Having it both ways 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 148 Spring 2018 Camden plans two years of chaos with ‘ground breaking project’ All change at Tottenham Court Road and Gower Street with a new public park and two-way traffic

Residents and businesses will to the West End Project has been have to endure two years of dis - addressed already by Camden by ruption from March as work be - stopping west bound vehicles gins to transform the Gower Street travelling along Tavistock Place. and Tottenham Court Road one- However CSA and FNA remain way system in what Camden concerned about an increase in Council describes as a “ground congestion and pollution along breaking project”. Grafton Way, Charlotte Street and All bus services will move to other streets. Poet ribbed as Tottenham Court Road making Despite the billions of public the street two-way by the end of money spent on Crossrail there plumber at the year, and Gower Street will will be no toilets on the Elizabeth become two-way 12 months later, line trains or at Tottenham Court Middx Hospital says Camden. Road and Bond Street stations. Known as the West End Pro - Out of the £35m that Camden medical school ject it will create a much needed Council is using for the scheme new public park at Alfred Place there are no plans for public con - Page 10 and promises improvements to veniences to relieve cross-legged Whitfield Gardens including the passengers or anyone else. restoration of the Fitzrovia Mural. Camden did initially work New paving and road surface with local people on a design for will be laid using high quality ma - the proposed park at Alfred Place terial and the historic lamp posts but this initiative was cut short. on Tottenham Court Road will be Community groups will be restored and relocated. pressing the council to consult On Gower Street there will be and work with them in the hope protected cycle lanes running of a high quality and interesting north and south giving cyclists design for the new open space. safe and direct access into and out The two year scheme will be of the West End. the largest project of its kind that But Camden is hugely behind Camden has undertaken and schedule with the project and it is many residents are concerned that desperate to get the Tottenham it could make matters worse not Court Road part completed and better. within budget before Crossrail But Adam Harrison, Blooms - trains start running along the Eliz - bury ward councillor and cabinet abeth Line at the end of this year. member for improving Camden’s Community groups are con - environment, is upbeat and hop - cerned that Camden is prioritising ing to still have his job after May’s commercial interests along Totten - election. ham Court Road over neighbour - “Transformation of Totten - ing streets with residents and ham Court Road will address the small businesses. issues of poor air quality, traffic The Charlotte Street Associa - congestion, and a lack of public Andy Soto Bastidas, Barcelona-based couturier (keft), and Dan Bates, local God of wine tion and Fitzrovia Neighbourhood open space,” he says. musician and FitzFest organiser (right), were married in January at the former Association say that the banning See: camden.gov.uk/westendproject Middlesex Hospital Chapel in Pearson Square. Photo: Robert Workman of most motor vehicles from much For information about this years FitzFest see panel on back page. page 14 of Tottenham Court Road during the daytime will merely divert traffic — particularly taxis, private vehicles and delivery vans — into the narrow side streets. They are also concerned that public open spaces will be redesigned as low- est1958 maintenance with a reduction in greenery and featuring hard areas and seating to reduce ongoing Awarded The home of traditional costs, and designing out crime. tripadvisor But this will also mean less biodi - certificate of fish and chips. versity and comfort. excellence four GIGS A predicted increase in motor years running Fully licensed Greek restaurant traffic along Torrington Place due 2014 - 2017 12 Tottenham Street 020 7636 1424 2 — Fitzrovia News issue 148 Spring 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 The 43 Group It’s time for Fitzrovia to Literary stand up [email protected] Thanks for the excellent article in 020 7580 4576 the last issue on the “43 group” of Jewish anti-fascist ex-servicemen and be counted! Issue 148 Spring 2018 formed just after WW2, of which Published 6 March 2018 Vidal Sassoon was one of the more I love Fitzrovia. But full disclosure. I was born way to do that is with a Literary Festival. The other Editorial Team well-known members. and brought up in Birmingham. So if you are a thing I love about Fitzrovia is how contemporary it Mike Pentelow: Some readers will also remem - long-term resident of Fitzrovia you should know I is. There are still struggling writers around, even editor and features editor ber the veteran Communist Joe Rab - am looking at your area as an outsider. I have a though cheap rents are largely a thing of the past. Linus Rees: stein who, in the 1970s, campaigned tourist’s eyes! I’ve only been here full-time for So I want to create a Literary Festival that is loud website and assistant editor tirelessly in “South Marylebone” about ten years. No time at all for some Fitzrovians. and proud about this unique area and the idea is to Pete Whyatt: against housing deprivation, land - But what an area. Arguably still living in the have a two-pronged celebration. Celebrate the his - news and production editor lord exploitation, and inadequate shadow of Soho - NoHo thankfully never took off - tory of the area with readings and productions of Clive Jennings: Council policy. I was then a student this is the area that gave us Charles Dickens. Twice. some of the world-class artists who lived here in the arts editor living in Nassau Street and heard it Where George Bernard Shaw chose to live. And past. And celebrate contemporary Fitzrovia with Brian Jarman: said that Joe was a member of a se - where Virginal Woolf lived. In fact, Virginia lived in literary events, workshops, interviews with famous writer and sub-editor cretive anti-fascist support group. the same HOUSE as Shaw. Jerome K Jerome used to writers, poetry and street corner soliloquies. In the Janet Gauld: So the story went: Joe was equipped walk these streets at night thinking about writing. pubs, clubs, restaurants and cafes. Ever fancied associate editor with awesome self-defence skills The teenage Dylan Thomas dreamt of the area when writing? We want to create a book of a 1,000 words Barb Jacobson: and had, with a single kick, broken still writing in Wales. Then later he met the love of called ‘One Day’ - any story about anything over a associate editor a man’s leg for an anti-semitic taunt. his life in one of our pubs. More recently, Ian McE - single day - as long as Fitzrovia is in the picture Jennifer Kavanagh: I never had the temerity to ask Joe if wan wrote a whole novel set in our streets. The late, somewhere. We’ll then have live events and pub - associate editor it was true… multi-millionaire publisher, Felix Dennis, had of - lish the book in hard copy and online. Anyway, it all serves as a timely fices around the world. But he insisted his head of - Maverick Theatre has always been about access. Contributors: reminder that, regrettably, fascist or - fice remained in Fitzrovia. The poet who The first pub theatre in Birmingham. The London Ann Basu ganisations and ideology survive introduced Oscar Wilde to Bosie lived here. As did Literary Pub Crawl. The memoir ‘Confessions of a Sue Blundell still, if only at the margin and often the war poet, Rupert Brooke. The Proles Pub from Butcher Boy’, much loved by Peaky Blinders fans. Jayne Davis in disguise, eager to blame inequal - Orwell’s 1984 is here. Griff Rhys Jones is a fan and FitzLit... provisional name... will be 10 days in either Tom Edgington ity and deprivation on blacks, Jews, has a house here. Yet on occasions this monumental October or April next year. I’d love you to be in - Terry Egan gays, immigrants, or some other area in the centre of the greatest city in the world volved. Whaddyathink? If you like the idea or Etienne Gilfillan convenient minority group. It is big - (sorry New York and Paris!) feels like a rural village. have a venue that might like to be involved, please Fiona Green otry, and a diversion. Joe and my Some pubs a hundred metres from one of the busi - email [email protected]. Claire-Louise John parents’ generation fought a World est shopping streets in Europe, close on a Sunday. And thanks to the Fitzrovia News for their early Ann Goodburn War to defeat this evil. Fascism in And the area is loosely named after a pub and not support. Angela Lovely 21st century garb should not be al - the other way round. I love them almost as much as I love Fitzrovia. Wendy Shutler lowed to thrive. What an area! That’s a lot of love… Clifford Slapper Martin Smith, London SW. So I want to celebrate Fitzrovia and the obvious Nick Hennegan Sunita Soliar Chris Tyler Kipper Williams Helen Gregory Printed by: Sharman & Co Ltd, Newark Road, Peterborough Helen Gregory, a long time resident of Tottenham Street, died at University PE1 5TD. sharmanandco.co.uk College Hospital on 7 February. Her funeral was held at Bushey Jewish Fitzrovia News is produced Cemetery on 23 February. She was at least 90 years old. by the Fitzrovia Community She was a very private woman but knew a great many people in the shops Newspaper Group. and cafes of Fitzrovia and Bloomsbury. Helen had lived in Tottenham Street ISSN: 0967-1404 since at least the early 1960s after coming to London as a refugee from Ger - Published by Fitzrovia many. In retirement she was a volunteer researcher at The Wiener Library Neighbourhood Association when it was based in Marylebone. Until her death she continued to read (registered charity 1111649) many newspapers every day and took a keen interest in current affairs. 39 Tottenham Street, London, W1T 4RX Helen was well known around the I first met Helen in 1964 when Sandra, a neighbour, offered Helen the use of her bathroom when the fitzrovia.org.uk area at less than 5 feet tall thinly built, she she came up to me in Regents council condemned Helen’s boiler. walked with a stoop. Often she carried Park as I was walking my “ Helen was very softly and well spoken and extremly grateful that I bags around with her. Any request to ask if baby and she made a few com- Fitzrovia News is published let her use my bathroom saying that the hotels in Gower Street wanted she wanted any help was met with a po - ments and I went on my way. four times a year. to charge her over £100, recalled Sandra. “She gave me this very sweet lite: “No thank you very much, I’m al - About a decade later, I replied Our deadline for news, card (above) and thanked me every time I saw her. I will really miss right” to a letter she sent to the Cam- her.” features, letters and adverts She spent a lot of money in the den New Journal, she made is normally two weeks be - newsagents on newspapers and magazines herself known to me as the au- fore publication. The next and could be seen in coffee shops and thor of the letter. So started A neighbour who lived in the same block as Helen for many Whitfield Gardens with a pair of scissors issue will be out on years of a distant friendship, years said: cutting out articles. It is believed she “We hardly saw her and she didn't encourage 'neigh - Tuesday 5 June 2018. because Helen was such a spe- worked as a researcher and this work car - cial, private, and fiercely inde- bourly' chats. She was never unpleasant, but obviously very Deadline: 18 May. ried on throughout her life. pendent woman but my private and we respected her shyness and need for privacy. We Public editorial meetings At the Icco pizza shop on the corner of little children gave her great did worry a bit about her and wondered about the stacks of pa - are held at 7 pm, first Goodge and Charlotte Streets she could delight. pers etc we could see in her window from the street. But she Tuesday of every month at often be seen at the end of the evening When I was forced to leave my seemed healthy and fine, smiled if we met, maybe exchanged a putting away the shop’s tables and chairs. Fitzrovia Neighbourhood home in 2012, I told her I was view of the weather etc, but nothing more. Several customers were alarmed at the We realised she'd had a difficult past. Letters sometimes ar - Association, concerned about her welfare. sight of this elderly lady doing this manual She berated me, saying that rived in a different name (we'd assumed Polish) for her. She 39 Tottenham Street work and the manager asked her to stop she would be alright as had a cat, that she sometimes took downstairs in the evening for London W1T 4RX because of customer complaints. Helen she had plenty of friends. I a short time. But our paths didn't cross often. Subscribe to Fitzrovia News replied feistily “I’ve been doing this longer know she was much loved in It seems incredible that we didn't get to know each other for regular updates: than you’ve been working here!” It was Fitzrovia. more. It wasn't in my nature to stay aloof - but Helen really never mentioned again. bit.ly/fitzrovianews Fiona Green didn't want more contact. Fitzrovia News issue Issue 148 Spring 2018 — 3

