Fitzrovia-News-FN150-Lowres

Pray for the finder of lost children 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 150 Autumn 2018 Nursery building empty again after charities disagree on future plans New childcare provider sought to fill important facility for local families and workers

By Linus Rees to reconfigure the layout so that it could improve the space to meet The children’s nursery in Whit - the demand for more children field Street closed at the end of aged under two years and comply August after more than ten years with health and safety require - of serving the community with ments. WIN ALL the loss of 25 places for under- While both charities strenu - fives because of a disagreement ously denied there was any dis - between two charities over im - pute between the two of them SHERLOCK provements to the building and they both issued conflicting state - plans to redevelop the site. ments to Fitzrovia News . HOLMES A new childcare provider is Mike Abbott of LEYF said: now being sought to fill the va - “After careful consultation with cant building which is the only Fitzrovia Trust, sadly we were un - STORIES children’s nursery in Camden’s able to secure an additional five Bloomsbury ward and is regarded year lease for the property and it see page 12 as an important facility for local is therefore with deep regret that families and people working in Fitzrovia Community Nursery is the area. to close at the end of August Camden Council which owns 2018.” the freehold closed the previous However Colin Bascom direc - nursery on the site in 2005 and tor of the Fitzrovia Trust said an wanted to sell the land for rede - agreement had been reached but velopment. But after a campaign LEYF had then changed their by local people the Fitzrovia Trust minds. property charity acquired a 20- “Both sides agreed that the year lease on the site and refur - simplest arrangement would be to bished the existing building. agree a new 5-year lease but insert It was re-opened as a nursery a break clause exercisable by us in 2008 after the Trust made an that would allow for any potential agreement with the London Early redevelopment of the site. The Years Foundation (LEYF) charity lease was in fact signed,” he said. Guy Ritchie which now runs 37 nurseries Both the LEYF and the across London. An Ofsted inspec - Fitzrovia Trust have faced chal - buys local pub tion of the Fitzrovia Community lenges over the past decade but Nursery in February 2018 rated it the two organisations have until All Saints Margaret Street, feast of the Assumption, 15 August. This year over see page 7 as “Good”. now worked together to bring 200 people joined in this annual High Mass in honour of the Virgin Mary, fol - However, in June this year community benefit. lowed by a procession around the parish boundary, including a stretch of Ox - parents and carers of the children Nick Bailey, a member of the ford Street, during which the enthusiastic singing was supported by the All at the nursery — which is running Trust board said: “Property prices Saints' choir and a brass band. at nearly full capacity — were within Fitzrovia have risen Photo: Andrew Prior [email protected] told it would close at the end of steeply in the last few years with August and they were invited to no sign of abating. This has mili - well as affordable housing which will be offered places. The nearest discuss future childcare available tated against our efforts to pro - will be a direct benefit to the com - alternative nurseries run by LEYF at the LEYF’s other sites. vide new affordable housing. munity in Fitzrovia,” he said. are at 10 Carburton Street at Hol - One parent contacted “The Whitfield Street site is a LEYF says that staff from the croft Court and 23 Brewer Street Fox on the roof Fitzrovia News to say: “This is a unique opportunity to provide a nursery will be employed in its in Soho. huge shock”. new, purpose-built nursery as other nurseries, and all children see page 2 According to its 2017 annual report the Fitzrovia Trust wants to build a new nursery, improve the playground, and construct up to 13 flats to be let at social rents. The Trust is still negotiating with Camden Council to acquire a 125 year lease on the land and is est1958 yet to submit any planning appli - cation to develop the site. It is un - Awarded The home of traditional likely that any redevelopment will tripadvisor take place for at least another two certificate of fish and chips. or three years. excellence four GIGS Meanwhile LEYF had its own years running Fully licensed Greek restaurant plans for the nursery and wanted 2014 - 2017 12 Tottenham Street 020 7636 1424 2 — Fitzrovia News issue 150 Autumn 2018 Fitzrovia News Formerly The Tower Letters, email and comment established 1973 news.fitzrovia.org.uk Write to [email protected] or post to Fitzrovia News, Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association, 39 Tottenham Street, London W1T 4RX twitter.com/fitzrovianews facebook.com/fitzrovianews instagram.com/fitzrovianews [email protected] 020 7580 4576

Issue 150 Autumn 2018 Published 4 September 2018

Editorial Team Mike Pentelow: editor and features editor Linus Rees: website and assistant editor Pete Whyatt: news and production editor Was Vasi’s the last Greek Clive Jennings: arts editor restaurant in the area? Brian Jarman: When I moved into Fitzrovia in 1975 the area was full of writer and sub-editor Greek Cypriot restaurants. Janet Gauld: Among them were Anemos, famous for plate-smash - Renard takes an early morning stroll along the roof of the former Strand Union Workhouse. associate editor ing and dancing on the tables at 32 Charlotte Street. People sitting in Pearson Square were amused one evening in August to find that Renard Barb Jacobson: And Charlie Kasopis's cafe at 29 Tottenham Street, a was being chased by Amadeus, a bold, four-year-old, tabby tom cat who lives with his family associate editor few doors from the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre, on Tottenham Street. When Renard loped into the square in search of scraps of food, Jennifer Kavanagh: where you took your own wine and ate really cheaply. Amadeus who prowls it like its his own manor stalked him before chasing him out into Rid - associate editor The Cypriot residents of Fitzrovia have almost all ing House Street. Onlookers were then amused to witness a few minutes later Renard run in moved away now, along with their lovely eclectic food again from Cleveland Street with Amadeus in hot pursuit. This puss is no wuss, it seems. Contributors: stores. And now Vasi's in Maple Street has gone (see page Sue Blundell 4). Jayne Davis My heart is breaking. Was this the last of the family- Doorstep disturbance Terry Egan run traditional Greek restaurants in the area? That's a gen - We live in a mixed use area, shops offices restaurants live cheek by jowl with resi - Etienne Gilfillan uine question - is it the last? dents sometimes there are inevitable tensions and sometimes conflict. A resident re - Clifford Harper Sue Blundell, Goodge Street. cently told us about problems he has been having outside his flat. He lives next Guy O’Connell EDITOR'S NOTE: Do readers know of any remaining? door to office premises with a ledge outside. Recently the space outside the offices Andrew Prior have been used as a late night meeting smoking and drinking spot. Sandra Shevey Rodney was a regular I think the group work in the area (not times to ask them to keep the noise Wendy Shutler connected to the office premises) and down but they became abusive. Clifford Slapper worshipper at All Saints have found this spot a convenient place I then approached the office com - Sunita Soliar to socialise after work. pany to see if they would do anything Chris Tyler Dear Editors, I did approach them a couple of about the nuisance on their property Tim Waterman On page 8 of the summer issue, they were reluctant to listen to my con - Kipper Williams you have an article about Rodney Whitfield Gardens - cerns or do anything about the situation. [Bickerstaffe] in which you sug - The group still meet late at night Printed by: Sharman & Co Ltd, gest that he was being remem - free and forever outside my flat and it has become a low Newark Road, Peterborough bered in the prayers for the Dear Sir or Madam — I read in FN149 level abuse situation but it still disturbs PE1 5TD. sharmanandco.co.uk departed at All Saints, Margaret that Whitfield Gardens faces a threat me and means I cannot work in the Fitzrovia News is produced Steet, because of his work for the Rodney Bickerstaffe, from Camden Council which is consid - evenings which is sometimes necessary by the Fitzrovia Community homeless. and (below) his ering concreting over large areas of the for my job. Newspaper Group. In fact, Rodney was a regular mother’s scrapbook park in an effort to cut maintenance Do any other Fitzrovia News readers ISSN: 0967-1404 worshipper at our 8am Mass on costs and create more space for corpo - have similar problems and do they have Published by Fitzrovia Sundays. As such, he was prayed rate stakeholders in Fitzrovia as part of any suggestions as to how one can deal Neighbourhood Association for throughout his illness and re - its flagship West End Project. with this sort of disturbance on our (registered charity 1111649) ceived the last rites shortly before On the memorial in Whitfield Gar - doorsteps? 39 Tottenham Street, he died. In his public life he dens the children of a resident who Name and address witheld London, W1T 4RX rather hid the light of his Chris - lived in Tottenham Court Road left it to fitzrovia.org.uk tian faith under a bushel, but it The next issue will be out the public to enjoy as gardens free and informed and undergirded his Tuesday1 Dectember 2018. forever. passionate concern for justice. Fitzrovia News is published Best wishes. Deadline for articles, features and His funeral took place at All four times a year. Name and address withheld advertisments 17 November. Saints. My copy of his mother's Our deadline for news, scrapbook of press cuttings about features, letters and adverts the Spanish Civil War, which he is normally two weeks be - had published, rested on his cof - fore publication. The next fin beside the Book of the YMCA Indian Student Hostel issue will be out on Gospels. 41 Fitzroy Square W1T 6AQ Tuesday 1 December 2018. Kind regards Registered Charity since 1920 Fr. Alan Moses, Vicar of All Deadline: 16 November Ideal place for students, professionals and transit guests Saints, 7 Margaret Street. A real “Home away from Home” Public editorial meetings centrally heated wi-fi study rooms TV louunge indoor recreation and gym facilities are held at 7 pm, first Correction email Tuesday of every month at It seems 16-year-old swimmer [email protected] Authentic Indian cuisine 7 days a week Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Alex Rowson, of Gresse Street, vegetarian and meat / fish options take away available Association, was not quite as super fast as our visit weekdays : – breakfast 7:30 - 9:15am, lunch 12:00 - 2:00pm, 39 Tottenham Street headline stated in the last issue. www.indianymca.org evening meal 6:30 - 8:30pm London W1T 4RX When his coach said his time of (please check for weekend and Bank Holiday hours) Subscribe to Fitzrovia News 53.61 seconds for 100 metres was 6.7 seconds "off" the current world for regular updates: record he meant it was that mar - Equipped conference rooms (25 - 250 people) bit.ly/fitzrovianews gin away from it not under it. 020 7387 0411 Fitzrovia News issue 150 Autumn 2018 — 3

