THE ST MARYLEBONE SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

Spring 2018 Number 352 www.stmarylebonesociety.org Registered Charity 274082 SCHOOL’S OUT!

Christ Church in 1949 with the Schoolmaster’s House in the background. Christ Church and the Schoolmaster’s House today. The Church St ‘Futures’ masterplan The old schoolmaster’s house stands in schoolmaster’s house is the last threatens the future of the old the way of over-development by a remaining fragment of this history and its schoolmaster’s house at 29 Cosway scheme that is simply not good enough retention should be the starting point for Street and it is hard to believe that a for this important location opposite the new design rather than something complete Victorian building in a Christ Church Cosway Street, Grade 2* that is cleared away because it doesn’t fit Conservation Area is even considered landmark building by Thomas Hardwick the desired massing and density. for demolition. (who also designed St Marylebone We have reported the Society’s strong Parish Church). The old schoolmaster’s The Society has been involved with objections to the demolition of the old house clearly contributes to the setting evolving planning briefs for this site schoolmaster’s house and feel that in this of the church, a fact confirmed in the since 2011, although to date none have high value exceptional location the heritage statement accompanying the been formally adopted. The retention quality of the proposed scheme is not of the old schoolmaster’s house in any application, which concludes that good enough. Demolition on this scale development on the site was originally ‘moderate harm’ is caused by the would not be allowed in the agreed, and as an unlisted heritage proposed demolition of the neighbouring Conservation Areas of asset its contribution to the character schoolmaster’s house. Dorset Square or Regent’s Park. to the Lisson Grove Conservation Area Alongside the architectural value of the is clearly stated in the WCC building, the old schoolmaster’s house This project represents a chance to Conservation Area Audit. The Society forms a social history link to the church repair the urban grain, celebrate the is not against the proposed modern and a reminder of 19th century architectural and social heritage of design idiom but believes that any philanthropic development characteristic Lisson Grove and provide an exceptional proposal to develop the site should be of the Bell Street area. From the Ragged modern building for the neighbourhood. an exemplar in terms of high quality, School to Marylebone Boys’ and the Please visit the WCC planning portal contextual, sustainable design and also Rutherford School, providing education and register your comments to save respect the heritage assets on and for the poorest in society has led the way the old schoolmaster’s house (Ref: around the site. in this part of Marylebone. The old 17/11404/COFUL) THE ST MARYLEBONE SOCIETY 69TH AGM - NOVEMBER 2017 Held at St Marylebone Parish Douglas Temple who has retired from Under Any Other Business two Church the Council. The society requires a new important transport issues were raised. The meeting was chaired by Mike Wood Social Secretary and also needs help On the Baker Street 2-Way the with 75 attendees and 14 apologies. with IT. Volunteers need to be familiar increased traffic congestion in with Excel spreadsheets and being on e- Melcombe Place and Baker Street was The following were elected by majority: mail is essential for the smooth running Hon. Sec – Mo Parkes, Hon. Treasurer - queried. This situation is hopefully of the society. Thanks were expressed Hugh Small, Membership Secretary & temporary due to road changes during by the Planning Committee and Newsletter Robert McAulay. The other the implementation stage of the BS2W members of the Council re-elected en Trustees to London Business School project. The BSQP telephone helpline, bloc: Mike Wood, Cynthia Poole, Sara (LBS) and Paribas for use of meeting postal address and email were Gibson, Patricia Kleinman, Ian Wylie & rooms. Mike Wood expressed his forwarded to those concerned. The Gaby Higgs. Anthony Alford was re- thanks to Gaby Higgs and Cynthia Poole SMS welcomes any information and appointed as Hon Auditor. for the professional planning work they feedback as we await the transformation do for the SMS. and traffic improvements promised Treasurer Hugh Small reported that throughout the design and development there was a slight increased bank Cynthia Poole and Gaby Higgs outlined process. Along with pollution balance of £23,790. Subscription income the scope of planning work undertaken monitoring the Society has undertaken had been improved by sending reminder this year. Applications were slightly traffic counts in order to