6 SEPTEMBER 2001 THE ARCHER - Distribution - 08700 293 992 A hole in my shoe On location at East By Femke van Iperen Some traditional trades have managed to survive dot coms and mass produce. Whilst one shoemaker on the Finchley Tube Station High Road was forced to close this summer, at 1a Manor By John Dearing Park Road you can still find the red door of a typical East Finchley tube station is a prime example of a public building in the Art Deco style, shoe shop: John’s Workshop. and its motif, the statue of THE ARCHER is the icon of East Finchley (and the symbol This colourful shop of John Cobblers of this newspaper). Many producers of films, TV programs and advertisements have the Shoemaker, a conventional Despite everything, John’s recognised what an atmospheric location it makes. shoemaker from Cyprus, is shop still exists. But times Last month’s ARCHER related unusual as he still practises are hard. Whilst scrutinizing how a re-union in “Home and his profession by hand. He a leather belt that one of the Away” was filmed there, and at has owned the shop for about guys bought on the market the beginning of August, a stu- eight years and despite domi- for a fraction of the retail dent film crew was seen working nant competition from cheap price, John looked worried. on a drama ‘short’, provisionally materials for shoes that rely “I can’t even buy it from the called “Manhatten/London”. At on replacement rather than wholesaler for that money”, the end of July, a commercial repair, he is happy to survive he said. About the future John for Hewlett-Packard was made in this way. commented: “As soon as little here, but has yet to be shown. Though the shop is tucked shops all go down, the larger In the spring of this year, away at the back of the village, monopolies are bound to put Nestlé filmed the latest in customers regularly come in the price up, so the customer a series of advertisements for a chat. John said, “It’s like will have no choice but to pay for Aero chocolate on the a communal, non-business more anyway! Change has station platform. It shows a agreement”. Mr. Rodgers, an never been any good in my man approaching the kiosk on established customer for many view. People always pay more the southbound platform, and Above: the Aero ad and below filming in progress - photo by John Dearing asking for an Aero bar. The from the Internet, and also an and Horses). years, habitually passes by in the end!” animation of the mouse; just The cast of Eastenders the for a cup of tea. He said, Although East Finchley kiosk attendant hands him the chocolate and places a mouse search for “Nestlé Aero”. prime time has also “John is a first-class shoe has lost many small traditional Filming has also taken place been seen here. Most recently, repairer, who goes out of his trades over the years, several on the counter, which proceeds to perform tricks with a hula- at East Finchley tube station Mark Fowler (played by Todd way to satisfy his customers”. have remained. Butchers, for the feature film Doctor Carty) was seen taking the tube Another customer added: “A flower shops, specialised hoop. The man, content with Aero, declines the mouse, which Sleep, whose cast includes after a hospital appointment very honest craftsman is hard electrical shops, and green- Goran Visjnic (Luca Kovac in where, apparently, he was told to find these days, one who grocers are still found in the looks endearingly sad (aaah!). You can download the advert ER) and Mad Dogs with Paul that despite having AIDS, he knows what he is doing and Yellow Pages. There are only Barber (Denzil in Only Fools had another 20 years to live. Not who takes the time to talk two large supermarkets in the surprisingly, he was celebrating! to you like a human being”. area, and offers by two giant Some while ago, Matthew Rose Although this kind of business fast food- and supermarket- (Joe Absolom) made his escape might predominantly attract chains for a new development by tube after arguing with Steve an older generation, the shop ground on the High Road Owen (, who is is also used by a younger, have reportedly been denied soon to leave the series). trendier age group. by the council. Lastly a commercial for WKD, apparently an ‘alcopop’ with a “wicked side” was made GARDENING here for Tangent TV. Thanks are due to Kate Spring into action Blow (LT Commercial Film Liaison Manager) for much of the By Zena Robson information in this article and to As I write this at the beginning of August, I am in a Catherine Saycell of