Tours of hidden sex

Camden Council Two fundraising guided walks to support international LGBT ac - tivists will take place in Septem - gets £870k to tackle ber and uncover the hidden sexual history of some familiar surroundings. From Mollies to Pride: Lon - rough sleeping don’s LGBT Heritage, 6.30pm Wednesday 5 September 2018. Meet at the Eleanor Cross in front Camden Council has secured there were only 17 rough sleepers of Charing Cross Station. Pay on £870,000 of government funding in the whole of the borough in the day (suggested contribution to assist homeless people in the 2016. An artists illustration of what Whitfield Gardens could look like if Camden £10). borough after a count of rough Fitzrovia Neighbourhood As - Counicl manage to get away with it. Source: Camden Council/LDA Design. From Prejudice to Pride: Our sleepers identified a more accu - sociation (FNA), which publishes LGBT heritage in Fitzrovia and rate picture of its street popula - Fitzrovia News , criticised Camden Bloomsbury, 6.30pm Wednesday tion. for failing to admit to the true ex - Open spaces designs published 26 September 2018. Meet outside The money, from the Ministry tent of street homeless in the bor - Camden Council has this summer be closed this winter and open Goodge Street Station. Pay on the of Housing, Communities and ough and carried out its own published landscape designs for a again in the spring of 2019 after day (suggested contribution £10) Local Government (MHCLG), is street counts to challenge the new public park at Alfred Place, the redesign. Work on Alfred Contact by text on 07852 14 the highest amount awarded for council on the statistics it was giv - and a redesign for the existing Place is due to start at the end of 1425 or book by searching for the any individual local authority. ing to central government. The Whitfield Gardens, writes Linus 2019. walks on Eventbrite. Neighbouring Westminster Coun - FNA argued that without proper Rees . Councillor Adam Harrison, cil will receive £534,466, Islington record keeping Camden was The plans, produced by LDA cabinet member for improving Council £265,987, and the Greater denying itself essential govern - News in brief Design, are available to view on Camden’s environment, said in a London Authority will also re - ment funding to tackle the prob - Camden’s website but while they statement: Westminster council is to hold ceive £3,300,000. lem of street homelessness. show lots of glossy images there “It’s time to green the West a public consultation in The funding for Camden will But until last year Camden is little in the way of detail or any End, or Camden’s part of it at November on plans to revamp be used to employ more outreach was reluctant to mend its ways accurate views expected of pro - least. We are creating a totally Oxford Street and its immedi - workers, provide better support and actually bother to go out and fessional drawings. new park in Alfred Place, innova - ate surroundings. Pedestriani - for people with complex needs, count people on the pavements, The design for Whitfield Gar - tively turning road space into sation will not be part of the and invest in the Housing First most of them within 20 minutes dens shows an increase in hard green space. This will be the first plans say the council. service, provided by charity St walk of the Town Hall in Judd surfaces and a reduction in green - new park for this part of the bor - A survey of organisations Mungo’s, which delivers housing Street. ery and the design for Alfred ough in a quarter of a century. and businesses in Fitzrovia by and tailored support to rough In February 2017, after hear - Place incorporates a loading bay “We will also transform Resilience First has revealed sleepers with a history of living ing evidence from the FNA, a as a central feature. The narrative Princes Circus in Holborn and what keeps directors and on the streets. The funding will scrutiny committee of Camden accompanying the images says Whitfield Gardens close to traders awake at night. The re - also provide for a co-ordinator to Council agreed that “counting of the public open spaces will meet Goodge Street tube, both of which liability of transport came out work specifically with female rough sleepers was not adequate “secure by design principles” and can be much improved. Working as the most insomnia-inducing rough sleepers. and there needed to be a method the graphic images show rows of with LDA Design we will also cre - worry but surprisingly our fa - Official statistics state that that reflected the real number on cramped tube train-style seats ate a string of pocket parks along mous British weather is more Camden had a rough sleeper pop - the streets”. with a few individual chairs. Tottenham Court Road at Capper of a concern than Brexit for the ulation of 127 in the autumn of If you are concerned about The brochure for Alfred Place Street, Bedford Avenue, and Bay - district’s captains of industry. 2017 — the first time an attempt someone sleeping rough in Cam - proudly displays haemorrhoid-in - ley Street. We are also adding Quite the opposite of what had been made to properly mea - den, please contact Camden Safer ducing granite seating — reminis - over 20 new trees across the David Moore owner of Pied a sure its street population in recent Streets Team via cent of the notorious Camden area,” he said. Terre on Charlotte Street years. camdensst.com bench, derided as the “perfect You can see the plans at the thinks. The businessman The figure drew headlines In Westminster contact anti-object” and an example of West End Project website: blames Brexit for a spate of which said rough sleeping had westminster.gov.uk/ “hostile architecture”. camden.gov.uk/westendproject restaurant closures due to eco - gone up by 647 percent in a year. rough-sleeping-helpline nomic uncertainty. Camden previously claimed Whitfield Gardens is due to

Man dies sleeping in park

We are sorry to report that a man who was sleeping rough in Whitfield Gardens on Tottenham Court Road was found dead on the morning of Friday 31 August. The man, known as Igor, was originally from Ukraine and died in his sleep near where his friends were also sleeping rough. According to those who knew him he was aged 40. In FN149 we reported on the death of another man who died while sleeping on the street on Totten - ham Court Road in March. Decision on traffic order due Camden’s officers are recommending that the current traffic order making Torrington Place and Tavistock Place one-way for motor vehicles and more space for cycle lanes is retained. A final decision on the traffic order will be taken at a cabinet meeting on Wednes - day 5 September. The decision comes despite an inspector’s report recommending that the direction of traffic be changed from eastbound to westbound. A decision to retain the current traffic order will be welcomed by residents at the junction of Torring - ton Place and Huntley Street who are concerned about air pollution which already exceeds legal limits at this location. 4 — Fitzrovia News issue 150 Autumn 2018

Terry Dumbelton

Terry Dumbelton was born in After the war Terry worked 1938 in Camden Town. Then his as a radio engineer, then for 35 family was bombed out during years worked in maintenance at the war and had to move to Re - London Business School in Re - gent’s Park. He attended school gent’s Park. Later he worked at in Haverstock Hill and Camden. London Zoo. Terry’s daughter, Terry was the youngest of 13 Tracy, tells of many funny stories children, now only one sister is about how her father had tussles still alive living in Canada. with Guy the gorilla over his or - He married Mary in 1957 and anges. they had two daughters. They Terry loved animals and fed were one of the first families to birds on their balcony which be - move into Holcroft Court in 1971 came a bird sanctuary with visits which has been the family home from some rare species. At one since. time the family had five fish tanks in the flat. Super swimmer/surfer He loved sports such as August was a good month for Chelsea & Westminster club cricket, snooker and football (he super swimmer Alex Rowson member he qualified for all three was a Tottenham Hotspur fan), (featured in the last Fitzrovia finals, doing himself, his family and fishing, travelling all over News issue). and Fitzrovia proud," said his fa - Britain with friends to fish lakes Born at the Yorkshire Grey in ther Paul. and rivers. Langham Street he attended All These were the British 100m A DIY handyman, he built ta - Souls Primary School while living freestyle, the British 200m bles, shelves and fittings in the at the Champion on Wells Street freestyle, and the English 50m flat. (where his brother Daniel was freestyle, all for 16-year-olds. Most of all though Terry was born), and now lives at the Brick - He now swims for Brompton a family man, having two chil - layers Arms, in Gresse Street under head coach Bram Mont - dren, five grandchildren, and six (with Meg the dog). gomery. great-grandchildren. There was a successful con - After five years at Regent His wife Mary says: “He was Eddie when he enlisted in 1953. clusion to the 2017-18 swimming High School he achieved nine a great dad loved by family season after many early mornings good GCSE results and now friends and neighbours. He had a on the back of mum Juliet's moto - moves on to City & Islington great sense of humour and left ev - Eddie chalks bike, and evenings using public Sixth Form College to start A level eryone he met with a smile. He travel, to train all over London. studies in three subjects. was generous with his time and Based on good results at galas He has also been accepted would go out of his way to help up 65 years anyone who needed it.” as far afield as France, he quali - onto the two-year Aquatic Eddie Duke-Low, who lives in Terry died on 5 August at fied for both the English and Diploma in Sporting Excellence Cleveland Street, first lived there UCLH. Over 80 family members British National Swimming course from Dudley College of 65 years ago! and friends attended his funeral Championships in Sheffield in Technology. It was in 1953 and he had just at Golders Green. August. On top of all that he is a super enlisted for his two years' national "In his final outing as a surfer as well (pictured above) . service in the Royal Air Force. New plans for mental "I got sent to West Kirby in Cheshire to do eight weeks' train - Rent doubling ruins two restaurants health services in ing (square bashing), where they either make you or break you," he Two popular restaurants have been forced to close by huge rent in - Camden and Islington stated. creases. Find us on "When I successfully finished Vasi's at 56 Maple Street had been there for 16 years, having previ - Camden and Islington NHS Foun - and departed from the course I ously been at 80 Cleveland Street since 1980. Facebook and dation Trust are consulting on got posted to Kelvin House, Cen - Just before it closed, at short notice, it was visited by long time cus - plans to change mental health ser - tral Medical Establishment, at 32 tomer John Cleese who was filming in the area. Other celebrity diners Twitter for the vices and build a new hospital Cleveland Street, for further train - in the past have included singers Alvin Stardust and Demis Roussos. latest news and community health hubs, a ing before joining a team of well Villandry at 113 Great Portland Street, which also had its rent dou - project to be partly funded by the established medical crew, per - bled, has gone into administration, after trading since 1998 and been sale of a property at Tottenham forming x-ray duties as we trav - extremely popular, again attracting celebrities such as Alan Bennett. Mews in Fitzrovia. elled up and down the country The consultation is seeking x-raying all personnel of the RAF the public’s views on moving pa - stations. tient beds from St Pancras Hospi - "Towards the end of my ser - All Saints Church Margaret Street tal to a new site to be built next to vice I got posted back to Cleve - Our diverse and inclusive parish is grounded in the rich catholic the Whittington Hospital on land Street before my demob. tradition of Anglicanism. We offer a place of peace and beauty Highgate Hill, and create two May I add I believe it would be a in busy central London. community hubs at Greenland better country today if a form of (open Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm and Saturday from 11am). Road in Camden Town, and at conscription was introduced." Lowther Road in Holloway. Some After his national service he Main services on Sunday - 11am High Mass services will also stay at St Pan - joined the Royal Air Forces Asso - 6pm Choral Evensong and Benediction cras under the plans. ciation, a welfare charity provid - The redevelopment will cost ing support and friendship to all £135.4 million and will be funded We maintain fine liturgical traditions and excellence in music. serving and ex-serving RAF per - The parish would be delighted to welcome you to all or any of our by leasing some of the St Pancras sonnel and their dependants. liturgies if you are able to join us in site, and selling vacant property. He was in the Central London “one of the ten buildings that have changed the face of Britain” The Tottenham Mews Re - Branch and after a few years be - (English Heritage). source Centre in Fitzrovia was came its Standard bearer, and was sold by the Trust to property de - later the association's Honorary veloper Derwent London in April Welfare Officer for many years. Times of Daily Prayer, Masses & opportunities for this year. After that, he concluded, “I confession & counselling are advertised at: Public meeting: 6pm to 8pm, was highly honoured in receiving www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk Wednesday 26 September, St Pancras the National Presidential Certifi - Hospital, NW1 0PE. cate by Air Marshall Sir Dusty Parish office: 020 7636 1788 Please tell us if you came to All Saints after seeing this advertisement. islingtonccg.nhs.uk/stpancras Miller, KBE, Fitzrovia News issue 150 Autumn 2018 — 5 Opening and closing

Closed Al Dente pasta 51 Goodge Street Caravan bar eatery 152 Great Portland Street The Larder c afe 8 Pearson Square Evans soft furnishings 5 5 Warren Street 5mm design l uxury homewares 1 00 Great Portland Street Eat sandwiches c orner Charlotte/Goodge Street Jay the Barbers 132 New Cavendish Street Eat s andwiches 6 2 Tottenham Court Road Rovi O ttolenghi deli restaurant 5 9 Wells Street Maplin electical electronics 218-219 Tottenham Court Road Pastation p asta 76 Tottenham Court Road Opening soon Maplin e lectical electronics 6 -10 Great Portland Street Halifax bank 118 - 132 New Oxford Street Oseyo Korean store 115 Tottenham Court Road Reynolds coffee food 53 Charlotte Street Clutch cafe dry goods outfitters 78-80 Great Portland St Flesh & Buns J apanese eatery 25–33 Berners Street Villandry restaurant provisions 170 Great Portland Street Townhouse beauty salon 88 Great Portland Street Erpingham House vegan and vegetarian restaurant La Pastia p asta 1 44 Great Portland Street The Whiskey Exchange spirit retailer 19 Percy Street Obika r estaurant 1 1-13 Charlotte Street 90 Great Portland Street Ikea mini store 9 5 Tottenham Court Road Subway sandwiches 4 Berners Street Chel p harmacy and post office 1 73 Great Portland St Cubitts optitians Charlotte/Goodge Street corner Masters sandwiches 53 Great Portland Street Infinity motorcycle clothing 1 71 Great Portland Street Elan c afe restaurant 9-10 M arket Place Saucy pasta 52 Tottenham Court Road Zakti a ctivewear 6 2 Tottenham Court Road White Pine coffee shop 35-36 Rathbone Place H Mart Korean store 115 Tottenham Court Road Holland and Barratt healthfoods U nit 3 Pantani I talian ices and food 104 Great Portland Street Royal Bank of Scotland 171 Tottenham Court Road 254-256 T ottenham Court Road Omotesando Koffee Japanese coffee Newman Street Coppa club b ar restaurant 9-10 M arket Place Mountain Warehouse activewear 230 Tottenham Ct Road Dezato creative desserts 53 Charlotte Street Tongue & Brisket salt beef bar 2 4 Goodge Street Polu Poke Hawaian fish bar 1 Charlotte Place Opened Glow bar beauty treatments 70 Mortimer Street Genuine Liquorette American bar 6 Rathbone Place Luxe hairdressing 92 Cleveland Street Caffe Morganti Tornatora Italian 1 87 Tottenham Ct Rd Bump’n’grind e sspresso bar 22-and-a-half Warren Street Mr Foggs c ocktail bar 4 8 Newman Street Said Dal 1923 Italian Chocolate 2 9 Rathbone Place Al Sud Italian restaurant 2 1 Berners Street