independently letters and members moving to up on last year with the analyse the before and after payment by standing order. This saves planning committee considering 203 environmental conditions. much time and is appreciated by applications. However, 37 of these were the trustees. The draft accounts, as for new telephone kiosks, primarily Michael Bolt of the Marylebone independently examined and approved used for advertising, which are proving Association spoke about his concerns by the External Auditor, were presented to be a social and visual nuisance on our with the project to pedestrianise Oxford to the AGM by the Treasurer. streets. Despite many objections WCC Street; a scheme promised within the have little power to refuse them under manifesto of the Mayor to improve air Chairwoman Gaby Higgs reported that current policy. quality and safety for pedestrians. the main issues over the year revolved Oxford Street is a TFL strategic route around planning and pollution. Today The LBS restoration of the Town Hall is but under the jurisdiction of the work of the society has largely complete and Committee members Westminster City Council so an shifted away from conservation and visited this exceptional high quality agreement needs to be in place between heritage to campaigns for better conversion with WCC North Team all parties. The Society endorsed modern design, urban design, transport planning officers. Developers along the Cllr Alexander’s plea that all present and environmental issues. Work is Marylebone Road continue to seek take part in the public consultation; ongoing to improve Air Quality with permission for higher buildings, or urging everyone to make their views volunteers collecting further data on additional floors, for example at known so that the details of any NO pollution during 2017. The project Marathon House and North West 2 proposals do not cause harm, such as was extended to measure pollution House. Demolition of 191 and around local schools and outside 233-237 Old Marylebone Road will increased traffic congestion and windows of mansion block flats on transformation the area with two large pollution or for problems simply to be upper storeys above Baker Street, hotels proposed. In Paddington Basin diverted into neighbouring streets. Gloucester Place and Marylebone Road. the ‘Cube’ received approval despite Access for all must be ensured and a Anti-idling campaigns, especially at taxi local campaigns and a cluster of very tall member suggested electric shuttle ranks, continue to keep volunteers busy towers continues to rise along the buses on Oxford Street might help if across Marylebone. Monitoring work, Westway. In Church Street ward the TFL buses are routed along Wigmore started by Sheila D’Souza, was ground Futures master plan has revised Street. Another member noted that the breaking and is being emulated proposals for seven key sites. Crossrail improvements might reduce the number of buses needed. by TfL and other organisations. The 2017 planning walk was at Regent’s Congratulations are due to Sheila who Park Zoo where we discussed the After the AGM Rev Stephen Evans and was named WCC Volunteer of the Year changes underway and especially Ginny Walton gave illuminating talks on for her commitment and ongoing work. Norman Foster’s restoration of the the history of Marylebone and the The SMS environmental projects were Snowdon Aviary. Regent’s Park has had exciting St Marylebone Changing displayed at the Marylebone Fayre Stall. no further plans for gate closure and Lives project, which will include The Society continues to work closely CS11 is currently only being transformation of part of the church with local stakeholders, especially with implemented at the Swiss Cottage crypt into a community and exhibition The Royal Parks, Baker Street Quarter gyratory. The Society would support a space. Thanks were given to those at St Partnership, and Chiltern Railways. 20mph speed limit on the Outer Circle Marylebone Parish Church. as well as SMS trustees were proud to lay a and remains vigilant for any road all the volunteers for providing the wreath at the annual Remembrance proposals in the park that would affect refreshments, transport and assistance Service at Marylebone Station. Thanks the character and Grade 1 heritage for the AGM. and best wishes were expressed to setting of the Nash Terraces. Gaby Higgs 2 SOCIETY PLANNING MATTERS ALOST CHURCH IN BAKER STREET of offices in Central London, we were pleased to see this proposal. There will also be much less demolition. Residents to the north of the building have some worries about the proposal for a series of stepped terraces facing their buildings. Use of these terraces, if allowed, will need to be controlled by lease to limit intrusive noise. A similar bulky mansard roof