Dystopia awaits... news.fitzrovia.org.uk Fitzrovia News Fitzrovia News is produced by residents and volunteers and distributed free to all businesses and residential addresses in Fitzrovia Issue 137 Summer 2015 Neighbourhood Association celebrates 40 years but faces “severe challenges” to fund services and community work “Diverse community is under threat from the relentless development”

This summer the Fitzrovia have helped develop local parks Neighbourhood Association and nurseries for the benefit of (FNA) is celebrating 40 years local residents. since opening the Neighbourhood In the year 2000 a mural Centre, with an exhibition, sale of showing key figures in Fitzrovia art and craftwork, and historical history was painted on the talks and walks. Despite its proud Goodge Place wall by local chil - Toy Story, p12 history and valued services the dren supervised by mural artist FNA faces a difficult time com - Brian Barnes MBE. In 2004 the peting for grant funding as the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood community faces threats from Association became a registered over-development and spiralling charity. rents. Like many voluntary organi - The former glass shop on the sations in recent years the corner of Tottenham Street and Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Goodge Place was renovated and Association faces problems with opened in 1975 to provide hous - funding its work. ing and welfare advice and as a Camden and Westminster community meeting place with Councils no longer make grants money provided by an urban aid for the kind of advice work it grant from the then Greater does, despite the fact that it is one London Council (GLC). of the few places still offering The Neighbourhood Centre bilingual work in Asian lan - went on to become a base for guages and is needed more than Kenneth Williams, p8 many kinds of community activi - ever with recent changes and cuts ty including street festivals, food in access to benefits, housing and co-ops and residents’ organisa - council services which affect tions. Fitzrovia News is produced everyone. The organisation has to there, along with the annual compete with many other groups Fitzrovia Festival. chasing an ever decreasing pool The Neighbourhood of money. Association is well-known for its Barb Jacobson who runs the work with the local Bangladeshi Association’s Older Fitzrovia community and in particular its project has warned that the art projects with Asian women organisation “faces severe chal - and women from other back - lenges to fund its services and Fitzrovia grounds, as well as work sup - community work.” The Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre on the corner of Tottenham Street and porting older people. It also car - “Back in the 1970s the strug - Goodge Street as it is today and how it was as an empty glass shop in 1975. Festival 2015 ries out health projects and works gle was to keep residential The Neighbourhood Centre went on to become a base for many kinds of com - with residents to respond to plan - accommodation in Fitzrovia and munity activity including street festivals, food co-ops and residents organisa - 3-28 June , p 11 ning and licensing applications. preserve its historic Georgian and tions. Fitzrovia News is produced here, it hosts a housing and welfare advice Over the past four decades Continued on page 5 service, and provides a meeting place and services for residents’ groups. several important central London amenity groups emerged out of the Neighbourhood Centre. The Central London Law Centre, Chinese Workers Association and the Bengali Workers Association all got their start at the Tottenham Street building. Many residents and community groups such as the Charlotte Street Association, GIGS est. 1958 Fitzrovia Play Association and Friends of Open Spaces in The home of traditional Fish & Chips Fitzrovia have benefitted from Fully licensed Greek restaurant using the facilities at the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre. These 2014 Trip Adviser winners groups have saved much of the historic fabric of the area and 12 Tottenham Street 020 7636 1424 2 — Fitzrovia News issue 137 Summer 2015 facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Fitzrovia News Formerly The Tower Letters, emails 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 Westminster City Council and [email protected] Homelessness is not 020 7580 4576 87-125 Cleveland Street

Issue 137 Summer 2015 In September 2010 Westminster Westminster residents clearly Published 2 June 2015 City Council instructed their did not go far enough for a ‘lifestyle choice’ property managing agents Astaire and Caplan. Editorial Team Knight Frank to market the In August 2014 the property By Adam Stoneman homeless people and that head - Mike Pentelow: headlease of 87-125 Cleveland press reported that Dukelease line figures “no longer reflect” editor and features editor Street. Properties Ltd and Starwood “When one has consorted with the true scale of homelessness. Linus Rees: Then in July 2011 cabinet Capital Europe Advisors LLP them, and found that they are The report reveals how “politi - assistant editor member Councillor Jonathan expressed an interest in 87-125 ordinary human beings, one cal choices” such as cuts to wel - Pete Whyatt: Glanz gave the go ahead to flog Cleveland Street and that they cannot help being struck by the fare and housing benefits are news and production editor the site to an unnamed buyer. intended to replace the existing curious attitude that society behind the increase in the num - Clive Jennings: The report on the sale was con - building with a mixed use takes towards them,” wrote ber of people becoming home - arts editor fidential, only the decision scheme, providing ground floor George Orwell about the home - less. Brian Jarman: being public. retail and office space with resi - less in his 1933 memoir, Down Because of this, it is vital writer and sub-editor Later Glanz was to resign dential accommodation above. and Out in Paris and London. that we stop discussing home - Barb Jacobson: his cabinet post after he pub - The redundant petrol station What would Orwell, who lessness as a moral problem associate editor licly stated his contempt for would be brought back to use championed clarity and trans - and start treating it as a politi - Jennifer Kavanagh: tenants living in social housing. in Clipstone Mews. parency in writing, have made cal problem. Cuts to housing associate editor Being a man of his word his Fitzrovia News submitted a of Camden Cllr Jonathan benefits and a massively inflat - Jess Owens contempt was backed up by freedom of information request Simpson’s comments (Only five ed housing market are the pri - associate editor actions — the sell off of the to Westminster Council asking Rough Sleepers in Camden mary cause of increasing home - property for development was to see documents relating to the says council, p3), when he lessness today, not individuals’ Contributors: only 8 metres from those social pre-planning discussions held included rough sleepers as poor moral choices. Jayne Davies housing tenants at Holcroft with the applicants. among those who have a “street By rethinking homelessness Janet Gauld Court. Although to be fair to The pile of papers revealed based lifestyle”? as a political, rather than moral Clancy Gebler Davies Glanz his dislike also extended that originally the proposals Grinding poverty is cast as a problem we should also recon - Ann Goodburn to the leaseholders who’d did not include a petrol filling “lifestyle choice” as in a “phys - sider our reaction to it, and Clifford Harper acquired their homes under the station and that planning offi - ically active lifestyle” or a move from “moral” charitable Nick Heath Tories’ right-to-buy scheme. cers advice in September 2013 “meat-free lifestyle”. Or what responses to political ones Angela Lovely Can’t say the man’s not even- was that this was acceptable as about the recent report from based on solidarity and Catherine March handed, can we? the disused station at Clipstone Fitzrovia Business activism. Helene Parry After the petrol station Street was not on its list of pro - Improvement District (Business There are inspiring exam - Sunita Soliar closed in September 2013 a tected petrol stations. group says homeless choose to ples of political organising all Clifford Slapper brief statement from However, correspondence sleep rough, page 3), which over this city, from the Focus Adam Stoneman Westminster Council men - in April 2014 revealed that claims that the “vast majority” E15 mothers in Newham, who Mark Thomas tioned that the headlease had Westminster’s planners made a of homeless people choose to successfully fought for the Kipper Williams been flogged to a local occupier “suggestion to incorporate a sleep on the streets? The same right to a home, to occupations with “the option to develop”. petrol filling station within the report opts for the term “street of empty housing estates led by Printed by: A few months later in scheme”. The revised scheme people”, which, we presume, residents in Barnet and Sharman & Co Ltd, February 2014, another confi - moved the existing station from are to be distinguished from Southwark. Newark Road, dential report, and Westminster the wider Clipstone Street and “house people.” These actions show that by Peterborough PE1 5TD Council cabinet members placed it in the narrow The euphemistic expres - organising together, ordinary sharmanandco.co.uk Daniel Astaire and Melvyn Clipstone Mews and next to sions above reflect just how people can resist being “pas - Caplan reached for their foun - residents windows. uncomfortable the issue of sive” victims of homelessness Fitzrovia News is produced tain pens to sign off more liber - It seems like Westminster’s homelessness makes us. It and help put a roof over their quarterly by the Fitzrovia al terms for the headlease. planning officers are as bad as poses a problem for an image heads. Indeed, inspiration is on Community Newspaper Glanz’s contempt for its cabinet members. of this country as “fair” and our doorstep; the old Volvo car Group, ISSN: 0967-1404 “just” — that despite the inor - showroom at the top of dinate wealth of this city, thou - Cleveland Street, which until Published by the Fitzrovia No politics please sands struggle to keep a roof very recently had been sitting Curious about over their heads. empty, has now become a Neighbourhood Association Please do not make political (registered charity no. 1111649) Time Out building And it is a growing prob - workspace for Rhythms of Life, statements! This should be a lem. While Camden Council’s an organisation dedicated to 39 Tottenham Street, neutral information service and London, W1T 4RX on Tottenham low estimates of rough sleepers helping provide food for the it is offensive. — reader com - in the borough have provoked homeless. ment via Facebook. fitzrovia.org.uk Court Road suspicion, homeless charities If homelessness is set to google.com/+FitzroviaOrgUK agree that the number of peo - increase in the foreseeable twitter.com/FitzroviaNA I’m an avid reader and work in Locals strongly ple sleeping on the streets is on future, we must stop treating it facebook.com/FitzroviaNA the area. approve of guerrilla the rise. as a “lifestyle choice”, but I’ve been trying to learn a lit - The charity Crisis, in this rather as the most destructive tle more about the recently gardening year’s Homelessness Monitor, effect of the UK’s housing cri - demolished Time Out building report that councils are under - sis, a crisis all of us are bound estimating the number of up in. on Tottenham Court Road Have you noticed the spread of (Universal House). When it was Public editorial gentle guerrilla gardening in built, the architects, former occu - Fitzrovia? meetings are held at pants, etc? People are planting flowers Corrections and 7 pm, first Tuesday of And I wondered if any of at their own expense around Fitzrovia News every month at your knowledgeable readers trees along a number of streets clarifications might be able to shed some light Fitzrovia Neighbourhood and it’s growing! deadlines on it’s history? If you think Fitzrovia News has Look for example outside Our deadline for news, features, Association, Any archive photo’s of the made a mistake please tell us by Conchiglia restaurant in letters and adverts is normally 39 Tottenham Street building would also be wonder - email [email protected] or Clipstone Street, outside the two weeks before publication. ful to see, especially the front contact us at our office. London W1T 4RX northern end and western side Sometimes we accept articles facade as I’ve recently managed Many news articles first Subscribe to Fitzrovia and southern end of Holcroft later. to rescue the old clock from the appear on our website which is Court and along Great Titchfield The next issue of Fitzrovia News for regular bulldozers! updated weekly. Edited versions Street just south of Clipstone News will be out on Tuesday 1 updates: are then published in the printed Street. And Clipstone Street out - September. Deadline is Friday 14 Oliver Marshall paper which is published quar - bit.ly/fitzrovianews side Westminster University. August. [email protected] [email protected] Locals strongly approve! terly. facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Fitzrovia News issue 137 Summer 2015 — 3 Business group says homeless choose News in brief According to the London Evening Standard (22 May) “A tiny two bedroom home in to sleep rough on London’s streets South Kensington has become the first ex-council flat in London to be put up for sale for more than £1 million.” By Linus Rees According to the property website Zoopla there have A business group in Fitzrovia been nine property sales on has told its members that there Torrington Place over the last is enough accommodation on five years with an average offer for homeless people and sold price of £1,295,555. All of that the vast majority of rough them are ex-council. sleepers choose to stay on the A group of people called streets, an investigation by the meeting and no-one appears Squatters and Homeless Fitzrovia News has found. The to have challenged the crime Autonomy occupied a com - claim comes after government report which singled-out the mercial building in Newman statistics released in February Roma as a problem. The crime Street for two weeks in May showed a huge increase in reports were given by Dave in protest against homeless - rough sleeping in London. Fereday, a business improve - ness. Conservative West End The statements were made in ment district consultant current - ward councillor Paul Church reports earlier this year by The ly working for The Fitzrovia believes they are a nuisance to Fitzrovia Partnership Business Partnership. the local community. Improvement District (BID) The report gives details of NFU Mutual has bought which works in a public-private membership, environmental an office building at 4-8 Maple partnership with Camden projects, finance and budgets, The Fitzrovia Partnership is based at 13 Fitzroy Street. Street and intends to refurbish Council. BID members were told crime and anti-social behaviour, it to maximise income. “There is enough accommoda - and marketing campaigns. News understands that Reeves “We feel that the most effec - University of Westminster tion in Camden for homeless Nowhere in the 35 page report works part-time but is in effect tive way of helping these indi - has bought 120 New people to be placed if they wish seen by Fitzrovia News is there the chief executive of the organi - viduals is to report them to Cavendish Street from Sports to engage”. any mention of a housing crisis, sation. Camden Council who can then Direct for £44 million as part The report in its executive increasing rents, or an acknowl - The day-to-day running of take the appropriate action to of its Cavendish campus summary says: “It is clear that edgement that rough sleepers the Fitzrovia BID is left to Lee help and support them and expansion plans. The building the vast majority of street people are themselves often victims of Lyons the BID Manager. In a address their needs as quickly as was constructed in 1997 by could have accommodation crime. The report does not statement Lyons responded to possible, should they wish to Great Portland Estates who should they engage with the acknowledge the complex Fitzrovia News saying: engage with the Council. own the freehold. Council. It has been noted that nature of homelessness, poverty, “The Fitzrovia Partnership “The Fitzrovia Partnership Rev Alan Carr will be many see the begging opportu - and the change to the benefits works with Camden Council will continue to be an effective instituted as Rector of St nities in Fitzrovia and London system over the past five years, and the Safer Streets Team to partner working with the Giles-in-the-Fields at a special as being profitable so they or the reluctance of property prevent rough sleeping, by offer - Council to reduce rough sleep - service at 6pm 26 July. He has would rather be here than in developers to fulfil their social ing viable alternatives for those ing and associated anti-social been associate rector since their hometowns where accom - housing planning obligations. who sadly find themselves behaviour and begging in the 2010 and takes over from Ven modation is readily available.” The main driving force sleeping rough. Through this area to ensure Fitzrovia is a Bill Jacob. The business group also told behind The Fitzrovia partnership, this type of activity clean and pleasant environment David Lammy , former its members “Roma gypsies Partnership is property develop - has reduced but is still evident for our members, residents and Universities Minister and MP from Marble Arch are also trying er Derwent London, and Gary in the Tottenham Court Road visitors”, says Lyons. for Tottenham, has set up a to operate in the area”. Staff Reeves a business consultant area — a rough sleeping (Comment, p2) campaign office in Whitfield from Camden Council were at based in Lincolnshire. Fitzrovia hotspot. Street as part of his bid to be the Labour candidate for the 2016 election for Mayor of Only five rough sleepers in Camden says council London. No political change after By Linus Rees May’s general election. According to GLA Conservative Mark Field was Camden Council says there are figures, in the autumn returned as MP for Cities of only five rough sleepers in the of 2014 there were 49 London & Westminster, and whole of the borough, far fewer Labour’s Keir Starmer took than neighbouring Westminster, rough sleepers classed over Dobbo’s seat in Holborn Islington or the City of London, as “living on the & St Pancras. according to the official figures Make Architects has com - published in February. streets” in Camden. pleted its new offices in But anyone walking through Cleveland Street , converting formance to date, which remains Camden late at night or in the an underground car park into good despite levels of rough early morning will think that what looks like... an under - sleeping rising nationally and five is not a credible number, ground car park. nor does it correspond with data across the capital. published by the Greater “Council services are also London Authority (GLA). working closely with the police All local authorities were All local authorities were asked in the autumn of 2014 to either count or to tackle issues relating to street asked in the autumn of 2014 to estimate the number of people sleeping on its streets based crime,” said Cllr Simpson. either count or estimate the Camden says its methodolo - According to these figures in number of people sleeping on its Cllr Jonathan Simpson told gy is overseen by the national the autumn of 2014 there were streets. The count is designed to Fitzrovia News : “Camden has organisation Homeless Link. 49 rough sleepers classed as give a snapshot of the number of long been a leader in London A spokesperson explained: “living on the streets” in rough sleepers on a single night. and nationally on responding to “We moved from physical Camden — ten times more than Camden submitted an esti - issues around rough sleeping counts to estimates a few years Camden Council says there are. mate of 5; Islington an estimate and street activity. ago as we had consistently The number for Islington of 21, City of London did a “The Safer Streets Team returned counts of less than 10 BBC London News in May featured was 18, for City of London 53, count of 50; and Westminster (SST), works directly with rough since the middle of the last an art project where photos of local and for Westminster it was 212, Council did a count of 265. sleepers engaged in activities decade. This enables us to focus people were transformed into street which roughly correspond to Far more detailed figures of such as begging, drinking, sex our resources on those rough art painted on traffic light control what the individual boroughs rough sleepers in London are work and drug use. It offers sleepers who have been living boxes in Fitzrovia. They spoke to reported to the government. also published quarterly by the services such as accommodation on the streets for the longest, the project's curator Lucy Williams, Camden Council has howev - GLA. These reports give num - or alcohol treatment to help who are the most vulnerable filmmaker Paolo Sedazzari, student er defended its statement on bers for people known to be liv - them move away from that and at the highest risk of harm.” Ella Taylor-Palfrey, artist Paul Don rough sleeper numbers. Cabinet ing on the streets as well as lifestyle. (Comment, p2) Smith and photographer Doralba Member for Community Safety, intermittent rough sleepers. “We are proud of our per - Picerno. 4 — Fitzrovia News issue 137 Summer 2015 facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews MPL Plumbing Supplies HIGH QUALITY PLUMBING BATHROOM and HEATING SUPPLIES

