Move on out news..org.uk Fitzrovia News Fitzrovia News is produced by residents and volunteers and distributed free to business and residential addresses in Fitzrovia Issue 151 Winter 2018 History repeated at Centre Point Come Dancing page 7 By Nick Bailey The current developer, Al - It may be no coincidence that on macantar, which is part-owned by Halloween, 31 October, the press the Agnelli family, acquired Cen - reported that the owners of Cen - tre Point in 2011 when there was tre Point had decided to suspend growing overseas demand for up - the sale of the 40 or more unsold market housing in central Lon - flats in the tower, now called Cen - don. Planning permission to tre Point Residences. It may be a convert the office building to resi - case of history repeating itself dential was obtained in 2013 and since Centre Point became notori - Rick Mather Associates and Con - ous 50 years ago. As an office ran & Partners were appointed as block, it remained vacant for architects and interior designers. many years as the owner and de - As part of the development a veloper, Harry Hyams of Oldham pedestrian piazza with restau - Estates, held out for a single ten - rants will replace part of the road Memories of ant at a very high rent and was ac - acquired by the LCC that trig - cused at the time of deliberately gered the development in the Riding House inflating its value. 1960s. When first built, Centre Point When marketing began in Street recalled was one of the tallest buildings in 2016 flats were priced at between and has long been £1.8m for a one-bedroom apart - page 8 a landmark on the fringes of ment £55m for the two-storey An Egyptian goose in Crabtree Fields. See news in brief, page 3. Fitzrovia. It was designed by penthouse. In July this year the Richard Seifert and Partners and two-bed show flat (see photo, p3), units in several luxury develop - reflecting uncertainty on potential the 34 floors were constructed with a combined living room, din - ments are forced to use different changes to stamp duty, taxation of during 1963-66. The extreme ing room and kitchen, was on entrances to the wealthy private overseas investors and other fiscal height arose from protracted ne - offer at a hefty £3.5m with an ad - residents. policy proposals. We see no point gotiations with the London ditional annual service charge of Camden’s planning policy re - in chasing a market that is in - County Council (LCC) that about £15,000. This includes the quired the development to have creasingly detached from reality”, wanted to create a roundabout at use of a residents-only swimming included 41 affordable flats, but that is, where more ‘realistic’ of - St. Giles Circus. In return for pro - pool. Almacantar made up for the fers are well below the asking viding the road space the devel - As part of the planning deal, under provision in part by giving price. opers were allowed to include the developer provided 13 ‘afford - Camden Council £6m towards the Just how long the 40 or so un - both the roads and remaining able’ rented flats in a new block creation of a new square behind sold flats will be unoccupied re - land in their calculations of plot opposite St. Giles-in-the-Fields the tower, as well as for public mains to be seen but foreign ratio and were given planning church. Of these, five are three transport improvements. buyers are unlikely to return in permission for a development and four bedroom flats provided To date about half the 82 flats large numbers until Brexit is fully much larger than would normally at social rents; the remainder are have been sold, with many going resolved and while additional be permitted. As Oliver Marriott smaller units where higher ‘af - to overseas buyers. The an - stamp duty and taxes are levied records in his book The Property fordable’ rents are charged. This nouncement that sales were being on super-prime properties. Mean - Boom, Harry Hyams successfully has already been dubbed Centre suspended came as market condi - while, Centre Point has a habit of Spy intrigue negotiated a lease on the land for Point’s “poor house” in reference tions took a downturn. As Mike demonstrating the vagaries of £18,500 a year for 150 years with to the 2014 scandal, which re - Hussey, chief executive of Al - London’s property market 50 page 10 no upward revisions. In return, vealed that residents of affordable macantar, put it: “Offers are now years apart. Is it a trick or treat? Hyams agreed to sell the LCC land for the roundabout to the value of £1.5m. From the begin - ning the building was controver - sial for its size and design, as well as for being left vacant until 1975. Because of its iconic status, in Jan - uary 1974 it received more public - est1958 ity when it was occupied for a weekend as a protest against in - Awarded The home of traditional creasing homelessness. Despite tripadvisor the architectural critic Nikolaus certificate of fish and chips. Pevsner describing Centre Point excellence five GIGS as ‘coarse in the extreme’, it was years running Fully licensed Greek restaurant listed Grade II in 1995. 2014 - 2018 12 Street 020 7636 1424 2 — Fitzrovia News issue 151 Winter 2018 Fitzrovia News Formerly The Tower Letters, email and comment established 1973 news.fitzrovia.org.uk Write to [email protected] or post to Fitzrovia News, Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association, 39 Tottenham Street, London W1T 4RX twitter.com/fitzrovianews facebook.com/fitzrovianews instagram.com/fitzrovianews [email protected] The gift of rubbish 020 7580 4576 In defence of There’s a competition going on for On Camden’s patch, the junc - the street that can lay claim to the tion of Tottenham Street and Issue 151 Winter 2018 crown of King Of The Dump. Whitfield Street has for a long Published 4 December 2018 Rubbish on the streets is the time been a local 24/7 waste tip. gift that just keeps on giving. Peo - The Norway maple on this street Editorial Team ple blame the councils. The coun - corner is constantly fed with a Mike Pentelow: Fitzroy Place cils blame the people. Residents thick mulch of rotting waste. This editor and features editor blame the businesses. Businesses innocent victim of human activity Linus Rees: Dear Editors, Square), “the pretensions to - blame the residents. Everyone has had a notice tied to it by Cam - website and assistant editor licness expressed in the planning blames everyone else. den which screams "Filthy!", as if Pete Whyatt: I thought I’d got used to FN’s cu - applications were the usual white - and Camden to blame the tree itself. At one news and production editor riously bitter coverage of Fitzroy wash”. councils both have a contract with point in November there were so Clive Jennings: Place, the harmless (since its late Now, my flat overlooks this Veolia to sweep the streets, empty many bags of fast-food waste arts editor completion at least) office and res - square and I can assure Tim that the street bins, and collect residen - piled up they engulfed the bicy - Brian Jarman: idential development in which I however much trouble he may tial and business waste and recy - cles parked farther down the writer and sub-editor live at the corner of Cleveland have walking past a few plant cling. Camden parks department road. Janet Gauld: and Mortimer streets…. but the pots, the rest of the Fitzrovia pub - has a contract with Veolia to Camden has recently fined associate editor latest two instalments of it are lic has none and the square has empty the bins and sweep the some local businesses and resi - Barb Jacobson: surely too ridiculous to go unchal - been well and truly discovered by hard areas in the public open dents for placing their waste associate editor lenged: them and become a splendid little spaces, and a separate contract under the tree in an attempt to Jennifer Kavanagh: As the first of these, on page 5 park, busy with toddlers and par - with Idverde to pick up litter from stop the abuse, and issued strict associate editor of your summer edition, the idea ents, on-break office workers, and the green areas. Meanwhile there instructions to only leave waste is aired (Empty Homes at Fitzroy others of all ages, enjoying the are umpteen private firms rattling outside their own property and Contributors: Place), that since there are many grass, trees, , seating, play around the neighbourhood in only on the morning (or night be - households here with nobody reg - features and artwork, and the se - dozens of clapped-out wagons at fore) of the day of collection. Nick Bailey istered to vote, then “surprise, cure atmosphere of the place, all hours providing a bargain Many Camden residents still Ann Basu surprise!” ... “most of the 233 flats pretty much all the time. basement solution for businesses seem to think rubbish can be put Sue Blundell … are lying empty.” Would it be impossible for the who don’t want to pay to use the out at any time on any day. But Jayne Davis I mean… really?? FN set to revisit their rather pa - councils’ own service. collection of waste and recycling Terry Egan Then on page 9 of your Au - thetic one-track hostility to this The Camden side of Fitzrovia for residents is usually just one Clifford Harper tumn edition, Tim Waterman fin - development at some point, I has always been a bit more rub - day a week. Wendy Shutler ishes his section on Fitzroy Place wonder? bish-strewn, but Westminster it Meanwhile, on Westminster’s Clifford Slapper with a told-you-so flourish to the seems is leaning toward a more patch the streets centred on Foley Sunita Soliar effect that, since there are large Best, edgy inner-city borough, paved and Langham streets are a rich Chris Tyler pot plants in the three entrances James Thornton with the contents of broken bin feeding ground for gulls who to the new square here (Pearson Fitzroy Place bags and rivers of cooking oil. bully their way through the pi - geons for the best street food. Printed by: Sharman & Co Ltd, Residents complain of bulk Newark Road, Peterborough bins being removed by the coun - PE1 5TD. sharmanandco.co.uk cil, while other residents asked for We need space for nature them to be removed saying they Fitzrovia News is produced were attracting fly-tipping and by the Fitzrovia Community the street is better off without Newspaper Group. Wildlife in London is under threat: there could be shaped to be low maintenance with a token amount them. Still the rubbish piles up, ISSN: 0967-1404 fewer places for wild animals to find food and habi - of planting to provide for pollinating insects. and bins continue to disappear. tats for them to nest. Because of HS2 trees and green The London Wildlife trust says that thousands of In the thick of this filth are the Published by Fitzrovia areas around Euston Station are being cleared, and at birds, insects and other animals across are people who do the near impossi - Neighbourhood Association the northern edge of The Regent's Park a lorry hold - finding it harder and harder to survive. They say ble task of sweeping the streets (registered charity 1111649) ing area is threatening a breeding ground for hedge - there needs to be a joined-up network of habitats from dawn until dusk. Veolia’s 39 Tottenham Street, hogs. But it is not just HS2 that threatens wildlife. that provide enough space for wildlife to recover road sweepers are expected to London, W1T 4RX In Fitzrovia the public open space at Whitfield and for people to thrive. clean an ever increasing round of fitzrovia.org.uk Gardens is being run down and neglected despite This is why it is important to make the best of streets as councils have to cut the efforts of volunteers to plant trees and shrubs. our open spaces in Fitzrovia. Natural areas are budgets and cheaper waste con - Camden Council now plan to rip out all the needed to help wildlife survive in London, improve Fitzrovia News is published tracts are negotiated. shrubs and redesign the park with a greatly reduced air quality for our children and future generations, four times a year. Spare a thought this festive green area. There will be more hard paving, more and improve people’s access to nature. Our deadline for news, season for these workers who are seats and places to eat, but less earth for plants to We need wildlife. Our natural world is valuable expected to wipe up the mess in features, letters and adverts grow and there will be very little habitat for birds to in its own right and is the foundation of our well- this dump called Fitzrovia. is normally two weeks be - nest. being — we depend on it and it depends on us. fore publication. The next Camden’s own Biodiversity Action Plan calls for Without a healthy natural world the survival of hu - In praise of Tesco staff issue will be out on preservation of green space and the promotion of manity is at stake. By creating more space for nature, Dear FN Tuesday 5 March 2019. wildlife, but this is being ignored. we can create a better world for people and wildlife. Can your readers get Tesco to bottle It is not just about plants, insects and birds. Nat - If you care about Fitzrovia’s opens spaces, tell Deadline: 15 February the skills of their staff at Goodge ural areas are needed to help combat global warm - Camden's Project team that you want at Street? They have one of the busiest Public editorial meetings ing, clean the air we breathe, and to help absorb least the same amount of greenery at Whitfield Gar - stores and some of the friendliest are held at 7 pm, first water to prevent local flooding after heavy rainfall. dens as there is now and that Alfred Place must be staff. They are currently running a Tuesday of every month at With more hard areas rainwater will enter the sewers designed to be a natural park with space for wildlife. Food Bank drive to encourage shop - Fitzrovia Neighbourhood and these will then overflow into the Thames, killing pers to give anything they can to the Association, life, and the pollution will be carried downstream. Write to: many people in the West End who are Camden argue that they are building a new park [email protected] and copy in your 39 Tottenham Street sleeping rough. But I’ve also seen at Alfred Place and that it will more than compensate councillors: them tackle some very rude behaviour London W1T 4RX for the loss of greenery at Whitfield Gardens. But the [email protected] from the public and I’d like to ask Subscribe to Fitzrovia News designs for the new park lack any real natural areas [email protected] other locals to say it loud and say it for regular updates: to create a dense habitat for wildlife. [email protected] proud: Goodge Street Tesco Rule. bit.ly/fitzrovianews Instead the new park at Alfred Place is being Mrs Marjorie Peach Slices Fitzrovia News issue 151 Winter 2018 — 3 Westminster Plastic place Strip club consults on Oxford Estate managers at Fitzroy Place Street again have given up on trying to get benefits any grass to grow around the Westminster Council is holding chapel at the centre of the brash several exhibitions as part of its new development due to the OAPs public consultation of its new height of the surrounding build - proposals for the “ ings which block out all but the A lap dancing club in Tottenham District”. briefest visits of sun on a long day Court Road is helping out pen - Tuesday 4 December 5pm to in June. sioners in northwest England, ac - 8pm, University of Westminster, Instead, landscape gardeners cording to a licence application 309 Regent St, W1B 2HW. have ripped up the anaemic turf submitted to Camden Council in Wednesday 5 to Friday 7 De - and rolled out neatly fitted plastic October. cember, from 12pm to 2pm & grass. An artificial and unimagi - The application to renew a 5pm–7pm, 16 Seymour Place, native solution to a problem of sexual entertainment licence for London, W1H 7NG. the architects’ own making. Spearmint Rhino Gentlemen's Saturday 8 December 11am It’s a pity the gardeners who Club states that Cheshire West to 3pm, Fitzrovia Community tend the area weren’t allowed to and Chester Borough Council is Centre, 2 Foley St, W1W 6DL. develop a natural solution which the landlord of the premises. Wednesday 12 December, would suit the characteristics of Chair of the Cheshire Pension 10am to 2pm, Wigmore Hall, 36 the site. Fund, Councillor Myles Hogg, Wigmore St, W1U 2BP. A trip to see the beauty of a told Fitzrovia News : “The Cheshire Centre Point show flat. Photo: Nick Bailey. See front page story. More information about the woodland floor might have en - Pension Fund, on behalf of organ - plans which are open to com - lightened the dimly-lit brains of isations throughout the borough, ments until 16 December are those who hand down instruc - employs a number of investment Banksy to be kept by available at Westminster Refer - tions. managers to ensure that the fund Christmas lunch ence, and Li - Westminster council generates the necessary income to for older people braries and Marshall Street and be sustainable. Seymour leisure centres, and at News in brief “The property was purchased Work is underway to demolish www.osd.london where com - the “triangle site” at Cleveland Camden council wants resi - on behalf of the fund by its ap - A Christmas Lunch for pensioners ments can be submitted. Street and some local people are dents’ views on the direction of pointed property investment in Fitzrovia will be served at wondering what will happen to traffic flow for motor vehicles manager in June 2014 and the Honey & Co on Sunday 16 De - the Banksy mural “If graffiti along Torrington Place and Spearmint Rhino was an existing cember at 12pm, 25a Warren St changed anything...” that is hid - Westminster Tavistock Place. See tenant at this point. It had entered W1T 5LZ. Please RSVP to Rachael den behind the hoarding. camden.gov.uk/torringtontavi into a long term contract with a on 07817 840827 during the week Documents obtained by stock for full details. previous owner in 2002 and this before if you can. Itamar and the City Plan Fitzrovia News in a Freedom of In - An Egyptian goose which agreement doesn’t expire until staff look forward to welcoming formation (FOI) request in 2015 landed in Crabtree Fields pub - June 2037. you! Free. revealed that Westminster Coun - lic open space and couldn’t “This existing arrangement A public consultation on West - cil is actually claiming ownership take off again was safely cap - means that as long as the com - minster council’s draft City Plan of the Banksy mural. tured by volunteers from the pany maintains its contractual 2019-2040 started on Monday 12 “The ‘Banksy’ art will remain Community Friends of Fitzrovia Parks then obligations under its lease agree - November 2018 and will close on the property of the Council al - released into the wetland area ment it has a legal right to con - Christmas dinner Friday 21 December 2018. though it could form part of the of The Regent’s Park where tinue to occupy the property.” The plan is a blueprint for the new development if this is a plan - there is an established colony The press office at Cheshire There will be a Community future of the city and will shape ning requirement,” says the re - of the geese. West and Chester told Fitzrovia Christmas Dinner from Fitzrovia property development, housing, port. Fitzrovia Neighbourhood News there are no similar venues public open space and provide Youth in Action on Friday 21 De - Association has raised concern within the Fund’s property port - for community facilites like cember 1pm-4pm, doors open at with Camden Council about folio and that the Cheshire Pen - schools and health centres. 12.30 at the Indian YMCA, 41 pedestrian comfort and safety sion Fund operates within the Fitzrovia writers You can read the draft plan W1T 6AQ. FYA due to the design of some of remit of its responsible invest - and submit comments at: says: “There will be food (full the pavement widening on Tot - ment policy. Thinking of Writing that Novel westminster.gov.uk/cityplan2040 roast with trimmings!), games and tenham Court Road as part of According to the licence ap - this Winter? Fitzrovia Writers will entertainment and it will be a the council’s controversial West plication the superior landlord of hold a series of weekly work - wonderful opportunity for you to End Project. The project team the premises is Paramount Court shops for local writers on Thurs - Street homelessness reconnect with friends, neigh - says some of the work has been Residents Limited. day evenings from January. The bours and meet new people and continues to rise “challenging”. workshops are free to local resi - local residents in the community.” The number of people sleeping The recently restored Lon - dents and places are limited. For Free, but please reserve your on the streets of Camden and don Rangers Cenotaph in Che - To keep up with planning and more information and to apply, place by phoning Ellie on 0207 Westminster this summer has nies Street was rededicated at licensing news, sign up for our contact: 388 7399 or email risen again according to reports a wreath-laying ceremony on email newsletter: [email protected] [email protected] bit.ly/fitzrovianews published by the Mayor of Lon - this year’s Remembrance Sun - don. day, the one hundredth an - Between July and September niversary of the Armistice. outreach workers in Camden con - A British Imam has ac - tacted a total of 281 rough sleep - cused the Saudi government of ers — 23 more than last year. firing him from a Fitzrovia In Westminster 836 people mosque after he criticised were seen rough sleeping by out - Crown Prince Mohammed bin reach teams — 13 more than last Salman. Ajmal Masroor, who year. regularly comments on British- More than half the people Muslim issues, worked at the seen by outreach teams were Goodge Street mosque, which British and Irish nationals. is run by the Saudi-funded This autumn a census of the Muslim World League. “The number of people sleeping rough mosque pulpit is not the place on a single night will be carried to attack people, governments, out. Last year’s count found 216 group or sect or to express cer - in Westminster and 127 in Cam - tain political views,” said the den. Muslim World League in a Homeless charities say the press statement. true figure is much higher. 4 — Fitzrovia News issue 151 Winter 2018 Tim Burke Tim Burke who has died aged 55 was brought up in Fitzrovia, where his family lived at 31 Goodge Street. His parents Terry and Gilly were active in the local community and politics. Growing up in the 70s Tim’s dashing good looks broke many a fair Fitzrovian maiden’s heart. He was good friends with his neighbour at the time . After school and Kingsway college he attended London College of Printing and gained a degree in photography, film and televi - sion. In 1982 he and five friends founded the Grey Organisation, an anarchic art collective and became involved in the London Film-Mak - ers’ Co-op, where he met Derek Jarman, who gave Tim a walk-on part in his 1986 film Car - avaggio. In 2009, he set up the Portobello Pop Up Paco Navarro In the late 1980s Tim worked as a director cinema beneath the Westway, which showed es - Paco Navarro was born on 27th Away from work Paco was a col - on the youth TV programmes The Word and oteric films and provided a platform for local September 1940 in Seville, Spain, into lector, he collected military figures, The Tube, while staging art interventions with and marginalised voices. It was forced to close a large family of four brothers and teaspoons, coffee cups and stamps the Grey Organisation, such as walking into in 2016 due to a lack of funding. four sisters. among other items. Cork Street galleries inside an enormous card - He was profoundly affected by the Grenfell He came to England in 1967 with He will be remembered by locals board box. One night they painted the galleries Tower fire, and continually railed against what his wife Enca, at first only planning to unloading his car with market pro - in the street grey. he saw as the venality of the Royal Borough of stay for one year. duce on and regu - During this time he lived in King’s Cross. In Kensington and Chelsea. They lived in Devon, Farnbor - larly walking his beloved dog Muffin the early 1990s he moved to North Kensington. He campaigned for and raised funds for the ough then London working in vari - every day in Fitzroy Square He wrote for various publications, including former Grenfell tenants. He is survived by his ous roles in the hospitality industry. He died unexpectedly age 77 on the Face, City Limits and his witty eating out mother, his brother, Tom, and two nieces. Paco opened “Navarro’s restau - 6th September 2018. His funeral ser - “under a tenner” column for the Evening Stan - This article was adapted from The Guardian rant”in the basement of 69 Charlotte vice was held at West London Crema - dard. obituary by Celia Lyttelton who described Tim Street in 1986. At that time serving torium on 21st September, attended Tim, a lifelong Labour supporter, was a as her friend, activist, film-maker, writer, agent Spanish food and tapas was some - by family, many friends, formerstaff community activist who campaigned for the provocateur and flaneur. thing of a novelty in the London colleagues and customers he met over North Kensington community, and worked tire - Janet Gauld adds. At Tims funeral in restaurant and culinary scene. the years. lessly to save Portobello Road market from the September, the West London Crematorium was In 1991 the restaurant moved to franchise companies and struggled with locals filled with his friends as an exceptionally large its present premises on the ground to reclaim their community space beneath the congregation overflowed into the courtyards floor and basement at 67 Charlotte Westway. outside. They could be heard joining in the four Street. songs played at the service. There were also Paco and Enca prided themselves heartfelt personal tributes from eight of his on offering authentic tasty reasonably friends. His mother Gilly had come from Aus - priced Spanish cuisine. The family- tralia, where she now lives, for the funeral. Tim run friendly restaurant was beauti - had visited her earlier this year for her 80th fully decorated with wrought iron birthday. It was a moving occasion. features, tiled walls and prettily painted furniture, in the style of An - dalucia (Southern Spain). The next issue of Paco nominally retired in 1998 Fitzrovia News will be but he never really left the business he was involved in, helping out, visit - out on ing markets and giving his critical opinions. Tuesday 5 March 2019. His daughter Rebecca, who now Deadline for articles, fea - runs the restaurant with her mother Enca told me “he was critical in the tures and advertisements best way possible, giving us the bene - fit of his experience and making sure 15 February the family kept up to his high stan - dards”. Paco in 1992 All Saints Church Margaret Street Advent, Christmas & Epiphany Services All services with the Choir of All Saints Friday14 December 1:10pm LUNCHTIME CAROL SERVICE Followed by mince pies & mulled wine Monday 17 December 6pm FESTIVAL of NINE LESSONS & CAROLS by candlelight Followed by mince pies & mulled wine Monday 24 December 11pm CHRISTMAS EVE MIDNIGHT MASS and Blessing of the Crib Tuesday 25 December 11am CHRISTMAS DAY HIGH MASS Sunday 6 January 2019 11am EPIPHANY HIGH MASS 6pm EPIPHANY CAROL SERVICE Three local buildings have appeared on the English Heritage Buildings Celebrate with us and bring your friends to see this beautiful at Risk Register published in November. They are, the Buddhist Temple Church at Christmas! on Margaret Street (above), the house at 43 Fitzroy Street, which is part of a terrace of four houses dating from the late eighteenth century, and www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk the former Strand Union Workhouse ( Hospital Annex), at 44, Parish office: 020 7636 1788 Cleveland Street W1 which is a former workhouse, dating from 1778. Fitzrovia News issue 151 Winter 2018 — 5 Opening and closing