on the previous residential scheme was given permission so this roof is Postcard of Baker Street, showing St Paul’s Church likely to pass as well. We felt that an (demolished 1972). opportunity for something more lightweight, perhaps a glazed pavilion, had been missed. Church Street Futures Plan: first applications Planning applications for the Church Street Futures Plan are now live. We have seen projects for the sites at Cosway Street, Ashmill Street, Ashbridge Street and Luton Street. Because of delays in decision making, financial considerations mean that much more of the housing will be market units as opposed to affordable. For further information see The new St Paul’s Church, Robert Adam Street. www.westminster.gov.uk/church-street- renewal Section through house, 6 York Terrace East, showing There cannot be many residents who The illustration above shows the Luton proposed pool. remember the church in this postcard. Street proposal: a mix of market Restoration of 1-18 York Terrace It was on the East side of Baker Street housing and affordable built on the East on the corner of what is now Robert western half of the sunken railway coal yard area. Access to the site during Another current project is for the Adam street. construction is problematic as the only restoration of 1-18 York Terrace East There were several previous churches road into the site also serves the (Behind the Royal Academy of Music) to on this site: the first Portman Chapel Gateway School and there are worries was built here in 1779 for the Portman about the safety of children and their residential use as 13 family houses. Estate when the land around Portman parents. This building has the typical Georgian Square was developed. In December basement-with-lightwell arrangement, 1831, the church became the parish and the application seeks to add an church of Saint Paul. It was rebuilt and additional basement, with an indoor enlarged in 1870, and in 1901 it was swimming pool for each house. renamed and re-consecrated as the Westminster has more restrictive parish church of Saint Paul, Portman basement rules now, so we are awaiting Square. Although bombs fell on the decision and WCC’s opinions. Manchester Square and nearby George Street, the building survived the blitz OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY unharmed, but after WWII, the Visualisation of NCR building with additional mansard 2018 from Marylebone Road. population of the area decreased and this Patron: Lord Montagu New project for the National Cash parish eventually merged with All Souls Chair: Gaby Higgs Register Building Langham Place. A much smaller, Vice-Chairman: Mike Wood In the Dorset Square area, there is a modern replacement, was built slightly new proposal for the 1936 NCR building Hon. Secretary: Mo Parkes further to the East in Robert Adam at 206-216 Marylebone Road. This Hon.Treasurer: Hugh Small building already has permission to be Council Members: Street, (architect Green, Lloyd & converted into residential, with the Cynthia Poole Adams) and consecrated in 1970, and extensions on Balcombe St and Great (Planning Committee Chairman) the old church was finally demolished in Central Street demolished and rebuilt. Robert McAulay 1972. The current 1970s St Paul’s But in the new scheme it will be (Newsletter and Membership) Church in Robert Adam Street is now refurbished as offices with an extra Mike Wood (Local History) used by the Langham Arts Trust and the level added to the 1930s portion of the Ian Wylie (Planning) All Souls orchestra, as well as building, and the circulation cores Sara Gibson for various other church functions. relocated. As recent government Patricia Kleinman legislation has led to a substantial loss www.allsoulsmusic.org/orchestra/ 3 EGYPTOMANIAII– hills between which the sun rises and sets. Which is why they tapered towards the top and were sloped on all sides. Thus monumental figures associated with them (whether gods or pharaohs), were either carved as reliefs into the sloping front elevation and/or were free- standing sculptures placed on either side of the main gateway in front of and between the pylons. Moreover, because pylons were generally solid structures, there was no question of them having windows3. The interior of the Egyptian Hall was not initially Egyptian. But in 1819 Bullock turned the building into a series of exhibition and salerooms and got the Marylebone-born architect, J. B. Papworth, to remodel the Great Hall in the Egyptian style (see Figure 2). Fittingly, in 1821, Giovanni Belzoni, Figure 1. Thomas Shepherd’s engraving of the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly. an ex-circus strongman turned In Egyptomania I (SMS Newsletter: From 1801 to 1804 Robinson supervised Egyptologist and collector, put on an Summer 