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Continued from front page

Victorian buildings during a time of rampant office develop - ment, now long-time residents and businesses both struggle to stay here in the face of skyrock - eting rents,” says Jacobson. “The richly diverse and cre - ative community here is under threat from the relentless devel - opment of luxury accommoda - tion for part-time owner-occu - piers and transient tenants. Despite huge disparities in wealth the average income is still only around £25,000,” she says. The 40 year celebration will be based around the Fitzrovia Festival held throughout June. The Fitzrovia Neighbourhood “Children walk to and Association is hoping people from school from Camden By Linus Rees ing team is next the area to pick it up. We hope will enjoy the events and give and Westminster and we that community action like this and more generously to help to fund its Children and parents walking to and from All enforcement can together get dog owners to much needed work. have a huge problem with Souls Primary School on Foley Street have to clean up after their pets,” litter and dog-mess in the be careful where they step to avoid bringing Camden says it does take action against peo - fitzrovia.org.uk/donate area.” Rebecca Carrigan dog poo into the classrooms. ple who fail to clean up after their dogs, but The full list of Fitzrovia Festival But they have now persuaded Camden and catching dogs and owners in the act is necessary events is on page 11. co-chair All Souls School Parents and Teachers Association Westminster council to do more to clean up the to take enforcement action. “Our residents tell us streets and pavements around the school with that they really dislike dog mess not being the help of some colourful posters produced by cleared up by dog owners and we are cracking Westminster’s planners the children to help educate the public and pre - down on this anti-social behaviour which is vent dog fouling and littering unpleasant for everyone and costs us money to In October last year parents complained to clean up.” delay decision on the councils to get something done to ensure Cans of pink spray are available from dog owners clean up after their pets and put Camden Council by emailing: dog poo into bins. Sometimes poo gets bagged [email protected] Cleveland Street site but is not binned and left in bags on the street. A Westminster City Council spokesperson But little action was taken and by February this told Fitzrovia News that they would talk to the year the children, parents and teachers had had school about displaying the posters, and have Westminster Council’s planners 2015 ). enough and decided to campaign in an imagi - now produced posters using the children’s art - have for a second time post - The scheme is to build 105 native way. work. poned a decision on an applica - flats but no social housing and During a recent half-term break, the Head “We commend the enthusiasm and interest tion to redevelop a commercial one of the three tower blocks teacher Alix Ascough set an all-school home - shown by the primary school students in regard building at 87–125 Cleveland proposed would be more than work to design anti-litter and anti-dog poo to keeping our streets cleaner and safer. Street. twice the height of Holcroft posters. The Parents and Teachers Association “Westminster City Council has just complet - The decision was due to be Court, a housing estate only (PTA) asked the two councils to use the chil - ed an 18-month campaign to promote responsi - taken on 21 April but was post - eight metres from the site. dren’s posters to help promote awareness and ble dog ownership and tackle dog fouling. We poned after residents and com - The Holcroft Court Residents to encourage dog-owners and litterers to take have installed some 800 signs and distributed munity groups made last minute Association say that Dukelease more care in our community. 5000 good tips leaflets, and 40,000 doggy bags, representations to Westminster Properties, Assael Architects and Both councils responded positively and which can now be collected free from estate Council. A new date of 19 May PR company Four embraced the campaign, but stressed they are offices and libraries. was set but a decision was again Communications have misled already taking action on dog fouling. “We welcome anyone who wants to get postponed. residents and provided Camden council are currently running a involved and raise awareness of this issue in An email seen by Fitzrovia Westminster Council with mis - campaign to raise the awareness of dog foul - their local community. We believe working with News says that the application, leading information about the ing. “One of the ways we are helping residents schools is an important step in bridging the gap which is due to be decided on proposed development. to combat the problem is offering cans of pink with dog owners and their responsibilities,” said by a planning sub-committee Documents obtained by chalk spray so they can warn passers-by and the spokesperson. headed by Westminster’s deputy Fitzrovia News under the highlight the dog mess until our street cleans - leader Robert Davis, was taken Freedom of Information Act off the agenda to allow planning show that Westminster council officers to update a committee would offer a 125 year lease to report to include new informa - SDH if the planning application tion and further objections. to redevelop the site is success - Bad driving adds to road chaos Objectors to the scheme say ful. Yet the updated planning that Westminster council was officers report makes no men - A combination of bad driving, between two buses on Goodge best surviving examples of a not being open about its own tion of this. road works and construction site Street after one of the buses Welsh dairy. financial interest in the develop - Roger Allen, chair of the deliveries is making life a misery appeared to have shunted the In Rathbone Place at the junc - ment and an arrangement it had Holcroft Court Residents for local residents and business - car into another bus in front. tion with Percy Street police entered into with owners Soho Association, says the whole es. In Warren Street, a wooden were called after drivers trying Data Holdings (SDH) to extend process has been a shambles There are so many construc - box with plants was damaged to find their way around a diver - their current 35 year lease on the since the plans were first aired tion sites with lorries competing after a careless driver mounted sion took to driving on the pave - site. last year when residents were to find space to unload, road the pavement and crashed into ment to get around roadworks. The proposal by SDH’s invited to an exhibition arranged works being carried out by utili - it. development partners Dukelease by public relations company ty companies, and several roads In May a man was arrested Properties to demolish the exist - Four Communications. are closed off that parts of after he crashed the Range Rover ing triangular building and A decision on the planning Fitzrovia are a mess. he was driving into a building build three residential tower application (Ref: Most of the time it is a nui - on the corner of Warren Street blocks and a petrol filling station 14/11837/FULL) is now due to sance, sometimes dangerous and and Conway Street. The Evans is being fiercely resisted by local be taken on Tuesday 16 June occasionally comical. Dairy building is Grade II listed residents and community 2015. In April an expensive and was damaged after the car groups ( front page, FN 136, March Mercedes car got wedged struck it. The shop is one of the 6 — Fitzrovia News issue 137 Summer 2015 facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Opening and closing shops Closed Print Fast 34 Rathbone Place (relocated see below) The Digital Centre 38 Tottenham Court Road Cafe fresco 76 Tottenham Court Road Nonno Lino Italiano cafe 45 Goodge Street Ceru Levantine cuisine 29 Rathbone Place Shikara Indian cuisine 65 Great Titchfield Street Golden needle tailors 152 New Cavendish Street Fino tapas 33 Charlotte Street (June 11) Acts of Percy Opened Pasta mania Print Fast 12 Percy Street Coco Di Mama, 52 Margaret Warhammer fantasy/Science fiction games workshop Street. The entrance of the for - traditional images of the 245 Tottenham Court Road mer Middlesex Hospital Adoration or Free pasta for a thousand people used to display four Crucifixion. was served up at the launch of paintings called the The other two paint - this new Italian eatery last 'Acts of Mercy' (1916- ings are in the Wellcome month, with the queue stretch - 1920) by Frederick Collection on Euston ing to Regent Street. Cayley Robinson, until Road. However, on show Now the fuss has settled the hospital closed in in the new 'Percy & down you can still get a pasta 2005. Founders'restaurant/bar for £3.90 (or larger ones from Since then the paint - at 1 Pearson Square, next £5), a lasagna for £4.80 to £5.70, ings have had a few to the restored or other dishes, the most expen - homes including the Middlesex Hospital sive of which is £5.80. Seats are Pasta for £3.90 National Gallery in 2010. Chapel are smaller scale available for those preferring to Two of the four prints of the originals. eat in at no extra cost, or just It is open from 7 am (Mon- paintings are on display These paintings take their time over an Italian Fri) and 10am (Sat) and closes at in UCL Macmillan show the refectory of an coffee. 8pm. Cancer Centre on orphanage. The table is Caffix fixed price cafe each item costs £1 Huntley Street. reminiscent of 45 Newman Street These paintings rep - Leonardo's 'Last Supper' Mapa Cafe 20 Great Portland Street Radical Poster exhibition resent the traumatic - their stillness and Bahn Mi Town Vietnamese cuisine 29 Hanson effects of conflicts on steady gazes recall Street These posters were recently patients sent back from Dutch 17th - century Daley Bread (re-opened under new management) exhibited at the ICA and the the First World War. A painting. sandwich shop/cafe 20 Gosfield Street V&A and there are exhibitions doctor is thanked by a Eye treats brow and beauty bar 38 Hanway Street scheduled for this summer in kneeling mother, echoing the UK and France. The posters on show are a powerful and lively summary of some of the difficult issues facing women during the 1970‘s and 80‘s many Charity is awarded £100k of which are still relevant today. It was a time of great com - munity action, when radicals in almost all professions were towards new youth club wanting their skills to be used and to be available to working class people and communities. The See Red womens work - Artists and those involved with shop was founded in 1974 by visual images were no excep - three ex art students wanting to tion. Silkscreen printing taught combat the negative images of in art schools at the time was women in advertising and the especially suitable for producing media. Also to challenge deep images in large quantities with seated sexism in all aspects of the minimum of equipment and daily life -unequal pay, discrimi - comparatively little outlay. nation in the work place, the Many small groups set up work - oppression of housework and shops in any available spaces, domestic violence. squats, living rooms and play - Working collectively and grounds in order to print posters sharing knowledge and skills which would help advertise and was central to their ethos. promote the causes of the new The collective averaged six left and women’s liberation. women but in all 35 women passed through the workshop, some on apprentices schemes for a few months, others came to produce posters with the collec - tive’s help around issues that were important to them. Posters were also printed for communi - Plans by a local charity to create a new youth club The grant will go towards fitting out the base - ty and other groups on request. for hundreds of young people were given a boost ment of Suffolk House, Whitfield Place, part of a Many hundreds of posters were this spring with a £100,000 grant. scheme which has been developed to provide 13 sold in the UK and abroad. Fitzrovia Youth in Action (FYA) were awarded affordable homes by Origin Housing and long- As part of this year’s the money by LandAid, the property industry standing LandAid supporter Derwent London. Fitzrovia Festival there will be charity. Andre Schott, director of FYA, told Fitzrovia an exhibition of silk screened LandAid recognised the need to fund youth News : “We are obviously very excited about having feminist posters by the See Red activities because, despite the neighbourhood been awarded this grant.” Women’s Workshop 1974-1983 recently having a reputation for sales of luxury FYA still have to fundraise to meet the full proj - at the FNA. 39 Tottenham St flats, it is an area with social deprivation. ect costs but hope to submit a planning application from June 25th - 28th (for “Poverty and unemployment rates are high to Camden Council in the near future to convert details of talk and exhibition see amongst vulnerable young groups,” says LandAid. the basement storage area into a youth club. centre pages) facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Fitzrovia News issue 137 Summer 2015 — 7 Huntley Street hospi - Coffee shop does things tal plans condemned by conservationists differently and shows and local residents Camden will decide on Thursday 4 June on controver - compassion for the homeless sial plans to demolish the stu - dents’ union building and Royal Ear Hospital on Huntley Street. UCLH plans a new six-storey building and a three-storey base - By Linus Rees ment, for a head and neck out - Suresh (left) with Jay (centre) and Alka (right) at patient hospital. A speciality coffee shop which prides itself Western Printers new premises. The existing buildings total on doing things differently is showing 3,343 square metres of floor compassion for Fitzrovia’s rough sleepers space and the new building by asking its customers to donate a coffee would be 10,683 square metres. so that a homeless person can come in and The plans have been con - Printers on enjoy a free cup. demned by the neighbouring The initiative which started this spring Gordon Mansions residents, is in stark contrast to the Fitzrovia who say the new building will Business Improvement District which has be too big. the move been discouraging its members from Bloombury Conservation engaging with Fitzrovia’s rough sleeping Committee says it is “appalled” community. by plans to demolish the exist - Gabriel Shohet, one of the co-founders ing facde on Capper Street. By CLIVE JENNINGS at Black Sheep Coffee and responsible for Husband and wife team Suresh and Jay Patel the Free Coffee Initiative, told Fitzrovia have been providing printing services as News that everyday they see homeless Three weekends Western Printers in Cleveland Street for almost people in the area and would like them to 30 years. Their first premises were at No.70 (for - come into the shop and “get a coffee just of road closures merly a florist and now the Brazilian Gourmet like anyone else”. Gabriel Shohet of Black Sheep Coffee Several streets will be closed to cafe) where they operated from 1986 to 1993. At Black Sheep Coffee customers can enable resurfacing and paving They moved into bigger premises across the buy a cup at a discounted price for some - works in Mortimer Street. road, to spend the next 22 years at No. 103 in Black Sheep Coffee sells coffee made one who likes coffee but cannot afford it. There will be temporary road the triangular building made famous by the from the robusta coffee bean, something For each donated or “suspended coffee” closures to Mortimer Street, Banksy mural, currently subject to controversial that no-one else is doing. “We are the only the shop staff write a note on a sticker and Riding House Street, Cleveland plans by developers Dukelease Properties. specialty grade robusta retailers. Our place it on their Free Coffee Board, and Street, Berners Street, Berners They have now moved north a block, and robusta coffee beans come from a single those who are not able to afford a cup can Mews, Nassau Street, Newman back into Camden, to No. 108 (formerly the estate in India. We do sell some arabica just tear it off and exchange it for a coffee. Street and Goodge Street over 3 short lived Coffee Establishment, and before coffee for those who want a filter coffee, A shop in Philadelphia in the USA oper - consecutive weekends of 6/7, that Mr Cappuccino) where a new 12 year lease but 90 percent of what we serve is robus - ates a similar scheme offering free pizza. 13/14 and 20/21 June. ta.” should keep them from zig zagging across the “Homelessness means a cold night and Robusta, as the name suggests, is a street again in the near future. They are proba - an empty stomach so that’s why we like to robust coffee plant that can be grown at a Caterpillar threat bly the only business to have worked from help our struggling friends with a warm lower altitude. It has a high caffeine con - three different locations on the same Fitzrovia cup of Black Sheep when we can,” they The Forestry Commission is ask - tent which acts as a natural insecticide, street. say. ing people to report sightings of has more protein so it creams better, and is Suresh and Jay moved to London from But Shohet, who grew up in Geneva in a caterpillar which threatens oak less acidic than arabica, so easier on the Nairobi, where they had a paper business, in Switzerland, is also concerned about peo - trees and can be a hazard to peo - stomach. the mid 1980s. They both had ink in their blood ple’s social well-being. ple and animals. Black Sheep started out with a rented as Jay’s father worked in the printing industry “Homeless people also suffer from The oak processionary moth coffee machine doing pop-up shops in and Suresh’s father was in typesetting. Suresh severe isolation and often spend several (OPM) is a native of southern Camden Town and has steadily grown, explained the company name came from the days without exchanging a single word Europe, where local environ - creating 25 full-time jobs along the way. fact that they were moving west from Africa, with anyone, or even make eye contact mental factors and predators They still have an office in Camden Town and setting up shop in the West End. They still with another human being,” he says. keep its populations in check. supported by the Camden Collective part have some of the same clients that first used “Sometimes, ordering a coffee and But this past winter its nests of Camden Town Unlimited Business them in the 1980s, and do work for both chatting with a barista who knows you by have been discovered in Improvement District. University College and University College your first name feels even better than the Regent’s Park. “The Camden Collective was a great Hospital. They have served many generations coffee itself.” Report OPM on 0845 367 3787. opportunity to mix with a variety of other of students and now have clients from all over A lot of people that Shohet spoke to See forestry.gov.uk/opm start-up businesses and many of us learnt London who appreciate their attention to detail didn’t think it was a good idea. Some even from each other,” says Shohet. and high standard of printing. The website at advised him against it saying that encour - Summer party The shop at Charlotte Street opened www.western-printers.co.uk brings in business aging homeless people to come in would last year and is only temporary for a few Fitzrovia Community Centre, also. cause problems. more months. But Black Sheep will be Foley Street, will host a Summer The new premises are smaller but the wide “At Black Sheep we are good at listen - moving into a permanent home at 5-7 Party on July 4. range of print services – anything from a poster ing to advice, and then ignoring it. We like Goodge Street, which is currently under to a book to a t-shirt - on offer remain the same to break boundaries. Black Sheep is about construction. They also have a shop at with state of the art equipment. Suresh explains: challenging the status quo,” he says. Aldgate East and will be opening another Food festival “Smaller machines do the same job these days.” And a big part of their style of busi - branch in Wood Street in EC2. They have also dropped the stationery side to ness is using a type of coffee that is There will be a week of food concentrate on their core business, ably assisted unusual in specialty coffee shops. While events around Charlotte Street by Alka who joined them in 1994. there are lots of gourmet coffee shops in from Monday 29 June to Sunday The northern end of Cleveland Street, Fitzrovia, “they are all selling the same 5 July, with special offers in beyond Maple Street is changing as dramatical - thing,” says Shohet. selected restaurants, special ly as the southern end, now overshadowed by menus and promotions, as well the massive Fitzroy Place development. as live food events. Happily, as well as Western Printers, it still has Three top chefs from several small independent businesses including Fitzrovia will join together to a dry cleaners, a fabric and trimmings shop that create a one-off gourmet meal, also offers a wonderfully random selection of and a wine-tasting will feature clothing including army surplus, a launderette, presentations from wine grow - two dentists, a tailor, two hairdressers and a ers, sommeliers and vintners. shoe repairers, but many of the small businesses On Friday 3 July Charlotte have disappeared from this stretch in the last Street, between Windmill Street five years, including a wig shop, a general store, and Rathbone Street, will close an electrical shop that had a sideline in model to traffic to host a summer food soldiers and most recently, a fayre. See enjoyfitzrovia.co.uk stationers/toys/sweets/art materials store. Board with sticky notes. Black Sheep Coffee, 63 Charlotte Street. for full details. 8 — Fitzrovia News issue 137 Summer 2015 facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews

CELEBRITY WATCH COMIC CAPERS Comedian Hugh Dennis was Pear Shaped in Fitzrovia, the seen striding purposefully up stand up comedy group at the most of Cleveland Street by my Fitzroy Tavern in Charlotte sister Margaret (a great fan of Street, no longer advertises his) on May Day with some itself as the worst in London. It sandwiches he had just bought. now proudly claims to be the She followed him to the BBC "second worst in London." My studio at the corner of Euston 69-year-old brother Mortimer Road where he recorded the was mildly miffed to be "Vote Now Show" broadcast that described as "wizened" by the night on Radio 4. compere during his visit. The Word from the Streets She thinks he must have pub's imminent closure for a bought the sarnies in Ishta's year is nothing to do with the By CHARLOTTE STREET and her family Sandwich Bar at 61 Cleveland Wednesday comedy nights but Street which was mentioned in is for renovation. PRESIDENTIAL KNOCK KNEES-UP the last issue of Fitzrovia News. Mortimer, by the way, US President Obama shirked a Could Hugh have possibly read agrees with Quentin Crisp (the challenge to play basket ball our esteemed organ? gay eccentric who frequented against Nobel prize winner, NUMBERS GAME the pub during the war years) Fitzrovian John O'Keefe - Some interesting personalised num - that dust does not get any claiming his knees were going . ber plates have been spotted by my worse after the third year. So he John was born in New York brother Percy of late: never cleans his flat and does from Irish parents and has now A vintage black convertible in not have a vacuum cleaner. been to Washington twice to Great Portland Street was NIK 1 (a When he had a visitor that meet the President, who con - possible target for car thieves?). needed impressing recently, gratulated him on his scientific A black BMW opposite the therefore, he could neither awards. Wheatsheaf in Rathbone Place had hoover nor sweep the dust John's research into the place PE1 (surely not the late bird imper - under the carpet. His solution cells in the brain is being used to sonator Percy Edwards). was to fork out £100 on a new identify various stages of And a white car often outside carpet to put on top of it. If any Altzheimers. Martin & Co at 112 Cleveland more visitors need impressing To test his theories, he Street has W1 2OLD (surely we are the layers of carpet could get explained on Radio 4's "Life never too old for this area). ever closer to the ceiling. Scientific", he tried shooting a CAMP FUN basket ball by looking where the basket was, closing his eyes and I wonder if Maplins in moving a bit before shooting, Tottenham Court Road are then opening them to see how NOVELIST AT BAR aware that the fictional holiday accurate he was. This proved Novelist Colin J Lewis , I can camp, made famous in "Hi-De- that you don't use vision alone reveal, is none other than the bar Hi!" (recently repeated on but also information about manager at the King & Queen, BBC2), was also named Maplins where you are spatially. Foley Street, whom we know as CJ. and had its headquarters in Hence his offer to "shoot a So far he has got four novels on kin - Tottenham Court Road. Barak Obama shoots a hoop when few hoops" with the President, dle - which he describes as "hard Unfortunately the uncouth feeling fitter. Getty Images which was sadly spurned. boiled detective novels with a spiv of a boss, Joe Maplin, who twist." The next one will be a pirate made excruciatingly crude adventure called Black Hearts and demands of his long suffering Thieves. He is not to be confused staff, never appeared on screen but was only referred to through with another author, Colin Lewis MURDEROUS LINK (without the J). his letters read out to them. Another local link with infa - HOW TO AVOID SPILLING YOUR DRINK mous murderer Dr Crippen , to Who is this pictured doing add to those listed from something like Chuck Berry's Nicholas Donnell’s book in our duck walk in the aforemen - last issue, has emerged. tioned King & Queen? Why it Crippen, hanged in 1910 for is none other than customer the poisoning of his wife, often and folk music enthusiast, Jerry spent illicit afternoon's with his Stuart. lover, Ethel le Neve, in a private He has perfected a way of hotel at 82 Wells Street, one door gripping his pint glass with his away from the western corner thumb parallel to his fingers. with Oxford Street. This enables him to keep his This information is contained elbows in and so less likely to in the Bloody British History of be nudged in crowded bars. Camden, by Dick Weindling & He also crouches down so Marianne Colloms. his abdomen is level with other people's knees allowing him OUR ILLUSTRATORS more room when going to and from the bar. It is an awkward Illustrators who contribute freely to posture, but "It is like a knife Fitzrovia News have had their work going through butter," he published in several books recently. proudly proclaims. Cartoonist Kipper Williams has one of his works reproduced in BEYOND OUR KEN Cartoon by Jayne Davies INTREPID FOX "Blair Inc", photographer Mark The late raconteur Ned Sherrin related some amusing anecdotes about Newman Street was one of the Thomas has one of his pictures in Fitzrovia in an old recording broadcast on Radio 4 Extra recently. most congested thoroughfares in the same book, and Ray One concerned a night of opera in the Scala Theatre, which used to be at the area when all the buses and Burmiston had a photograph in 21-25 Tottenham Street. Afterwards an audience member approached a taxis were diverted up it from "Bowie's Piano Man" (reviewed in music critic and said in a mid-European accent what sounded like: "Very Oxford Street for a while. This our last issue). Author of the latter, good orchestration." He agreed that it was, but was rather annoyed when did not deter a fox from wander - Clifford Slapper , tells me Ray was the comment was repeated several times. He then realised he was being ing casually up it one evening the singer in a group called the asked: "Where is Good Street station?" however. Passion Puppets when he lived in The other concerned the comic actor Kenneth Williams who famously Another part of the area's Charlotte Street. lived near Great Portland Street station. He queued up in a bank until wildlife includes squirrels, reaching a cashier who immediately recognised him and said what a huge which have been observed hop - et fan of his she was and listed all the films and television programmes she had ping from one window sill to te Stre seen him in. He asked her if he could cash a cheque for £100 and she sternly Cheeky board outside the Green another on the sixth floor of a harlot replied: "Have you got any identification?" Man in Riding House Street. block of flats. C facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Fitzrovia News issue 137 Summer 2015 — 9 McAlpine blames A cloud hangs Fitzroy Place contract over ASH plans Camden Council’s planners are recom - for financial loss mending approval of proposals put for - Construction giant Sir Robert McAlpine has blamed prob - ward by UCLH Charity to convert the for - lems with the contract at Fitzroy Place for a £90 million mer hospital building at Arthur Stanley loss, according to a report in the Sunday Times. House (ASH) in Tottenham Street to mostly McAlpine published its accounts last month and offices. blamed a “number of poorly performing contracts which Community groups have pointed out have incurred considerable losses” but didn’t name any (FN 135) that UCLH’s plans fail to comply specific jobs as the cause. However, The Sunday Times with borough and local strategic plans to reported: “One of Britain’s biggest builders has slumped deliver housing and public open space. to a £90m loss because of a troublesome contract to build A decision is due to be taken by a plan - luxury apartments in central London. “It blamed the loss ning committee on Thursday 4 June and in the year to the end of October largely on its Fitzroy the Charlotte Street Association will be Place contract — a £750m scheme to build 235 homes, UCL plans to increase student pushing councillors to reject the proposals, plus shops and offices, on the site of the former tell UCLH to come up with something poli - Middlesex Hospital in Fitzrovia. The project is nearly accommodation at Astor College cy-compliant and give Camden’s hopeless complete and McAlpine said it had provided for all the planning officers a good ear bashing. losses.” Camden’s planning watchdog the plans are to reduce this to 45 as McAlpine cited problems with rising costs and sup - Charlotte Street Association has UCL say there is not enough The All Souls School plies in London. The mixed-use development was due to criticised plans by University demand from students for cycle be completed last year but Fitzrovia News understands College London (UCL) for the parking. However, cycle usage in Summer Fair that work will not finish until at least the end of August redevelopment and refurbishment London is steadily increasing. this year. of a hall of residence on Charlotte The plans also mean the rear Saturday 13th June Street. The hall known as Astor extension will be very close to the College currently has rooms for rear boundary and would 12-4pm Riding House Street 235 students and the proposals adversely affect any residential Bouncy Castle Children's Sumo Wrestling would increase the capacity to development on the former work - free drumming workshops lucky dip 295. house site in Cleveland Street, say tombola & face painting hook the duck The plans, which were pub - the Charlotte Street Association. sponge the teacher remote car racing lished by Camden Council in Adding more student accommo - local Jazz band early March, include an eight dation should also be matched lots of delicious food including home made storey rear extension, a 1.5 storey with an increase in public open cakes, sushi, halal hot dogs, fruit kebabs extension to the front of the build - space on the site, but instead UCL chocolate fountain and ice creams. ing, and a cafe. The designs also want to build a cafe. raffle prizes a Mini iPad, 2 x £100 restau - include a new cladding over the UCL says it needs to increase rant vouchers, children's hampers existing facade, the opening of an the amount of student accommo - alleyway Bedford Passage and dation it has to meet the needs of For more information and raffle tickets please landscaping to the rear of the site a larger student intake. It also has email the PTA [email protected] for outdoor amenity space. “major investment plans” for The site currently has 90 nearby Ramsay Hall in Maple All Welcome spaces for cycle parking but the Street. SALESSALES & LELETTINGLETTINGSTINGS