Coffee that hits the right note Advertisement

Photo: Etienne Gilfillan Alex Lais has a passion for the music of J S Bach. He de - scribes his love of Bach’s music as a disease, an obsession that he caught when he was eight years old. “His music is mathematically ordered, humorous and has an intellectual and emotional diversity that connects with me on many different levels,” he said. “I play guitar and piano and was a semi-professional musician for a while” Alex comes originally from Athens. He first came to the UK as a student studying law and philosophy and has lived in Manchester and London and been in the UK for over 20 years. For some time he worked as a lawyer but for the last 9 years he ‘s found his niche and passion in coffee as a barista. Within the last year Alex opened up his store Alex Coffee at 1 Hanson Street in the old Ships Galley cafe. “I was delighted when this shop became available as it gave me the opportunity to make my mark and do everything the way that I want.” Making coffee for Alex is as meticulous as Bach’s com - position techniques. “The craft of coffee I believe marries the scientific and artistic just as J S Bach did.” Alex making coffee is like looking at an alchemist at work carefully grinding, measuring, tamping, checking temperature, pouring, then finally magically the finished nectar is brought to the customer. “There is a focus on every ingredient, every process, every aspect has a particu - lar purpose. For instance I import honey from Greece using small scale producers and artisanal farmers. I blend my own coffee and every couple of months I introduce my new blend. The current one uses beans from Honduras and India. The beans I use are from the last harvest at the end of the season they are within the best 2% of the total crop.” 6 — Fitzrovia News issue 150 Autumn 2018

Word from the Streets By CHARLOTTE STREET and her siblings Let’s trumpet Jim Bowen Gert by Elsie Waters (left) and Daisy by Doris Waters (right) Sad to hear of the death of comedian Jim Bowen at the age of 80. He was often to be seen in the audience at the 100 Club in Oxford Street by my brother Mortimer . Ballroom blitz on the tube Jim was indeed a jazz fan and in fact played the trumpet. But not wishing A wartime sing-song in Goodge Street underground station was to "blow his own trumpet" as it were, he played down his ability while hosting shown in the 1942 film "Gert & Daisy's Weekend", screened recently the darts quiz television programme Bullseye (still being repeated on the Chal - on the Talking Pictures channel. lenge channel). But he was quite accomplished and played the instrument in Gert & Daisy were a popular comic cockney double act played by the Hot Rhythm Orchestra when on QE2 cruises. Elsie and Doris Waters, who broadcast from the late 1920s to the early He changed his name from Whittaker to Bowen as it would be quicker to 1970s. sign autographs! Daisy was played by Doris (1904-1978) who was treated in Mid - dlesex Hospital, Mortimer Street, not long before her death. Chris Kaufman, who lived overlook - Illustration by Jayne Davis Madness filming in Hanway Street ing the hospital, went there to visit a friend called Hetty Waters The group Madness may have been filming recently in Hanway Street . there. Because of the same sur - Pavement This poster (pictured right), billing Morris & The Minors (the name of name he was shown to Doris Madness around 1978), was photographed outside number 15 by Paul Waters by mistake. "She seemed artist Rowson , who runs the Bricklayers Arms in Gresse Street . He would pleased to meet me anyway and love to know more. we parted on good terms," said Our piano columnist, Cliff Slapper, was able to refer him to a Chris. One street that might really be Guardian article about a new documentary called "One Man's Madness In the film, Gert & Daisy or - paved with gold is Windmill - saxman Lee Thompson skanks down memory lane." ganise a party for those shelter - Street . Back in 1998 the Australian The Music Machine was the name of the club, now called Koko, off ing from the blitz, with singers, Aborigine artist, Jimmy Pike Mornington Cresent. The Snivelling Shits, by the way, changed their dancers, and musicians joining (1940-2002), painted on the pave - name to The Hits, claiming it was just an abbreviation. in. Gert & Daisy got OBEs for ment outside the art gallery where their services to the forces dur - his works were being exhibited Celebrity watch ing the war. (and selling for £25,000 or more). Flavours of flower power Goodge Street station in Camden council in its wis - Mr Fogg's House of Botanicals Neelam Gill (the Sikh Indian fash - September 1940 was locked up dom paved over it. But it is still new cocktail bar at 48 Newman ion model who has appeared in during air raids on the orders of there and is probably worth thou - Street has greatly impressed my Vogue), and singer songwriter Uzo home secretary Herbert Morri - sands of pounds. sister Margaret. "Apart from the Emenike (aka MNEK) were spotted son for the ludicrous reason that Jimmy learned painting while cocktails the smell of the flowers in The London Edition boutique "children might fall on the line in prison for murder, from psy - is very refreshing," she told me. hotel at 10 Berners Street . They and be killed." Local workers chologist Pat Lowe, whom he The name of the bar and its were attending a party to launch a broke down the gates and shel - later married. Earlier he had theme are based on Phileas Fogg, new lipstick designed by Patricia tered there, forcing the govern - worked at Fitzroy Crossing , a cat - who travelled around the world Bright (a "beauty blogger"). ment to back down. tle station in the Western Aus - in 80 days in a Victorian novel, tralian outback. So it was only collecting plants and bringing Hunter returns natural that he should have a them home. On Hitler’s death list drink in The Fitzroy Tavern in Many of these plants adorn Garry Hunter , the Fitzrovia Noir Windmill Street, while over here. the bar, upstairs and on the artist, who used to live in Wells Talking of the war, two Fitzrovian Sadly they were not able to serve ground floor, and all the cock - Street, was back on the manor for novelists, Virginia Woolf and HG him the Australian " Fitzroy cock - tails are flavoured and named Star neighbour a book launch. He told my brother Wells, appeared on Hitler's death tail " - made with methylated spir - after them. Has anyone spotted actor Hugh Warren who was there that he list to be executed in the event of him its, ginger beer, and a teaspoonful "I am hoping to change the Grant wandering around Riding now has a pop-up pub in Poplar invading Britain. of boot polish! plants seasonally," said assistant House Street ? My brother Percy' s called the Tommy Flowers. The reason becomes apparent A retrospective of his paint - general manager, Abraham plumber swears his friend sold his flat This was the name of a char - from an exhibition called "Defending ings were exhibited by Rebecca Drewry. in that area to the star for a huge for - acter who was born there and 'Degenerate' German Art", on until Hossack at her Conway Street Good to see a pictorial hang - tune. He should know about fortunes later studied electrical engineer - September 14 at the Wiener Library, gallery in 2014. ing sign as well (above right). going by what he charged Percy. ing at UCL in Gower Street. 28 Russell Square. Hitler had organised an exhibi - tion of paintings he deemed to be "de - Steamy encounter at Charlotte Street restaurant generate" and so to be suppressed in Germany in 1937. The following year in London the same artists were ex - A charming true love story that started in rose through the grid all over Alison's dress, bours, she living in Gower Street and he in hibited approvingly at the New rather "steamy" circumstances in a Charlotte rendering it temporarily transparent. Gordon Square. Burlington Gallery. The catalogue, Street restaurant was told in a Radio 4 Extra Arthur Waley, an older English gent, They both had separate partners but even - now on show, lists the patrons, in - play recently. came to her rescue shielding her until the tually married in 1966, a month before he died cluding, of course, Virginia Woolf The scene was Antoine's restaurant at 40 dress dried and provided adequate cover in her arms, as revealed in the play called The (who had lived in Fitzroy Square) Charlotte Street in 1929. again. Man on the Green Bicycle, by Jennifer Curry. and H G Wells (who had lived in Alison Grant, a young New Zealand stu - In conversation she revealed the only The restaurant in those days was run by Candover Street ). dent of Chinese poetry, was sat outside the book she had brought from New Zealand was Antoine Dolgontchouk. It is now called Ousia restaurant, over the pavement grid, under - of Chinese poetry... translated by Arthur (recently changed from Andreas). There is no treet neath which was the kitchen.An overboiling Waley. He did not reveal that was him. But longer a grid in the pavement outside, so it is lotte S of ingredients led to a cloud of steam which they formed a relationship, being near neigh - safe to dine al fresco there. Char Fitzrovia News issue 150 Autumn 2018 — 7 Guy Ritchie buys local pub But you can still buy Shaun’s gin locally The Lukin pub in Conway Street is soon to reopen as The Lore of the Land owned by film director Guy Ritchie, who has a house around the corner in Fitzroy Square. Maybe he should instead rename it "Here's Lukin at you Curtain up for artist kid" - the famous line from the By GUY O’CONNELL film Casablanca. A seventeenth century theatrical Anyway the director of "Lock, tradition is being revived in Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" Fitzrovia - thanks to an up and will soon be emptying beer bar - coming artist. Jack Fawdry rels instead of smoking ones. Tatham, 28, is opening a print The pub had been run for ten studio for original etchings and years by Shaun Bebinton, who is The Lukin, boarded up for renovations commissions but also to repro - now distilling gin in Cornwall. duce Toy Theatres first produced "In fact I first started distilling months left on his lease he could the pub to The Lukin from in London two hundred years in Hoxton right up to the Second Caspyn gin in the cellar at The either work that out and then O'Neills Irish Bar in 2008. Before ago. World War. But modern technol - Lukin, having got a distilling li - leave, or accept an offer to go ear - that it was the Adam's Arms for “It’s an old-fashioned Victo - ogy saw them off - until now. cence in 2015," he told Fitzrovia lier. decades until 1995. rian printing process that’s just Like sales of vinyl records, many News. "And I am glad to say that "It was a decent deal so I Now when it opens as The now back up and running here in people of all ages are turning back it is still being stocked by the took it in order to concentrate on Lore of the Land, locals will be Fitzrovia. We’re using the old to reality. Tower Tavern and the King & my other interests in Cornwall," hoping it is not as expensive as methods and the old copper etch - "My Great Grand-Ma started Queen in Cleveland Street. he explained. Ritchie's previous pub, the Punch ings to bring back to life some de - the Pollocks Toy museum on the "So although I have left the Asked about the pub's fa - Bowl, in Mayfair. Two portions of signs that haven’t been seen for corner of Scala Street and Whit - area I have left some gin behind mous table football game he fish and chips and half a bottle of one hundred years.” field Street. Fitzrovia feels very for local drinkers." replied that it went to Cornwall champagne there cost £75. This Toy theatres were part of life different to the stories I heard of He was told earlier this year when the pub closed in July. "It is was served to the likes of the for children until the mid Twenti - the area back then. Even in the by owners Mitchells & Butler that now distracting workers down Duke of Cambridge, David Beck - eth century. One of the most fa - 1960s, it was full of artists, they had received an offer to buy there," he smiled. ham, Al Pacino, and Robert De mous - Benjamin Pollock - printed traders, car dealers, people could the pub and that as he had just 18 He had changed the name of Niro. afford to live and work in the West End. Though people were poorer, there was a Theatre on Scala Street famous for cheap tick - Turkish with a difference ets.” Jack, who graduated from the Royal Drawing School, has just By the DINING DETECTIVE therefore unintimidating menu dish of spiced cabbage with many been selected for the prestigious are on the whole small, and are all ingredients including pistachios Bloomburg New Contemporaries KYSERI, 64 Grafton Way (closed made for sharing: there are five and dates (£14) which was medi - scheme which aims to help young Sundays and Mondays) starters, two pastas, and seven umly interesting; and crispy fried artists. He is looking for local ex - I do have to admit that when I mains and there are very nice, hake which was my companion’s hibition space and is planning to heard there was a new “posh welcoming staff who will advise favourite, with green tomatoes run print workshops for residents Turkish” restaurant with no ke - you about ordering. The dishes and pickles and candied lemon and artists alike. babs in our area it did make me don’t arrive together, they just ap - (£12.50): I enjoyed it but the fish "The printing press weighs laugh – I’ve always loved Turk - pear at your table when they are didn’t seem crispy fried to me be - one tonne. It arrived on the pave - ish food but it seemed I was in ready. cause it was in a sauce. ment from Holland and four of us for a new adventure. I think this sounds slightly I looked again at the menu dismantled it on the street and A Turkish restaurant without unusual in a ‘Turkish’ restaurant and did find a kebab after all - this took it downstairs. It’s a miracle a sign of a kebab? Really? And I

