Free guide to Fitzrovia pubs inside Fitzrovia Spring fitzrovia.org.uk/news Fitzrovia News Fitzrovia News is produced by residents and volunteers and distributed free to all businesses and residential addresses in Fitzrovia Issue 120, Spring 2011 Community Centre to open in spring The new £1.5 million Fitzrovia would make it easier to collabo - Community Centre in Foley rate with other projects. Street is due to open this spring. “We are very keen to retain It takes up a corner of the the FNA’s work with older peo - ground floor and basement of ple, its Bengali women’s art John Astor House, owned by projects, and its advice service, University College London for which there will be more pri - Hospital (UCLH). Rooms are vacy than at present,” she available for hire for a variety of added. community projects. There is also a courtyard The £1.5 million was provid - which Helena thinks “could be a ed by the UCLH through an proper garden involving lots of agreement with Camden different people.” The campaign Council to give Fitzrovia a new for allotments on the Middlesex community centre in return for Hospital site “was very popular permission to build the new hos - with all ages and ethnicities,” pital on Euston Road. she recalled. “Lots of climbing So although geographically plants could be grown here and in Westminster the new centre it could be a quiet green space comes under the jurisdiction of where people could garden or Camden, to whom it is leased by just read.” There will also be a the UCLH Trust. shed which could be used for The project co-ordinator, storing plants and other materi - Helena Roden, is optimistic als. about the opportunities afforded There are various sized by the new centre, although rooms which “could be used for recognising it is “a most difficult a film club or for dancing les - time to set up such an enterprise sons,” continued Helena, “but with funding in both Camden we hope local people come up and Westminster being with their own ideas.” reviewed.” The centre has to Overall the aim is for it to be “stand on its own feet financial - multi-use — hosting community Whitfield Gardens restored ly so modest charges for room as well as business projects. hire have to be made, to con - “This is a model that lots of tribute to the upkeep of such a community centres now use to valuable space,” she added. derive income,” she explained. to use after long closure The office and interview This could mean community Whitfield Gardens is open again after extensive refurbishments by Camden Council. The Friends of Open Spaces room which the Fitzrovia health projects, such as healthy Fitzrovia had worked with the council to approve designs. However, worry remains over maintenance of the planted Neighbourhood Association eating, drop-in play sessions for area and the nuisance caused by pigeons. The gardens re-opened shortly before the death of Bertie Dinnage who (FNA) is considering moving the under-5s, mixed with board sadly was unable to see the completed works which he worked so hard to realise with the people of Fitzrovia. See into, will amount to less space meetings, and public consulta - obituary on page 3. The Friends of Open Spaces Ftzrovia are looking for a secretary. Please contact Fitzrovia News. than it currently has in tion exercises. Tottenham Street, but says There are showers, a stain - Helena, it could have access to less steel kitchen, tea making other project spaces, and it facilities, toilets (including two Bertie Dinnage: 1932 – 2011 with disabled access), and stor - age spaces, in addition to the It is with great sadness that we report the death of Bertie rooms. Dinnage. He was a sportsman, architect, father, husband, The architect, Jim Monahan, lover of good food, community activist, and an associate edi - has added a completely new stairwell to the back of the cen - tor of Fitzrovia News . tre with coloured glass panels, Bertie had died peacefully at 11am Wednesday, 16 providing extra daylight and a February at the Marie Curie Hospice in Hampstead, with view into the courtyard. Keiko his wife at his side. Bertie had been very ill for the last “He has used top quality few months. materials and made the whole Friends, relatives and colleagues came together at the building look cared for. The funeral of Bertie Dinnage on Friday 25 February in the West builders, Kind & Co, have also Chapel of Golders Green Crematorium where they listened to done an excellent job,” conclud - a celebration of his life. Obituary on page 3. ed Helena.
GIGS est. 1964 The home of traditional Fish & Chips Fully licensed Greek restaurant “The secret’s out. Gigs is back” 12 Tottenham Street 020 7636 1424 2 News and comment Fitzrovia News Spring 2011 Fitzrovia News Formerly The Tower Residents fall out established 1973 fitzrovia.org.uk/news after school twitter.com/fitzrovianews facebook.com/fitzrovianews Occupation in Fitzrovia highlights pressing social issues [email protected] By Chris Webb young men and women”. 020 7580 4576 However, support for the Squatters in Guy Ritchie's £6 Really Free School in Fitzrovia is million house in Fitzroy Square not fully inclusive. Edward have left the building following Turner, co-chair of the Fitzrovia Issue 120, Spring 2011/2011 a court order. The group calling Residents’ Association (FRA) 1 March 2011 themselves the Really Free was reported saying Mr Rees’ School had occupied the empty behaviour is “shocking”. FRA Fitzrovia News is published building for less than a week, member Aimery de Malet quarterly by the Fitzrovia MBE for local woman presenting public film screen - Roquefort echoed his sentiments Community Newspaper A Fitzrovia resident has received legacy of economic ings and lectures, in protest saying: “Many hard working Group, and supported by the an MBE in recognition of her prosperity. The investiture was against the government’s educa - and ordinary Fitzrovia residents Fitzrovia Neighbourhood campaigning work, writes Peter held on 17 December 2010 and tion cuts. Ritchie, bought the now fear leaving their properties Association Whyatt . she received the honour from house in May 2010. empty, even to go away at the (registered charity no. 1111649) Oku Ekpenyon (pictured Prince Charles. The Really Free School have weekend. Consequently, this sets 39 Tottenham Street, with her mother) has lived most Memorial 2007 aim to raise now made the Black Horse pub, a very dangerous precedent”. London, W1T 4RX of her life in Fitzrovia and money for a sculpture in the Rathbone Place their new home. Linus Rees, responded by ISSN: 0967-1404 attended All Souls’ School. She is Rose Garden in Hyde Park. The pub has been empty since accusing Mr Roquefort of “hys - both a historian and a teacher. Oku says “We need to raise November 2010 and the group teria”. He told the West End Editorial Team Oku became head of history at £1.5 million. This will help to have continued with their Extra : “I do not in any way con - Mike Pentelow: an inner London secondary pay for the landscaping of the timetable of activities. However, done people squatting private or editor and features editor school. In the Queen’s birthday site, the design and erection of they have now been served with public property that is being Linus Rees: honours list of June 2010 she was the sculpture, lighting, and the a notice to appear in court on used or is being occupied, but assistant editor and fundraiser awarded an MBE for ‘voluntary creation of a quiet garden area Wednesday 2 March which that is not what is happening in Pete Whyatt: services to the history of British (comprising seating, information could lead to their eviction. this case. news and production editor black people’. plaques and African flora) as an The media coverage of the “According to Camden’s sta - Fiona Green: Oku is Chair of Memorial oasis of remembrance. To ensure Fitzroy Square occupation has tistics, Bloomsbury ward has the arts and listings editor 2007, a project to create a perma - that the memorial does not fall provoked a more contentious highest number of vacant prop - Brian Jarman: nent memorial to honour of the into disrepair, a fund will be response than the actual occupa - erties in the whole of the bor - writer and sub-editor millions of enslaved Africans established for its continuing tion. Focussing solely on the ough. Barb Jacobson: whose enforced labour con - maintenance.” occupying of a well-known film “I am more concerned about associate editor tributed to the Industrial For more details: director’s house, the mainstream people losing their homes over Jennifer Kavanagh: Revolution and Great Britain’s www.memorial2007.org.uk press completely missed the the next few months as the associate editor point of the Really Free Schools’ housing benefit changes come Chris Webb: message and described Fitzrovia into effect and as people lose sub-editor as “Up-market” (The their jobs in both the public and Bloomsbury ward Independent) giving the wrong private sector, and Camden and Contributors: impression of our diverse neigh - Westminster will see a lot more John Axon councillors’ surgeries bourhood. homeless families in 12 months’ Sally Beerworth Linus Rees, chair of trustees, time. Our organisation is very Clifford Harper 6.00-7.00pm on the first and third Fridays of the month at Fitzrovia Neighbourhood concerned about that,” said Mr Clive Henderson Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre, 39 Tottenham Street, W1T 4RX Association (FNA) commented Rees. Denise Julien And on the second and fourth Fridays of the month at on the Fitzrovia News website: Max Neufeld Marchmont Community Centre, 62 Marchmont Street, WC1N 1AB “Fitzrovia as a whole is not uni - Charles New versally well off. It is also home Free council tax Guy O’Connell Adam Harrison, Milena Nuti, and Abdul Quadir : 020 7974 3111 to the poor and marginalized”, Residents of Fitzrovia living Jess Owen [email protected], [email protected], and “Hostels that support vul - near giant building projects are Helena Roden [email protected] nerable people are due to be Sunita Soliar shut and community services considering a campaign to get Sandra Wheen are under threat