Access to buses Planning chief’s and taxis Camden’s West End Project (see front page) when it is completed gifts investigated will mean radical changes to ac - cess to the street and there are The chairman of Westminster similarities to what Westminster council's planning committee Council is proposing for Oxford from 2000 to 2017, which ap - Street. proved large building projects in Camden, like Westminster, is Pearson Square and Rathbone seeking to reduce access to the Square, is being investigated over street for taxis which means shop - extensive gifts he has received pers who need (or choose) to use from property developers. taxis will not be able to hail one Following reports of his gifts outside a shop. While this will re - by The Guardian newspaper, duce congestion and pollution on Councillor Robert Davis has re - these shopping streets it disad - ferred himself to the council's vantages those with mobility monitoring office and stated he problems and it means taxis will has not broken any rules. merely seek to ply their trade in Records revealed he had re - neighbouring streets, often where ceived over 500 "gifts and hospi - they are not needed or wanted. tality" over three years, stated The Councillor Robert Davis While Westminster wants to Guardian . They included trips remove buses from Oxford Street had also pushed through contro - abroad, luxury dinners, and tick - altogether Camden is reducing versial schemes, he added. ets to shows, film premieres, and the number of bus stops on Tot - Councillor Davis responded: Wimbledon Centre Court. tenham Court Road but running "As planning chairman it was an More than a dozen instances buses in both directions. There are There may be some important part of my job to meet of hospitality came from West - pros and cons. groups ranging from developers minster Property Association Unlike Westminster, Camden to residents, property agents, her - which represents owners and de - is not diverting buses left and itage associations, arts groups and changes but our food velopers. right along narrow side streets trade organisations. Their sole This was criticised by the where they are not wanted. council's Labour leader, Adam purpose was to ensure and en - will stay the same Hug who said it gave the public a courage the right kind of develop - "clear perception that senior Con - ment in Westminster and ensure Volunteer runs servative councillors have a very that anything put before the coun - Jaoa Piedade Francisco Xavier change the way we are seen in close relationship with develop - cil was going to benefit the city as Fernandes, originally from Goa, is for food aid the community we would like to ers." a whole." A council spokesperson the General Secretary of the In - open up the organisation to other For decades, he added, "they added: "Where hospitality is of - A long-time volunteer at a dian YMCA in Fitzroy Square. locals, workers, students and resi - have let developers get away with fered, these meetings are all de - Fitzrovia charity is running this He’s been in the post, which dents’ groups. building far fewer 'affordable' clared in the register of interests year’s London Marathon to raise is effectively the chief executive “The message we want to homes than required under West - and have absolutely no sway on money for the Soup Kitchen, officer, for a year. Because of his send is that everything around minster's planning policy." They planning decisions." Whitfield Street which provides long name he is known around here is open to change and new free hot meals for the homeless the building as JP. He has worked and those in need. ideas - but the food, for which we Paul Church, West End ward Conservative Councillor, said this for the YMCA for over 40 years have a good reputation, will re - Nav Basi, aged 46, says: “I've on his twitter account on 25 February: mostly on the Indian Sub Conti - main the same! been a volunteer at The Soup nent and Fitzroy Square is his first “Part of our work involves “I tried to stand up for the communities I was elected to repre - Kitchen for the last 12 years and posting abroad. he said counselling and care of the stu - sent against the dominance of property developers & their met so many wonderful people, “The YMCA was formed in dents staying with us. The church agents, patronage & power in Westminster, but I was bullied, volunteers and guests. I wanted 1844 as an essentially anglican or - is a cultural link with India. In silenced & threatened by their powerful allies. Local govern - to give something back to a cause ganisation born from Ecumenism many cases they are a long way ment shouldn’t be like this.” that continues to give selflessly to which means interfaith ideas. from home in a new environment so many people.” This is the important tradition we in an alien culture. We provide Fire at Fitzrovia building site The London Marathon will continue to this day. support to help them to keep the take place on Sunday 22 April. “We have a new emphasis on focus on their studies and enjoy A spectacular blaze on the corner Part of the basement, and the Nav’s fundraising page is here: inclusivity and I’m a living exam - their time in the UK. of Great Portland Street and Lang - ground, first and second floors of uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ ple of that because I’m a Roman “For the future we are ex - ham Street needed ten fire engines the building under refurbishment navdeep-basi Catholic. I worship at Saint panding to Birmingham and and 72 firefighters in February. were badly damaged by the fire, In a count of the number of Charles Borromeo on Ogle Street preparing to celebrate the 100th A number of gas cylinders on which took just over an hour to people sleeping on the streets in while the organisation at its core anniversary of the Indian YMCA the site were involved and the bring under control. autumn 2017, Camden Council is Anglican” in 2020.” cause of the fire is under investi - The site contains a listed recorded 127 and Westminster “We are on a mission to gation. Georgian building and local con - Council recorded 217. servationists are hoping that the historical building remains intact. News in brief University College London YMCA Indian Student Hostel has picked Kier to refurbish 41 Fitzroy Square W1T 6AQ and extend its student digs Registered Charity since 1920 Ramsay Hall, Maple Street to a Ideal place for students, professionals and transit guests design by Hawkins Brown. A real “Home away from Home” A portfolio of buildings centrally heated wi-fi study rooms which includes an office of for - 020 7387 0411 TV lounge indoor recreation and gym facilities mer Prime Minister Tony Blair has been put up for sale with email Authentic Indian cuisine 7 days a week an asking price of £50m by breakfast, lunch, evening meal owners Great Portland Estates . [email protected] The individual properties are 88-92, 84-86 and 78-82 Great visit Equipped conference rooms Portland Street , and 21-23 and (25, 50, 150, 250 people) 15-19 Riding House Street . www.indianymca.org photo Tom Edgington 4 — Fitzrovia News issue 148 Spring 2018 Obituaries Santina Carmella Levey Santina Levey, known as Tina, who died aged 79, lived in Lon - Loureda don for over 50 years, most of these years in Newman Street. children’s parties, and staff Christmas parties. She Tina was an outstanding tex - worked at John Astor House when the kitchens were tile historian and curator and one moved there. of the most respected Keepers of Carmella never forgot her background and if Textiles at the Victoria and Albert customers were unable to pay for their meal she Museum. Published in 1983 her would reach into her pocket and pay herself. She book ‘ Lace: A History’ would always give extra food if she knew she was remains the most authoritative herself at odds with the serving a doctor or nurse. She worked her way up work on the subject. Thatcherite mainstream. She and to become a supervisor. She adored her job and was five other senior colleagues were She lived for many years at York Mansions in venerated by her colleagues, for made brutally redundant. This Berners Street until it was sold off by the Hospital, whom she felt great loyalty and was a devastating loss for Tina Carmella Loureda (née Vieites Gonzalezas) was born and later moved to Cleveland Residences on Cleve - responsibility. As the changing and she took time to recover. in the La Coruña district of Spain. Her early life was land Street. In 1990 she married Pepe Laureda, a chef political culture of the 1980s Tina was a lively, selfless and difficult, her parents dying when she was very who worked at Spaghetti House, Pescatori and the began to disrupt the gentler ideals productive person with strong young so she was brought up by her grandmother in Hospital. She retired in 2001. of public service and scholarship moral values who will be remem - poverty. Fellow Middlesex alumni, the Moore family of to which Tina adhered, she found bered in our hearts. A clever child she was able to read at three years Martin and Linda, were very close for 42 years. They old. provided mutual support. She was Godmother to Carmella came to London in 1962 and worked in their son Christopher whom she taught Spanish. various catering, service, and hospitality roles for the Well known in Fitzrovia, she had many friends Joseph Cook Astor family, at the Lancaster Gate Hotel, and at the and ex-colleagues in the area. The workers in Boots, London Clinic Harley Street. Tesco, and Marks and Spencer were all devastated to In 1971 she came to work in the catering depart - hear of her death. Carmella kept close ties with her ment at the Middlesex Hospital. Her work involved family in Grand Canaria and Spain. Her ashes were the full requirements of a busy major hospital, cater - flown to Spain in early March. ing for staff and patients, working at the doctors’ res - Carmella Loureda idences and supervising functions including born 1 May 1936 died 20 January 2018

Gillian Roy, a resident of Riding piano player and accompanied House Street, died unexpectedly several singers for rehearsal and Gillian in January. Over 100 people recital. packed into All Souls Church, Gillian was involved in sev - Langham Place, for a service of eral drama and playreading thanksgiving for her life. groups throughout London, such Roy Gillian was born and brought as the Shakespeare Reading Soci - up around Deal in Kent. Her early ety, Ham playreading group, Sun - calling was ballet dancing, then day Shakespeare Society, and the this became acting and theatre. Shaw Society. She sought to establish herself in She was active at All Souls the theatre and for several years Church, Langham Place, for over toured the UK for a repertory the - 20 years, and used to belong to atre company. She acted, was a the choir. She was a regular con - stage assistant and undertook tributor to the Thursday secretarial work. Gillian was a lunchtime service, giving read - lifelong member of “Equity” ings and playing the piano. She had some difficult times The vicar said “She had a and trials in her life but she was strong faith and was positively in - determined to put the adversity volved in life and the community Joseph Cook, born 1924 in Liverpool and died in 2018, was a resident of behind her and put energy joy of the church. She performed vital Fitzrovia Court sheltered housing for the last 12 years. He was a musi - and celebration into the rest of her good works such as visiting the cian who played the guitar and sang, and also worked with other mu - life. Gillian loved the Arts and sick. I will miss her sense of hu - sicians and groups was a regular theatre and concert mour, she was so unpredictable!” He first came to London in 1956 and worked residencies and one- attender. Gillian Frances Roy born 4 April off bookings in the West End with quartets and trios. She was an accomplished 1933 died 23 January 2018. At the time there were 50 other bands working the West End and 30,000 muscians were registered with the Musicians’ Union. Archer street in Soho was known as the labour exchange where entertainers and musicians could find work. Joseph left London in 1963 and didn't come back until 2000, travel - ling the world working as a musician in South Africa and Swaziland. “Ho - The Wheatsheaf tels work was hard as we played two two-hour shows a day six days a Rathbone Place W1T 1JB week,” he recalled. “Cruises were easier two one-hour slots a day and time off when ships docked at a port. 0207 580 1585. I worked for P&O liners and visited Acapulco, San Francisco, Sydney thewheatsheaffitzrovia.co.uk Australia, and Vancouver.”

20% OFF YOUR FOOD BILL This biography was taken from the Present this advert and get 20% off your food bill Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association’s Monday & Saturday 12pm to 9pm. oral history project booklet “Ebb and flow in Fitzrovia” available from FNA 39 Tot - Tuesday to Friday 12pm to 5pm. tenham Street Fitzrovia News issue 148 Spring 2018 — 5 Multiplex cancels Residents had ‘lucky escape’ overnight working after blaze at blocks of flats but grabs space for Fire fighters were called to a fire at a basement flat at Highfield House on New Cavendish Street loading on Charlotte during the early hours of 29 De - cember. A neighbour called the fire brigade after hearing a smoke Street alarm sounding. Three fire engines and 14 fire fighters and officers from Soho and Paddington attended the Labour selects scene after receiving this emer - gency call. The Brigade was called at 3.06 am and the incident was over by 4.10 am. ward candidates In a statement LFB confirmed part of a room in a basement flat The Labour Party is the first fewer 'affordable' homes than re - of a five floored block of flats was to announce its candidates for quired under Westminster's own damaged by the fire. No injuries planning policy and have pushed were reported. the West End ward in the through controversial schemes." Crew Manager, Tom Tracey, Westminster Council election They have also worked was at the scene and said: “Thank - on May 3, which opinion against Westminster Council's fully, because these residents had polls predict will be a close "rush to build tall buildings," smoke alarms, they had a lucky result. added Caroline."Our quality of escape and were able to leave the They are (pictured from left to life should not be made worse by property without injury.” Derwent London’s contractor Multiplex has dug a big hole on Charlotte Street right) Caroline Saville, a former bulky overshadowing buildings, The cause of the fire is under but is having trouble filling it back in. carer, Pancho Lewis, who works stealing light from our streets and investigation. for a social enterprise set up to re - causing more traffic congestion Highfield House was a resi - International construction con - Neighbourhood Association ex - duce food waste, and Patrick Lil - and pollution." dence for hospital workers before tractor Multiplex caved in to pres - pressed concern about the disrup - ley, a life coach and LGBT They have also been pressur - it was sold off to developers in sure from residents and tion to local businesses and traffic community organiser. ing Westminster Council to get a 2012. Now the block is mostly abandoned plans for overnight being diverted and the loss of a Issues they are standing on grip on fly tipping and rubbish used for short term lettings. concrete pours at the redevelop - northbound cycle route along range from the environment, bins in the area and improve poor ment of the former Saatchi & Charlotte Street. housing policy, standing up for lighting on Gosfield Street. Saatchi building on Charlotte In response Multiplex stated: high street businesses affected by Of great concern are pro - Street, writes Linus Rees . “We are currently working with crippling business rates to the ef - posed cuts of £91,000 to All Souls Multiplex intended to run Camden to see what actions can fects of budget cuts. "In response Primary School in Foley Street four 33-tonne mixertrucks to the be taken to reduce the impact on to significant concerns raised by (£506 per pupil), under the gov - site every hour, and diesel pumps cyclists. residents about plans to pedestri - ernment's new funding formula, day and night in an attempt to get In February the Charlotte anise Oxford Street," said Patrick, according to the schoolcuts.org.uk back up to speed on the contract Street one-way carriageway was "we have made representations to website for developer Derwent London. put into operation with diversion TfL arguing that changes to Ox - (http://schoolcuts.org.uk) So they Clearly irritated by the reac - signs scattered around the junc - ford Street cannot and should not have launched a petition calling tion from local residents who tion with Goodge Street and di - lead to major bus diversions onto on the Council to urge the govern - strongly objected to loosing sleep, recting cyclists and drivers via residential streets nor in any way ment to scrap these proposals. Nigel Bunce, project director at Tottenham Court Road. Find us on detrimentally impact the quality In order to "defend the rights Multiplex, announced that they Nigel Bunce is the third pro - of life of residents." of the hundreds of EU nationals would instead do the concrete ject director in charge of the site Facebook and Questions on behalf of resi - living and working in Fitzrovia" pour within normal working since the demolition and con - dents with mobility issues have they are keen "to oppose a hard hours. struction started in 2015. He Twitter for the also been raised, said Pancho. Brexit." Bunce also said they wanted started in October 2017 having "Residents need to be at the heart They are also seeking input to close part of Charlotte Street undertaken a handover process latest news of decision making not property from Fitzrovia residents through between Tottenham Street and with his predecessor Paul Jagla The next issue will be out developers. Conservative con - an on-line survey (www.survey - Howland Street to northbound prior to Christmas. Tuesday 5 June 2018. trolled Westminster Council has monkey.co.uk/r/welabsurvey). or traffic, making the carriageway Multiplex are due to com - Deadline for articles, features put the profits of property devel - through emailing them at one-way southbound only. plete the project by the end of and advertisments 18 May. opers first while building far [email protected]. “Multiplex, in conjunction 2019. The site has been mostly with Camden and other contrac - pre-let to The Boston Consulting tors in the area, want to ease traf - Group and global engineering fic between two major sites by firm Arup. turning a small section of Char - Residents and businesses can lotte Street into a one-way,” they contact Multiplex on: 0203 826 said. 5056; or by email: 80CharlotteStreet- At the meeting, Fitzrovia [email protected]