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0207 637 0821 [email protected] 23-24 Margaret Street, London, W1W 8LF www.rib.co.uk 10 — Fitzrovia News issue 137 Summer 2015 facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Artworks capture visions of London and belonging to reflect indigenous Australian culture

“The London walk”: Poles wrapped in textiles created by community groups in Camden and Islington on display in The Great Court.

Community groups across ings, and patterns found in the Camden and Islington have costumes of Pearly Kings and been praised for an exhibition Queens. London wildlife such as held at the Great Court in the foxes, rats, squirrels, pigeons British Museum. and canal bird life are also “The London walk” which included. was displayed from 17 April to 6 Gaye Sculthorpe, curator of May was a project led by the “Indigenous Australia: Enduring Mary Ward Centre and included Civilisation” at the British women working with the Museum, said the community Fitzrovia Neighbourhood groups had excelled in their cre - Association. ations: The design for the project “I thought it was wonderful. was inspired by Indigenous It ties in with the exhibition and Australian artifacts and art work captures visions of London such as dot paintings, message belonging to some of the many sticks, painted memorial poles, communities who live here. I woven baskets, and paintings of know that the brief I gave was - ancestor beings, such as the rain - n’t easy, but by avoiding copy - bow serpent. This was in ing Aboriginal and Torres Strait response to a major exhibition at Islander designs it actually the British Museum presenting a achieves a deeper understanding history of indigenous Australia. of some of the concepts that The community groups pro - underpin many Indigenous duced a playful scene of Australian art forms. Also, it columns and designs, taking looks absolutely stunning. inspiration from the importance The pole created by the Goodge Place in the summer of 1975. Workers take a break during work to clear out the former glass shop at 39 of landscape in Aboriginal paint - Fitzrovia women will be return - Tottenham Street ahead of converting ground and basement to create the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre. In the ings, and the design of the ing to the Fitzrovia background is a timber yard (now the site of the Oxfam shop). London tube map, with the river Neighbourhood Centre and will Thames weaving through the be on display in June as part of columns like a serpent. the Fitzrovia Festival 2015. Pattern, colour and symbols Indigenous Australia: are compared with those in Enduring Civilisation continues London’s urban, social and at the British Museum until 2 architectural environment — August 2015. glass panels of skyscrapers and the brickwork of historic build -

A woman is impressing audiences with her performance of a male monarch upstairs at The Wheatsheaf, Rathbone Place. Based on “The Life and Times of Henry the Fifth” by William Shakespeare, “Henry V — Lion of England” Local charity Fitzrovia Youth in Action (FYA) received a £1,000 grant from the Mayor’s Fund for London and the strips back the famous and lengthy stage play into 75 minutes. Eleanor Santander Foundation in May to brighten up Warren Street and Whitfield Street with plants and flowers as part of Dillon-Reams plays all 12 characters. a community planting day. facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Fitzrovia News issue 137 Summer 2015 — 11 Fitzrovia Festival The people live here Festival — 3-28 June 2015

Fitzrovia Festival was first held in June 1973 (poster on right) and The Anarchist Free School in Fitzrovia: A guided walk and continues to be a celebration of the life and history of the neighbour - talk — 12pm Saturday 20 June hood. This year we celebrate with exhbitions, talks and guided walks.

Full programme of events 40 Years of Community activism in Fitzrovia: The Early All events are free unless other - Years, 1970-85: Talk and presen - wise stated. Donations are wel - tation — 6.30pm Tuesday 16 A pub crawl through history: The Derwent Dystopia: Guided Guided walk and talk —6.30pm walk and talk — 12pm come. Text FITZ15£10 to 70070 June Author Lydia Syson will lead a Tuesday 23 June Saturday 27 June to donate £10 to Fitzrovia Part of the 40th anniversary of 60-minute guided walk and talk Guided trek around the neigh - Neighbourhood Association the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood about the life of her great-great bourhood to see how it is chang - (registered charity). Association. Nick Bailey, long grandmother Nannie Dryhurst, ing — and not for the better. time resident and author of a a teacher at the International This walk which looks at how Events will be held at the book about Fitzrovia, will give a School — an anarchist free the buildings, residential com - Fitzrovia Neighbourhood visual presentation looking at school — set up in Fitzroy munity and whole neighbour - Centre, 39 Tottenham Street, important sites of community Square in the late nineteenth Local author Mike Pentelow and hood is changing. Find out Fitzrovia, London W1T 4RX. activism, the struggle for hous - century by French anarchist and editor of Fitzrovia News will about the influence of property ing and open space. Tottenham Communard Louise Michel. lead a guided visit to five of developers (not just Derwent) Street Tenants Association, the “My great-great grandmother Fitzrovia’a historic hostelries Crossrail, dodgy councils, para - first survey of housing in Nannie Dryhurst volunteered stopping off in each one to have sites, public relations companies Fitzrovia, formation of the there with her lover, the war cor - some liquid refreshment and to and even a few who should Fitzrovia Neighbourhood respondent Henry Nevinson. talk about the pubs local and know better. Learn about the Association and conversion of Discovering this, and the fact historical significance. Mike connection between Derwent number 39 Tottenham Street, that Louise Michel spent her last Pentelow is editor of Fitzrovia London, Dukelease Properties, campaigns and battles around years in my own neighbourhood News. He is also the co-author and Camden Council, with the the Warren playground, declara - of East Dulwich, led me to write of A Pub Crawl Through destruction of the oldest build - tion of Housing Action Areas my new novel Liberty’s Fire, History: The Ultimate Boozers’ ing on Goodge Street. And and Compulsory Purchase which was published in May. Who’s Who, and Freedom Pass what’s going on at Cleveland Orders (CPOs). The book is set during the Paris London: Make the Most of Your Street with Westminster City Commune but the final scene Travel Pass – 25 Special Days Council? Discover why not Fitzrovia Women’s Community takes place in Fitzrovia.” Out. Both books written with enough affordable housing and Art: Exhibition and Sale — The walk will also take in other Peter Arkell. public open space is being deliv - 6.00pm to 8.00pm weekdays sites of radicalism in Tottenham ered, why there is a business from Wednesday 3 June to Street and Charlotte Street, with improvement district in this the Friday 12 June contributions from Fitzrovia strangest of London barrios, and Textiles of quilts and other art News editors. and craftworks made by women why does a hospital charity at the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood dump its staff on the streets. Led Centre will be on display. There by Fitzrovia News editors. will be an auction of selected artworks.

Discovering the Secrets of Fitzrovia: A guided walk and talk — 6.30pm Friday 19 June Books about Fitzrovia and by Local resident Peter Twist of Fitzrovian authors: Exhibition Camden Tour Guides and bookstall — 10am to 4pm Association will lead a walk Sunday 21 June Posters from the See Red through the hidden corners of A browse and buy bookstall of Women’s Workshop: Exhibition this fascinating part of London. books about the neighbourhood Thursday 25 and Friday 26 June Fitzrovia and the Music A compelling mix of the great and by local authors including — 6pm to 9pm, Saturday 27 and Industry: Guided walk — and the good, the sublime to the publications by the Fitzrovia Sunday 28 June – 10am to 4pm 6.30pm Monday 15 June 2015 ever so slightly ridiculous. Neighbourhood Association, E A gallery exhibition of rare This 90-minute guided walk will Fascinating little alleyways and Beresford Chancellor’s London’s posters produced by the See Red visit buildings and places in half hidden mews among its Old Latin Quarter published in Women’s Workshop formed in Fitzrovia which have a connec - many gems, as well as a grand 1930, Nick Bailey’s street-by- the 1970s to produce poster art - tion with the music industry, Georgian square, ending at a street history of Fitzrovia pub - works to combat negative stopping outside the sites of famous pub. lished in 1981, and London images of women in advertising famous concerts, shops, record - Recruits: The Secret War Against and the media. Radical Silk ing studios, and the homes of Apartheid published in 2012. Screen Printing Collective: various musical artists. From There are many books written Discussion led by two of the 1960s psychedelia to the Spice about the district and we have a founders of the group, one of fitzroviafestival.org.uk Girls, the walk will include 50 small library of books for refer - whom lives in Fitzrovia. — twitter.com/fitzroviafest years of sex, drugs and rock and ence and lots of information Friday 26 June 7pm facebook.com/fitzroviafestival roll in Fitzrovia. about life in Fitzrovia. 12 — Fitzrovia News issue 137 Summer 2015 facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews

Toy soldiers from the first world war a hundred years ago. All photographs: www.markthomasphotos.com Pollocks - the toy story with a quirky charm The seaside favourite over generations: Punch and Judy

By HELENE PARRY with just the occasional type - wooden characters on show, by Marguerite Fawdry, who science and has the married ollock's museum and toyshop written explanation on faded including a fabulously eccentric bought up the stock of Benjamin name of Mrs Masters?). is tucked away in Scala Street paper. With its creaky floor - White Knight. Pollock Ltd., after trying to buy The museum’s narrow, steep Pbehind the main streets, but boards and information taped to One small bedroom, glassed one small item for her son’s toy staircases and small enclosed its brightly painted facade makes it bats on string, the museum is a off, is home to dozens of old- stand out from its neighbours. The theatre. The present museum spaces could make some visitors entrance is via the toyshop, so, far cry from today’s hi-tech, fashioned wax dolls who stare has been at Scala Street since uncomfortable. It’s also not the unusually, you can visit the gift interactive screen exhibition back in a slightly sinister way. 1969. place for boisterous children shop before you’ve seen the spaces, but it has its own quirky And you’ll meet enough teddy As you descend the stairs who want to touch everything exhibits! charm. bears for an entire banquet, let that lead to the exit, the collec - they see. But if you’re interested The quaint building is Adults might enjoy the nos - alone a picnic. One display case tion moves towards the present in seeing something different to formed by two old houses talgic quality of the museum houses a group of golliwogs (or day, with toys like Subbuteo and the popular London attractions, joined together. When you open more than children (“I had one is the collective noun “a jam”?). the board game version of this museum is well worth a the door from the shop to the of those!”), but it provides all The history of this controversial Mastermind, with its enduring visit. museum, you are conscious of visitors with an insight into how toy makes an enthralling read. image of the seated question - Pollock’s Toy Museum, 1 stepping into what was once toys have changed over the Their lineage goes back much master and the mysterious Asian Scala Street, London W1T 2HL. someone’s home. As you walk years. For instance, the minia - further than Enid Blyton and girl on the box. (Did you know Entrance fee: adults, £6, children up the steep, narrow staircase, ture vehicles on display range Robertson’s marmalade – in that in real life, the “question - £3, seniors/students £5. and pause to look at the folk from Dinky cars introduced in 1908, French composer Claude master” was a businessman who Opening hours: Mon-Sat toys from around the world that the 1930s to TV-related merchan - Debussy even composed The owned a chain of hairdressing 10am-5pm. Closed Sundays and grace the walls, you realise just dise like the Monkees’ car and Golliwog’s Cakewalk, a pre-rag - salons’, and the Oriental lady, Bank Holidays. how old many of its 20,000 the Batmobile. For many visi - time jazzy dance. fittingly, now works in computer http://www.pollockstoys.com exhibits are – some dating back tors, a highlight will be meeting The dolls’ houses and village more than a century. TV legends Sooty, Sweep and stores, especially the 1930s’ Upstairs, the six small rooms Soo, the original glove puppets drapery shop, are a delight. A are packed from floor to ceiling having been donated to the miniature model farm is sur - with toys once treasured by past museum by their creator, Harry rounded by its animals, each generations. The exhibitions Corbett. Readers who loved cow, chicken and horse the proof have been put together in a Lewis Carroll’s Alice books will of careful saving and judicious rather haphazard labour of love, enjoy the beautifully painted investment of pocket money. The farm, explains the label, was introduced after World War I as a Peace Toy. In contrast, the dis - play of Wartime Toys features tanks, rifles and even a 1982 War In The Falklands board game – possibly not widely remembered because its target market had moved on to video games by then. The museum is rightly proud of its collection of toy theatres – not surprisingly, as it takes its name from Benjamin Pollock, the last of the Victorian Toy Theatre printers. It was set up Russian dolls with a difference during the Soviet era The teddy bears picnic continues to attract attention. facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Fitzrovia News issue 137 Summer 2015 — 13 The Story of Our Love

