelyn – ‘See?’ Evelyn’s cake. ‘You’re trying to the potato salad and she hadn’t nal script. revolutionary. I was a bit daunt - gives them freedom to play roles It’s the language of a play and fishmongers and so on - but early thirties, maybe – and the Outside Evelyn made sure cheat. You know something he blinding vitality, boiled the potatoes properly. Yet ‘I thought it was terrific,’ ed.’ they’d never play in the theatre: that creates the best scenery for thinks things have got better of whites of her eyes had a blind - that she had her purse. She liked doesn’t.’ Peter stood in their kitchen. She says John. ‘I rang her and asked The play Joe had brought the thin man can play the fat radio. When he was younger, he the years. ing vitality, the blue irises jabbed to double check things, like lock - Evelyn’s appetite slipped the blue irises followed him in, feeling again as her to come down. She had no was called The Boy Hairdresser, man etc.’ was keen to use lots of sound ‘It’s still got that Bohemian into them like needles. ing the front door. She had forty down her throat. ‘How do you though it all belonged to her: her money. She asked for her fare. which was later changed to The He never had any trouble effects to create an atmosphere. feel to it, but it’s cleaner and Evelyn drew herself up: ‘I weary minutes before she need - know about us?’ jabbed into them dishcloths with the embroidered When she came in she had a Ruffian On The Stairs. But it was with actors, he says. You just ‘As you get older you realise there’s a greater variety of had it first.’ ed to get on the tube at Goodge The woman gave her pumpkins, their shared meals. hole in her shoe and hoped I his play Entertaining Mr Sloane don’t have time in radio. it’s not what you put in, it’s restaurants,’ he says. ‘I keep ‘It makes no difference.’ Street so she sat in Costa with hideously bright laugh. ‘It won’t like needles’ Her hand reached up to the wouldn’t notice.’ that put him on the map. And there’s no doubt about what you leave out. I did a play talking about moving to the ‘Let go.’ coffee and a slice of walnut cake. do: secret meetings yet still let - knob of the biscuit cupboard: John found actor Nick John got him an agent in the his all time favourite – Paul set in Africa. It was an hour country but I don’t think I ever ‘You let go.’ The stranger ‘You shouldn’t have done it.’ ting him hang onto the wed - enduring this would cement Barnes to play the part (‘He form of the famous Peggy Scofield. long, but I used no sound effects will.’ ‘Peter won’t like it.’ seemed to look straight through Evelyn’s cup clattered onto ding…’ their life together. at all. The language was so And he believes the area will ‘I’ll have to quit.’ her. Then her mouth exploded the saucer and she looked up ‘You want to hurt us.’ ‘Peter, can we talk for a beautiful. People wrote in saying get a new lease of life when the The room was altered. A with sudden laughter. ‘It’s not into blue, puncturing eyes. ‘Are ‘Let’s not reach after fan - minute. I…’ Her collarbone the sound effects were wonder - BBC moves all its news opera - photograph was missing. The really my taste,’ she said. you following me?’ tasies. I’d say you didn’t like prickled with the sudden reali - ful.’ tions back to Broadcasting T.V. was not where it used to be. The dress slackened and The stranger sat down and me.’ She scooped up the cake sation of bareness. Her fingers Since he started as a BBC House. Evelyn said, ‘He has me. Evelyn gathered it against her as toyed with a flower on the table. with jolly menace. clutched at where her necklace trainee at Broadcasting House ‘If the rest of London disap - Why would he want you?’ though catching a breath until ‘So pretty,’ she said, and The room sweated around had been. ‘She has blue eyes,’ fifty years ago, John has always peared, we’d be able to cope,’ he ‘I might wonder that too.’ she was sure the woman had snapped off a petal. Evelyn, and she dabbed a nap - she blurted. lived in Central London, and says. ‘We could declare Fitzrovia The stranger stubbed the ciga - gone. Evelyn pressed her fingers kin against her forehead. She Peter sliced a tomato. ‘Who?’ has been in his present flat for independent. It’s a well-kept rette onto the table and came was not well. She wanted water, ‘Gillian, obviously.’ 30 years. secret.’ Royal Air Force Association towards her. ‘Look, you’ll never assistance. Surely someone ‘I have no –’ (RAFA). Serving and Ex Service see me again – that’s my end of could see what this woman was ‘Doesn’t she?’ members including family the bargain. And yours…’ Her doing to her? But what would ‘I suppose she might have, members. Join the City & Shiv eyes danced over Evelyn’s neck - they see? Where was the harm yes. Darling, what’s the matter?’ Central London branch lace. ‘I like that.’ Ten years ago in having coffee? And the living room crept up Eddie Duke-Low: 020 7636 2732 ‘It was a present from Peter.’ Pharmacy She said, ‘I need time.’ on her. ‘I’ll just move the arm - [email protected] ‘Give it to me.’ Tesco and the local community Support by the local commu - The stranger flattened chair,’ she said, her voice sifting ‘No.’ won their two-year battle with nity was key to the successful 70 Great Titchfield Street crumbs with her finger. The cake away. ‘It’s out of place.’ Camden council to allow the appeal. Several locals spoke at CHARLOTTE London W1W 7QN was all gone. ‘You have to go,’ The woman snatched at her, Goodge Street store to double in the hearing about the impor - size. tance of the supermarket as a STREET Prescriptions The council had refused per - resource for local people, partic - ASSOCIATION Multivitamins mission to redevelop buildings ularly for those who found it dif - Need a hand? behind the store to allow its ficult to travel to alternative Campaigning for the Herbal Medications extension. But this decision was stores for affordable groceries. Environment & Fitzrovia Natural and Community since 1970 overturned on an appeal to the (Fitzrovia News, March Homeopathic ,I\RXRUVRPHRQH\RXNQRZ Planning Inspectorate. 2001). Support us to preserve the character and unique quali - produce ties of Fitzrovia, the promo - QHHGVKHOSZLWKž odd jobs accompanying tion of good design, hous - Pollocks Toy Museum ing for local people, better Friendly Medical form filling or dealing with to appointments community facilities; Advice correspondence accompanying Monday to Saturday 10 am – 5 pm restriction in traffic, a Open Monday to Friday shopping on trips out Last entry to museum 4.30pm Closed Bank Holidays reduction in noise, and no 8.30am to 6pm basic DIY or decorating collecting prescriptions Drop-in for under fives Part 18th and 19th century the rooms are small and extension of licensing. visiting and befriending and pensions connected by narrow winding staircases. It exudes atmosphere and For membership: Tel/Fax evocations of those special times of childhood. Tel: 0207 636 3944: Call ClubCare for free help Filled with visual delights and surprises to behold . 020 7580 2393 [email protected] 07976 431 218 or (020) 7255 9756 1 Scala Street, London W1T 2HL 16 Chenies Street | off Tottenham Court Road 39 Tottenham Street 10am–4pm Monday to Friday. 020 7636 3452 [email protected] [email protected] drillhall.co.uk/children | 020 7307 5060 W1T 4RX ClubCare pollockstoymuseum.com ClubCare is a project based at the All Souls Clubhouse, a Christian KHOSLQJORFDOROGHUSHRSOH Community Centre in Cleveland Street, W1. Charity no. 303292 10 History features Fitzrovia News Spring 2011 Fitzrovia News Spring 2011 11 Gallery for ‘Debauching and the ruining of newcomers Shelley influenced by local poet By FIONA GREEN Andrew Coningsby owns the By JESS OWEN 'virtue' the poet contrasts with servants’ in Tottenham Court Coningsby Gallery and Début Art, Revolutionary ideas picked up from Rickman the debasement of the human at 30 Tottenham Street, with Helen spirit engendered by Driver as Gallery Manager plus a homas Paine was not the There can be no doubt that 'Commerce': staff of eleven. only associate of Clio “Commerce has set the mark of Rickman to make a name Rickman's ideas influenced the "I was always interested in art T young poet. One commentator selfishness for himself. When he was com - Road fondly remembered at school," says Andrew “but when posing the verses that eventually has remarked that: "Again and The signet of its all-enslaving I left, I worked as a suit for three became Queen Mab the young again in his comments on the power years handling millions. poet, Shelley, had recourse to his French Revolution, he argued Upon a shining ore and called it Real Bloomsbury, by Nicholas ideas. Eventually I wanted to be involved that the attempt to overthrow gold Murray (Seren Books, £9.99) in something more creative, so I A supporter of Thomas the