Want to do some business? news.fitzrovia.org.uk Fitzrovia News Fitzrovia News is produced by residents and volunteers and distributed free to all businesses and residential addresses in Fitzrovia Issue 143 Winter 2016 Businesses hit with huge hike in rates The road from Malaysia By Linus Rees Business Improvement District page 9 (BID). Currently around 230 busi - Businesses in Fitzrovia will be hit nesses are liable for this levy with a huge increase in bills next which is 1 percent of rateable year after the government con - value and collected by Camden firmed an increase of business Council on behalf of the BID. rates in its autumn Statement. But due to the rise in rateable Although land values are values in the BID area more busi - lower than most of London’s nesses could become included for other West End districts, the cost this extra payment. However, The of premises in Fitzrovia has Fitzrovia Partnership has told increased at a greater rate and Fitzrovia News that it wants to will squeeze the area’s communi - mitigate the effects of the rates ty of small businesses and cre - increase and will raise the thresh - ative industries. old figure that triggers a demand The higher costs reflect the for payment so that no more busi - rapid increase in property value nesses become liable for the levy. which has hit residential as well The BID says it will reduce as commercial rents. Much of it is the levy to offset the increase in caused by the new Crossrail sta - bills. Cartoonist has tion at Tottenham Court Road “We are doing analysis on the two books out for and the marketing of Fitzrovia to levy percentage with a view to overseas investors wanting to reducing the levy and increasing Christmas move their wealth into property. our rateable value threshold,” High profile residential and says BID manager Lee Lyons. Page 13 commercial developments on the “We are well aware of the sites of the former Middlesex impact on businesses with the Hospital at Fitzroy Place and for - increasing business rates and are mer Royal Mail delivery office at working with our members to Rathbone Square have attracted support them. We have recently Former medical students rehearse for their reunion party “Death by international attention. launched an offer to our member - Nostalgia” in the Middlesex Hospital Chapel. See story page 8. Fitzrovia has also been plun - ship with our partners BNP Photograph by Etienne Gilfillan. dered by numerous other rede - Paribas to look at opportunities to between Bayley Street and New velopments which have damaged challenge the new proposed rat - tion now allows for cross bor - Oxford Street, an area previously much of the area’s historical fab - ings,” he says. ough BIDs. part of the neighbouring ric despite its conservation areas. In the summer of 2017 the “The BID is currently explor - InMidtown BID. Residents have been priced out BID will re-ballot businesses in ing all situations in regard to the Fitzrovia News also under - while cheap and characterful the hope of securing a further five ballot, this includes the tidying stands that The Fitzrovia offices have been replaced by year mandate. up of our boundaries that may Local group Partnership is considering a fur - pimped-up apartments and However, the BID is also like - well include Tottenham Court ther expansion of its area to brash, glass-fronted boxes or fake ly to increase its area to include Road and the Westminster area of release new CD include part of the Westminster Georgian facades. businesses on the south eastern Charlotte Street,” said Lyons in a side of Fitzrovia after new legisla - Businesses will see, on aver - side of Tottenham Court Road statement. Page 6 age, a 40 percent increase in the rateable value of their premises, far higher than the London aver - age of 23.7 percent, and higher than the average increase in Westminster (25.3 percent) and Camden (29.5 precent). But bills will be capped to allow a transition period to allow businesses to plan for their future GIGS est. 1958 rate demands. The change will The home of traditional Fish & Chips come into effect in April 2017. In 2012 businesses in the Fully licensed Greek restaurant Camden part of Fitzrovia which Trip Adviser Certificate of Excellence winners, 2014, 2015, 2016 currently have a rateable value of over £100,000 voted to pay a levy 12 Tottenham Street 020 7636 1424 to The Fitzrovia Partnership 2 — Fitzrovia News issue 143 Winter 2016 facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Fitzrovia News Formerly The Tower Letters, emails and comment established 1973 news.fitzrovia.org.uk Write to [email protected] or post to Fitzrovia News, Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association, 39 Tottenham Street, London W1T 4RX twitter.com/fitzrovianews facebook.com/fitzrovianews [email protected] Does Fitzrovia fail as a community? Good spirits 020 7580 4576 To Residents of Fitzrovia. through which to communicate sibility. Outside a bicycle shop on Great Issue 143 Winter 2016 I have been a resident of and offer help Fitzrovians are a The Fitzrovia Centre in Foley Portland Street there’s a coffee Published 6 December 2016 Fitzrovia since 1974. Although family whose members do not Street hosts activities for all stall. The man who runs it has the area is proud of its historic speak to each other, rather than ages, but not a forum for com - his own bike beside him, and on Editorial Team identity, does contemporary a community. munity discussion. the back of the bike he carries a Mike Pentelow: Fitzrovia fail to achieve an iden - In a vibrant community the Fitzrovia News declines to container in which he grows editor and features editor tity as a community? elderly are a resource of guid - advertise the activities of the plants. Linus Rees: Local church, school, and ance and skills that they can Fitzrovia Centre unless it pays We’ve taken to chatting assistant editor other groups such as those for exchange and share. As well, for the service. when I pass, and I admired his Pete Whyatt: women and addicts are provid - they have needs difficult to The Mayor of London is new pink geranium, saying I news and production editor ed for — but failing to belong to access, even in a metropolis such keen to promote social inclusion. had a red one in my window Clive Jennings: one of these demographics, one as London, which cannot be met It is not a social service to be box. He said coffee grounds arts editor is geographically a Fitzrovian exclusively by social welfare provided by the city or the state. were good for them As I don't Brian Jarman: without being a member of any organisations. It exists at the local level of the drink coffee, he insisted on giv - writer and sub-editor community. Although Westminster and community. ing me some grounds to take Barb Jacobson: My downstairs neighbour, Camden both have freeshare Does community matter? back. Neighbours. associate editor with no one to check in on him, websites — there is no conspicu - The Spring 2010 issue of the A goose lost outside Euston Jennifer Kavanagh: lay dead on the floor of his flat ous facility for locals to volun - Fitzrovia News included a similar station. I watched a bus wait for associate editor for days before he was discov - teer their time or skills to those letter. Since then little progress it to cross the road. Jess Owens ered. Another, barely unable to who have no resources other has been made. Finally, after about 13 years associate editor walk, was rescued in the street than the accidental kindness of If community matters to you; of living here, I went into All by a local resident as he shuffled strangers. Is that what urban if you would like to participate Saints, Margaret Street — a cou - Contributors: back from the supermarket, society has now become? or have time and skills to share, ple of roads south of where I John Axon unable to cope. There is no local website please let me know — and tell live. A very beautiful 1850s Ann Basu How many other ill, elderly, where information and ideas, community ‘leaders' you have church, opened by Pusey, one of Sue Blundell disabled or housebound people suggestions and complaints can contact