(but I now remember I said the is what it was called: £4 each: we’re alive! At the end there was

. t e e r t S r e m i t r o M 2 8 t a s i 4 1 e g a p n do also have to admit that I then o

same about a new local Greek Hampshire Trout Skewer and one bolt left over and we still

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 found a splendid review of this P restaurant and need to shake up Garlic beets (!) There is also a don’t know what it does.” restaurant in the Evening Stan - my ideas about who makes what). dessert menu but we had eaten Jack’s selling a limited print dard. Kyseri is yet another new to the wine (my last memorable My favourite dish was one of the quite enough. And we had only run of famous Fitzrovians includ - restaurant in Fitzrovia but this experience with martinis leading two pastas: pasta packets of: beef, just (although we were quaffing ing Karl Marx and HG Wells, and one seems to be doing well, and is to a disastrous confrontation with sour cherry, tomato-chilli butter, that very pleasant wine) strayed hopes local businesses and resi - certainly a pleasure to visit. Not a lamp-post). pine nuts and yoghurt sauce (£16) over our £35 per head budget. dents will support him by buying least because, again advised by It seemed when I looked at which – although my companion Looking around the pleasant, one. the Evening Standard, we ordered the menu, that there was a whole and I shared, which meant we quite small restaurant, which had “We will be the most central (and you know by now how furi - other kind of Turkish cuisine had only two pasta balls each - tables outside because it was print studio of this kind for etch - ous I can get with restaurant about which I felt ashamed to were absolutely delicious, satisfy - warm, I saw that many diners had ings, copper plate. We don’t want wines) a very pleasant Turkish admit I was totally ignorant. ing, filling. ordered the other pasta (walnuts, to re-invent ourselves for the digi - wine, Diren, both white and red, However I found out that the I felt that with a Kyseri salad lemon braised greens, sage, egg, tal age, we want to be ourselves as for £4.50 a glass. But they also do chefs are from Cyprus so it is re - (£6.50) I wouldn’t have needed Tulum cheese and Eriste, £12) and we are. So please call in at Pol - interesting sounding cocktails like ally a kind of Turkish-Greek cui - anything else. I then reminded I will certainly be trying that dish locks and ask for more informa - Watermelon infused vodka with sine that is being offered. Which myself that I’d already had a slice next time. I look forward also to tion.” Turkish Fizz for £9. Or a Sumac includes cherries, and garlic beets, of sort of yummy fried bread sampling – but it was expensive: Jack’s online at: and Pomegranite Martini, £10, and pistachios, and courgette (seeded Sumac bread) with a £24 – Aged Cornish Duck, Grape www.jackfawdrytatham.uk which contains both vodka and flowers and pine nuts, and can - spicy-tasting dip called Muham - Molasses, Aegean Greens and and he’s up and running in the rum which sounded interesting died lemon (and pasta). mara (£1.50 each piece). Black Garlic… basement of the Toy Museum, but pretty lethal to me, so I stuck The dishes on the short and But we had ordered more. A I will be back there soon! along with that missing bolt. 8 — Fitzrovia News issue 150 Autumn 2018 Beige Holes of Fitzrovia New squares are generic nowhere places derived from transactions and contracts

Two new privately owned public scale and grain of the area is spaces (POPS) in Fitzrovia are changing fast, though, as it “mod - Creative, thoughtful landscape architects may products of development and real ernises.” estate speculation in a wildly dis - be trapped in the making of non-spaces by torted market. The first project, The Beige Holes completed in 2016, is of Modernisation development processes, says Tim Waterman GROSS.MAX.’s design for Fitzroy Robert Fitch, in The Assassination Place, and the second is Gustafson of New York, wrote of the postin - Porter + Bowman’s Rathbone dustrial city that it “is a mutation Square, completed in September masquerading as a moderniza - 2017. Both developments are re - tion.” The industrial city in the ex - sponding directly to market tensive phase of capitalism, in forces: “form follows finance.” which labour, resources, and thus In each, no expense is spared “surplus” wealth were extracted on the landscape, as these land - from far-flung empires and agri - scapes are what drive the sales of cultural hinterlands, could afford the apartments on overseas specu - the illusion of “inevitable” lative markets, along with images progress. Earlier a more agrarian of the interiors. All aspects of the extensive capitalism had declared design are geared toward their vast stretches of land “empty”— imageability on real estate web - terra nullius — to justify colonial - sites and in glossy brochures. ism, simply erasing lives and cul - “Landscape is a commodity,” ac - realised I call “beige holes.” They through, they are measured in GROSS.MAX. landscape archi - tures in the process. The knowledges Eelco Hooftman of have the power to attract, com - units of time.” tects as he shows me the small site Jeffersonian grid, which divides GROSS.MAX. press, and trap money in the fi - The beige hole is a type of at the centre of Fitzroy Place. America into neat squares, is an Of course, it can be argued nancial system as black holes non-place — a place of transit. In “This is not a statement project.” emblem of that ideology of empti - that landscape has always been a consume all matter in their super - this case the beige hole is a place Indeed, it is luxurious understate - ness. Now the postindustrial city commodity — certainly when it is gravity. Beige, though, because of the transient wealthy their ment as a cipher for the finan - is driven by intensive capitalism, employed as the scenography of driven by real estate imageability money. The units of time with cialised non-taste that which is forced to transform itself power and private wealth, as it they must be styled to be sleek, which these spaces are measured characterises the project. Fitzroy from within, shaping itself around has so often been. It is an irony, tidy, and generic. Beige because are amortised in mortgages, Place, launched in 2016, is a major markets and services that canni - though, at a time when the land - they reflect the non-tastes of the counted in leasehold years, in an - development on the site of the for - balise the city. scape profession is more focused elites in the FIRE (finance, insur - nual contracts, in fluctuations of mer Middlesex Hospital. It is now Asset stripping in colonialism than ever on themes of sustain - ance, real estate) sector. Beige be - boom and bust. They are the relics home to Estée Lauder’s London gridded vast territories, mapping ability and ecology and social cause they must place the power of a financial system in which office and some of London’s most them for exploitation. Now cities benefit, that the most lucrative of the transaction over local dis - transience itself is the operative expensive apartments. are turned inward, and the new work for Britain’s best landscape tinctiveness. Realtors and devel - factor. If money in the current sys - The hospital’s former chapel terra nullius must be found practices is rooted elsewhere — opers themselves call these places tem ever stopped for long (by architect John Loughborough within. All the nooks and crannies and nowhere. The scenography of “safe-deposit boxes in the sky” or enough, it would only take a mo - Pearson, completed 1929) juts into necessary to everyday life in ur - contemporary capital demands a “concrete gold,” which clarifies ment’s examination to discover its the new square (named Pearson banism are ironed out, and the virgin space so that its business their function as financial instru - value is baseless and placeless, a Square) but because it is so grid manifests itself as vast floor logic is not disrupted by the ethi - ments rather than as places for fiction in motion, of motion. As dwarfed by the scale of the sur - plates: office space and lateral cal obligations that the real city living, working, playing — or for Augé says, “the user of a non- rounding buildings, it was clearly apartments. The ideology ratio - demands. dwelling. place is in contractual relations not possible to use it as the nalising these tyrannical spaces Fitzrovia’s urbanism is much A whole generation of archi - with it (or with the powers that square’s focal point. A steel colon - visualises them as “open,” more than scenery, though. It is tects and landscape architects govern it),” and these contracts nade and pergola, developed by “democratic,” and “free” “spaces both the result of and the reason have read Marc Augé’s Non- are temporal. Beige holes are non- GROSS.MAX. with architects Lif - of engagement” just as the colo - for its particular sociality. Every - Places, and yet find themselves places that exist as records of schutz Davidson Sandilands, help nial grid was spuriously theorised where different floors of the same trapped in a system that endlessly transactions and contracts, as in - to step down the scale of the sur - as a guarantor of spatial equity. building yield space for different replicates the model. The non- tangible and impermanent as rounding buildings to the chapel. As the grid of extensive capital - uses: a tailor or a lampshade place is defined as a place of tran - flickering numbers on a stock Then the chapel is shrouded be - ism worked a mutation upon maker below street level under a sit, a space that defies acts of market screen. hind a screen of evergreen mag - rural land, so the grid of intensive mansion block; a studio over an dwelling, and is exemplified by nolia trees. A stone sculpture capitalism now skews the space of embroiderer over a café. Tiny the modern airport. “The space of serves to refocus the square, while the city. As Darwin saw, however, mews streets filled with work non-place creates neither singular Fitzroy Place further stepping the scale down to mutation rarely leads to evolu - spaces are capped at their ends identity nor relations; only soli - the human. These are deft tricks, tion. with cozy pubs that become rau - tude, and similitude.” “Since non- “Certain projects should not exercising the designers to new The urban spaces within cous as Friday approaches. The places are there to be passed shout,” says Eelco Hooftman of levels of virtuosity, but to ends which these vast grids are being Fitzrovia News issue 150 Autumn 2018 — 9

that could have been avoided ear - the north of the site that would with the building cladding, which seem inclined to do: they are our lier in the design process. have created ease of passage for appears to be stretched as thinly very humble servants, and will The plants that have flour - Rathbone Square locals as well as new small retail as cling film across the surface of build what we ask for; remember, ished most in this dark chasm are possibilities. Instead the route jogs the buildings. Windows are set that rich men are not obliged to graceful multitrunk serviceber - Rathbone Square, completed last south, frustrating access, and the into metallic panels at Rathbone live in ugly houses, and yet you ries, which have been placed in year, has become the new London passage is constricted through Square that possess the dull lustre see they do; which the builders giant gunmetal-gray containers headquarters for Facebook as part verdigris-green ceramic-clad tun - of Bacofoil. may be well excused for taking as placed on the pedestrian lanes of a commercial/residential com - nels. Inside the space, the build - At the centre of Rathbone a sign of what is wanted.” that serve the square. Elegant as plex. Its central gated square was ing massing is more successful Square, curving into the edge of If we want a world less pep - they are, their body language is designed by Gustafson Porter + than at Fitzroy Place, allowing in Facebook’s offices, a crescent of pered with beige holes, then we aggressive. They are placed as ob - Bowman, the surrounding build - more light. lawn has been provided. Here it is will have to work with political stacles, deterrents as effective as ings by Make Architects. The Seating is refined, stepping intended as a catalyst for activity. and economic processes to trans - beefy bouncers to physical and vi - square, like Fitzroy Place, opens up and down at right angles to “Private squares in London don’t form development. There is hope sual access into the site from the up important east-west pedestrian provide a maximum of sittable support actual activity,” says Don - here, with cooperation and com - surrounding neighbourhood. This access in an area with a pro - space and defining a dark grid ncha O Shea of Gustafson Porter + munication improving year-on- is a clear statement that the pre - nounced north-south grain. against the light grid of the gran - Bowman, and time will tell year between architects, planners, tensions to publicness expressed Here the gravest planning ite paving that establishes a whether Rathbone Square actually and landscape architects, and in the planning applications were error was committed early on, rhythm with the building’s fa - comes to serve as a community with new models for develop - the usual whitewash. with a failure to provide a direct cades. Here, though, the richness space. ment emerging in forms such as east-west pedestrian connection at of the square’s materials is at odds community land trusts. Then, per - haps, we can begin to make our A World Less Beige cities more in ways that are gen - uinely wanted by those who au - I hope I have not portrayed the thentically live in them. landscape architects as villains or failures. They are neither. Indeed, Tim Waterman lives in Fitzrovia and they are full of talent, ambition, teaches at the University of Green - and verve. If there is villainy or wich and at The Bartlett. He is co-ed - failure, it is systemic, and bred in itor of Landscape and Agency: the bone of development pro - Critical Essays (2017, Routledge); cesses that are conceived of first and The Routledge Handbook of and foremost as extractive and Landscape and Food (2018, Rout - profit-driven. These forces also ledge). Find him on Twitter militate against artistry and ur - @Tim_Waterman. (This is an edited banism, catering to generic inter - version of an article that was origi - national non-tastes and imageable nally published in Landscape Archi - outputs. William Morris diag - tecture Magazine, The magazine of nosed the same problems in his The American Society of Landscape time in ‘Hopes and Fears for Art’: Architects, July 2018.) “Only we must not lay the fault upon the builders, as some people 10 — Fitzrovia News issue 150 Autumn 2018 Death on the gallows