Closed Flesh & Buns J apanese eatery Reviv intravenous therapies Al Sud Italian restaurant 2 1 Berners Street 25 – 33 Berners Street 45 Portland café 1 32 Great Portland Street Ikea mini store 9 5 Townhouse nail salon Mr Craftsman shoe repairs key cutting Cubitts optitians 88 Great Portland Street 50 Great Portland Street Charlotte/Goodge Street corner Pantani I talian ices and food Premier beauty salon 57 Warren Street Elan c afe restaurant 9 - 10 M arket Place 104 Great Portland Street Historic pub sold EZ Mart convenience shop 35 Grafton Way White Pine coffee shop Jade angel h air, nails 1 5 Wells Street An historic and iconic pub, that dates back to at Highly Sprung sofas 35 - 36 Rathbone Place F45 fitness studio M idford Place least 1773, has been sold by the brewers that 185-186 Tottenham Court Road Dezato creative desserts 53 Charlotte Street Duck&Dry b low dry and updo bar own it to a property development company. Yoobi sushi M arket Place Polu Poke Hawaian fish bar 28 Market Place The Duke of York’s freehold at 47 Rath - Rush couriers 67 Wells Street 1 Charlotte Place Caffe Morganti Tornatora Italian bone Street has been sold by Greene King to Kazu Japanese restaurant Genuine Liquorette American bar 187 Tottenham Ct Rd Shaftesbury PLC. 64 Charlotte Street 6 Rathbone Place The pub is well known in the area as one of Neon sheep f ancy goods Opening soon the few traditional remaining, and has a 62 Tottenham Court Road strong connection with the community. Kalifornia Kitchen vegan and vegetarian Opened The coffee run kiosk G oodge Street station It has been mentioned in the memoirs of restaurant 1 9 Percy Street many authors who have drank there, including Oseyo Korean store Said Dal 1923 Italian Chocolate Omotesando Koffee Japanese coffee Anthony Burgess and . Pop 115 Tottenham Court Road 29 Rathbone Place Newman Street stars who imbibed there over the years include Macellaio Italian restaurant 6 S Seoul Plaza K orean food tore Street Sabara grill 49 Newman Street , Ian Dury, Rod Stewart, Paul Jones, Knomo bags 83 Great Portland 52 Tottenham Court Road Street Efe’s Turkish restaurant 56 Maple Street Johnnie Ray, and . King of showrooms Advertisement