If you enjoy Fitzrovia News, please consider making a donation: fitzrovia.org.uk/donate 6 — Fitzrovia News issue 148 Spring 2018

Word from the Streets By CHARLOTTE STREET and her siblings Bonus act

Punters at the comedy club up - stairs at The Wheatsheaf in Rath - bone Place were once treated to an unannounced appearance by American film star Robin Williams . Illustration by Jayne Davis "He turned up and paid his WELL SPOTTED entry fee on the door, and was "Eye examinations while you wait." Congratulations for this then persuaded to perform," re - service offered by Adam Simmonds, until recently at 130 Great called actress Charlie Dore who Portland Street. ran the club. She was speaking re - cently on Ken Bruce's Radio 2 Basketball mania show. Apart from his successful screen acting career Williams was There were queues six abreast also well known for his mastery by basketball fans the whole Master tailor to the stars of improvised comedy. length of Percy Street on Valen - Master bespoke tailor Paul Kitsaros (above) celebrates 20 tine's Day. The attraction was the years at 66 Cleveland Street this year. Idiosyncratic Presentedby sneaker store at number 15 where a reality show In that time he has attracted many celebrity customers such as tele - Another comic performer, Charlie was being recorded on facebook vision news presenter Huw Edwards, radio disc-jockey Steve Wright, Brooker , revealed on another radio by the father and brother of su - film director Steve McQueen, and television chef Fergus Henderson programme that he was a student at perstar Lonzo Ball. (who specialises in offal and asked for a French peasant fashion in En - the Polytechnic of Central Lon - Lonzo, who plays for Los glish fabrics). don in Wells Street. Angeles Lakers, was back in But Paul also gets on very well with the locals. "It is like a beautiful "They said I was idiosyncratic," America, but even his father and village where we all know each other," he said. He was born in a village he said on Desert Island Discs about brother (both professional bas - surrounded by sea and mountains in Cyprus before emigrating with Dry wit his time there (before it became the ketball players themselves) were his family to London in 1960 aged 15. University of Westminster). He enough to draw the crowds. Congratulations to the Tower Tav - Originally he was a carpenter, thought they were probably right as The cost of sneakers at the ern in Clipstone Street for this then he learned how to use a Beer off his comedy was all about "extrapo - store ranges from £100 to imaginative welcome (pictured thimble to hem trousers and "got The drayman delivering beer to lating twisted logic." £100,000! above). a feel for it." So when he came to The Hope on the corner of Tot - His comic inspirtation, he said, London he learned how to make tenham Street and Whitfield was Chris Morris hosting the BBC trousers working in Camden, then Street was annoyed that Phil television spoof "The Day Today". Boxing bricklayer’s broken arm bout making coats in Soho, and became Hardwick was not there to re - The Bricklayers Arms in Gresse Street could have been taken over by ambitious to learn the entire trade ceive it. Surreal and become a master tailor, which a real bricklayer who broke his arm, it has emerged. So he phoned him and asked Tom Sayers, a Camden bricklayer, took up illegal bare knuckle he did, after many years working where he was. "I am in Corn - Chris Morris , in turn, was heard for others. interviewing the late great Peter fighting, and in 1860 was involved in such a brutal fight that the public wall," replied Phil who had just raised £3,000 to enable him to retire. When qualified he decided to moved from The Hope to a pub Cook in another spoof sketch on go on his own. "I knew it would radio. Cook was assuming the Sayers had broken his arm early in the battle but continued fight - in that far west county. ing one handed for 42 rounds over two hours and 20 minutes until it be difficult as I had learned a lot "Luckily he was able to give role of Sir Arthur Streeb-Gree - but was not experienced," he re - bling which was recorded in 1993 was broken up by police. His opponent, American boxing champion them my number and I was there John C Heenan, was blinded in the right eye for much of the bout. marked. He rented a room for his to accept the barrels," said Kim and broadcast on Radio 3 the fol - own business, but after five or six lowing year. He reveals his love Sayers considered setting himself up as a publican and was at - Beeching, the new landlady at tracted to the Bricklayers Arms, perhaps because of the name, accord - years the increased rent drove the pub. of Tottenham Court Road and him out. swimming in the YMCA just off it ing to historians who approached current manager of the pub, Paul He saw a property in Great George Fest in Great Russell Street. Rowson . Instead Sayers invested in a circus which proved a failure. Titchfield Street which he wished Spotted in Gigs , the chippie op - It was included more re - to rent with a colleague but the posite The Hope: George Gal - cently (January 6) on the tauto - Eavesdroppings latter pulled out and it was too ex - loway . He has been an MP for the logically titled "Surreal Guide to Clubbers pensive for him on his own. Labour Party, and the Respect Surreal Comedy" on Radio 4 "Is this going up or down?" asked an A new women-only club was due Then, while eating at the Party. Luckily he was able to have Extra. But you can catch Sir American tourist by the lift at the to open in Rathbone Place on Maples restaurant, now called traditional fish and chips rather Arthur's bizarre flights of fancy bottom of Goodge Street station. Not March 8 (International Women's Vasis, on the corner of Cleveland than lapping a saucer of milk cat - more permanently on YouTube. as stupid as it first appeared. During Day). Called The AllBright it is and Maple Streets, he said, "I no - like as he once did on a certain the second world war there was a supposedly for working women ticed next door, which had been a television "reality" show. bunker 100 feet down (below the but the annual membership fee is tobacconist, was empty. It had al - Shaw show train tunnel) and protected by con - £750, more geared to "profes - ways been my dream to have Singer surgeon crete blocks. It was used by the sional" women. So far it has at - ground floor premises, so I made The final bit of radio comedy in - American General, Dwight D Eisen - tracted chief executives, Does anybody remember being enquiries and was able to acquire volves Alistair McGowan play - hower, who was planning the D-Day politicians, actresses ( Naomie treated by comic country and west - it." ing Professor Higgins in landings in France as the Supreme Harris, Kathy Burke and Tara ern performer Hank Wangford ? Dr Now he has eight people Pgymalion on Radio 4 - teaching Allied Commander in 1945. He later Fitzgerald ), and musicians. working in his shop including ap - Sam Hutt (his real name) was also a elocution to Eliza Doolittle. She became president of the USA and is gynaecologist in the NHS birth con - et prentices learning the trade such was according to this Bernard commemorated now by the Eisen - Stre trol clininc at James Pringle House, lotte as Chuki Ibe and Johannes Shaw play a flower girl on the hower Centre in Chenies Street, Char Arnold, 73-75 Charlotte Street. corner of Tottenham Court Road. which was the entrance to the bunker. Fitzrovia News issue 148 Spring 2018 — 7 Surprise guest at hospital reunion An amazing surprise guest Photographer Gideon Mendel in turned up at the recent photo - the forward to the book on graphic exhibition commem - which the exhibition was based orating the HIV ward in the wrote that the four patients who old Middlesex Hospital in agreed to be photographed (in - Mortimer Street of 25 years cluding John) died. ago . "They were the unlucky The photographer, Gideon ones, who became sick just before Mendel, had collected staff, treatment became available," he friends and family of patients on wrote. the ward for a group photograph ""Coming back to these im - on the last day of the exhibition in ages now, 25 years later, I am the hospital chapel. struck by how they now seem to There was just one missing, have become part of history, the family of a patient called marking a very particular mo - John. ment in time and the evolution of Just as Gideon was about to medical and social responses to take the photograph John's HIV. mother Pat turned up unan - "I am reminded of the inten - nounced all the way from Spain. sity of those moments, of the By sheer coincidence she was lives lived so brightly and the in London and saw an item on desperate sadness and loss for all ITN News about the exhibition. those connected to John, Ian, Pat with the exhibition picture of herself (above) and with staff members (below). Photos by Etiennne Gilfillan Pat is pictured in front of one of Steven and Andre." the photographs from the exhibi - in the hospital. She also said John nurses. But patient confidentiality tion, in which she is seated by the would have loved the exhibition and records being lost made it bed with her hand on her brow. with all the people visiting." more difficult to locate patients' "It was wonderful for her to Gideon (pictured far left in families. see the exhibition and meet the group) was given special permis - The exhibition was entitled doctors and nurses who looked sion to take the photographs "The Ward" and was organised after her son, as well as Gideon," (with the consent of all) and met by Trolley Books. There is also a said organiser Hannah Watson his future wife, Sarah, on the book of the photographs with (pictured far right in group). ward where she was a nurse. the same name, available from T "She told me John was con - Through her he was able to keep J Boulting, 59 Riding House firmed in the chapel while he was touch with the consultants and Street. Opening and closing Club atmosphere but good food Margaret Howell designer clothes By the DINING DETECTIVE rule: I went back (because some - Closed 63 Margaret Street one else had invited me to a busi - Portlands food and wine Central London Estates Meraki, 80-82 Great Titchfield St ness dinner). The £6 scallops had 104 Great Portland Street estate agent 339 Euston Road disappeared, the Pavlova had be - Rawligion vegan eatery Samsonite luggage I remember once writing in one come “Athenian Mess,” the 12 Tottenham Street 1 Bedford Avenue of these columns in disbelief French wine by the glass was ‘not Multiyork sofas Greyhound cafe Thai food about a restaurant that sold available’ but there was a pleasant 95 Tottenham Court Road 37 Berners Street prawns for £5 each. Now I’ve glass of Greek red wine, Nemea Joy fashion 103 Tottenham Ct Rd Crosstown doughnuts found a restaurant that serves Reserve (but alas it cost £11.50). Yumchaa tea 9-11Tottenham Street 13 Newman Street three scallops for £6 each – and as The food was again excellent and Sicilyamo ices gelato My Cigara vape shop a mezze dish not a main course – what we had was reasonably

187 Tottenham Ct Rd 30 Great Portland Street in the old premises of my dear old priced: a very tasty Grouper . t e e r t S y c r e P 4 f o s i 4 1 e g a

Caffè Paradiso 28 Store Street Coco de Mama Italian takeaway Effes, the Turkish restaurant that p carpaccio marinated I think in n o e r u t c i p e h T : E L Z Z U P E R U T C I