By MIKE PENTELOW the pistol went off accidentally New light on the French revolu - and killed him. tionary who killed two people in The inquest took place on Warren Street in 1854 is shed by December 12, 1854, at the Goat a book just published. and Compasses Tavern at 60 "The Murderer of Warren Fitzroy Street, between Warren Street, The True Story of a Nine - Street and Euston Road, where teenth-Century Revolutionary", evidence was given by Moore's by Marc Mulholland (Hutchin - servant Charlotte Bennett, and son, £16.99) is about Emmanuel several other witnesses. The ver - Barthelemy. dict was wilful murder. Born in 1821 in France he At his trial at the Old Bailey spent many years imprisoned on January 3, 1855, he was found there for his revolutionary ac - guilty of the murder of Collard. tions, then came to Fitzrovia Barthelemy was hanged at where he befriended (temporar - 8am on January 22, 1855 at New - ily) Karl Marx. Barthelemy also gate. Unusually for a public exe - killed a fellow French revolution - cution the crowd fell silent as a ary exile in the last fatal duel in mark of respect for him. A cast of England, was immortalised by his head was taken (a death Victor Hugo in his novel "Les mask) and displayed in front of back to Upper John Street where Miserables", and was finally pub - the prison as a warning to others. he shared lodgings at number 42 licly hanged in fog and snow in Liebknecht looked at it and re - Chief charlatan with Thomas Coddery. Coddery front of up to 10,000 people. marked: "The face still showed an worked as foreman for George During the 1848 uprising in iron determination." The latest book by author Paul Moore where he manufactured Paris his brave role on the barri - Barthelemy's old overcoat Willetts was recently launched at ginger beer and soda water at 73 cades was described in Les Miser - was given to his lawyer in lieu of the Wheatsheaf pub in Rathbone Warren Street, and got ables. After it was crushed he was payment - to be sold to Madame Place. Barthelemy a job there repairing imprisoned, but managed to es - Tussaud's Chamber of Horrors. It is called "King Con, The machines. cape. Another murder at the same Bizarre Adventures of the Jazz And it was here that on De - On coming to London in 1849 time in the same area is also Age's Greatest Imposter" (pub - cember 8, 1854 Barthelemy, ac - Barthelemy quickly got a job as a recorded in Mulholland's new lished by Crown, New York, part companied by a young French "mechanical steel staymaker" (or book. of Penguin Random House). woman, shot and killed Moore, corset maker) with Mr Coptel in An Italian tailor, Luigi His previous books have been then a retired policeman, Charles Berners Street (probably the Baranelli, shot and killed the about the Fitzrovian eccentric Collard, who tried to prevent him corset makers run by Mr and Mrs landlord at Holbein Mansions, 25 poet, Julian Maclaren-Ross, called escaping. The woman managed to Caplin at 58 Berners Street shown Langham Street (which was 9 "Fear and Loathing in Fitzrovia", escape. in the 1852 street directory). He Foley Place at the time) and in - and about a 1947 jewel robbery In his memoirs, the German Alex Maclaren Ross also joined a socialist society jured his wife in the arm and and murder in Charlotte Street, revolutionary exile, Wilhelm Before long he moved to based at St George's Tavern in neck, on January 7, 1855. He then called "North Soho 999". Liebknecht, thought the argument France where he met a rich Aus - Wardour Street. went to the room of one of the The subject of his latest biog - between Barthelemy and Moore trian countess who financed his He befriended Karl Marx lodgers, his pregnant girlfriend raphy was in fact a white French was over money which Moore "royal tour" of Italy. with whom he sparred with Jane Williamson, a dressmaker Canadian born in America called owed to Barthelemy. Among those at the book's swords, sabres and foils at a fenc - who had recently ended their re - Edgar Laplante. After an unsuc - But in a confession, which launch party was Alex Maclaren- ing salon in Rathbone Place. lationship. cessful singing career he dressed Barthelemy had given to his Ross, son of Julian. Marx's wife, Jenny, disliked When she would not let him in native American robes and lawyer after the trial and before Barthelemy however as his "pierc - in he locked himself in another claimed to be Chief White Elk, his execution, he said he had no ing eyes were repulsive to her." So room and shot himself but only head of the Indian tribes of British intention of visiting Moore's the friendship ended. caused wounds. Williamson went Colombia and chief of the Cana - house until the French woman When Napoleon III staged a to his hospital side and treated dian Cherokees (pictured above) . asked him to accompany her coup in Paris in 1851 and brutally him with great affection. He arrived in London in 1922 there. She then took a letter from slaughtered any opposition, one The couple had previously and stayed at an Oxford Street her pocket and read it out loud, of those to escape to London was been lodgers in Newman Street hotel, announcing he wished to when Moore tried to snatch it Frederic Cournet. A personal with the same landlord and his see King George V to discuss im - from her. grudge developed between him wife before they moved to the proving education for Canadian Then Moore picked up a mal - and Barthelemy, resulting in a pis - scene of the murder. They went Indians. let and hit Barthelemy with it. So, tols duel between them in Wind - under the name of Mr and Mrs He borrowed money on the continued Barthelemy, "I let the sor Great Park on October 19, Lambert, but were in fact Joseph promise of gaining a fortune be - pistol off and shot Mr Moore, for 1852. Cournet missed his shot, Latham and the wife of his friend cause, he claimed, the king had which I am sorry - I having no ill then was killed by Barthelemy for whom he had left his own agreed to return a million acres of will towards him." He then lifted who fled the scene. He was how - wife. land taken from the Indians. the woman over the wall at the ever captured and tried for mur - At his trial on April 12 A spokesman for the king an - WIN THIS BOOK. Answer this back of the house and they set off der. The jury found him not guilty Baranelli's insanity plea was re - nounced that he would grant an question: “Fear and Loathing in in opposite directions. When Col - of that but guilty of manslaughter jected and he was executed on audience to Chief White Elk. Fitzrovia” was about whom? lard grabbed Barthelemy, he said, for which he served a short prison April 30, 1855. But the Daily Mail exposed Post your answer (with your sentence. his claims as fraudulent so the name, address, and contact de - On his release in May 1853 he meeting never happened. Instead tails) to Fitzrovia News, 39 Tot - moved into what is now the sec - he was reduced to performing tenham Street, London , W1T tion of Whitfield Street between "the Great Scalping Dance" and 4RX; or email: Howland Street and Maple Street other turns in music halls, with [email protected] (with (when it was called Upper John such acts as a "singing ventrilo - “King Con competition” in the Street). He shared a flat and quist." subject box workshop with fellow republican exiles Tony Petitjean and Pierre Coming soon Bourquin. All three set up as craf - "Tales from Riding House Street" by Helen Evangelou is due to be smen and invented a new process published in November. The author lived at 57 Riding House Street for colouring glass. when she grew up in the 1950s and 1960s, the daughter of Cypriot mi - Barthelemy moved on to a grants. She later worked for ITN on the corner of Wells Street and road off Soho Square, and then A drawing of Bethelemy just after his public hanging Riding House Street, and lived in Carburton Street in the 1990s. Fitzrovia News issue 150 Autumn 2018 — 11 Sensation A short story by SUNITA SOLIAR a Diamond! — I cannot de - liver. The nerves that bite and ‘Ah, yes! tear, the grind of bones in my Always the wrist and hand — I cannot wield the pen. Why is the diamond, light so bright, bulging through my eyes and explod - resolving the ing into my head? Is there to be nothing but bright, white mystery’ light? Serpent’s Eye, a demonic thing ‘Carrie!’ willing one’s defeat, for pain darts She comes. The rough rustle and slinks like a serpent, flashing of her skirts, but a soothing sight its tail and tongue, coiling around of dark hair, a cool palm on my my joints, wherever I look or head. She, the only spark of life in touch, there it is as though hidden the horror of this place: Howland behind sofa cushions, behind Street. Rather call it Smeary Street, flower pots. It finds one every - with its drab walls and windows where. Evil lies in wait for us ev - staring out at the rot and squalor erywhere like pain. The tyrant of of the poor. the brain. One needs something ‘I can’t finish it.’ lighter, less sharp. She looks at the clutter of pa - ‘The hour presses on, pet,’ pers, scrappy and blotched. She Carrie prompts. reaches for the pen. Yes. The hour, the story. You ‘Give it to me,’ she says. My sit ready to take it down. How flesh relinquishes it. The bones many roles will you play for me? Illustration by Clifford Harper continue to gnaw. The stiffness The first night I saw you running drilling through my body. It is to read? To read is to feel. Must droplets. From here everything is thought. You have become my in the dark away from a man as hard to move, to straighten my give the readers all of it, sight, easy, everything is lighter. disembodied body. How freeing though you had been kept pris - knees, but Carrie has a strong soul touch, taste, scandal, shock. Must Strengthened by Serpentstone re - not to possess it. Unshackled, I oner under mesmeric influence and a persuasive hand. She helps deliver the diamond, grotesque news his former fires and feels his can see unobscured, everything is and gave life to my pen. Now it is me out of this seat and settles me and magnified, but to deliver feel - veins inflamed with fresh desires. larger, the lampshade, the colours. I who seek asylum with you. You into the wingback. She pulls from ing requires being lifted out of Its fumes in burning reptiles chase The air in here is less stuffy, the who write the words to free me. her pocket the small brown bottle. one’s own, the ones that shackle, away. And can I write? Yes, Car - moon beyond not white but yel - Dickens be damned! Forgo one of Liquid mercy. She administers the idea of writing unfathomable rie, I can. You have let me lose low. And you are largest of all, his parties to be with you, and he thirty drops. because — what’s this? Is some - flesh and up here where I drift, shining out of the depths of your remarks, ‘A visit to the doctor?’ ‘Forty,’ I say. thing lifting? Where now are there is no sensation of nerves and own brightness. But tonight, mistress, you are the She hesitates. hands and arms? Can they be flesh and bone, nothing that ‘The light that streamed from doctor and the extension of my ‘I need it.’ gone? Yes! Now I float, the body touches, nothing that hurts, only it was like the harvest moon.’ thoughts, the arm that commits She relents. The thought of lost somewhere in a dream of lightness, the swirling fancy of ‘Shall I…’ them to paper. He’ll have you to the ease to come! Soon enough thank for the latest instalment. my body will lift and drift away. Where would I or his All The Year Carrie settles herself in my former Round be without you? Tonight Poetry corner seat, shuffling and tidying the pa - we are both Wilkie Collins. But pers, preparing herself to write. how can one think of the moon - AUGUST She reads: ‘Lord bless us! It was a stone when weighed down with A Day Out Diamond!’ such oppressive sensation? by Wendy Shutler ‘Yes?’ Carrie looks at me with ‘That’s where you stopped,’ worry. ’You might feel stronger to - August is the purple month. she says. Ah, yes! Always the dia - morrow,’ she says. Hills and moors and misty heather. mond, resolving the mystery. I might. But the instalment Waves break soft on silken sand What a trap I have set myself, to must be completed by morning, In dreamy steamy sexy weather. get to the bottom of it before sick - and I am not yet ready. The dia - ness overcomes me, sickness steal - mond must be seen in the excess I'm barefoot on the coarser sand! ing time, art. How heavy it is, the of pain I feel. ‘It is a monstrosity. Gloriously itchy. moonstone, a thing to sink or Beguiling. Unfathomable.’ Grainy sandy makes you randy, crush you. A stone as multi- ‘Should I write…’ don't you think? faceted as pain, though that isn’t Illustration by ‘No.’ To write! What is to apt. Better to have called it The Clifford Harper write? A hand, an arm. What is it But here we draw a veil. The Highest Form of Special by Terry Egan From the train on the way home, suddenly, the lavender fields, How many times now has he crossed the Delaware, unreal as a painting, appear, tweeting from the state room of his deluxe liner; Bloomsbury ward full of superlatives, although he never docks, and the South of France is here; in Colchester. his hair blowing in the wind - even when there's none. councillors surgeries Oh! The Presidentialisation of it... First Friday of the month 6:00-7:00pm Fitzrovia Centre 2 Foley Street and look: His wife's a sort of figurehead, what with Second and fourth Fridays of the month 6:00-7:00pm the immobility of her glazed expression. Marchmont Community Centre, 62 Marchmont Street, WC1N 1AB For more verses by local poets get: He sawdusts a cherry tree - pulps it - the leader Third Friday of the month is a “roving surgery” Get in touch if you would A FITZROVIAN MISCELLANY of the walled-up world, and twitters: 'I did it, I like us to conduct the surgery in your street or building Price just £3.50 cannot tell a lie!' He builds money factories: Adam Harrison, Sabrina Francis and Rishi Madlani from Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre he's going to make chopping great again - then some! contact 020 7974 3111 39 Tottenham Street, London W1T 4RX [email protected] [email protected] His orange blimp passes over us; it waves down [email protected] at the outpouring he himself boasts (on TV) is so much bigger than his inauguration's. 12 — Fitzrovia News issue 150 Autumn 2018 Sherlock Holmes and the villains of Fitzrovia

