Fitzrovia-News-FN152-Lowres

Crosstown traffic news.fitzrovia.org.uk Fitzrovia News Fitzrovia News is produced by residents and volunteers and distributed free to business and residential addresses in Fitzrovia Issue 152 Spring 2019 Road scheme risks health of residents at council block Grafton Way residents ignored by Mayor and hit by Camden with increased pollution

By Linus Rees

The health of hundreds of resi - dents in a council block in Fitzrovia is being put at risk be - WIN THIS cause their street has been left out of the Mayor of London’s new Ultra Low Emission Zone and £25 BOOK will have increased motor traffic from a new road scheme designed page 12 by Camden Council. People living at 30-40 Grafton Way will suffer the double whammy of being excluded from the Mayor’s 24/7 pollution con - trol this April and face an increase in vehicle fumes from displaced road traffic from Camden Coun - cil’s £35m West End Project to convert Tottenham Court Road and Gower Street to two-way working when it is completed in School kids spring 2020. The street is part of the busy Euston Circus road system which produce means drivers coming from the Traffic island castaways. Residents at 30-40 Grafton Way are outside the congestion charge area, will be excluded from east who want to go north are di - Ultra Low Emission Zone, and face increased pollution from Camden’s West End Project. plaque walk rected along part of Grafton Way. ‘overall’ improvement, but this is which, like Grafton Way, will see The Grafton Way Tenants and The road design is a heavily pol - not how it works in terms of increased motor traffic according Residents Association (TRA) says luted leftover from the 1960s and human health. If you make traffic to traffic modelling published in Camden is failing in its duty to map Camden Council and the Mayor flow heavier in Grafton Way pol - 2014. protect its residents. of London have failed to bring it lution will increase and residents Nitrogen Dioxide, a gas that “The TRA is very concerned page 7 into the 21st century by getting will suffer even more than they causes respiratory problems, is al - at the potential impact this devel - rid of the gyratory, despite spend - are already,” she said. ready above the legal limit on opment will have on the lives and ing millions on laying granite Camden claims its scheme Grafton Way according to mea - health of our 274 residents. Many paving stones imported from will reduce overall traffic in the surements taken by residents. The are elderly or very young and vul - China to cajole shoppers into the West End Project area and im - street is also likely to have very nerable.” nearby Tottenham Court Road. prove conditions for cyclists on high levels of particulate matter They say Camden is failing to Jo Hurford who lives in the Gower Street. But the council has which can cause strokes and heart take action on the air in the street Camden owned block on Grafton been criticised because businesses disease. Both pollutants are gener - despite a 2017 report from the Way told Fitzrovia News that the and shoppers on Tottenham Court ated from either motor vehicle ex - council has ignored residents con - Road will gain at the expense of hausts or from tyre and brake Banksy cerns about air quality and done many residential side streets wear. Continues on page 3. nothing to address the problem. page 3 “I have been trying to get the Council to listen to me since I first went to a meeting about the Pro - ject in 2014. “I told them that the potential for life-limiting health impacts on Grafton Way residents should mean the West End Project is est1958 rethought, or at a minimum some kind of mitigation is offered for Awarded residents like air filtration. The home of traditional tripadvisor “The Council say some areas certificate of fish and chips. will get better air and some much excellence five GIGS worse, they’ve looked at the pic - years running Fully licensed Greek restaurant ture from a distance and claim an 2014 - 2018 12 Tottenham Street 020 7636 1424 2 — Fitzrovia News issue 152 Spring 2019 Fitzrovia News Formerly The Tower Letters, email and comment established 1973 news.fitzrovia.org.uk Write to [email protected] or post to Fitzrovia News, Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association, 39 Tottenham Street, London W1T 4RX twitter.com/fitzrovianews facebook.com/fitzrovianews instagram.com/fitzrovianews [email protected] 020 7580 4576 Westminster’s Oxford Street place

Issue 152 Spring 2019 Published 5 March 2018 strategy - beyond the consultation Editorial Team When Westminster Council’s new scheme for Street and the permanent closure of the parts Mike Pentelow: Oxford Street was introduced its new district of the street either side of Oxford Circus editor and features editor wide approach was broadly welcomed by our would push non-bus traffic into the heartlands Linus Rees: organisations. The fact that many suggestions of Fitzrovia, Mayfair and Marylebone. Safety website and assistant editor previously made by various individual issues would also be encountered by the intro - Pete Whyatt: amenity societies and other groups had clearly duction of 4 new turns to get traffic around news and production editor been listened to and incorporated in these Oxford Circus, each one bringing traffic into Clive Jennings: plans meant that we were, and still are, happy further conflict with pedestrians. arts editor to endorse much of what has being proposed. These proposals are wrong for the same Brian Jarman: However, three very significant proposals reasons that the Mayor’s previous pedestriani - writer and sub-editor - those that advocate the closing or the severe sation scheme was wrong, namely that they Janet Gauld: restricting of Oxford Street traffic - were con - will result in the displacement of traffic associate editor tained amongst the large amount of detail through our surrounding neighbourhoods. We Barb Jacobson: about much else that give us cause for con - are therefore opposed to them for the same associate editor cern: reasons we opposed the previous pedestriani - Jennifer Kavanagh: A. The proposal to investigate options to sation plans. associate editor close the section of road around Oxford Circus between John Prince’s Street and Great Port - Our full representations on the scheme and the Contributors: land Street to all east-west traffic and pedestri - full length version of this article can be found Elizabeth Adams anise it. ambiguously abandoned by Westminster at www.betteroxfordstreet.org Nick Bailey B. The proposal to restrict the width of Council, albeit only after being comprehen - Debby Banham Oxford Street to 2 carriageways only, along its sively rejected in the previous consultation Better Oxford Street is supported by all the Jayne Davis entire length. and at the ballot box. West End’s recognised amenity groups, in - Yak El Droubie C. The proposal to close certain sections of The proposals would result in non-bus cluding the Marylebone Association, Har - Terry Egan Oxford Street to all traffic other than buses at traffic being deterred from using Oxford Street rowby and District Residents Association, Clifford Harper certain times of the day. even in the parts allowed to remain open. The Soho Society, Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Asso - Angela Nicholson All three appear to undermine the princi - extra time buses would take, caused by single ciation, Residents’ Society of Mayfair and St Wendy Shutler ple and purpose of keeping Oxford Street lanes and road closures, would inconvenience James, Mayfair Residents Group, Charlotte Clifford Slapper open to traffic and would result in outcomes and also deter bus users. Sporadic and inter - Street Association and Hyde Park Estate Resi - Sunita Soliar that we previously understood had been un - mittent closure of various parts of Oxford dents Association. Chris Tyler Sandra Wheen

Printed by: Sharman & Co Ltd, Newark Road, Peterborough PE1 5TD. sharmanandco.co.uk Fitzrovia News is produced Stats, lives and homeless deaths by the Fitzrovia Community Newspaper Group. ISSN: 0967-1404 Seventeen homeless people died tional Statistics. Statistics. Comments and sugges - teams go out on foot and count in in Camden during 2017, accord - The records are mainly peo - tions to improve the quality of parts of Bloomsbury, Holborn & Published by Fitzrovia ing to the first ever national statis - ple sleeping rough, or using emer - this output and make it more use - Covent Carden, Kings Cross, St Neighbourhood Association tics published for deaths of gency accommodation such as ful to users are invited,” they say. Pancras & Somers Town, and Re - (registered charity 1111649) homeless people. Yet the quality homeless shelters and direct ac - In the autumn of 2018 there gent’s Park. One team goes out in 39 Tottenham Street, of statistics on homelessness and cess hostels, at or around the time were 306 people recorded sleep - a car to cover the north of the bor - London, W1T 4RX rough sleeping in particular are of death. ing on the street in Westminster ough. fitzrovia.org.uk often very poor, writes Linus Rees . It is surprising, however, not and 141 in Camden on a single Having taken part in two an - The local authorities with the to see Westminster mentioned in night. The count in Camden re - nual counts I consider this Fitzrovia News is published highest estimated number of the highlights from this statistical vealed that only 20 percent of method and the number of count deaths varied from year to year. release as the borough has twice those on the street were UK na - teams inadequate to accurately four times a year. Birmingham featured in the five the number of people sleeping tionals. Yet the stats collected by measure the number of people Our deadline for news, LAs with the highest numbers of rough compared with Camden the outreach teams for the three sleeping rough on a typical night features, letters and adverts deaths of homeless people in and the highest of any local au - months from October to Decem - every autumn. is normally two weeks be - every year from 2013 to 2017, thority in the country. ber stated that 51 percent of those I have recommended that the fore publication. The next while the London boroughs of One explanation is hidden in on the streets were UK nationals. count should have a greater num - issue will be out on Camden and Lambeth each fea - a discussion of figures by an ONS A huge disparity between the two ber of teams — at least three times tured in three of the five years. statistician. “Local registrars do figures. as many — and cover more streets Tuesday 4 June 2019. The highest estimate for any LA in not follow any consistent practice I recently responded to Cam - in the south, middle, and north of Deadline: 17 May any year was 23 deaths in Cam - in recording deaths of homeless den’s Homelessness and Rough the borough. Public editorial meetings den in 2016. people. Furthermore, it is possible Sleeping Strategy. I saw no com - Camden should review its are held at 7 pm, first When analysed by deaths of that the fact that the deceased was mitment in the strategy to do an historic reporting of rough sleeper Tuesday of every month at homeless people per 100,000 pop - homeless might be omitted either accurate count of rough sleepers numbers and take into considera - Fitzrovia Neighbourhood ulation, Camden still featured in due to incomplete information in the borough for the autumn tion that from 2010 to 2016 it was the highest three areas each year given to the registrar, or out of one night snapshot survey that all submitting highly inaccurate in - Association, from 2013 to 2017. These figures consideration for the preferences local authorities are required to do formation. Camden needs to ac - 39 Tottenham Street are calculated per 100,000 total of the family.” and submit to central govern - knowledge its poor track record London W1T 4RX population of the relevant LA, The statistics are also marked ment. on accurate street counts and esti - Subscribe to Fitzrovia News and are not mortality rates related as experimental. “They have yet Camden has 18 wards and yet mates. The last 18 months has for regular updates: to the number of homeless people to be assessed against the rigorous the autumn count only covers the been an improvement but more bit.ly/fitzrovianews in the area, say the Office for Na - quality standards of National so-called “hot spots”. Most of the needs to be done. Fitzrovia News issue 152 Spring 2019 — 3 Traffic scheme risks health of residents Date set for