old order by violent revolu - Before whose image bow the decided on this enterprise. Spence (1750-1814), who advo - Reviewed by Mike Pentelow tion merely perpetuated the vulgar great “My first venture was Début cated sharing of all land equally, spirit of that order..." The vainly rich, the miserable Art from home in the mid 80's and Shelley attended his radical he whimsical juxtapositions Rickman’s poem on the trial proud of the area's past and present I moved here in 1994. The place debating club in The Cock, of the king seems to have had an The mob of peasants, nobles Twill raise many a smile and a already had a reputation as Grafton Way. few tears. effect on Shelley: priests and kings 'Shirtsleeves' with Nancy Fouts In September 1812 Shelley The more parochial "Try your late king! by no And with blind feelings rever - and Malcolm Fowler and I moved and his entourage settled in Fitzrovians will be pleased that into their unique space, which fits means, no! ence the power Tremadog, Gogledd Cymru. the book covers the disputed us well. Behave like men and let him go. That grinds them to the dust of There he continued the develop - border territory with “As the name suggests, Début To try him argues want of misery ment of his first major work, the Bloomsbury between Gower Art takes the best of what is new sense, But in the temple of their Spenserian allegory; Queen Street and Tottenham Court and helps the artist get it out there. And tends to give him conse - hireling hearts Mab. His background reading Road. “We are unusual in that we quence. CLIO RICKMAN SHELLEY Gold is a living god, and rules for the poem was prodigious. To The debauchery of the fairs specialise in exhibitions for com - Oh! be philosophers, and say, in scorn mercial illustrators. From a vast obtain some of it he called upon kings, at the top of Tottenham Court "Go, once our monarch, go waits at the gate, All earthly things but virtue.” data base we hold of leading com - the services of the veteran radi - No Jester in their courts admit? Road until the 18th century are away; Where each riot, and luxury, Shelley's poem, though he pany commissioners – which has cal, poet, singer and bookseller, They've grown of late such lovingly described, and com - "There's money, where you croud the domain; had baulked at distributing grown through personal contact Thomas Clio Rickman, who stately things, pared favourably with the soul - please go, spend it, There a bully, and wanton, in more than a few copies amongst over the years - we match our lived at 148 New Cavendish To bear a joke they think not fit. less office blocks that exist there "And take your life, and learn splendour and state, his acquaintances, reached the artists. Last year, we expanded and Street (see last issue). But tho' each Court a jester today. to mend it." Lord it haughtily over the radical community. Large took on Helen as manager.” In a letter to Rickman, lacks, In 1727 the courts clamped For Shelley assumes neighboring plain. extracts were published in "I was working in India in Shelley told him: "I prefer To laugh at Monarchs to their down on many of those enjoying Illustration and Graphic Design”, throughout Mab, that by show - To support their extravagance, George Cannon's Theological employing a countryman, and a faces; the fair, accusing them of riot, Helen says, "with a company rep - ing the evils inherent in monar - plunder'd behold Inquirer. In December 1822 man of liberal and enlightened Yet all mankind behind their tumult, public disorder, vice, resented by Début Art, so I knew chy, legislators can be taught to Those whose suff'rings unceas - Richard Carlile announced that mind to a stranger". He had backs, immorality, and "the debauching of their reputation before I joined. amend their ways through an ing, their riches supply; he had “bought up all remain - already been in contact with Supply the honest jester's and ruining of servants, appren - Some work I did then was used by appeal to conscience. From whose labour and toil is ing copies of Shelley's 1813 edi - Rickman 'on another matter' and places.” tices, and others." They were the NHS in Britain to make med - wrung out the gold, tion, and offered them for sale.” so knew of Rickman's radical This may not have been denounced as "rogues and ical stuff accessible and fun. I went And surely Shelley echoes These unprincipled minions and Four years later