By MIKE PENTELOW worth at least five hundred Many of the adventures of fic - guineas [£525], at a Jew broker's in tional master amateur detective Tottenham Court Road for fifty- Sherlock Holmes were set in five shillings [£2.75]," stated Wat - Fitzrovia. Not surprising, per - son of their "pleasant little meal haps, as his creator and author together" over a bottle of claret. Arthur Conan Doyle lived a few Earlier (in "A Study in Scar - streets both east and west of the let" , 1887) Watson described how area. Holmes would "close his eyes and Dr James Watson, the trusty scrape carelessly at the fiddle companion of Holmes, lived with which was thrown across his his wife and had a consulting knee. Sometimes the chords were room in a street where the garden sonorous and melancholy. Occa - backed into Mortimer Street. sionally they were fantastic and It was from here that Holmes cheerful. Clearly they reflected the was followed by his deadly neme - thoughts which possessed him, sis, Professor Moriarty. but whether the music aided This is recounted in "The those thoughts, or whether the Final Problem" (published in playing was simply the result of a 1893) where Watson recalls that whim or fancy, was more than I late on April 24, 1891 Holmes could determine." walked into his consulting room His cocaine was purchased at looking pale and thin. He closed John Bell & Croyden, 50 Wigmore and bolted the window shutters, Street, which is still there on the and said he was afraid of being corner of Welbeck Street, and a shot by an air-gun. couple of streets away from Already that day he had been where Arthur Conan Doyle lived nearly run over by a two-horse at 2 Upper Wimpole Street in 1891 van driven furiously at him just and 2 Devonshire Place in 1882. after he left Oxford Street and Holmes had an account with went into Welbeck Street, then a The Capital and Counties Bank in brick from a roof missed him by Oxford Street (which did exist at inches, and finally on his way to number 68 between Rathbone Watson to join him. The policeman took the goose Watson's he was attacked by a Place and Newman Street). "It was in vain that I asked and its owner's hat to Sherlock rough with a bludgeon. It was also along Oxford Holmes to remain for the Holmes for assistance. He advised He was sure this was all done Street that Holmes and Watson evening," wrote Watson. "It was the policeman to eat the goose be - on the instruction of Professor trailed Sir Charles Baskerville in evident to me that he thought he fore it went off. When he did so Moriarty, who, he said, was "the Chapter 4 of perhaps the most fa - might bring trouble to the roof he he discovered inside the goose organiser of half that is evil and of mous book "The Hound of the was under, and that was the mo - was a valuable blue diamond nearly all that is undetected in Baskervilles" (first serialised from tive which impelled him to go. which had recently been stolen this great city... He sits motionless, 1901 to 1902). With a few hurried words as to from a countess in a London like a spider in the centre of its Other Oxford Street fictional our plans for the morrow he rose hotel. A plumber had been ar - web, but that web has a thousand references include a tobacconist, and came out with me into the rested for the theft. radiations, and he knows well Bradley, which Holmes used to garden, clambering over the wall By examining various small every quiver of each of them. He study different cigar ashes, which which leads into Mortimer Street, details about the hat Holmes was does little himself. He only plans. helped him at various crime and immediately whistling for a able to identify its owner (aided But his agents are numerous and scenes; a photographer's studio hansom, in which I heard him by his name being on a small card splendidly organised." where a portrait helped idientify a drive away." attached to the goose's leg). Moriarty had learned that murderer in "The Adventure of The next morning Watson The owner of the goose told Holmes was close to unmasking Charles Augustus Milverton" made his way to Victoria station Holmes that he had got the goose him and so visited him in his own (1904); and Latimer's where Dr (for the boat train to Newhaven The title role in the 1959 film version from a Christmas club he was a room. Moriarty's face "protrudes Watson bought his boots in "The and Dieppe) where he met of The Hound of the Baskervilles was member of at The Alpha Inn near forward and is forever slowly os - Disappearance of Lady Frances Holmes. Holmes then spotted played by Colonel, the giant blood - the British Museum (just round cillating from side to side in a cu - Carfax" ( 1911). Moriarty as the train left and de - hound guard dog of the Duke of York the corner from where Conan riously reptilian fashion," Holmes In "A Case of Identity" (1891) duced he must have followed pub in Rathbone Street. Doyle lodged at 23 Montague told Watson. Mary Sutherland, the daughter of Watson from his home. Place in 1891). Moriarty then threatened A few months later, 4am on a recently deceased plumber in Eventually Moriarty tracked From this Holmes was able to Holmes with destruction if he did Christmas Day, 1891 (as related in Tottenham Court Road, consulted Holmes down to Reichenbach track down the real robber (who not lay off. "The Adventure of the Blue Car - Holmes when her mother quickly Falls in Switzerland where they had hidden the diamond in a For this reason, continued buncle" , 1892) police commission - remarried a Mr Windibank who had a fight and both fell into the goose to avoid being found with it Holmes, he intended to go abroad aire Peterson "was returning made her sell the business. swirling water and were believed by the police, then the geese got the next day while the police fol - home from some small jollifica - Langham Hotel at 1 Portland dead (but Holmes was later rein - mixed up with others). So the lowed up his clues, and he invited tion" up Tottenham Court Road . Place is where Conan Doyle was carnated by popular demand). falsely accused plumber was re - As he reached the corner of introduced to Joseph Stoddart, an leased. Goodge Street he saw a tallish agent for American magazines, in Apart from his observational Win all the Sherlock Holmes stories man "walking with a slight stag - August 1889, which led to his sto - and deductive skills Holmes was ger" and carrying a white goose ries reaching an international au - Win this complete collection of also noted for playing the violin over his shoulder being attacked dience. all the Sherlock Holmes stories and taking cocaine (which was by "a little knot of roughs." One No surprise then that this by Arthur Conan Doyle. legal in those days). knocked off the man's hat and he hotel featured in Chapter 2 of Simply answer this question: His violin was bought in Tot - responded by raising his stick to "The Sign of Four" (1890) when Which street did Dr Watson’s tenham Court Road as revealed in defend himself, smashing a shop Capt Morstan was staying there home back on to. "The Adventure of the Card - window in the process. but went missing; "A Scandal in Post your answer (with your board Box" in 1893 (the box inci - The policeman rushed for - Bohemia" (1891) when the King name, address, and contact de - dentally contained two human ward to defend the man but the of Bohemia stayed there; and the tails) to Fitzrovia News, 39 Totten - but unmatching ears). "Holmes latter dropped the goose and ran aforementioned "The Disappear - ham Street, London , W1T 4RX; or would talk about nothing but vio - off "amid the labyrinth of small ance of Lady Frances Carfax" email: [email protected] lins, narrating with great exulta - streets which lie at the back of when the Hon Philip Green (with “Sherlock competition” in tion how he had purchased his Tottenham Court Road." stayed there. the subject box). own Stradivarius, which was Fitzrovia News issue 150 Autumn 2018 — 13 Dear Marie Stopes: the first birth control opera?

By SUE BLUNDELL ‘I’m 37. I’ve had 14 children, nine living. The doctor said if I have more it might prove fatal. The doctor said I have a very weak heart. … I should like your advice as soon as Cartoon of Kathleen Brown by Chris Tyler you can.’ After her book ‘Married Love’ was published in 1918, the birth control pioneer Marie Stopes re - Suffragettes devised ceived thousands of letters from desperate men and women. In 1925 she went on to set up a fam - ingenious protests ily planning clinic at 108 Whitfield Street (Fitzrovia News June 2018): By MIKE PENTELOW the letters which convinced her Dear Marie Stopes, with Liam Byrne (viola da gamba), Jess Dandy, Feargal One of the suffragettes' less well that this service was badly needed Mostyn-Williams and Alexa Mason. (Photo Claire Shovelton) known actions to demand the are now in the archive of the Well - vote for women was to steal a come Collection, Euston Road. him she helped to remove his your own country, Marie Stopes!’ fire engine and race it down Tot - Composer Alex Mills came across clothes. ‘Oh God, I saw! I couldn’t I can only assume that this refers tenham Court Road! them when researching a different help but see!’ Ever since then the to the fact that Stopes was born in This was done in 1909 by topic, and was inspired to write thought of marital relations has Edinburgh, though she had left Kathleen Brown (1887-1973) just his first opera, ‘Dear Marie terrified her. ‘I am very small,’ she there for London at the age of six after she had been released from Stopes’. Moving excerpts like the sings. ‘I have no mother or sister weeks. prison for throwing stones at one above have been woven into to ask.’ In another refrain, we’re re - Whitehall. While in Holloway jail Millicent Garrett Fawcett’s plaque at the work by librettist Jennifer Marie Stopes herself (excit - minded that 1918 was also the for two terms she went on hunger 2 Gower Street. Thorp. On 9, 11 and 12 August it ingly played by countertenor year in which some women in strike. Millicent Garrett Fawcett, who had its opening performances in Feargal Mostyn-Williams) is there Britain gained the vote. ‘Women’s She was awarded a suf - became president of the National the Reading Room of the Well - to offer counsel. ‘You must not political freedom is well worth the fragette medal from the Women's Union of Women Suffrage Soci - come, as part of the Tête-à-Tête marry!’ she exclaims in a duet struggle,’ Stopes sings again and Social and Political Union in - eties, founded in 1897, lived at opera festival. I’m so glad I was with a woman who has con - again. ‘But it is not as important scribed "For Valour" with the number 2, where there is a plaque able to be there for one of them. tracted gonorrhea. ‘You should as her personal and bodily free - dates of her incarceration. commemorating this. The piece begins when two not have physical connections!’ dom!’ She marched all the way from And in a flat in the same archivists wearing white gloves But the woman is longing to ‘Dear Marie Stopes’ was stun - Edinburgh to London gathering street lived Margaret Bondfield walk down the stairs of the Read - have a child. ‘Give your fiancé up ning in every way. I do hope it signatures for a petition in 1912. (1873-1953) and Mary Macarthur ing Room carrying boxes full of to another woman!’, Stopes in - will be performed again. We may Then she went to India where she (1880-1921), who worked together letters. Soprano Alexa Mason and sists. Gonorrhea was hard to treat think we know how difficult life opened a school. for the Women's Trade Union contralto Jess Dandy then trans - in those days, and could be can be for some women, but it is The medal she received, and a League. form themselves into the anxious passed on to a baby during child - only when it is spelt out to us in a portrait of her wearing it, are on Margaret also became assis - women who are writing to Stopes. birth. powerfully emotional way that display in an exhibition, which is tant secretary of the National They’re accompanied by a viola Some of the letters are from we realise how desperately im - open until September 28, at Cam - Union of Shop Assistants, Ware - da gamba (Liam Byrne), cello Stopes’ attackers. Self-control is portant these issues still are. den Local Studies and Archive housemen, and Clerks. She had (Lucy Railton), percussion (Tom the best form of birth-control, one Alex Mills first came across Centre, Holborn Library, 32-38 first joined it at the age of 18 Oldham), and electronics. of them urges. (Try telling that to the Marie Stopes clinic while liv - Theobalds Road. when a shop assistant herself and ‘Please help me!’ is one of the a wife desperate not to add to her ing in Fitzrovia (on Great Port - It is called "A Stone's Throw she read an advert for it in the refrains knitting the extracts to - 14 pregnancies). ‘Sexual inter - land Street and then New from Westminster, Suffragettes newspaper wrapping the fish and gether. Many of them are heart- course exists for the purpose of Cavendish Street) between 2009 and Other Feminists in Camden." chips she was eating in Fitzroy rending. One seems funny, but generation. This is the only truth!’ and 2013. You can find out more Also included is playwright, Square. only at first. It’s from a woman The strangest of the on - about his opera and his other Cecily Hamilton (1862-1952), who Louise Michel (1830-1905), due to marry a man who had an slaughts declares, ‘Decent English work at www.alexmills.info. wrote "A Pageant of Great the anarchist refugee from Paris accident at work. In caring for people are disgusted! Go back to Women" and others which were (after the Commune there was performed at the Scala Theatre, crushed in 1871) came to London Tottenham Street, from 1909 on - and set up a free school in 1890 at wards. The programme of one 19 Fitzroy Square, according to joint production by the Actresses the exhibition, although later re - THE DUKE OF YORK Franchise League and the Women search indicates it was at 19 Writers' Suffrage League, on Fitzroy Street. Opening hours Mon-Fri 12-11pm November 12, 1909, is on show in The College of Working Sat 1-11pm Sunday closed the exhibition. Women was set up in 1874, a few There are also photographs of doors away, at 7 Fitzroy Street, by 47 Rathbone Street W1T 1NW women students sketching a male Frances Martin, aimed at single nude model at the Slade School of 0207 636 7065 [email protected] young workers who'd had a poor Fine Art in University College, quality early education. A traditional pub with a good selection of Gower Street. Women studied on Many suffragettes joined the equal terms with men at this col - real ales and varied wine list. Order of the Golden Dawn, lege since its foundation in 1871, founded in 1888, which held its Upstairs Bar / Function room available for controversial at the time. services in a vault in Clipstone One of the students, Ernestine Street. private parties and buffets. Mills (1871-1959), was very active Marie Stopes (see also this Check us out on facebook! in the suffrage movement. page) is credited with setting up Gower Street was also where the first birth control clinic, based three prominent feminists lived. from 1925 in Whitfield Street.