Ptarmigan state of shock – bulbs are already in garden centres! I Consultants for the picture from haven’t recovered from the rush for summer bedding the Aero advertisement. once the sun came out, never mind contemplating buying bulbs now! Anyway, tulips shouldn’t be planted until October or early November…but when you read this I shall probably be elbowing YOUNG ARCHER my way to the boxes with the rest of them on the assumption that if I leave it any later the best ones will have gone! Clever Clogs Look out for Lilies and Alliums as well as more traditional Nicknames bulbs and if you have a dry stony but sunny area, look for By Diana Cormack Corner gorgeous cerise-coloured little Gladiolus byzantinus. All bulbs When I was a child I couldn’t understand why my dad’s rot in soggy soil so use grit under them when planting and friends used to call him Taffy. Other men got called The word “nickname” remember that most daffodils fail to flower because they are Taffy too, which was just as puzzling. Now I know that comes from “an eke- not planted deeply enough. people from Wales are given that nickname. I think it name.” Long ago “eke” It aster be colourful is because the river on which its capital city Cardiff meant “also.” September can be a time when the garden to lacks colour. If stands is called the Taff. Can you join these nick- yours does, think about planting some Asters. Aster novi-belgii is names to where people come There is an old rhyme dating by such things. Nicknames can from? somewhat prone to mildew and needs preventative spraying with back to the battles between be as cruel as name-calling, a fungicide; if you don’t like sprays stick with the novi-angliae England and Wales hundreds particularly if they refer to Cockney England group such as ‘Harrington’s Pink’ which, like the rest of this of years ago. It starts with someone’s appearance, but Geordie Liverpool group, will grow to 120cm. Others to look for are the ericoides “Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy they can also be funny or Brummie Scotland and cordifolia types carry sprays of tiny flowers along their was a thief,” but I’ll have to descriptive. Scouser London stems, and the frikartii types with much bigger flower-heads stop there because nowadays In history we have Ethelred Mancunian New Zealand than the norm. None of these get mildew. Also, what about some nasty references to people’s the Unready. What wasn’t he Manxman Ireland Anemone hybrida in pinks, whites and cerises; they don’t mind a race are unacceptable. But we ready for? Then there’s Alfred Glaswegian USA bit of shade and if you plant ‘Honorine Jobert’ at the back of the do still call the French “frogs” the Great, Edward the Confessor Jock Birmingham border she will rise above the rest giving a satisfying display of and they call the English “le and William the Conqueror. But Limey Isle of Man white flowers on erect stems. And then there’s Rudbeckia from Rosbif,” though this is about I have to go back to Wales for Yank Manchester the 210cm ‘Herbstsonne’ to the more usual fulgida speciosa at eating habits rather than being the most necessary descriptive Kiwi Glasgow 70cm. They all like sun and some moisture. totally insulting. use. Because so many people Paddy Newcastle-upon- Cut up When I cried after being have the same surname there Tyne It’s time to start raising the height of the cut on your lawn called names, my mother has to be a way of sorting out mower and to think about applying weed and/or moss killer. (a Geordie from Newcastle- who is who. Jobs and homes Kumon Maths in N2 If you’re been waiting to sow a new area, now is the time. But upon-Tyne) comforted me by are often used for this, so you Enrol between Aug 21st – Oct 20th be sure that the area is completely free of perennial weeds or saying, “Sticks and stones may get Jones the milk, Jones the in the most successful after-school they’ll be popping up through your new greenery. You may break my bones, but names will shop, Jones the bungalow, Jones maths programme and save have to wait until next spring before you can give a first cut never hurt me.” Unfortunately, Caemawr Farm, etc. There are the assessment fee of £15. or you may have a chance in late autumn; either way the grass For more information call your local this isn’t always true because some nasty nicknames too, but instructor on 8361 9705. should be at least 5cm long. some people can be very upset I won’t go into that! Classes held at East Finchley Library.

2001Sep06.indd 1 27/08/01, 21:49