Continued from front page. charge and will be exempt from In addition, I continue to support TCR switch paying the ULEZ charge. the removal of Grafton Way from Camden Council has published a The council tenants and lease - the Euston Circus gyratory. It is target date to change Tottenham UK’s Chief Medical Officer which holders want the street removed clearly inappropriate to have a Court Road from one-way to two- states that local authorities “can from the gyratory and included in residential block and a hospital way along with a map of the take powerful action to address the congestion charge and ULEZ. surrounded by a busy gyratory.” rather confusing traffic system and avoid negative health impacts They want drivers heading north Cllr Harrison’s comments ahead of Gower Street following from pollution”. to be directed along the Euston puts the Labour council at odds suit a year later. The lack of action by Camden Slip Road next to the Euston Un - with the Labour Mayor and The Easter holiday weekend also comes at the same time as the derpass instead of around the Transport for London who have is the target to bring about traffic publication of its draft Clean Air block and past their windows and no plans to remove the gyratory. in two directions along with two- Action Plan. front doors. A TfL spokesperson said: way bus services. If contractor Eu - Grafton Way residents will A spokesperson for Camden “The Ultra Low Emission Zone rovia cannot finish work by that also be excluded from any bene - commented on the traffic analysis (ULEZ) will clean up London’s date then the early May holiday fits from the Mayor of London’s that had been done. toxic air in central London and weekend is the reserve date. air pollution cutting measures be - “During the development of the surrounding areas beyond the Eurovia will then get going cause the street despite being the West End Project, traffic mod - ULEZ boundaries. Areas on the on Gower Street which will be re - within the inner ring road is des - elling and survey work was un - cusp of the ULEZ, like Fitzrovia, duced to two lanes southbound ignated as part of the Euston Cir - dertaken to assess the impact of Part of Grafton Way is outside of the will see more low-emission buses until it goes two-way in spring cus traffic interchange. the project across the area includ - congestion charge and Ultra Low and cars on the road than cur - 2020. Drivers travelling along ing the side streets. These pre - Emission Zone. rently. Emissions from cars, vans The interim road layout map Grafton Way between Gower dicted that the implementation of and HGVs in areas outside the sent to Fitzrovia News turned out Street and Tottenham Court Road the project would lead to a reduc - increase in traffic on the side ULEZ are expected to reduce by to be so full of obvious errors that don’t have to pay the congestion tion of traffic across the wider streets may in fact only occur at more than 10 per cent. We will we sent it back to them asking for charge, and won’t encounter the area with improvements on the peak hours and as the network also expand ULEZ further to the the mistakes to be rectified. That ULEZ charge when it comes into majority of side streets in addition will be generally quieter at other North and South Circulars in was weeks ago and we haven’t force in April. to the main routes. The modelling times, these side streets may still 2021, which will improve the air heard anything since. While other streets south of does however, also indicate an in - receive a net reduction in traffic quality around London even the Euston Road will benefit from crease in traffic on certain side over the whole day,” they said. more.” the Mayor’s ULEZ scheme streets. As with all traffic schemes Adam Harrison, cabinet The Mayor of London’s new Councils asked to Grafton Way will have to wait the impacts will be monitored and member for improving Camden’s congestion charge and the Ultra cut all east-west until the ULEZ is expanded in a consideration given to mitigation environment, said: “The West End Low Emission Zone come into few years’ time. But there are no measures where appropriate. Project will cut motor traffic in the force in central London from 8 through traffic plans to expand the congestion “Camden is fully committed area by up to a quarter, bringing April. ULEZ will operate 24 hours charge zone. Black-cab drivers to review the scheme 12 months numerous benefits in terms of air a day, everyday. Camden and Westminster coun - don’t have to pay the congestion after completion. The predicted pollution, noise and congestion. cils have been asked to consider proposals to cut out all of the east- Banksy wrapped to go Spring treats for west through traffic in Fitzrovia to Doc departing improve air quality and access for Local GP Dr Caroline Evans will older residents residents and businesses. be leaving the Fitzrovia Medical The Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Associ - Centre, according to sources in the Association has written to the two ation is spoiling older residents waiting room. councils asking them to work to - with a raft free of cultural activi - A notice in the Grade II* gether to make Fitzrovia access- ties this spring. listed Fitzroy Square surgery in - only to prevent extra motor traffic There will be a British Mu - forms patients that her last work - as a result of forthcoming restric - seum event at 2pm on Wednesday ing day will be Thursday 28 tions on private vehicles on Ox - 13 March where people from the March 2019. ford Street and Tottenham Court museum will be bringing a new ”Sadly after 25 years a much Road. handling collection around the loved member of staff will be The FNA has asked for the theme of Resilience and Survival leaving our Fitzrovia family. Dr councils to consider “filtered per - to Fitzrovia Court, 24 Carburton meability” using bollards across Evans has been at this practice Bansky’s “If graffiti changed anything...” mural, painted in 2011, has been Street W1W 5AS. Great conversa - east-west streets including since October 1994 and this year carefully cut out of the wall in Clipstone Street as part of the demolition of the tion, interesting objects and re - Goodge Street, New Cavendish marks her 25th anniversary here site which is being redeveloped by Dukelease Properties. Our photographer freshments! Street, and Clipstone Street. The at the practice. We are all very sad captured it protected by a wooden frame and covered in polythene awaiting re - Tea and Cakes will be at scheme would cost between £130k to see her leave and hope you all moval. Former head of planning at Westminster council Robert - two lunches - Honey & Co on Sunday 17 March and £260k. join us in wishing Dr Evans good Davis once excoriated the artist saying his art belongs in a museum and not as 3-5pm 25a Warren St W1T 5LZ. Bollards have already been luck on her new journey. She will graffiti on the walls of the City of Westminster: “I think it is a disgrace.” The Itamar, Rachael and the staff are installed across some Fitzrovia be very much missed by all,” says artwork has now been carted away for restoration before it is returned to looking forward to seeing you! streets and Riding House Street is the announcement. Fitzrovia, according to Westminster council which claims ownership of it. Edward Munch: Love and due to be permanently closed this Angst at the British Museum summer. Community View, Sunday 7 April The FNA has also asked the 1pm (or thereabouts). councils to review single yellow If you would like to attend, lines and consider making them please let Barb Jacobson know by double to stop drivers blocking calling 020 7580 4576 or by email - streets by parking outside of con - ing [email protected] trolled hours. Memorial service

A rededication service of the News in brief newly restored war memorial in Black-cab drivers blocked Tot - Chenies Street takes place at 11am tenham Court Road for several on Sunday, March 24. evenings this winter in a failed Members of the armed forces attempt to persuade Camden with connections to the Rifle Council to allow them full ac - Brigade will be attending with the cess to the street. “Where buses mayor of Camden and local go - taxis go”, they said. church leaders. 4 — Fitzrovia News issue 152 Spring 2019 Mary Banham An appreciation by her daughter Debby Banham “Peter and I weren’t interested in the past; we were only interested in the future” ‘not good enough’ for Mary, but and produced exquisite architec - relented when my grandfather tural drawings for Peter’s book said that he wouldn’t go without The Architecture of the Well-Tem - Mary (right) with her sister Anne circa 1940 her, and then Mary would have pered Environment (1969), but her was quite traditional in some days, too, so Mary’s studio was a no family there. Peter’s brother main focus for many years was on ways. She saw it as her role to focus for the whole family. For my Paul was at the back of all the print-making. She joined a screen- support Peter and his career, per - most recent birthday, in June, we wedding photos, as they only had printing class in Kentish Town, haps not in preference to her own, all went to Kew Gardens, our last one suit between them. and kept in touch with many of but certainly as an equal priority. family outing together. Photo : Adrian Tanovic In 1949, Mary returned to the participants for years. She was involved from their in - Mary was a great swimmer. London with Peter, when he In the early 70s Mary worked ception with the Banham lectures, In the water, she wasn’t disabled. Mary Banham was an artist, cura - began his studies at the Cour - at the Royal Institute of British Ar - given in Peter’s memory and or - She swam in Buffalo and Santa tor, writer and editor, and a com - tauld. Mary worked initially at chitects’ Drawings Collection, and ganised jointly by the Design His - Cruz, and until fairly recently she mitted Modernist. Born in 1922, the Daily Mirror, subbing the curated an exhibition at their tory Society, the V&A and the was still swimming at the YMCA she was the elder daughter of agony aunt’s column, which was Heinz Gallery on the Festival of Royal College. The annual trip to off Tottenham Court Road, and in Kathleen Mullett (née Garrett) entertaining, but not very well Britain South Bank buildings. This the V&A, and later the RCA, for Ely in the summer. Then she and her husband, John, a farmer’s paid for someone supporting two led to a commission to organise a the lectures, and then to the Polish started getting pains in her upper son from Dorset who was sent adults. Fortunately she soon got a much larger show about the Festi - Hearth Club for drinks, became a body when she swam, which in away to sea as a boy and ended teaching job, at a big secondary val at the V&A, with Bevis Hillier, major gathering for friends and retrospect must have been angina. his career as a London County school in Wanstead. In 1951, the and write the catalogue, A Tonic family. But Mary also got in - A heart attack followed at Easter Council parks inspector. Festival of Britain was a big inspi - to the Nation, together. Both exhi - volved with plenty of activities 2010, and, although Mary made a Mary and her sister Anne ration to her and Peter, like many bition and publication were a that had nothing to do with Peter. good recovery, her health slowly grew up in London, mainly at of their generation, despite reser - great success. By the time the In 1993, at the age of 71, she took began to decline from then on. Blackheath, south of the river. It’s vations about spending public show opened in 1976, Peter was an MA with Winchester School of Her activities gradually became quite hard to imagine Mary as a money on such frivolity at a time working in Buffalo NY, where Art, needing a special dispensa - more limited, but even very re - baby, but apparently, when she of austerity. The buildings on the Mary joined him the next year. tion, as her wartime art-school cently she was still enjoying visits was tiny, her mother took her South Bank were a particular There she continued her print- training did not have degree sta - from friends and family, including shopping in the pram, parked it source of excitement, showing making work, and worked on a tus. The course group spent most her special ‘girls’ lunch’ group (no outside a shop, as one did in those what could be done when innova - guide to the then little-known ar - of the year in Barcelona, where participant under 60). She also en - days, forgot all about it and went tive architects and designers re - chitecture of Buffalo, but the Mary had a fantastic time, and re - joyed tea and cakes once a month home on the bus. Fortunately ceived official patronage. Another upper New York State winters turned to painting for the first at Honey and co, and following Mary was retrieved unharmed, major inspiration was the Inde - were too much of a challenge to time in many years. people’s news on social media. At and, as far as we know, most of pendent Group that met at the In - her mobility. Sometimes she Back home, she initially took 96, she had lived a long life, full of her childhood was unmarked by stitute of Contemporary Arts from would park outside a building, a studio in London Fields, but in variety and interest, as well as existential threat. Except that, 1952, comprising some of the but be unable to cross the snow- 1997 she commissioned Jonathan challenges. when the second world war broke most radical artists, designers and packed sidewalk to the door. After Ellis Miller to build her a striking Mary was a big personality. out, her secondary school was thinkers in London at the time, in - three years, she and Peter moved single-story building at Prickwil - Her namesake and neice, Mary evacuated to the south coast, only cluding Peter, all bubbling with to Santa Cruz, in California, low, near Ely, in Cambridgeshire, Harborne, has talked about losing to return hurriedly when the coast pent-up creativity after the war where they enjoyed the much where she could watch the sun set ‘the matriarch of our family’, and was bombarded. years. There the ideas were dis - balmier climate. They had a house behind the cathedral. She spent other people have spoken since Mary was interested in both cussed that culminated in the This by the ocean, and Mary ran a the next 15 summers in the Fens, her death of her charisma, her zest arts and sciences. At school she is Tomorrow exhibition at the gallery on the idyllic campus, ex - producing a new burst of work, for life, and of her being an inspi - wanted to be a surgeon, but she Whitechapel in 1955. Mary and hibiting many of the most inter - exhibiting in the annual Cam - ration, and a force of nature. Her was told her maths wasn’t up to Peter used to hold ‘open house’ esting artists in California and bridge Open Studios event, and strength of character helped her it, and when she left, it was to go where these discussions contin - further afield. In her studio at making many good friends live with physical limitations that to art school, where she had hair- ued, originally on Sundays, later home she made prints inspired by among the local artistic commu - would have defeated a lesser mor - raising stories of fire-watching on on Friday evenings. the spectacular coastal landscape nity. She also joined the Connect tal. She didn’t suffer fools gladly, the roof. Most of the London art When Peter started work at of Monterey Bay. group of artists in London, which and you might think yourself a schools were evacuated together the Architectural Press, Mary took Mary made many good included some of her old friends fool if you disagreed with her. But to Folkestone, and when Mary re - a break from teaching to have friends in both Buffalo and Santa from Kentish Town. In Ely, Mary you always knew where Mary turned to London, it was to the children, becoming my mother at Cruz, but when Peter died in chaired a schools’ art competition was, what she was doing, and Camberwell School of Arts and the then advanced age of 31. Ben 1988, she came home to London, for the new public library. We what she thought. Things were Crafts, where she completed her followed in 1955. When Ben was living with Ben off Tottenham used to have our family Christ - rarely dull when Mary was Art Teachers’ Diploma. only a year old, Mary developed Court Road. Despite her fierce mases at Prickwillow until three around. She’ll leave a huge hole in Art school was a mind ex - unexplained pains in her right leg, commitment to Modernism, Mary years ago, and quite a few birth - panding experience for Mary. She which turned out to be cancer. our lives. used to laugh at her mother say - This resulted in amputation and a ing: ‘You’ve never been the same fairly long period of convales - since you went to that art school,’ cence and rehabilitation. She had but my gran wasn’t wrong. to learn to drive in fairly short Mary’s first teaching job was order, and bought a pale blue at Notre Dame High School, in Heinkel bubble-car, essentially a Norwich, where the mother supe - motorbike under a glass dome. rior liked to have a few ‘heathens’ Despite being quite alarming me - on the staff (Mary was at that time chanically, this vehicle was popu - a communicant member of the C lar with a lot of people, including of E). In Norwich she met my fa - the local kids, who all wanted a ther, Peter, then stage manager at ride to school in it, even those still Nugent Monck’s Maddermarket too young to actually attend Theatre, and the couple lived next school. Mary decided not to re - door to Monck, in a cottage turn to the hurly-burly of teach - known as ‘the Offing’, with their ing, but to concentrate on her friends Don and Sonja. My grand - artistic practice. In the 1960s she mother refused to come to the took a technical-drawing course, wedding, as she thought Peter Mary with her husband Peter, daughter Debby and son Ben 1967 Photo : James Stirling Fitzrovia News issue 152 Spring 2019 — 5 From prison to pharmacy