Irving Howard Brecker is one of the founding partners of the Robert Irving Burns estate agents in Margaret Street. He and his two colleagues set up the business in 1962. “Great Portland Estates had just sold off all their resi - dential properties and we were given the task of renting out the 30 or so rooms above the shops at 10 - 12 Totten - ham Street. We set up our first shop there, put a one line advert in the Evening Standard to rent out the rooms and consequently we had queues of people around the block into Whitfield Gardens.” Irving was not keen on residential sales so he concen - trated on the West End offices and business premises. He had a rapport with the rag trade and was known as the “King of the showrooms”. “The garment industry (rag trade) and showrooms really were important in Fitzrovia and Marylebone in the 60s and 70s. The area was buzzing with showrooms , garment manufacturers and associated businesses. Buyers from the Oxford Street stores often came into Fitzrovia to source garments and because the in - dustry was so close to the shops there was a very fast turnaround. “I found premises for showrooms and companies that were finding it difficult to pay high rents. A lot of business was done informally in the cafes and pubs The streets wer alive with activity, porters wheeling rails of garments through the streets, agents in and out of factories and showrooms. In the late 70s and early 80s the market changed away from showrooms and factories towards residential sales. Burtons had enormous power and they took over and centralised the buying. So there was less scope for the small businesses that operated round here. Also show - room rents became more expensive. “I remember some of the characters that worked in the area there was the husband and formidible wife team called Tinero at Kenthouse Market Place. The five Morris Brothers had premises in Little Portland Street, visiting them was like a scene from a Marx Brothers film.” 6 — Fitzrovia News issue 151 Winter 2018 Back to Spain after 50 years

Word from the Streets By CHARLOTTE STREET and her siblings Adios amigos to a Spanish couple that have lived in the area for over 50 Denis Norden years, 47 of them in Scala Street. Enrique Rodriguez came to London in 1967, then Maria Purrinos in 1969. They met in the Costa Brava Spanish Denis Norden, the scriptwriter Club dance hall at 143 Road (now demolished for Cross - who has just died aged 96, was rail) near Tottenham Court Road station. often seen walking around Rath - They moved into Scala Street in 1971 when the rent was £3 a week bone Street where he had an attic (including electricity, gas and water). Now an increase in rent from £162 office at number 1, opposite the to £182 a week (plus electricity, gas and water) for one bedroom and a Marquis of Granby. Until 2006 he shared bathroom has made them return to the Canary Islands. was best known for presenting Maria worked as an orderly at the National Orthapaedic Hospital the television show “It’ll Be Al - in Great Portland Street and other hospitals, and Enrique in Soho right On The Night” of what he restaurants. referred to as “cockups”. They were regulars for many years at the Northumberland Arms When the bishop socked Santa! Apparently his favourite clip (now Queen Charlotte) on the corner of Goodge Street and Charlotte from the programme was of Street when it was run by John and Pearl Burmiston. The Bishop of London appeared to be punching Father Christmas someone offering a tray of delica - when photographed by a Devon local paper. “The area is very nice, especially those at the neighbourhood cen - cies to shoppers and asking: “Are tre, and originally we knew all the people,” said Maria. They still know The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally (for it was she) ex - you peckish?” One reply was: plained how it happened while switching on the tower lights at St fellow drinkers in the and the Blue Posts (where they “No, I’m Turkish.” are pictured above) but not so many. So, with the rent increase, they Giles-in-the-Fields church recently. Norden and his writing part - “I pushed the lever to switch on the town lights in Devon with a have decided to return to Spain where they have more family and ner Frank Muir originally wrote friends. Father Christmas stood next to me,” she recalled. The photographer the line: “Infamy! Infamy! snapped her at such an angle that it looked like she was punching poor They’ve all got it in for me!” It Medical curfew Santa right on his shiny red nose! was in a French Revolution radio “What has Dr King done to not be This prompted a chuckle from the Rector of St Giles-in-the-Fields, sketch for “Take it from here” in permitted outside after 10.30 pm?” Rev Alan Carr , who lives in Gower Street, and bears a strong resem - the 1950s but they let it be used in SIDE NOT PERMITTED AFTER asks my sister Margaret. The sign blance to the comedian who shares his name. My brother Percy took a the film “Carry on, Cleo” where 10.30.” It looks like some prankster outside the Yorkshire Grey in Lang - photograph of the ceremony (above), but was not fully focused on the it became much better known. has removed the letters IN between job after a glass of communal wine, as you can see. ham Street reads: “DR KING OUT - DR and KING. Another restaurant romance is revealed Another Charlotte Street restaurant romance has emerged from a story in this column from the last issue… via the internet from Austria. Then we told about how a New Zealand young woman met an older English gent who shared an interest Darts double Illustration by Jayne Davis in Chinese poetry at Antoine’s Customers of the King & Queen restaurant at 40 Charlotte Street in pub in Foley Street have re - Hellfire service 1929. marked on the resemblance of Hillsong Church hires the Domin - Ann Preininger , who lives in guv’nor Colin Lea (pictured left ion Theatre in Tottenham Court Austria, saw the article and told us above) with darts champion Ger - Road, just round the corner from that her father, Marcel Morel (born in wyn Price (right). 1888 or 1889), worked there at that Price lifted the Eric Bristow St Giles, every Sunday for its ser - in Charlotte Place from then until German restaurant, 33-37 Charlotte time and for 40 years with his half Trophy and £110,000 by beating vices. The sign proclaiming this is 1970 when she went to Austria with Street , from 1962 to 1970, and he too brother Antoine Dolgontchouk. She former world champion Gary just above the “Bat out of Hell” her husband Karl. lived in Charlotte Place where they was born in , Anderson 16-13 after trailing 11-8 poster for the musical there for He was a baker at Schmidt’s met… and had a snowball fight in Mortimer Street , in 1943 and lived in the final. the rest of the week. that severe winter of 1962. “In those Nicknamed the “Iceman” he days the passage had two butchers, a New spy thriller set in “ramshackle” Fitzrovia had previously played both fishmonger, a rag lady, a Jewish bar - piano. But an initial lesson would Rugby Union and Rugby League A murky spy thriller set in ber, and Kate the flower lady (who be helpful.” professionally in Wales. Colin is Fitzrovia was serialised at the was always drunk),” said Ann. As an audio typist she gets a rugby fan and a sup - Book at Bedtime on Radio 4 re - Karl remembers playing table drawn into MI5 typing up porter. cently, and spurred my brother football in the Duke of York , also in bugged conversations. Mortimer to buy the book. the passage. This was the favourite After the war she worked for It is called Transcription, by pub of their neighbours, the Peart the BBC at where Celeb watch Kate Atkinson (published by Street and Tottenham Street. family. In fact Dave “the dog” of that MI5 pressured her to spy for The Mandrake Hotel at 20-21 Doubleday, £20). While attending night classes family still drinks there. He got the them again. She got very suspi - Newman Street seems to be the lat - The main character, Juliet in 1940 she worked as a chamber - nickname after his dog of the 1970s cious of a cab that always lurked est haunt for celebrities. Jeremy Armstrong, first discovers the maid in “a ramshackle hotel in called Ganny, who was named after nearby in Riding House Street Clarkson was there for the 40th area when visiting her dying Fitzrovia” where she fended off Ann’s mother, Camilla Zilla Paola even though there was no rank birthday party of model Jodie Kidd . mother before the war at Middle - unwanted attention from guests (born in 1902). sex Hospital in Mortimer Street. with a sharp kick to the shin. there. To avoid being followed The rapper Example and singer she would take a taxi to Totten - Sonique were also there for a fashion She got to know a French restau - Later when vainly hoping for PICTURED ABOVE: Ann and her ham Court Road and then make show put on by Joshua Kane . rant, Belle Meuniere, in Charlotte an advance from a particular husband (centre and right) with her way down alleys and side Street [which did exist in real life male, she ruminates: “Perhaps current owner of the restaurant, street to shake off her invisible treet at number 5] and an Italian one, sex was something you had to Andreas Roussis. lotte S Moretti’s, near the learn and then stick at until you stalker. Char in Charlotte Street between Scala were good at - like hockey or the Fitzrovia News issue 151 Winter 2018 — 7 Take your partners please dancers are there thoughout the evening: four men and two women (all volunteers) wearing a large “Taxi” badge, they ap - proach the attendees and ask “if they would care for this dance?” t o encourage shyer dancers to get onto the floor. This is included in the ticket price. George says that the Women Taxi dancers can be a little bit shy in approaching dance partners but the men feel more comfortable. George knows the Fitzrovia area well: in the 1960s he worked in the rag trade. He remembers the jacket maker A Patterson, Come Dancing and he replied that sadly various fabric suppliers in the area and the “strictly effect” was negative. “People Tony the Trousers, the Greek Cypriot now see ballroom dancing as a competition trouser specialist. He also remembers when and spectator sport rather than something the eateries of Charlotte Street were small they can participate in. We welcome every immigrant restaurants serving food to body who enjoys being glamorous for the refugees and emigres. evening and wants to take part in dancing.” The evening kicks off with free ball - The next three events are on December on a journey back in time. room dancing classes for beginners and 14th, January 11th and February 15th. See By Pete Whyatt These events are organised by George improvers. back page for events under ballroom danc - ing. Tables are laid with tablecloths and candles, Tudor Hart with his wife Suzy. They learnt “We sell half our tickets on the door “We serve complimentary soft drinks the lighting is subdued, walls are prettily Ballroom dancing in the 1980s and have but offer discounts to those paying in ad - and from January we will be serving free decorated and an Art Deco backdrop never lost the bug. George says there are vance through the website Indian snacks to our dancers,” added adorns the stage. Soon the people arrive: not many places where you can actually designmynight.com (look for black tie ball - George. women in glamorous evening gowns, men dance authentic ballroom to live music room club),” says George. “ Guest numbers Suzy told me that many of the dancers in tuxedos and smart bow ties. nowadays. It may be a wedding or some are limited to 80 to ensure plenty of space tended to have an entrepreneurial and As the room fills up with men and golf clubs in London’s outskirts. on the dance floor. We often sell out, partic - managerial background but they welcome women all complying to the strict black tie In 2007 the couple took over classes in ularly from September to May. This year everybody whatever their background and evening dress code a buzz and a sense a Colliers Wood community centre. They members (both singles and couples) can She added that ballroom dancing is a of excitement builds up. Soon the PA sys - were less formal then: a cheap and cheerful buy a yearly pass for twelve consecutive gentle form of social and physical contact tem plays recordings of pre war British opportunity for couples to meet and prac - dances. which takes away the pressure of having to dance bands. These recordings have been tise their techniques. “The dress code of black tie and make conversation. It is a very companion - digitally remastered and cleaned up with Whilst they ran these classes they were evening dress only is strictly adhered to by able activity for all generations an enhanced bass looking for a suitable venue to hold a regu - all our participants and this helps to create If you would like further information you The sights and sounds and atmosphere lar social event which has ballroom danc - atmosphere and a special sense of occa - can contact feel like an exciting 1930s movie. Then the ing as its raison d’etre. They enquired at sion.” George Tudor Hart on 020 8542 1490 band arrives on stage carrying their instru - many venues but found them to be pro - I asked George whether his events or [email protected] ments and taking their set positions. When hibitively expensive; for instance Park Lane have gained from the popularity of Strictly I visited in November the nine piece Art Hotels and Hackney Town Hall wanted Deco Orchestra played with drums, sousa - thousands of pounds for an evening’s hire. phone, three saxophones, two trumpets, a “But when we approached the Indian trombone and keyboards. As they spring YMCA in October 2016 we were genuinely into action, playing a wide variety of dance happy when they offered us the space and tunes in strict tempo the waltz, the quick - they also saw it as an social opportunity for step and slow foxtrot are the most popular. their students,” said George. “The hall has They also play tangos, rhumbas and sam - windows which can open and a huge bas. Occasionally they throw in a jive, a wooden floor which make for great danc - cha-cha or even a Charleston. ing experience. By now the floor has filled with “The Black Tie Ballroom Club dance is dancers: elegant couples gliding and usually held on the second Friday of the sashaying, swinging, swaying and gliding month. We alternate two bands: the nine effortlessly across the floor. The mood is piece Art Deco Orchestra who are more both nostalgic and buzzing. ballroom oriented, and the Ewan Bleach But this is not some swanky Mayfair Quintet who are more swing oriented. Our Nightclub on the second Friday of every resident vocalist is Alistair Sutherland, a month. The “Black Tie Ballroom Club” rolls baritone, who often performs without a mi - into town and transforms the basement crophone.” hall of the Indian YMCA in Fitzroy Square The dance is unusual in that Taxi