with what you expect of the leaders of the Oxford move - Jayne Davis are there in Fitzrovia handi - be aired or shared. Without one, them if you would like to help ment, well worth a visit. And, Etienne Gilfillan capped by a lack of neighbourly finding support to remedy com - build one. for good measure, I went into Ann Goodburn support? plaints about commercial prem - Antony Ruth the Buddhist temple opposite Janet Gauld Wouldn’t a genuine commu - ises, or anti-social behaviour Email: [email protected] and visited the very vivid Clifford Harper nity be concerned to know — from licensed premises and shrine. Just a couple of streets Luke Ijaz and care? Yet without a facility other local nuisance is an impos - north of Oxford Street, tranquil Rosie Lunn sanctuaries of worship. C McArthur Searching A bus journey on the number Sunita Soliar I’m looking for information of a 29: sitting next to a man in a Clifford Slapper Miss Katie Kent who I believe yarmulka was a young Muslim Wendy Shutler Rough sleepers was born in 1903 and spent over woman who offered her seat to Jean Sveinsson 50 years selling flowers outside an older man with a walking Chris Tyler I am a property manager with deliveries. the old Middlesex Hospital in stick. A crowd of French tourists Kipper Williams the Langham Estate, which man - Some drivers are concerned Mortimer Street, becoming a were having an uproarious time. ages hundreds of predominantly about using the street for fear of well respected local character. The bus was packed full, and Printed by: commercial buildings within the running over a tent or indeed By 1969 she owned a tiny full of good spirits. Sharman & Co Ltd, Westminster part of Fitzrovia. someone inside the tent. flower shop in Charlotte Place. Sometimes I just love Newark Road, I am frequently out and The police and Westminster Any information would be London. Peterborough PE1 5TD about on the estate, looking after City Council have good inten - magic and the chance of a photo Local resident sharmanandco.co.uk those buildings. tions to assist local businesses outstanding! My email address Over the past 10 years I have and residents as best as they is [email protected]. Fitzrovia News is produced noticed a significant increase in can. However, due to limited Richard M Bennett quarterly by the Fitzrovia rough sleepers occupying door - resources and the volume of Corrections and Community Newspaper ways or entrances of buildings such cases being reported, they Restaurant workers Group, ISSN: 0967-1404 clarifications overnight or sleeping in the are not able to respond as quick - While using the 1911 census to vicinity of warm air vents. ly as they would like to. find out who lived in Fitzrovia, I If you think Fitzrovia News has Published by the Fitzrovia Recently, some sleepers have They might be successful in found an unexpectedly high made a mistake please tell us by Neighbourhood Association taken to occupying fold-up tents persuading the sleeper to move number of hotel and restaurant email [email protected] or (registered charity no. 1111649) in those locations or on pave - on, but moving on means sim - workers living in around contact us at our office. 39 Tottenham Street, ments and in alleys. ply that the sleeper will move to Charlotte Street. They were Many news articles first London, W1T 4RX Quite often — but not in all a neighbouring building or to mostly Swiss, German, Austrian appear on our website which is cases — the sleepers have left the next street, to become some - and French immigrants, which I updated weekly. Edited ver - fitzrovia.org.uk before the office and shop work - one else’s problem. thought were mostly south of sions are then published in the google.com/+FitzroviaOrgUK ers and other visitors arrive the It is easy to say but far hard - Oxford Street. printed paper which is pub - twitter.com/FitzroviaNA next day. But it is not uncom - er to put into practice, but in my I expected tailors to be in the lished quarterly. facebook.com/FitzroviaNA mon for the sleepers to have view what is needed is for all majority but actually these hotel defecated and urinated in and relevant agencies (perhaps and restaurant workers were about where they had slept and including charities) to pool their Fitzrovia News Public editorial every bit as numerous. to have left behind other rub - resources and have a dedicated I am looking for other deadlines meetings are held at bish. Thus, much cleaning and team walking the streets on a sources to tell me about this Our deadline for news, 7 pm, first Tuesday of rubbish removal is necessary. regular basis offering support to group of workers in this locality every month at The Langham Estate has the rough sleepers. — especially the experiences features, letters and Fitzrovia Neighbourhood experienced this in relation to its Until the problems are satis - and backgrounds of the workers adverts is normally own managed buildings, but the factorily addressed and resolved Association, themselves, rather than the culi - two weeks before pub - problem is apparent throughout in this area and indeed in other nary reputations of the restau - 39 Tottenham Street most of central London. areas in central London, as I see rants or the famous people who lication. Sometimes we London W1T 4RX When a tent or a rough it the presence of rough sleepers might have eaten there. accept articles later. sleeper in a sleeping bag or will impact adversely upon local Subscribe to Fitzrovia Do any of your readers know The next issue of Fitzrovia under cardboard boxes blocks residents, the local business News for regular of any sources, or have any first News will be out on the main access point into a community and the tourist person recollections? If so please updates: Tuesday 7 March building this may prevent access industry. contact me through Fitzrovia Deadline is Friday 17 February bit.ly/fitzrovianews to or egress from the building Shanie Henderson News . [email protected] for people or drivers making Langham Estate Ann Basu, by email. facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Fitzrovia News issue 143 Winter 2016 — 3 From “Take One!” to bake one Free Christmas Rebecca takes the biscuit dinner at YMCA Young people’s charity Fitzrovia from business lunches and dinners, Youth in Action will be holding drinks and canapé parties and even a their annual free Christmas BBQ hog roast.” Community Dinner for Fitzrovia Rebecca bakes bespoke celebration residents at the Indian YMCA, 1- cakes for clients and events; “I’ve 4pm on Thursday 22 December. baked special cakes for many cus - Food, entertainment and games tomers milestone life events including will be on offer. Free, but book - birthdays, weddings, christenings, ing essential. Reserve your place farewells and housewarming. by contacting Customers tell me about the person [email protected] or 020 for whom the cake is being made, their 7388 7399. interests, hobbies or funny anecdotes Who are you looking at?! A dog and fox face each other through about their lives and I will create a the railings in Fitzroy Square. Photo: Night Prowler. themed cake that reflects this. I enjoy Over-60s the commissions where clients give me Permission granted for bunker hotel some leeway and creativity rather than have a very set idea about what they A government planning inspector has given the go ahead Lunch club By Pete Whyatt want. The element of surprise and fun for London’s first underground hotel to be built, overturn - ing a local decision. Camden Council ’s planning commit - Margaret Street Lunch Club will Rebecca Carrigan runs the is important. tee initially rejected the scheme over concerns about poor be open for anyone over 60 on BlueberryBlue catering and event com - “For the past 5 years I’ve been air quality for guests and the impact on neighbouring resi - Friday 23 December at the pany from Fitzrovia. Rebecca’s previ - making customised biscuits, these are dents and the local environment. WORD tearoom at the London ous job was a film production manag - hand crafted with a funky feel to The plans by Criterion Capital are to convert an under - Jesus Centre, 83 Margaret Street, er, in the office that produced commer - them. Thank you, corporate logos or ground car park on the corner of Great Russell Street and W1W 8LH. Doors open at 12pm cials, TV shows, feature films and the any message for any occasion is then Adeline Place into a 166 bedroom hotel located four and Lunch and Desert with well known Comic Strip series from carefully hand-iced on top of the bis - five levels beneath the existing St Giles Hotel. Planning Tea/Coffee for £4.50 — served at the 1980s to 90s. cuit. These branded biscuits are used inspector David Prentis ruled that concerns by Camden 12.30. Further info: Doris Kahnes After her daughter was born in for corporate events, weddings, party Council and local people could be adequately managed 020 7637 0600. 