Ronak Patel is the new kid on the block at Shiv Pharmacy Once one of the former inmates came into the shop at Great Titchfield Street. He’s been at the store for three years Great Titchfield Street. “He recognised me and asked me if and has been a pharmacist for over ten years. “I chose the I was at Pentonville. I had to explain that I was the phar - profession because there was a good career path with a di - macist not one of the inmates.” verse range of job opportunities, “ he said. Ronak was brought up in the Highbury district where Shiv is still at the shop several days a week but he’s his parents had a corner shop convenience store. “We lived taking things a little easier nowadays. above the shop and I have vivid memories of Arsenal “Shiv is my uncle and I was happy to come and work match days as we were near the Highbury ground.” in his shop and hopefully take over from him if he retires. I Naturally he is an Arsenal supporter now and when already run a pharmacy shop in Praed Street, Paddington.” he can manage it he still catches the odd game at the Emi - Ronak studied pharmacy at Portsmouth University rates Stadium. He lives in Southgate with his wife and and started out working as a locum at various locations. young family a boy of two and girl five years old One of his first placements was at Pentonvillle prison and “I’m looking forward to taking my son and daughter he must have enjoyed it there because he stayed for four to football matches soon. I’m not sure if my wife is inter - years. “It was an interesting placement and I sometimes ested in that though,” he concluded. saw gruesome things.”

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The next issue of Fitzrovia News will be out on Tuesday 4 June 2019. Deadline for articles, features and advertisements 17 May 6 — Fitzrovia News issue 152 Spring 2019 Greener on the other side

Word from the Streets By CHARLOTTE STREET and her siblings

Smashing time Is there a game of one-up-manship going on between the two pubs previously known as the Green Man? You know the old story about a Scot - First the one at 383 Euston Road (opposite Great Portland Street station) tish man with a bottle of whisky who added an “E” to the Green in accordance with the brewer Greene King which fell over and felt liquid dripping from owns it. his leg. “Thank goodness,” he said on Then the one at 36 Riding House Street added “ER” to the Green making discovering it was blood. “I thought it supposedly “Greener”. It does sell only vegetarian food now apparently. it was the whisky.” Well a similar thing happened to Bus driving pop star my older brother Mortimer recently. Sophie was star of TV quiz He was crossing the road, carrying a A fascinating tale of pop singer bottle of wine, when he was knocked Matt Monro (1930-85) driving a University Challenge on televi - over by a cyclist hidden by stationery bus up Tottenham Court Road sion over Christmas featured the cars. The wine was smashed but he and stopping to chat to a friend University of Westminster , based was relieved because he had nearly has emerged. in Wells Street and New bought a bottle of vodka. He had many international Cavendish Street . The team, hits in the 1960s and 70s, but in which beat the University of East the 1950s he was still a bus driver. Anglia, were all ex-students from Biting humour Fracesca Shashkova reveals the days when it was the Poly - After searching everywhere for in a Facebook correspondence that technic of Central London. his dentures Bill in the King & Matt (pictured right) was friendly The star was undoubtedly Queen in Foley Street finally with her mother who lived at 45 stead and gave up that career. Sophie Scott (pictured right in found them in his back pocket. Goodge Street . Also involved in the Face - 1990) who got seven starter ques - “Thank goodness you did She recalled her mother book dialogue was Clifford Slap - tions out of a total of 13. She ob - not sit down with them or you telling her how “he was driving a per (Fitzrovia News music tained her degree in life science in got his architectural diploma in might have bitten your own but - bus up Tottenham Court Road one columnist) who told her of the 1990 and is now a UCL professor 1992, and is now a professor at tocks!” quipped my brother day and spotted mum on the 1965 pop hit “Sunny Goodge specialising in “the science of the University of Liverpool spe - Percy. street. He stopped the bus, but not Street”, written and performed by laughter.” cialising in “post-war architecture at a bus stop, to hop out and have Donovan . Other members of the team in children’s picture books;” and a chat with her - to the amaze - This brought in Ray Burmis - were Stuart Ray Clarke, who got Danny Wallace , who got his Budding actor ment of the somewhat disgruntled ton who lived in the Northum - his arts degree in 1984 and is now media studies degree in 1999 and passengers who had places to be.” berland Arms at 43 Goodge a documentary photographer; is now a television producer, au - Watch out for local boy Alfie Tay - Francesca’s mum was also a Street from 1969 to 1993 and is Torsten Schmiedkeknecht, who thor and broadcaster. lor on Amazon Prime. He plays a singer who had a demo for Bill now a photographer. character, Wensleydale, in Good Haley (Rock Around The Clock) In the mid 1990s he went to Foul mouthed Mary Poppins Omens which has already been who wanted to manage her in photograph Donovan in Ireland. filmed. “As I was setting up my lights I Revealing showbiz anecdotes of America. But she got married in - said to him that I grew up on the late John Avery, the London Goodge Street, but had never Palladium manager who lived in Bingo bonanza heard the song,” recalled Ray. Riding House Street, were re - “He picked up his guitar and called with relish by his friends Confusion reigned during the bingo session at the pensioners’ Christ - played it there and then. It was a recently. mas party run by Fitzrovia Youth in Action at the Indian YMCA in bit of a moment.” They involved Yul Brynner, Fitzroy Street. Unfortunately several duplicate cards were issued… Julie Andrews and a famous pop leading to lots of winners all at once. “We all saw the funny side,” singer, as told to our illustrator said my sister Margaret (who was not one of the bingo winners but Celebrity watch Jayne Davis and feature writer won a prize in the quiz) David and Victoria Beckham Brian Jarman. This reminded me of when Alexei Sayle had purposely dished were spotted in the Lore of the Yul Brynner was very unpop - out duplicate bingo cards prior to his act at the Polytechnic of Central Land pub (previously The Lukin) ular - especially after he tore up a London (now University of Westminster) in Wells Street in the 1970s in Conway Street shortly after it programme that a fan had asked before he achieved fame. reopened. According to press re - him to sign outside the theatre. Illustration by Jayne Davis ports David shares ownership of When she walloped him, John the pub with film diretor Guy had remarked, “it was a case of Radio drama in Warren Street Ritchie (who owns a house the fan hitting the sh*t!” The The serialisation of “Twenty The third main character, around the corner) stage hands also punished Yul by Thousand Streets Under the Sky” Jenny, was a prostitute living in Comedian Hugh Dennis was putting tacks on the stage when on Radio 4 Extra recently spurred the grubby top floor at 21 noticed tucking into fish and he was performing barefoot. my brother Warren to buy a new Bolsover Street (now the chips in Gigs restaurant in Tot - Julie Andrews, who played edition of the book. Imagine his Fitzrovia Hotel in real life). tenham Street . the sweet natured Mary Poppins, delight on reading that the ficti - The novel, by Patrick Hamil - Liam Gallagher (Oasis) apparently swore like a trooper tious pub in it, the Midnight Bell, ton, was originally published in popped in for a pint at the Duke using the “f” word frequently. was “in the vicinity of Warren 1935. of York in Rathbone Street after And the pop singer was liter - Street. ” But a new edition published visiting a guitar company in the ally “pi**ed on from a great This was where two of the two years ago by Abacus has an same street. He had a long chat height” while starring in the mu - three main characters, Bob and introduction by Will Self who re - with the landlord, who has now sical Singing in the Rain. The Ella, worked. Bob also frequently veals that Hamilton drank in become a fan. stage hands, whom he had an - visited the real life pub, the many of the pubs in the vicinity noyed, relieved themselves into treet Green Man, opposite Great Port - and worked as a barman in many tte S the water supply for the raining arlo land Street station. of them as well. Ch scene. Fitzrovia News issue 152 Spring 2019 — 7 All Souls pupils map plaques

The Plaque Walk Map amd Guide

By ANGELA NICHOLSON (School Parent) which included Bob Marley, Virginia Woolf, Samuel Back in 2017 I and others came up with the idea for Morse, Charles Dickens and many more. Year 4 at the children of All Souls Primary School to create a the time led by their class teacher Miss Duda Boric Blue Plaque Map Walk. London’s Blue Plaques designed the maps by walking the local area, plot - were created over 100 years ago to link the people ting the plaques on their own maps and designing of the past with the buildings of today. We thought them in the classroom. it would be a great idea for the local children who The children are now excited to have had their go to school in Fitzrovia where many plaques are hard work printed and their own Blue Plaque Map located to learn more about them and the famous Walk produced for people of Fitzrovia to enjoy. Photo by Brian David-Stevens people who lived and worked in the area. The map was not only produced as an infor - The school set all the children holiday home - mative piece for the public to enjoy but also to pur - work to learn about the famous people who were chase as a fundraiser for the School. awarded the plaques. The children were creative Please contact the school for further informa - Mañana for historic and wrote about and designed their own plaques, tion: [email protected] Hanway Street bar

A popular and distinctive bar there when it was first con - has had its future guaranteed for structed in the mid to late 18th another ten years, much to the century. relief of its customers. “The site of the bar was ru - Bradley’s Spanish Bar at 42- moured to be a drinking place for 44 Hanway Street has had its centuries,” he said. “Then in the lease extended up to 2028. It had mid 18th century it was sold to been feared for some time that the Long brothers who imported the extension of Tottenham Court barrels of port and sherry.” Road station might lead to its de- Around the 1950s it was used molition. as a drinking place after work for “Many people for a while those at the nearby William had been worried that we would Bradley glass cutting company. Fi - be shut down; so it is nice to as- nally it became a public house in sure them we are here for another the early 1970s and changed its ten years at least,” said bar man- name to Bradley’s Spanish Bar. Children researching on the ground ager, Jan de Vries. It still has the atmosphere of a Joint owner, Oliver Johnson, cellar bar even though it also has was equally delighted: “The a ground floor bar - with an old street has been ripe for redevel- fashioned juke box. opment for many years, but now And there are several pop YMCA Indian Student Hostel that threat has gone. So we are music connections with the street. 41 Fitzroy Square W1T 6AQ delighted to still be here to main- Apart from the many record Registered Charity since 1920 tain and be part of the ongoing shops that used to flourish in it, Ideal place for students, professionals and transit guests community.” Cliff Richard, filmed the 1959 A real “Home away from Home” He has a strong connection movie Expresso Bongo in one of centrally heated wi-fi study rooms TV lounge indoor recreation and gym facilities with the area as his great great its coffee bars, and the Beatles email great great grandfather lived often ate in a vegetarian restau - [email protected] Authentic Indian cuisine 7 days a week rant there in the 1960s. vegetarian and meat / fish options take away available visit weekdays : – breakfast 7:30 - 9:15am, lunch 12:00 - 2:00pm, To keep up with planning and www.indianymca.org evening meal 6:30 - 8:30pm licensing news, sign up for our email (please check for weekend and Bank Holiday hours) newsletter: bit.ly/fitzrovianews Equipped conference rooms (25 - 250 people) 020 7387 0411 8 — Fitzrovia News issue 152 Spring 2019 Fitzrovia West Neighbourhood Plan sets priorities for the next 15 Years