YMCA Indian Student Hostel 41 Fitzroy Square W1T 6AQ Registered Charity since 1920 Ideal place for students, professionals and transit guests A real “Home away from Home” centrally heated wi-fi study rooms TV lounge indoor recreation and gym facilities email [email protected] Authentic Indian cuisine 7 days a week vegetarian and meat / fish options take away available visit weekdays : – breakfast 7:30 - 9:15am, lunch 12:00 - 2:00pm, www.indianymca.org evening meal 6:30 - 8:30pm (please check for weekend and Bank Holiday hours)

020 7387 0411 Equipped conference rooms (25 - 250 people) 8 — Fitzrovia News issue 151 Winter 2018 Archbishops and terrorists mixed with pop stars

By MIKE PENTELOW Hard Day’s Night, and she often thought: “Bloody hell, what have A terrorist, an archbishop, an saw her favourites Sonny Terry we done? That wasn’t us, was it?” opera singer, pop stars and and Brownie McGhee at the 100 Archbishop Makarios, was drunken newsreaders all fea - Club in Oxford Street. calling for Cyprus to be indepen - ture in this book which Earlier while attending All dent in the 1950s and was exiled Souls School in Foley Street she by the British as a result. One of would make a fine television stayed behind twice a week for his first public appearances on his soap. Greek lessons from Pieris Zarmas, release in 1957 was at 21 Fitzroy It is based on the life of the who went on to became a world Square in the offices of the author, whose Greek Cypriot par - famous opera singer. Adelphotita, the Greek Cypriot ents, a chef and a rag trade The terrorist was a lad called Brotherhood. He later became worker, lived at 57 Riding House Panos who lived on the top floor president when independence Street from the 1930s until 1978 in Riding House Street and was was finally won. when the landlord threw them always conducting chemistry ex - Many of the Greek Cypriots out in order to sell the property. periments. He used this knowl - in Fitzrovia were from the same Several families in the block edge by threatening to gas the village on the north coast, called shared a single outdoor toilet. whole of Cyprus unless the gov - Akanthou, and Helen’s father set Helen was born here in 1949 ernment gave him $15 million up the Anglo Akanthou Aid Soci - and, as a teenager in the swinging dollars, under the pseudonym of ety in 1958 to raise funds to build sixties, was at the heart of it all Commander Nemo. He was tried a hospital there. Many socials Author Helen Evangelou at the book launch with clubs such as the Marquee at the Old Bailey in 1989 and was were organised at the Glory and the , and the “fab jailed for five years. restaurant at 57 Goodge Street trousers for drunken bets, and one time. gear” shops of Carnaby Street, all His previous involvement and in the end a school was built cameraman fell asleep in the toilet When her mother died in the on her doorstep. with terrorism was when a bomb with the proceeds. and was locked in over night. This 1990s Helen took over her flat in Literally round the corner at exploded in the GPO Tower in Many planned to return on led to a tabloid headline of “Booze Carburton Street, living there for a 17-19 Foley Street were the ATV’s Howland Street at about 4.30 am retirement to Akanthou, where at Ten.” decade, then moved a few streets Britallian House studios where in on October 31, 1971 and he was they had land, but these hopes They also went to Anemos away to for a fur - the mid 1950s the likes of Marty first round there to take pho - were all dashed when the Turks restaurant at 32 Charlotte Street, ther three years. Wilde, Cliff Richard, and Billy tographs which he sold to the Sun invaded it in 1974. “a wild place” where hundreds of She then moved to Suffolk, Fury would come out on Friday which syndicated them world - Helen returned to work in the plates were smashed and dancing where two of her neighbours have nights to be pursued by scream - wide. area on the news desk at the ITN was on the tables rather than the flats in Riding House Street now. ing girls. And Helen got the auto - Minutes before the explosion building on the corner of Riding floor. “Tales from Riding House graphs of Cliff and the Shadows two young men from Maple House Street and Wells Street. One ITN staff member actu - Street, a faded London house and one quiet Saturday morning. Street, friends of Helen, “after a They frequented the Wolsey’s ally choked to death on her food the Cypriots who lived in it,” by In 1964 she saw the Beatles night out on the lash” urinated wine bar opposite, at 52 Wells and slumped forward on to her Helen Evangelou, can be ordered perform at the Scala Theatre in through a letter box. When they Street, and shoved plates of plate. Everybody assumed she from Tottenham Street for the film A heard the bomb go off they spaghetti down each others was drunk until it was closing www.ridinghousestreet.co.uk. How local Germans suffered during the war

The plight of the long standing Ger - After they left, these premises were man community in Fitzrovia during taken over by the Indian YMCA before it in the first world war was described on turn moved to Fitzroy Square. a guided walk by Chris Everett to The main YMCA, off Tottenham Court mark the 100th annivrsary of its end. Road in Great Russell Street, put on guided “Charlotte Street was known as Char - tours for Dominion troops, and also lotte Strasse because so many Germans worked to get jobs for soldiers who had lived there,” he said. “In 1913 out of the been gassed or disabled. 140 businesses in Charlotte Street, 40 were Support for wounded soldiers was also German - clubs, delicatessens, beer cellars, provided by two organisations in South butchers and the like. And there were sev - Crescent, Store Street. The St John Ambu - eral in Tottenham Court Road including a lance Brigade, and the British Red Cross, beef and tongue shop. shared offices at 10 South Crescent from “But once war was declared there was which they despatched parcels of aid to the a lot of anti-German feeling whipped up front. Up to 45,000 people volunteered for with the backing of the Daily Mail and the A German shop at 63 Charlotte Street in 1914. them including nurses looking after Northcliffe Press, portraying them all as wounded soldiers, of whom 1,000 were tenced to six months in prison in July 1916 by the Home Secretary. Apart, that is, from spies, which led to people reporting Ger - killed. There was also the Belgian Hospital and was then deported for having a cam - the Saxe-Coburgs who were allowed to mans to the police. at 23 Store Street. era without permission. change theirs to Windsor.” “Part of this backlash included the for - Many army uniform manufacturers “Emily Reinks, aged 49, ran a boarding Thousands of troops from the Domin - mation of the Loyal British Waiters’ Associ - were based in Alfred Place, and the Belgian house in Grafton Way [called Street at that ions fought for Britain and many were ac - ation at 72 Tottenham Court Road which sports car manufacturer, Minerva, in North time] and got three months in prison for commodated in the area. opposed Germans working in restaurants. Crescent, Chenies Street, switched to mak - failing to keep a register of enemy aliens, New Zealand soldiers, including “Franz Kratschmar of Charlotte Street ing armoured cars and moved to the also in July 1916. Maoris, had their headquarters at 15 committed suicide on Heath as Netherlands. “The poet John Benjamin, whose fam - Gower Street on the corner with Store a result of this hounding. The Drill Hall in Chenies Street (now ily had a furniture shop in Tottenham Street. “The Maoris got the same reception “Karl Hegemann, a baker, moved from part of RADA) was used for drilling dur - Court Road, was taunted about his German as others,” said Chris. “There was no Huntley Street to Maple Street, but failed ing the war by the Rifles name while at school. racism towards soldiers in London at that to notify this change of address so was sen - Brigade, and The Rangers of the 12 County “And having a German name led to time, as they were all seen as part of the tenced to three months’ hard labour in the of London Regiment, whose 1,193 killed in lots losing their jobs, including policemen war effort. If Maori soldiers had white girl same month. both world wars are commemorated on the with 20 years’ service or more. friends it was not seen as an issue.” “Henry Walter, a German liftman for memorial at the Eisenhower Centre in “When they tried to avoid this by They had a club opposite and a lot of Waring & Gillow in Oxford Street, was sen - North Crescent, Chenies Street. changing their names this was made illegal entertainment was put on for them. Fitzrovia News issue 151 Winter 2018 — 9 Pioneering HIV/AIDS treatment