14 — Fitzrovia News issue 150 Autumn 2018 The Aphrodites of Bourlet Close about Love conquering War, but By SUE BLUNDELL neither Greeks nor Romans ever It’s well known that the goddess for a moment thought in this way. Aphrodite was born from the sea. The third in an occasional series of War was their way of life. A more Less well known is the story of likely interpretation is that Love how she got there. At the begin - is inevitably mixed up with War. ning of time, there were two Goddesses and Gods of Fitzrovia As for Aphrodite, it’s alright for mighty deities - Earth (Gaea) and her to play away because god - Sky (Uranus). Sky made love to desses are different from ordinary Earth continually, and she con - women. Don’t try this at home, ceived many children. But she ladies, whatever you do. Adul - couldn’t give birth to any of them, tery with a married woman was a because Sky was always on top of criminal offence, punishable by her. She was in a lot of pain. So death. one night when Sky was asleep, The male nude was the staple Earth fashioned a sickle, and her of Greek art, and it was many oldest unborn son, Cronus, centuries before Greek sculptors reached out and grabbed it. As started to remove the clothes Sky began to stir, quick as a flash from female figures. When they Cronus cut off his father’s genitals did, in about 350 BC, it was more with the sickle. often than not the goddess He tossed them into the sea, Aphrodite who came in for this and from them there spurted a treatment. fountain of foam, or aphros. A The two Aphrodites who beautiful goddess took shape in - hover above Bourlet Close are side the foam and glided across naked, or pretty close. The one on the sea to Cyprus. When she the left is a variation on a com - stepped onto the shore flowers mon theme, Aphrodite taking a sprang up beneath her feet. She trophy for ‘Most Beautiful God - bath (an illicit viewing, we’ve was given the name of Aphrodite, dess’. She offered him the love of caught her unawares). the foam-born. the most stunning of mortal The figure on the right is one It’s worth noting in passing women. No matter that at the time of my personal favourites. Still that when Cronus castrated his fa - this woman was married to some - unfortunately shrouded in scaf - ther (Freud loved this story of body else, a Greek king Menelaus. folding, it’s a copy of a famous course), Sky was forced to sepa - cant that her birth was preceded Paris went over to Greece to claim statue in Naples Archaeological rate from Earth. As a result, all the by an act of castration. This tells his prize, the wondrous Helen, Museum, Aphrodite Kallipygos, unborn gods and goddesses could us a lot about the Greek attitude and in this way the Trojan War important to reproduce. or Aphrodite of the Beautiful emerge, and they were followed to sex, and to the goddess who began. There are many stories that Backside (middle). I’m aware that by mountains, rivers, plants, ani - supervised it. Both could be dan - It was all Aphrodite’s fault. drive home this message. For ex - in this statue Greek sculpture has mals and humans. Our world as gerous, and you approached them (Blame women for your stupid ample, the Greek hero Hippolytus definitely crossed the line into we know it came into existence at with care. As is nowadays widely wars, why don’t you?) The Greeks refused to worship Aphrodite, soft pornography, but I still find it that moment – the moment when known, Greek men in general won, of course. Adultery isn’t ac - being a keen sportsman and dedi - very intimate and lovely. I like to Aphrodite was born. tended to give intellectual prefer - ceptable either. Not if you’re a cated virgin. The goddess took imagine the great goddess trying Like her Roman counterpart ence to sex with other men, be - married woman. It’s OK if you’re her revenge by making his step - to catch a glimpse of her own Venus, Aphrodite was the god - lieving this caused far less a married man, but only if you mother Phaedra fall desperately bum in a mirror. But I’m afraid in dess of sex and love. It’s signifi - trouble. But they also knew it was have sex with slaves, foreigners, the eye of the present-day be - in love with him. Both died horri - prostitutes or other men. holder - I just have to admit it – ble deaths. So a little love is better Actually Aphrodite did get Aphrodite is mooning. than no love at all: we do have to away with adultery. She was mar - keep the birth-rate up. But please ried to Hephaestus, the god of 6 FITZROY SQUARE The perfect venue don’t take it too far. Incest is metal-beating, but had many af - tempting, but by no means ac - fairs. The most long-lasting was The perfect venue for meetings, launches, seminars, ceptable. with Ares (Mars in Roman Most famous of all is the tale dinners, wedding receptions and other corporate events. mythology), the god of war. We of how Aphrodite bribed the Tro - might want to believe that this de - jan prince Paris to award her the livers a heart-warming message + Friendly medical advice The Georgian Group’s elegant eigh - + NHS and private teenth-century headquarters overlooking Fitzroy Square provides Picture puzzle prescriptions a unique location for all types of pri - + Prescription collection vate and corporate events in the heart and delivery of central London. + Repeat dispensing + Multivitamins, health We cordially invite local businesses and individuals to visit our building and advice and get a taste of the authentic + Flu vaccination Georgian experience... + Herbal and nutritional support For booking enquiries, availability and rates please contact Rob Kouyoumdjian on 0207 529 SHIV 8921 or [email protected] Pharmacy 70 Great Titchfield Street W1W 7QN Monday-Friday 8:30 - 6:00pm

How well do you know Fitzrovia? Can you identify where this picture Tel/Fax 0207 580 2393 was taken? Answer below the Dining Detective picture on page 9.. Fitzrovia News issue 150 Autumn 2018 — 15 She draped all over my upright!