liked your hair. The way you A SHORT STORY BY though she was the only person tied it with a ribbon at the nape who ever loved me. There are limits Iof your neck. I touched it once. I SUNITA SOLIAR to other people’s love. But not to was behind you in the lift. Joe from mine for you. I sneaked into the graphic design stopped the door office at 7.30, an hour before anyone with his palm and darted in so you the little things that I knew would else arrived so that I could surprise had to shamble back; the frizz of make you understand. By the time I you. It seemed obvious that you your ponytail tickled my nose. delivered the first batch of cupcakes ‘Sorry,’ you said, over your shoul - to your desk, I thought we were on der, checking if you’d stepped on You’d start to walk the same page. I knew how much my feet. You noticed me, you were quickly, fumble your key considerate, you cared, you were you liked them. You used to buy one as a treat from the bakery on amazing. But I couldn’t tell you in the door and slam it ILLUSTRATION BY CLIFFORD HARPER any of this, partly because I had to the corner. Around three o’clock, focus my energy on not sneezing behind you the red-haired girl at the desk oppo - were my wife, they got it: no injunc - your skin! I had to grip your arms until you got out on the third floor. site would lean back in her swivel would know they were from me. tion, no charges. After all, I was To sneeze at the touch of your hair to stop you moving. ‘You know I chair and ask, ‘Fancy a treat?’ You’d only showing you love, wasn’t I? would not have given the right After all the times I’d followed you am your destiny,’ I told you. You impression, would not have shown say, ‘I know I shouldn’t. I’ll get fat.’ on the tube and down your road That time I sprayed my aftershave struggled against me and then there my appreciation. Joe was casting But you would never let yourself just to make sure you got home on your sheets as they dried in the were footsteps down the hall and I quick looks at you. He said, ‘I like get fat. The pair of you would put without any interference from Joe. back garden. I didn’t realize you had to flee. It only had to go this the new campaign.’ on your jackets and set off. You’d start to walk quickly, fumble didn’t like the smell. I wrote to ask way because you wouldn’t admit ‘Thanks,’ you said. I could tell Chocolate was your favourite. your key in the door and slam it what scent you preferred, but you our love in the open. I have my you didn’t like being in the lift with The first time you saw my cup - behind you. Sometimes you’d give never wrote back. rights too if that was how you were him, the way he smiled at you. cakes – six in a basket, dusted with me a funny look, which was hurt - You must have known we were going to behave. ‘How does it go?’ he went on. glitter – you stared with horror. ful. Because I knew that you knew coming to this, the realization of our I meant to show you. I would ‘If love tasted this good …’ Redhead caught your stillness and you were my true wife. love. I kept the cupcakes going end it all for you, in front of you. Struggling to get it right. the two of you looked at the perfect - I suppose I can understand everyday for a month. You would Only as I came into the building the You helped him: ‘There would - ly swirled icing as though at a dead about the cupcakes. Perhaps you pick them up with the tips of your next morning, and people started n’t be enough to go around.’ pigeon. You didn’t touch them. were keeping it quiet at work; you fingers and drop them in the bin; screaming and hiding under desks, He said it along with you. After I’d gone to all the effort of didn’t want people to know that we then you would stare at them, until I could see that there was a better ‘Right. Did you come up with that?’ baking them the night before. I had spoke on the phone every night Redhead emptied the bin. I didn’t way to prove my love. You wanted ‘It was all of us.’ So sweet, so to do two batches because I dam - because you were being profession - like you embarrassing me in front of a grand gesture. You could hear it, modest. Worth it. ‘Are you coming aged the tops at my first go at the al. I would call every hour just to your friends. I knew it was time to the noise, computer screens shatter - to the pub tomorrow night?’ I knew icing. The baking itself: easy. A mat - hear your voice: ‘Hello? Hello?’ No make our love official. You had to ing, the rippling firework sound. you were only asking him to be ter of getting the ingredients at the need for me to speak. Sometimes stop denying. You were down in the All this for you. People would read polite. right temperature. I learnt that off you would say vicious things, print room and you didn’t see me about the legend of our love in the I wanted to tell you then, but I the internet because it’s not as if my which I won’t repeat. You told the coming. You screamed and I paper; Jon Snow in a tie with had to wait for the right time, do all mother ever baked for me even police. When I explained that you clamped your mouth – oh to touch flamingoes or ice-lolly coloured stripes would proclaim it. Only when I saw you scrabbling along Variety is the spice of life at this Italian delicatessen the floor away from me – all the effort I went to, all the effort you put me to – at some point you should have shown your apprecia - tion. You jerked and twisted on the Cheese sarnie? floor until I realized it was only me keeping you moving, the jittering of my hands flowing into the ripple sound, the transmission of love. There are 20 to And when I had given it all, I stopped, and you were still. People did talk about it, and even though they missed the purity

choose from of it, I know the truth, the perfec -

tion, the story of our love.

. s r e d l e w t o p s d n a

s r e k r o w e r i w e r e w d n a s e m a r The Italian delicatessen at 41 Great Titchfield Street f

e d a h s p m a l e d a m s o r B n o s n i e has up to 50 different types of salami, and up to 20 H

e r e h w t e e r t S d l e i f t i h W 8 varieties of cheese. 4

f o s i 4 1 e g a p n o h p a r g o t o h p e h Yet one customer had the same sandwich for five T

: R E W S N A E L Z Z U P E R U T C I years. "I had to pretend I did not have it to make him ABOVE: Danilo (right) and Giovanni serve a customer at the Great Titchfield Street deli. P experiment with something different," said Danilo Di BELOW: The historic shop front of what was originally a butcher 100 years ago. Iulio. "Now he tries others and enjoys it." Danilo, who lives in Hanway Place, runs the deli with his father Giovanni, and they keep the name H T Harris from the days when it was a butcher over a hun - Bloomsbury ward dred years ago. councillors’ surgeries "An elderly lady told me three years ago how she 6:00 - 7:00pm first Friday of the month at recalled getting her meat rations from here during the Fitzrovia Community Centre, Foley Street, W1W 6DN war," added Danilo. "My grandfather, Giuseppe Pozzuto, took it over about 45 years ago and turned it into a deli 6:00 - 7:00pm second and fourth Fridays of the month at and coffee bar. It has retained its distinctiveness and is Marchmont Community Centre, 62 Marchmont Street, WC1N 1AB very popular with customers. Third Friday of the month is a 'roving surgery'. Get in touch if you would "We have very good relations with them and share a like us to conduct the surgery at your street or building. great banter with them, which new people sometimes Adam Harrison, Sabrina Francis, and Rishi Madlani see as a bit cheeky or rude, until they realise it is friend - Contact 020 7974 3111 or [email protected] ly." [email protected] [email protected] 14 — Fitzrovia News issue 137 Summer 2015 facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews The Colour Catcher A cautionary tale by J E Fairweather

nce, long ago, there lived a difficulty finding a good appren - cleaner, not that the job should man who was known as tice. When the last one died, The not be taken as seriously, except OThe Colour Catcher. Except Colour Catcher felt he had had it was not his name, but his title. If the mistake of a street cleaner it weren’t for him, why, all of enough with apprentices. In the did not have the same cata - nature in his country would be past few months he had had no strophic result. At the rate things colourless. Imagine that, every - less than three apprentices, each were going, The Colour Catch thing transparent. Yet everyone one more useless than the last. took the lovely colours around felt that he would die without them for granted. They expected to The reason his last appren - finding a replacement. This wor - find everything the same way tice died was that after learning ried him as he was growing old. every day for ever. the job, he became inquisitive Because he could not bear the What The Colour Catcher and wished to know where the thought of people living in a had to do, was rise early each colours came from. One morn - colourless world, he thought he morning and wait for the ing early, before The Colour would teach them a lesson colours to float across the moun - Catcher had arisen, the appren - before it was too late. tain above him. He caught each tice climbed the mountain to One day, to the shock and colour individually as it floated wait for the appearance of the amazement of all, on waking, by and directed it to the correct colours hoping to discover they found that there was no plant, tree, flower or whatever where they came from. In the colour in nature. At first people part of nature should be the dark he fell from the mountain were shocked! They didn’t know colour he caught before the and died. what to do. All kinds of sugges - colour evaporated. He had to do An earlier apprentice had tions were made, but still no this with each colour. This been dismissed when it was dis - new apprentice came forward. meant that he had to have a very covered that he was colour Soon everyone forgot about it all good memory in order to assign blind. This came about when he as they became used to a world the correct colour to each plant. kept sending the colour brown without colour. It was amazing And, he had to be quick. to colour the grass and putting how quickly this happened. Imagine if, for example, he all the wrong colours every - After a relatively short time, no made a mistake and made all where without being aware of one seemed upset anymore. In the trees blue or plants pink. what he was doing. fact, it left The Colour Catcher And all fruits and flowers per - Another had been so slow in wondering if they had ever petually green and had not time catching the colours as they taken real notice of all the lovely Illustration by Clifford Harper to correct the colour. floated down that he always colours he had so carefully Only a very few people managed to catch only one painted nature with. He ques - up to try and fight this depres - some people had initially to knew that The Colour Catcher colour each time, usually purple tioned whether they had even sion. Much money was made, cover their eyes because of the existed. Memory had faded of or black; always useless colours, seen these. Human beings seem but people remained depressed. brightness. With great excite - such a person and that was why where nature is concerned. to get so used to something In fact it grew worse as time ment, the entire village started his existence was taken for One apprentice had taken (provided it was not too went on, until the normal state for the mountain to see what granted, in that even those who this important job far too lightly painful), he thought, that they of mind was one of depression. had happened. They rushed, knew of his existence forgot and had kept playing with the soon stopped ‘seeing’. This had The happy few were the odd knocking each other over in what he did. In other words, no colours. For example, he would certainly happened with the balls. In spite of this, no one their haste. On arrival, they saw one connected his vocation to choose the colour pink for colours of nature. The Colour linked this depressed state of smoke coming out of the little the colours in nature. Another everything that should be green, Catcher asked himself if perhaps mind with the colourless world hut The Colour Catcher had reason he was forgotten was that and yellow for everything that all his time and energy and car - in which they lived. lived in. They made for the door he lived high up in the moun - should be red. The poor Colour ing, had all been for nothing. Then one day everyone and knocked loudly on it. It was tain. He had to live up high Catcher had had to redo every - Here was the entire population woke up to a brightly coloured opened by a youngish man who because as explained above, thing, and quickly before the satisfied to live in a colourless world. All the plants and trees did not seem surprised at all to each morning he had to get up colours became fixed for that world. were as they used to be when see all these people. He had very early and catch the colours day. Then the Colour Catcher The Colour Catcher was alive. expected this would be the as they floated past the moun - The Colour Catcher felt that died. Unexpectedly. Before he Only now the colours seemed result of his work. They all gath - tain above him. If he did not the young did not take things could train someone up. Things brighter than they had ever been ered around him, throwing catch them, for the remainder of seriously enough. Not one went on as usual for a while, which they would to anyone questions at him. He held his that day, everything would be seemed to have that dedication and then something started to used to a colourless world. It hand up and a hush descended, colourless. It was a most respon - people had in the past. The way happen. People began to get was as if a blind man had sud - then he explained what had sible job but was not appreciat - they behaved towards the job depressed for no apparent rea - denly regained his sight. The happened. ed. At least that is how The one would think they were son. Young and old, healthy colours seemed so bright that He lived in a village quite a Colour Catcher felt. He had such being an apprentice to a street and sick. A new industry grew way away, but finally news trickled through of what had happened and of the death of All Saints Church The Colour Catcher. He felt sorry for these unknown people, Margaret Street and as he was a fully-fledged Colour Catcher without a job – Our diverse and inclusive parish is grounded in the in his village there were young rich catholic tradition of Anglicanism. We offer a men queueing up to be appren - place of peace and beauty in busy central London ticed to the reigning Colour (open daily from 7 to 7). We maintain fine liturgical Catcher, unlike in his village traditions and excellence in music. The parish would where the people took his skill be delighted to welcome you to all or any of our for granted. He decided to come PICTURE liturgies if you are able to join us in ‘one of the to their rescue and had arrived ten buildings that have changed the face of Britain’ late that night and had got to PUZZLE (English Heritage). work first thing in the morning. Main services on Sunday He was glad that they appreciat - 11am High Mass ed his efforts which they How well do you know 6pm Choral Evensong and Benediction showed by feasting him. Fitzrovia? However, after chatting with a Times of Daily Prayer, Masses & opportunities Can you recognise where few of the villagers, the new for confession & counselling are advertised at: this photograph was taken Colour Catcher had no illusions www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk by Mark Thomas? that in his life time these people Parish office: 020 7636 1788 The answer is on page 13 Please tell us if you came to All Saints would once again take the won - at the end of “The Story of after seeing this advertisement. derful colours of nature for Our Love.” granted. facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Fitzrovia News issue 137 Summer 2015 — 15 Estate agents have seen Historic pub name change huge changes in the area over last 50 years