By SUE BLUNDELL ‘The Middlesex was great!’ I’d met Jane Bruton on an NHS demo, and was delighted to dis - cover that in the 1990s she’d worked at our local hospital. Jane trained as a nurse in Sheffield, and there she became involved in campaigns around health issues such as women’s right to abortion. Then in 1989 she moved to London and secured a job as Sis - ter in charge of the UK's first ded - icated HIV/AIDS ward, set up at the Middlesex Hospital in 1987. When the ward first opened it had been tricky getting support staff to work in a place where all the patients were living with a virus labelled by some ‘the gay plague’. A few agency nurses and ambulance drivers wore inappro - priate protective clothing, and some were sent home to avoid upsetting the patients. But atti - tudes began to shift a little, after a photo published worldwide showed Princess Diana, without gloves, shaking hands with one of the Middlesex patients. She had challenged the widespread belief that HIV could be passed on through touch. By the time Jane took up her post in the hospital they were having no difficulty re - cruiting nurses, though agency staff occasionally walked out if they hadn’t been told in advance These were men coming to matic. Wards started to empty. ‘It had left, after ten years on the Jane ends by listing a few of which ward they were needed for. the end of their lives. ‘Some of was a miracle,’ Jane says. ‘They AIDS ward, to work in the HIV the positive practices which have Finding cleaners to work in them had lost their sight, and called it the Lazarus Effect.’ Peo - department at Chelsea and West - come out of the new ways of the unit had also been a problem. nearly all were drastically ple who had accepted that they minster. Nowadays she carries nursing pioneered in the Middle - But one woman helped to change changed in appearance.’ The were going to die now knew that out research on patient experi - sex AIDS wards. Patient-centred all that – a cleaner from Madeira great majority died, often in their they would live. ence, and has helped conduct a care … patient consent … living who was living on Cleveland 20s or 30s. Some amazing funer - In 1998 the HIV/AIDS ward study on Living with Aids. Late wills, now called ‘advance direc - Street, ‘She loved the patients, als were held in what is now the transferred from the Middlesex to diagnosis is still a problem, she tives’ and endorsed by the BMA. and they loved her.’ Though she . UCLH. ‘The move was traumatic,’ says, and specialist AIDS wards Perhaps more than anything else was shunned initially by the other Even the few men who sur - Jane tells me. ‘The Middlesex was do still exist. ‘Raising GP aware - the commitment to treating the domestics, she became such a vived found life very hard. Some our home. It was hard to imagine ness, and extending the routine whole person, not just his or her charismatic champion of the pa - had relatives, even wives, who our patients in any other setting’. testing of patients in hospital, are physical symptoms, has been an tients living with HIV that people hadn’t known they were gay. The Middlesex Hospital fi - two of the priorities now.’ Events important lesson learned during eventually started volunteering to ‘Whole swathes of their friends nally closed in 2005 and was de - like World Aids Day, on Decem - those terrible times in the 1980s go to her ward. And her response had disappeared,’ Jane says. And molished in 2008. But by then Jane ber 1st, are vital. and 90s. didn’t just make things easier in they still had to face the stigma the hospital. She also helped to and fear attached to an illness transform the workers’ ideas which few people understood. about gay relationships in gen - Homophobia was rife. In 1988 the eral. notorious Section 28 introduced Broderip and its sister ward, by Margaret Thatcher’s govern - Charles Bell, were warm and lov - ment had made it illegal for local ing places. The staff were like councils “to promote the teaching family, and greeted their patients in schools of the acceptability of with hugs. There were pretty cur - homosexuality as a pretended tains, soft lighting, duvets … and family relationship.” Yet the love lots of clutter. Patients were en - which these men showed each couraged to bring in their own other would have put many con - bits and pieces. Some of them ventional families to shame. went to Nice Irma’s on Goodge ‘It was terrible, but life-en - Street to buy scatter cushions. riching,’ Jane says of her experi - One man had a fish tank. ‘The pa - ence on the ward. ‘It showed me tients had a great deal of free - the best of humanity, its capacity dom,’ Jane tells me. Sometimes to endure.’ they nipped out to visit Soho Drugs trials were going on clubs, or to see a show. And the throughout this period, and in garden in the Middlesex court - 1996 the combination of yard was the spot where they medicines known as highly active went to smoke and to get some antiretroviral therapy first ap - peace. peared. The results were dra - Photos by Gideon Mendel from his 1993 series The Ward published by Trolley Books 59 Riding House Street 10 — Fitzrovia News issue 151 Winter 2018 Spying and counter spying in Ridgmount Gardens

By MIKE PENTELOW married an English woman. He on Soviets and CPGB activists. A real life spy web which effec - was expelled for his Bolshevik ac - He had acquired the nick - tively infiltrated Scotland Yard’s tivities in 1919 along with Maxim name of “Trilby”, the heroine of Special Branch is described in a Litvinov, who later became the George du Maurier’s novel, be - new book. And it was based at Soviet foreign minister. cause they both liked to be bare - 55 Ridgmount Gardens in the But the following year foot. After gaining a first class 1920s. Klishko returned to Britain with honours degree in mathematics It is described in “Enemies diplomatic status as a Russian and history at Cambridge in 1907, Within, Communists, The Cam - trade delegate, engaging in espi - he had joined the Daily Herald in bridge Spies and the Making of onage at the same time. 1912. He had been a conscientious Modern Britain” by Richard Dav - Lakey was joined at Ridg - objector during the first world enport-Hines (published by mount Gardens by Walter Dale, war, and was assigned to be an William Collins, price £25). also sacked for joining the police agricultural worker. He wrote According to a previous book strike, who became the agency’s anti-war poems and was very (“Special Branch, A History 1883- chief investigator. much against imperialism and in 2006” by Ray Wilson and Ian They contacted two union favour of socialism and world rev - Adams published in 2015) it was sympathisers still working for olution. In 1918 he became the based at 51 rather than 55 Ridg - Special Branch, detective Daily Herald correspondent in mount Gardens. sergeants Hubert van Ginhoven Russia, and the foreign editor in Either way, this was where and Charles Jane, who were paid 1919. Arthur Lakey lived and ran the £20 a week to report on who Spe - Later he became disillusioned Vigilance Detective Agency, for cial Branch was spying on. They with Marxist orthodoxy, and the which the rent was paid by Soviet also gave them the addresses of Communist Party’s authoritarian - diplomat and spy Nikolai Special Branch intelligence offi - ism, and was expelled from it. The Klyshko. cers (which enabled them to be party’s general secretary Harry Lakey had joined the Special shadowed) and warned them Pollitt denounced Ewer as a “pos - Branch in 1916, after having been who was being investigated and turing renegade” and the Daily torpedoed in the navy during the when search warrants were about Worker described him as pro- war, and by 1919 had become a to be issued. And they told them Nazi. sergeant. where MI5’s headquarters were Both Pollitt and Ewer had af - He was also a member of the so they could follow their agents fairs with Rose Cohen, known as National Union of Police and as well. the “Bloomsbury Bolshevik” by Prison Officers which took action Seeking to actually infiltrate her detractors. She was in the So - in 1918 for better pay and condi - MI5, the agency put an advert in viet Union during the Stalin tions which were promised by the Daily Herald for anybody purges and was arrested in 1937. the government. But in 1919 the who had been involved with in - Ewer thought she had been sent to government reneged on this deal, newspaper the Daily Herald. to spread lies about the new So - telligence. An MI5 agent was sent a Siberian labour camp and fretted so the union went on strike to en - Here he met Norman Ewer (a viet government. to answer the advert to see who about her, and found it unforgiv - force it. They were defeated how - journalist on the paper who had Lakey agreed to run this for was behind it, and he was tracked able that the Communist Party of ever and the union was made joined the Communist Party of them and was put in touch with by Walter Dale, who in turn was Britain did not intervene on her illegal and all its members were Great Britain on its foundation a Nikolai Klyshko, who arranged tracked by another MI5 agent. behalf as he thought. In fact Harry sacked. year earlier) and Jack Hayes, who for him to have the flat in Ridg - When the Soviet delegation Pollitt had tried but to no avail, as Before his dismissal Lakey had been general secretary of the mount Gardens for this purpose. was expelled in 1927 Lakey’s she was shot after a few months of had read Special Branch confi - police union and was later elected He stayed there until 1923 when a counter-intelligence agency was a terrorising ordeal. dential papers and reported their as a Labour MP in Liverpool. new front organisation called the starved of funds and was wound Ewer continued working for contents to the union. They had started a counter- London Branch of the Federated up. the Daily Herald, as foreign editor, In 1921 he was raising relief intelligence operation, called the Press Agency of America replaced Lakey himself moved to until it was taken over by funds for sacked union members Vigilance Detective Agency, in re - it and set up at 222 Strand. Bournemouth where he managed Odham’s Press and run on com - when he was summoned to the sponse to the British intelligence Klyshko had settled in Lon - a restaurant, under the alias of Al - mercial rather than political lines. offices of the labour supporting services forging copies of Pravda don in 1910 as an engineer and bert Allen. MI5 who had uncov - Then he worked for the Foreign ered the links between the agency Office Information Research De - and the Russians tracked him partment, countering communist down and offered him money to propaganda. He was made a spill the beans. Commander of the British Empire THE DUKE OF YORK This he did which led to the in 1959 for his 50 years of diplo - arrest of the Special Branch offi - matic journalism, and got a spe - Opening hours Mon-Fri 12-11pm cers Hubert van Ginhoven (by cial pass to the Foreign Office for now promoted to detective in - the rest of his life. Sat 1-11pm Sunday closed spector) and Charles Jane, as well As readers of our Summer 47 Rathbone Street W1T 1NW as Walter Dale. The two officers issue will know Ridgmount Gar - were sacked but no action was dens was also the home of another 0207 636 7065 [email protected] taken against Dale. spy Jona Ustinov (father of actor A traditional pub with a good selection of The Daily Herald journalist, Peter) who lived at number 35 at Norman Ewer, was also inter - the same time (from April 1921 to real ales and varied wine list. viewed by MI5 a few years later, 1924) as Lakey was a few doors Upstairs Bar / Function room available for when he told them he had not away. Ustinov spied for the Rus - conducted espionage, only sians, Germans and British. private parties and buffets. counter-espionage against spying Check us out on facebook! NEXT ISSUE: The life of glamour pho - tographer Harrison Marks. Fitzrovia News issue 151 Winter 2018 — 11 Dwelling - an exhibition of beauty and attachment By CLIVE JENNINGS ing how art finds a place in our LEFT: Andy The Fitzrovia Chapel in Pearson homes, buildings and lives. They Warhol with Clive Square last month embraced and included 19 private homes, and Jennings celebrated the Fitzrovia commu - commercial premises as diverse as nity with the exhibition: the BT Tower, Pollock’s Toy Mu - RIGHT: Painting DWELLING – An Exhibition of seum and the American Church by Catherine Rhys Beauty and Attachment. Soup Kitchen. Each artwork was Jones with Griff The show explored the design accompanied by a statement by its Rhys Jones. choices, style and perceptions of owner, explaining its special sig - beauty in dwellings across nificance to them. Fitzrovia. It comprised a digital Fitzrovians may well remem - presentation of photographs of ber the dramatic campaign to save residents with their art and nine The Fitzrovia Chapel when The artworks that demonstrated the Middlesex Hospital was redevel - true diversity of Fitzrovia, as well oped as a luxury-housing com - as referencing its historical, cul - plex. Built in 1891 by John tural and artistic roots. Loughborough Pearson, and com - Faye Hughes, Artistic Direc - pleted in 1929 by his son Frank tor, the Fitzrovia Chapel, explains: Loughborough Pearson after the “In summer 2018, we entered rest of the hospital was demol - dwellings across Fitzrovia, to ex - ished and rebuilt around the perience the diversity of the area chapel, it has now been saved and understand its residents twice. It was well worth the effort through the pieces they use to and the recent restoration work to decorate their homes. Fitzrovia, the interior has successfully re - with a historic reputation for driv - vived this stunning building – a Soul Master with Ramona Galardi ing counterculture and once home spectacular combination of a gold to , , Nina ceiling, colourful , marble grad at St Martins. My first wife Gigi in Blue with Hannah Watson Hamnett and Whistler, didn’t dis - everywhere and beautiful stained was a fashion designer and I appoint. The work was as dy - glass. The magnificent interior ended up in the fashion business the pictures were any good until ‘Soul Mates’ by Ramona namic, authentic and intriguing as complements and often outshines for a while. We used to show in the film was developed.” – Clive Galardi. Lithograph from the its residents today. Set within the any artwork displayed within it. New York. That is a shirt I de - Jennings home of Ramona Galardi. surprising gothic wonder of the Described as “Italian Gothic”, I signed. The design collective I Painting by Catherine Rhys “I have quite a variety of ob- Fitzrovia Chapel, DWELLING would put it more in the ‘Russian was involved with were showing Jones, from the home of Griff jects, art and textiles in my envi- shows that the liberated ideals Orthodox meets High Catholic on over eight floors of a hotel. Andy Rhys Jones. ronment. Being an interior and uncompromised commitment acid’ school of architecture. The Warhol and one of his assistants “No interior will ever match designer and an artist I have a se- to the art of the neighbourhood Chapel is now operated by a dedi - came to see another company. I the glories of the little Fitzrovia lective eye. I have curated each live on.” cated charity and is open every kind of grabbed him and said: Chapel, but many many people piece carefully – either for its his- Martin Sean photographed 28 Wednesday for a free public open “Come and look at our shirts.” live quietly and happily within its tory, its use, its texture, the micro- homes and businesses for the pro - day, and if you haven’t been yet, I And he said: “Pretty Shirts”. My inner-city ambit and they have cosm in the macrocosm. ject, including my own humble would highly recommend a visit. abiding memory is that he was their own treasures. How great to Sometimes they are juxtaposed abode. With buildings ranging ‘Andy Warhol with Shirt’. the first person I’d ever seen share them. More of this city, or with opposing pieces, sometimes from sumptuous residences to Photograph from the home of wearing a backpack as a fashion any city, should be like Fitzrovia. I with similar stories, usages, tex- quirky apartments, hostels and Clive Jennings. accessory. I took a load of photos, am glad that we have access to the tures. I am drawn to their tactile family homes, the focus of the ex - “The photograph of Warhol and in those days with a big chapel and its programme. It’s one and visual quality. If they could hibition was on reflecting people’s was taken in New York in 1983. I chunky camera, you know. It was of the little happinesses of living each tell their story, it would passion for design and question - studied Fine Art and did a post- pre-selfie and you didn’t know if here.” - make an interesting glimpse into their worlds. Stepping into my Dwelling is a journey into other Excellent value for an early meal worlds.” - Ramona Galardi ‘Gigi in the Blue Grotto By the DINING DETECTIVE often share so that I can give a full play “Hallelujah”, at our own report!) and the other a chicken wonderful local movie-house, the with Light, Capri’ by Nan COTE BRASSERIE, 4 Great breast and vegetables. Simple Regent Street Cinema. Goldin. Photograph from Han- Portland Street (entrance in main courses, really cooked right, The soup and salad starters nah Watson, TJ Boulting, Market Place), and 5 Char - and a very drinkable house wine, were, again, really outstanding: Fitzrovia. lotte Street. £4.95 per glass. At one point there cosy, tasty celeriac soup, and a ter - “This photo is of Gigi Gi- I should have written about was a sudden exodus of cus - rific ‘autumn’ salad with butter - anuzzi, taken in the Blue Grotto the chain Cote Brasserie – which tomers: our waitress told us they nut, walnuts, spinach leaves and in Capri by his close friend the has two restaurants in Fitzrovia – were all going to a show at the feta. The mains: not quite so good photographer Nan Goldin in long before this, and this might Palladium, and that Palladium as last time: the chicken served 1997. They had spent the summer be interesting to know about with audiences made frequent use of with lots of oily peppers and a together around Naples and he