2008 Rebecca wanted a career that did bags and celebration gifts. We can though planning conditions. not involve long hours away on loca - incorporate just about any request and “It is a disappointing outcome,” said the Bloomsbury tion and looked for an opportunity to even I was embarrassed at some quite Association which had campaigned hard against the plans Activities for become self employed from home. “I risqué biscuits I was asked to make for and attracted support from a cross-party group of politi - was looking for work that could be a hen party and a 50th birthday.” cians. flexible to fit in with family life but Away from work, Rebecca was over-55s active on the All Souls Primary School, In the view of the Bloomsbury Association the develop - would also use my artistic and creative Fitzrovia Centre on Foley Street Parent Teachers Association for the er’s celebration may be short lived and the hotel might sides; cooking for and arranging have a programme for people past 4 years. She has recently been never be built. The planning inspector in his decision events and parties seemed to fit the over 55 this festive season, writes appointed a School Governor. This role made in November stated that the application site bound - bill perfectly and I could use my Barb Jacobson . is supporting the head teacher and ary along Adeline Place is not in the control of the proper - organising skills and contacts from the There’ll be something going staff. Rebecca’s area responsibility is ty developer. This matter must be resolved before devel - previous job. She set up her cake on every morning and almost inclusion, special educational needs, opment can begin. design and catering company. “I have every afternoon — most of the achievement and wellbeing. catered for a wide variety of events sessions are free, some cost a small fee. Please note that some of Proposed boundary changes Is rough sleeping in these sessions will be at Fitzrovia Court on Carburton St. Mondays: Zumba dance (mixed could mean a different age): 09.15-10.00 (£2) at Fitzrovia London in decline? Centre; political colour for Fitzrovia Fitzrovia Village (dance and social): 12.00 – 15.00 (Free) at Fitzrovia Centre; Knit, Natter and all crafts between: 14.00-15.00 (£1) at Fitzrovia Court; Tuesdays: Zumba Gold for older adults: 11.00-12.00 (Free) at Fitzrovia Centre Wednesdays: Chair-based fit - ness: 11.00-12.00 (£1) at Fitzrovia Court; Proposals for changing the size and shape of parliamentary con - Tai chi/Chi Kung (mixed age): stituencies mean that Fitzrovia would no longer be divided across a 14.00-15.00 (£2) at Fitzrovia The latest statistics from the suggests the most entrenched political boundary. Centre; Greater London Authority are being helped.” Under the new constituencies Holborn and St Pancras would dis - Thursdays: Legs, bums and (GLA) state that there are now However the decrease in appear and Fitzrovia would become part of an expanded Cities of tums fitness (mixed age): 09.15- significantly less people sleeping rough sleeping is not consistent London and Westminster “which retains ten wards from the existing 10.00 (£2) at Fitzrovia Centre; on the streets than there were a when the statistics for each constituency, and includes the Lancaster Gate ward from the existing Fridays: Reminiscence for year ago. Yet local anecdotal evi - London borough are looked at. Westminster North constituency, and the Camden borough wards of Older Adults (50+): 10.30-12.30 dence suggests that rough sleep - The number of rough sleep - Bloomsbury, and Holborn and Covent Garden”, according to a report (Free) at Fitzrovia Court. This is ing is not in decline, writes Linus ers counted in Camden shows by the Boundary Commission. finished for now but will restart Rees . that there were a total of 273, an The good news is that Camden voters will no longer have in January. The latest quarterly rough increase of 52. However the Labour’s Keir Starmer as an MP, but the bad news is they’ll have the More information from Fitzrovia sleeping figures for London number of people classed as Conservative’s Mark Field instead. Centre, 2 Foley Street or tele - which covers the period July to “Living on the Street” was 39, a phone 020 7580 8680. September 2016 were released in decrease of 2. Radio: The life of Olaudah Equiano November and show an eight BBC Radio 4 has been broadcasting a series about Britain’s Black percent decline in rough sleepers If you are concerned about past. In the fifth programme, Professor Gretchen Gerzina explored compared to the same period someone sleeping rough in Get our regular the life of the best-known black person in 18th century Britain, last year. Camden contact Safer Streets Olaudah Equiano. A former sailor and slave, he was a world traveller Jeremy Swain of the home - at camdensst.com email newsletter who bought his own freedom. Equiano lived at 13 Tottenham Street lessness charity Thames Reach or call 020 7833 7970; (now number 37) in 1788 and then in 1789 at 73 Riding House Street said: “For long-term rough or in Westminster contact Subscribe at (previously 10 Union Street) where he wrote his autobiography. You sleepers living on street the StreetLink at streetlink.org.uk bit.ly/fitzrovianews can listen to the programme on BBC iPlayer. reduction has been 14% which or call 0300 500 0914. 4 — Fitzrovia News issue 143 Winter 2016 facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Koulla Noel Ambrose Christou

David Kennett David Kennett grew up in Zimbabwe with British This obituary was prepared with parents based there for much of their working lives. interviews from the Fitzrovia He trained and worked as a chemical technician in Neighbourhood Association’s oral the distilleries on the Zimbabwe tea estates. Fifteen history project in 2010. “Ebb and years ago he moved to the UK because of the political Flow in Fitzrovia”, is available unrest under the Mugabe regime . David became a from FNA, 39 Tottenham Street, Christian at a young age, and was actively involved Koulla Christou came to the UK W1T 4RX (£5) in Christian ministry all his adult life. in 1947 where she met her hus - As General Manager at the All Souls Clubhouse band, Kyriacos. They married in Noel Ambrose who died recently was afford eating out in those days. The for the past 11 years, he oversaw operations - directly All Saints in Camden in 1953 born in Manchester in 1923 to an Irish only time you did was when you in contact with each of the groups, projects, ministries and lived in the West End where father and a Scots mother. went to buy fish and chips. and occasional users of the facility . He commuted they brought up their three chil - Noel was called up to join the army in “Things were hard to come by, daily from his home in Hemel Hempstead which he dren, Maria, Sotira and George. 