any changes have been seen by property consult - Mants Robert Irving Burns since they were formed in the area in 1962. Having always been located in the heart of Fitzrovia, the company sees itself very much The Tottenham the last remaining pub on Oxford Street is to under - part of the fabric of the area and go a refurbishment. Plans by owners Mitchells & Butler include call - like many of the residents has ing it by its former name The Flying Horse and alterations to the seen significant change over the facade, ground floor, new pub signs, and a revamped basement last 50 years. area. The pub is located within the Hanway Conservation Area and Howard Brecker, one of is a Grade II* listed building. Originally called The Flying Horse RIB’s founding members and from at least 1809 to 1894 when it became The Tottenham. still Chairman of the company Its heritage can be dated back to at least 1790. In its early days today, remembers fondly what the regulars were theatregoers from the nearby Tottenham Street Fitzrovia was like when the Theatre an auditorium that was once London’s finest music hall. In business first opened its doors: the pub are three curvaceous ladies painted by Felix de Jong, the “Fitzrovia was known as the leading decorative artist in music hall. In 1841 there were 34 pubs Rag Trade area dominated by Damien Field, Howard Brecker and Antony Antoniou keep up to date on along Oxford Street. The Tottenham was featured in the Fitzrovia the clothing industry, with some the property market with Fitzrovia News. News Pub Crawl in 2011. of the leading fashion houses of nies wanting to base themselves the day vying for ground floor team, specialising in both sales in the area. This of course has showrooms. The atmosphere and lettings, but over the last resulted in the need to accom - Fitzroy Tavern will close to was akin to a private members' five years the area has seen a modate these companies which club with no joining fee as significant rise in demand for has led to also a significant undergo year-long refurbishment everyone knew one another.” commercial space being convert - demand for restaurants, bars As an independent estate ed into residential accommoda - and coffee shops. Fitzrovia’s most well-known agency, located at 23/24 tion. duced on the corner of the “Without doubt the changing public house is to close for a Margaret Street, it is aware of David Caldeira, Head of building. The inside of the commercial face of Fitzrovia has year in order to undergo a com - the need to maintain the area's New Homes at RIB, adds: ground and first floor will be had a significant knock-on effect plete refurbishment intended to heritage and history. “Whilst demand shifted for cer - subdivided into “snugs” and to the social fabric of the area," restore it to its late nineteenth- Damien Field, Senior tain existing uses, it became there will be additional continued Damien. "Fitzrovia century splendour, it will reopen Director at RIB who has been clear that presented with the entrances onto Charlotte Street today is very much different to in the spring of 2016. The former with the company for over 25 right scheme, such properties and Windmill Street. the Fitzrovia I was first intro - Fitzroy Coffee House was con - years, comments: “Whilst the could be redeveloped to provide The pub was first called duced to, some 25 years ago.” verted to a public house in 1897 area continues to evolve in the area with modern living “The Fitzroy Tavern” in 1919 by “When I first came into and named “The Hundred terms of development opportu - accommodation.” then licensee Judah “Pop” Fitzrovia, the pavements were Marks”, a reference to the large nities we are always advising The company feels it has a Kleinfeld, a Polish Russian filled with boxes and rails of number of German immigrants our clients with one eye very vital part to play in maintaining immigrant. It went on to have stock moving in and out of the living locally. much on maintaining the aes - close links with those that both such a rich history that there is a many fashion showrooms. The historical restoration will thetics of Fitzrovia.” live and work in the area, and to whole book about it: The Fitzroy, Nowadays the same pavements include sustainably-sourced pol - One of the most significant keep aware of local community The Autobiography of a London are home to seating of the many ished mahogany timber changes to Fitzrovia over the last needs. It states that it is "proud Tavern, by Sally Fiber, (pub - bars and coffee shops." shopfronts, acid etched and bril - 50 years has been the shift from to be associated with the area lished 1995). The company has always liant cut glass panes, wrought local textile industries to TV, and remains committed to help Its heyday was from the had a progressive residential iron pub signs, and a traditional Media and Technology compa - shaping its future." 1930s to the 1950s when its cus - glass lantern is to be re-intro - tomers famously ranged from cabinet ministers to road sweep - ers. And in the days when A delightful new mixture of tastes homosexuality was a crime pun - ished by long prison sentences, the pub was well known for its LE MENAR vegetables, all served with cous - £21 was described as a French tolerance of gay customers. 55 Cleveland Street. cous (£14.50 - £17); confit of merlot-cabernet; what came was (These times were recalled by What a shame. I have just been duck (£16.50) and Moroccan- a St Felix sauvignon-grenache comedian Kenneth Williams in to what I thought to be a won - style sea bass (£16). mixture which was his diaries). Eventually the pub derful local restaurant, on a And delight of delights to excellent. Look out for it. I was prosecuted by police in 1955 Monday night and, counting us, me: a Quinoa Filo Basket – the believe you can also smoke for being a “disorderly house” there were only four diners quinoa in the very edible con - shisha pipes upstairs - but, and a “den of vice.” The popular among the brass tables and com - tainer was mixed with preserved because of the smoking laws, governor Charlie Allchild was fortable sofas scattered with lemons and courgettes, topped only electric ones. found guilty on nine counts and brightly coloured cushions. Le with a plentiful serving of big I wonder about the lack of suspended by the brewery. He Menar serves delicious Italian- cubes of feta – all served on a customers. This space, near the won on appeal but was so dis - Greek-Turkish influenced food bed of just-cooked spinach: a corner with Foley Street, has gusted with the brewery that he from North Africa – countries delicious combination of tastes. been several restaurants over the resigned. like Morocco, Libya, Tunisia and The desserts were dishes like last years (one rather good The Labour MP and journal - Lebanon: all countries which – Mango Sorbet (£5) or Saffron Moroccan, some not very suc - ist, Tom Driberg, was a regular as we now know only too well if By the DINING DETECTIVE and Pistachio Crème Brulee cessful). The waiter told me this in the 1930s when he wrote the we didn’t before – are just on the (£5.50) but out of shocked disbe - owner took over last William Hickey column for the other side of the Mediterranean. have had a tasting meze of all lief we had Deep Fried September. Perhaps they have Daily Express. He was credited A mixture of tastes that was the starters for two (£20). In the Madagascan ice-cream with but - not clarified enough that this is with coining the name Fitzrovia new to me. In the starters main courses there were kebabs terscotch served with Medjori new management and (I pre - for the area around the pub. (among smoked halloumi and but not quite as we are used to dates ( £8.50). Outrageous but sume) a new – certainly excel - Although another regular of the moussaka plates) we enjoyed them from Turkey: the Shish should be tried once – apparent - lent – chef. Anyway great food pub, poet and publisher, Meary smoked lamb prosciutto slices Tarouk for instance was chicken ly very popular in Libya. and wine, reasonable prices (the James Thurairajah Tambimuttu with figs and sorrel (£9) and pieces served with a garlic The wine was a mixture of bill for two was £73.41 which claimed to have used the name hummus with, of all things, sauce. There were tagines of European and Moroccan. The included 12.5% service) and rec - first. wasabi (£4.75). Or you could beef, or octopus, or lamb, or cheapest bottle of red wine at ommended. 16 — Fitzrovia News issue 137 Summer 2015 facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Reclusive genius with water on his brain

By MIKE PENTELOW simple apparatus involving balls of different weights and a pen - scientific genius and a rich dulum. This was in 1798 and eccentric recluse, Henry became known as "the ACavendish (1731-1810), lived Cavendish experiment." Modern on the corner of Gower Street and technology confirms his calcula - Bedford Square. He was most famous for dis - tion was within one per cent of covering that water was not an the currently accepted figure. element but consisted of hydro - Nitric acid was discovered gen and oxygen, which he by him, and he made many ments. His biographer Dr their remarks were worthy they the richest men in the country in proved in 1784 by combining breakthroughs in the fields of George Wilson noted: "He was might receive a mumbled reply, 1810. these gases to produce water. electricity and other areas which almost passionless... and any - but more often than not they But money never mattered to His interest in water dated he wrote up privately but did thing that required an emotional would hear a peeved squeak Henry, who was the third son of back to 1767 when he published not publish publicly. It was only response was distasteful to him." and turn to find an actual vacan - the second Duke of Devonshire, an article entitled "Experiments long after his death that these He only communicated with cy and the sight of Cavendish even after he inherited an enor - on Rathbone Place Water" in the papers were examined and his housekeeper through notes fleeing to find a more peaceful mous fortune from his uncle in Philosophical Transactions of the revealed discoveries for which left on the hall table, and he had corner." 1773. Rather than spend it he Royal Society which was later others were later given credit - a separate staircase fitted for Lord Brougham, said "he just let it accumulate until it published as a pamphlet. including Richters law of recip - other visitors so he never had to shuffled quickly from room to grew so big that the bank This revealed his discovery rocal proportions, Ohm's law, meet them. room, seeming to be annoyed if thought he should invest it. He that hardness in water was Dalton's law of partial pressures, Although many offered to looked at." And, he concluded: gave them short shrift saying if caused by calcium bicarbonate Coulomb's law of electrical con - paint his portrait he always "He probably uttered fewer they troubled him again he (formed by a reaction between ductivity, Charles's law of gases, refused. The only hint of his words in the course of his life would remove it. calcium carbonate and carbon and the mechanical theory of appearance is through a sketch than any man who ever lived to One thing he did fork out dioxide) and that it could be heat. which was hastily drawn with - four score years, not at all for, however, was a house in softened by adding lime (calci - Perhaps the reason he did out his knowledge at a meeting excepting the monks of La Dean Street to accommodate his um hydroxide). not publish these findings was of the Royal Society Club. Trappe." library and a librarian to look These experiments were con - his extremely reclusive nature Those who wished to consult His heir, Lord George after it. Every time he took out ducted in what he described as and avoidance of any human him were advised by one of his Cavendish, was allowed to see one of his own books he left a "a pond at the end of Rathbone contact. It was said he "was not few friends, Dr Wollaston, him just once a year - for half an receipt for it. Place" and that it had a pump. adept at social intercourse and "never to look at him, but to hour only. He also experimented with His other claim to fame was did not try to be civil." Etiquette talk, as it were, into vacancy, This was time well spent ballooning, and was considered to calculate the density (and so was of no importance to him and then it is not unlikely you however as Henry left him £1.75 eccentric at the time for not the weight) of the Earth by a and lived only for his experi - may set him going." Then "if million which made him one of holding any religious views. Four children being sick outside a pub