Byron burgers 6 Store Street 9-11 Tottenham Street had been there for so long and P lime and spices was delicious Caffè Fratelli 2 a Gt Titchfield St Greyhound cafe Thai eatery where not long ago you could get (£13); baked chicken in a lemony £6 scallop my dining companion Vital ingredient j uices, wraps 37 Berners Street a terrific freshly-cooked take- sauce was extremely enjoyable had ordered but allowed me to try 48 Margaret Street away lamb kebab for £6. (£14); my companion said the Opening soon (putting up with my bad temper Meraki is a shiny, very sleek lamb chops were better than some Opened Ottolenghi deli restaurant about the wine in a kind manner) Greek restaurant that charges he’d had in Greece (£24) – a piece Thomas Exchange UK m oney ex- 59 Wells Street was very good. The aforemen - £2.50 for a cut up piece of pitta of pitta bread was still £2.50. This change 160a Tottenham Ct Rd Barclays bank tioned Santorini dip was tasty and bread to go with a £7.50 fava dip time I counted the chefs all on W1 Hardware 1 8 Gt Portland St 154 Tottenham Court Road so was the expensive piece of pitta from Santorini. view: nine. And then I noticed La Pastaia e atery Pastation pasta bread. Then I ordered the cour - The premises have been done something I had only half-noticed 142 Great Portland Street 76 Tottenham Court Road gette and fetta pasta (which I did - up completely, there are lots of the first time: locals seemed to sit Adam Grooming Atelier Said Dal 1923 Italian Chocolate n’t know was a Greek dish) which chefs who you can watch cooking, in the front of the restaurant while barbers 39 Rathbone Place 29 Rathbone Place cost £11: it was absolutely deli - and lots of slightly over-attentive prosperous older businessmen, Joe and the juice j uices wraps The Flavour Garden eatery cious – not just good, outstand - staff. The wine by the glass is al- and their wives in sparkling jack - 42-44 Rathbone Place 1 Bedford Avenue ingly good. My companion had most exclusively Greek. Or a ets, ate further back; a sort of di - Jardin du Jasmin cafe Define fitness studio ordered a greens dish called French glass for £11.50. Plus ex- vided clientele. Perhaps it was a 159 Great Portland Street 82 Great Portland Street Horta Greens (£4.50) to go with pensive bottles from other coun- party; perhaps Meraki is a club of Frame f itness studio 25 Barners St LaksaMania oriental eatery the small dinner (not realising a tries. Outside my price range. some kind also. Santa Maria p izzeria 92 Newman Street mezze had been ordered as a So that’s why this review has Whatever it is, it is certainly 160 New Cavendish Street Flesh & Buns Japanese eatery main course), and enjoyed that started in a bad-tempered man- worth visiting for the food. Denino f urniture 25–33 Berners Street also. ner. As we left, I was thinking 156 New Cavendish Street Hershesons hair salon Still a bit hungry, we shared a However to be fair, even again of Effes, and how different Loft f urniture 52 Fitzroy Street 29 Berners Street Greek yogurt Pavlova for £7 though I could not finish the one this was. SudaThai e atery 5 Barners Street Passyunk Avenue diner which was not a Pavlova (my glass of red wine I finally ordered And then I saw that four Yaya s ushi 42 Goodge Street 80 Cleveland Street mother used to make them: Pavlo - for £8.50 my companion drank a shiny cars waited in a line out - Coco & Rachel n ails,coffee Maître of Thyme holistic wellness vas I know) but was, in it’s own glass of the Greek sauvignon side; four drivers shivered and 34 Windmill Street boutique 130 Great Portland Street way, excellent, so it doesn’t matter blanc happily (£7). smoked in the winter air. Cavendish Clinic f ace body Mikel Coffee Company cafe what it was called. And I have to be even fairer, Ah Fitzrovia: how you have rejuvenation 65 Margaret Street 93 Tottenham Court Road However you know my new and say the food, even a piece of a changed. 8 — Fitzrovia News issue 148 Spring 2018 The cultural craft of Sue Blundell

actress Ellen Terry. Treasure (2015), tells the story of Peter Mark Roget, the man behind FELLOW FITZROVIANS the Thesaurus, who made lists of words to by Claire-Louise John soothe his depression, and has written about the famous Chief Surgeon at Manch - ester Infirmary for the Manchester Science Local resident Sue Blundell is a playwright Festival. and lecturer in Classical Studies. In the Naturally curious, Sue is happy to take midst of an established academic career a on new subject matter. On the content of chance encounter with a group of actors her plays, she says “I’m a feather of each created the opportunity to unite her knowl - wind that blows”. For the inaugural edge of classical myth with her early love FitzFest in 2016, Sue wrote The Man from of the theatre, and she began to write plays the Sleepy Lagoon about the light music of her own. A playwright for almost 20 composer Eric Coates which was per - years now, Sue’s work has been staged in formed with the accompaniment of London, around the UK, and in the United FitzFest musicians. Tell Me the Truth About States. Love, an intensely moving description of Sue, who grew up in post-war Manch - what was at the time a forbidden love be - ester, has lived in Fitzrovia with her part - tween Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears, was then written and performed for the ner Nick Bailey, also an academic, for over The Man from the Sleepy Lagoon was performed at The Ship pub as part of FitzFest 2016. 40 years. The first generation of her family Festival Musicians back row from left to right: Emilia Zakrzewska (flute), Waffy Spencer (clarinet), Dan Bates (oboe and MD), second year of the music festival in 2017. to go to university, she read Classics at the Beatrice Philipps (violin), Amy Harman (bassoon), Venetia Jollands (violin), Hannah Sloan (cello), Hannah Strijbos (viola) Sue has built enduring relationships University of London. “I was torn between Front row Rob McIndoe (Director), Sue Blundell and actor David Acton who played Eric Coates which support her as a dramatist, and has Classics and English Literature, but opted worked with the same director for five for Classics because it is the original multi- founded in 1985 and supports local hous - actors who had great enthusiasm for the years. She sees her plays as living organ - disciplinary subject, encompassing art, phi - ing initiatives. subject. One suggested bringing in some isms, is always present for rehearsals from losophy, history, literature, drama, and On the strength of her PhD, Sue next fellow actors to speak the many voices of the first read-through, and is happy to dis - myth.” Sue was awarded her BA in 1968 began to build up various part-time aca - the poetic translation of the entire last book cuss possible modifications that the actors and in 1973 completed her PhD on Epi - demic posts in adult education, teaching on of The Iliad and, working together, Sue suggest. Her plays express her values and curean thought (awarded 1975), in which the Classical Studies MA at Birkbeck, went on to construct further plays out of as such articulate her politics and beliefs. she explored ideas which have resonated where her specialism was gender, art and Greek myth which were commissioned by There is a harmony and completeness throughout her life. philosophy. At the Open University, stu - and performed at the British Museum. If to the career Sue’s life-story describes, as The ancient Greek philosopher Epicu - dents flourished under her guidance at reg - Sue’s career as a playwright came about by themes established in youth find expres - rus, a materialist whose conception of hap - ular tutorials. She became a post-graduate serendipity, it also arose from a classicist’s sion in her creative life. Sue’s classical stud - piness was the absence of pain, advocated thesis tutor specialising in the architecture understanding of the oral tradition and the ies took her deep into the philosophical a simple life sustained by the pleasures of of Classical Greece at the Architectural As - timeless significance of the spoken word. questions which humanity forever poses, knowledge, community and friendship. sociation in Bedford Square, a post she was Sue, a self-confessed actor-manqué, and her profundity of spirit is the natural Significantly, he developed the notion of offered as a direct result of tours she led to has always loved the theatre and attended source of her writing skill. justice as a social contract. ancient Greek sites. She also took students the then famous Library Theatre in Manch - Sue is a life-long diarist and, arising An instinctive social activist, Sue went to Cuba, where a wealthy benefactor in the ester from around 1960, when she was from her early interest in Epicurean to work for Camden Council in 1974 then, pre-revolutionary country had amassed a aged 13. She saw the plays of William thought, she now writes a blog on happi - as she describes, in its heyday. For 10 years spectacular collection of ancient Greek pot - Shakespeare and the new kitchen sink dra - ness. I will end with a tip from George she committed her considerable energies to tery. Her first book The Origins of Civilisa - mas by Pinter, never imagining that one Bernard Shaw that Sue brought to her read - addressing housing issues but saw their tion in Greek and Roman Thought (1986, day she would write for the stage herself. ers’ attention at the start of this year and work unravelling in front of her eyes from republished 2014) was in many ways an ex - She is currently working on a play about which may in part express her own drive, 1979 with the advent of the neoliberal pro - tension of her doctoral thesis. It was fol - the French sculptor Auguste Rodin which vivacity, and joyful nature: ‘The way to ject under Margaret Thatcher’s govern - lowed by Women in Ancient Greece (1995) has been commissioned by the British Mu - have a happy life is to be too busy doing ment. In mid-1970s Fitzrovia, housing was and Women in Classical Athens (1998). seum. As a playwright, Sue initially drew what you like all the time, having no time also a central issue and Sue quickly got in - While still teaching, Sue’s focus unex - on her extensive knowledge of classical left to you to consider whether you are volved with the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood pectedly turned to playwriting. She taught sources, but she has also found support happy or not.’ Association, which had been established in a course for the Open University on and inspiration as part of groups such as 1974 to deal with local housing concerns. Homer, legendary author of the ancient the London Playwrights, and the Bonning - Website: sueblundell.com Blog: sueblundellhappiness.word press.com More recently, from 2011 to 2016, she was Greek epic poems, The Iliad and The ton Playwrights, with whom she wrote Chair of the Fitzrovia Trust, which was Odyssey, which was taken by a number of Found Drowned (2007) about the life of the

The cover of Women in Ancient Greece (1995). Doing what she loves: Sue swimming in the sea off Devon, Summer 2017. Reading the tribute to Swedish writer and dramatist August Strindberg (1849-1912), in the square now named after him. Place August Strindberg, Paris, December 2017. Fitzrovia News issue 148 Spring 2018 — 9

From bus conductor to music promoter 1980 SQUAT WAS MOST EXCITING TIME OF MY LIFE Patrick revisits Middlesex House

Living in a squat in Great Titchfield Street in 1980 was the most exciting time in the life of Patrick Lilley. In the same house were soon-to-be pop stars Boy George and Marilyn, for whom Patrick later became publicist, from an office in Middlesex House, at 32-42 Cleveland Street. Now he is an organiser of musical Patrick in his purple punk days and other events, including club one-nighters. "It was like I had arrived at the centre of the universe," said Patrick. "There were people like the artist John May - bury, the singer Andy Polaris, emerging film makers and fashion designers - all going somewhere, plus drag queens, NEW HO ME S gay boys and eccentric girls. "I was slightly the odd one out, being a social science student. But I made lifelong friends I still know 40 years on. www .rib .c o. uk "We were all really broke, but we had such fun. We had all been through punk rock but were now embracing the new look and all loved David Bowie." In fact he tried to make his own Bowie-style pants from fabric in Berwick Street, but his stitching technique was in - adequate and they fell apart one windy night. "I had heard of the Cleveland Street Scandal of Victorian times and thought we were now part of the latest instalment of Bohemia in Fitzrovia, with lots of dissidents around," he added. The first club night he organised was on a Bowie theme in 1980 and he progressed to promoting warehouse parties. "We had everyone from teddy boys to gay boys and arty people, Rastafarians, famous people like Bianca Jagger and regular clubbers," he recalled. "All different people mixed together in the same space which really worked. Now peo - ple go to spaces to meet people like themselves." Eventually the one-nighters became weekly and he started one called Queer Nation on Sunday nights in Covent Garden. "It was the first of a new era of 90s club nights for a generation who had witnessed the pandemic of HIV and Aids and the decimation of human life and talent," he said. "If we can't have a party we may as well roll over and die was the atitude. "It provided a safe and fun place for self expression and being yourself. It caught the spirit of the age." The Face magazine, based in Mortimer Street, featured it in their pages. It was attracting 300 people a night including the artist formerly known as Prince, Vivien Westwood, and Robbie Williams. "The one-nighter culture inspired young people all over the world to be informal, dance and be themselves," contin - ued Patrick. "It was a semi-political statement." He was reminded of these days when visiting the chapel on the site of the old Middlesex Hospital last November on Remembrance Day. There was an exhibition of rare photographs taken in the hospital's HIV ward. "A lot of people I knew ended up there," said Patrick. "So it was very moving to see photos of 'The Ward' in the chapel." Special permission had been obtained for the pho - POR TL AND & RIDING, FIT ZR OVIA , W1 Price fr om £ 1,125,000 tos to be taken by patients, friends and staff. On a slightly lighter note he recalls his short lived ca - reer as a bus conductor on the 88 along Oxford Street and A c olle ction of one , two and thr ee b edr oom lat er al apar tments as well as a 4 b edr oom duplex P enthouse with r oof t err ac e and dir ect lift ac cess. Great Portland Street. "I fell asleep on the first day," he admitted. "The conduc - The Vic torian façade dominat es the c orner of G reat P or tland Str eet and R iding House Str eet, whilst the living spac es within tor training me just told me to carry on. But I got the sack embr ac e me ticulous and ele gant int erior s. The R iding House Str eet building c omplements this heritag e, maintaining g ener ous soon after. Somebody had appreciated me though. She was pr op or tions and ex quisit e de tail, and its r esidenc es c ommand light and spac e t o showcase a thor oughly mo dern de sign. the woman behind the counter at the job centre. 'You are the bus conductor who stopped my baby crying,' she said." It conjures up a different image to that of Boy George's For all enquirie s ple as e contac t us on 020 7927 06 16 or email us at ne whome s@rib .co .uk nickname for him in his autobiography. That was "Beelze - 23- 24 M ar gar et Str eet, L ondon, W1W 8LF bub" (so dubbed for his red draped jacket, red hair and wicked eye brows) and shortened by friends to Bubble.