1942 and never returned north. For part and rations were very limited: fruits shared with his wife Mariejkie and children Nicola They also had five grandchil - of the war he was based around Baker such as bananas and peaches you did - and Peter. dren Street working as a courier for the French n’t see them.” In this time David faithfully worked at upgrading She worked all her life in fac - Special Forces: The “Maquis” a rural Noel and his wife, who was a the premises and oversaw the work of the Clubhouse tories in Cleveland Street and resistance movement. He travelled to var - Londoner, moved to Marylebone charity. He always made time for people, with a lis - Great Titchfield Street as a seam - ious UK locations on his motorcycle car - which was then a working class dis - tening ear and a wealth of wisdom and practical stress. She moved to Holcroft rying secret documents and plans ready trict. expertise to help where he could. Court in 1972. to be flown to France and dropped by “Marylebone High Street was a David could often be found in the kitchen cook - She was a well loved colour - parachute. He later saw service in North lively little village. You didn’t have to ing up a hearty dinner. He had a mischievous twinkle ful chatty person who loved the Africa and trained as a mechanic. Noel go into the West End to shop you had in his eye, and would often play little tricks to "wind Fitzrovia area. loved his time in the army and from his the village. We had a Woolworths, an up" closer colleagues - but never out of malice, and Koulla sadly died on 16 training he could still remember how to old Victorian haberdashery, bakeries never overstepping the mark. October at the age of 87 after a fix motorbikes. and cobblers that could make shoes He always had a cup of tea to hand and in prepar - short illness and is sorely missed Pre-discharge the army sent him on from scratch.” They had a daughter ing for a project, he would often talk of getting his by family and friends. course to the “Ravox” raincoat factory, who was christened and married in a "ducks in a row". Another favourite phrase of his Rosie Lunn after the war. Noel made his living as a Marylebone church. was “experience meant he could always tell the good waterproof garment maker making riding Noel moved into Fitzrovia Court from the bad and the ugly”. coats. He then worked in the rag trade in 1990. Fifteen months ago David was diagnosed with making ladies dresses. The latter part of As an army veteran he joined the cancer. He remained steadfast in his work and in his his working life was at Selfridges where club at Albany Street Barracks and character as he received treatment for the disease. his wife also worked. They used to go out was a member of the British Legion. David died on the 12th of October, just shy of his dancing four times a week. Noel always turned up smartly 50th birthday. The support shown at the memorial Noel talked about how difficult things dressed in collar and tie. “I always go services held in Hemel Hempstead and Fitzrovia is a were in the 1930s and 1940s: “We couldn’t as a soldier should go: in civvies and testament to how many lives he had touched. He they love it” will be much missed. Luke Ijaz Offices are a priority in Fitzrovia says inspector Restaurants closed Prostitutes filmed A site identified for housing can in 2015 to refuse permission She also noted the very to stop tummy bug in Fitzroy Square be used for mostly offices, ruled after it agreed with the case put recent planning guidance for the Filming for a new television The Mexican street-food chain a government inspector who has by local community groups, the Central Activities Zone (CAZ) drama set in the world of the Wahaca temporarily closed its given planning permission to Charlotte Street Association and published by the then Mayor of 18th century London sex trade Charlotte Street and Great redevelop a former hospital Fitzrovia Neighbourhood London Boris Johnson in March. was taking place in Fitzroy Portland Street restaurants in building. The inspector made Association, that the site should This document “confirms Square this autumn. November following reports of a the decision in line with a policy be mostly housing as stated in that the Central London office The Georgian square and its norovirus outbreak that had hit published by former mayor the Fitzrovia Area Action Plan. market has distinct needs which garden is often used for filming many of its outlets in London. Boris Johnson near the end of The inspector said: “In pro - should be sustained to ensure and the inside of number 6 is a In a statement Wahaca said: his tenancy at City Hall. viding only some 26% of the that there is sufficient capacity regular shooting location. “A number of our staff and Arthur Stanley House in total floorspace as residential, it to meet identified demands. It The series called “Harlots” customers were struck down by Tottenham Street could have might, on first reading, appear advises that the requirement to stars Samantha Morton. what is suspected to be the win - been a model of sustainable that the appeal scheme does not accommodate residential devel - “In 1760s London there were ter vomiting bug, norovirus. development with a mix of mar - accord with the key land use opment within the CAZ should brothels on every corner run by “We assessed each case and ket, shared-ownership and social principles for the site as set out be managed sensitively to women who were both enter - when it became clear they were housing with some commercial on page 117 of the Area Action ensure that new development prising and tenacious. History not isolated incidents, we got in premises on the lower floors, Plan. On balance, however, I am does not strategically constrain has largely ignored them, but touch with Public Health and public open space. persuaded that there is no con - the overall provision of office their stories are in turn outra - England. Instead of providing around flict with the development plan floorspace,” she wrote. geous, brutal, humorous and “In tandem with that, we 50 homes, planning permission when it is read as a whole.” “I recognise this decision real,” says executive producer took our own precautionary has now been given for an She explained that “whilst will be disappointing for those Alison Owen. office-led development, which housing is regarded as the prior - opposing the scheme. I am par - measures — voluntarily closing provides only 10 private flats, ity land use in Camden”, the ticularly mindful, in this regard, affected restaurants, carrying out anti-viral deep cleaning at two social rented homes, and a priority given to housing “will of the role that local people have Keep up to date with the lat - all of our restaurants, whether patch of open space that not override, but will be consid - to play in shaping their sur - est affected or not, and ensuring amounts to the size of a few ered alongside matters including roundings. However, the views Fitzrovia News that any staff member who had welcome mats. the need, among other things, to of local residents and their asso - facebook..com/FitzroviaNews reported illness remained off site Planning inspector Jennifer promote Central London as a ciations, very important though twitter.com/FitzroviaNews until their symptoms had ceased Vyse overturned the decision by national and international focus they are, must be balanced news..fitzrovia..org..UK Camden’s planning committee of business”. against other considerations.” for at least 48 hours.” facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Fitzrovia News issue 143 Winter 2016 — 5 Central London Action Game for living on Sexual Health travel along two journeys: the In the last edition of Fitzrovia passage through life, and the News (FN 142) we wrote that expedition towards finding Central London Action on home. Sexual Health (CLASH) had moved from premises in Soho to The life journey takes you Mortimer Street in Fitzrovia. through four stages: childhood, The correct address is Mortimer youth, prime, and vintage. You Market Centre Basement, Capper pick up events cards and charac - Street, London, WC1E 6JB. ter cards as you make your way. The game involves an element of role play and you make deci - News in brief sions with the cards you have Adam Harrison, one of been dealt. Camden ’s Bloomsbury ward You discuss with fellow Labour councillors , has gamers what life events bring Knitted and crotched “yarn bombs” made by the women’s group. changed jobs. From January you and how your character 2010 to October 2016 he was affects your decisions. You can deputy editor of Progress Local writer Jennifer Kavanagh choose whether to compete or magazine and manager of pro - has devised a new board game collaborate. The idea is to