2017) we saw that Thomas Henry Holland’s works on the Marine exhibition featuring a model of an Hope created Britain’s first “Egyptian” Pavilion at Brighton. So he would have Egyptian tomb he had recently interior in his house in Duchess Street, known about Holland’s unexecuted discovered in the Valley of the Kings. Marylebone. As part of this same wave The exhibit included two full-size scheme to remodel the Pavilion in the of Egyptomania, the architect Peter Frederick Robinson designed the first Chinese style. Having made a name for fully-fledged “Egyptian” façade (see himself designing buildings in a range of Figure 1). It stood more or less opposite traditional English styles from Norman the Royal Academy, at 171-173 to Elizabethan, Robinson went on a Piccadilly. It was built for William Grand Tour that took him as far as Bullock in 1812 as a museum of natural Rome. He returned via Switzerland, and history and “curiosities”.1 it is worth noting that his only known Figure 1 appeared in Metropolitan building in Marylebone was a “Swiss Improvements, a book that graphically Cottage” in the grounds of the illustrates just how exotic and contrary Colosseum in Regent’s Park. to the prevailing neo-Classical architectural orthodoxy the Egyptian Unlike Thomas Hope, Robinson never Hall was. The book was published by visited Egypt2. Writing about the architect James Elmes in 1827 to Egyptian Hall, Elmes commented that celebrate the new buildings erected in its details were correctly taken from © Trustees of the British Museum (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) London during the Regency and reign Denon’s celebrated engravings, Figure 2. The Great Hall remodelled in the Egyptian style of George IV (1811-1827), and it principally from the great temple at by J. B. Papworth. contained over 160 engravings by Dendera. This is interesting because the chambers covered with polychrome Thomas Shepherd. Aside from the Egyptian Hall does indeed look as if it hieroglyphic reliefs recreated from wax Egyptian Hall, 79% of the buildings was designed by someone unfamiliar moulds made at the original tomb. were in a neo-Classical style, 11% There were two actual mummies and, with the grammar of Egyptian (mainly churches) were in a Gothic the star attraction, a lid-less, 10-foot temples, working from two-dimensional style and the remainder were in a long, white alabaster sarcophagus drawings. The façade of the Egyptian variety of Old English vernacular covered in hieroglyphs – which at that Hall consists of three pylons within a styles. date no one could read. It subsequently One can only speculate where larger overall pylon, punctuated by 5 turned out to be the sarcophagus of the Robinson’s eclecticism came from. He windows, the one on the first floor being pharaoh Seti I. The 6’ 7” Belzoni, ever had been a pupil of Thomas Hardwick, flanked by two 10-feet tall caryatids, the showman, appeared before a large the architect of St Marylebone Parish supposedly representing Isis and Osiris. crowd wrapped in bandages like a Church, and would have been given a In ancient Egyptian temples pylons mummy. Two thousand people visited good grounding in neo-Classicism. symbolically represented mountains or the exhibition on the opening day,

4 T HE E GYPTIAN H ALL

paying half a crown each. Belzoni died made by a sculptor called Gahagan who, had earlier designed a similar Egyptian- two years later and his widow sold the one assumes, was given a degree of style building in Devonport (c1823). sarcophagus for £2,000 to Sir John freedom as to the form of the figures. Like Robinson, Foulston had been a Soane, who put it on display in 1825. They are largely Classical in style but pupil of Thomas Hardwick, so some Such was the public’s growing portrayed holding a variety of Egyptian direct collaboration is conceivable. But fascination with ancient Egypt, he had to symbols (palm frond, lotus flower, ankh even if they had not been in contact, it is hold three separate receptions to show and crocodile), albeit not ones usually clear that the Penzance building, while off his latest acquisition. Marylebone associated with these deities. not an exact copy of the Egyptian Hall (it artist, Benjamin Haydon, attended one of Interestingly, the starting point for the has an extra storey), shows very these events and subsequently wrote a Osiris figure seems to have been a striking similarities to it in its overall letter to a friend name-dropping statue of Antinous-Osiris, Emperor shamelessly about meeting the Duke of Hadrian’s lover who drowned in the Sussex, Coleridge and Turner, among Nile and was subsequently deified. But others. whereas the original statue from Hadrian’s villa at Tivoli, had a The sarcophagus remains in the Soane classically European face beneath his