10 — Fitzrovia News issue 148 Spring 2018 The poetic plumber

By MIKE PENTELOW tion. "He was a spook," he an - swered. A future poet laureate was The interview then took place known as "the plumber" at Broadcasting House, Portland when he was a student at Place. Middlesex Hospital Medical He was asked how he de - in 1985 and he asked to see his file School in Riding House scribed his politics, and replied it had been destroyed. Fortunately Street. "an unlearned Marxist" coining a "going freelance" led to a success - Michael Rosen is now a well phrase on the spot. ful career - including with the known television/radio broad - "Unlearned or unearned?" BBC. caster and poet/novelist; and was asked Karl Miller, editor of The Earlier, Michael recalls, he the Children's Laureate from 2007 Listener, who was on the inter - visited Heal's furniture store at to 2009. viewing panel. 196 Tottenham Court Road in the But in 1964 he was an 18- "Unlearned," he replied. 1960s when his Marxist parents year-old scruffy and unenthusias - A few weeks later he was "spent hours debating whether to tic student at Middlesex Hospital asked back to Broadcasting House buy the armchairs with the rust Medical School. where he was met by Lance coloured upholstery or the blue He reveals in his recently seemed exactly like the image of a thing that would interest me," he Thirkell, who stood the whole tweed sofa." published memoirs how he got university I had in mind: big, recalls. "The Open University, and time reading Michael's file (which Also during the 1960s when a the nickname of "the plumber." crowded, bustling, diverse and many further education, schools presumably had details of his ar - blues fan he saw the likes of He arrived late for a lecture, full of public argument," he and children's programmes, all rests for demonstrating against Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters wearing his grandfather's Ameri - writes. looked inviting." the war in Vietnam and an Oxford in the Dominion Theatre at 269 can jacket, like the one that ap - But switching from a medical He was offered an interview. hairdresser who refused to cut Tottenham Court Road. But when peared in the film "On The to another course in London was Beforehand, however, a man black people's hair). seeing a film at the Academy Cin - Waterfront". This was appropriate not possible, he was told, but it turned up at his room in college After a short time he looked eman at 165 Oxford Street, with as water was streaming out of the could happen at Oxford Univer - while he was away asking ques - at Michael and said: "I think we'll his girlfriend Janey, he was ap - ceiling into the lecture hall. sity. Luckily he was able to get a tions about him. go nap", which meant he had got palled to learn later that it meant "Oh, I thought you were the place there at Wadham College The fellow student who the job. He later asked his father he had missed Sonny Boy plumber," said the lecturer. studying English language and spoke to the mysterious man de - what the phrase meant. "It means Williamson on the same night in "As my fellow students had literature, and writing, acting and scribed him as "from the BBC but they're backing the outsider," he Watford, near where he lived. spent the last few weeks revelling directing plays. not actually at the BBC." The said. EXCLUSIVE FOOTNOTE: in the fact that I looked like a Towards the end of the friend said the man had asked Michael worked on radio A stink was raised at the book’s tramp, this was a gift," he writes course, in 1969, he decided to whether Michael was "alright." plays and documentaries and on launch over the deletion of a descrip - in his memoirs "So They Call You apply for a traineeship at the BBC, After being told he was the man schools television very success - tion of a farting competition. This Pisher!" (published by Verso, being offered to six graduates a asked others. fully until in 1972 he was asked to had taken place between Rosen and price £16.99). year. "Was he a spook?" asked "go freelance." former Fitzrovian resident Chris He soon realised that He was attracted by some of Michael, to which the friend It took him a while to realise Kaufman in a marquee on a campsite medicine was not for him so he the radical programmes being shrugged his shoulders. he had in fact been sacked - pre - in France when they were 14 years planned on how to switch to an produced there at the time by the Michael then asked his father sumably for having a Christmas old. They both chastised the editor at English course. His preference likes of Ken Loach. "History and Harold (who had been a long time tree on his file (a sign by MI5 vet - the launch over the removal of the was UCL (University College arts documentaries were coming member of the Communist Party ters that he was too left wing). passage. “He just turned his nose up London) in Gower Street. "It out that were exactly the sort of of Great Britain) the same ques - When this practice became public at us,” quipped Chris. Murders, traitors, and corpse theft on his beat

The sometime bizarre duties of a "People were stealing rings It was in the autumn of 1945 organised the European Police policeman based in Tottenham from the fingers of corpses in the when an inspector appeared at Boxing Championships in the Al - Court Road during the 1930s Middlesex Hospital," said Simon. the flats in Huntley Street where bert Hall. When asked why this have been revealed. "A bell was rigged up so that Pc John and his family lived. event was so popular with the Police constable David John when the morgue's door opened "Seeing the inspector at our general public he answered: "Peo - was based in the station, at 55-59 the bell would ring. My father home and on a Sunday my father ple like to see coppers hitting hell Tottenham Court Road, from 1929 was hiding close by when the bell thought he had done something out of each other." to 1939 before being promoted to rang. He rushed into the morgue wrong," recalled Simon. But the He went on to become an in - sergeant at Bow Street. only to discover a doctor and inspector opened the conversa - spector at Kensington police sta - During his time in Tottenham nurse together on the mortuary tion with: "I understand that you tion, and was the charging officer Court Road he arrested two mur - slab, investigating each other's cut hair." When he said he did the of the infamous mass murderer derers, cut the hair of William nether regions." inspector said: "Right, come back John Reginald Halliday Christie Joyce (aka Lord Haw Haw) before His first arrest of a murderer to the nick with me now with in 1953. PC David John depicted playing his hanging for treason, and had a was of a 29-year-old from Hol - your tools. I need you to give Simon started cycling to rugby at Twickenham in 1935. strange experience in the Middle - loway called Leonard Davies who someone who has just arrived a school in Dulwich from Huntley sex Hospital morgue in Mortimer pushed a 14-year-old schoolgirl, haircut." ance company." Street in 1957 because there was a Street. Avril Waters of Edgware, in front It was William Joyce, nick - He was a rugby player for bus strike. "I liked the freedom Pc John's son, Simon, who of a tube train at Tottenham Court named Lord Haw Haw for his London Counties - for whom he and so even when the strike lived in the Huntley Street police Road station in 1939. The girl died radio broadcasts from Nazi Ger - played at Twickenham against the ended I continued," he said. It flats during his youth with his fa - in Pc John's arms, which he re - many to Britain. All Blacks in 1935 while still a PC was seven and a half miles each ther and family, has recalled membered for the rest of his life. During the war police in the at Tottenham Court Road, and way. many of the stories told to him. Davies, who had previously been Huntley Street flats went on to the was depicted in a cartoon in the "The worst time was cycling Born in Swansea in 1908 the certified insane, was found unfit roof to watch the "Battle of Evening News (above). when there was fog. Cycling height minimum for joining the to plead and sent to Broadmoor. Britain" bombing of the East End. He was a forward who had home slowly one day the fog was police in that town was 5 ft 10 ins, The second murderer was a Pc John helped put out an in - two Welsh trials and played for so thick that I hugged the left but David was shorter by half an sailor, living in Langham Place, cendiary device nearer to home, Swansea, the Metropolitan Police, hand kerb. Suddenly I almost hit inch. He was, however, able to who cut his wife's throat after in Ridgmount Gardens, burning Middlesex, and the British Police a car parked on the opposite side join the Metropolitan police finding her in bed with another his trousers while doing so. "He as well as London Counties. of the road; that's how thick it where the minimum was 5 ft 9 man, then surrendered himself in was impressed that he got paid As secretary of the Metropoli - was." ins. the street to Pc John. for those trousers, by the insur - tan Police Athletic Association he Fitzrovia News issue 148 Spring 2018— 11

‘It’s a voluntary examination.’ here?’ ‘No.’ ‘You must.’ ‘You must submit to it for ‘So it’s a lock hospital.’ your own good and the benefit of ‘It’s a benevolent institution good society.’ —’ I thought my trouble was that Sick Asylum ‘Yes, I heard.’ The institutions good society had already been in - on this site have been nothing but side me. ‘Can’t you just tell from know enough to add me to the philanthropic. I was born here the sores?’ A short story by SUNITAR SOLIAR act: social pest; degenerate. Go when it was a benevolent work - ‘I can tell that the sores are ahead. Write me up.’ house. sores, yes. That they seem very ‘We must have proof.’ ‘I assure you we will do our be complicated to bite and tear. your fall?’ much like the oozing mark of de - ‘I can get an eye-witness to best to treat you —’ ‘And completely…proper.’ I didn’t fall, doctor. I was generacy, vice, yes, but without vouch that she saw me down ‘To study me —’ Ah, no enjoyment for you in pushed, and probably by some of thorough examination we cannot Newman’s Passage with a man in ‘Yes, and to treat you until this. You want me to be certain of your fine fellows from the club. say for sure.’ tailcoats last week.’ Didn’t like your demise. Do you choose to that. You won’t cast your lustful No doubt it’s impossible to push I bet you could, doctor. You that one? ‘Well, then, the proof is have the examination?’ eyes over my bits — that would over a man of your girth and look like you enjoy a bit of foie that I had one pimple. It turned Or die in jail? It’s quite a be sickness in you, wouldn’t it? stature, but for those of us who gras. Oysters. Loose jowls and a into a pea-sized ball of pus. Now choice you give me, isn’t it, doc - And it is only me who is covered have been picked lean, it’s much stomach bursting your buttons. I I’m covered in the things and tor? Locked choices in locked in pus-filled sores, even though easier to topple. Is my stupidity bet you get around the pleasure can’t move for my cracked skin rooms, though perhaps its fitting we are both inside the asylum. annoying you? zones of London when you’re and fever.’ that I should return to my maker ‘I don’t want it.’ ‘It’s like cholera. We need to outside of these disinfected walls, ‘Proof must come from the on the very site where I arrived The tight lips, the sigh as monitor the sewers and alert soci - away from your metal-beaked entrance to the womb. You must into this world. You’d find that though you find yourself yet ety. If you are found to be suffer - monsters. choose to consent.’ satisfying, wouldn’t you? 44 again forced to whip a stubborn ing from inherent immorality of ‘I’ve done many of these ex - ‘I do not consent.’ Cleveland Street: call it home. child. the female, we will need to regis - aminations. I regret that what ap - ‘You must choose to consent ‘The medical treatment you ‘And what about what soci - ter your name according to The pears to be your condition is or face the prospect of jail.’ receive will not at all be preju - ety wants? What about what you Contagious Diseases Act. It is es - becoming more frequent.’ Ah, it’s that kind of choice. diced by your —’ owe society? In your line of work, sential that you consult your con - You don’t need to show me ’You could have said that at the ‘Do what you’re going to.’ you are a woman with half the science and choose to allow the how it works. In and out, in and start.’ It’s as though I’ve given you woman gone, and what remains examination.’ out. ‘One likes to imagine that an extra pork chop, but you’re is a social pest. Is it right that soci - I think my conscience is ooz - ‘See? It’s really very simple.’ those who have spread corrup - careful to keep that from your ety should carry your burden of ing out of me as we speak. ‘You Simple, yes. It doesn’t need to tion to the good men of this face, showing me that it is incum - world are penitent.’ bent upon you to do your social You’ll need a much bigger duty. Poetry corner imagination than that. ‘Very good. Lie back in the ‘Do you choose to have the chair.’ SUBURBAN SPRING examination?’ The pop of metal. You drape By Wendy Shutler You’re as keen as the rest, me in cloth — for what? My mod - Clouds of blossom hover on the aren’t you? esty? No, to assure yourself of trees; “And if it is the sickness of your own decency, your separa - magnolia, forsythia, illuminating degeneracy I’ve got? What then?” tion from sickness. Are you going green ‘We must isolate you here in to maintain eye contact? No, suburban gardens. this benevolent institution to pre - you’re not even going to look at vent the spread of your sickness.’ me, just off into the dignified dis - Earth awakes: the daffodils are Illustration by Clifford Harper ‘But to me. What happens to tance, as your hands fumble out a few more cosy winter nights to me?’ around, poking and prodding the under the apple tree. go. We look on, the rest - ‘If it is the disease of moral government’s instrument into First time out for the deckhairs Farewell, cheerful comforting we poor ninety-nine percent - error, then your situation is too Lord does it hurt! Quarantined too blaze! our kisses' wages far gone. In a less severe case, we for the pollution. Divine punish - from winter hibernation in the Welcome, deckchairs, sunny sum - reduced, our yearning length - might try to cure you of your ment with your divining rod. shed. mer days! ened; compulsion to commit sin. But Think of something else, some - In Spring we can have it all, both but out to catch your notice... you have let your soul go to rot. It thing that hurts less, the sores on A chorus of birdsong, a bee's ways. will be time to meet your maker.’ my back, macaroons, yes, maca - drowsy hum. Haven't I tasted You can stop pretending that roons. I’ve never had a macaroon. Coffee in the garden in the morn - OCCUPY something like it - that sweetness you regret to have to tell me this, Always wanted to try one. Sweet ing sun. By Terry Egan another's red lips doctor. Or is that graveyard tone things, delicate things in dainty Resurrection. have conveyed to my red lips: the only way you can keep the drawing rooms, the soft heat of Nothing trickles down yours there when I closed my gloating out of your voice? fires, of good and decent places it In the chill of the still-light from your beauty's one percent - eyes? ‘And if I choose not to stay hurts — evening air the all that is yours the blackbird sings solo in soft, pale cheek and wet mouth, a triumph song. Around a crack - in blonde hair none can reckon... ling fire, All Saints Church Margaret Street For more verses by local poets get: Our diverse and inclusive parish is grounded in the rich catholic A FITZROVIAN MISCELLANY tradition of Anglicanism. We offer a place of peace and beauty Price just £3.50 in busy central London (open Mon – Fri 7 to 7, Sat 11-7). from Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre Main services on Sunday - 11am High Mass 39 Tottenham Street, London W1T 4RX 6pm Choral Evensong and Benediction We maintain fine liturgical traditions and excellence in music. We welcome you to all or any of our services especially: Bloomsbury ward GOOD FRIDAY, 30 March 12 noon The Preaching of the Passion councillors surgeries 1 – 3pm The Solemn Liturgy of the Passion First Friday of the month 6:00-7:00pm Fitzrovia Centre 2 Foley Street 6.30pm Stations of the Cross Second and fourth Fridays of the month 6:00-7:00pm HOLY SATURDAY, 31 March Marchmont Community Centre, 62 Marchmont Street, WC1N 1AB 9pm HIGH MASS of the Easter Vigil by candlelight Third Friday of the month is a “roving surgery” Get in touch if you would EASTER DAY, Sunday 1 April like us to conduct the surgery in your street or building 11am Procession and HIGH MASS Adam Harrison, Sabrina Francis and Rishi Madlani 6pm Festal Evensong and Benediction contact 020 7974 3111 [email protected] [email protected] Times of Daily Prayer, Masses & opportunities for confession & counselling are advertised at: www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk [email protected] Parish office: 020 7636 1788