because of the their council tax paid by devel - Kipper Williams government cuts.” opers, writes Guy O’Connell . Mr Rees also called the The The demolition of the Printed by: 6 Fitzroy Square: The Perfect Venue Really Free School “inspiring Middlesex Hospital and the Sharman & Co Ltd, plans someday to build up there Newark Road, again prove the massive disrup - Peterborough PE1 5TD The perfect venue for meetings, launches, tion to people living with the sharmanandco.co.uk seminars, dinners, wedding receptions and noise, dust and lorries. other corporate events. One man living between two office re-builds on Charlotte Street told us he was driven out The Georgian Group’s elegant of his home by the construction Editorial and social eighteenth-century headquarters noise coming from two direc - meetings: overlooking Fitzroy Square provide tions at once. New plans are a unique location for all types of being submitted for develop - 7:30pm 1st Tuesday private and corporate events in the ment work and a recent meeting heart of central London. heard a push to get firms who of every month take on long projects to reim - Fitzrovia Neighbourhood burse locals for their lost ameni - Centre, We cordially invite local ty. 39 Tottenham Street, businesses and individuals to visit Building work must fit with London W1T 4RX our building and get a taste of the the Environmental Protection All Welcome authentic Georgian experience… Act as well as with planning regulations, but the disruption can be very tough for anyone For booking enquiries, Our new address: living with it for long availability and rates please contact: 179 Tottenham Court periods. Some projects take Advertise in Rob Kouyoumdjian on Road, London twelve months or more, and in 020 7529 8921 or W1T 7NZ these cases, where residents Fitzrovia News [email protected] lives are turned upside down, tel: (020) 7636 9222 there are many residents push - Our rates are very fax: (020) 7637 3553 ing for recognition that their reasonable and we [email protected] own enjoyment of basic services distribute 5,000 copies www.goodgelaw.com are put on hold as a result. Watch this space, or con - throughout Fitzrovia. tact us if you'd like to get [email protected] involved. Fitzrovia News, Spring 2011 News and comment 3
Obituary: Bertie Dinnage Planning news
By Clive Henderson, Sandra enced by the Scandinavian Saatchi building Wheen and Linus Rees architect Alvar Aalto — a Derwent London have sub - humane modern architecture mitted plans to redevelop Reginald Bertram Dinnage, influenced by landscape and the Saatchi block at 80 known as Bertie, was born in natural materials. Charlotte Street with a 50 Crowland, Lincolnshire. His Later he took a special inter - percent increase over exist - father was the village baker and est in access for the disabled and ing floor space. A tiny pock - his mother, whose maiden name worked for Southwark Council. et park on Chitty Street is was Wakefield, came from a Despite the introduction of com - included in the plans which family known for their culinary puter aided design (CAD) into local people feel is a feeble skills. architects’ offices he preferred to attempt to provide local As a young man Bertie took use a traditional drawing board. amenity. Private and afford - part in long-distance running, Bertie was physically sturdy. able housing is also pro - rugby, and played cricket. He In an accident more than 20 posed on the site. later become a highly respected years ago he had survived death architect, having had ambitions in a fall from several storeys. He to enter the profession from an escaped with some broken bones Middlesex Hospital site early age. He has entries in but came to walk with a stoop Kaupthing, Aviva Investors Pevsner’s Architectural Guide and a characteristic gait. and Exemplar Properties for London (Vol. 4: North & He came to live at Gordon intend to submit a new North East London). Mansions in Torrington Place in planning application in mid- In a voluntary role he was the late 1960s. When the flats 2011 to develop the three- chair of the Charlotte Street were later being bought and acre former Middlesex Association, secretary of the sold speculatively, Bertie with Bertie Dinnage (second from left) with friends (from left) Clive Henderson, Hospital site on Mortimer Friends of Open Spaces others founded the residents’ Frank Dobson MP and Max Neufeld. Street. The scheme will be Fitzrovia, an associate editor of association. He became the first designed by architects Fitzrovia News; and a member chairman and persuaded self. exception to what was being Sheppard Robson and, if of the Fitzrovia Trust, a charity Camden to buy the flats to pro - Communicating with people said by the councillor and sud - approved, is expected to be which acquires mixed use prop - tect the residents’ security of he did easily. He was diplomat - denly stormed off. But before completed by late 2014. erties to provide social housing tenure. ic, patient, even-tempered and leaving the room, he turned and small business premises. He encouraged neighbourli - polite. Often you would hear the around and demanded that the After leaving school Bertie ness and new tenants were wel - mantra ‘Ask Bertie’ when neigh - folding chairs he had lent to the West End sorting took an engineering course and comed into Gordon Mansions in bours had been puzzling over an meeting be returned to him later studied at the Architectural a harmonious way. When right- intractable repair; and when immediately. He made them all office plans Association in Bedford Square. to-buy came in tenants and relationships between neigh - stand up while he folded the The Post Office sorting In the mid-1960s he lived with leaseholders continued together bours broke down Bertie was chairs and walked out leaving office along Rathbone Place his first wife Valerie for some in one organisation. With his called in to mediate. everyone with nowhere to sit. and Newman Street will be years in Buffalo, Canada, where architectural background he In a deposition to the But it was his kindness and the site of a large redevelop - he left his designs upon many ensured that the flats retained Council about a planning appli - care for living things that ment. Outline proposals are buildings in the city. their character, and were not cation, Bertie put in a sentence defined him. One day he due to be presented shortly, For much of his working life “standardised” by building about Gordon Mansions being a stopped to look at a small tree but implementation will be he worked at the London repairs. community like Coronation near his home and said: “Oh, I constrained by the Crossrail Borough of Haringey architects’ Many people at Bertie and Street. Perhaps that was poetic meant to bring a bottle of water development. department where he led a num - Keiko’s wedding and at gather - licence but there is some truth in for that tree”. Not only had he ber of municipal buildings and ings in their flat over the years it. He also encouraged people to managed to get the tree planted Goodge Street corner housing developments. enjoyed Bertie’s cooking. He treat the Council with courtesy. in the first place, but he had development He had the unusual distinc - was a great homemaker and There were limits to his been looking after it. There are plans being tion of having six mentions in very accomplished in DIY. He patience and many years’ ago at He was secretary then chair worked up to re-develop on the Pevsner guide for London. had never bought a bed but a meeting with residents and a of the Charlotte Street the south corner of Goodge His design for a library is influ - made all the beds in his flat him - local councillor Bertie took Association (CSA) dealing with Street and Tottenham Court planning and environmental Road. One of the buildings issues. He also successfully is the oldest on Goodge applied for a Lottery grant, for GGiveive youryour cchildhild a greatgreat sstarttart iinn life.life. Street. which he and others pho - tographed every building in Fitzrovia to build up an archive Primark sweat E E K S T W O W and exhibition. His particular love was councils for EE Fitzrovia’s public spaces. He FR * ARE designed and modelled a chil - planning D AY C dren’s playground in Crabtree Fields. Both he and Max permission Neufeld, as experienced archi - Camden and Westminster’s tects, volunteered to project planning committee’s caved manage the scheme. Camden in to pressure from the New instead brought in their own West End Company and designers, and produced a less granted planning permis - sensitive (and more expensive) sion for a new Primark scheme. clothing store to have a In later life he came to enjoy street widened and a deliv - his home life more and would ery bay constructed. prefer to stay in to listen to The Fitzrovia music, watch television, cook Neighbourhood Association, and eat good food, and devote Charlotte Sttreet Association xx LLargearge ooutdoorutdoor playplay areas more time to his wife Keiko. and local residents had xx QQualifiedualified & ffriendlyriendlydly staffstaff Bertie’s care for his commu - made objections. xx SStructured,tructured, pplaylay bbasedased llearningearning nity and his gentle civility are The decison effectively xx FFreshresh ffoodood ppreparedrepared oonn ssiteite ddailyailily now part of the very fabric of destroys part of the mediae - xx CChildcarehildcare vvouchersouchers!s aaccepted!ccepted Gordon Mansions. We shall be val Hanway Street and will reminded of him in each other, disturb residents with the in the red brick, and in the noise and block the street painted porticoes he liked so FForor aawardward wwinninginnnning earlyearly yyearsears educationeducation acrossacross London,London, with 18.5 tonne delivery much. vehicles. Primark have paid pleaseplease callcall 02020 77834834 86798679 or emailemail [email protected]@leyf.org.uk. Bertie is survived by two the over £2 million in sec - sons (from his first wife pre- tion 106 agreement money deceased) and his wife Keiko. to the councils to facilitate the decision. Reginald Bertram Dinnage. Born Residents and conserva - 16 January 1932, Crowland, tionist were very disap - Lincolnshire; died 16 February 2011 *All*All newnew pparentsarents willwill bbee creditedcredited withwith ttwowo wweekseeks ffeesees (pro(pro rrata)ata) atat thethe eendnd ooff ttheirheir firstfirst sixsix monthsmonths wwww.leyf.org.ukwwwww.leyf.org.uk pointed with the decison. iinn anyany oneone ooff ourour 1919 nnurseriesurseries wwithith thisthis aadvert.dvert. RRegisteredegistered CharityCharity No.No. 299686299686 Hampstead, London. 4 Features Fitzrovia News, Spring 2011 Discovering the Drill Hall