By Nick Bailey

The FitzWest Neighbourhood Left: Langham Street and Foley Street Forum was set up in 2015 and one public realm improvements. One of of its main functions is to prepare several ideas for improving greening, a neighbourhood plan for that creating public space, and removing part of Fitzrovia lying west of the dominance of motor traffic. Cleveland Street and Charlotte Street as far south as Oxford Street in the City of Westminster. The Marylebone Road is the northern boundary. The Forum is made up of representatives of local residents, businesses and ward councillors from West End and Marylebone High Street wards. “the plan aims to The plan has to pass through a number of stages before it be - reduce through comes part of the statutory plan - traffic while ning process and is then used as an important guide when the enabling existing Council decides on planning ap - plications. It also enables us to set businesses to gain out our priorities and inform offi - access to their cers and councillors about what improvements are needed in the premises” future. FitzWest is an urban village with a mixture of residents and businesses that makes it such an FitzWest is renowned for its ing a lead in implementing these sure the streets remain vibrant onto Oxford Street, as well as in - attractive place to live and work. arts, cultural and leisure provision proposals. and provide the range of services creased pressures for expanding There are also many thousands of but these should be well managed The Forum has also promoted those living and working in the and redeveloping property in the workers and visitors travelling to and considerate to neighbours. a scheme to ‘green’ the pavement area need. This equally applies to area. and from the area every day. Be - We want to restrict large hotels area on the west side of Holcroft Oxford Street where some major Ideally we’d like a full and cause of this mixture, Westminster and nightclubs to the area south Court and wants to see an in - retailers are closing or using less comprehensive review of traffic has decided we are a ‘business of Mortimer Street, which has creased use of green roofs and floor space. flows on both the Westminster neighbourhood’. This means that fewer residents. Community facil - walls, tree planting and planters The fourth objective is pro - and Camden sides of the bound - we must pay special attention to ities, such as the Fitzrovia Centre, for use by residents. tecting and improving environ - ary with a view to a comprehen - the needs of local businesses, as in All Souls’ school, All Souls’ Club - Our third is about supporting mental standards: FitzWest sive plan for traffic calming and the final stage the plan has to be house and the nursery in Holcroft small businesses: As part of the experiences some of the lowest air improved air quality. approved by a referendum of both Court, should be protected and, Central Activities Zone, FitzWest quality standards in London and residents and businesses. where possible, increased provi - provides a home for over 2000 the Forum strongly supports any The draft plan, and supporting So what is the plan propos - sion should be provided to meet businesses employing a total of al - measures to reduce unnecessary documentation, is available to ing? We have five main objectives: all needs. most 40,000 people. It has an ex - through traffic and to rationalize view on the FitzWest website and The first is to preserve the The second is protecting and tremely dynamic economy the buses and deliveries by we warmly invite residents, local mix of uses in the area and in - increasing green and open space: ranging from the small shop or mainly diesel vehicles. businesses and visitors to read it crease the amount of affordable FitzWest has long suffered from a specialist consultancies, to cre - As well as vehicles going and send us their comments and housing. lack of green and open space, in - ative industries and global com - electric, buildings need to be more feedback. It also includes an ap - Large parts of the area lie cluding play space for young chil - panies such as Estée Lauder and energy efficient and sustainable pendix to promote other ideas by within Conservation Areas and dren. In 2018 the Forum Facebook. through reducing the emission of which the area might be im - there are many listed buildings commissioned a study which FitzWest has traditionally greenhouse gases. These changes proved but which cannot be di - and other attractive or historic identified a number of streets housed many craftsmen, shops, can also play a part in limiting the rectly influenced by the planning buildings that need to be pro - which could be closed to traffic galleries, restaurants and special - ‘heat island effect’ whereby tem - process. The plan and other docu - tected and not overshadowed by and landscaped to provide sitting ist companies which depend on peratures in central London are ments are available here: inappropriate high-rise develop - out areas and play space without easy access to the BBC and other significantly higher in the sum - http://fitzwest.org/word - ments. Where new development the constant danger of passing media companies, or department mer than surrounding areas. press/draft-plan/ is proposed it should respect the traffic and pollution. stores in Oxford Street or Totten - The final objective is improv - scale, quality of design and mix of Riding House Street near All ham Court Road. We wish to see ing mobility and transport: As al - FitzWest Neighbourhood Forum uses in the area. In line with Souls’ school, parts of Foley Street this mix sustained and in particu - ready noted, the plan aims to consultation on the Neighbour - Council policy, new housing de - and Langham Street are high pri - lar, increased provision of appro - reduce through traffic while en - hood Plan and AGM , Monday 13 velopment of 10 or more flats orities for this treatment. There priate workspaces for small, abling existing businesses to gain May, Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, should provide at least 35% of af - are many other streets where traf - start-up companies. access to their premises. The em - 25 Howland Street, W1T 4JG. fordable housing which should to fic could be redirected and the One of the particular attrac - phasis is very much on improving 13.30 onwards: Consultation on - be built on site and not in another street could be landscaped for sit - tions of FitzWest is the range of provision for walking and cycling Neighbourhood Plan. part of the borough. In the past ting areas and play space. Too shops, cafes and restaurants on and encouraging greater use of 18.00 AGM. Presentation on developers have been able to many streets are narrow but often streets such as Great Titchfield electric vehicles for deliveries and Neighbourhood Plan followed by make a payment to avoid this full of parked cars, making it diffi - Street. While shops have been de - use by residents. guest speaker from the Westmin - stipulation. Very high quality ar - cult for pedestrians and danger - clining in number throughout The opening of the Elizabeth ster Council on air quality. chitecture and an attractive street ous for children and cyclists. We London, there are other uses Line (Crossrail) will bring in - Refreshments will be available. frontage are essential. want to see the City Council tak - which can take their place and en - creased numbers of pedestrians We look forward to seeing you. Fitzrovia News issue 152 Spring 2019 — 9 The church that went on its way to Wembley

The story of how a church in Wells Street was completely dismantled and then reassembled brick by brick near Wembley was told recently. Nick Bailey, in his talk “The Changing Face of Fitzrovia” at Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre, revealed all about St Andrew’s Church in Wells Street. It was built in 1847 where the University of Westmin - ster is at number 32 - but is commemorated next door by St Andrews Chambers (pictured below) at 23-31.

Then a rival High Anglican church, All Saints, was opened and consecrated by Cardinal Manning in 1859 just round the corner at 7 Margaret Street. For a while both survived and the ac - tress Sarah Bernhardt, for example, got married at St Andrew’s in 1882, but the marriage did not last. This was ultimately the fate of the church as a loss of population meant the area could not support two such similar churches so close together. In 1929 it was decided to take down St Andrew’s and reassemble it elsewhere. Kingsbury (pictured left) , near Wembley in Middlesex, was cho - sen as it had a small and inadequate church in an enormous churchyard. This was carried out from 1933 to 1934. The “unique casket of archectural jewels and decorative treasures” were removed and rebuilt faithfully by Hol - land & Hannen, and Cubitts. In fact it can be seen to much better effect in its new location as it is no longer surrounded by other buildings as it was in Wells Street. Good nutrition makes old Indian YMCA gears up for 100th birthday The Indian YMCA on Fitzroy Square will be age more comfortable celebrating its centenary in 2020 with a whole range of cultural activities and a anyone at the drop in sessions. comemerative mural planned. “Middle age spread develops The General Secretary JP Fernandes told because people plod on as if they Fitzrovia News: “We are preparing several were 25 and don’t change the programmes promoting art, history and cul - way they eat in accordance with ture. A reorganised exhibition hall, a refur - their changing metabolism. This bished website, and a facelift to our historic becomes less efficient at breaking building are all planned. We are using down food. So more care should crowdfunder to raise funds for a colourful be taken in what in eaten, includ - mural on the atrium and staircase leading to ing more of certain nutrients. the Mahatma Gandhi Hall painted by Dan “A good rule of thumb is to Llywelyn Hall. To make a pledge or to find eat a little less overall but a little out more please visit more if anything of protein. Some The Indian YMCA celebrates 100 years in 2020. crowdfunder.co.uk/indianymca good eating options easily avail - able are hard boiled eggs, full (not skimmed) milk, and wholemeal Wendy Shillam bread.” Free nutrition advice is now avail - There is also an environmen - All Saints COuhr diuverrsec anhd in clMusive aparrishg is agrorunedetd inS thet rirche caethot lic tradition able in Shiv Pharmacy at 70 Great tal benefit, she added. “The way of Anglicanism. We offer a place of peace and beauty in busy central Titchfield Street every second we eat has a massive impact on London. (open Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm and Saturday from 11am). Thursday from noon until 2pm. our carbon footprint, as 25 per Main services on Sunday - 11am High Mass The drop in service is pro - cent of it is connected to food. 6pm Choral Evensong and Benediction vided by fully qualified nutrition - Local wholesome fresh home We maintain fine liturgical traditions and excellence in music. The parish ist and practitioner Wendy made food is therefore good for would be delighted to welcome you to all or any of our liturgies if you are able to join us in ‘one of the ten buildings that have changed the face of Shillam who is based at 122 Great the planet, and local shops.” Britain’ (English Heritage). Titchfield Street. Wendy’s final training as a “There is a huge amount of nutritionist took place locally at GOOD FRIDAY, 19 April 12 noon The Preaching of the Passion misinformation about nutrition,” UCL and she has lived in the area 1 – 3pm The Solemn Liturgy of the Passion she said. “So I decided to retrain a since the 1980s and is involved in 6pm Stations of the Cross few years ago so that I could the FitzWest Neighbourhood HOLY SATURDAY, 20 April spread the word about the truth Forum. Her previous profession 9pm HIGH MASS of the Easter Vigil by candlelight of nutrition, and set up a social was as an architect and town enterprise, Say Tomato. planner. EASTER DAY, Sunday 21 April “Good nutrition can not only The drop in sessions are an 11am Procession and HIGH MASS extend our lives but make old age experiment, at Shiv, which says 6pm Festal Evensong and Benediction more comfortable. My clinical Wendy, has a good range of vita - Times of Daily Prayer, Masses & opportunities for confession & counselling are practice specialises in women mins on sale. over 50 like myself, but I will see advertised at: www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk Parish office: 020 7636 1788 10 — Fitzrovia News issue 152 Spring 2019 ‘X’-ploits in Fitzrovia Spotlight on glamour photographer Harrison Marks