12 — Fitzrovia News issue 148 Spring 2018 The pioneering history of Middlesex Hospital By ANN BASU The hospital's forward think - University College Hospital has ing on health issues is also shown a large archive stored in a build - - at forefront of medical innovation in its leaflet for women going ing on Euston Road, opposite the through menopause, which it Hospital itself. The collection is called the “Change Of Life.” The rich in little gems of public leaflet is down-to-earth in de - health history. scribing the symptoms of Besides all the information on menopause. But it tackles fears UCLH there's a fascinating collec - about this stage of women's life in tion about the Middlesex Hospi - a way that is revealing about the tal. The Middlesex was at the public attitudes and approach to heart of Fitzrovia in Mortimer medical treatment of the time. Street for more than 200 years and Going into block capitals again, it only merged with UCLH in 2005. states: Its beautiful chapel still stands, THE 'CHANGE OF LIFE' surrounded by new development, DOES NOT CAUSE MADNESS, in Pearson Square. and until such symptoms disap - Some archive items raise is - pear as THEY SURELY WILL, sues that sound very familiar to they can be greatly relieved if the us. The treatment of cancer had woman will consult a fully quali - become a specialisation of the fied doctor. Middlesex Hospital by the 19th Another Middlesex leaflet of century and this is probably why the 1920s is about the still-com - press items about cancer appear mon scourge of Infantile Diar - in its records. A Daily Express ar - rhoea which was fatal for many ticle dated March 11, 1921 is titled babies and children in this coun - “Terrible Toll of Cancer: Forty try. Nearly two thousand children Thousand victims in a Year: under five died of it each year in Alarming Increase”. The newspa - London. The leaflet sensibly tells per warned that British cancer A ward in Middlesex Hospital, Mortimer Street in the 1950s. Reproduced with permission from UCLH arts and her - mothers to boil all milk and make deaths had risen from only 15,000 itage, UCLH National Health Service Foundation Trust. sure all food is fresh; to cover in 1881-1885 to more than 42,000 food with muslin; and to kill all in 1919. Numbers of cancer suffer - ries being developed many years W.S. Handley of the Middle - Middlesex are apparent in the house flies and make larders fly- ers were very low compared to before. A dietary link was also sex was the first doctor to treat health leaflets it gave out to the proof. The hospital also strongly nowadays but were shooting up - suggested in the article, even at cancerous lymph nodes by im - public in the 1920s, which have recommends breast feeding as wards so that cancer was the this early date. planting radium tubes between been preserved in the archive. one of the best ways to keep ba - fastest-growing threat to public Early experimental cancer the patient's ribs. Long before Even at that time, doctors were bies healthy and free from diar - health of the 20th century. treatments tried at the Middlesex chemotherapy treatments began, well aware of the need to catch rhoea. It sternly informs mothers The Express article shows now sound bizarre. They were radium was viewed as a miracle cancer cases early. A health leaflet that: "Nature NEVER allows the that some of the causes of cancer often gruelling for patients and cure, transforming the outlook for of this time about womb cancer milk of a healthy mother to be were already beginning to be un - even cruel. Remedies tried in the cancer patients. However, radium stresses in block capitals: “CAN - 'wrong' for her own child. There - derstood although they were not 19th century included compress - was a scarce resource. Press cov - CER OF THE WOMB IS CUR - fore any failure in feeding is due yet firmly proved. It reported that ing the tumour after putting pow - erage was given, in the 1910s and ABLE IF REMOVED IN ITS to ignorance or lack of determina - cancer was linked to several fac - dered chalk into its surface 1920s, to a lack of radium sup - EARLY STAGE.” The leaflet goes tion. CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR tors, with numbers one and two cavities. Another gruesome 'treat - plies worldwide and to its high on to ask in bold type, “Why then OR WELFARE CENTRE." on the list being excessive tobacco ment' was ulcerating the tumour cost. The need to pay for radium do so many women die of this One final intriguing fragment smoking and excessive drinking. with a caustic made of zinc paste was highlighted in the Middle - disease every year?” and answers, from the UCLH archive reveals an So Dr Richard Doll's ground- and the herb sanguinaria. Patients sex's fund-raising drives: the Mid - again in capitals, “BECAUSE THE astonishingly early application of breaking research in the 1950s, were also sometimes made to take dlesex was a charity hospital in PRESENCE OF THE CANCER IS, film technology to medical prac - proving the link between smoking the South American herbal rem - those days before the NHS. IN THE MAJORITY OF CASES, tice at the Middlesex Hospital. It's and cancer, was building on theo - edy of turpentine or Condurango The public health issues that NOT DETECTED UNTIL TOO a short article in the Star newspa - bark, by mouth. most concerned doctors at the LATE.” per of May 18, 1912, called “New Use For Kinema”. The first cine - mas only opened in London's West End in 1910. However, only A new book on Fitzrovia two years later cameras were in the 1911 census. title of 'the other side' is that it is being used at the hospital to film A sociological history of "And they were welcome, as on the other side of Oxford Street surgical operations, for the re - Fitzrovia from 1900 to 1950 is to were all outsiders, in the area but quite separate from Soho, search benefit of medical staff. be published next year. which was open to all kinds of in - with the Fitzroy set in the 1940s According to the Star: "The It is called "Fitzrovia, The fluences and where there were job and 1950s being more edgy and kinematograph was introduced Other Side of Oxford Street" and opportunities and cheap rents in gritty. into the operating chamber of the is by Ann Basu, who regularly those days. "And it is on the other side of Middlesex hospital some time writes historical features for "The clothing industry, espe - Euston Road, blocked off from ago, and has been a great success. Fitzrovia News. cially women's outer clothing, de - north London, again with a very Many operations, both grave and Her maternal grandmother, veloped after 1900 and really different identity." minor, have been photographed, Rebecca Simkewicz from Belarus, encouraged migration, particu - This is Ann's second book to the films being used exclusively lived at 1 Little Titchfield Street in larly Jewish migration, with little be published. The first was called in the hospital lecture rooms, and 1911, and her mother Rebecca Co - workshops and clothing shops. "States of Trial" about the Ameri - at strictly scientific gatherings." shever lived at 48 Howland Street "The communications and en - can novelist Philip Roth. It was The Star didn't get its predic - until it was knocked down in 1938 tertainment industry also devel - published in 2014 after six years tion right when it suggested that: to make way for a telephone ex - oped beyond recognition, such as of work on it. “Perhaps it is in surgery that the change which opened the follow - the film industry. Tottenham She became interested in him moving picture will be of greatest ing year. A plaque marks where it Court Road had a huge cluster of while doing an MA at Birkbeck value in the future”. But this brief was on the north east corner with cinemas, about a dozen at one College and wrote a thesis on Ann Basu with the Fitzrovia history news item, retrieved from the Cleveland Street. time, and experimental films (es - him. "I was really blown away by manuscritpt archive more than 100 years later, "I want to emphasise that in pecially by producer Charles the human story of his novels shows how Fitzrovia's Middlesex this period how high the propor - ularly the later ones, and really Urban) were encouraged in the about American identity and Hospital was at the forefront of its tion of immigration was," Ann enjoyed them." Scala Theatre [between Totten - race," she said. "I felt I really times in medical innovation. told Fitzrovia News. "Literally 75 The new book is due to be ham, Scala and Charlotte Streets]. wanted to know more about him, per cent were foreigners in the published by the History Press "The whole idea behind the so read more of his novels, partic - streets bordering Cleveland Street in May 2019. Fitzrovia News issue 148 Spring 2018 — 13 w w w . T r

Marx on the run in Tottenham Court Road u e The 200th anniversary of the Workingmen's Association. C r i birth of Karl Marx is on May 5 so Tottenham Court Road had m e l i