By Alexander Stevenson For us local residents the the - Do you know the Drill Hall? atre offers free or cheap tickets I’m ashamed to say that as a rel - and the opportunity to use the atively recent mover to Fitzrovia meeting spaces it has at very I didn’t. Yet in many ways it low or no cost. It is also keen to epitomises all that is good about recruit local people as volun - the area. Soldiers, Nijinksy, les - teers to help them run front of bian and gay campaigners and house at their shows. stars of Radio 4 have all crossed As for the future, like all arts paths there. And by the way it organisations they face chal - also puts on a lot of good plays. lenges. Their major public fun - I had gone there to meet der Camden Council is facing Julie Parker, the energetic and huge cuts and, according to enthusiastic Chief Executive and Parker ‘has to make some Artistic Director. She has been hideous and grisly decisions’. there since the late 1970s and led But Parker feels better placed the ongoing development of the than many to weather the storm Drill Hall. These days two the - given the reputation they have atres, a bar and six rehearsal built up over the years. More rooms all jostle for attention. As positively, in the near future she she showed me round we were The drop-in service for under fives at the Drill Hall is obviously very excited about able to peer in at different some of the upcoming shows. rehearsals. In one room, group Stonewall started, and variety of other activities: it runs She particularly recommends Deafinitely Theatre, a profes - Drill Hall also played a leading a drop-in service for under fives Julia Pascal’s new cabaret show sional deaf-led theatre company role in the campaign to have on Mondays, does an enormous ‘I expect the royal wedding to were going through their paces. Section 28 repealed. amount of work with schools get some attention from Julia’, as In a couple of others were some Although Drill Hall still has and youth theatre groups and well as the one man show from youth theatre groups. Generally a focus on gay and lesbian work hosts recordings for radio ‘the unbelievably talented Ty there was a buzz. - it is the only theatre group in shows. These have included: Jeffries.’ Now that I know about Back in 1881 the Drill Hall London which has this focus – it the News Quiz, the Now Show, the Drill Hall I can’t wait. was built to be, well, a drill hall now has a much broader theatre and That Mitchell and Webb www.drillhall.co.uk Miss Hope performs at the Drill for the Bloomsbury Rifles, a programme. It also manages a sound. Hall local volunteer force. Supposedly the intricately carved statues on the front are of the craftsmen who built it and members of these reserve forces Sohemian Society welcomes you who used it. Over time, the artists gradually took it over By CLIVE JENNINGS new biography of Julian was now more famous as a The Sohemian Society started at from the soldiers (without using If you are in the vicinity of Maclaren-Ross, Fear & Loathing homosexual pick-up joint fre - The French House in Dean force) and occasionally former Rathbone Place in the early in Fitzrovia and the book quented by gawping sightseers. Street, where old cronies of soldiers have been known to evening, you will occasionally touched a nerve in both men. Indeed it was not uncommon for Maclaren-Ross, including artist pop in to reminisce. In the early see a bunch of disparate types, They felt an urge to celebrate the smart couples to go there after Jack Daniel and physician 1900s Diaghilev's famous Ballet myself included, disappear into Soho (which of course included supper in Mayfair to spot the Jimmy Winston, reminisced Russes rehearsed there with the upstairs room of The Fitzrovia before it was designat - “bohemians”. The new drinking about their old drinking partner, Nijinsky and it became known Wheatsheaf pub to attend a talk ed to be only south of Oxford hole of choice was The and then moved to The as a good albeit occasional artis - at The Sohemian Society - but be Street, in the 1960’s) that was Wheatsheaf, a couple of minutes Wheatsheaf for readings from tic venue. advised, Sohemia is more than a disappearing in a culture of walk south, in Rathbone Place. Paul Willetts. In the late 1970’s the seeds club, it is a state of mind. “anti-smoking campaigns, Built between the wars, in the Over seven years, an impres - were sown for what the Drill While their website explains obsessive risk avoidance, con - then popular mock tudor style, sive roster of guest speakers, all Hall has now become. ‘It was in that “The Sohemian Society cerns about diet, pubs with sofas it was very different to its aspiring to be as loquacious as the days of the ism,’ says Parker, exists to promote greater aware - and fear of 'offensive' state - Georgian neighbours on either Maclaren-Ross, has covered ‘feminism, communism, etc and ness of the characters and events ments.” side, and a lot more genteel than almost every aspect of Soho and there was a vibrant and varied associated with the history of It was 2003, The Sohemian The Fitzroy. This was the sec - bohemian pursuits. The most London Arts scene’. So they Soho covering areas such as the Society was born and Julian ond home of Maclaren-Ross, recent meeting on 18 January decided to set up a theatre com - arts, crime, sex, and politics,” it Maclaren-Ross was declared its who would arrive punctually at featured Professor Frank Mort pany that focused on gay and also subverts any notions of con - “president in death”. opening time – lunchtime and speaking on the theme of: lesbian productions. They were vention by adding the rider that To appreciate the importance evening session - breeze straight “Capital Affairs: 1950’s London given a grant by Camden “Soho is a spiritual as well as a of their spiritual patron, and the through the Public Bar and into and the making of the Council who have been staunch geographical location: a vortex relevance of The Wheatsheaf as the rear Saloon Bar, where he Permissive Society.” Also con - supporters ever since. of louche living, artistic creativi - a venue for meetings, you need would hold court at the left ducted walks around the low As well as producing plays ty, cultural nonconformity and to imagine Fitzrovia in 1943. hand end of the bar, where it spots of the neighbourhood have with gay and lesbian themes free expression.” The artistic and literary set that was easier to get served. been organised at the twilight and promoting gay and lesbian Marc Glendenning, who had formerly frequented The MacLaren-Ross’s anecdotes were hour. The meetings are very talent, the Drill Hall also became founded The Sohemian Society Fitzroy Tavern had moved on oft retold, and he was prone to informal: no Maclaren-Ross a natural focal point for cam - with Ian Farrow, explains its ori - when the erstwhile centre of all dominate the conversation, but dress code, I assure you, and paigns. It was at the Drill Hall, gins to me. Farrow had given things bohemian had become a his encyclopaedic knowledge of drinking during the talks is says Parker, that the gay rights Marc a copy of Paul Willetts victim of its own success, and both contemporary literature encouraged. All are welcome for and film made him stimulating the entrance fee of around £3. company. He was a prolific You have nothing to lose but All Saints Church Margaret Street writer, drinker, drug taker and your inhibitions. occasional tramp. More information at: Your neighbourhood church as featured in Fitzrovia News, Summer 2010 The inaugural meeting of www.sohemians.com
A diverse congregation warmly welcomes you to worship with us in the catholic tradition of the Church of England with glorious music in one of London's finest church buildings. Beauty Room UK Sunday Main Services 11.00am High Mass Offers 20% discount with this voucher 6.00pm Evensong & Benediction at Walkers Hairdresser, 131 Whitfield Street, The church is open throughout the week and there are regular Fitzrovia, London W1T 5EH services. 020 7383 3347 [email protected] For more details please see www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk or call the parish office 020 7636 1788 Loukia Adamou Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm If you come new to All Saints because of this advertisement please tell us that you saw it in Fitzrovia News Facials - Waxing - Body Treatments - Eye Treatments Fitzrovia News, Spring 2011 News 5