By YAK EL-DROUBIE the wall, and that was it. Still, it The pin-up photographer was somewhere for the dog to George Harrison Marks has al - kip, and I was so tired and de - ways been associated with Soho. pressed I accepted with thanks. Besides having his studio in Anyway, he brought up a mat - Gerrard Street he lived there tress and put it on the bed, and I with Pamela Green in the 1950s crashed out on it, with the dog on before moving to a flat in Hamp - the floor. I must say that after stead. But what about his rela - about five minutes, I began to tionship with Fitzrovia? wish I’d put the dog on the bed At the film laboratories and slept on the floor myself, where he worked at the time, he though. That mattress needed was introduced to an older chains to keep it on the bedstead, woman called Diana Bugsgang. it was so lousy, but it is a measure Legend has it Diana lived with of how tired I must have been, her Polish mother in a flat above that I slept on it like a babe. a Greek-owned strip-club in “I was woken up at about Goodge Street and that she vol - mid-day by the sound of the dog unteered as an air-raid warden at barking, and I sat up to find out the tube station. Her father was what he was growling at. I Austrian and the family once had thought there was a hell of a lot of a shop in Hanway Street. coming and going in the house According to George, one and even when I went down to day on his way home from work the basement, where the man on the underground he fell ill and lived, and passed half-a-dozen had to be rushed to the hospital. men on the stairs; it didn’t dawn He was suffering from stomach on me… In fact, I was living there ulcers. After two weeks in hospi - for two days before I tumbled it tal he discharged himself, against — the place was a brothel!” pox. The theatres, that had pro - on a cup of tea. It was at least doctor’s advice, and at their invi - George started the rounds of vided George with his winter in - somewhere to sit and think. So tation, he went to recuperate the showbiz agents in town, tout - come, closed and his fortunes the dog and I set off and arrived under the care of Diana and her ing for photographic work and waned. in Lyons’ at about five o’clock. I mother. As Diana nursed George set up his first London darkroom, As the story goes he sold and spent fourpence on a cup of tea back to health they grew rather in a washroom at the back of the pawned his possessions to try and — which I shared with the dog — fond of each other and after he basement. ride it out, but he was getting and sat there thinking, but far had fully recovered from his ill - I’m not sure how long he deeper and deeper in debt, and from gathering inspiration, my ness, they were married. George stayed there before he moved to his creditors were becoming in - mind just went blank. All I could claimed that he was just 17 at the Gerrard Street but he “found out creasingly threatening. Diana by think of was that in about two time and that Diana was 25. that some prostitutes really do this time had left. George fled to hours time London was going to After the wedding, however, have hearts of gold”: “…they London in 1951, penniless, home - come alive and I’d have to move George found his Polish mother- were marvellous types, always less and desperate for work. on, but where to? in-law somewhat overbearing, so ready to help, inviting me in for As he describes it in his biog - “Fate is a funny thing, and it they went to live with his aunt tea and so on. I had a lot of time raphy The Naked Truth: “It was was pure fate that was to save me and uncle in Brighton. With the for them. One lent me £8 to get a then I did a quick count-up of my that night. On the other side of war over, people were heading to camera out of pawn.” One can see resources, and it was a damned the room, I noticed a familiar the seaside again and George be - how George as a theatrical pho - quick one, too! All I had were two face. I couldn’t quite place it, but came a photographer along the tographer in the heart of the West tanners, four pennies and a half - it belonged to a chap I had once seafront. It wasn’t long before he nowhere to kip, no prospects and End, taking press pictures for penny, plus, of course, my dog known and, thank God, he recog - was a theatrical photographer. All next to no money. cabarets and nightclubs ended up and a suitcase with a suit and a nised me and came across to sit at was fine until December 1950, “All I could think of doing as a glamour photographer. couple of shirts in it. I can tell you my table. Well, I was so relieved when Brighton was brought to a was to walk down Oxford Street Diana eventually applied for that I had never felt so low in my to find a friendly face, I just standstill by an outbreak of small - to Joe Lyons Corner House in Tot - a divorce. The court case was life. I had next to nothing. No job, tenham Court Road and lash out poured out the whole tale. lively with Diana claiming that “When I’d said my piece this George’s then partner liked being bloke suddenly threw out an offer beaten with wet fish! THE DUKE OF YORK which saved my life. ‘I’ve got an The Goodge Street flat that empty attic in my place in Char - Diana moved back into with her Opening hours Mon-Fri 12-11pm lotte Street. You can have it if you mother eventually made her like until you get on your feet,’ he neighbours with Boy George, Sat 1-11pm Sunday closed said. I could have kissed him for I earning her a mention in his biog - was so grateful. I didn’t though, 47 Rathbone Street W1T 1NW raphy. As a long-term resident, but went round with him to his she gained the moniker “Queen 0207 636 7065 [email protected] house and up to the top of the of Fitzrovia”. She ended up work - stairs.” ing with vulnerable residents and A traditional pub with a good selection of And that’s how George was appointed the local commu - real ales and varied wine list. ended up living around the cor - nity liaison officer for Camden ner from his wife, who was back Council before she died in 2010, Upstairs Bar / Function room available for at her mother’s on Goodge Street. aged 93. private parties and buffets. George’s attic room was as A 50th-anniversary edition of big as a coffin and half as invit - The Naked Truth About Harrison Check us out on facebook! ing. “There was an old dressing Marks by Franklyn Wood is avail - table and a rusty iron bed — no able online at Amazon. mattress, just the bedstead — and https://amzn.to/2OS2yC1 a rusty gas bracket hanging off Fitzrovia News issue 152 Spring 2019 — 11 Celebrating 50 years as a photographer A special exhibition is about to ending the creativity of the 1970s celebrate the 50 years as a pho - and 80s. So I decided to take pho - tographer in Fitzrovia of Adrian tographs as well as print them.” Ensor. This he did seriously from Indeed it is half a century 1994 and has completed many since he moved into his studio at projects, such as architecture, 69 Grafton Way and he has been gangsters, and night scenes. photographing local characters (or Some of his photographs are heroes as he calls them) and in the Tate gallery, and he has pre - scenes ever since. pared a book on monuments, He is not confined to that which has yet to be published. however and has also taken his He has persisted in black and (black and white) camera to places white using film (rather than digi - such as Spain, Belgium, and Ire - Portrait: Adrian Ensor tal) and old developers and for - land. (by Si Melber). mulas, to get an edge. The exhibition takes place “I was able to build up a Only recently has he discov - from April 25 to May 10 at the large client base at the right time - ered that his grandfather, Alfred Framers Gallery, 36 Windmill black and white photography Ensor, was born at 100 Great Street. was very popular and in vogue Titchfield Street. “It will include the installa - during the 1960s. tion of my dark room (with red “But in the 1990s advertising Much of his work can be viewed light, chemicals and enlarger), of - budgets of clients were cut back, on his website (adrianensor.com). fice, photographs, contact sheets, momentos, and books that have Local hero: Bob the Builder. influenced me,” said Adrian. He started as a photographic printer 60 years ago at the age of Architecture: 33 15, working with glass negatives Fitzroy Square. in an advertising department. As he got a reputation for Night scene: quality of tones and speed of work Portland Place. he was able to go freelance, and acquired the basement in Grafton Way. “It was almost Dickensian then and had been used as the of - fice of one of the Warren Street motor car trade dealers,” he re - called. Greyhound on the track to success

By the DINING DETECTIVE dish of a kind of soup contain - tuna Larb (£8.20) which course avoided it ever since. I ing a generous amount of Thai seemed just to be slices of called the waiter mid-swallow River prawns and vegetables tuna, was less so; a Thai br - – I hadn’t tasted any crab – Greyhound Cafe, 37 Berners with noodles for £15.50, so by uschetta (I love all the cross- and he said yes, the corn pops Street. judicious eating my compan - overs!) was fresh with raw had crab in them; the offend - I did not become a Dining De - ion and I were able to keep to tomatoes and a small onion of ing dish was taken away hur - tective to expound, as some our £35 per person limit again. some kind – delicious at £6.50. riedly when I spat into it. sort of health guru, on the joys The spicy meals are illus - Another cross-over was a I froze, not knowing what of eating early, as I also did in trated in a large rather garish- Dried Chillie Brownie for to do next; spitting is not the the last review of Cote looking menu – a good idea dessert. The staff were ex - action of a Secret Dining De - Brasserie. But it is true there for people trying Thai food for tremely pleasant and helpful tective, but nothing happened are advantages in our area:

the first time, and the titles of about what the dishes were, either then or later thank . t e e r t S s e i n e h

I’ve noticed there are more C

6 1 , s o i d u t S A D A R t a s i 4 1 e g a p n

o the food are matchingly de - how to order. heavens so either there wasn’t

and more “pre-theatre menus”

h p a r g o t o h p e h T : E L Z Z U P E R U T C I P scriptive: ANGRY VEGGIE I had a small drama with crab in them, or I am not aller - – at the Greyhound if you PASTA (£12) – anything that one of the smaller dishes – gic to crab, but I do think that drink between 5 and 7pm the uses a very hot sauce is de - there is a picture of “Corn is exactly the kind of mistake very pleasant house wine is – ers, seeing me outside looking scribed as angry; a dish of Pops”, corn in batter, naughty that anyone selling food or was over the whole of the at the menu and admiring the mixed mushrooms was called but nice (£6.80) in one part of should avoid. And the experi - festive season, please check – (fake but very well done and a BASIL CHILLI BOMB (£12); the menu so we ordered them ence rather shook me for the one third cheaper at £4 a glass. cheerful) flower decorations, WEEPING WOK (£8) was and ate them first, like a snack, rest of the meal. The large space that is said: “People can come and lamb on cucumber; HAPPY while we were deciding what I saw later there was a no - now the Greyhound, on the have a coffee any time.” TOAST (£6.50) – a dessert else to try. While we were eat - tice outside saying “Please tell corner of Mortimer Street, has Somehow the very large - made from tea custard, sea salt ing these “Corn Pops” I came our staff if you have any aller - had several fairly unsuccess - ness both inside and out had caramel and condensed milk. across another picture in an - gies” but if it was there before ful lives as a restaurant, as lo - put me off but I want to say: Instead of having a main other part of the menu of the our visit I didn’t notice it. The cals will know. But the don’t be put off, because some you can order plenty of small - exact same dish – only this waiter brought back some Greyhound, advertised loudly of the Thai food which is now ish dishes which they suggest time it was called “Corn and corn pops with “definitely no as “Bangkok on a Plate,” is the served here is really good. Ad - you share – some are served Crab Pops” and I had to re - crab” in them (but I noted we most successful, and often vertisements on the wall also in small or large portions as strain a loud yell. Some time were charged for both dishes now fairly full, and its large describe it as a “Bangkok Play - you wish. A small portion of ago I was told, after a particu - when we got the bill). outside space was useful over ground” – you’d be playing a Lamb Cubes in Yellow chilli larly unpleasant and quite So: keep your eyes open, that last long hot summer. It is good deal cheaper in Bangkok (£7) was absolutely perfectly scary reaction, that I was aller - but I do think the Greyhound open all day, including for – however there was a satisfy - cooked and delicious; Tataki gic to crab, and I have of is worth a visit. breakfast, and one of the own - ingly tasty and filling main 12 — Fitzrovia News issue 152 Spring 2019 Wilde in Fitzroy Street