it is timely that his links with sad memories for Marx when b r a

Fitzrovia should be recalled. three of his children who died in r y . Perhaps most famously he infancy were buried at the church - c o was involved in a drunken and yard adjoining Whitefield's Taber - m disorderly pub crawl in the early nacle, at 79 Tottenham Court 1850s along all the 18 pubs* that Road, now called Whitfield Gar - existed then in Tottenham Court dens. Road. The eldest was nine-year-old His two companions were fel - Henry Edgar (known as Mouche low German revolutionaries, or Moosh) buried there in 1855. Edgar Bauer and Wilhelm Marx was so distressed that he Liebknecht, the latter of which de - had to be restrained from throw - Hanged 100 scribed the events in his memoirs. ing himself into the open grave. "There loud singing issued The other two were Guido (1849- years ago from a public house; we entered 50) and Franziska (1851-52). Seeking shelter from a zeppelin and learned that a club of Odd Marx was also a prominent raid during the first world war in Fellow were celebrating a festi - member of the Communist Club the basement at 101 Charlotte val," he wrote. which met at the Blue Posts pub, Street a woman instead found "We met some of the men be - 81 Newman Street, from 1874 to death at the hands of her lover. longing to the party and they at stones. "In memory of mad stu - two street - whence we came be - 1877, opposite where his daughter She was a 32-year-old Belgian once invited us 'foreigners' with dents' pranks he picked up a hind the policemen who lost the Eleanor lived at 13 Newman woman called Emilienne Gerard truly English hospitality to go stone, and Clash! Clatter! a gas trail." Street in the year of his death in and the abode was that of her with them into one of the rooms." lantern went flying into splinters. This could have been New - 1883. lover, a 42-year-old French At first their conversations were "Nonsense is contagious - man Passage between Rathbone He also frequented the club butcher called Louis Voisin. in "the best of spirits" ... until the Marx and I did not stay behind, Street and Newman Street which when it moved to the basement at Unfortunately when Emili - subject of patriotism cropped up. and we broke four or five street would have been on the way to 49 Tottenham Street in 1882. The enne entered she found him with Bauer ridiculed English lamps - it was perhaps 2 o'clock in Marx's home in Dean Street. It club had its own choir, billiard another of his lovers, Berthe snobs, and Marx compared the ex - the morning and the streets were was also near Rathbone Place table, and kitchen. Roche. cellence of German science and deserted in consequence. which was familiar to Marxbe - Those wishing to re-enact the In the ensuing contretemps music unfavourably with Engish "But the noise nevertheless at - cause he used to fence in a salon crawl should gather in the Blue the couple battered and then equivalents. tracted the attention of a police - there at this time with Emanuel Posts, Newman Street, on May 5 strangled Emilienne. Then using "The brows of our hosts man who with quick resolution Barthelemy, a French revolution - ready to start the walk at 7.30pm. his butchery skills Voisin dismem - began to cloud... and when Bauer gave the signal to his colleagues ary who ran it. bered the corpse and dumped the began to allude to the English on the same beat, and immedi - According to Liebknecht *The 18 pubs in Tottenham torso and arms in a square, and cant, then a low 'damned foreign - ately counter signals were given. Marx "lustily gave battle to the Court Road were: the Blue Posts the legs in a garden. His mistake ers!' issued from the company, The position became critical. Frenchman... what Marx lacked in at No 6, Black Horse at No 19, Ris - was to make it appear to be a soon followed by louder repeti - "Happily we took in the situa - science he tried to make up in ag - ing Sun at No 46, Rose & Crown xenophobic killing by attaching a tions. tion at a glance; and happily we gressiveness... unless you were at No 62, Talbot at No 64, King's note on which he had scrawled "Threatening words were spo - knew the locality. We raced ahead, cool he could really startle you." Arms at No 82, Bull's Heat at No "blodie Belgium." ken, the brains began to be three or four policemen some dis - Barthelemy had fought in the 101, Roebuck at No 108, Another error was to leave heated, fists were brandished in tance behind us. Paris Commune of 1848 and was Northumberland Arms at No 119, her clothing, containing a laundry the air and - we were sensible "Marx showed an activity that later hanged for murdering an Southampton Arms at No 141, mark through which the police enough to choose the better part I should not have attributed to employer in Warren Street who Plasterers' Arms at No 157, Mor - traced her address. When they of valour and managed to effect, him. And after the wild chase had was unwisely tardy in his pay - timer Arms at No 174, New Inn at visited it they found a note signed not wholly without difficulty, a lasted some minutes, we suc - ment of him. No 183-6, Apollo at No 191, White by Voisin which led them to his passably dignified retreat." ceeded in turning into a side Later, in 1864, Marx was back Hart at No 199, Italian at No 236, address. After "a double quick march" street and there running through at Rathbone Place for the first Fox & Hounds at No 264, and There in the Charlotte Street Bauer noticed a heap of paving an alley - a back yard between meeting of the International Horsehoe at No 267. coal cellar they found her head and hands. Voisin claimed he had found Lenin’s legacy - Saatchi and Saatchi office! these in her own home which he been at the opening of the Com - (the Angler's Club) for the dent centre). visited to feed her cat while she What would Lenin have thought munist Club at 107 Charlotte congress in exile of the Russian They moved from one venue was away. Fearing he would be about the demolition of the Street after it had moved from 49 Social Democratic Labour Party. to another to keep ahead of tsarist accused of the murder he took Saatchi & Saatchi offices at 80 Tottenham Street. This was in Au - The congress also met opposite in agents. them away, he alleged. Asked Charlotte Street last year, the gust 1902 when about 300 people the Communist Club (code This was the congress in why the rest of the body was not 100th anniversary of the Russian crammed in to hear speeches, named the "English Club") at 107 which the Bolshevik (Majority) there he shrugged and said it was Revolution? music, the club choir, and tele - Charlotte Street (now demolished and Menshevik (Minority) groups "unfortunate". Back in August 1903 he and grams read from Germany and to make way for a new UCL stu - were formed within the party. Credence in this tale was fur - Stalin met on the very same site many other countries. The previous year Lenin had ther broken by the bloodstains on Lenin had been living in Lon - the ceiling of his home. And more don since April 1902 so it is likely proof came when he was asked to he would have visited the club in write "bloody Belgium" and made THE DUKE OF YORK Tottenham Street, which had been the same "blodie" misspelling as there since 1881 and had its own on the note. billiard table and kitchen catering Opening hours Mon-Fri 12-11pm He was found guilty of mur - for German and English mem - der and hanged at Pentonville Sat 1-11pm Sunday closed bers. Visitors included Marx, En - prison on March 2, 1918. His neck gels, Bernard Shaw, William 47 Rathbone Street W1T 1NW was thick, with hardly any pro - Morris and Keir Hardie. The truding neck (as can be seen in a 0207 636 7065 [email protected] building is still there. photograph in the February issue Lenin also loved music, espe - A traditional pub with a good selection of of True Detective, above), so the cially violin and piano, and at - executioner feared the rope might real ales and varied wine list. tended Tchaikovsky's Symphonie slip off, but it did not and the Pathetique, at Queen's Hall, 4 Upstairs Bar / Function room available for drop was completed. Langham Place, in February 1903. Berthe Roche was sentenced private parties and buffets. It was conducted by Henry Wood. to seven years for being an acces - Now it is part of the BBC's Henry Check us out on facebook! sory to the murder. Within a few Wood House after the original months she was pronounced in - building was destroyed by bombs sane and died the following year. in May 1941. 14 — Fitzrovia News issue 148 Spring 2018 Have a boozy night of music with Apollo and Dionysus Second in an occasional series on Goddesses and Gods of Fitzrovia by SUE BLUNDELL Poised above a roof in Bourlet silver.’ As a result the troops begin Close, Apollo stands with his to drop dead from the plague. cloak tossed over his shoulder, And all the heart-rending events one arm outstretche. The god of of The Iliad – the anger of Achilles music, poetry and the arts in gen - and his withdrawal from the eral, he feels quite at home in fighting – stem from this deed. Fitzrovia, with all its creative in - The thing about Greek gods dustries. and goddesses is that they can be Notable for his love of order wonderful, but also terrible, and control, Apollo is often ac - rather like life itself. The worst companied in Greek myth by his story featuring Apollo is that of half-brother Dionysus, god of the mortal woman Niobe, who wine, drama and transcendence – foolishly boasts that she has more the champion of ‘letting-it-all- children than the goddess Leto. hang-out’. He feels at home in This is perfectly true. Niobe has Fitzrovia too, especially on Friday twelve, while Leto has produced nights. Together, Apollo and only two. But the two are Apollo Dionysus facilitate what is best in and Artemis, and they immedi - the arts: let it rip, but keep it ately spring into action with their within bounds as well. bows and arrows. ‘Not any more The most Greek of all the you haven’t!’ they cry as they gods, Apollo was the only one of shoot down Niobe’s six sons and the twelve Olympian deities who six daughters. Niobe weeps so kept his name when he migrated much that she is turned into a cliff across the Adriatic to Roman Italy. with water streaming down it. Zeus was identified with the ‘Like Niobe, all tears,’ as Hamlet Roman Jupiter, Athena with Min - says of his mother Gertrude. erva, and so on. But Apollo was Apollo (left) and his half-brother The Apollo of Bourlet Close forever simply Apollo. Dionysus (above). may have just performed this hor - Bourlet Close, a mews be - rible act of slaughter. Unfortu - tween Nassau Street and Wells property-owner who wanted to This is a Roman work in marble still famous enough for its head to nately, he’s concealed behind Street, is named after the frame- reach a height that had been de - based on a Greek bronze original feature in the logo of the Apollo scaffolding at the moment, but if making firm of James Bourlet, nied to his actual building by which has long since disappeared. XVII moon landing mission, the you do catch a glimpse of him which moved here in 1864. A local Westminster planners. The marble version is over seven last in the programme. from the mews, please don’t feel resident tells us that the Apollo, The Bourlet Close Apollo is a feet high and was discovered in The Apollo of Bourlet Close that you need to smile at him. along with several other statues, copy of a famous statue in the Central Italy in the late fifteenth reminds us of two important as - He’s pretty awesome, but he’s was erected in the early 1990s by a Vatican, the Belvedere Apollo. century. It was owned by one of pects of the god. Greek deities are also quite a nasty piece of work. the Popes, and so found its way often associated with particular into the Vatican, where it was dis - items of clothing, and with Apollo played in the Belvedere Court - it’s the cloak. He generally wears 6 FITZROY SQUARE The perfect venue yard. In the eighteenth century it it flung over his shoulder, and it’s was seen as the acme of Greek seen as symbolising the enlighten - The perfect venue for meetings, launches, seminars, and Roman art. Napoleon thought ment that Apollo can bring. He re - dinners, wedding receptions and other corporate events. it was the best thing he took back veals everything to us. to Paris with him following his Apollo is also an archer god, conquest of Italy. After its sojourn The Georgian Group’s elegant eigh - and that explains the pose. He has + Friendly medical advice in the Louvre it returned to Rome teenth-century headquarters a quiver on his back, and in his in 1815 and was reinstalled in the + NHS and private overlooking Fitzroy Square provides a left hand he would originally Belvedere Courtyard, where it re - prescriptions unique location for all types of private have wielded a bow. Clearly he mains to this day. has just fired it. When he and his + Prescription collection and corporate events in the heart of By the nineteenth century the central London. twin sister Artemis – Diana in and delivery Apollo was falling out of fashion. Roman myth – shoot arrows at + Repeat dispensing Critics such as John Ruskin saw it the human race, they die of dis - We cordially invite local businesses + Multivitamins, health as rather flashy and vulgar. The ease. Homer’s poem The Iliad be - and individuals to visit our building Parthenon sculptures had gone on gins with Apollo raining down and advice and get a taste of the authentic show in The British Museum in arrows on the Greek army at Troy + Flu vaccination Georgian experience... 1817, and people tended to prefer because they’ve done something + Herbal and nutritional their simplicity and restraint. But to annoy him. ‘Terrible was the support in 1972 the Belvedere Apollo was clash that arose from the bow of For booking enquiries, availability and rates please contact Rob Kouyoumdjian on 0207 529 8921 Picture SHIV or [email protected] puzzle 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 7. Fitzrovia News issue 148 Spring 2018 — 15

Some partners more equal Thelma Holt and Charles The Piano near Swiss Cottage was doomed Marowitz Man No 12 by once again to be only a fleeting outside the CLIFFORD experience. theatre in The following year took me SLAPPER 1976. (David from Swiss Cottage to Dutch Bar, Cooper/Pho - as I was in Amsterdam to access tostage). My first ever job, aged 15, was the archives of William Morris not playing the piano. It was and the Socialist League, at the In - weekends on the sales floor of a ternational Institute of Social His - Finchley Road department store, tory, for my Ph.D. research. in the toys section. Watching a Cartoon by Chris Tyler I played in some jam sessions, succession of children having to in my life as a musician, though whilst enjoying rather too much be physically pried away from that’s another story!) at Our Price of the local genever gin, this time various items, by stressed par - Records. I still have that vinyl without the excuse of a tooth ents who tried in vain to explain double album of Dylan’s “Blonde ache. One day whilst there, I to their innocent offspring the On Blonde”. On the third week I stumbled across a beautiful large concept of “can’t afford”, my so - was lost in thought, staring up at bar, with a grand piano as the cen - cial awareness increased rapidly. some huge and hypnotic chande - tre piece. I had a lovely chat with However, this was a branch liers sparkling above. Had it been the owner, who had worked all of the “John Lewis Partnership”, 38 years later, I’d have said I his life as a pianist. where all partners are created might have been dreaming of We shared tales of playing in equal, so perhaps capitalism swinging from the chandelier like bars for demanding managers, didn’t have to be so bad? On the Trailblazing theatre Sia. and of paltry pay. He explained other hand, “senior partners” had Instead I felt a tap on my that he had opened his own bar so A disused old people's club was West, Prunella Scales, Liz Smith, their own floor and their own fa - shoulder. It was my manager that he could put such exploita - taken over by the Open Space David Schofield, Malcolm Storry, cilities, in somewhat Orwellian from the toy section, asking me tion behind him. He could just avante garde fringe theatre in the Richard Mayes, Janet Suzman, fashion. Doing some research how I ended up in the neighbour - play when he felt like it, without basement at 32 Tottenham Court and Estelle Kohler. later on this particular animal ing lighting department. My in - having to negotiate, as he was Road 50 years ago in 1968. Author William Burroughs farm, I found that in this “mini- ability to explain this now the boss. I felt a bond with It made a considerable repu - also appeared on stage as the re - state”, the illusion of equality only teleportation resulted in an even this fellow pianist, almost as if we tation for putting on experimental pressive judge, Julius Hoffman, in thinly covered a bureaucracy swifter shift of matter, as I was were partners. plays at lunchtimes and late "The Chicago Conspiracy" in which made profits for investors shown the door with my P45 in He said he often booked in evenings - three of which were 1970. and distributed benefits no less hand. guest pianists, and invited me to televised, and many future stars When the building was unequally than any other com - A few years later, I had perform the following night, to got their first acting chance there. knocked down in 1976 by the EMI pany or state. The current com - started doing gigs and found my - which I gladly agreed. He said Writers were also given the op - redevelopment they moved to a pany mission statement boasts of self accompanying jazz singer that he would of course pay me a portunity to make their names at disused post office at 303 Euston being a democracy, but then Pauline Swaby for a set at a fair rate, and then offered an the theatre. Road on the understanding that a promises only “as much sharing winebar on nearby Canfield Gar - amount in Dutch guilders (this It was founded and run by new 250-seat theatre would be of power as is consistent with effi - dens. The first week went excel - was before the 2002 Netherlands actor, director and fundraiser built for them in the Tottenham ciency”. The chairman is paid lently. On the second week I had adoption of the Euro) which in Thelma Holt, and writer and di - Court Road redevelopment. nearly £2 million per year, with the worst tooth ache ever, being 2018 sterling would be worth . . . rector Charles Marowitz. This promise was made by shop floor workers on only about incapacitated by pain as I trav - about a tenner for the night. Among writers to have their Bernard Delfont, the theatrical im - one hundredth of that – and all elled there on the Met Line. I fool - As Orwell himself grimly early plays premiered at the the - presario who was part of EMI. It “profit share bonuses” are strictly ishly decided to try to play wrote in “Nineteen Eighty-Four”, atre were Trevor Griffiths, was never honoured and follow - proportional to pay. through the pain by drinking a rewording an old nursery rhyme Howard Barker, Peter Barnes, and ing cuts in their grants from the I spent my whole first week - quarter bottle of whisky from an (and song lyric), “Underneath the Howard Brenton. Arts Council and Camden Coun - end’s earnings before I got home off licence on the way there. A big spreading chestnut tree, I sold Performers who started their cil the theatre finally closed in (a theme which would recur later, mistake. It seemed that working you and you sold me”. careers there included, Timothy 1979. Looking back through the archives