By CATHERINE MARCH One of our many childhood Four children being sick outside thrills was hurling wet newspa - a pub in the heart of Fitzrovia, per bombs from the Fitzroy attic circa 1965. The Hillman Minx window at the passing bowler that brought them home from hats on the street below. holiday parked close by, its My cousin Paul recently told engine most likely still hot me that he was accused of under the bonnet in the heat of drinking his first Southern the August noonday sun. Three Comfort in the Fitzroy, aged boys and a girl, five to ten years four. old, all overdosed on blackcur - We are only just starting to rant and cream soda lovingly share our anecdotes as an served up in haste by their dar - extended family, circulating ling nanny, Julia, from the flock Sally Fiber's book about the warmth and crystal sparkle of Fitzroy Tavern in the years the Fitzroy Tavern's Jubilee bar - before our grandfather took it or was it the saloon? on. I am the girl in that vignette, I am hoping that readers of now an old time puppeteer, Catherine outside the Fitzroy Fitzrovia News might have some teacher and community artist. Tavern today. memories of our three family The Fitzroy was my father's pubs, or maybe even remember Uncle Tommy, the eldest family home from the late 1940s, when our grandfather arrived in Fitzgerald son, ran the Adam's one of the list of banned pubs the West End from Ireland and Arms, at 4 Conway Street, and for those on National Service, took on the One Tun, at 60 we four East End children along with my Uncle Danny's Goodge Street for a short while. shared a sense of wonder about pub, the Black Horse at 6 If you know of anyone with life up west, the Fitzroy being Rathbone Place. anecdotes to share please get in our regular holiday haunt. touch through Fitzrovia News. facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Fitzrovia News issue 137 Summer 2015 — 17 The small anarchist republic By NICK HEATH lution had not yet broken out, itzrovia has a long history of whether there was a general radicalism with waves of amnesty, which liberal govern - FFrench and German revolu - ment had opened a border… tionaries arriving after 1848 and And the longer the good news then with the clampdown by Bismarck in Germany and the was delayed…how irritable they defeat of the Paris Commune in felt, and how bitter were their 1871. Swiss and Italian immigrants mutual feuds. Dissensions usu - also added to the radical mix in the ally arose from trivial circum - area. Among all of these groups were considerable numbers of stances,” but also over political anarchists who added to the points. “ Individualist anar - already radical traditions of the chism? Anarchist communism? neighbourhood. Attentats? No attentats? “ Let’s go on a little walk Further south in Fitzrovia around this area described by can be found the site of a whole the French anarchist Charles series of anarchist clubs, the first Malato as a “small anarchist to be founded in St Stephen’s republic”. We start at 19 Fitzroy Mews in the 1880s and then oth - Square. Here in 1890 were the ers at 32 Charlotte Street and 6 premises of the International and 9 Windmill Street. These School founded by Louise clubs had their fair share of Michel who had fought on the police raids and persecution. barricades in defence of the Nearby in Newman Passage a Paris Commune. Louise had soup kitchen was set up to feed been a teacher in Paris where refugees from the Paris she had run creches for the chil - Commune in 1871. Coming dren of women factory workers. more up to date we can find the Exiled to London in 1890 she IIlustrations by Clifford Harper site of the Malatesta Club at 32 lived at 59 Charlotte Street and dock he remained defiant, accus - extend credit to revolutionary Percy Street. This club was set set up the school based on the ing the state and the ruling class exiles and much of the money up by anarchists in 1954 at 155 Russian anarchist Bakunin’s of all the real crimes of the age, he made was spent on the cause High Holborn and moved to educational principles. concluding with the question: in one way or another. Percy Street in 1956. It was a The guiding committee “How many generals are impris - At 30 Goodge Street the popular place, drawing in many included famous anarchists such oned for using weapons of French anarchist Armand Lapie young people from their bedsits, as Peter Kropotkin, the Italian death?” ran a newsagents. The Dutch as it was able to provide coffee, Errico Malatesta, and the At the nearby Grafton Arms anarchist Alexandre Cohen has record sessions, chess games and English libertarian socialist in Grafton Way, Frank Kitz, the left an account of Lapie’s shop skiffle and jazz performances in William Morris. The school was illegitimate child of an English to where every evening at 5pm a free and relaxed atmosphere. closed when the police raided it mother and German father came many anarchists headed when As can be seen from the in 1892 and found bombs in the in contact with the emerging he returned from the depot with above, the relatively small area basement. It was suspected these socialist movement. He is first a heavy burden of French, of Fitzrovia has sustained many were planted there by the mentioned as taking part in a Italian and Spanish newspapers. centres of socialism and anar - school’s assistant Auguste debate on communism in Putting them down with a chism over the years. At a time Coulon, who was later August 1874. He moved in a “Han!” of relief “he was sold out when Fitzrovia is being threat - unmasked as a police spy in the ERRICO MALATESTA more radical direction and in a flash. For even the poorest ened by the property develop - pay of Special Branch. In a sub - helped set up the Manhood tary of the London branch of the among the poverty-stricken ers, these old traditions of strug - sequent trial of several anar - Suffrage League the following Industrial Syndicalist Education refugees handed over their three gle and direct action should be chists, who were given sentences year. He made links with the League and was the only pence to see whether this revo - remembered and celebrated. of ten years’ hard labour for German exiles and moved in an woman delegate at the 1st possessing explosives, they More information can be found on Nick Heath's website: anarchist direction. International Syndicalist claimed these had been supplied libcom.org/history/-small-anarchist-republic-french-anarchists-fitzrovia In Cleveland Street the Congress in London in 1913. The them by Coulon. Italian anarchist called Bergia Manchester Guardian describes One of these was an Italian ran a restaurant at No 70 and her as smoking "her revolution - 6 Fitzroy Square: The Perfect Venue shoemaker Jean Battola, who was involved in organising ary cigarette with the rest". lived at 18 Fitzroy Square. In the among catering workers from At number 67 down the The perfect venue for meetings, launches, 1905 onwards. At the Cleveland street, Victor Richard ran a gro - seminars, dinners, wedding receptions and Hall, at No 54 further down the cery store from the 1870s other corporate events. Shiv street, anarchists held many onward. He had been a grocer in meetings and hosted the Paris when he was caught up in International Revolutionary the events of the Paris The Georgian Group’s elegant Pharmacy Socialist Congress of 1881, Commune and he had fought eighteenth-century headquarters attended by Kropotkin and dele - heroically on the barricades. overlooking Fitzroy Square provide 70 Great Titchfield Street gates from Europe and the USA. One account alleges that his a unique location for all types of London W1W 7QN At 99 Charlotte Street, anoth - coffee mill popularised the con - private and corporate events in the er anarchist free school was Prescriptions traption in Britain as well as the heart of central London. founded by Lilian Evelyn in French way of making coffee. Multivitamins 1912. Under the reversal of this He only stocked red beans and name, Evelyn Lilyan, this Herbal Medications not the “reactionary” white We cordially invite local intriguing woman was the secre - ones! He was always willing to Natural and businesses and individuals to visit our building and get a taste of the Homeopathic Garson happy to work with Bowie authentic Georgian experience… produce The feature on local pianist and author, Clifford Slapper, in Fitzrovia News 136 stated of David Bowie's pianist, Mike Garson, that: "For a while in the 1980s he For booking enquiries, Friendly Medical took a break from Bowie as he was not finding it availability and rates please contact: Advice enough of a challenge." In fact, Bowie simply did not Rob Kouyoumdjian on Open Monday to Friday choose to use Garson from the late 1970s until the 020 7529 8921 or 8.30am to 6pm 1990s. Garson was always happy to respond when [email protected] Bowie reached out to him, as he did once again in the Tel/Fax 1990s. 020 7580 2393 Clifford's book Bowie's Piano Man: the life of Mike Garson (published by Fantom Books at £19.99) is now [email protected] available on Amazon and from: www.fantomfilms.co.uk/books/cliffordslapper_mikegarson.htm 18 — Fitzrovia News issue 137 Summer 2015 facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews The underwater polymath

By Pete Whyatt

acing cyclist, jazz musician, author and photographer Leo Zanelli has lived at RHolcroft Court for 15 years. He was born in 1930 near Kings Cross, to Italian par - ents (his father was a chef, his mother a wait - ress). His early childhood was spent at the Angel Islington. In 1939 his family moved into Soho when his father bought the lease on 21 Romilly Street “It was the beginning of the war and my father was immediately interned as an enemy alien and sent to the Isle of Man because he was Italian. “During the war I slept in the base - ment and despite being a sound sleeper I used to get woken up by the floor shak - Leo aged 22 overtaking a motorbike ing from bombs exploding nearby. An uncle who was an ambulance driver once For many years Leo has been interested in Leo Holds a Freemasonry and apart from being editor knocked on the door and said, ‘Is every - copy of “Teach one alright?’ A bomb has just fallen over of “The Square”, the Freemasons maga - yourself zine, for 15 years he has written many the road! My mum did bed and break - underwater fasts in the house. My uncle Peter was a articles on the subject. Leo was initiated swimming” into the Italia Lodge – the only Italian- band leader and he brought a lot of show - which was business people in. speaking Freemasonic Lodge in the published in English Constitution. He later joined the “Towards the end of the war my 1967 Behind mother turned the ground floor into a British Sub-Aqua Lodge. Leo is also a him are covers member of the “Oddfellows” a national vegetarian restaurant called ‘Jill-in-the- of some of the Green’. I think it was the second vegetari - fraternal friendly society whose local magazines he branch is called Duchess of Kent Lodge. an restaurant in London. We cooked has edited things like nut cutlets but it wasn’t a com - They regularly meet at Warren Street. mercial success and when my father got (There will be an article about the local Oddfellows in the next issue of Fitzrovia out of the internment camp, my mother but I couldn’t afford a tenor sax,” he “At one time I was writing six differ - asked him if he’d like to work there. He News ). explained. ent columns a week in addition to my Recently Leo was interviewed for the was a big carnivore so he said, ‘Cooking At school English was his strongest usual work. For 17 years I was ‘Adam nuts all day - you must be nuts’ and went Channel 4 documentary “The Queens Big subject so he decided to try his hand at the Gardener’ in the Sunday Express.” Night Out” about VE Day in 1945 when off and got another job, but when the journalism. “I did consider returning to Leo has also been writing about wine restaurant finally closed he took it over the future Queen Elizabeth and Princess education to study Law or English but a since the 50s, and is a member of the Margaret slipped out of Buckingham and it became The Tosca, an Italian lot of journalists used to come into my Circle of Wine Writers. In 1971 he wrote restaurant which served meat dishes.” Palace to join the public celebrations in father’s restaurant and one of them said Home Winemaking from A to Z. He is a secret. He spoke about some of the racy Leo attended Notre Dame school in to me, if you want to be a journalist the founder and honorary life member of the Leicester Square. On leaving, his first job and colourful events that happened on worst thing you can do is study English London Press Club and has honorary life that evening. was in catering, at the Albany Club on at university. So I just started freelancing membership of the National Union of Saville Row. As a young man his passions which turned out to be good advice cer - Journalists. were jazz, football and cycling. “I was a tainly in those days.” One of his earliest He has been a prolific author and founder member of the British League of jobs was with the publisher Collins in written books on many subjects. Titles Racing Cyclists. In those days mass cycle Covent Garden as a book editor. include – Beer and Wine Making riding on public roads was illegal. Time In 1950 Leo went to the USA for one Illustrated Dictionary; British Sub-Aqua trials were allowed but we used to find year with Collins to further his career. “I Club Diving Manual; Sub Aqua clandestine ways of arranging, meeting always had plenty of work, my accent Swimming; All you can build in the gar - up and cycling as a group on the road. was a novelty and an asset.” In America den; Central Heating, Plumbing, We always had to be one step ahead of he also took photographs for the New Electricity; Shipwrecks Around the World the police. It was like the illegal rave York Mirror. Since then Leo has never, – a Divers Guide; Rock Gardens & Pools. scene of the late 1980’s.” ever, been without a camera in his pos - Recently he qualified as a City of Leo played with several modern jazz session. London Guide and then as a Clerkenwell groups and had alto sax lessons from the He returned to London in 1951, and & Islington guide. His main topics are well known saxophonist and bandleader worked as a writer/photographer City Highlights and Freemasons in the Harry Hayes. “My hero was Stan Getz through the fifties, during which time he City, although Leo’s most popular guid - also developed a passion for scuba div - ed walk is through Fitzrovia and Soho. ing. Leo went on to become National Diving Officer of the British Sub Aqua Club, where he trained the first Metropolitan Police diving unit. He helped found the Sub-aqua Association (becoming Chairman), has the First Class Diver certificate and is a qualified scuba instructor. Leo has published around 30 books, on varied subjects, the first of which was one of the Teach Yourself titles: Sub Aqua Swimming. He has also been the editor of several magazines and part-works, including the best-selling Golden Homes, which helped the publisher, Marshall Cavendish, to get into the Guinness Book of Records as the ‘most profitable compa - ny in Britain’. “But this wasn’t reflected in my salary!” He joined Central Press Features, now part of the Daily Mail group, Fleet Street, in 1976, and over the Leo following his installation as Provincial Leo breaks the ice, he was editor and featured next 20 years had work published in over Grand Master of the North London District on the cover of this 1968 magazine Leo plays the alto sax in the 1950’s 200 newspapers. Oddfellows 2006-7 facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Fitzrovia News issue 137 Summer 2015 — 19