Museum. As for the Egyptian Hall, it Tutankhamunesque headscarf, Gahagan continued as a venue for exhibitions and has given his version negroid features, entertainments, including latterly by a not dissimilar to those used for 18th magician called John Maskelyne, who century blackamoor figures. In another performed there for 31 years. The flight of fancy, the sculptor carved a building was demolished in 1905 and was mini-crocodile in the crook of Osiris’s replaced by the current run-of-the-mill arm which mirrors a palm frond held by neo-Classical building, whose only Figure 4. The Egyptian House in Penzance, as drawn by Isis. None of this bears much relation Gwyneth Hampson. Egyptian feature is its name: “Egyptian to actual Egyptian sculpture, rather it House”. design and detailing. It is, therefore, would appear to be an example of what inconceivable that the Penzance AN AMAZING SURVIVAL Edward Said has called “Orientalism” – But that was not quite the end of the building was not in some way modelled the persistent casting in the western on the earlier building in Piccadilly. Egyptian Hall. Its Portland stone statues imagination of non-western/oriental of Isis and Osiris were rediscovered just cultures as “exotic” and “other” and The Egyptian House in Penzance is now outside Edinburgh in 1987, being used as distorting them in the process. owned by the Landmark Trust and is garden ornaments. They were available for rent. So, in addition to Orientalism perhaps explains why, eventually bought by the Museum of viewing the sculptures in the nether despite periodic bouts of Egyptomania, London and displayed on either side of world of the Museum of London, the Egyptian architecture never went the Highwalk entrance until that was Penzance building is as close as you can mainstream in Britain in the way that remodelled in 2002. Currently, the now get to experiencing the wondrous Classical architecture did. Unlike statues languish in the basement Egyptian Hall (see Google Earth: ancient Greece, Egypt is simply not postcode TR18 4AJ). part of the foundation story of western European culture, despite its culture Mike Wood 1 pre-dating and significantly influencing For example, in 1816 220,000 visitors flocked here to see an exhibition of items associated with ancient Greek culture4. So, the fact that Napoleon, including his bulletproof battlefield our Parish Church looks a lot like a carriage. This had been taken after the battle of pagan Classical temple is regarded as Waterloo and was subsequently acquired by Madame Tussaud’s, where it was a popular quite normal, but one which looked like attraction until destroyed by a fire in 1925. an Egyptian temple would be 2 Werner has suggested that it may have been considered very strange5. Bullock who selected the Egyptian style for the façade of his museum on the grounds it was …AND AN AMAZING “unusual and different” [Imhotep Today: COINCIDENCE Egyptianizing Architecture, UCL Press, 2003]. While researching this article I 3 Occasionally pylons had an internal staircase to received a card from Gwyneth access the roof for religious rituals. Such staircases were sometimes ventilated but there Figure 3. The Egyptian Hall’s caryatids, Isis and Osiris, Hampson, a past Chairwoman of the were no windows as such, certainly not as features flanking a carpark lift below the Museum of London. St Marylebone Society, featuring a pen on the front façade. carpark, where they flank a very un- and wash drawing she had done of The 4 See Martin Bernal’s Black Athena, Vintage 2002. Egyptian lift (see Figure 3). Egyptian House, Penzance – which 5 Two areas in which Egyptian architecture in bears a remarkable similarity to the Britain has become normalised are in relation to: A close look at these statues reveals (1) Funerary monuments – Highgate Cemetery’s Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly (see Figure that Shepherd’s engraving of them is famous “Egyptian Avenue” dates from c1838, but 4). The Penzance version was built there are countless examples of Egyptian-style rather misleading (for example, in c1836 by a mineralogist, John Lavin, to funerary monuments both before and after that portraying them holding Morris dancer- date. (2) Freemasonry – thanks to a medieval house his collection. The architect was confusion whereby Freemasonry was thought to style handkerchiefs). The statues were almost certainly John Foulston, who have originated in ancient Egypt. 5 THE CONVERSIONOF WESTMINSTER COUNCIL HOUSE AND LIBRARY