the veteran The author muses that the by "community support officers" worried, muses Murray, as to art school in Cambridge and reputation, and his association Shelley's only borrowing from vagabonds" by the court, which Rickman's sentiments when he miscreants enjoy. Spencean, Allen Davenport, soulless office blocks now lining and scrutinised by CCTV. University College London freelanced as a graphic designer, with Paine. Rickman. In 1808 he published ordered the high constable to get asks: Such, with sneers, will the chil - wrote to Carlile's paper recom - this road would be "enlivened When the University of (which it became in 1836) is now helping curate or write reviews for It is quite likely Rickman’s an uncharacteristically frank the "petty constables" of "Is it strange dren of VIRTUE discard, mending that the Revolt of Islam by the rough jollity of the Adam London opened in Gower Street "one of the most elitist parts of News International, Creative shop was still under surveillance condemnation of 'market forces'. Tottenham Court to stop it all. That this poor wretch should Which hath ever, they'll say, its should also receive a cheap and and Eve crowd." in 1828 to provide education at the British higher education sys - Review and Eye. as he was involved in the publi - "You may labour and toil, wipe They seemingly did their duty pride him in his woe? own sweet reward. popular edition Mab was He sees history repeating "a moderate expense" it was tem: a third of its places going to “For the future I'm planning a cation of Eaton's edition of the sweat from your brow, as the event was turned into a Take pleasure in his abjectness, Whilst 'Reason' is indelibly reprinted in the journals of the itself on the matter of private denounced by the establishment students from private fee paying relaunch of our website which pro - Paine's “Third Part” of The Age See your children half starv'd mild annual gooseberry fair. vides access to the artists we repre - and hug associated with Rickman's name Chartist movement. On the eve security. The Duke of Bedfords as being "the Cockney College." schools, one of the highest pro - of Reason: a book which directly and in rags; These and the original rau - sent, as well as ongoing exhibitions The scorpion that consumes through his association with of the 1839 Newport and did not like public access to their The poet Winthrop portions of any British universi - questioned the place of organ - You may dig in the mines, cous fairs took place on the site of their work here." him? Is it strange Thomas Paine, it is surely more Yorkshire risings several estates in the area, so employed Mackworth Praed lampooned ty. Less than one undergraduate ised religion in any civilised waste your strength at the plough, of the old Tottenhall manor "For fine artists," Andrew con - That, placed on a conspicuous than a coincidence that both Chartist papers, including the uniformed gatekeepers to oper - this snobbery: in five has a working class back - society. To enrich and fill insolent mon - house, which had become the tinues, "we offer our gallery space crown of thorns, 'Nature' and 'Virtue' are con - Northern Star, reprinted part of ate barriers. They were only But let them not babble of Greek ground. The Cockney rabble has Shelley may have been ey'd men's bags. Adam and Eve pub, with a as a starting place to show their Grasping an iron sceptre, and joined, both this poem, and the poem dealing with monar - forced to remove them by an act to the rabble, been seen off." drawn to the veteran radical by See where yon proud equipage miniature menagerie, consisting work at reasonable prices, which immured Shelley's mind. In Canto IV it is chy influenced by Rickman. of parliament in 1890, and it was Nor teach the Mechanics their As for its traditions of mod - his eagerness for information on of a monkey, a heron, various begin from around £800 a week for Within a splendid prison, whose not until 1893 that Gower Street letters; erate expenses, it is now "itching a first Show. David Downton, the Paine. It was public knowledge wild fowl, parrots, and a gold - stern bounds became a public thoroughfare, The labouring classes were born to raise tuition fees" and is all famous fashion illustrator sold that Rickman was preparing a fish pond. The pub was on the Shut him from all that's good or and the last barrier was to be asses, about marketing itself as