40 years ago 10 years ago Darts punch-up Guitar exile Fron Tower, May1978: From Fitzrovia News, Spring The Valiant Trooper pub (now 2008: The Fitzrovia) at 18 Goodge Street The famous Spanish guitar com - was wrecked by a gas blast in the Film shot in art gallery poser Fernando Sor (1778-1839) street outside. It was soon to re - By CLIVE JENNNGS Union Flag flying on the front of lived at 26 Charlotte Street in the open with one bar instead of two. The Huntley Street squatters (above) For fans of the recently released the building. 1820s, wrote Brian Jeffery. Sor had The pub's darts team had a have won the latest round in their and highly acclaimed Paul I highly recommend the film, been exiled from Spain for his woman playing for the first time. battle to stay in the 54 former police Thomas Anderson film “Phantom which is beyond excellent and politics and protesting against the This followed a punch-up be - flats. Judge Mecatta has ruled that Thread”, I would suggest a visit predicted to be highly honoured invasion by Napoleon Bonaparte. tween the team's male members the 130 adults and 30 children who to Tristan Hoare Gallery at 6 at the various awards ceremonies. While at Charlotte Street he wrote over selection, resulting in three live there had a valid licence to oc - Fitzroy Square (pictured above). Mr Anderson is a director and Italian songs with piano, waltzes being thrown out. Cathy, wife of cupy the emptly flats. This beautiful building, storyteller at the very top of his dance music for piano and ballet team captain Terry Dawkins, was which also houses The Georgian game, and this bizarre and dark music. one of the late replacements and Group, was used as the location narrative offers a window onto Lena Jager , the popular and long One theatre to another they went on to win the match serving MP for Holborn and St for the home and atelier of the the mores of the upper echelons A radio programme revealed against the Duke of York in the Pancras South, was to retire at the main character, couturier of society in 1950s London. that comedian and singer Danny first leg of the knock-out cup next election. To mark the occa - Reynolds Woodcock, played to Also of interest in the film is a Kaye was allowed to help conduct quarter-final. The Trooper, home - sion the Bloomsbury Labour perfection by Daniel Day-Lewis. very realistic recreation of a a medical operation at Middlesex less after the gas explosion which Party Branch held a farewell Fitzrovians will remember Chelsea Arts Club Ball of the pe - Hospital in Mortimer Street when wrecked the pub, played the sec - Greek style dinner in Anemos the fascinating parade of vehicles riod – if you want to see the real appearing at the London Palla - ond leg at the Duke of York as restaurant, 32 Charlotte Street, on that graced the Square during the thing, check the Pathé archives, dium in 1947. He had a keen in - well, to win handsomely, and April 23. filming, last year, from London available free online, for a hilari - terest in and knowledge of meet Tower Tavern in the semi- Over 100 guests heard buses and taxis to horse drawn ous newsreel film of a Ball that medicine. final. Michael Foot MP praise her work carriages, not to mention the ends in mayhem! 16 — Fitzrovia News issue 148 Spring 2018 WHAT’S ON AROUND FITZROVIA Email [email protected] by May 17, 2018 for the June issue and put “Listings” in the subject box

RADA , Malet St MUSIC THEATRE (rada.ac.uk/whats-on): COMEDY ART Bloomsbury Theatre Studio , 15 The Albany , 240 Great Portland GBS Theatre: The House of The Albany , 240 Great Portland Featured exhibitions. A full Gordon St (thebloomsbury.com): Bernada Alba, by Federico Garcia St (thealbanyw1w.co.uk): Ukeleles St: Mondays at 8pm. list of art galleries is on our Doctor and The Medics star in Lorca, March 14-24. on Wednesdays, 8pm. website. Poe Zest (Edgar Allan Poe Gieigud Theatre: Broadway Wheatsheaf , 25 Rathbone Place: reimagined by Mike Bennett), King & Queen , 1 Foley St : Folk Bount, by Neil Simon, March 13- Improvisation on Thursdays, March 16-17. Mitch Benn, musical once a month on Fridays 8-11pm 24. 8.30pm, and stand-up on Satur - satire, March 23. (visit web mustradclub.co.uk). Jerwood Vanbrugh Theatre: days, 7.30pm upstairs. Michael Sheehy (accordian) and Women Beware Women, by Camden People's Theatre , 58-60 Ed Barrett (fiddle) plus Marianne Thomas Middleton, March 15-24 POETRY Hampstead Rd (cptheatre.co.uk): McAleer (singer), March 9. Dan King & Queen (upstairs), 1 Foley Fat Kid Running, by Hugo Milner & Bonnie Milner (USA), St: Springtime poems, songs and Aguirre and Lizzie Manwaring, CINEMA May 11. Jeff Warner, June 9. laughs from Wendy Shutler and and For a Black Girl, by the Davis Ivor Game with Bloomsbury Brothers, March 14. Sevilla Mia Spanish Bar , 22 Han - bards Andrew Cuthbert and Bob way St (basement): World Fusion, Goody, Apr 23, 8pm. Dominion Theatre , 269 Totten - Tue, 9.30pm; Swing 'n' Blues, ham Court Rd Wed, 9.30pm; Spanish Rumba, (dominiontheatre.com): Bat out Gallery Differen t, 14 Percy St: Thur-Sat, 10.30pm. EXHIBITIONS of Hell, the Musical, from April 2. Rajvi Dedhia Unadkat “APlay of British Museum, Great Russell St Binaries (above), March 7-8. Simmons , 28 Maple St: Live (britishmuseum.org): London Palladium, Argyll St Money Puzzle on April 8. music every Wednesday evening. Free: The currency of commu - (london-palladium.co.uk): Bolivar Hall , 54 Grafton Way Tristan Hoare , 6 Fitzroy Square: nism, until March 18. A revolu - Randy Newman, March 11. (cultura.embavenez-uk.org): Lon - “Geometrica – geometry in art The 100 Club , 100 Oxford St tionary legacy: Haiti and Nathan Carter, March 17. Suggs: don Socialist Film Co-op screen from 2nd to 21st Century”, until (the100club.co.uk): The Ramonas, Toussaint Louverture, until Apr A Life in the Realm of Madness, films at 11am on the second Sun - March 28. See feature on page 15 . March 8. Johnny Moped, March 9. 22. Charmed lives in Greece, March 22. Yes, 50th Anniversary, day of each month. She's Beauti - Captain Ska, March 23. Doctors of March 8-July 15. March 24-25. ful when She is Angry, March 11. Madness, March 24. Phobo - Pay for: Living with gods: peo - Money Puzzle, April 8. Empty phobes, March 26. ples, places and worlds beyond, New Diorama Theatre Desert and Reykjavik, May 13. until April 8. Rodin and the art of (newdiorama.com), 15-16 Triton UCL Haldane Room , Wilkins ancient Greece, April 26-July 29. St (Euston Rd opposite Fitzroy Building, Gower St: Chamber Charlotte Street Hotel , 15-17 St): Trap Street by Kandinsky the - Charlotte St: Film Club with meal Music Concert, March 13, and Grant Museum of Zoology , 21 atre group about life on a housing and a movie for £40.To book tick - May 1, 5.30-6.30pm. University St: Internal Beauty: An estate, March 6-31. ets visit bit.ly/CharlotteStreet - White Rainbow, 47 Mortimer St: exhibition by Elpida Hadzi- Continued in next column FilmClub. Chikako Yamashiro Vasileva (sculptures from animal “Shapeshifter” (above), March 15- organs), until March 28 (1-5pm). Green Man, 36 Riding House St: Apr 28. Chim Pom Artists Collec - London Animation Club, first tive, May 17-July 7. RADA Bar, Malet St: The Art of Tuesday of month. the Scenic Artit, until March 30. Edel Assanti , 17A Newman St: Odeon , 30 Tottenham Court Rd: Dale Lewis - “Fat, Sugar, Salt”, UCL Main Library , Wilkins Weekly film details from until March 10. Tamar Harpaz – Building, Gower St: Dangers and odeon.co.uk or 08712 244007. “Crazy Delay”, March 21-Apr 21. Delusions? Perspectives on the women's suffrage movement, Regent Street Cinema , 309 Re - until December 14. gent St: For daily programme visit regentstreetcinema.com. Wellcome Library , 183 Euston Rd Matinee classics every Wednes - (wellcomecollection.org): day at 2pm, for over 55s, £1.75. Ayurvedic Man: encounters with Kids' Kino Club, every Saturday, Indian medicine, until Apr 8. 11.30am. Somewhere in Between, March 8- Dan Bates, Founder and Artistic Director of FitzFest playing oboe, with festival musicians Juliette Aug 27. Bausor on flute, Beatrice Phillips and Laura Lutzke on violins, Adam Newman on viola and Hannah Royal Anthropological Institute , Sloan on 'cello. 50 Fitzroy St (raifilm.org.uk/events): Regular TALKS programme of interesting screen - Fitzrovia Centre, 2 Foley St: FitzFest 2018 ings. Women of Fitzrovia (including Rebecca Hossack Galleries , 2a Monday 28 May to Sunday 2 June WALKS Virginia Woolf and Florence Conway St: Carla Kranendonk – Nightingale), on International “Odalisque (above), until Apr 14. This year’s festival will headline virtuoso clarinettist Michael Collins, Karl Marx walk/pub crawl. Starts Women's Day, March 8, 1pm. 28 Charlotte St: Sheila Clarkson – leading flautist Juliette Bausor, The Orchestra of the Age of the Enlight - from Blue Posts, Newman Street, “Constellations” until March 24. enment, and leading actor Robert Bathurst (ITV's 'Cold Feet' and May 5, 7.30pm (see page 13). Sohemian Society , Wheatsheaf, 'Downton Abbey’). 25 Rathbone Place: Barry Miles The opening night concert and reception ‘Fitzrovian Fantasy’ will London Literary Pub Crawl , on his career in the 1960s, March take place at the Fitzrovia Chapel on Wednesday evening, 30 May, fol - every Saturday, 5pm. Start at the 14, 7.30pm. lowed by a late night candlelight jazz concert ‘Jazz at Bedtime’. Further Wheatsheaf, 25 Rathbone Place. concerts will take place on 1 and 2 June. Throughout the week there LondonLiteraryPubCrawl.com. UCL Darwin Lecture Theatre , will be yoga and meditation at the former hospital Chapel, and Scanner Malet Place (ucl.ac.uk/events): will be back with his sound installation ‘Middlesex Memories’. As in London Walks (walks.com) £10, Tuesdays and Thursdays (1.15- previous years, there will be music outside, and in local cafes and Over 65 £8: 1.55pm) during term time. Sex shops, walks and talks, and events at lunchtime, during the afternoon Beatles Magical Mystery Tour, and socialism: What the Bolshe - and in the evenings. Venues include the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre on Tottenham Court Rd station, vik revolution meant for the his - Howland Street (with an exploration of Music and the Brain), the Royal every Sunday 11am, and every Pi Artworks, 55 Eastcastle St: Ipen tory of prostitution in 20th Duben – “in via incognita” Society of Musicians, Fitzroy Square, and the Rebecca Hossack Gallery Thursday, 11am, Wednesdays century Russia, March 14. on Conway Street. www.fitzfest.co.uk 2pm. (above), until Apr 7.