Right: Gum Art, by artist Ben Wilson, on pavement Leaving the lights on to snack outside 28 Tottenham Street. The first piece on Art of culinary sacrifice, I couldn’t Intervention Trail. By SALLY BEERWORTH resist picking up bags of their Popcorn is one of the few foods Sea Salt & Pepper, Caramel Kiss that you tend to eat in the dark; and White Chocolate flavours. it is treated like a bad date, that Despite the overpromise of get - you would prefer to entertain ting a bit of action from the Art trail with a difference with the lights off. This week caramel, I Hoovered up every however, I discovered some piece. I also rather worryingly North Soho 999 and the biogra - By GARRY HUNTER popcorn that I wanted to eat found myself with an over - phy of legendary Fitzrovian Independent arts group with the lights on…over and whelming to desire, to mug the Julian Maclaren-Ross. If you Fitzrovia Noir will launch it’s over, and over. Mad Men wannabe who walked wish to attend, please join us vacuum had been used to suck Intervention Art Trail this I picked up some packets of past me with a bag of the stuff. outside the Marquis of Granby, the fun out of the food product Spring, creating what is hoped Love Da Pop at Reynolds Café Funnily enough, it wasn’t Rathbone Place on Saturday in question. Yet in this case, it to be a biennale event alternat - on Charlotte Street. Reynolds are the popcorn that I enjoyed so April 2 at 2 pm. The tour lasts just seemed to make it taste ing with the established London the people who believe in graz - much, as the packaging (no I approximately 90 minutes and is fresher than other popcorn…my Festival of Architecture every ing, and therefore that we didn’t eat it, I did consider it followed by a book signing cheeks were left very confused other year. should all be walking around obviously.) There is something event upstairs at the as to why they weren’t flushed With funding from perpetually with something in wholesome about food that Wheatsheaf, Rathbone Place from a food additive overdose, Westminster Arts and support our mouths…other than our comes in red & white striped from 4 to 6.30 pm, featuring especially after eating something from many local individuals and feet. I liked these people, well as wrapping; it reminds me of Paul’s writings, works by local that had my taste buds doing independent businesses, the much as I can like anyone who something that I might have authors and books by artists fea - cartwheels. The only part of my group will install contemporary sells lentils. The café’s redeem - been handed by the owner of tured on the art trail. See body capable these days of art in 25 non-gallery locations ing feature is that they are sell - the corner shop when I was a www.fitzrovianoir.com for doing gymnastics are my taste stretching up Charlotte Street, ing the kind of popcorn that kid…without the trauma of his updates. buds. taking in Andrew Jose hair - highlights just how ghastly vegetable handling fingernails. As a plus, Reynolds Café on The cartwheels may just have dressers, Palms of Goa restau - some of the stuff we have been Love Da Pop’s striped packag - Charlotte Street is generously something to do with the rant, across into The Surplus shoveling in the dark really is. ing is sealed with an old-fash - offering a free coffee on April 2, flavours that were added to corn Store and Jonathan Quearney The Love Da Pop popcorn is ioned wooden laundry peg, I from 10am to 4pm to anyone kernels. In my day, your only tailors on Windmill, back onto made by hand, using organic assume because they know I will presenting one of the art trail choice of flavouring was salt, or Charlotte to Chivers Flowers corn kernels. Personally I have end up with it all over me, and maps that will be widely distrib - more salt…and as a result I still and Reynolds Café, into residen - never felt compelled to eat any - quickly need to make a mad uted in all of the participating can’t resist opening my mouth tial windows on Scala Street, thing purely because it was dash for the washing machine. If venues in the run up to the when I go for a swim at the then Pollock’s Toy Museum and ‘organic’, I am not even really I eat a few more packets I will event from Friday, March 25 to beach. The Hope pub on Whitfield sure what it means. I had always have enough laundry equipment Saturday April 16. As I have never learnt the art Street, along Tottenham Street assumed that it meant a large to finally qualify as a woman. I past the Nail Bar, south down assumed this was possible, as it Cleveland taking in The Button seemed that even their pop corn Shop and west across Mortimer machines had qualified as to Ligne Roset and Mortimer’s women; I learnt that Megan and Café. Singing the Blues Foxy were the names given to The route past the Middlesex the popping machines, used to Hospital site is a homage to the By GUY O’DONNELL late drinking license. The appli - of club or what kind of tunes lovingly assist in make my graz - first art project that brought the Fans of live music in Fitzrovia cation is being made on behalf may be heard there in the ing fodder. members of Fitzrovia Noir have been left in the dark over of a pension fund, and calls to future. I now find myself craving together. This was a group the sudden closure of one club the head office for an outline of Organisers of the London more, but I am torn between response involving painting, col - and plans to re-open another at what the new venue might look Blues Festival coming up this going back, just in case my lage, film and photography that the same venue. "Charlotte like also went unanswered. spring have told us of other beloved popcorn is stacked a lit - saw former patients, local peo - Street Blues" bolted its doors So live music may yet return, clubs on the outskirts of tle too close to the seaweed ple and workers visiting the some weeks ago despite build - but there's no clue yet what style Fitzrovia that will be hosting peanuts at Reynolds…it is remnants of the hospital during ing a big reputation in the events this spring. almost worth the risk. its demolition in 2008, to be London gig scene over eighteen photographed, interviewed or months. portrayed in the ruined interi - The club hosted live bands ors. seven nights a week, including a Intervention co-curator blues jam session on Mondays. Graham Carrick says the bur - It mixed a roster of names on the geoning commercial art activity verge of being signed alongside in Fitzrovia will be counterbal - big acts well-known in the busi - Fitzrovia’s anced by this important show - ness. In December 2009, "Time case of independent practice: Out" described the three floor ‘Since Stuart Shave's Modern Art venue as "London's largest blues pioneered Eastcastle Street as a club," and in the run-up to gallery destination, Fitzrovia has Christmas fans could be seen seen a recent boom in commer - laughing and joking on the cial art activity. The trail aims to pavement having a smoke Finest spotlight independent art prac - before heading back inside. tice, bridging Fitzrovia's history But then, music fans turning Your local Estate Agent for 23 years with its cultural future.’ up at the venue just north of The first art piece, a minia - Tottenham Street found a clo - ture artwork by ‘Gum Man’ Ben sure note pinned on the door Wilson and already located on outside instead of their night the pavement by 28 Tottenham out. On the website a statement Street, is a response to a conver - appeared alongside the photos sation with a local resident. of artists saying: "It is with great Gum Man will be on the streets sadness that we are unable to of Fitzrovia, working his operate Charlotte St. Blues any detailed magic during the art longer. We would like to thank trail that runs from March 25 all our customers, musicians, through to April 16. staff and suppliers for support - Art trail producer Lucietta ing us so well over the past year. Williams comments: ‘It is espe - We hope to bring you something Sales Lettings Commercial cially important to note that the equally special in the near trail features work by both local, future." national and international artists Emails to the website from 39 Foley Street and will be opened out to local Fitzrovia News went unanswered residents, schoolchildren and 020 7580 1010 by the time we went to print, their families via artist-led London just as a new notice has walks.’ appeared outside the venue. A series of free tours by writ - www.ldg.co.uk W1W 7TP Camden Councillors have been ers with extensive published sent fresh plans for another live works on the local area, starts music club at the venue with a with Paul Willets, author of 6 Fitzrovia News Spring 2011
Linus Lisa at London Graphic Centre
Maria and Rustam at the Bay Leaf
Tim at The Hope People of Tottenham Street
By FIONA GREEN Thanh at Sym I have lived in Tottenham Street for 48 years and in celebration of Jonas at Urgent Cabs this and as part of our Transition Town initiaive I undertook this Terence Gianni and Daniela at Fitzrovia private dining club project to photograph 45 people who live and work in my street. The street is about 300 yards long with Tottenham Court Road at one end with Cleveland Street with the old Middlesex Hospital site at the other end. Not everyone wanted to appear in the paper and I A COSMOPOLI respect that, nevertheless the cosmopolitan character of the area show with no less than 15 nationalities represented here. The Middlesex site concerns and troubles us all because, like the Odeon site in Grafton Way (empty 54 years) this site has been empty for four years. How much longer do locals have to wait for this space to be regenerated to help our commu - nity which was once one we used to depend upon? How much longer will the beautiful chapel be left to decay Brenda in a sea of mud? The idea for my project came from a trip to East Berlin in 1960 on a teacher delegation - when the Berlin Wall was still in place - everywhere where ordinary men and women were working or making a contribution they Nuno and Roberto at Perugino Cafe were recognised: photos inside Chris at Gigs fish and chip shop hospitals, on building site hoardings, all over. I am grateful to the Fitzrovia Noir artists who lend their pho - tos from the Middlesex Hospital collection to represent that part of the street, and artist Nancy Fouts who used to live at num - ber 26 for her poster designed for the Fittzrovia Charlotte Street festival of 1973. The show was generously sponsored by Mike Pentelow and Gaucho restaurant and has appeared at the Coningsby Gallery. It now shows at both Gig’s fish and chip shop and the Jose at Matteos An Fitzrovia Private Diners’ Club at Thu and Ben at Beautiful Nails Studio either end of the street. Andrew at Coningsby Art Gallery Fitzrovia News, Spring 2011 7
Richard Sacha at Scala House Michael at Gaucho
mphony George at George’s shoe repairs Dan at cycle shop Barb at Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre
Samina and Yoram at Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre ITAN COMMUNITY
Mike at film production studios
Katie born at 28
Kate at Feilden Clegg Bradley
Mariwen and Zerian at the Complete
Cobbler
Stephenie and Michael at Berkeley Scott Raj and Kelly at Goodge Law nn-Linn and Erling Josie our postie Yusuf our street cleaner 8 Fitzrovia News Spring 2011 John gave radio breaks to Adrian Mole, Joe Orton and Tom Stoppard