most of his first show here and biography of his former lodger. junction of Tottenham Court dear on earth, removed from Torrington Place. And not to be aping their bet - "London's global university", now he is a serious name in the It is also possible that Shelley Road and Euston Road, and was His soul asserts not his human - Nowadays, says Murray, the ters. which to the author is a mean - business. Other names with us are knew, or at least suspected, it demolished when the underpass ity?" very same streets are patrolled The snobs need not have ingless phrase. Vince McIndoe,Helen Brough,Guy was Thomas Clio Rickman who was built in 1961. Rickman offered a benevo - Reid and Dave White whose show provided an introduction and lent attitude to monarchs, per - is coming up in April." impromptu to the publication by ceiving them as buffoons: w1 Eaton for which he went to "Why pray of late, do Europe's The anarchist school in Fitzroy Square prison in 1812. fitzroviaW1.co.uk More news at fitzrovia.org.uk/news :: twitter.com/fitzrovianews A NEW WEBSITE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF FITZROVIA facebook.com/fitzrovianews Contact us: [email protected] Exiled to London she lived at They hoped to "keep the It was suspected these were By MIKE PENTELOW 59 Charlotte Street and set up children out of the religiously planted there by the school's the school for political emigres. oriented state schools which, assistant Auguste Coulon, who The school prospectus had consciously or unconsciously, was later unmasked as a police Poetry school for children of "an illustration of a woman teach that the people are to be spy. He was expelled from the refugees after the defeat of wearing a Liberty Cap and light - sacrificed to the power of the the Paris was run anarchist Autonomie Club at 6 ing her lamp from the sun of Aby anarchists in Fitzroy Square in State and the profit of the privi - Windmill Street, where Louise Ode to a Mouse, by Mala Mason the 1890s. Truth with one hand, while feed - leged classes." had first met him. Called the International ing children the fruits of knowl - It was to be "based on the In a subsequent trial of sev - Now listen here, you pesky mouse, School it was run at number 19 edge with the other," according scientific development of reason, eral anarchists, who were given why have you made my home your house? by (1830-1905), to Edith Thomas in her book the development of personal sentences of ten years' hard Your nibbling here and slinking there, who had fought on the barri - Louise Michel (Black Rose diginity and independence labour for possessing explosives, drives me to complete despair. cades in defence of the Paris Books). rather than piety and obedience, they claimed these had been The caption read: "From each on respect for truth and justice, Commune back in 1871 before it supplied them by Coulon. Instead of eating all my food, was savagely destroyed by gov - according to his capacity, to each and respect for humanity rather One of these was an Italian have poison - it tastes so good. sales lettings commercial ernment troops. according to his needs. Liberty, than adoration of a divinity." shoemaker Jean Battola, who When the communards were Equality, Fraternity." The aim was to produce free lived at 18 Fitzroy Square. In the being executed by firing squads The guiding committee people who respected the free - dock he remained defiant, accus - You come out at dread of night, there were complaints about the included famous anarchists such dom of others. ing the state and the ruling class and give me a great big fright. noise, so they were brutally bay - as the Russian prince, Peter It taught French, German, of all the real crimes of the age, Why don’t you just go away onetted from then onwards. Kropotkin (1842-1921), and the English, music, drawing, concluding with the question: - give me back a peaceful day. 020 7299 3322 Louise had been a teacher in Italian (1853- sewing, and engraving. "How many generals are impris - HURFORD SALVI CARR Paris where she had run creches 1932), and the English libertari - The school was closed when oned for using weapons of Louise Michel, the anarchist teacher I’ve had enough, you’ve seen to that. for the children of women facto - an socialist William Morris the police raided it in 1892 and death?" So now I’m going to get a cat! 38 STORE ST, LONDON, WC1 ry workers. (1834-1896). found bombs in the basement. 