FN132_master_Fitz News - Sharman Tabloid - Editors Layout 289x400 02/03/2014 17:33 Page 1 It gets worse... news.fitzrovia.org.uk FitzroviaNews Fitzrovia News is produced by residents and volunteers and distributed free to all businesses and residential addresses in Fitzrovia Issue 132 Spring 2014 Exemplar “hell bent” on removing history of Middlesex Hospital Exemplar the property developer Now the only remaining part ing of this last memory to the name Middlesex in a street name which is creating the huge new of the original hospital — The institution that brought life into on the site, but Exemplar rejected building complex in Fitzrovia has Middlesex Hospital Chapel — is the world and saved countless their collective plea. been condemned by an interna- to be re-branded in Exemplar’s more. Even the hospital chapel is tional community of health work- own corporate image. Exemplar on behalf of the not sacrosanct in the developer’s ers and patients for trying to Gone will be Middlesex and consortium which includes Aviva desire to eradicate the name erase the name Middlesex from Hospital and instead Exemplar and Kaupthing ignored the wish- Middlesex. the site of the former hospital. plan to call the Grade II* listed es of local people and former staff Harriet Griffey wrote to say: The site which will be com- building Pearson Chapel after the of the hospital by refusing to “Exemplar seem to be hell bent Del Boy had pleted later this year was to be architect who designed its interi- have any mention of Middlesex on removing all historical refer- called Fitzroy Place, then when or. in the name in the new street ence to the hospital”. that name was over-ruled by Local people, former staff and through the development. She was joined in condemna- a joint locally authorities, the name Pearson patients of the hospital are furi- Over a thousand people tion of Exemplar by other hospi- Square was chosen. ous at Exemplar’s crass re-nam- signed a petition to retain the tal workers. See comment on p2-3. in more ways than one Suspected See page 16 killer of Norwegian student still evades justice Full story on page 5 Beatles 50th Canadians flocked to the Tower Tavern in Clipstone Street to watch Olympic ice hockey live on the big screens, writes Richard Simpson. “For the gold medal game on Sunday the pub was due to open at 11am anniversary but I ended up opening the doors half an hour earlier because a queue was forming outside,” says bar- tender Samu Makela. “Some were even there with packed suitcases ready to head to the airport once the match was done — I’d never seen anything like it!” Photo: Phil McErlean See page 9 GIGS est. 1958 The home of traditional Fish & Chips Fully licensed Greek restaurant “One of London’s top fish & chip shops” (Metro, 2013) 12 Tottenham Street 020 7636 1424 FN132_master_Fitz News - Sharman Tabloid - Editors Layout 289x400 02/03/2014 17:33 Page 2 2 — Fitzrovia News issue 132 Spring 2014 facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Fitzrovia News Formerly The Tower Letters, emails and comment established 1973 news.fitzrovia.org.uk Write to [email protected] or post to Fitzrovia News, Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association, 39 Tottenham Street, London W1T 4RX twitter.com/fitzrovianews facebook.com/fitzrovianews Why do Exemplar want to change the name of the Middlesex Hospital Chapel? [email protected] 020 7580 4576 I trained at the Middlesex Hospital in the 1950’s and I am against the use of the name worked there for several years. “Pearson Chapel” for the former Issue 132 Spring 2014 The Chapel was a very impor- Middlesex Hospital Chapel. The Published 4 March 2014 tant place for the staff and developers have not consulted patients of the hospital, a place local people or businesses about Editorial Team of peace and refuge. When I was this name change. I feel that Mike Pentelow: working in the oncology ward in they are being insensitive and editor and features editor 1958 I used to accompany a ter- disrespectful to the Fitzrovia Linus Rees: minally ill 17 year old organ community. assistant editor scholar at Lancing College down Kirit Patel Pete Whyatt: to the chapel during my lunch store owner news and production editor break to play the organ, a very Great Titchfield Street Clive Jennings: moving experience which I still remember vividly.I have lived When Exemplar came along arts editor change of name is crass and of The Middlesex Hospital and worked around Fitzrovia they criticised Candy and Candy Brian Jarman: insensitive. The Chapel is the Chapel alive in keeping the spir- since then and we have always for their Noho rebranding, now writer and sub-editor only part of the Hospital that is it and history of this special felt some reassurance that the they are trying the same trick. Barb Jacobson: still left and it