This was in my mind at the meeting at outside the Council House have been the London Business School. Nearby divested of their mouldy, green coats. residents were already bothered by Floodlights emblazon the pristine noisy delivery vehicles. How would tower. Inside, wonderful carvings and they cope with such a project? World- wood panelling have been revealed in famous and an asset to the area, the the reception rooms. Ceilings have London Business School obviously been renewed. Bright new furniture needed the expansion. Could it be and furnishings abound. Shining floors achieved by any other means? reflect their surroundings. The list is Then I had an idea. The councillors endless. Congratulations to were looking for ways to rescue the Westminster City Council and the civic buildings on Marylebone Road, but London Business School. Long may no funds were in sight. The Library had the association continue. already been closed because it was not PS. Dean of the London Business School, Sir fit for purpose. Birds were roosting in Andrew Likierman has said that no decision the tower in the main building. A ceiling ‘would be taken, in the meantime, on the had fallen down in one of the reception development of the School’s Regent’s Park rooms. The architect, Edwin Cooper, campus which has received planning permission’. had a reputation for designing buildings Marylebone Library is to have a permanent home that were difficult to maintain and in Seymour Leisure Centre c.2020. Westminster The refurbished Marylebone Room in the Old Marylebone Town Hall. so it had proved to be. I knew that now has a policy to limit large sub-basements. if the buildings were to be acquired by Gwyneth Hampson You may have noticed that the old civic another organisation, the Former Chairman of the St Marylebone buildings on Marylebone Road have St Marylebone Society favoured Society and Westminster councillor 2002 emerged from their hoardings, educational use. I telephoned a to 2014. gleaming white, and looking much like representative of the School and asked they did when opened in 1920 and 1939. whether there was a remote possibility The first Full Council meeting took that they could be interested in taking CORPORATE SUPPORTERS place in the new chamber last over the buildings. Able Homecare November, the councillors having met Alan Higgs Architects The answer is what you see today. The Altiplano Finance Limited elsewhere for three years while the Leader of the Council, Colin Barrow, Baker Street Quarter Partnership refurbishment was taking place. The welcomed the suggestion and gave Blandford Estate Residents’ marriage registry and reception rooms permission for a formal meeting at the Association have also returned from their London Business School, where the CAMBARD RTM Ltd Chiltern Court (Baker Street) temporary home in Mayfair, while the scheme was provisionally approved. Residents’ Limited Library and other offices have been Months of negotiation for the 35-year taken over by the London Business Clarence Gate Gardens Residents’ lease followed, including planning Association School. applications for alterations to the listed Dorset Square Hotel It all happened by chance. buildings. The London Business School Dorset Square Trust As councillors for Regent’s Park, set about raising the substantial funds Francis Holland School Howard de Walden Estate Robert Rigby and I were summoned to needed for the conversion. The Kubie Gold Council, wishing to retain the iconic a presentation at the London Business London Clinic School in 2011. The School was about marriage and reception rooms, assigned Mac Services to put in for planning permission to £800,000 for their refurbishment. Steps Marylebone Cricket Club build an underground auditorium up to the Council House and the Marylebone Forum behind their premises in Sussex Place. entrance were also to be retained, the Madame Tussauds (Merlin An ambitious scheme, it entailed a huge School having its own access between Entertainment) excavation, several metres deep. the two buildings. Henceforth monthly Old Philologians Portman Estate Council meetings would be held in a As many readers will know, Marylebone Royal Parks and St John’s Wood were, and still are, new, specially designed, double lecture St Marylebone Parish Church plagued with basement extensions. theatre. Terry Farrell & Partners They mean months of noisy work and The project has been a success and has The Chiltern Firehouse continuous disruption for neighbours. done Marylebone proud. I came up from The Fruit Garden The Landmark Hotel The Council, at that time, was almost Cornwall, (where I now live with my The Nightingale Hospital powerless to control or prevent them, husband, Clive), for the first Full The Sir John Balcombe PH so hapless councillors had to do their Council Meeting and was amazed at the Wyndham Place Management best to mitigate the situation. quality of the restoration. The lions 6 PROFESSOR ROGER LOCKYER -INMEMORIA