Christmas approaching. the early meal offer, which is why thyme and creamy wholegrain wanted to do a book of her pic- . t e e r t S d l e i f s o G a 1 t a s i 4 1 e g a p n

Two Christmas Eves running o the place was so heaving when sauce was slightly overcooked, tures in Italy, but the publisher he h p a r g o t o h p e h T : E L Z Z U P E R U T C I

I have wanted to take visitors P we arrived. (Friday night). and so was the roast seabream, worked for at the time didn’t from Europe out for a Christmas Our bill, with wine as an served with flageolet beans and a want to do it. So he left and meal: for them Christmas is cele - happy Christmases! extra, and its 12.5% service charge tomato, parsley and olive oil started his own publishing house. brated on Christmas Eve. The Recently I found that Cote – which they make very clear on dressing. Absolutely edible, just ‘Ten Years after by Nan Goldin only local restaurant I could find were offering a two-course meal is given to the staff not the not perfect. And that’s always a was his first book. I met Gigi in serving food on the evening of for £12.95 if you ordered it before management – was still well possibility I suppose, but I really 2005 and became his partner in 24th December was Cote 7pm. We got there at 6.40pm and below my putative limit which do recommend giving Cote a try, Trolley, his publishing company, Brasserie in Charlotte Street. One were somehow squeezed in and still battles on at £35 per person. at least with an early dinner – our and we started the gallery TJ year we booked a small private made very welcome in their Just to make sure the pleasant bill for two, including drinks and Boulting together in Fitzrovia in room, one year we just sat in the – crowded restaurant in Market house wine hadn’t affected my service charge, was less than £40 2011. After he died in 2012, Nan quite crowded incidentally – Place. My companion had a fine detecting abilities I went back total. gave me this picture so it can al- main restaurant. Both times we onion soup to start; I had a again to Market Place on a Mon - As we crossed the road to the ways hang in our gallery. I love had very Christmassy, pleasant spinach and feta and nut salad day, again going early to take ad - Regents Street Cinema, saw a very the fact that even though it’s a sil- food and wine; next day we did it which was so nice I’ve been hop - vantage of the cheaper price and interesting filmed play, and then houette, you can totally tell it’s the English way with our heads ing to find it again ever since. For because a friend and I were going walked home, I kept thinking: Gigi. She’s captured something of in the oven basting the Christmas mains one of us had perfectly to see the 7pm film of a live per - “how lucky are we, to live in his spirit somehow in this beauti- turkey. And altogether had very cooked minute steak fritte (we formance of Alan Bennett’s new Fitzrovia!” ful, blue shadow.” – Hannah Wat - son 12 — Fitzrovia News issue 151 Winter 2018 True variety at lost theatre

By ANN BASU A photograph of the doors to the right of the window building for two years before the The Athenaeum Hall at 73 Tot - Athenaeum shows that it fully which must have led to the hall. Athenaeum opened there. The tenham Court Road hosted lived down to the seedy character “Athenaeum” is faintly visible shop on the ground floor had events from radical political of Tottenham Court Road at that painted above the entrance, with originally been a tobacconists meetings to plays, musical time. If there is a rule that the a lantern on the wall to light the then a florists, and a basket and recitals and dancing classes. It most unimpressive places have name from above. A notice adver - brush making business had also opened in 1885 in premises pre - the grandest names, the tising “Public Telephone” is operated at that address until viously used by a variety of Athenaeum proves it. Pictured prominent below the third-floor 1877. small businesses and was even - forlornly awaiting demolition, it window; the boasted-of tele - The Athenaeum staged a tually knocked down due to the is a narrow three-storied brick phone must have been quite an wide variety of events. There building in 1907 of what was at building with no elegant features innovation. The upper floors were plays and entertainments. first named Tottenham Court and a scruffy bay window, per - were occupied by an oyster On 25 February 1890 there was a Road tube station but renamed haps the box office, on the restaurant and a dancing school. farewell benefit to Monsieur Goodge Street station in 1908. ground floor. There are double The Central Club used the Louis Verone, a ventriloquist and thought-reader, “the most genial and dexterous of entertainers … three hours of continuous amuse - ment and laughter.” The bill listed 18 acts including a juggler and midgets. (Playbill, Guildhall Library) In January 1893, Henrik Ibsen’s “Ghosts” was performed Jugglers, at the Hall, directed by Mr H. de - midgets, Lange. In at least one of the per - Ibsen, formances the well-known actress Mrs Patrick Campbell ATHENAEUM HALL in Tottenham Eleanor starred as Mrs Alving and was Court Road. praised in The Sketch review on 1 Marx, Courtesy of Camden Local Studies February: William and Archive Centre The performance of ‘Ghosts’ Morris, … was conspicuously excellent. importance to the race of man, anarchists The Mrs Alving of Mrs Patrick since on all sides it surrounds our life and our work. ... all Campbell was an admirable in - terpretation, and Miss Hall Caine The radical trend of activities performed was an ideal Regina. at the Athenaeum continued there The reviewer reveals the through the 1890s. The Hall fea - small scale of the Athenaeum tures on a poster advertising a when he comments that the audi - talk on “The Philosophy of Anar - ence was “most inconveniently chism”, part of a course of anar - overcrowded”, although he says chist lectures taking place in July they responded to the play “with 1897. And in 1899 there was a marked favour.” mixed bill of songs, recitations The Athenaeum had a repu - and an “Operatic Dramatic Bur - tation for hosting radicals who lesque” called lived in large numbers around with characters such as an unem - Tottenham Court Road. The Hall ployed man, Tom Allalone, a is perhaps best known for French insurgent, assorted police putting on music and poetry officers and the Spirit of Liberty. recitals involving Eleanor Marx In its last years the and Edward Aveling. William Athenaeum also functioned as a Morris’s play, The Tables Turned, dance hall. A picture taken in 1902 or Nupkins Awakened, was also shows it full of men and women performed there in October 1887. who were busy learning Irish The play, a satire, was popular reels in classes organised by the with leftists who were described Gaelic League. They seem to be by as “a moving quite sedately for Irish motley sea of rolling, wallowing, dancers. Perhaps this was because guffawing Socialists” in an essay they were dressed in the normal for the Saturday Review in 1896 daywear of the time which for likening Morris to Aristophanes. men was a suit, waistcoat, In October 1890, Morris ap - starched collar and tie and, for Illustration by Clifford Harper peared at the Athenaeum again women, an elaborate hat kept on to give a talk for the ‘Common - with long hatpins, a blouse with weal’ branch of the Socialist leg-of-mutton sleeves, an ankle- League on “Art for the People.” length skirt, petticoats and a tight Bloomsbury ward Morris explained his ideas about corset. the convergence of beauty and Within a few years of this councillors surgeries utility, saying: dancing scene, the Athenaeum First Friday of the month 6:00-7:00pm Fitzrovia Centre 2 Foley Street Find us on What then is this body of art Hall would close and lie empty Second and fourth Fridays of the month 6:00-7:00pm which is something different until it was swept away by the Marchmont Community Centre, 62 Marchmont Street, WC1N 1AB Facebook and from what we nowadays call pic - Goodge Street Tube development. Third Friday of the month is a “roving surgery” Get in touch if you would tures and sculpture? It is the art After that its energy and radical - like us to conduct the surgery in your street or building Twitter for the of the people: the art produced ism had to flow into the many Adam Harrison, Sabrina Francis and Rishi Madlani other small halls, cafés and clubs contact 020 7974 3111 latest news by the daily labour of all kinds of tucked into the cheerfully un - [email protected] [email protected] men for the daily use of all kinds kempt and rackety streets of [email protected] of men: surely therefore we may at the outset suppose that it is of Fitzrovia. Fitzrovia News issue 151 Winter 2018 — 13