is very important location. This in turn would chapel was there for us if we They were given planning per- associate editor that it is still available for the give respect to the developers needed it. The hospital was mission to build this massive Jennifer Kavanagh: community to use and it is not and Fitzroy Place. open 24 hours a day and we block as long as they renovated associate editor just a corporate venue only Laurence Glynne partner at could wander in and out at will. the chapel and made it available Jess Owens available to those who can pay LDG estate agents, Foley Street. I was pleased when I heard that for community use. Now their associate editor to hire it. Jill Hutchings the developers were obliged by motives are questionable. How Curwen and New Academy Why do the developers their S106 agreement to keep the can we trust these people to set Contributors: Gallery, Windmill Street Exemplar want to change the chapel available for community up the chapel trust? They have name of the Chapel? They use. However I am concerned not said anything about who Peter Arkell I was born in the Middlesex should stick to their job building that the charity is set up in a will be trustees or how they are Sue Blundell Hospital and have spent a con- the site. transparent way and it will be to be chosen. Jayne Davis siderable part of my working Eddie Duke Low, accountable to the local commu- Martin and Linda Moore Clancy Gebler Davies life in the area. I think it would Cleveland Street nity which it serves. I think the New Cavendish Street Simon Glyndwr John be appropriate to keep the name Oku Ekpenyon Maddy Fisk Clifford Harper Exemplar seem to be hell bent on removing all Christina Latham Angela Lovely Eugene McConville historical reference to the hospital from the site Phil McErlean that it will become a magnet for Richard Simpson We asked members of The hours taking patients to the the building has to be retained old Middlesexers? Please let Sunita Soliar Middlesex Hospital Facebook Group chapel or sitting in there after a as it was including the name for there be a small piece of care Alexander Stevenson to comment on the plans to re-name difficult shift. the respect for those of us who and humanity on this issue. Kipper Williams The Middlesex Hospital Chapel. Jenny Hall saw it as a central part to our life Here are some of the responses. at the Middlesex Hospital. The Come on gentlemen.... What harm can it do? Printed by: I understand that the chapel will hospital pioneered treatments Sarah Price Sharman & Co Ltd, I trained at the Middlesex be coming into ‘community use’. and we all have experience of Newark Road, Hospital and know the chapel I really hope that the Chapel will caring for people who could Why would you want to re Peterborough PE1 5TD well. Exemplar seem to be hell be treated with dignity. For only get the expertise at our hos- name the chapel which is The sharmanandco.co.uk bent on removing all historical those who worked or were pital. To not retain the named reference to the hospital from patients at the Middlesex the link to the Middlesex Hospital Middlesex Hospital Chapel ....”the building of which was Fitzrovia News is produced the site — but not sure why the chapel was a refuge and place of would be an insult to staff who begun in 1890 as a memorial to quarterly by the Fitzrovia chapel: all the memorial plaques calm in an uncertain and trau- dedicated their lives at the hos- Major A H Ross MP a former Community Newspaper inside are to ex-hospital staff & matic world. The aura of peace pital and the patients who trust- chairman of the Board of Group, ISSN: 0967-1404 people related to the hospital & and tranquility that over- ed us with their lives. it's where Rudyard Kipling was whelmed you when you entered Julie Hargreaves Governors”...”the surgeons Sir John bland Sutton and Lord Published by the Fitzrovia laid to rest after he died. is memorable even now. Webb Johnson paid for much of Neighbourhood Association Harriet Griffey Karen Kick I sat in the beautiful hospital the decorations the chapel...” (registered charity no. 1111649) Chapel often and took patients (Sacred Spaces by Joan 39 Tottenham Street, I am appalled but not surprised. Oh for goodness sake Exemplar, there for church services and on Crossly...a wonderful book London, W1T 4RX Exemplar — and, I suspect, cer- please display some taste and a special days like Christmas. As a tain elements of the council — respect for history which also part of a mark of respect to peo- about the London hospital chapels...”the oases of calm, fitzrovia.org.uk have wanted to bury the history means respect for all the people ple who used that Chapel at a places for reflection and google.com/+FitzroviaOrgUK and heritage of the Middlesex who have been born, died and time when they were at their prayer”).