gressonline.org.uk — a Blairite called “Journey Home”, writes uncover what home means to Knitting yarns organisation that operates Pete Whyatt . you. As you progress you can within the Labour Party. His The Women’s Cultural Project has been “yarn bombing” this season, Jennifer, of Langham Street explore family, shelter, commu - new day job is editor at ecfr.eu making lovely crochet and knitted flowers and joining them together describes it as a fun and feel- nity, the world around you, and — a European think-tank. to make strings of decorative bunting, writes Barb Jacobson . good game for 2 to 6 players your own inner peace. From 1 October 2016 The classes, run on Monday afternoons at the Fitzrovia aged over 12 and it takes about The game is based on Camden Council stopped Neighbourhood Centre in Tottenham Street, have been going for over an hour. Each player starts off Jennifer’s book of the same sending neighbour notification ten years and have covered a variety of craft techniques. Many of the game in the womb, you name. It is available to local resi - letters about planning appli - their creations have been done to complement large exhibitions at the throw a dice to determine where dents for £25. Half the profits go cations , but says it has British Museum and have been shown there to great acclaim. you are born: hostel, caravan, to The Big Issue Foundation. improved site notices, email This season tutor Zoe Hewett Dutton of the Mary Ward Centre flat, bungalow, cottage, or The Journey Home Game: alerts, and press adverts. has helped the women with patterns and techniques for both knitting manor house. As you play you journeyhomegame.com (Details at and crochet. camden.gov.uk/planning). The diverse group of women said they found this tremendous Tube services are running fun and relaxing, and they developed useful skills for making things on the Central, Northern and at home and they enjoyed the cross-cultural chat and laughs. Opening and Victoria lines through the If you want to join in from January 2017 contact Samina at the night on Fridays and Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association on 020 7580 4576. Saturdays. There will be a three-day closing Fewer Oxford Christmas market at the Diamond American International Street buses Church, Tottenham Court Closed Road, from 10am to 8pm Piquet restaurant geezer TfL plans to change “23 central Monday 12 to Wednesday 14 92-94 Newman Street London bus routes to better December. Via Carluccio’s takeaway food match bus services with demand Police closed a cycle lane 93 Tottenham Court Road banged up from passengers” and “improve on a busy stretch of the reliability of a number of bus Tottenham Court Road in A diamond dealer based in routes that currently get caught October after several cyclists Percy Street has been jailed for up in congestion along Oxford sustained injuries after skid - 11 years for money laundering. Street.” ding and falling on the road. A Danny Koort, aged 52, was Earlier this year the Mayor of Pisqu Peruvian cuisine combination of freshly painted found guilty of storing "dirty London announced plans to 23 Rathbone Place white lines and a shower of money" in the Fitzrovia office of pedestrianise Oxford Street and London Graphic Centre art shop Adam Simmonds opticians rain caused the edge of the his Kosher Diamonds business. local residents fear that buses 13 Tottenham Street 33 Great Portland Street cycle lane and other road The judge said the amount of and taxis could be diverted West One News newsagents Pilau Indian takeaway street food markings to become very slip - money laundered was £30 mil - along parallel streets instead. 24-25 Foley Street 32 Goodge Street pery. lion at "a conservative estimate." While pedestrianisation is Tamatillo salads and juices David Attenborough is to The dealer denied four charges still on the agenda residents Opened 132 New Cavendish Street give the first annual lecture at but was found guilty at the Old groups have been pressing the Levis vintage clothing the Sainsbury Wellcome Bailey in October, as reported in Mayor to reduce traffic rather 67a Great Titchfield Street Centre in Howland Street on the Evening Standard . than divert it through side Simit Sarayi Turkish bakery Wednesday 7 December. streets. (consultations.tfl.gov.uk) 68 Oxford Street Leon 33 Eastcastle Street Busaba Bangkok Thai eatery 52-53 Eastcastle Street Tapi carpets and floors Blacks outdoor wear 245 Tottenham Court Road 248 Tottenham Court Road Honey & Smoke Middle Eastern grill 216 Great Portland Street Five guys burgers 266 Tottenham Court Road

Bento Ya takeaway Japanese food 11 Warren Street Opening soon Amarino ice cream/gelato Premier beauty clinic 21 Goodge Street 57 Warren Street Henna Beauty eyebrow threading Patty and bun burgers specialists 50 Goodge Street 55 Goodge Street Mere eatery 74 Charlotte Street 6 — Fitzrovia News issue 143 Winter 2016 facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Pop party Barry Miles , who lives in Great Titchfield Street , appeared on the BBC4 documentary celebrat - ing the 50th anniversary of The Roundhouse as a performing venue. He launched the under - ground magazine International Times with an all night rave there on October 15, 1966. Pink Word from the Streets Floyd and Soft Machine played live and there were various hap - By CHARLOTTE STREET and her family penings including a fancy dress ball won by Marianne Faithfull in "an extremely abbreviated Alan Bennett Horror houndog nun's outfit." cheered up in UCH Barry recalled that there The horror film Hound of the were only two toilets for 2,000 Writer Alan Bennett's waspish Baskervilles had an added people which meant planks had wit had me laughing out loud as "bite" for customers of the to be brought in to step over the he read from his latest volume Duke of York, 47 Rathbone overflowing urine. of diaries on Radio 4, called Street , when it was shown on The Arena documentary was Keeping On Keeping On. Film4 on November 4. called The Roundhouse - The He said he overheard one The hound in question was People's Palace, which was person telling another that he played by Colonel , who was the screened on October 23. had been fishing salmon. "Isn't it pub's guard dog when the film out of season?" asked his com - was made in 1959. panion. "Yes, but I like to catch Radio Times informs us that the blighters by surprise," he Colonel "had a reputation for replied. biting and a dislike of small Alan had a cancer operation boys. Bad news for the child in the Elizabeth Garrett who acted as a stand-in for Anderson wing of University Christopher Lee to accentuate College Hospital in Huntley the hound's size. He only Dad’s Army Street in 2008. After being asked Boy George and escaped being a victim when a to answer the identical question - Marilyn revisit squat prop man caught the dog dur - vicar in church naire several times, he was ing a mid-air lunge." asked it yet again by "a nice The pub landlord at the The Vicar from BBC televi - Pop singers Boy George and cheerful nurse called Siobhan". time from was "Major" Alf sion's "Dad's Army" can often Marilyn revisited 21 Carburton But he was cheered up when she Klein , who ran it from 1938 be seen in All Saints' Church in Street , where they squatted in the CD released said: "I've got one more ques - until his death in 1964. Margaret Street. Not in the pul - early 1980s, for a BBC2 documen - tion. Do you dye your hair?" Congratulations to local fusion pit, but in the pews. Actor tary screened on October 8. Alan regularly dined with group Lit FM on having a new Frank Williams , who plays the It was called Boy George: Save A touch of Irish comedians (and fellow CD released (pictured above). part, has attended services there Me From Suburbia. In it the pair Yorkshiremen) Michael Palin Irish fans of hurling and Gaelic The group rehearses at the for many decades. recall double dating two brothers and Barry Cryer in L'Etoile football will be pleased to know Bricklayers Arms in Gresse In fact he remembers when called David and Stephen who restaurant at 30 Charlotte Street they can now watch it on Street and some of them work the congregations