By MIKE PENTELOW Oscar Wilde was well ac - quainted with Fitzroy Street and the fringes of Fitzrovia, as re - WIN THIS BOOK vealed in a new biography of Simply answer this question: In which street did Oscar him - Oscar, A Life, by Matthew Sturgis (who lives in the area). Wilde visit a palmist during his trials? Wilde was drawn to the Cen - Either email your answer (putting “Competition” in tury Guild of Artists, dedicated to the subject box) to [email protected] or post it to arts and crafts, which was formed Fitzrovia News Competition, 39 Tottenham Street, Lon - in 1882 in Fitzroy Street. He con - don, W1T 4RX. tributed an article about Keats to Entries close on May 7. its quarterly magazine, Hobby Horse, and planned another beautiful. I remember coming (aka Maria Louisa Rame). about Thomas Chatterton, the home from a party and passing Wilde also formed a bond poet who poisoned himself at the through it when day was break - with the painter Ford Madox age of 17 in 1770 in despair at his ing when its aspect was most Brown and often called on him poverty. charming and I was forcibly for tea on Saturday afternoons The guild had been estab - struck by this fact. In the soften - [his home was at 37 Fitzroy lished by Arthur Mackmurdo ing obscurity of the morning mist Square]. who designed furniture; Selwyn which had filled it with golden During his trials in 1895 Image, a poet, artist, and stained and purple hues, softening its Wilde consulted the palmist, Mrs glass window designer; and Her - outlines, and giving variety to its Robinson, known as the Sibyl of bert Horne, a poet and designer, shadows, with the sun rays pierc - Mortimer Street [at number 53 of who was 22 when Wilde met him ing it in long golden shafts, the that street]. He was very happy in 1886. roofs were shining like molten sil - when she told him: “I see a very “Your poems are most charm - ver, and the vermilion pillar box brilliant life for you up to a cer - ing,” Wilde told Horne. “You shone like a gem. It was a scene of tain point. Then I see a wall. Be - combine very perfectly simplicity almost fairy-like beauty.” yond that wall I see nothing.” She and strangeness.” The painter James Whistler also predicted “a long voyage” The Rymers Club was set up felt the latter part was a plagia - with his companion and they in 1891 meeting in the guild’s rism of his comment: “In Gower would walk “always hand in headquarters in Fitzroy Street, Street at night you may see a let - hand” together. Buoyed by this he where Wilde attended its meet - ter box which is picturesque.” went to Algeria with Lord Alfred, ings. The initial friendship between where they found the local boys Here he met the poet Lionel Wilde and Whistler had turned “quite lovely” and the hashish Johnson [who lived at 20 Fitzroy sour. When Wilde congratulated “quite exquisite.” On their return Street] who later introduced him Whistler on a witticism and said: he visited Mrs Robinson again Street gave evidence in Wilde’s with his mistresses” so he got to to Lord Alfred Douglas, the gay “I wish I had said that” Whistler and she (wrongly) prophesied trial of finding “horribly stained know the actress Lillie Langtry. lover whose affair led to Wilde’s replied: “You will, Oscar, you complete triumph in his court bedsheets” after one of his several Wilde met Lillie and the painter two years’ imprisonment for acts will.” case. After losing the case, he de - visits. Edward Burne-Jones at the par - of “gross indecency”. Also at The pair attended a fancy ball clared: “Why did the Sibyl [Mrs A previous raid on a gay ties in 88 Portland Place. these meetings was John Gray, hosted by Mrs Douglass-Murray Robinson] say fair things?” male brothel at 19 Cleveland Lillie and Oscar went to - also befriended by Wilde and re - at 34 Portland Place (on the cor - He got some support how - Street in 1891 had led to a scandal gether to a lecture at University ferred to as the model for his ner of New Cavendish Street) ever from the Dutch anarchist with one of the clients, Lord College London (UCL) in Gower novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. with Oscar dressed as a Venetian Alexander Cohen, who con - Arthur Somerset, fleeing the Street on Greek art by Charles It was John Gray’s reading of noble, and Whistler as a Spaniard demned the law’s right to “pro - country to avoid being prose - Newton in May 1880. French symbolist verses at these of the middle ages in black velvet. nounce on matters of private cuted. Lord Alfred Douglas at - Soon after coming to London, meetings which first attracted It was also in Portland Place, passion.” This was in The Torch, a tempted to contact him in exile. Wilde attended “bohemian par - Wilde to him. at number 18 which is now part magazine produced [in Goodge Lord Euston, who had visited 19 ties” of artists and actors at the A raid on a club at 46 Fitzroy of Broadcasting House, that Street] by artist and poet Dante Cleveland Street, was represented home of actor Norman Forbes- Street in 1894 led to the arrest of, Wilde met the prime minister Gabriel Rossetti’s nieces [Olivia, by lawyer George Lewis, whose Robertson and his parents “off among others, two rent boys used William Gladstone, at a party in aged 16, and Helen, aged 13, and home at 88 Portland Place (on the Bedford Square.” by Wilde, named Charlie Parker aid of the Liberal Association of their brother Arthur, aged 14]. corner of Devonshire Street), was So he was familiar with and Alfred Taylor. There were no Marylebone, at the home of Lady The book, price £25, is pub - frequently visited by Wilde. Gower Street, and wrote about it convictions but the case was Margaret Sandhurst. lished by Head of Zeus. Lewis specialised in cases in Modern Art Training: “Even widely reported and Wilde was And just over the road at the “where the sins and follies of the Gower Street, one of the most particularly distressed at the trou - Langham Hotel, 1 Portland Place, wealthy classes threaten exposure monotonously dull and colourless ble it caused Taylor. Another rent Wilde met the Sherlock Holmes and disaster.” The Prince of Wales of formal London thoroughfares Oscar and boy he used was Fred Atkins, author, Arthur Conan Doyle, and employed him “when dealing has periods when it is actually whose landlady at 25 Osnaburgh the Italian popular novelist Ouida book reviews

When Oscar reviewed books “he evolved the theory that it was Bloomsbury ward both harmful and unnecessary for a reviewer to read the entire book: councillors surgeries If you enjoy Fitzrovia News, ‘To know the vintage and quality of a wine one need not drink the First Friday of the month 6:00-7:00pm Fitzrovia Centre 2 Foley Street whole cask. It must be perfectly Second and fourth Fridays of the month 6:00-7:00pm Marchmont Community Centre, 62 Marchmont Street, WC1N 1AB please consider making a easy in half an hour to say Third Friday of the month is a “roving surgery” Get in touch if you would whether a book is worth anything like us to conduct the surgery in your street or building donation: or worth nothing.’” Adam Harrison, Sabrina Francis and Rishi Madlani While this reviewer did not contact 020 7974 3111 read the entire 890 pages of [email protected] [email protected] fitzrovia.org.uk/donate “Oscar, A Life” he took consider - [email protected] ably more than 30 minutes. Fitzrovia News issue 152 Spring 2019 — 13

I am dead inside my body. cernible reason, other than How long will I lie here? that moving her hands gives Long enough for my mind to her a sense of purpose. Ver - shrivel, contracting my heart dict: I could be more dead and lungs with it. Here rests Spinal Adhesion than I am now. More finally a slop of meat that was once so. But they have left me here Nina Hamnett. against my pillow with Nina My hands are already A short story by SUNITA SOLIAR has crept out of her meek cor - looking back at me. Perhaps senseless. They can do noth - ner, they assemble me into an it’s time we had a chat. Well, ing. What is a body other than upright position. The doctor Nina? What shall we do? If a dead weight around one’s enjoys himself, stretching my you or I have to lie here any thoughts? And how does one eyelids and staring into my longer we will adhere not just be a painter without mobile pupils, his hairy nostrils to ourselves, but to the mat - hands? Father waves a light in breathing onto my cheeks. tress. Ought we to lie down front of my eyes, as though Now, over his shoulder, I can and die for them, the blood - looking for a soul lost at sea. see into the mirror. Is that you, less? And what is wrong with Who would come back to life Nina? How funny you look as sticking to oneself? for that hard, closed face, all the doctor repeats Father’s You know, Nina, you don’t practical calculation and noth - flesh prodding and digs a have too bad a form when ing else? He is ever the army sharp finger into your spine, you’re not slumped like jelly. officer, denouncing everything then kneads your ribs with his Let’s see your torso — and with a single blow. Art school: thumbs. You’re compliant, as there is a hand undoing the worthless. Reproductions of they try to model your flesh, buttons of your smock top, a Whistler’s etchings: rot. A sure as though it were clay and hand moving, yes, moving! A reason for him to send me to they were gods. bit skinny on the ribs, yes. the lunatic asylum. He said as ‘Yes,’ the doctor says, step - Breasts could be more pneu - much. Perhaps I am not lost, ping back with all the gravity matic, a little less far apart. but hiding. No, I shan’t come of a magician. ‘It appears to be But it’s a better form than out until something interest - a case of spinal adhesion.’ those models, isn’t it? Let’s see ing happens. Because it is ‘Spinal adhesion?’ my fa - the rest of you. And there are boredom of which I am dying. ther asks. What made-up dis - the legs, not bad in motion, Illustration by Clifford Harper Boredom — and prolonged sinthe at the Café Royal — if ease is this monster saddling the way the ligaments flex, the virginity. Can Father find that doctors do such things — eat - me with? legs up and out of bed, the fin - if he could see how lumpen out with his flashlight? He ing chestnuts in the park then He explains: ‘It’s as gers locking the door and and blotched the models are. prods at my arm, lifts my dashing into The National though she were sticking to stripping the body down to Not much to look at in the hand and watches it flop back Gallery to escape the cold. herself. The nerves around her nakedness. Let’s have a look flesh, but on the canvas they onto the bed. No, I’m not get - Then we’d be married. Imag - spine are beginning to stick. at your back in the mirror. become an idea, an image of ting up for this. To be sixteen ine the idyll: when his patients That is why she finds herself Turn around a bit. Not bad. life, a meaning. We must have and bored to death. had ceased to be, he could unable to move.’ Not bad at all. Not a boring meaning, mustn’t we? The If he wants to bring me strip the skin and I could ‘I knew she wasn’t getting body. It speaks of desire and other girls in my class haven’t back to flesh, to movement, draw the muscles twining enough exercise,’ Mother says, hunger. In fact, Nina, there is heard of Manet and it doesn’t he’d better enlist Charlie who over each other. Then off with as always seeking Father’s ap - nothing boring about you. See worry them at all. Perhaps it is lives in the flat below that and I could paint the proval. the way the light hits the I who am boring. Nina Ham - grandma’s. Charlie has the bones. I must remember not to ‘So we need to mobilise curve of your hip there. Not nett, sixteen, languished in her pulse of blood in him, the say things like that to him. He her,’ Father says. boring at all. The bony knuck - bed and died from trying to cutest dimples, and he’s in likes girls with curls, who ‘Mobilise! Dear, no,’ les of your toes, tense with en - bore everyone else to death. training to be a doctor. If only wear hobble skirts with hems replies the doctor. ‘No, she ergy. Yes, there is something of The door — could it be he could attend me. He has narrow enough to give them a must rest. No cure but bed life in you, something of inter - Charlie come to heal me? Of very assured, precise hands. I mincing, helpless step, girls rest.’ est right here in this room. course not. The doctor could am sure they could cure me. who don’t stare at the naked They mutter about pre - Perhaps we could help each be my father’s dour twin, cut Then after he’d nursed me parts of strangers in Life scriptions and shuffle their other. What do you think? from the same gabardine. back to life, we’d swirl around Drawing. It wouldn’t seem so way out of my room. Mother Yes? It’s settled then, Nina: I’ll With the help of Mother, who London together, sipping ab - shocking to the likes of Father smooths my hair for no dis - paint you. Poetry corner NEIGHBOURS down the road from Great Dixter, one of Hidden in the middle, among a thousand jewels, After the Referendum By Elizabeth Adams my favourite gardens, and also that the under this glittering blanket, I'm just one By Sandra Wheen killer had liked gardening. Great Dixter is of the crowd of the tiny, scuttling, creeping things. BOTH lived at Nortiam in East Sussex county: one of the finest gardens in the south east Post Office Tower, old friend, One with his acres, one a small space. and Christopher Lloyd one of our most re - I fly up here on borrowed wings, And though they lived at a different pace, spected garden designers. He died in 2006. looking down on my kind, like a king. Blue light shining through my Each would enjoy his garden’s bounty. Masood had a history of cocaine use and window MARCONI 1901 Did Christopher Lloyd meet Masood, born Elms? aggressive behaviour; it’s said that he was by Terry Egan And did their paths cross for a while? probably radicalised while in prison. Landmark helping me find home The white-haired man with the gentle smile, The receiver on the table O’erseeing the beauty which overwhelms FLYING OVER LONDON was crude - a few coils and condensers, a coherer, Beacon of Europe’s greatest The visitors who come back every year. By Wendy Shutler no valves and no amplifiers, capital bar none Did Elms buy plants at Great Dixter’s nursery? not even a crystal. And yet he was on the point Was the glance he received no more than cursory, A thin, fine and golden thread Beaming messages of hope into of putting to test the correctness of his beliefs. For it seems he hadn’t yet struck fear? snakes across black velvet, spread the world Then: 'Pip-pip-pip' came the answer... But in the year of the old man’s OBE with flashing, fabulous jewels, 'Can you hear anything?' He asked Kemp, and Kemp A brawl at the inn brought more than just shame as if casually dropped on a dressing-table: What have they done to you? said: 'Yes, To the man who’d be jailed and change his name, sparkling trinkets, scintillating gems. the letter S'. He could hear it. You look the same And one day embark on his killing spree. So the electric waves sent out Somewhere between that little gold bracelet - into space from Poldhu had traversed the Atlantic - But Elizabeth explains the poem: “I had been shocked Tower Bridge - a huge distance - unimpeded All when I read that the Westminster Bridge terrorist and the two great dark Your by the curvature of the Earth . [Adrian Russell Elms, alias Khalid Masood, 22nd sleeping spaces of the royal parks, Glory’s And all his anticipations had been justified. March 2017] had lived for about ten years just is the place where I live! Gone.