had succeeded, you might not ‘Let’s not forget the heroin have won. I hadn’t touched co - and cocaine. The mescaline.’ caine for months by then.’ Of course she is right. ‘He ‘Still, it’s me who challenged isn’t human,’ I say. ‘I can’t match his reputation. Me who humili - him.’ Beastly Curse ated him by writing the truth ‘No one can. They say even about the baby that vanished at Hitler feared him. He could de - ‘Another. Yes, absinthe.’ Keep the Abbey of Thelema in my stroy us with the tiniest twitch of the warmth coming. He is A short story by SUNITA SOLIAR book. Me who he sued for libel.’ his finger. We’re ruined.’ She going to kill me. Crowley ‘And me who spoke in public looks around at the dancers in will kill me. You cannot win about how he made my husband cheap clothes, flesh pulsating. She against him and he is to win drink cat’s blood.’ was once one of them. She gets Where is the barmaid? More up from our table. ‘I’ll see you, for what he calls my sin absinthe quickly. Nina. Or if I don’t see you before against him. She goes on: ‘My husband Christmas…’ But there isn’t a sec - His spirit is everywhere in was his favourite. Crowley in - ond half and she is rushing away my flat. I feel it as I pull the icicles tended him to be his heir. I’m the from me, out into the cold. that form on the taps, in the thin one who sent reports on him to It is already starting to snow. pain that comes up through the the papers.’ Soon there will be tinsel glimpsed floorboard and wrecks the bones ‘You forget that I was also his through people’s windows and of my feet. He claims that 666 is student. Once at a party, he wore carollers on the street. Crowley the sign of the sun, that he is sun - a jewelled order. I asked him said that he wished for a song of light, but he has slipped himself what it was. He told me “The anti-Christmas eve. He also said into this cold, dark winter. I can - order of the Holy Ghost, my that Christmas is for the men of not be alone there where he can dear.”’ good will. But who are they? He whisper his hatred into my shiv - She says, ‘I also shot him. says they are only those who hap - ering sleep. Here, in the bright - Only he would not die. He picked pen to agree with us for the mo - ness and booze of the Café Royal, me up and removed me from the ment. And what for the rest of us, I am safer. Everything is bright. Abbey.’ what for the who Even is a solace, a crea - She looks pleased with her - was once the fulcrum of life here? ture of colour in her purples and self for that. If she wants to win Painter, model, muse. Is that a yellows that flicker across this so badly, why not let her have it? life? world of mirrors and light, never Why not pass the curse on and be It is so easy to die. One could mind her cast-iron face like a cof - free of it? I say, ‘Perhaps you are step out into the road failing to fin in which her eyes are buried. I right that you are the one in see an oncoming vehicle. There is would like to paint her like this, greater danger.’ the ice and emptiness of my flat. one more time, to document that That surprises her. She takes Pneumonia. Or alone, one could even the leaky end of life is still a moment. Then she sits back in so easily slip from the window life and I live, but a brush Illustration by Clifford Harper her chair, knuckles clasped on the and fall into the blackness below. drenched in absinthe is not up to table. ‘I wouldn’t say greater,’ she The barmaid sees me seeking the task. Whiskey. Vodka. Who ‘... he made my husband says. ’After all, you did accuse her. ‘Absinthe,’ I tell her. ‘An - would believe what I must tell him of those goings on with a other.’ about Crowley except her? If I am goat.’ to die, someone must know he is drink cat’s blood’ I have nothing to counter. responsible. Does he dance across Stupid to think she would take it Sensation the mirror? His hairless head? wants to freeze my soul.’ She says, ‘It was my testi - on. We each have our own curses, No, remember, Nina: he will not Her gaze is like a deadbolt. mony that gave weight to your and I cannot pass it on because a Apologies by the inadvertent reveal himself. He can become in - She says, ‘I fear he comes for me case.’ curse is not a gift. The one he omission of the last line in the visible. too.’ How easily she forgets who is gives me does not fit her. She Sensation short story in our last Ah, absinthe. Goes down Can it be true? If it were, she the painter and who the sitter. does not try to give me hers. issue. easy. I look Betty May full in the would seem more afraid. It is like ‘Testifying is not proclaiming,’ I Where is the barmaid? I say, ‘He It should have read: face, making her lean in close. her to start a contest even when say. ‘And his lawyers did dis - once drank a bottle of absinthe, ‘Yes.’ The diamond: a thing Crowley’s spirit is omnipresent — death is the true enemy. Death credit you because of your two of brandy and who knows temporarily lost, but restored by be careful not to invite evil and his evil servant. habits.’ how much gin. It didn’t touch you. I entrust it to you. ‘Please through utterance. I tell her, I ask, ‘How so?’ ‘Tried to discredit me. If they him.’ write it.’ ’Crowley has cursed me. He Poetry corner I CAN CAN-CAN PREMONITION by By TERRY EGAN WWhEenN I DwaYs lSittHle UTLER I can dance upon the moon, I thought the red pillar box can sail into a map, and plan; knew by some magic at midnight I can watch High Noon - where to send the letters. I can can-can. That the postbox could read the ad - I can rocket into space, dress of fantasy can be a fan; and whizz it there by magic, can travel widely in one place - travelling underground I can can-can. along mysterious passages all the way to Uncle Dennis I can do most anything, in Oxfordshire. only I can't make you love me: floating on the air's 'a thing' - That there must be an underground but it's above me... network of tunnels to every house, I can walk across a lake spreading out like spiders' webs of snow there's nothing prettier than; from every postbox. I can chase a single flake - I can can-can. About to read Hound of the Baskervilles are Paul Then I couldn't understand For more verses by local poets get: Rowson and his canine companion Molly. Paul, who why we needed the postman. Lucky prize runs the Bricklayers Arms in Gresse Street, won our A FITZROVIAN MISCELLANY Price just £3.50 Sherlock Holmes competition with the correct answer from Fitzrovia Neighbourhood It's not generally known winner to which street Dr Watson lived in (Mortimer Street). Centre that at the age of four, 39 Tottenham Street, London W1T 4RX I invented the Internet.

14 — Fitzrovia News issue 151 Winter 2018 Hermes the trickster By SUE BLUNDELL The fourth in an occasional series of Last summer a bronze drinking- fountain called ‘Herm’ was placed in the garden at the cen - Goddesses and Gods of Fitzrovia tre of Rathbone Square, the new development between Rathbone Place and Newman Street (pic - tured right). Its creator was the sculptor Alison Wilding. In ancient Greece a herm was originally a heap of stones used as a way marker. These items can still be seen all over Greece, alongside country footpaths, and there are quite a few in Britain too. Indeed, the word ‘herm’ may be related to ‘cairn’, the Gaelic term for these structures. Both here and in Greece they are often maintained by passing travellers, contributing a stone or two to the pile. The ancient Greek herm was Herm in Istanbul Muserum accorded great respect – it could be a lifesaver – and it developed close to the stones from which he at an early stage into a god, Her - had grown. Many houses and mes. This deity was a great trav - public buildings in ancient eller, as you might expect. As the Athens had a rectangular pillar messenger of the gods he was outside the front door with a equipped with a splendid sunhat, head of Hermes on top and a a herald’s staff, and winged boots phallus half way down. These or sandals. In Roman mythology herms were thought to ward off he went by the name of Mercury. bad fortune; and great consterna - Because herms often stood at tion was caused in 415 BC when the place where two roads met, mes to protect them from other husband’s home. He also escorted band Orpheus turned round to all the city’s herms had their and they were also used as thieves when they’re on the road. the dead to the Underworld. Very look at her. noses and phalluses lopped off in boundary markers, Hermes be - I’m guessing that Alison occasionally he was given the job As a boundary-crosser Her - the night, just before an impor - came associated with transitions – Wilding called her sculpture of bringing them out again, but mes was also a great trickster – tant invasion was launched. They new stages in life. Metaphorically Herm because it resembles a usually this didn’t work. Eurydice not to mention a thief and a fib - never discovered which prankster he was seen as the god who ac - standing stone, and also because for example had to be tugged ber. When he stole a herd of cattle was responsible for this outrage, companied a bride when she was it dissolves boundaries when back into Hades when her hus - sacred to his half-brother Apollo, but few people were surprised carried in procession to her new people gather there to drink. But for instance, he made the beasts when Athens’ invasion of Sicily it does lack at least one vital fea - walk backwards so that anyone proved to be an almighty disaster. ture. Though generally pictured trying to follow their tracks as a handsome young man, in one would get terribly confused. of his guises Hermes was very 6 FITZROY SQUARE The perfect venue Travellers need a thief like Her -

The perfect venue for meetings, launches, seminars, dinners, wedding receptions and other corporate events. Picture puzzle + Friendly medical advice The Georgian Group’s elegant eigh - + NHS and private teenth-century headquarters overlooking Fitzroy Square provides prescriptions a unique location for all types of pri - + Prescription collection vate and corporate events in the heart and delivery of central London. + Repeat dispensing + Multivitamins, health We cordially invite local businesses and individuals to visit our building and advice and get a taste of the authentic + Flu vaccination Georgian experience... + Herbal and nutritional support For booking enquiries, availability and rates please contact Rob Kouyoumdjian on 0207 529 SHIV 8921 or [email protected] Pharmacy How well do you know Fitzrovia? 70 Can you identify at which address the above photo - W1W 7QN graph was taken? Monday-Friday 8:30 - 6:00pm For the answer see under the detective picture on Tel/Fax 0207 580 2393 page 11. Fitzrovia News issue 151 Winter 2018 — 15 Life on Charlotte Street? Dreadful double murder in 1945 us runs like a thread through our tion it was apparent that the lyric Piano Man personal histories. In the mid- was more personal than political, A dreadful murder confession and tells the tragic story of the was made by a man who handed No 15 by 1990s, Billie had a huge global hit with her song “Your Loving pain of addiction, alienation and himself into the police station at Clifford Arms”. Her first ever live debut of loneliness: “Who's gonna hold 55-59 Tottenham Court Road in Slapper the song was at a small, intimate you down, When you shake? October 1945. show at Soho’s Madame Jojos. It Who's gonna come around, When He was 20-year-old Harry was an exciting moment, because you break?” Jarvis from the village of Castle - In the early 1990s I was running somehow we knew it would go In the mid 1990s I moved ton in Derbyshire, where he the live music for the Pitcher & on to be huge. She then called me from to Fitzrovia, first worked as a waiter in the Peverill Piano chain. One of the guest to the stage and we performed renting on Cleveland Street, then Castle cafe. singers I introduced there was our acoustic rendition of “Mona Store Street, then another flat on Two weeks earlier the cafe the extraordinarily soulful vocal - Cartoon by Chris Tyler Lisas and Mad Hatters”. You Cleveland Street. Finally, around owner’s daughter, Joyce Beck, ist, Billie Ray Martin, who had could have heard a pin drop. Each the turn of the century, I arrived also aged 20, was found shot in already enjoyed hits with S’Ex - 10. “Subway's no way for a good of these songs can transport us in at my current address on Char - the back of the head, and her press and Electribe 101. man to go down, Rich man can time, just like tasting Proust’s lotte Street. The property was baby son Peter hanged with flex. They would offer us a meal ride and the hobo, he can madeleine biscuit. being managed by a likeable Jarvis told the Tottenham of spaghetti napoletana which drown.” It was a track from his In 1985, for Live Aid, the Irishman based on Englands Court Road police that after lis - bore a strong resemblance to the 1972 album, Honky Château, shocking footage of children Lane. Billie relocated to London tening to a radio crime story he tinned variety, giving rise to a bought for me, on cassette tape, starving to death which was at the same time, having spent a “wanted to have a joke with Joyce long running joke in which Billie by my grandmother, Raie broadcast as part of the live con - few years in the interim back in and got behind her and put the would ask me when our next Schwartz, who took me to my cert from Wembley, seen by 40 per her native Germany. She was flat- revolver in the back of her neck… “Heinz 57” gig was due. Heinz’s weekly piano lessons with Miss cent of the world’s population, hunting, so for the first two but unfortunately she moved and 57 Varieties brand features baked Beryl Silley. I still treasure that had a well chosen soundtrack. weeks in my new flat I gave her the gun went off.” He did not re - beans, tomato soup and tinned cassette tape and listen to the David Bowie introduced the the bed, and took the couch. In member anything about baby spaghetti. The other 54 appear to album frequently, and I still love footage after his performance on the years that followed we went Peter. have faded from view. The num - every note. It was named after the stage, and the accompanying song on to perform live film sound He was sentenced to death ber 57 has taken on special signif - recording studio just outside for the film was “Drive” by The tracks, and she sings a chilling for the murders, but an enquiry icance for me. My parents were Paris where it had been recorded: Cars (1984). The poignancy was rendition of David Bowie’s “After after the trial found him insane, married in 1957. For my first 11 Château d’Hérouville. That was profound: “You can't go on, All” on the album, Bowie Songs so he was reprieved and sent to years I lived at 57 St. Augustine’s also where Bowie recorded his Thinking nothing's wrong, Who’s One by Clifford Slapper & Broadmoor. He was subsequently Avenue, Wembley. As I write this, Pin Ups and Low albums. The gonna drive you home tonight?” Friends. released and died at the age of 79 I am aged 57. song would later be performed Those suffering children had no I am still in that flat nearly in Stoke-on-Trent in 2005. When choosing songs to per - by Elton John at the Concert for sustenance, no comfort, no way twenty years later and music re - form at those gigs, Billie and I en - New York City in the wake of the home. Some time later I was re - mains the lifeblood of my exis - Streets where the joyed reinterpreting some of our 11 September 2001 attacks. Elton hearsing with another singer tence here. There are builders on old favourites. One which we John’s first big hit, “Your Song”, friend, Namalee Bolle, who was a site now as part of the area’s ac - vicious and both loved, despite it not being dates from a couple of years ear - stylist, fashion writer and per - celerating redevelopment, and very well known, was an Elton lier, and is predicted to be the former and is now on the way to just this week they have told me criminal classes John song called “Mona Lisas and 2018 Christmas UK number 1 hit, becoming an accomplished psy - they have been enjoying hearing Mad Hatters”. It is about New as it has been featured in the bril - chotherapist. We started running my playing, and having started lived in 1889 York City, it has a strong social liantly produced John Lewis tele - through that same song by The making song requests, the first of message and has meant a lot to vision advert this year. Cars. We both found ourselves which was Bowie’s “Life On Where did the lowest “vicious” me ever since I first heard it, aged The power of songs to move moved to tears. On closer inspec - Mars?” and “criminal” classes of Fitzrovia live in 1889? Answer: Riding House Street Looking back through the archives (the section between Great Titch - field Street and Cleveland Street), Rathbone Street, Charlotte Mews, 10 years ago 40 years ago station. Then the police decided and Adam and Eve Court. on a general “rationalisation” in This information is gleaned Tribute to actor Ian Collier in fire the form of closures. Local MP from Charles Booth’s Map of Lon - Lena Jeger, Fitzrovia Neighbour - don Poverty, bought at the Ian Collier drama hood Association, and the Char - Ragged School (originally estab - lotte Street Association wrote to lished by Booth) in Limehouse, From Fitzrovia News, Winter From Tower, December 1978: the Deputy Assistant Police Com - which is well worth a visit. 2008: A fire in Great Titchfield Street missioner seeking information, all There were no streets occu - Eastenders actress Anna Wing caused much damage, reported receiving an identical letter stat - pied by upper class wealthy peo - paid tribute to fellow actor from Alfie Maron. “A neighbour, actor ing local interests would be con - ple in Fitzrovia, by the way, the the show, Ian Collier, who died on Sunil Seer, however, wrote to Ian Collier, who is currently in sulted before any decisions nearest being Bedford Square and October 1, 2008. the letters page: “A grey concrete the BBC television production of reached. This was later clarified Portland Place. She recalled how he gave a wall has been adorned with an Tycoon, told me that the severe to state there would be no oppor - stunning spontaneous perfor - artwork that is both thought-pro - heat penetrated his walls.” tunity to reject any decisions. Absurdist and scary mance in the Owl and the Pussy - voking and visually striking. It Concern was expressed over The site which was soon to be cat for a local community party, does not detract or sully its sur - the rumours that the police sta - the Warren Playground (now Cartoonist Martin Rowson and co - and, as a trained horticulturalist roundings, but adds to the built tion at Tottenham Court Road known as “the Cage) in Whitfield median Al Murray were at The designed gardens including one environment by passing an appo - was to be closed, which Scotland Place had once been St Pancras Social bar in Little Portland Street on his roof in Great Titchfield site social comment under the Yard refused to confirm or deny. Baths, wrote Nick Bailey. for an exhibition of “absurdist col - Street. He appeared in many films gaze of a CCTV camera.” Fifteen years earlier the old The baths were opened in lages.” They were constructed by and television series, including Mustafa Şehzade, a Cypriot London County Council decided 1878. The aim, he wrote, was that public sector worker Christopher Doctor Who. restauteur who had lived in to tear down the west side of Tot - “the great unwashed of the bor - Spencer who has a Twitter ac - Langham Street for 38 years, re - tenham Court Road, including ough should be cleaner, after a count under the name of Cold planning committee ruled that the called how he had thrown away the police station, to make room number of cholera epidemics in War Steve satirising politicians Banksy mural on Newman Street drawings worth a fortune by for more traffic. It bought the car the area.” and celebrities. must be removed. The committee Francis Bacon. The artist scrib - park behind it in Whitfield Street He added: “Mixed bathing “Having Trump in the White chairman, Conservative councillor bled them on the tablecloths at to provide space for a new sta - was then not proper so that the House,” he explains, “is the same Robert Davis, said there would be Wheelers Seafood Restaurant in tion. baths had to be reserved for as having Les Dennis in the White no concession however popular or Old Compton Street, but he and Then the LCC’s successor, the ladies on Wednesdays.” House. These two worlds, of poli - valuable such celebrity works the other staff just scrunched Council, decided It appears they were de - tics and celebrity, are blurring to - were as they were a blight on the them up and threw them away not to widen the road after all so stroyed by bombs in the second gether more and m ore each day local environment. when he left. there was no need to build a new world war. into a kind of scary vortex.” 16 — Fitzrovia News issue 151 Winter 2018 WHAT’S ON AROUND FITZROVIA Email [email protected] with listings by Feb 15, for the March issue and put “Listings” in the subject box