was still seg - lived round the corner in Great when Elena Salvoni still Sunday afternoons from 1.30pm behind the bar there. regated, with men on one side Titchfield Street . Does anybody presided over it in 2010. in Bradley's basement bar, at 42 You can hear the CD online and women on the other. remember them? Barry told them that he suf - Hanway Street . at soundcloud.com/lit-fm The two sexes were allowed fered badly from eczema as a For news of the group’s to sit together at the back in young man in Leeds, so was future gigs and events visit what was known as "mixed Tesco celebrate half a century swathed from head to foot in their website on: bathing", he recalls in his auto - bandages, including his face, Can it really be 50 years since of Tesco] several times in this litfmmusic.com biography, Vicar to Dad's Army. making him look like the Tesco opened in Goodge Street? store," he said. "He was not too He was initially deeply Invisible Man. Yet when he went Yes it can and my sister bad, and could be quite nice. He moved by the flame "being Butcher’s hook into a shop the woman serving Margaret was there on October had his moments like everyone passed from one candle to took not a blind bit of notice and 1 to celebrate the anniversary, by else. We all do. That's what Kirit Patel , who has been running another until the whole church merely discussed the weather. dancing to 1966 songs played by makes life." Shiv Pharmacy at 70 Great was a sea of light," he wrote. Another Fitzrovian restau - two musicians. Also there was Leonard Titchfield Street for over 30 years, "Then the darkened church rant used by Alan is the One of her dancing partners Manuel , who has worked at the told me he remembers seeing a sprang into light, bells rang out Villandry at 170 Great Portland was 85-year-old Patrick Stimson store for 45 years, ever since butcher's hook there when he first and the organ thundered. It was Street where he and his partner of Chenies Street who has lived meeting Jack Cohen there and moved in. extraordinary and a frission ran adjourned after their civil part - in the area for 56 years and asking for a job. "He used to I decided to have a "butcher's" up and down my spine." nership ceremony in 2006. worked for 32 as a security come here quite often to meet (Cockney rhyming slang for "look") One viewer, who had read He also relates how he was guard at the University of Harry Lewis , his friend who into this and discovered proof of that Frank was a churchgoer, the victim of a con, whereby two London. was on the deli counter," said this at Holborn Local Studies and protested when he played the women and a man pointed out "I met Jack Cohen [founder Leonard. Archive Centre. The premises vicar taking an open air harvest ice cream on his jacket and (number 24 in those days) was run thanksgiving service because it offered to clean it for him with by butcher Francis Sawtell from at ended in a scuffle (as the men paper tissues. Needless to say least 1841 (which is as far back as I were intoxicated from the his wallet containing £1,500 was could trace). And from at least 1850 farmer's home made wine). stolen in the process. A similar it continued as a butcher by Henry How could he appear in thing happened to my older Barclay and his descendants until vicar's robes in this "disgusting brother Mortimer in Berlin (with the mid 1930s. scene of a drunken orgy" and "bird droppings" instead of ice I may not be able to carry out still call himself a Christian, he cream). So be warned. such research in future as there are asked. plans to halve the area of the Frank also recalls supplying archive centre in order to build flats his photograph to police who on the site. And where will the were looking for a criminal "local" archives be held in future if "and the only description they these plans go through? Yorkshire! had was that he looked like the Which ever crackpot decided this vicar in Dad's Army." should have the book (or several He never knew if they books) thrown at them. caught the criminal but he feared for many weeks that he treet himself might be arrested lotte S instead. Cartoon by Jayne Davis Patrick Stimson celebrates to 1960s music at Tesco. Pic by Jean Sveinsson Char facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Fitzrovia News issue 143 Winter 2016 — 7 The George refurbishment should start soon

By SUE BLUNDELL Street, and is Grade II listed. focal point of both my social and Thomas, … Michael Ayrton, and In March this year The Trapped behind black panels Marble columns and plaster my professional life." many others. … Many BBC pro - Crown Estate was given plan - and sprouting weeds from its heads adorn its exterior. Inside, She wasn’t alone in this. grammes were discussed and ning permission by Westminster stucco-work, The George pub if I remember right, it has (or Humphrey Searle, another com - settled within its walls." to redevelop The George and the was looking as bleak as the had) a mahogany bar and gilded poser introduced to The George Sir Henry Wood, director of adjacent building on Great December sky when I walked mirrors. in the ‘30s, writes in his memoir the Queen’s Hall Orchestra, Portland Street. It provides for past it the other day. Once, it This formed a resplendent Quadrille with a Raven: "This used to call The George ‘The "dual/alternative use" of the was a hub of cultural activity in backdrop to the deals which famous hostelry was mainly fre - Gluepot’, because his players basement, ground and first Fitzrovia. Now it’s deserted. But were casually struck in front of quented by BBC producers, tended to get stuck in it. In 1941 floors as either a public house or a spokesperson for the owner, it. In the 1930s the composer writers and actors, motor-car the Hall was destroyed by a restaurant, and for three flats The Crown Estate, has told Elizabeth Lutyens used to sit for salesmen from Great Portland bombing, but The George sur - on the second to fourth floors. Fitzrovia News that refurbish - hours over a drink, waiting for Street, and orchestral players vived. In the 1960s, according to The spokesperson for The ment should begin early in 2017. someone from the BBC to look from the nearby Queen's Hall. Searle, it began to be used by Crown Estate tells us that the The George was built in the her way and offer her a commis - Here one might find Constant students "from the Polytechnic scheme will "incorporate a high 1860s on the corner of Great sion for incidental music. "For Lambert [see feature on page opposite" and lost quite a bit of quality all-day dining offer … Portland Street and Mortimer nine years," she says, "It was the 10], Louis MacNeice, …Dylan its charm. alongside a retained element of public house use on the ground floor." That sounds like a restau - Mural may face rant with a bit of a pub includ - ed, but at least "the ground floor’s appearance as a historic pub will be preserved." They ‘recycling’ haven’t started marketing the This colourful mural was painted last month in Newman space yet, and don’t know who Passage which is the wall of Newman House, 27 Newman the operator will be. Street. At a time when many pubs They invited the Swedish artist Amara Por Dios to paint are falling by the wayside, I sup - it and she completed it over a weekend. pose worse things could happen She has been living in London for the past three years to The George. So look out for and decorating the streets with her colourful facial images signs of its resurrection in the that would not look out of place on a 1967 album cover. new year. A previous mural on the same wall was painted over by Staff employed there will Westminster Council which takes a dim view of unautho - presumably not be housed in the rised street art. three flats created. Whether the Newman House told Fitzrovia News that painting over restaurant/pub will be the site the artwork merely recycles the wall for more artwork, and of any fresh BBC commissions is so street artists understand that their work is likely to be also pretty debatable. Once a covered up to be replaced by yet another image. rendezvous for artists … now a Picture by Ann Goodburn. high quality dining option.