14 — Fitzrovia News issue 152 Spring 2019 Music hall antics Princess’s Theatre at 152 Oxford Cognoscenti Theatre, and others By MIKE PENTELOW Street [number 73 when it was such as New Theatre, Regency A theatre was set ablaze during a opened in 1880], and the Regent Theatre, Tottenham Street The - ballet performance of “The Fire Street Theatre which opened at atre, West London Theatre, Bird”, and another had its 309 Regent Street in 1848 and Queen’s Theatre, and Fitzroy boards trodden by Richard Wag - showed the first screening of film Theatre. In 1865 it was refur - ner’s cat. by the Lumber brothers in 1896. bished and became the Prince of These are just two anecdotes [It is now the Regent Street Cin - Wales Royal Theatre. For a while from “Music Hall - Our Finest ema]. it was used as a Salvation Army Hour”, by Stephen Lees (SPEL Two pubs in Great Portland hostel for displaced persons until Publications, £8.50). Street are described in the book. 1903 when it was sold to impre - Six theatres and two pubs The Horse and Groom [at sario Edmund Dustin-Maddick from Fitzrovia are featured. number 128] has its origins in who built it as the Scala Theatre. Although written by an 1759 when it was named the New It opened in December 1904 American architect in the form of Inn with stabling for horses. It with one of the largest stages in an imaginary tour by American changed its name to the Horse the country measuring 1,620 vaudeville artists around the late and Groom in 1761. After being square feet. The decor was rather 19th and early 18th century, the rebuilt in 1847 it was burned grand with marble walls and or - details of the buildings are fac - down 12 years later, but later re - tual. namental staircases on either side Horse & Groom constructed. The decor was re - of the auditorium linking the bal - “The Fire Bird” was com - designed in 1895. posed by Stravinsky and per - cony with the stalls. In fact it was St George’s Hall The cat would often walk on The Cock [at number 27 on formed at the Oxford Music Hall, named after the Italian for stair - stage during rehearsals of Wag - the corner of Margaret Street] has on the corner of Tottenham Court case not the opera house in Milan. the entire auditorium became en - ner’s works, but never to those of a history going back to at least the Road and Oxford Street. Up to 1,200 could be seated, gulfed in flames. other composers. “Clearly the cat 18th century. But the present An enthusiastic female but sometimes the character of The audience would have had a very well developed appre - building was constructed in 1896 dancer “got carried away in a the audience could be at variance stayed calm if the views of come - ciation and discerning innate when the saloon was divided into reckless trance brought on by the with the elegant decor, it being in dian George Robey, who per - sense of music!” (Wagner inciden - three with Queen Anne and ecstatic and rapturous applause “a comparatively poor neigh - formed on the same stage, were tally lived at 25 Old Compton Baroque styles. she had generated from an appre - bourhood.” born out. He thought that “the Street). Other titbits include: ciative audience.” But then “in A group of Nihilists dis - British are a type of people who, if Edward Elgar’s “Sea Pic - Joseph Alysius Hansom, who her dancing delirium, she bowed rupted concerts at the Queen’s armed with laughter, presented tures” was performed at the same invented the horse drawn car - too near the blazing footlights Hall [4 Langham Place] by double more of a threat to an enemy in theatre with Elgar himself play - riage of that name, was based at and in so doing her protruding, booking seats leading to argu - the battle field, than any other ing piano. Another of his compo - 103 Portland Road (now Great starched, taffeta costume made ments over whose seat it was, ap - weapon at their disposal. The sitions “Variations on an Original Portland Street), the same house contact with the gas flames caus - plauding at inappropriate laughter within them took away Theme” (also known as “Enigma in which lived Charles Barry, the ing it to catch fire! moments, and jeering. One to suf - fear and treated real potential Variation”) was at the same “architect of the Palace of West - “The applause increased as fer this treatment was a benefit death situations with disdain and venue conducted by Hans Richter minster.” she ran about the stage on fire concert for victims of the sinking an inordinate impunity!” in 1899. Also in the same road lived and in a blind panic, which the of the Titanic in 1912. As for Wagner’s cat he made The theatre had its own or - two German composers Felix audience mistook as being part of The London Palladium at Ar - his home at St James’s Hall at 95a chestra. Later it was renamed the Mendelssohn [number 103] and her Fire Bird act.” gyll Street, Oxford Circus, had an Portland Road as it was then, and Philharmonic Hall and showed Carl Maria von Weber [number Her blazing costume then ig - audience made up of costermon - is now 97 Great Portland Street. films and lantern shows which 91]. nited the stage scenery and then gers and “tossers” (people who were a form of illustrated lec - Architectural illustrations of searched the Thames shoreline tures. the buildings are by the author. for valuables). Backing on to the The Scala Theatre/Cinema in theatre lived the Hungarian com - Tottenham Street and Charlotte poser and pianist Franz Liszt at The perfect venue Street lasted until 1980 when it 6 FITZROY SQUARE 16 Great Marlborough Street. He was taken over by Channel 4. was sometimes known as Abbe But it started in 1772 when it The perfect venue for meetings, launches, seminars, after being ordained as a Francis - was called the New Rooms. It dinners, wedding receptions and other corporate events. can in 1865, and was the father- was subsequently renamed The + Friendly medical advice in-law of Wagner. King’s Concert Rooms, then The The Georgian Group’s elegant eigh - Also mentioned are the Royal + NHS and private teenth-century headquarters prescriptions overlooking Fitzroy Square provides a unique location for all types of pri - + Prescription collection vate and corporate events in the heart Picture puzzle and delivery of central London. + Repeat dispensing We cordially invite local businesses and individuals to visit our building + Multivitamins, health and get a taste of the authentic and advice Georgian experience... + Flu vaccination + Herbal and nutritional For booking enquiries, availability support and rates please contact Rob Kouyoumdjian on 0207 529 8921 or SHIV [email protected]

How well do you know Fitzrovia? Pharmacy Can you identify at which address the above photo - 70 Great Titchfield Street graph was taken? W1W 7QN For the answer see under the detective picture on Monday-Friday 8:30 - 6:00pm page 11. Tel/Fax 0207 580 2393 Fitzrovia News issue 152 Spring 2019 — 15 Twinkle Toes

having been started in 1973 (origi - day, and we have now become Piano Man nally called The Tower) as part of the best of friends. I have nick - No 16 by the campaign against property de - named him Twinkle Toes, as he is Clifford velopers putting money before a mean tap-dancer. Once again, Slapper the welfare of the local commu - music unites. I was reminded of nity. That year also saw the first how pianist Mike Garson suffered Fitzrovia Festival, with the theme anti-semitism and other problems I first moved to Fitzrovia in “The people live here!” The fol - during his national service in the Fairyland the 1990s, settling in my current lowing year, the Fitzrovia Neigh - US army, until he started playing home on Charlotte Street around bourhood Association was the blues on the piano in the can - the turn of the century. It had formed, and in 1975 the FNA teen. After that he became popu - murder once been the family home of a opened the Fitzrovia Neighbour - lar and many of his problems wealthy family who, in the mid - hood Centre in a disused glass dissolved (as told in my biogra - dle years of the 20th century had shop on the corner of Goodge phy of him, “Bowie’s Piano Man: in 1914 it converted for multiple occu - Place and Tottenham Street. It is a The Life of Mike Garson”). Mean - pancy. The son of the dowager A murder in Tottenham Court Grade II listed building and is still while, I am getting requests now Road in 1914 established a legal once came to visit and com - Cartoon by Chris Tyler the office of the Fitzrovia News, on the piano from the builders mented on how my first floor, precedent regarding provoca - as well as a centre for community working on the shop below, as tion. one-bedroom flat had in his day those making money out of the action. In many ways, that process they can hear me through the been two separate (very small!) creativity of others (which appar - It was on August 12 of that is now accelerating again, in new windows. year that 22-year-old Donald Les - bedsits. ently is more lucrative). At the and even more dramatic ways, as For a very long period, In 2004 the current landlords same time, the proportion of bini (pictured above) shot and the battle for the soul of our Fitzrovia enjoyed a position as killed 27-year-old Alice Storey in purchased the property, with me those living here to those work - beloved urban village continues. one of London’s inner urban vil - as a sitting tenant. I have had to ing here has continued to shift the Fairyland shooting gallery, 92 For the past two years I lived, lages, with a profusion of inter - Tottenham Court Road. exercise determination and re - more toward the latter. I have just in effect, on a building site, as all esting residents and businesses, sourcefulness to remain all these been hit with an 11 per cent rent Lesbini was a soldier who of the floors above my flat were independent and family run cafés had deserted after being bullied years, whilst many others have rise and the warning of a possible rebuilt and refurbished, and a and bars, music, art and colour - been forced out of the area by es - further 45 per cent rise in a year. in the army for being Jewish new penthouse flat was added on ful, cultural expression. There are (which he was not), and was stay - calating rents, rates and other In 2016, The Sunday Times the roof, across two houses. Just vestiges of that still, but they are costs. Back in 2004 my neigh - named Fitzrovia as the best place ing in nearby Drummond Street, when I thought there would be hanging on by a thread. Like working as a tailor. He even con - bours on the floors above were to live in London. It remains, some peace at last, work then Covent Garden earlier, then Soho, comedian, Adam Bloom, and film however, at risk of losing its dis - templated suicide and went to began on reconstructing the we are being subjected to the Fairyland to practise shooting. composer, Joe Henson (son of tinct character. This is a long term ground and basement floors be - faceless power of money, as Una Stubbs). Each time a flat is process. In the 1960s a lot of the Working there, loading the ri - neath me, for a new commercial higher returns for distant in - fles, was Alice, the daughter of vacated, the rent is hauled up a older housing stock was lost lo - use. At first there was some con - vestors are delivered by erasing notch. Now the area has lost al - cally and several groups, such as travellers, from Essex. flict of interest between myself that individuality. The long term On previous occasions she most all of its true creatives, the the Charlotte Street Association in and the latest building crew. result is anodyne, homogenous, assorted artists, photographers 1970 were created by residents to had called him by a racist anti- However, it soon turned out that standardised, chain-outlet, corpo - semitic term, but said she was and writers who were a signifi - resist the threat to the unique the site manager, Robin, was a rate branding: like a song with cant proportion of the residents character of the area. The very ex - only joking. She repeated the great music lover. He has seen Les only one note, the monotonous term this time and he shot her be - here 20 or 30 years ago, and in - istence of this esteemed newspa - Misérables nine times! He heard drone of money. stead is more populated with per arose out of those struggles, tween the billiards table and the me playing “Life On Mars?” one hoopla stand. She was taken to nearby Uni - versity College Hospital which Looking back through the archives was then in Gower Street but died on the way. Obstetric Hospital in Huntley committee that set up the Lesbini was arrested by PC 10 years ago Street to make way for the new 40 years ago Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre John Kitsby, who was patrolling Banksy mural UCLH Cancer Centre. and became its first treasurer (as nearby, who took him to the po - Original editors well as painting the building). lice station at 55-59 Tottenham Two deaths of local characters Court Road. painted over were reported: move on Author Peter Leslie, who wrote He told the constable that From Fitzrovia News, John Bermiston , landlord of many episodes of the popular Alice had insulted him. At the Spring, 2009: the Northumberland Arms [now Avengers television series, re - trial he said: “She made fun of me Queen Charlotte] in Goodge turned to the area to research a about my name and nationality. I The Banksy mural on the Royal Street, for 24 years. He and his detective novel he was writing. had warned her before about it. Mail site in Newman Street [now wife Pearl took over the pub in He had left the area to live in the She was tantalising me as she Rathbone Square] was painted 1969, following the death of his South of France. gave me the rifle. It was provoca - over. “A debate had sparkled over brother Jimmy who previously tion, I’d had enough.” the last few months between the owned it. John became a stalwart Frank Dobson was standing to be His defence was insanity and owners of the adjacent building of the community and made Labour MP for Camden for the provocation, which the judge de - [on which it was painted], who many friends among customers first time, which he won. He had fined in a certain way, which be - wanted to preserve the mural to who worked for Radio 2, Middle - From Tower Community News - lived in the constituency for 20 came a legal precedent in Britain, capitalise on the value of the art - sex Hospital, and others. He was paper, March/April 1979: years and had stood in other con - Australia and Canada. work, and Royal Mail, willing to still dancing at the age of 84 stituencies three times. He had The jury found him guilty, cancel it to punish what they con - shortly before he died. Original editors of the newspa - been elected as a councillor for recommending mercy, but his ex - sider another act of vandalism on John Hutchins, who opened per, Patrick Ensor and Judith Holborn in 1971, but resigned in ecution date was set for October public ground, but apparently the the Curwen Gallery in Colville Thomas (pictured above) , moved 1977 to become a local govern - 13, and he was refused leave to public company won the argu - Place in the 1970s with his wife from their “slum penthouse” in ment ombudsman. appeal. Despite this the sentence ment.” Jill, died at the age of 80. As a Percy Street to north London. Standing successfully as the was commuted to life imprison - The painting had the caption: cricketer he kept wicket to Surrey Judith took photographs and Conservative candidate for St ment. He was released in 1934 “One Nation Under CCTV” was and England bowler Tony Lock. drummed up the advertising that Marylebone at the same time was and died in 1955 at the age of 63. directly below the Royal Mail’s He also played tennis and hockey. paid the printing costs of the Kenneth Baker . He had lived in Previous articles have re - close circuit television. In street festivals their gallery paper, and Patrick used his skills Marylebone nearly all his life and ported how the Fairyland gallery was always the last to stop serv - as a Guardian journalist to pro - been MP since 1970, having previ - had been used by Indian nation - Work started on dismantling the ing drinks. He was a regular at - duce a profession product. ously been MP for Acton two alists and suffragettes planning Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and tendee at St Giles-in-the-Fields. Judith was also one of the years earlier. assassinations. 16 — Fitzrovia News issue 152 Spring 2019 WHAT’S ON AROUND FITZROVIA Email [email protected] with listings by May 17, for the June issue and put “Listings” in the subject box