his first solo album, A Comfortable Man (released by ‘The Piano Man’ Phoenix Rising). ART LISTINGS By CLIFFORD SLAPPER the spit-and-sawdust gigs) It is a compelling and mov - Continued from back page ing account of grief and separa - whilst he pummelled my poor Gallery Libby Sellers , 41 tion in his life, which pulls off a When I used to play the piano at pianists’ shoulders, to great Berners St (libbysellers.com) miraculous twist of personal sal - Quo Vadis club in Soho a few effect. Getty Images Gallery , 46 vation through love and hon - years ago, one frequent and wel - Other times he would sit in Eastcastle St (gettyimages - esty. Every song is a gem and come visitor was Cathal Smyth, on the piano and treat us to gallery.com) reflects the pain and joy of the otherwise known as Chas Smash early versions of one or two of GRAD , 3-4a Little Portland St gentle soul behind them. Go and from Madness. Always a charm - his own songs, as works in (grad-london.com) enjoy this treat. It may be the ing and warm friend, he had a progress. The room always fell Hanmi Gallery , 30 Maple St nearest thing to a shoulder mas - surprising line in on-the-spot silent at the sound of his deep- (hanmigallery.co.uk) sage from Cathal himself. massage, offered to those he timbred and resonant but sensi - Ibid , 27 Margaret St (ibidpro - deemed stressed enough to need tive voice, accompanied by a jects.com) Clifford Slapper, a professional it. The force of his charm (cou - simple piano style over often Josh Lilley , 44-46 Riding House pianist, lives in the heart of pled with his bear-like unusual and poignant chord St (joshlilleygallery.com) Fitzrovia and is the author of demeanour) was such that, more changes. It was always moving. Kashya Hildebrand , 22 "Bowie's Piano Man: the life of than once, he had me laid out Now this treat has been made Eastcastle St (kashyahilde - Mike Garson" published by on the club carpet (fortunately, available to a wider audience brand.com) Fantom, April 2015. by then I was no longer playing through the release in May of Cathal Smyth Lazarides Gallery , 11 Rathbone Place (lazinc.com) Nancy Victor , 6 Charlotte Place Looking back (nancyvictor.com) National Print Gallery, 56 Maple 10 years ago 40 years ago St (nationalprintgallery.com) ‘Aliens’ rounded up during war Pi Artworks , 55 Eastcastle St 24-hour booze Camden Council was granted a (piartworks.com) compulsory purchase order for 100 years ago Pilar Corrias , 54 Eastcastle St bamboozled tenement blocks at 8/10 and 12 (pilarcorrias.com) The last of the area's German Rebecca Hossack Gallery (1), 2a An application to sell alcohol Tottenham Street because of the and Italian residents were Conway St (r-h-g.co.uk) for 24 hours a day by landlord's failure to make rounded up and taken to Rebecca Hossack Gallery (2), 28 Sainsbury's at 31-35 Mortimer repairs that it had been ordered internment camps during the Charlotte St (r-h-g.co.uk) Street was rejected by to for the tenants. first world war. Richard Saltoun , 111 Great Westminster City Council. A possession order was The Daily Chronicle reported Titchfield St It was one of the first appli - issued against squatters in 8 in November 1915 that there (richardsaltoun.com) cations under the new law Conway Street. were more aliens registered in Riseart , 83 Great Titchfield St allowing it. But the council ruled The art of coal hole rubbing Charlotte Street , Fitzroy Square, (riseart.com) that it failed to fulfil the four was practised by Jim Kempton than any other metropolitan dis - Rook and Raven , 7/8 Rathbone licensing objectives of the new of Great Portland Street. It trict, and they were part of the Place (rookandraven.co.uk) law: preventing crime and disor - involved placing a sheet of general exodus. Rose Issa Projects , 82 Great der, public safety, preventing paper over a coal hole cover and Tottenham Court Road had Portland St (roseissa.com) public nuisance, and protecting rubbing it with special coloured one of the depots "where the Rosenfeld Porcini , 37 Rathbone children from harm. wax - producing "a beautiful majority were roped in." St (rosenfeldporcini.com) The Pennies From Heaven design worthy of framing and In most cases, reported the RIBA , 66 Portland Place (archi - charity was wound up after 82 hanging on your lounge wall." Chronicle, "the roll call was in tecture.com) years. It was originally set up by Music venues listed included the yards at the rear of the police Scream Gallery , 27-28 Eastcastle Pop Kleinfeld, publican of the the Speakeasy at 48 Margaret stations, where vehicles were in The men looked dejected as their St (whisperfineart.co.uk) Fitzroy Tavern , to finance annu - Street where Jimi Hendrix per - readiness. In few instances was wives wept when they parted. Store Street Gallery , 32 Store St al outings for local children. One formed (members 50p, guests there anything in the nature of a (storestreetgallery.com) way it raised money was for £1), Dingles at the Adams Arms demonstration. From the rear of Illustration by Clifford Harper Tiwani Contemporary , 16 Little customers to attach money to [now the Lukin], Conway Street Tottenham Court Road [police] Portland St (tiwani.co.uk) darts and throw them into the (members 25p, others 50p), and gloomy thoughts were obvious - station, in Whitfield Street , sev - T J Boulting , 59 Riding House ceiling. The charity's remaining Granny's Folk and Blues at the ly not relieved by the news, of eral bus loads were despatched. St (tjboulting.com) funds were handed over to Rising Sun, Tottenham Court the British and French victories. Here a crowd of some hundreds White Rainbow , 47 Mortimer St Fitzrovia Youth In Action by Road (members 30p, others 40p). "All classes were represent - gathered, but a fairy large pro - (white-rainbow.co.uk) Pop's grand-daughter Sally And last but not least, the ed, but men of the chef and portion were the wives and Woolff Gallery , 89 Charlotte St Fiber. Fitzrovia Neighbourhood waiter type and of the middle other relatives of the interned (woolffgallery.co.uk) The accident and emergency Association finally got off the classes predominated. In the men. ward of the new University ground. It received an Urban majority of cases they carried "The women were much College Hospital opened in Aid Grant of £54,000 over five bags containing additional cloth - affected by the parting, and Euston Road. The new hospital, years. A committee was set up ing and other necessary articles, most of them were weeping as Please mention replacing the old UCH in Gower and it was negotiating the lease and a number of buses were they waved farewell to their Street and Middlesex Hospital in for the shop and basement at 39 almost filled inside with lug - Fitzrovia News menfolk. The men too, looked Mortimer Street, had cost over Tottenham Street with the gage. Generally a constable sat dejected, and as they beguiled when replying to £400 million to build and con - Middlesex Hospital Trustees. by the driver, with a comrade on the time of waiting by reading tained 669 beds. (Tower Community Newspaper, top and another in the conduc - advertisers the morning papers, their (Fitzrovia News, Summer 2005) June 1975) tor's place." THE DUKE OF YORK Opening hours, Mon-Fri, 12-11pm, Sat 1-11pm, Sun closed 47 RATHBONE STREET,LONDON W1T 1NW 020 7636 7065 [email protected] A traditional pub, with a good selection of real ales and varied wine list. Upstairs Bar/Function room available for private parties and Buffets. Check us out on Facebook! THE GRAFTON ARMS Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12-11pm, Sat 5-11pm, Sun closed. 72 GRAFTON WAY, LONDON WIT 5DU 020 7387 7923 [email protected] Newly refurbished heated roof terrace. Food served 12.-3, 6-10 pm Parties catered for. Range of real ales. Function area. Friendly service! 20 — Fitzrovia News issue 137 Summer 2015 facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews WHAT’S ON AROUND FITZROVIA Email [email protected] by August 19 for the September 2015 issue, and put "Listings" in the subject box. LIVE MUSIC EXHIBITIONS The Albany, 240 Great Portland ART GALLERIES St (thealbanyw1w.co.uk): British Museum , Great Russell Highlighted exhibitions are Ukeleles on Wednesday 8pm. St (britishmuseum.org): The marked with an asterisk* body in ancient Greek Art, until Bolivar Hall, 54 Grafton Way: July 5. Dervishes and Mysticism 4 Windmill St (4windmill - Irena Radic (award winning in Iran and India, until July 8. street.com) young pianist), June 12; Carlos Ancient lives, new discoveries, Adam Gallery , 67 Mortimer St Metralleta Orozco (harp con- until July 12. Indigenous (adamgallery.com) cert), June 18; both 7.30pm and Australia: enduring civilisation, Alison Jacques Gallery , 18 free entry but book at cultur- until Aug 2. Prints and propa - Berners St [email protected]. ganda in the age of Napoleon, (alisonjacquesgallery.com) until Aug 16. Pacific barkcloth Art First , 21 Eastcastle St (art - King & Queen, 1 Foley St : Folk Darts are playing at the 100 Club on July 25. clothing, until Aug 16. first.co.uk) once a month on Fridays (visit Arup Phase 2 , 8 Fitzroy St web mustradclub.co.uk). Grant Museum of Zoology , 21 (arup.com/phase 2) THEATRE CINEMA/FILM University St (ucl.ac.uk/muse - Bloomsbury Theatre , 15 Gordon Bartha Contemporary , 25 Tower Tavern, 21 Clipstone St: ums/zoology): Strange St (thebloomsbury.com): Bolivar Hall , 54 Grafton Way Margaret St (barthacontempo - Live rock music on Saturdays, Creatures: The art of unknown Wildlife, by Millennium (cultura.embavenez-uk.org): rary.com) NOW DISCONTINUED. London Socialist Film Co-op animals, until June 27 (special *Berloni , 63 Margaret St Performing Arts, June 5-6. Rob object showcased June 12, 1- Delaney, stand-up comedy, June screen films at 11am on the sec - (berlonigallery.com): Ben The 100 Club, 100 Oxford St 2pm; seminar day, June 13, 8. Mark Watson, June 10. ond Sunday of each month. Woodeson / “Obstacle” – (the100club.co.uk): Black 10.30am to 3.30pm). Class in Stewart Francis: Pun Gent Tour, Challenging sculpture that Mountain, June 10. Bootleg drawing animals, June 16, 6.30- June 11-12. Resofit, comedy, Green Man , 36 Riding House St: exudes both wonder and a sense Runners, June 12. Bluey 9pm. music, and art, June 15. Irish London Animation Club, first of danger, until Aug 1 Robinson, June 15. Tuesday Hooley, several bands, June 18. Tuesday of month. Black Arts Company , 73 Great Blues, June 16. The Godfathers Royal Institute of British Silver Screen Tour, dance from Titchfield St (the blackarts.org) 30th Anniversary Show, June 17. Architects , 66 Portland Place film, June 19. Louise Pentland, Odeon , 30 Tottenham Court Rd: Building Centre , Store St (build - Law Rocks, June 18. James Royal (architecture.com): Ist-on aka Sprinkle of Glitter, June 20. Weekly film details from ingcentre.co.uk) & Friends, June 20. Reigning Situations by EAS-EMRA Arolat Masters Raw, musical theatre www.odeon.co.uk or 08712 Carroll/Fletcher , 56-57 Eastcastle Sound, June 22. Alden Penner architects, until June 30. The and dance, June 26-27. Youth 244007. St (carrollfletcher.com) (The Unicorns) & Michael Cera, Brutalist Playground, June 10 to Choreography competition, June Christine Park Gallery , 35 June 23. Who Afterparty Aug 16. 28. Free Fringe Fundraiser, June Regent Street Cinema, 309 Riding House St (Unofficial), June 26. Tuesday 30. Katherine Ryan: Glam Role Regent St, north of Oxford (christinepark.net) Blues, June 30. Larking Poe, July Slade School of Fine Art , Model, July 2-3. London Circus (regentstreetcinema.com): *Coningsby Gallery /Debut Art, 1. Let's Wrestle, July 10. Rare Wilkins Building, Gower St: Amateur Ballet Gala, July 4. Now open.. 30 Tottenham St (coningsby - Soul All Nighter, July 11. Slade MA/MFA degree show, John Hegley & Ronnie Golden, gallery.com): “State Of The Art Chastity Brown, July 13. The until June 21. July 5. Robin Ince, July 7. Royal Institute of British Cinema” - An eclectic spread of Moons, July 17. Tuesday Blues, National Youth Ballet Gala, Aug Architects , Architecture Gallery, posters and images for movies July 21. Darts, July 25. Tuesday UCL Art Museum , Wilkins 8. 66 Portland Place made around the world by Blues, July 28. The Lone Bellow, (architecture.com): Office Space, Building, Gower St: Re-Launch, emerging and well established July 30-31. by Mike Judge, June 30, 6.30- post-renovation exhibition of filmmakers, July 14-Aug 7. Camden People's Theatre , 58-60 objects, prints, video and live Hampstead Rd (cptheatre.co.uk): 10.30pm. Curwen Gallery , 34 Windmill St UCL Haldane Room, Wilkins works, Until June 12. I got dressed in front of my (curwengallery.com) Building, Gower St: UCL nephew today, by Feral Foxy UCL Grant Museum of Darren Baker Gallery, 81 Chamber Music Club Concert, Wellcome Library , 183 Euston Ladies, June 4-5. The Trojan Zoology , 21 University St: Charlotte St (darrenbaker.com) June 4, 5.30-6.30pm. Rd (wellcomecollection.org): Women, June 8. Shrew (one Empire of the Ants, July 8, 6.30- Edel Assanti , 17A Newman St 9pm. The Institute of Sexology, until (edelassanti.com) LIVE COMEDY woman adaptation of Taming of Sept 20. Forensics: The anatomy the Shrew), June 23-28. Much Evelyn Yard , Evelyn Yard (eve - The Albany , 240 Great Portland UCL Main Campus , Wilkins of crime, until June 21. Alice lynyard.com) Ado about Nothing, June 30-July Anderson: Memory Movement St: Mondays at 8pm. 19. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Building, Gower St: Open City Exposure , 22-23 Little Portland Documentary Festival, June 16- Memory Objects, July 22 to Oct St (exposure.net) Family, July 30-31. Jekyll, July 18. Fitzroy Tavern , 16 Charlotte St: 30-Aug 2. 21. *Fitzrovia Gallery (fitzrovia - Wednesdays at 7.30pm in base - gallery.co.uk): “SATURATION’| ment. Dominion Theatre, 269 UCL Petrie Museum , Malet WALKS New Spanish Painting” - Eight Tottenham Court Rd (domin - Place London Literary Pub Crawl , artists explore the meaning of Wheatsheaf , 25 Rathbone Place: iontheatre.co.uk): Lord Of The (ucl.ac.uk/museums/petrie): every Saturday, 5pm. Start at the narrative in painting, June 22- Improvisation on Thursdays, Dance: Dangerous Games, ongo - Gallipoli (1981). Free but pre- Wheatsheaf, 25 Rathbone Place. July 31. 8.30pm, and stand-up on ing. book: www.eventbrite.co.uk. LondonLiteraryPubCrawl.com. *Fold Gallery , 158 New Saturdays, 7.30pm upstairs. Cavendish St (foldgallery.com): London Palladium , Argyll St Fitzrovia Literary Pub Crawl : “Corporeality, Objects and Other PUB QUIZZES Stuff” / group exhibition - Each (the-london-palladium.com): TALKS Every last Tuesday of the month, The Albany , 240 Great Portland Beyond Bollywood (Indian 6pm, meet downstairs at the artist approaches the material and physical matter of their St: Every Tuesday. dance extravaganza), until June Royal Institute of British Fitzroy Tavern, 16 Charlotte St. work using a combination of 27. Sinatra, July 10-Oct 10. Architects , 66 Portland Place To reserve free space email mar - sophisticated visual playfulness, The Court , 108a Tottenham (architecture.com): Welcome to keting@fitzroviapartnership, or June 6-July 11. Court Rd: Every Sunday, 8pm. New Diorama Theatre , 15 Triton the Playground, by Simon call 020 7755 3380. Framers Gallery , 36 Windmill St, opposite top of Fitzroy St Terrill, June 9, 6-10pm. The Rise St (theframersgallery.co.uk) Prince of Wales Feathers , 8 (newdiorama.com): Younger and Fall of the Council Estate, *Gallery Different , 14 Percy St Warren St: Every Monday, 7pm. Theatre's Incoming Festival, June 23, 7-8.40pm. FAIRS AND June 1-10. (gallerydifferent.co.uk): Giulia FESTIVALS Zaniol / “Brand Art Sensation: a The Ship , 134 New Cavendish Sohemian Society , Wheatsheaf, Mass Debate” – An exhibition St: Alternate Tuesdays, 8pm. Maverick Theatre , The 25 Rathbone Place: Patrick that question three of Britain’s Wheatsheaf, 25 Rathbone Place: Hamilton night, with Nigel All Souls School, Foley Street: most influential art personalities; Henry V - Lion of England, Jones talking and Mark Farrelly Summer Fair, June 13, 12-4pm Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and OTHER EVENTS every weekend and bank holi - performing, June 24, 7.30pm day until June 14. Advance (see page 9 and 19). Grayson Perry and how they have blurred the lines between UCL Institute of Making , Malet booking from www.londonliter - UCL Darwin Lecture Theatre , Fitzrovia Festival, various ven - luxury labels and fine art, June Place: Festival of Stuff, classes in arypubcrawl.com; tickets@mav - Malet Place ([email protected]): ues, June 3-28. For more details 9-13. weaving, woodchiselling, nano- ericktheatre.co.uk; 020 8090 Tuesdays and Thursdays (1.15- see centre pages. scale making, June 23-27. 5082. 1.55pm) during term time. Continued on previous page