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23-24 Margaret Street, London, W1W 8LF 020 7927 0616 www.rib.co.uk [email protected] 8 — Fitzrovia News issue 143 Winter 2016 facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Manic MDs’ revue returns to The Middlesex

Sarah Paterson who trained as a nurse in Each year an LP was recorded and about 100 copies pressed for selected performance for the distribution this is the record cover from 1972’s revue was Clockwork MDs in the 1970s Local busineses took advertisments in the programme Orifice show for old times’ sake at the restored industry working in the West End close to Middlesex from 1972 to 1977 and his time Middlesex Hospital Chapel. theatreland. The revues were a year long as part of the MDs fondly: The revues consisted of songs, sketch - activity but preparations in earnest began “The Revues were a mischievous and es and skits, and were held in the Edward each Autumn with freshers’ week when irreverent take on hospital life and our Lewis theatre, a lecture theatre in the anyone with a musical or comedy acting training. A chance to hit back at what we Windeyer Building (on Howland Street talent would be recruited. The produc - felt was a stuffy old establishment. A lot but since demoished) which was kitted tions took over the theatre from mid of the older consultants and professors Story from Tower newspaper January 1976 out as a fully functioning recording stu - November with the group not only writ - were old fashioned and pompous. We dio. The 390-seat auditorium had a stage ing, acting and singing but also handling were young and long haired. This was our that could be raised or lowered and back - lights and backstage operations. The opportunity to take the mickey out of our It was a long standing tradition amongst stage dressing rooms. It was sponsored by shows were performed for 10 nights in the seniors. We were impertinent and in the the trainee doctors at the Middlesex Edward Lewis, Chairman of Decca lead up to Christmas. 1970s there was still the taste of hippy - Hospital to hold a regular revue each Records, and opened around 1960. Over Each year the shows had a topical dom and rebellion in the air. In the after - year. The medical students’ comedy revue the next three decades, the Edward Lewis theme and titles such as Lady Chatterley’s noons we would take the show into the group were called the Manic Depressives, Theatre staged many productions by tal - liver (1960), Kama Sutre (1967), and One wards so nurses and patients could enjoy or more commonly the “MD’s” which also ented groups within the Middlesex threw up in the Doctors mess (after one our humorous take on hospital life. One stands for medical doctor appropriately. Hospital and Medical School. flew over the cuckoo’s nest) in 1976. year we wheeled a piano down to Soho On Saturday 3 December for the first time The young doctors that wrote devised Dr Paul Thompson now a consultant Square Maternity Hospital and back again since the Middlesex was demolished the and performed their shows felt an affinity rheumetologist based at Poole Hospital for an ad hoc performance.” trainee MDs of old returned to put on a with show business and the entertainment remembered his time training at The

Above: programme cover from the 1973 revue Last Plaster in Paris.

Left: members of the MDs rehearse in the Middlesex Hospital chapel on for their reunion “Death by Nostalgia” with Dorian Ford on piano. Photograph by Etienne Gilfillan. facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Fitzrovia News issue 143 Winter 2016 — 9 Barefoot village boy now owns his own business By BRIAN JARMAN of a century or more. “Everyone knows me,” he says. “Very veryone these days seems to few people know I’m the boss. People have been on an amazing jour - think I’m the cleaner.” ney. You just have to switch on E And when he’s asked about the secret the X-Factor, the Bake-off, the Olympics and there you have it. of his success, his answers can be some - Few journeys though deserve what surprising. the epithet more than that of Jeff “You have to treat staff as your The original Kall Kwik printing shop in Gt Tang, both physically and figura - friends,” he says, thinking of some rather Titchfield St - still going strong tively. unfriendly bosses he’s had in the course The story begins more than 60 of his odyssey. years ago, in a tiny fishing village in “My philosophy is very simple. Lots company building a new motorway in Malaysia. A little boy runs barefoot. of bosses, when they see people sitting Malyasia. It was worth about $400 mil - In the houses there is no electricity down, they can’t stand it. Their philoso - lion on paper but then the Malaysian or running water. phy is to get as much out of you as possi - currency collapsed and the company In 1974 the boy is 22-years-old ble. It kills the spirit. become almost worthless overnight. and has saved some money work - “When I see my employees sitting “The most important thing,” says ing in a metalwork factory. He sets down I’m the happiest man on earth. If Jeff, “is not to procrastinate. Action kills out to seek his fortune: destination they’re making me money, they must be fear. If you’ve got a problem, it causes London. He waves a tearful farewell doing something right. stress. You kill it by doing something. to his family and gets a boat from “People ask me what I’m like as a That’s it. It’s gone.” Penang to Madras (now renamed boss. I say it’s either that my staff are stu - He’s now turning some of that ener - Chennai). pid or I’m the greatest boss of all time. If gy to the charity work that he and It takes six days. He’s given a you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.” Vickie love. Perhaps mindful of his jute mattress in a cramped and At the age of 64, Jeff’s boundless ener - roots, he sponsors disadvantaged chil - smelly dormitory on the lower deck gy and enthusiasm show no sign of let - dren throughout the world, through with dozens of Indian workers ting up. He’s often seen in the Great organisations like One World, Plan returning from the Malaysian plan - Titchfield shop “to help out.” He goes to International and World Vision. tations. work because he wants to, not because he “You can’t take it with you,” he says. With his characteristic knack for has to. “You can have ten houses but you can Jeff Tang in Great Titchfield Street - where it all began making his own luck and finding Along the way he’s built up business - only sleep in one bed.” shortcuts that will mark his life, Jeff es in Malaysia, from microwavable boxes Jeff Tang has just written a memoir opportunity when he saw one, and realised finds a comfortable sofa in a bar on to karaoke machines to a construction for his family called My Phenomenal there was a need for instant printing. the top deck and persuades the business, and