LIVE MUSIC THEATRE CINEMA EXHIBITIONS ART

Bloomsbury Theatre/Studio , 15 Featured exhibitions below. Gordon St (thebloomsbury.com): A full list of all galleries is on UCL Dance Society perform Illu - our website: sion, March 7-9. UCOpera per - news.fitzrovia.org.uk form Libuse, March 18-23. UCL’s Viva La Vulva presents Freak by Anna Jordan, March 19. Sex, Drugs and Other Things I Never Do, by Simon Caine, April 21. Peter and Barbara Snape at the King & Queen on April 12. Camden People's Theatre , 58-60 All Saints , 7 Margaret St: Organ Hampstead Rd (cptheatre.co.uk): Dennis Skinner: at Bolivar Hall on British Museum, Great Russell St recital - Jordan Wong, Dr John Earwax X Sprint, women’s music April 11 (britishmuseum.org): Birch, March 24, 3.30pm. and poetry, March 10. Big Bang Bolivar Hall , 54 Grafton Way Free: Witnesses: emigre medal - Edel Assanti, 74A Newman St: Sprint, various artists, March 11. (cultura.embavenez-uk.org): Lon - lists in Britain, until Apr 7. Feed - Various artists “We are the peo - The Albany , 240 Great Portland George, presented by Contin - don Socialist Film Co-op screen ing History: the politics of food, ple. Who are you?” To March 9. St: Sixties Rebellion (Garage, Surf gency Theatre, live music and films at 11am on the second Sun - until May 27. Artists postcards Tony DeLap, March 15-Apr 27 & Rockabilly), every Friday, surreal comedy, March 12. The day of each month. These Dan - from 1960 to now, until August 4. 9pm-2am. Great Cat Massacre, absurdist ex - gerous Women, Women’s Peace Rembrandt: thinking on paper, ploration of late stage capitalism, Fold Gallery , 158 New Cavendish Crusade, March 10. Dennis Skin - until Aug 4. Reimagining Captain King & Queen , 1 Foley St : Folk March 15. Melonade, clownesque St: Various artists “Carry On” to ner: The Nature of the Beast, Cook, until Aug 4. once a month on Fridays 8-11pm theatre, March 19. March 9. Tim Ellis “Tomorrow’s April 14. Calais’ Children: A Case Pay for: Edvard Munch: Love (visit web mustradclub.co.uk): Harvest”, March 14-May 4. to Answer, and The Patriot and angst (pictured), Apri 11-July Peter and Barbara Snape, April Dominion Theatre , 269 Totten - Games by George Galloway, May 21. 12. Will Noble, May 17. ham Court Rd 12. (dominiontheatre.com): Bear Framers Gallery , 35 Windmill St: Sevilla Mia Spanish Bar , 22 Grylls interviews Sir Ranulph Fi - Charlotte Street Hotel , 15-17 Adrian Ensor photographic exhi - Hanway St (basement): World ennes, opens March 6. An Charlotte St: Film Club with meal bition, Apr 25-May 10 (see p11) Fusion, Tue, 9.30pm; Swing 'n' Evening with Dame Diana Rigg, Blues, Wed, 9.30pm; Spanish and a movie for £40.To book tick - opens March 9. Wellcome Library , 183 Euston Rd Rumba, Thur-Sat, 10.30pm. ets visit bit.ly/CharlotteStreet - FilmClub. (wellcomecollection.org): Global Harlesden High Street , 32 New - Clinic, until April 22. Smoke and Simmons , 28 Maple St: Live man St: Various artists “Trust Is music every Wednesday evening. Greener Man , 36 Riding House The Ultimate Currency” to March St: London Animation Club, first 24. UCL, Haldane Room , Wilkins Tuesday of month. TALKS Building, Gower St: UCL Cham - Sohemian Society, Wheatsheaf, ber music for ensembles, March Odeon , 30 Tottenham Court Rd: 25 Rathbone Place: Canine Intel - 12, 5.30-6.30pm. Weekly film details from odeon.co.uk or 08712 244007. lectuals and Celebrated Talking Dogs, by Dr Jan Bondeson, March The 100 Club , 100 Oxford St 7, 7.30pm. A Different Class of (the100club.co.uk): The Korgis, Regent Street Cinema, 309 Re - Murder: The story of Lord Lucan, March 15. The Claim, March 23. gent St: For daily programme by Laura Thompson, April 11, Tom Russell, March 29. Northern Barry Humphreys and Rob Brydon at visit regentstreetcinema.com. 7.30pm. Soul All-Nighter, March 30, the London Palladium on Apr 28. Matinee classics every Wednes - 11pm-6am. The Brew, April 3. day at 2pm, for over 55s, £1.75. London Palladium , Argyll St UCL Darwin Lecture Theatre, The Mekons, April 5. The Fabu - Kids' Kino Club, every Saturday, (london-palladium.co.uk): The Malet Place (ucl.ac.uk/events): Rosenfeld Porcini, 37 Rathbone lous Lounge Swingers, Apr 18. 11.30am. Songs of Queen, starring Tom Lunchtime lectures, Tuesdays and St: Teodora Axente “Symmetries London Calling play The Clash, Chaplin, April 22. Rob Brydon of the Oneiric”, to April 6. Royal Anthropological Institute , Thursdays (1.15-1.55pm) during April 18, 19 and 20. The Spitfires, probes Barry Humphries Live on 50 Fitzroy St term time. Child obesity, March April 26 and 27. Stage, April 28. (raifilm.org.uk/events): Regular 12. Brain imaging, March 19. Self- programme of screenings. driving cars, March 21. Down BALLROOM New Diorama Theatre (newdio - syndrome, March 26. EEG, April rama.com), 15-16 Triton St (Eu - 23. Transport, April 30. ston Rd opposite Fitzroy St): COMEDY DANCING Dinomania, performed by The Albany , 240 Great Portland Kandinsky, until March 23. POETRY Black Tie Ballroom Club, Indian St: Every Monday and Wednes - YMCA Fitzroy Square 7:00pm day (plus occasional other nights) King & Queen , 1 Foley St: Poems RADA , Malet St March 8th Ewan Bleach Quintet at 7.30 pm. by Wendy Shutler and Andrew T J Boulting , 59 Riding House St: (rada.ac.uk/whats-on): Woman + beginners' rumba lesson Cuthbert, songs by Ivor Game, Various artists: Subversive Stitch - and Scarecrow, by Marina Carr, April 12th Art Deco Orchestra May 21 at 8pm. Embroidery and the Making of and Alistair Sutherland March 13-23. Gig, by Atiha Sen PUB QUIZZES Feminine, until March 23. + beginners' slow waltz lesson Gupta, March 14-23. Otis and Eu - The Albany , 240 Great Portland May 10th Art Deco Orchestra nice, March 29-30. WALKS Woolff Gallery , 89 Charlotte St: St: Sundays, 7pm with Alistair Sutherland Love Jordan, to March 15. + beginners' slow foxtrot lesson CABARET London Literary Pub Crawl , Carpenters Arms , 68-70 Whitfield Standard tickets £20, avail - every Saturday, 5pm. Start at the Framers Gallery : Photo exhibition St. Tuesdays, 6.30pm. able online, include beginners The Wheatsheaf, 25 Rathbone Wheatsheaf, 25 Rathbone Place. - see under Exhibitions dance lesson, tea, sparking water Place: Maverick Theatre’s and a hot Indian vegetarian SpeakEasy Cabaret, first Saturday Prince of Wales Feathers , 8 War - snack. Female and male taxi of the month, 7.30pm. If you ren St: Tuesdays, 6pm. Please mention Fitzrovia News dancers for guests at no addi - would like to appear for up to ten tional charge minutes email story@maverick - Rising Sun , 46 Tottenham Court Rd. Wednesdays, 6.30 for 7pm. when replying to advertisers meetup.com/black-tie-ballroom-club theatre.co.uk.