12 Listings Fitzrovia News Spring 2011 WHAT’S ON AROUND FITZROVIA Email [email protected] and put "Listings" in the subject box by May 27 for the June 2011 issue. ART GALLERIES Alison Jacques Gallery, 18 CINEMA/FILM CLUBS EXHIBITIONS Berners Street (www.alison - Green Man, 36 Riding House St: British Museum, Great Russell jacquesgallery.com): Until March London Animation Club (7pm Street 19 - Robert Mapplethorpe; upstairs), April 7, May 5, June 2. (www.britishmuseum.org): Until March 25-May 7 - Mathew Weir. April 3 - Images and sacred texts Odeon, 30 Tottenham Court of Buddhism across Asia; Until Art First Projects, 21 Eastcastle Road: Weekly film details from April 17 - Sikh fortress turban; Street (www.artfirst.co.uk): Until www.odeon.co.uk or 08712 Until Apri 25 - Picasso to Julie March 12 - Simon Morley and 244007. Mehretu; Until August 7 - Eric David Price; March 17 to April Gill, public and private art; Until 30 - Jack Milroy, Helena YMCA film club, 44 Portland Sept 11 - Jewellery and costume Goldwater, and Rebecca Place from Oman; Until Sept 11 - Partridge; May 5 to June 11 - (www.44portlandplace.org.uk): Traditional jewellery and dress Will Maclean and Joe Watling. To be announced. from the Balkans.

Building Centre, Store Street LIVE MUSIC/DISCO UCL, North Lodge, Gower Street (www.ucl.ac.uk): Until (www.buildingcentre.co.uk): The 100 Club, 100 Oxford Street April 17 - Several Interruptions, March 4 to April 30 - Living (www.the100club.co.uk): March Slade Centre for Electronic Form Exhibition: the 9 - Kate Robbins; March 10 - Media in Fine Art. Transformable World of Chuck Watson & Co, The World Tour; Hoberman. March 11 - Future Rock; March UCL, Petrie Museum of 12 - The Fabulous Lounge Egyption Archaeology, Malet Contemporary Applied Arts, 2 Swingers; March 14 - Stompin; Place (www.ucl.ac.uk): Until Percy Street (www.caa.org.uk): March 17 - The Delta Jazz Band March 25 - Soul House: Until March 26 - Residencies with Colin Bowden; March 18 - Exhibition by Sara Bevan. and Retreats for Contemporary The Dirty Reds, Loki, Fused, Makers, curated by Amanda House of Rogues; March 21 - UCL Strang Print Room, Wilkins Game. Hot Club Deluxe; March 22 - Building, Gower Street Robert Gordon & Chris (www.ucl.ac.uk): Until March 25 Coningsby Gallery/Debut Art, Spedding; March 24 - Sick on the Comedian Milton Jones is at the Bloomsbury Theatre on April Fools’ Day - The age of expression: 20th 30 Tottenham Street (www.con - Bus, Drongos for Europe, Dun 2 Century Northern European ingsbygallery.com): Until March People in Trouble Laughing THEATRE Def; March 26 - Chantel prints from the Barber Institute. 5 - Face to Face by Samuel Auit; Pushed to the Ground. Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon McGregor Band, The Dirty April 11 to 30 - Dave White: St (www.thebloomsbury.com): Strangers; March 29 - New Wellcome Library, 183 Euston Americana; May 1 to 7 - Songs Pilar Corrias, 54 Eastcastle Street March 10 to 12 - Spotlight; Brunswick Battles of the Blues Road (www.wellcomecollec - by Dudy Dayan. (www.pilarcorrias.com): Until March 21 to 26 - Die Drei Pintos; Final; March 31 - Law Rocks, tion.org): March 2 to 20 - Ars March 19 - Juliao Sarmento March 30 to 31 - Sarah Millican: Round 1. Curwen Gallery, 34 Windmill 'Remarks on Colour'; April 1 to Chatterbox; April 1 - Milton Moriendi: The art of dying; March 24 to August 31 - Dirt: Street May 4 - Tunga 'Magma'; May 11 Jones: Lion Whisperer; April 14 - Green Man, 383 Euston Road, The filthy reality of everyday (www.curwengallery.com): to June 4 - Tala Madani. Little Howard and the Magic opposite Great Portland Street life; Until July 10 - Wellcome March 2 to 26 - Sea and Shore, Pencil of Life and Death; April station: Live jazz every Image Awards 2011. and Anita Stokes; March 30 to Rebecca Hossack Gallery (1), 2a 14 - Charity Comedy Night; Wednesday, 7.45 in basement. April 21 - Andrew Murdoch, Conway Street (www.r-h- Apr16 - Tempest!; April 20 - 44 Portland Place (www.44port - and "small form". g.co.uk): Until March 26 - Nerina Pallot; April 27 - Miles King & Queen, 1 Foley Street: landplace.org.uk): Art History Alasdair Wallace: River; March Jupp: Fibber in the Heat; April Folk music upstairs some Friday exhibitions: March 10 - Diemar/Noble Photographic 31 to April 23 - Esther Nienhuis 30 - Sod Cancer!; May 3 - nights, phone 0208 340 0534 for Watercolour; April 7 - Gallery, 