and graduated in 1950 with a first class and pomposity, which is a characteristic degree. Roger was the esteemed author that in my own opinion, revealed the real of many books, including: A History of man. It is a remarkable skill to pull off, England (1961), Henry VII (1968), especially if it is done without malice or Habsburg and Bourbon Europe 1470- rancour. 1720 (1974), The Life and Political While much of his academic work was Career of George Villiers, First Duke of undertaken in the UK, he also taught in Buckingham, 1592-1628 (1981), The several other locations abroad, including Early Stuarts: a political history of the USA. Despite Professor Lockyer’s England 1603-1642 (1989), and James many achievements and accolades, he VI & I (1998) , etc. wore these achievements lightly. Such In the course of his long and interesting modesty only served to reinforce the life, he travelled widely, which greatly intellectual acumen that underpinned his work. Photo: Against the Law/BBC Studios. enhanced his view of the world and Long-time resident of Marylebone and these experiences afforded him many Ever a penetrating observer of current long-time member and friend of many valuable insights. Whenever I met him, and historical affairs, political members of the St Marylebone Society, something was revealed about the events, drama productions, musical Professor Roger Lockyer has died on background and context of his rich life. performances, academic works or pure 28th October 2017, aged 89. He is It was rather like waiting for the next research, his ability to appreciate and survived by his husband, Percy, with instalment of a gripping film or TV distil what was being done or attempted whom he enjoyed a 51 year relationship. series. The richly eloquent stories were (by taking the inside view), always Roger was much loved by his many seemingly endlessly peppered with seemed to fall on the positive side of the friends, neighbours and academic fascinating situations and people that he scale, rather than the negative. He was a colleagues, both in London, the UK and had met. He frequently allowed his staunch supporter of equal rights, abroad. Born in London on 26th delightful and impish, even wicked, affording him the description: the November 1927, he went on to read sense of humour to gently, but historian who made history. history at Pembroke College, Cambridge accurately, prick the bubble of humbug Ian Wylie

AFUTURE FOR ORANGUTANS,FOREST &PEOPLE

dedicated to protecting the critically protection to over a million acres of endangered Orangutan population and orangutan habitat. Overseeing flora and its threatened habitat in Indonesian fauna are sixty dedicated Indonesian Borneo and Sumatra. staff for whom we not only provide The Orangutan Foundation was livelihoods. But most important of all registered in 1990 and soon attracted they become ambassadors for our work the backing of supporters such as the within the local community. late Sir Terry Pratchett, Joanna Lumley The work of the Orangutan Foundation Photo: Ian Wood. encompasses conservation, research Each morning walking my dog through and Sir David Attenborough who have and education in central Kalimantan Regent’s Park, I am drawn back to the helped raise public awareness of the Orangutan’s precarious existence in Indonesian Borneo all of which is rainforests of Indonesia by the plaintiff the Indonesian rainforest. Victims of achieved with the support of the public song of the zoo’s pair of Gibbons. habitat loss, due to clearing of land for and their recognition of the significance Now, like myself, residents of oil-palm plantations, logging and of our work. Marylebone these lesser-apes may well mining many orphaned or injured Their generosity ensures that we can be bemoaning the fate of their natural Orangutans have been saved by our continue to defend the rainforest, the habitat in Asia. That the rainforests of veterinary team before being animals who live in it and in a modest the Amazon and the Congo are being reintroduced into the wild. way “the planet”. decimated is common knowledge along The more animals we can save, the If you would like to become a with the effects of climate change. That more space they will need in which to member or receive more information, the Indonesian rainforests are live and reproduce. And so, at a time please visit our website disappearing at an equally alarming rate when habitat is being lost we have, in www.orangutan.org.uk is a fact that fewer people are aware of. one reserve, the Lamandau Wildlife or call. 020 7724 2912. With offices in Marylebone the Reserve, been able to increase it by Ashley Leiman OBE Director/Trustee Orangutan Foundation is a charity almost twenty thousand acres and offer Orangutan Foundation 7 CHRISTMAS DINNER EVENTSIN MARYLEBONE 2017 REGENT’S PARK THE NEW DIORAMA THEATRE www.royalparks.org.uk 15-16 Triton Street, Regent’s Place There will