Ramsay and cast the actor I’ve wanted to meet Mr Tydeman By BRIAN JARMAN for many years. And for most of Kenneth Cranham in the lead those years, to be precise, I want - role. ‘We put it on at the ed to find out if he was real. WAS MOLE’) and put it out as a Cambridge Theatre and the rest It was to John Tydeman of half an hour play on a Saturday is history,’ says John. the BBC, you may recall, that 13 afternoon. John went on to produce a ¾-year-old Adrian Mole sent his ‘I was here at home,’ says huge range of drama, from poems. The creation of Sue John. ‘The phone rang five times Shakespeare to Becket, from Townsend, his diaries were one – all agents. It was very unusu - Coward to Stoppard, whose of the wonders of the publishing al.’ career he’d also helped launch. world in the 1980s, a little akin The publisher Methuen com - Before going to university at to Harry Potter now. But where - missioned Sue to write a whole Cambridge he’d wanted to act as Potter’s life is magic, Mole year’s worth of Mole’s diary. himself. wrote of the mundane life of a ‘In the course of this Sue ‘But then I met people who teenager in the Midlands. would send me postcards and were far better than me – Derek In the diaries, Mr Tydeman poems as if from Mole, so I just Jacobi, Ian McKellen, Corin would give encouraging replies fell in with the game,’ says John. Redgrave.’ John Tydeman in his Great Titchfield Street flat. Picture by Charles New to Mole’s efforts: ‘Our Poetry John was no stranger to So he took up directing and Department is inundated with developing new talent. It was liked to encourage new writing. ‘He was the best actor,’ says ‘I’ve always maintained you autumnal pieces. The smell of when he was a young BBC gen - He tried TV drama but found it John. ‘He acted with his voice. should be able to walk to work. I bonfires and the crackling of eral trainee after university in boring. Laurence Olivier did not have a could be from bed to desk in leaves pervade the very corri - 1959 that a playwright called Joe ‘The scripts were better in good voice. It was rather thin.’ five minutes. You could have dors. Good try, but try again, Orton walked into his office. radio,’ he says. ‘And you’re If you ask him who wrote drinks in the evening and totter eh?’ John was spending three months your own master. What takes a the best plays for radio, his home quite happily.’ I’m pleased to report that in various departments and just couple of months in radio takes intriguing answer is The BBC drama watering John Tydeman is alive and well happened to be working in you a couple of years in TV. The Shakespeare. holes were The George, The and living in Great Titchfield Drama at the time. machinery drives you mad.’ ‘The best radio play is Stag, and The Yorkshire Grey, Street – and very real. He retired ‘Joe was wearing bovver And actors like radio drama Macbeth,’ he says. ‘The witches, which was known as Studio YG. as Head of Radio Drama at the boots and khaki. He said he’d too. the ghosts, the language. He loves the area because it’s BBC fourteen years ago. just come out of prison,’ says ‘They certainly don’t do it Shakespeare is always identify - amazingly quiet and you can It was an acting friend who John. ‘He’d been had up for for the pay,’ he says. ‘But they ing people and describing the walk anywhere. He regrets the sent him Sue Townsend’s origi - defacing library books. He was don’t have to learn lines. And it action.’ passing of local shops – butchers nal script. revolutionary. I was a bit daunt - gives them freedom to play roles It’s the language of a play and fishmongers and so on - but ‘I thought it was terrific,’ ed.’ they’d never play in the theatre: that creates the best scenery for thinks things have got better of says John. ‘I rang her and asked The play Joe had brought the thin man can play the fat radio. When he was younger, he the years. her to come down. She had no was called The Boy Hairdresser, man etc.’ was keen to use lots of sound ‘It’s still got that Bohemian money. She asked for her fare. which was later changed to The He never had any trouble effects to create an atmosphere. feel to it, but it’s cleaner and When she came in she had a Ruffian On The Stairs. But it was with actors, he says. You just ‘As you get older you realise there’s a greater variety of hole in her shoe and hoped I his play Entertaining Mr Sloane don’t have time in radio. it’s not what you put in, it’s restaurants,’ he says. ‘I keep wouldn’t notice.’ that put him on the map. And there’s no doubt about what you leave out. I did a play talking about moving to the John found actor Nick John got him an agent in the his all time favourite – Paul set in Africa. It was an hour country but I don’t think I ever Barnes to play the part (‘He form of the famous Peggy Scofield. long, but I used no sound effects will.’ at all. The language was so And he believes the area will beautiful. People wrote in saying get a new lease of life when the the sound effects were wonder - BBC moves all its news opera - ful.’ tions back to Broadcasting Since he started as a BBC House. trainee at Broadcasting House ‘If the rest of London disap - fifty years ago, John has always peared, we’d be able to cope,’ he lived in Central London, and says. ‘We could declare Fitzrovia has been in his present flat for independent. It’s a well-kept 30 years. secret.’ Ten years ago
Tesco and the local community Support by the local commu - won their two-year battle with nity was key to the successful Camden council to allow the appeal. Several locals spoke at Goodge Street store to double in the hearing about the impor - size. tance of the supermarket as a The council had refused per - resource for local people, partic - mission to redevelop buildings ularly for those who found it dif - behind the store to allow its ficult to travel to alternative extension. But this decision was stores for affordable groceries. overturned on an appeal to the (Fitzrovia News, March Planning Inspectorate. 2001). Pollocks Toy Museum
Monday to Saturday 10 am – 5 pm Last entry to museum 4.30pm Closed Bank Holidays Drop-in for under fives Part 18th and 19th century the rooms are small and connected by narrow winding staircases. It exudes atmosphere and evocations of those special times of childhood. Filled with visual delights and surprises to behold . 16 Chenies Street | off Tottenham Court Road 1 Scala Street, London W1T 2HL drillhall.co.uk/children | 020 7307 5060 020 7636 3452 [email protected] pollockstoymuseum.com Fitzrovia News Spring 2011 9 The mysterious wedding guest
A short story by she said. ‘Your appointment.’ and Evelyn drew her arms over SUNITA SOLIAR When Evelyn arrived home her face. She was screaming she put the dress and the when Peter came in. lthough the appointment Meadowvale information pack would only last an hour or ‘Evelyn, good Lord!’ He Aso in the afternoon, Evelyn on the kitchen table. It wasn’t a shook her into focus. had taken the whole day off. The bad place, she supposed, for that She pointed. ‘Her! Get her sneakiness of it all exhausted her. type of place. It would only be away from me!’ On Great Titchfield Street she six months, that was a way to ‘Who, Evelyn? Get who squinted at the sky: winter had think about it. She opened a been buffed bright and she could away?’ see through to the yellow promise cupboard and pushed The cigarette was no longer of daffodils. She turned quickly Meadowvale under a packet of there and the burns had disap - into Bella’s bridal shop – they had shortbread. peared. The photograph was planned it before and so she would Those little nuances of the do it. She liked the comfort of back. plans and routines, controllable dark that transform coats into Peter chuckled. ‘What’s rat - and unextraordinary: they made night terrors told her someone tled you, eh?’ Loosening his tie these days hers, and not anyone was in the living room. She went he went into the kitchen and else’s. in and fumbled for the lamp laid the table. ‘New dress?’ She moved furtively towards switch. ‘It’s nothing.’ A maximum of a rack – looking was alright. The The stranger sat cross-legged six months was what the oncolo - laces and silks glimmered with in an armchair. A cigarette gist had said. She’d only known delights to come: shared bath - wisped from her hand. for a few weeks. They couldn’t room shelves, children. Lately, ‘How did you get in here?’ even give her next spring. children seemed to be every - ‘You let me in.’ ‘Water?’ Peter called. ‘The where – through the windows of ‘I…?’ Evelyn looked over her new lawyer arrived today. She’s buses, on park benches. At least shoulder in the vague direction a filthy habit of smoking though. she and Peter had had the Illustration by CLIFFORD HARPER of the front door. She remem - I can’t imagine dating a smoker.’ shelves. Silly not to have mar - bered closing it. ‘What’s her name?’ ried a few years ago: she hadn’t Ash fell from the cigarette ‘Gillian. You alright?’ He spoilt anything then. Reaching She placed it on the sales white. ‘All the same, I’d like to onto a side table. Evelyn noticed smiled, and it made her think of for a satin sleeve, she felt it tug desk. ‘I’ll take it.’ eat alone.’ burn marks on the wood. long walks on the beach…all the sharply away, and a voice leapt The assistant frowned. ‘Don’t ‘When’s the wedding?’ ‘We don’t smoke,’ she said. moments she didn’t want to through her. you want to try it on?’ ‘Next spring.’ give up. Peter was perfect, too ‘Touching’s going too far.’ ‘No. I thought that lady was The stranger dealt the brunt good for her, really. And she was ‘You ought to wear a bell!’ going to fight me for it.’ of her eyes, forcing Evelyn to always the one ruining it. Evelyn said. ‘I’m sorry, it didn’t The assistant put it in a suit say, ‘We planned for spring.’ ‘The whites of They’d gone on a picnic once. say not to touch…’ carrier. ‘Because we don’t do ‘The thing is though – do He’d prepared the wine, the The stranger was blonde, refunds.’ She pointed to a sign. you mind?’ She spooned her eyes had a food…all she’d had to make was slightly younger than Evelyn – ‘See?’ Evelyn’s cake. ‘You’re trying to the potato salad and she hadn’t early thirties, maybe – and the Outside Evelyn made sure cheat. You know something he blinding vitality, boiled the potatoes properly. Yet whites of her eyes had a blind - that she had her purse. She liked doesn’t.’ Peter stood in their kitchen. She ing vitality, the blue irises jabbed to double check things, like lock - Evelyn’s appetite slipped the blue irises followed him in, feeling again as into them like needles. ing the front door. She had forty down her throat. ‘How do you though it all belonged to her: her Evelyn drew herself up: ‘I weary minutes before she need - know about us?’ jabbed into them dishcloths with the embroidered had it first.’ ed to get on the tube at Goodge The woman gave her pumpkins, their shared meals. ‘It makes no difference.’ Street so she sat in Costa with hideously bright laugh. ‘It won’t like needles’ Her hand reached up to the ‘Let go.’ coffee and a slice of walnut cake. do: secret meetings yet still let - knob of the biscuit cupboard: ‘You let go.’ The stranger ‘You shouldn’t have done it.’ ting him hang onto the wed - enduring this would cement ‘Peter won’t like it.’ seemed to look straight through Evelyn’s cup clattered onto ding…’ their life together. ‘I’ll have to quit.’ her. Then her mouth exploded the saucer and she looked up ‘You want to hurt us.’ ‘Peter, can we talk for a The room was altered. A with sudden laughter. ‘It’s not into blue, puncturing eyes. ‘Are ‘Let’s not reach after fan - minute. I…’ Her collarbone photograph was missing. The really my taste,’ she said. you following me?’ tasies. I’d say you didn’t like prickled with the sudden reali - T.V. was not where it used to be. The dress slackened and The stranger sat down and me.’ She scooped up the cake sation of bareness. Her fingers Evelyn said, ‘He has me. Evelyn gathered it against her as toyed with a flower on the table. with jolly menace. clutched at where her necklace Why would he want you?’ though catching a breath until ‘So pretty,’ she said, and The room sweated around had been. ‘She has blue eyes,’ ‘I might wonder that too.’ she was sure the woman had snapped off a petal. Evelyn, and she dabbed a nap - she blurted. The stranger stubbed the ciga - gone. Evelyn pressed her fingers kin against her forehead. She Peter sliced a tomato. ‘Who?’ rette onto the table and came was not well. She wanted water, ‘Gillian, obviously.’ Royal Air Force Association towards her. ‘Look, you’ll never assistance. Surely someone ‘I have no –’ (RAFA). Serving and Ex Service see me again – that’s my end of could see what this woman was ‘Doesn’t she?’ members including family the bargain. And yours…’ Her doing to her? But what would ‘I suppose she might have, members. Join the City & Shiv eyes danced over Evelyn’s neck - they see? Where was the harm yes. Darling, what’s the matter?’ Central London branch lace. ‘I like that.’ in having coffee? And the living room crept up Eddie Duke-Low: 020 7636 2732 ‘It was a present from Peter.’ Pharmacy She said, ‘I need time.’ on her. ‘I’ll just move the arm - [email protected] ‘Give it to me.’ The stranger flattened chair,’ she said, her voice sifting ‘No.’ 70 Great Titchfield Street crumbs with her finger. The cake away. ‘It’s out of place.’ CHARLOTTE London W1W 7QN was all gone. ‘You have to go,’ The woman snatched at her, STREET Prescriptions ASSOCIATION Multivitamins Need a hand? Campaigning for the Herbal Medications Environment & Fitzrovia Natural and Community since 1970 ,I\RXRUVRPHRQH\RXNQRZ Support us to preserve the Homeopathic character and unique quali - produce ties of Fitzrovia, the promo - QHHGVKHOSZLWK odd jobs accompanying tion of good design, hous - ing for local people, better Friendly Medical form filling or dealing with to appointments community facilities; Advice correspondence accompanying restriction in traffic, a Open Monday to Friday shopping on trips out reduction in noise, and no 8.30am to 6pm basic DIY or decorating collecting prescriptions extension of licensing. visiting and befriending and pensions Tel/Fax For membership: Call ClubCare for free help Tel: 0207 636 3944: 020 7580 2393 [email protected] 07976 431 218 or (020) 7255 9756 10am–4pm Monday to Friday. 39 Tottenham Street [email protected] ClubCare W1T 4RX ClubCare is a project based at the All Souls Clubhouse, a Christian KHOSLQJORFDOROGHUSHRSOH Community Centre in Cleveland Street, W1. Charity no. 303292 10 History features Fitzrovia News Spring 2011 Gallery for ‘Debauching and the ruining of newcomers By FIONA GREEN Andrew Coningsby owns the servants’ in Tottenham Court Coningsby Gallery and Début Art, at 30 Tottenham Street, with Helen Driver as Gallery Manager plus a staff of eleven. "I was always interested in art Road fondly remembered at school," says Andrew “but when I left, I worked as a suit for three years handling millions. Real Bloomsbury, by Nicholas Eventually I wanted to be involved Murray (Seren Books, £9.99) in something more creative, so I Reviewed by Mike Pentelow decided on this enterprise. “My first venture was Début he whimsical juxtapositions Art from home in the mid 80's and of the area's past and present I moved here in 1994. The place Twill raise many a smile and a already had a reputation as few tears. 'Shirtsleeves' with Nancy Fouts The more parochial and Malcolm Fowler and I moved Fitzrovians will be pleased that into their unique space, which fits the book covers the disputed us well. border territory with “As the name suggests, Début Bloomsbury between Gower Art takes the best of what is new Street and Tottenham Court and helps the artist get it out there. Road. “We are unusual in that we The debauchery of the fairs specialise in exhibitions for com - mercial illustrators. From a vast at the top of Tottenham Court data base we hold of leading com - Road until the 18th century are pany commissioners – which has lovingly described, and com - grown through personal contact pared favourably with the soul - over the years - we match our less office blocks that exist there artists. Last year, we expanded and today. took on Helen as manager.” In 1727 the courts clamped "I was working in India in down on many of those enjoying Illustration and Graphic Design”, the fair, accusing them of riot, Helen says, "with a company rep - tumult, public disorder, vice, resented by Début Art, so I knew immorality, and "the debauching of their reputation before I joined. and ruining of servants, appren - Some work I did then was used by tices, and others." They were the NHS in Britain to make med - denounced as "rogues and ical stuff accessible and fun. I went The author muses that the by "community support officers" worried, muses Murray, as to art school in Cambridge and vagabonds" by the court, which soulless office blocks now lining and scrutinised by CCTV. University College London freelanced as a graphic designer, ordered the high constable to get this road would be "enlivened When the University of (which it became in 1836) is now helping curate or write reviews for the "petty constables" of by the rough jollity of the Adam London opened in Gower Street "one of the most elitist parts of News International, Creative Tottenham Court to stop it all. and Eve crowd." in 1828 to provide education at the British higher education sys - Review and Eye. They seemingly did their duty He sees history repeating "a moderate expense" it was tem: a third of its places going to “For the future I'm planning a as the event was turned into a itself on the matter of private denounced by the establishment students from private fee paying relaunch of our website which pro - mild annual gooseberry fair. vides access to the artists we repre - security. The Duke of Bedfords as being "the Cockney College." schools, one of the highest pro - These and the original rau - sent, as well as ongoing exhibitions did not like public access to their The poet Winthrop portions of any British universi - cous fairs took place on the site of their work here." estates in the area, so employed Mackworth Praed lampooned ty. Less than one undergraduate of the old Tottenhall manor "For fine artists," Andrew con - uniformed gatekeepers to oper - this snobbery: in five has a working class back - house, which had become the tinues, "we offer our gallery space ate barriers. They were only But let them not babble of Greek ground. The Cockney rabble has Adam and Eve pub, with a as a starting place to show their forced to remove them by an act to the rabble, been seen off." miniature menagerie, consisting work at reasonable prices, which of parliament in 1890, and it was Nor teach the Mechanics their As for its traditions of mod - of a monkey, a heron, various begin from around £800 a week for not until 1893 that Gower Street letters; erate expenses, it is now "itching a first Show. David Downton, the wild fowl, parrots, and a gold - became a public thoroughfare, The labouring classes were born to raise tuition fees" and is all famous fashion illustrator sold fish pond. The pub was on the and the last barrier was to be asses, about marketing itself as most of his first show here and junction of Tottenham Court removed from Torrington Place. And not to be aping their bet - "London's global university", now he is a serious name in the Road and Euston Road, and was Nowadays, says Murray, the ters. which to the author is a mean - business. Other names with us are demolished when the underpass very same streets are patrolled The snobs need not have ingless phrase. Vince McIndoe,Helen Brough,Guy was built in 1961. Reid and Dave White whose show is coming up in April." The anarchist school in Fitzroy Square