66-67 Wells Street & Morten Lassen: Autobahn; Fairport Accoustic Convention; details. (www.diemarnoblephotogra - May 9 to June 4 - David May 16 - Russel Kane; May 27 - Renaissance: Jan Gossaert; May 12 - The Cult of Beauty: The phy.com): Until March 12 - Big Bromley: A Day on Earth. Mark Steel; May 28 - Jenny One Tun, 58 Goodge Street: Aesthetic Movement in Britain. Bangs, Big Bucks: Photographs Eclair. March 17 - St Patrick’s Day live by Georffrey H Short and Rebecca Hossack Gallery (2), 28 music with Sean Brady 1-4pm. Nikolai Ishchuk. Charlotte Street (www.r-h- Camden People's Theatre, 58-60 LECTURES g.co.uk): Until March 12 - Hampstead Road (www.cpthe - UCL Chamber Music Club, UCL lunch hour lectures (1.15 to Gallery at 94, 94 Cleveland Derren Brown: Paintings; March atre.co.uk): Until March 27 - Haldane Room, Main Campus, 1.55 pm), Darwin Theatre, Street (www.galleryat94.com): 18 to 26 - Roy Wright, Garlinda Sprint, A festival of adventurous Gower Street Gower Street, entrance in Malet Until April 10 - Zino Pece:- Free Birkbeck & Datsun Tran: Birds experiences in theatre. (www.ucl.ac.uk/chamber- Place (www.ucl.ac.uk/events): Flow. and Trees; April 1 to 21 - Rob music): To be announced. March 8 - Genetic testing; March Clarke: The A-Z of Dogs; April Dominion Theatre, 269 10 - Sex, Drugs, the Internet and Getty Images Gallery, 46 23 to 30 - Charlotte Cory: The Tottenham Court Road LIVE COMEDY Juries; March 15 - Should the Eastcastle Street (www.gettyim - Royal Wedding Street Party; (www.dominiontheatre.co.uk): brain be left to neuroscientists?; College Arms, 18 Store Street: agesgallery.com): Until March 12 May 2 to 21 - Cybele Young; Ongoing - We Will Rock You. March 17 - Twitter and digital Mondays at 8pm. - We Speak Image - A comment May 2 to June 4 - Gond Artists. identity; March 22 - Would you on the world by Canon Drill Hall, 16 Chenies Street give your right arm to protect Fitzroy Tavern, 16 Charlotte Ambassadors. Regina Gallery, 22 Eastcastle (www.drillhall.co.uk): March 16 your heart?; June 9 - A climate of Street: Wednesdays at 7.30pm in Street (www.reginagallery.com): to April 9 - Miss Hope Springs; fear: what the past tells us about basement. Ladiray Gallery, 74 Wells Street Until March 12 - Clair Fontaine: April 3 - Arthur Miller's The human responses to climate (www.ladiraygallery.com): To be Fighting Gravity; April 1 to May Crucible; April 12 to 16 - Live change. Wheatsheaf, 25 Rathbone Place: announced. 21 - Victor Alimpiev: Several. Like Pigs. Improvisation on Thursdays, CONFERENCES Josh Lilley, 44 Riding House 8.30pm, and stand-up on Rollo Gallery, 5 Cleveland Street London Palladium, Argyll Street Building Centre, Store Street: Street Saturdays, 7.30pm upstairs. (www.rolloart.com): May 27 to (www.the-london- March 23 (8.30am to 1pm) - New (www.joshlilleygallery.com): Oct 23 - Frank Bowling: Royal palladium.com): Ongoing - London Architecture’s half-day Until March 4 - Benedetto PUB QUIZZES Academy Exhibition. Andrew Lloyd Webber's produc - conference examining the oppor - Pietromarch, Another Place; tion of The Wizard of Oz, star - KARAOKE tunities and challenges for from March 17 – Carla Busuttil. Thompson Gallery, 15 New ring Michael Crawford and College Arms, 18 Store Street: London's visitor economy in Cavendish Street (www.thomp - Danielle Hope. Quiz every Wednesday, 8pm. 2012 and beyond. Morton Metropolis, 41-42 songallery.com): Until March 27 Berners Street (www.morton - - Simeon Stafford; April 6 to 24 - RADA, Malet Street, opposite One Tun, 58 Goodge Street: Quiz WALKS metropolis.com): Coming soon - Andew Squire; May 4 to 18 - Birkbeck College every Tuesday night, karaoke Fitzrovia Walk with Old Maps Alberta Reguera, Cosmic Simon Garden. (www.rada.org): Gielguid last Saturday of month March every Sunday at 2pm. Costs £8 Fragments. Theatre: March 18 to 26 - The 26, Apr 30, May 21. Woolff Gallery, 89 Charlotte Brothers Size. GBS Theatre: lasts about 2 hours. Meet entrance Goodge Street Station. Paradise Row, 74 Newman Street March 16 to 26 - A Waste of King& Queen, 1 Foley Street: Further information http://lon - Street (www.paradiserow.com): (www.woolffgallery.co.uk): Until Time. Jerwood Vanbrugh Quiz alternate Tuesday nights. Until March 26 - Adam March 14 - Marcus Egli; March Theatre: March 17 to 26 - The dontrails.wordpress.com or call Broomberg & Oliver Chanarin, 18 - Annemarie Wright. Crucible. Ken on 07534 207 442.