The Piano Man However, the oddest example No 14 by of someone dancing on or around CLIFFORD my piano was, bizarrely, come - SLAPPER dian Vic Reeves, and was not at all seductive. I had been invited in The seductive prowess of the pi - 1998 by my friend Matt Lucas to anist has been trumpeted fre - the live tour of two hit television quently in modern culture. As a shows of the 1990s, The Fast Show young pianist in my twenties I and Shooting Stars. After the much enjoyed the 1989 film, The Brighton show, we were all in the Fabulous Baker Boys, in which lobby bar of the Grand Hotel. Michelle Pfeiffer famously lay on Mark Lamarr from Swindon a grand piano played by the emi - Cartoon by Chris Tyler nearly got into a fight with some card sharps in a side room. Eddie nently cool Jeff Bridges. there is an upright rather than a Monroe too sexy Izzard popped in after his own I also heartily recommend grand. More fully following the show nearby. I was persuaded to Kat French’s 2015 novel, The Pfeiffer choreography, a certain take to the keys on the grand Piano Man Project, in which a super model did likewise on the piano in the lobby. young, single woman’s two best grand piano I played at The Club for Hitchcock I played some Scott Walker friends hatch a plot to fix her up at The Ivy. for Vic Reeves and, sure enough, Local film critic SANDRA SHEVEY saw a series of Alfred Hitchcock with a pianist, as “all those hours Speaking of choreography, before long, he was stood on the films at the Regent Street Cinema which reminded her of one of his of practising scales would make a there is great pleasure in the cre - piano singing, though not in “the last interviews which he gave her. man talented with his hands. . . ative interplay between music club style” with which he regaled This recently renovated cin - Cohn advised Novak not to do and only clever, sensitive men and dance. At my live perfor - us on Shooting Stars! The ema is where the first film in the film as it would reflect badly would bother to learn the piano”. mance club nights, Slappers Club, Brighton hotel concierge was be - Britain, by the Lumier Brothers, upon her image. In short he said Discretion prevents me detail - I sometimes set up an experimen - side himself with anger and tried was shown, and later the first X- the role as written was that of a ing what adventures may have tal improvisation, with myself on to talk Vic down. It was a far cry rated film in the UK. `prostitute`. come my way in the course of my the piano and a modern dancer, from Michelle Pfeiffer, but great Hitchcock`s `Vertigo` opened Novak did not discuss or ac - work, but I can recall, for exam - performing together. Dancer and fun. the Hitchcock Week Festival on knowledge the role until 2012 ple, playing gigs for some of the choreographer Mel Simpson per - On a separate occasion I was 13 July. This is the film that dis - when it got the `Sign and Sound` Firkin pubs (Fuzzock & Firkin, formed with me in this way at introduced to him and his wife placed Welles`s `Kane` in the 2012 accolade. Frog & Firkin etc.), and noticing Soho’s Arts Club on Frith Street, Nancy Sorrell by my friend, Caro - `Sight and Sound` poll as the best I know because I first met on one occasion at the Angel that with her movements and my line Monk at the Charlotte Street film of all time. Kim in the Fifties when I was a woman had made her way over music evolving in symbiotic re - Hotel in Fitzrovia, and he told me The novel was especially writing for my high school news - from the bar and was standing at sponse to each other’s inventions, that his grandmother had worked written for Hitchcock by Boileau paper. I interviewed her on Sutton my shoulder, studiously scrutinis - a true mutual improvisation, as a as a cinema pianist in the 1920s. I and Narcejac who had written Place (where I was born) and was ing my playing. She finally whis - form of creative expression. In a played a set of David Bowie songs `Diabolique` which Hitchcock bitten by her cat (Pyewacket). pered in my ear cinematically, less disciplined setting, food at last autumn’s Art Car Boot Fair greatly admired. I interviewed her again in praising my digital dexterity and supremo Margot Henderson in Folkestone, where Vic Reeves, When I interviewed Hitch - Hollywood when she was filming announcing that I was going would for a while perform won - a.k.a. Jim Moir, was selling his art, cock in 1972 I asked why he `The White Buffalo` and again she home with her after the gig. derful expressive dance around including some portraits of didn`t use Marilyn Monroe in - failed to mention Hitchcock During my years playing my piano whilst I played at Bowie. As I was playing the songs stead of Kim Novak as I thought and/or the film. nightly at Quo Vadis Club in Soho Gerry’s, the unique Soho private from my album, Bowie Songs One she`d create a better perspective In the interview however there was one club member who members’ club on Dean Street by Clifford Slapper & Friends of someone `on the edge`. Hitch - Novak disclosed something about liked to climb atop the piano originating as an actors’ club in (www.bowiesongs.com), I gave cock replied that she was `too the impact of the role and I think whilst I was playing and drape the 1950s, and now, along with Tr - him a copy – but I’m not sure he sexy` for the role. I protested he this is true of all Hitchcock hero - herself along it whilst singing isha’s on Greek Street, the last re - remembered too much about could have toned down her ap - ines. Tippi Hedren relates that she along, even though the piano maining club of its kind. Brighton. peal. His reply: You can`t change returns to Bodega Bay while the myth. Novak told me she haunts the San Perhaps he is right. Certainly Francisco film locations of `Ver - the director liked low-definition tigo`. Looking back through the archives actors. He worked best with ac - Novak also revealed reasons tors who were putty in his hands. for leaving Hollywood and a 30 years ago 10 years ago He was an auteur, a creator. strong film career ascribing flight The film was made in 1958 to a series of harrowing near-fatal Tesco saved Pop star crash for Paramount and is one of four accidents. that James Stewart made with From Fitzrovia News, Sept, 1988: From Fitzrovia News, Autumn Hitchcock. I think it`s also one of Campaigners have won an amaz - 2008: those he co-produced as Stewart Sandra ing victory, against all the odds, in Courier cyclist Joseph Mattey de - and Lew Wasserman (the agent) Shevey their efforts to keep Tesco on scribed how he nearly knocked connived for the removal of Vera guiding a Goodge Street open. over pop star Michael Jackson Miles (who had been signed) and Hitchcock Tesco announced the agree - who jumped out in front of him in replacement by Kim Novak. Vera walk ment of a ten year lease for the Charlotte Street. Joseph (Joe to his Miles at the time was under per - store with the landlords, after in - of the Fitzroy Tavern in 1934 with friends), who lived in Goodge sonal contract to Hitchcock as was tense lobbying. his wife Annie (daughter of the Street, added that his stream of in - Tippi Hedren years later. Tesco chairman, Ian MacLau - original licensee Judah Kleinfeld), vective directed at the singer Sandra Shevey has been running Stewart was paired with rin, said: "We are delighted we running it until 1956. ceased when his four enormous an award winning Alfred Hitch - Novak at Columbia Pictures and can continue our business in In that time the pub, on the minders surrounded him. cock London Tour since 1999. it was important to play up the Goodge Street and remain part of corner of Charlotte and Windmill Lessons in how to make The tour runs daily for three bonding wherever and whenever. the local community." Streets, attracted many famous corsets, shoes and bags were hours at 11am (book: Columbia studio head Harry Campaign spokesperson, visitors including Dylan Thomas, given in Black Truffle at 52 Warren [email protected]). Max Neufeld, commented: "It is a Nye Bevan, Hugh Gaitskell, Tom Street. The classes took up to eight great achievement for us. We Driberg, and Inspector Fabian of people at a time and were mainly brought the landlords and Tesco Scotland Yard. run at weekends. The shop had Kim Novak together when everybody had The couple raised huge been recently opened by David tussles in written us off." amounts for local poor children Capon and Melissa Needham. “Vertigo” The death was announced of throughout that time. Even after "We really like the area and have Charlie Allchild, aka "father of retirement, when he lived in Ridg - had a positive response as people Fitzrovia" of Ridgmount Gardens mount Gardens, Charlie made seem to be drawn to the shop be - (pictured above). toys which he gave to children all cause it is independent," said He had become joint licensee over the world. David. 16 — Fitzrovia News issue 150 Autumn 2018 WHAT’S ON AROUND FITZROVIA Email [email protected] with listings by Nov 16, for the December issue and put “Listings” in the subject box

CINEMA EXHIBITIONS ART All Saints Church , 7 Margaret St: All Saints Church, 7 Margaret St: Featured exhibitions below. Voices from Iraq (the plight of In Parish Room, John Lewis Arts Christians in Northern Iraq), Sept & Crafts Club autumn exhibition, A full list of all galleries is on 11, 7.30pm. Sept 11-23, 12-6 pm. Child of War, our website an art exhibition by Syrian chil - (news.fitzrovia.org.uk) Bolivar Hall , 54 Grafton Way dren, Sept 25-30, 12-6 pm. Bartha Contemporary, 25 Mar - (cultura.embavenez-uk.org): Lon - garet St: Group Exhibition “Tac - don Socialist Film Co-op screen tile Line”, until Sept 22. Clay films at 11am on the second Sun - Ketter – Two Decades of Pho - Landless, appearing at the King & Queen. day of each month. Belonging, tographs, Sept 28-Nov 10. The Truth Behind the Headlines, CRW Nevinson at British Museum LIVE MUSIC THEATRE Sept 9. The Spider's Web: Britain's British Museum, Great Russell St Fitzrovia Chapel , Pearson Second Empire, Oct 14. The Mur - (britishmuseum.org): Square: Exhibition of art from King & Queen , 1 Foley St : Folk Bloomsbury Theatre/Studio , 15 derers are Amongst Us (set in Free: Christopher Richd Wynne homes across Fitzrovia, through - once a month on Fridays 8-11pm Gordon St (thebloomsbury.com): Germany 1945), and The St Pan - Nevinson: Prints of war and out November. (visit web mustradclub.co.uk). Recovery Songs (about falling cras Rent Strike (St Pancras peace, until Sept 23. Money and Pi Artworks , 55 Eastcastle St: Sylvia Barnes & Sandy Stanage, down and getting back up again), in1959), Nov 11. medals, until Sept 30. What is Eu - Maude Maris “Who Wants to Sept 7. Jim MacFarland & Ken Sept 28. Richard Carpenter Is rope? until Oct 22. Look at Somebody’s Face?”, Sept Wilson, Sept 21. Landless, Dublin Close To You, Oct 11-12. Pay for: I object: Ian Hislop's 29-Nov 9. Harmony Group, Oct 26. The search for dissent, Sept 6-Jan 20. McCarthy Family, Nov 30. Camden People's Theatre , 58-60 Iam Ashurbanipal: king of the Hampstead Rd (cptheatre.co.uk): world, king of Assyria, Nov 8-Feb London Palladium , Argyll St Camden Underground: Various 24. (london-palladium.co.uk): Echo plays, Sept 11-29 Big Bang, Oct 1. & the Bunnymen, Oct 18. King Everything I am, Oct 2-5. A Gen - Royal College of Nursing Li - Crimson, Nov 2-3, Hawkwind, erous Lover, Oct 2-3. Risklab, Oct brary and Heritage Centre, 20 The Truth Behind the Headlines, Nov 4-5. 4-5. Dice Festival, Oct 6-7. Ele - Cavendish Square, Henrietta showing at Bolivar Hall. phant and Castle (live music and Place entrance opposite John Sevilla Mia Spanish Bar , 22 song), Oct 9-20, Kingdom (dream - Charlotte Street Hotel , 15-17 Lewis Food Hall Hanway St (basement): World scapes of drag kings), Oct 9-11. Charlotte St: Film Club with meal (rcn.org.uk/whatson): Pandemic Fusion, Tue, 9.30pm; Swing 'n' and a movie for £40.To book tick - Nursing 100 years of infection, Blues, Wed, 9.30pm; Spanish Dominion Theatre , 269 Totten - ets visit bit.ly/CharlotteStreet - until Sept 28. The Voice of Nurs - Pilar Corrias , 54 Eastcastle St: Rumba, Thur-Sat, 10.30pm. ham Court Rd FilmClub. ing: Celebrating 100 years of the Christina Quarles “Always (dominiontheatre.com): Bat out RCN, until the end of this year. Brightest Before the Dusk” (pic - Simmons, 28 Maple St: Live of Hell, the Musical, ongoing. Green Man , 36 Riding House St: tured above ), Sept 5-22. music every Wednesday evening London Animation Club, first UCL Main Library , Wilkins Tuesday of month. Building, Gower St: Dangers and ULU Live (The Venue), Torrinton Delusions? Perspectives on the Place/Malet St (ulu.live,co.uk): Odeon , 30 Tottenham Court Rd: women's suffrage movement, Glass Tiger Oct 19. Snakecharmr Weekly film details from until December 14. Oct 26. Bat Touch, Nov 10. Cara - odeon.co.uk or 08712 244007. van, Nov 16. The Alarm, Nov 28. Wellcome Library , 183 Euston Rd London Palladium , Argyll St Saunders Fine Art , 20 Charlotte Regent Street Cinema , 309 Re - (wellcomecollection.org): Teeth, (london-palladium.co.uk): The St: Modern British and European The 100 Club , 100 Oxford St gent St: For daily programme until Sept 16. Living with Build - King and I (pictured above) , until Painting, by Appointment. (the100club.co.uk):Mike Sanchez visit regentstreetcinema.com. ings, Oct 4-March 3.Permanent Sept 29.John Cooper Clarke, Nov Includes David Bridgeman (pic - and his band, Sept 23. Kris Barras Matinee classics every Wednes - exhibitions: Medicine Now, and 24. See also Live Music. tured above). Band, Sept 24. Paul Lamb and the day at 2pm, for over 55s, £1.75. Medicine Man. Kingsnakes, Sept 25. Brother - Kids' Kino Club, every Saturday, hood of Breath, Sept 26. Sex Pis - New Diorama Theatre (newdio - 11.30am. rama.com), 15-16 Triton St (Eu - TALKS tols Experience, Sept 28. Corky Sohemian Society , Wheatsheaf, Laing plays Mountain, Oct 9. In ston Rd opposite Fitzroy St): Royal Anthropological Institute , 4.48 Psychosis, Sept 18-Oct 13. It’s 25 Rathbone Place: Ironfoot Jack: Aid of Teenage Cancer Trust: 50 Fitzroy St King of the Bohemians, by author Django Winedog’s Rock Circus True, It’s True, It’s True, Oct (raifilm.org.uk/events): Regular 16=Nov 10. Boys, Nov 27-Dec 1. Colin Stanley, Sept 19.The Edith and others, Oct 16. programme of screenings. Thompson and Frederick Bywa - ters murder case, by author Laura COMEDY Thompson, Sept 26. The Albany , 240 Great Portland St: Mondays at 8pm. UCL Darwin Lecture Theatre , Malet Place (ucl.ac.uk/events): PUB QUIZZES Lunchtime lectures, Tuesdays and The Albany , 240 Great Portland Thursdays (1.15-1.55pm) during Tristan Hoare, 6 Fitzroy Square: St: Sundays, 7pm term time. Pierre Le-Tan “The Collection of Monsieur X” (pictured above) , Sept Carpenters Arms , 68-70 Whitfield WALKS 28-Nov 17. St. Tuesdays, 6.30pm. London Literary Pub Crawl , every Saturday, 5pm. Start at the Prince of Wales Feathers , 8 War - Wheatsheaf, 25 Rathbone Place. ren St: Tuesdays, 6pm. LondonLiteraryPubCrawl.com.

Rising Sun , 46 Tottenham Court OTHER EVENT Rd. Wednesdays, 6.30 for 7pm. The news and production editor of Please mention Fitzrovia Fitzrovia News celebrates his 60th birthday upstairs at The King and White Rainbow , 47 Mortimer St: News when replying to Queen on Sunday 16 September Taro Izumi, Sept 19-Nov 3. Meiro Recovery Songs at the Bloomsbury Theatre advertisers evening Koizumi ( above ), Nov 22-Jan 12