be two days of activities to NW1 3BF explore the role of Regent’s Park in www.newdiorama.com World War I (May 12th and 19th). An avant-garde programme of new The annual restaurant festival, Taste of London opens on the 13th June. plays, such as Trap Street (6th-31st This year’s season at the Open Air March) a new show from award- Theatre opens on the 17th of May with winning Kandinsky brings the Peter Pan. company's trademark theatrical There is a community wildlife garden inventiveness to city life through the in the park, which is maintained by maps that have tried to define it. Trap volunteers. Should anyone like to join Street explores a community trying to Members had a convivial St Marylebone them contact Regents Mailbox at find its way in a landscape shaped by [email protected] Society Christmas dinner at the Sir John power. For programme of future Balcombe. productions see website. ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS Left to right: Hugh Small, Sheila www.rcplondon.ac.uk D’Souza (standing), Nick Hubert, Exhibition 19th January – 26th July HELLENIC CENTRE 2018 Ceaseless Motion: William www.helleniccentre.org. Eoghain Murphy, Johan van de Merwe, Harvey’s experiments in circulation tel 020 7563 9835 Cynthia Poole, Desmond Wall, Mike They have an events programme – Wood (behind), Clive Annaly and Roger LORD’S CRICKET GROUND For example on 23rd March there is a Ward. www.lords.org This is the home of our corporate concert by Vasilis Rakitzis & Oliver Nelson: “Greece and England meet sponsor the MARYLEBONE TWO LIVES CRICKET CLUB. Take a tour of the through Violin and Piano”. cricket grounds and the museum and General admission £12, members & visit Lord’s for tea. concessions £8.

THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC DAUNT BOOKS has regular book www.ram.ac.uk signings and talks. Tickets, £10, entitle The spring programme of concerts and master classes is out. Some of these holders to a glass of wine, 20% off the are free. See their website for more speaker's books. Tickets may be details. There are Big Band Jazz purchased from their shop in person, concerts, symphony and chamber on the website, or with credit/debit music concerts. card by telephone.

BAKER STREET QUARTER RUNNING CLUB IN www.bakerstreetq.co.uk REGENT’S PARK A short autobiography by Andrew The Marylebone Food Festival. This Cooper inaugural 10-day celebration of culinary www.we-run.co.uk destinations starts 8th March 2018. We Run’s Running Club North London The journey of self-discovery is They have a number of other local meets twice a week for group running events. See the website for great training sessions in Regent’s Park. seldom simple. Frequently the most things to do. The Running Club North London is unexpected things can reveal hosted by a professional trainer, and is themselves. Two Lives tells of Andrew’s ST CYPRIAN’S CHURCH designed to be challenging and fun no journey through gender confusion and St Cyprian’s, Clarence Gate, matter what your level of running Glentworth Street, NW1 6AX his wish to be a woman. A chance tea www.stcyprians.weebly.com experience. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Hold a Choral mass on Sundays 6:30pm, for a one hour session time conversation leads to an covering everything you need to exploration of reincarnation and the improve your running style, technique, ST MARYLEBONE PARISH resolution of his dilemma. CHURCH 17 Marylebone Road, speed and stamina! NW1 5LT Andrew Cooper was our Hon Gen Sec www.stmarylebone.org LISSON GALLERY, 27 Bell Street. for a number of years. He has now There is an Organ Recital, which is www.Lissongallery.com held on the first Sunday of each month retired from his work as a A Forthcoming exhibition is of at 4pm. They also have concerts from nurse/counsellor, and continues to live time to time. See their website. sculptures by Pedro Reyes (2nd March – 21st April 2018) A series of new with his husband in Central London. THE COCKPIT THEATRE sculptures – made from volcanic stone, He maintains his interest in theatre, in Gateforth Street, marble, stainless steel, alabaster, cinema, reading and running a book www.Thecockpit.org.uk bronze and sandstone – Jazz concerts called JAZZ IN THE with references as diverse as club. He also does two classical ballet ROUND on Mondays. Monthly Pre-Colombian and Mayan art to classes a week. readings of the work of Samuel contemporary British sculptors, Beckett are held from Sunday 28th Available from Paradise Press January until Sunday 22nd April. See including Reg Butler, Barbara the website for details and for the Hepworth and Henry Moore. www.paradisepress.org.uk/book/two- many other events and more details. See their website. lives £6.95 Published by the St Marylebone Society, March 2018 ©St Marylebone Society.