Exiled to London she lived at They hoped to "keep the It was suspected these were By MIKE PENTELOW 59 Charlotte Street and set up children out of the religiously planted there by the school's the school for political emigres. oriented state schools which, assistant Auguste Coulon, who The school prospectus had consciously or unconsciously, was later unmasked as a police school for children of "an illustration of a woman teach that the people are to be spy. He was expelled from the refugees after the defeat of wearing a Liberty Cap and light - sacrificed to the power of the the Paris Commune was run anarchist Autonomie Club at 6 A ing her lamp from the sun of State and the profit of the privi - Windmill Street, where Louise by anarchists in Fitzroy Square in the 1890s. Truth with one hand, while feed - leged classes." had first met him. Called the International ing children the fruits of knowl - It was to be "based on the In a subsequent trial of sev - School it was run at number 19 edge with the other," according scientific development of reason, eral anarchists, who were given by Louise Michel (1830-1905), to Edith Thomas in her book the development of personal sentences of ten years' hard who had fought on the barri - Louise Michel (Black Rose diginity and independence labour for possessing explosives, cades in defence of the Paris Books). rather than piety and obedience, they claimed these had been Commune back in 1871 before it The caption read: "From each on respect for truth and justice, supplied them by Coulon. was savagely destroyed by gov - according to his capacity, to each and respect for humanity rather One of these was an Italian ernment troops. according to his needs. Liberty, than adoration of a divinity." shoemaker Jean Battola, who When the communards were Equality, Fraternity." The aim was to produce free lived at 18 Fitzroy Square. In the being executed by firing squads The guiding committee people who respected the free - dock he remained defiant, accus - there were complaints about the included famous anarchists such dom of others. ing the state and the ruling class noise, so they were brutally bay - as the Russian prince, Peter It taught French, German, of all the real crimes of the age, onetted from then onwards. Kropotkin (1842-1921), and the English, music, drawing, concluding with the question: Louise had been a teacher in Italian Errico Malatesta (1853- sewing, and engraving. "How many generals are impris - Paris where she had run creches 1932), and the English libertari - The school was closed when oned for using weapons of Louise Michel, the anarchist teacher for the children of women facto - an socialist William Morris the police raided it in 1892 and death?" ry workers. (1834-1896). found bombs in the basement. Fitzrovia News Spring 2011 11 Shelley influenced by local poet
By JESS OWEN 'virtue' the poet contrasts with Revolutionary ideas picked up from Rickman the debasement of the human spirit engendered by homas Paine was not the There can be no doubt that 'Commerce': only associate of Clio “Commerce has set the mark of Rickman to make a name Rickman's ideas influenced the T young poet. One commentator selfishness for himself. When he was com - posing the verses that eventually has remarked that: "Again and The signet of its all-enslaving became Queen Mab the young again in his comments on the power poet, Shelley, had recourse to his French Revolution, he argued Upon a shining ore and called it ideas. that the attempt to overthrow gold A supporter of Thomas the old order by violent revolu - Before whose image bow the Spence (1750-1814), who advo - tion merely perpetuated the vulgar great cated sharing of all land equally, spirit of that order..." The vainly rich, the miserable Shelley attended his radical Rickman’s poem on the trial proud debating club in The Cock, of the king seems to have had an The mob of peasants, nobles Grafton Way. effect on Shelley: priests and kings In September 1812 Shelley "Try your late king! by no And with blind feelings rever - and his entourage settled in means, no! ence the power Tremadog, Gogledd Cymru. Behave like men and let him go. That grinds them to the dust of There he continued the develop - To try him argues want of misery ment of his first major work, the sense, But in the temple of their Spenserian allegory; Queen And tends to give him conse - hireling hearts Mab. His background reading quence. CLIO RICKMAN SHELLEY Gold is a living god, and rules for the poem was prodigious. To Oh! be philosophers, and say, in scorn obtain some of it he called upon kings, "Go, once our monarch, go waits at the gate, All earthly things but virtue.” the services of the veteran radi - No Jester in their courts admit? away; Where each riot, and luxury, Shelley's poem, though he cal, poet, singer and bookseller, They've grown of late such "There's money, where you croud the domain; had baulked at distributing Thomas Clio Rickman, who stately things, please go, spend it, There a bully, and wanton, in more than a few copies amongst lived at 148 New Cavendish To bear a joke they think not fit. "And take your life, and learn splendour and state, his acquaintances, reached the Street (see last issue). But tho' each Court a jester to mend it." Lord it haughtily over the radical community. Large In a letter to Rickman, lacks, For Shelley assumes neighboring plain. extracts were published in Shelley told him: "I prefer To laugh at Monarchs to their throughout Mab, that by show - To support their extravagance, George Cannon's Theological employing a countryman, and a faces; ing the evils inherent in monar - plunder'd behold Inquirer. In December 1822 man of liberal and enlightened Yet all mankind behind their chy, legislators can be taught to Those whose suff'rings unceas - Richard Carlile announced that mind to a stranger". He had backs, amend their ways through an ing, their riches supply; he had “bought up all remain - already been in contact with Supply the honest jester's appeal to conscience. From whose labour and toil is ing copies of Shelley's 1813 edi - Rickman 'on another matter' and places.” wrung out the gold, tion, and offered them for sale.” so knew of Rickman's radical This may not have been And surely Shelley echoes These unprincipled minions and Four years later the veteran reputation, and his association Shelley's only borrowing from Rickman's sentiments when he miscreants enjoy. Spencean, Allen Davenport, with Paine. Rickman. In 1808 he published asks: Such, with sneers, will the chil - wrote to Carlile's paper recom - It is quite likely Rickman’s an uncharacteristically frank "Is it strange dren of VIRTUE discard, mending that the Revolt of Islam shop was still under surveillance condemnation of 'market forces'. That this poor wretch should Which hath ever, they'll say, its should also receive a cheap and as he was involved in the publi - "You may labour and toil, wipe pride him in his woe? own sweet reward. popular edition Mab was cation of Eaton's edition of the sweat from your brow, Take pleasure in his abjectness, Whilst 'Reason' is indelibly reprinted in the journals of the Paine's “Third Part” of The Age See your children half starv'd and hug associated with Rickman's name Chartist movement. On the eve of Reason: a book which directly and in rags; The scorpion that consumes through his association with of the 1839 Newport and questioned the place of organ - You may dig in the mines, him? Is it strange Thomas Paine, it is surely more Yorkshire risings several ised religion in any civilised waste your strength at the plough, That, placed on a conspicuous than a coincidence that both Chartist papers, including the society. To enrich and fill insolent mon - crown of thorns, 'Nature' and 'Virtue' are con - Northern Star, reprinted part of Shelley may have been ey'd men's bags. Grasping an iron sceptre, and joined, both this poem, and the poem dealing with monar - drawn to the veteran radical by See where yon proud equipage immured Shelley's mind. In Canto IV it is chy influenced by Rickman. his eagerness for information on Within a splendid prison, whose Paine. It was public knowledge stern bounds that Rickman was preparing a Shut him from all that's good or biography of his former lodger. dear on earth, It is also possible that Shelley His soul asserts not his human - knew, or at least suspected, it ity?" was Thomas Clio Rickman who Rickman offered a benevo - provided an introduction and lent attitude to monarchs, per - impromptu to the publication by ceiving them as buffoons: w1 Eaton for which he went to "Why pray of late, do Europe's prison in 1812. fitzroviaW1.co.uk More news at fitzrovia.org.uk/news :: twitter.com/fitzrovianews A NEW WEBSITE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF FITZROVIA facebook.com/fitzrovianews Contact us: [email protected] Poetry Ode to a Mouse, by Mala Mason Now listen here, you pesky mouse, why have you made my home your house? Your nibbling here and slinking there, drives me to complete despair.
Instead of eating all my food, have poison - it tastes so good. sales lettings commercial
You come out at dread of night, and give me a great big fright. Why don’t you just go away - give me back a peaceful day. 020 7299 3322 HURFORD SALVI CARR I’ve had enough, you’ve seen to that. So now I’m going to get a cat! 38 STORE ST, LONDON, WC1 12 Listings Fitzrovia News Spring 2011 WHAT’S ON AROUND FITZROVIA Email [email protected] and put "Listings" in the subject box by May 27 for the June 2011 issue. ART GALLERIES Alison Jacques Gallery, 18 CINEMA/FILM CLUBS EXHIBITIONS Berners Street (www.alison - Green Man, 36 Riding House St: British Museum, Great Russell jacquesgallery.com): Until March London Animation Club (7pm Street 19 - Robert Mapplethorpe; upstairs), April 7, May 5, June 2. (www.britishmuseum.org): Until March 25-May 7 - Mathew Weir. April 3 - Images and sacred texts Odeon, 30 Tottenham Court of Buddhism across Asia; Until Art First Projects, 21 Eastcastle Road: Weekly film details from April 17 - Sikh fortress turban; Street (www.artfirst.co.uk): Until www.odeon.co.uk or 08712 Until Apri 25 - Picasso to Julie March 12 - Simon Morley and 244007. Mehretu; Until August 7 - Eric David Price; March 17 to April Gill, public and private art; Until 30 - Jack Milroy, Helena YMCA film club, 44 Portland Sept 11 - Jewellery and costume Goldwater, and Rebecca Place from Oman; Until Sept 11 - Partridge; May 5 to June 11 - (www.44portlandplace.org.uk): Traditional jewellery and dress Will Maclean and Joe Watling. To be announced. from the Balkans.