LIVE MUSIC THEATRE CINEMA EXHIBITIONS ART NEW GIGS AT ALBANY /Studio, 15 , Great Russell St Featured exhibitions below. Gordon St (thebloomsbury.com): Bolivar Hall, 54 Grafton Way (britishmuseum.org): A full list of all galleries is on (cultura.embavenez-uk.org): Lon - The Albany , 240 Great Portland Show and Tell (cutting edge com - Free: No Mans Land (Asahi our website: don Socialist Film Co-op screen St: Sixties Rebellion (Garage, Surf edy), Dec 6. Vivian Stanshall's Sir Shimbun Displays), until Jan 27. news.fitzrovia.org.uk & ), every Friday, Henry Rawlinson End, Dec 7. Rob films at 11am on the second Sun - New Acquisitions, until Jan 27. 9pm-2am. Newman’s Total Eclipse of day of each month. The Lemon Witnesses: emigre medallists in Descartes, Dec 8. Nick Revell in Tree (set in Palestine), Dec 9. The Britain, until Apr 7. Reimagining King & Queen , 1 Foley St : Folk Broken Dream Catcher, Jan 17 Well and Living on a $ a day, Jan Captain Cook: Pacific perspec - once a month on Fridays 8-11pm 13. Fire at Sea, Feb 10. These Dan - tives, until Aug 4, 2019. (visit web mustradclub.co.uk): gerous Women, Women’s Peace Pay for: I object: Ian Hislop's The Legendary Folk Crusade, March 10. search for dissent, until Jan 20. I Club Xmas Party, Dec 14. am Ashurbanipal: king of the Charlotte Street Hotel , 15-17 world, king of Assyria, until Feb Sevilla Mia Spanish Bar , 22 Charlotte St: Film Club with meal 24. Hanway St (basement): World and a movie for £40.To book tick - Alison Jacques Gallery, 18 Bern - ers St: Hannah Wilke, to Dec 21. Fusion, Tue, 9.30pm; Swing 'n' ets visit bit.ly/CharlotteStreet - UCL Main Library , Wilkins Branko Vlahovic, to Dec 21. Ian , Wed, 9.30pm; Spanish FilmClub. Building, Gower St: Dangers and Kiaer, Feb 1-Mar 9 Rumba, Thur-Sat, 10.30pm. Scrooge at Camden People’s Theatre Delusions? Perspectives on the Camden People's Theatre , 58-60 Green Man , 36 Riding House St: women's suffrage movement, Coningsby , 30 Tottenham St: SE1 Simmons, 28 Maple St: Live Hampstead Rd (cptheatre.co.uk): London Animation Club, first until December 14. /Resonance, Dec 9-15. music every Wednesday evening. The Woman Who Gave Birth to a Tuesday of month. Goat (an absurd comedy probing Wellcome Library, 183 Euston Rd UCL, Haldane Room, Wilkins the peculiar relationship between Odeon, 30 Tottenham Court Rd: (wellcomecollection.org): Living Building, Gower St: Chamber humans and animals), Dec 11-13. Weekly film details from with Buildings, until March 3. music concert, Dec 11, 6pm. Psoy Sing-A-Long-A-Muppets Christ - odeon.co.uk or 08712 244007. Permanent exhibitions: Medicine Korolenko, singing and piano mas Carol, Dec 17-18. Scrooge (an Now, and Medicine Man. folk cabaret, Dec 20, 7-9pm. adaptation of Dickens’ “A Christ - Regent Street Cinema , 309 Re - mas Carol”), Dec 20-21. Love gent St: For daily programme TALKS ULU Live (The Venue), Torring - Songs (music, dance, comedy), visit regentstreetcinema.com. ton Place (ulu-live.co.uk): Slade, Jan 22-26. Some Like It Hot, Dec 16, 1.30pm. Camden Local Studies and and Mud, Dec 21. Billy Bragg, Jan Christmas in Connecticut, Dec 23, Archives Centre , Li - 25. , 269 Totten - 3.40pm. It’s A Wonderful Life, brary, 32-38 Theobalds Road: The ham Court Rd Dec 23 at 5.40pm and 8.25pm, Changing Face of Fitzrovia: 300 The 100 Club , 100 Oxford St (dominiontheatre.com): Bat out of Dec 24 at 1pm and 3.45pm. The years of an urban village by Nick (the100club.co.uk): Mike Sanchez Hell, the Musical, until Jan 5. Lost King and I, Dec 27, 7pm. Bailey, Jan 17, 7.30-9pm. & His Band, Dec 9. Sol Bern - Voice Guy, opens Jan 23. Jive Aces Matinee classics every Wednes - stein’s Xmas Show, Dec 10. Steve Big Beat Revue, opens Feb 10. day at 2pm, for over 55s, £1.75. Sohemian Society , Wheatsheaf, Ignorant & Slice of Life, Dec 15. Joan Collins Unscripted, opens Kids' Kino Club, every Saturday, 25 Rathbone Place: 'Rex v Edith Blues Brothers Band, Dec 16. Feb 17. Bear Grylls interviews Sir 11.30am. Thompson: A Tale of Two Mur - Edel Assanti , 17A Newman St: Normski’s Dance Energy Xmas Ranulph Fiennes, opens March 6. ders': Speaker Laura Thompson, Sheida Soleimani “Medium of Ex - Party, Dec 19. An Evening with Dame Diana Royal Anthropological Institute , Dec 12. 7.30pm. change”, to Dec 21 Rigg, opens March 9. 50 Fitzroy St BALLROOM (raifilm.org.uk/events): Regular UCL Darwin Lecture Theatre, programme of screenings. Malet Place (ucl.ac.uk/events): DANCING Lunchtime lectures, Tuesdays and Thursdays (1.15-1.55pm) during Black Tie Ballroom Club term time. The revolutionary Indian YMCA Fitzroy Square striptease, 1968, Dec 4. 7:30pm COMEDY January 11 Ewan Bleach Quintet UCL Lecture Theatre 1 , Cruci - February 15 Art Deco Orchestra Snow White at London Palladium The Albany , 240 Great Portland form Building, Gower St: Take March 8 Ewan Bleach Quintet St: Every Monday and Wednes - Back Control: Empowering Peo - designmynight.com London Palladium , Argyll St day (plus occasional other nights) ple in the Welfare State, Dec 10, (black tie ballroom club) (london-palladium.co.uk): Snow at 7.30 pm. 5.30-7.30 (free but book in ad - White, starring Dawn French and vance). Pilar Corrias , 54 Eastcastle St: CABARET Julian Clary, Dec 8-Jan 13. Joan Sabine Moritz “Paintings and Collins Unscripted, Feb 17. 100 PUB QUIZZES Drawings”, to Jan 4. The Wheatsheaf, 25 Rathbone Hearts Night of Comedy, Feb 13. WALKS Place: Maverick Theatre’s Holy Holy, Feb 20. Narrative Projects , 110 New The Albany , 240 Great Portland SpeakEasy Cabaret, first Saturday London Literary Pub Crawl , Cavendish St: Andro Semeiko New Diorama Theatre (newdio - St: Sundays, 7pm of the month, 7.30pm. If you every Saturday, 5pm. Start at the “Polka Dots and Curls”, to Jan 26. rama.com), 15-16 Triton St (Eu - would like to appear for up to ten Wheatsheaf, 25 Rathbone Place. minutes email story@maverick - ston Rd opposite Fitzroy St): The Carpenters Arms , 68-70 Whitfield War of the Worlds, Jan 8-Feb 9. St. Tuesdays, 6.30pm. theatre.co.uk. London Walks (walks.com) £10, Dinomania, Feb 19-March 23. Over 65 £8: Prince of Wales Feathers , 8 War - Beatles Magical Mystery Tour, RADA , Malet St ren St: Tuesdays, 6pm. CAROLS Tottenham Court Rd station, (rada.ac.uk/whats-on): every Sunday 11am, and every GBS Theatre: Of Blood, by Rising Sun , 46 Tottenham Court All Saints, 7 Margaret St: Thursday, 11am, Wednesdays Christopher William Hill, Dec 14- Rd. Wednesdays, 6.30 for 7pm. Dec 14, 10pm. Dec 17, 6pm. 2pm. 15. Rock'n'Roll London, Tottenham Royal College of Nursing, 20 Please mention Fitzrovia News Court Rd station, every Wednes - : Dec 12, 6-7pm, day, 7pm, every Friday, 2pm Rosenfeld Porcini , 37 Rathbone followed by mulled wine and St: Robert Muntean “Just Like mince pies, 7-8pm. when replying to advertisers Honey”, Dec 14-Feb 9.