Building Centre, Store Street LIVE MUSIC/DISCO UCL, North Lodge, Gower Street (www.ucl.ac.uk): Until (www.buildingcentre.co.uk): The 100 Club, 100 Oxford Street April 17 - Several Interruptions, March 4 to April 30 - Living (www.the100club.co.uk): March Slade Centre for Electronic Form Exhibition: the 9 - Kate Robbins; March 10 - Media in Fine Art. Transformable World of Chuck Watson & Co, The World Tour; Hoberman. March 11 - Future Rock; March UCL, Petrie Museum of 12 - The Fabulous Lounge Egyption Archaeology, Malet Contemporary Applied Arts, 2 Swingers; March 14 - Stompin; Place (www.ucl.ac.uk): Until Percy Street (www.caa.org.uk): March 17 - The Delta Jazz Band March 25 - Soul House: Until March 26 - Residencies with Colin Bowden; March 18 - Exhibition by Sara Bevan. and Retreats for Contemporary The Dirty Reds, Loki, Fused, Makers, curated by Amanda House of Rogues; March 21 - UCL Strang Print Room, Wilkins Game. Hot Club Deluxe; March 22 - Building, Gower Street Robert Gordon & Chris (www.ucl.ac.uk): Until March 25 Coningsby Gallery/Debut Art, Spedding; March 24 - Sick on the Comedian Milton Jones is at the Bloomsbury Theatre on April Fools’ Day - The age of expression: 20th 30 Tottenham Street (www.con - Bus, Drongos for Europe, Dun 2 Century Northern European ingsbygallery.com): Until March People in Trouble Laughing THEATRE Def; March 26 - Chantel prints from the Barber Institute. 5 - Face to Face by Samuel Auit; Pushed to the Ground. Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon McGregor Band, The Dirty April 11 to 30 - Dave White: St (www.thebloomsbury.com): Strangers; March 29 - New Wellcome Library, 183 Euston Americana; May 1 to 7 - Songs Pilar Corrias, 54 Eastcastle Street March 10 to 12 - Spotlight; Brunswick Battles of the Blues Road (www.wellcomecollec - by Dudy Dayan. (www.pilarcorrias.com): Until March 21 to 26 - Die Drei Pintos; Final; March 31 - Law Rocks, tion.org): March 2 to 20 - Ars March 19 - Juliao Sarmento March 30 to 31 - Sarah Millican: Round 1. Curwen Gallery, 34 Windmill 'Remarks on Colour'; April 1 to Chatterbox; April 1 - Milton Moriendi: The art of dying; March 24 to August 31 - Dirt: Street May 4 - Tunga 'Magma'; May 11 Jones: Lion Whisperer; April 14 - Green Man, 383 Euston Road, The filthy reality of everyday (www.curwengallery.com): to June 4 - Tala Madani. Little Howard and the Magic opposite Great Portland Street life; Until July 10 - Wellcome March 2 to 26 - Sea and Shore, Pencil of Life and Death; April station: Live jazz every Image Awards 2011. and Anita Stokes; March 30 to Rebecca Hossack Gallery (1), 2a 14 - Charity Comedy Night; Wednesday, 7.45 in basement. April 21 - Andrew Murdoch, Conway Street (www.r-h- Apr16 - Tempest!; April 20 - 44 Portland Place (www.44port - and "small form". g.co.uk): Until March 26 - Nerina Pallot; April 27 - Miles King & Queen, 1 Foley Street: landplace.org.uk): Art History Alasdair Wallace: River; March Jupp: Fibber in the Heat; April Folk music upstairs some Friday exhibitions: March 10 - Diemar/Noble Photographic 31 to April 23 - Esther Nienhuis 30 - Sod Cancer!; May 3 - nights, phone 0208 340 0534 for Watercolour; April 7 - Gallery, 66-67 Wells Street & Morten Lassen: Autobahn; Fairport Accoustic Convention; details. (www.diemarnoblephotogra - May 9 to June 4 - David May 16 - Russel Kane; May 27 - Renaissance: Jan Gossaert; May 12 - The Cult of Beauty: The phy.com): Until March 12 - Big Bromley: A Day on Earth. Mark Steel; May 28 - Jenny One Tun, 58 Goodge Street: Aesthetic Movement in Britain. Bangs, Big Bucks: Photographs Eclair. March 17 - St Patrick’s Day live by Georffrey H Short and Rebecca Hossack Gallery (2), 28 music with Sean Brady 1-4pm. Nikolai Ishchuk. Charlotte Street (www.r-h- Camden People's Theatre, 58-60 LECTURES g.co.uk): Until March 12 - Hampstead Road (www.cpthe - UCL Chamber Music Club, UCL lunch hour lectures (1.15 to Gallery at 94, 94 Cleveland Derren Brown: Paintings; March atre.co.uk): Until March 27 - Haldane Room, Main Campus, 1.55 pm), Darwin Theatre, Street (www.galleryat94.com): 18 to 26 - Roy Wright, Garlinda Sprint, A festival of adventurous Gower Street Gower Street, entrance in Malet Until April 10 - Zino Pece:- Free Birkbeck & Datsun Tran: Birds experiences in theatre. (www.ucl.ac.uk/chamber- Place (www.ucl.ac.uk/events): Flow. and Trees; April 1 to 21 - Rob music): To be announced. March 8 - Genetic testing; March Clarke: The A-Z of Dogs; April Dominion Theatre, 269 10 - Sex, Drugs, the Internet and Getty Images Gallery, 46 23 to 30 - Charlotte Cory: The Tottenham Court Road LIVE COMEDY Juries; March 15 - Should the Eastcastle Street (www.gettyim - Royal Wedding Street Party; (www.dominiontheatre.co.uk): brain be left to neuroscientists?; College Arms, 18 Store Street: agesgallery.com): Until March 12 May 2 to 21 - Cybele Young; Ongoing - We Will Rock You. March 17 - Twitter and digital Mondays at 8pm. - We Speak Image - A comment May 2 to June 4 - Gond Artists. identity; March 22 - Would you on the world by Canon Drill Hall, 16 Chenies Street give your right arm to protect Fitzroy Tavern, 16 Charlotte Ambassadors. Regina Gallery, 22 Eastcastle (www.drillhall.co.uk): March 16 your heart?; June 9 - A climate of Street: Wednesdays at 7.30pm in Street (www.reginagallery.com): to April 9 - Miss Hope Springs; fear: what the past tells us about basement. Ladiray Gallery, 74 Wells Street Until March 12 - Clair Fontaine: April 3 - Arthur Miller's The human responses to climate (www.ladiraygallery.com): To be Fighting Gravity; April 1 to May Crucible; April 12 to 16 - Live change. Wheatsheaf, 25 Rathbone Place: announced. 21 - Victor Alimpiev: Several. Like Pigs. Improvisation on Thursdays, CONFERENCES Josh Lilley, 44 Riding House 8.30pm, and stand-up on Rollo Gallery, 5 Cleveland Street London Palladium, Argyll Street Building Centre, Store Street: Street Saturdays, 7.30pm upstairs. (www.rolloart.com): May 27 to (www.the-london- March 23 (8.30am to 1pm) - New (www.joshlilleygallery.com): Oct 23 - Frank Bowling: Royal palladium.com): Ongoing - London Architecture’s half-day Until March 4 - Benedetto PUB QUIZZES Academy Exhibition. Andrew Lloyd Webber's produc - conference examining the oppor - Pietromarch, Another Place; tion of The Wizard of Oz, star - KARAOKE tunities and challenges for from March 17 – Carla Busuttil. Thompson Gallery, 15 New ring Michael Crawford and College Arms, 18 Store Street: London's visitor economy in Cavendish Street (www.thomp - Danielle Hope. Quiz every Wednesday, 8pm. 2012 and beyond. Morton Metropolis, 41-42 songallery.com): Until March 27 Berners Street (www.morton - - Simeon Stafford; April 6 to 24 - RADA, Malet Street, opposite One Tun, 58 Goodge Street: Quiz WALKS metropolis.com): Coming soon - Andew Squire; May 4 to 18 - Birkbeck College every Tuesday night, karaoke Fitzrovia Walk with Old Maps Alberta Reguera, Cosmic Simon Garden. (www.rada.org): Gielguid last Saturday of month March every Sunday at 2pm. Costs £8 Fragments. Theatre: March 18 to 26 - The 26, Apr 30, May 21. Woolff Gallery, 89 Charlotte Brothers Size. GBS Theatre: lasts about 2 hours. Meet entrance Goodge Street Station. Paradise Row, 74 Newman Street March 16 to 26 - A Waste of King& Queen, 1 Foley Street: Further information http://lon - Street (www.paradiserow.com): (www.woolffgallery.co.uk): Until Time. Jerwood Vanbrugh Quiz alternate Tuesday nights. Until March 26 - Adam March 14 - Marcus Egli; March Theatre: March 17 to 26 - The dontrails.wordpress.com or call Broomberg & Oliver Chanarin, 18 - Annemarie Wright. Crucible. Ken on 07534 207 442.