accumulated property in Journey. His staff at the Great Titchfield He took out loans, got backing from a manager to let him sleep there. Central London. It hasn’t been all plain shop are trying to persuade him to pub - banker and opened his first shop at 55, Great From Madras he sets off hitch - sailing though. lish it commercially. Watch this space. hiking to the British capital - across Titchfield Street, a former launderette. The At one point he invested heavily in a India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, idea took off, and with a lot of sweat and Turkey and Europe, sleeping on tears there soon came another in Wimpole buses and trains, in hostels and Street and then a third in Paddington. hotels. It was the start of the Kall Kwik print MPL Plumbing Supplies He gets as far as Switzerland but and design franchise which became the mar - finds his money is running out. He ket leader, with 175 shops in its heyday. A happy and prosperous New Year manages to get work for a while in “We were incredibly fortunate,’’ says Jeff. a restaurant in Zurich. When he’s “If you make a mistake, it’s disastrous. We’re to all our friends and customers saved enough money, he books a not perfect, but we were careful. The key to flight to Gatwick on a student dis - building a business is the usual combination HIGH QUALITY PLUMBING BATHROOM and HEATING count. of money and human beings.” SUPPLIES He makes his way to Thurrock Jeff is still often to be seen in the original Technical College in Grays, Essex shop in Great Titchfield Street, where many Great range of fittings and spares for all your Plumbing, Drainage, of his staff have been working for a quarter and studies for O and A levels, find - Bathroom and Heating requirements. Helpful and experienced ing part-time work in bars, restau - rants and factories to pay his way. staff are ready to assist with all your At this point all he has is his haver - enquiries. DIY, Trade and Account Customers all welcome. sack. After his course he goes down SAME DAY DELIVERY IN CENTRAL LONDON to pick apples in Kent. The farmer has a Jaguar and one day takes him out to lunch. Jeff vows that one day 15 Goodge Place he’ll own a Jag. From there he does a HND in business studies in Crawley, Sussex, W1T 4SQ followed by accountancy exams in Holborn, sometimes living in miser - [email protected] able lodgings that were so cold he open Monday – Friday 7:30 – 5:00 could see his breath. Saturday 8:30 –1:00 About this time he met his wife- to-be Vickie, a nurse and a fellow 0207 998 3137 Malaysian. It was then that his life changed in more ways than one. When he tried to get their wed - ding invitations printed, he was told he’d have to provide his own tem - Commercial Maintenance plate and they’d have to send away Plumbing, electrics, painting, to have the work done. carpentry, flooring etc. He‘d spotted a gap in the mar - ket. He was auditing a photograph - Same day call out. Bathroom design ic and printing factory based in Small jobs, fit-outs, office Bring in your basic bathroom and Nassau Street. moves, waste clearance, shower room plans. We are happy to “I knew nothing about print - offices, bars, restaurants, quote for supply only or supply and ing,” he says. But he knew an A young Jeff hitching from Malaysia to London in schools. install 1974 10 — Fitzrovia News issue 143 Winter 2016 facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Brilliant composer of jazz and ballet music courted scandal

By MIKE PENTELOW

he colourful and creative jazz and ballet composer TConstant Lambert (1905- 1951) courted both scandal and fame in his career. He lived, drank and dined in Fitzrovia as well as conducted and played piano in its venues and had operations in its hospi - tal. regularly went with author His parting shot was to Anthony Powell (who used shock the establishment by writ - Lambert as a model for the char - ing a ballet about copulating acter Hugh Moreland in his snakes and human sex changes. novel A Dance to the Music of This was based on the Greek Time ). This was also where myth of Tiresias and was com - Lambert's first wedding recep - missioned for the Festival of tion was in 1931 with the 16- Britain in the year of his death. year-old Florence Chuter, when It opened with nude young they got the owner Rudolph women somersaulting over Stulik drunk enough to waive bulls, then being joined by copu - the bill. lating snakes, and Tiresias In 1939 Lambert was perfom - changing sex from a man into a ing in Holland when it was woman. invaded by the Germans. He At the premiere (attended by was in bed with Margot Fonteyn our current queen and her moth - when the Nazi planes flew over - er) the Duchess of Westminster head, and they were lucky to walked out as she was shocked escape. by the subject, and predictably it Back in Britain he dug air attracted controversy and bad raid shelters in Regent's Park, reviews. and entertained troops for According to Stephen Lloyd ENSA. (author of Constant Lambert, with bourgeois capitalists. became manager of The Who was twice operated on in He got divorced from Beyond The Rio Grande ) much of Lambert recalled: "About 50 pop group. He later died at the Middlesex Hospital, Mortimer Florence in 1940. His nickname it was composed by Constant in men got up and blew on whis - same early age as his father, just Street. His appendix was for Florence was "mouse" so The George pub, 55 Great tles while others threw down short of 46. removed there in 1918, and his when she got remarried in 1945 Portland Street, where he often thousands of leaflets from the The jazz classic which leg was operated on in 1920. He he was amused by her new sur - drank with the poet Randall roof. Not a single note could be Constant composed was The Rio was to suffer a limp and pain in name, Hole. Swingler. It was here that the heard, and it developed into a Grande , for which he conducted his leg for the rest of his life. He While living at All Souls' composer showed the poet a free fight. Eventually police the performances on BBC radio often drank to deaden the pain, Place his landlord Michael book on reptiles and the mating threw most of the rioters out. in 1928 and in Queen's Hall, 4 and the limp made him look Ayrton was mildly miffed to habits of snakes that he was con - "If the protest against the Langham Place, in the following more inebriated than he actually find six slugs on the kitchen sulting. This prompted them to scenery had been because it was year to much acclaim. was. washoard. Denying rumours of improvise a pantomime on the bad I should have heartily sym - Lambert often encounted the The punctured right an affair Lambert wrote to the different sexual behaviour of pathised [he had wanted his journalist and later Labour MP eardrum (part of an operation in BBC: "My present address is 4, English and French snakes friend Augustus John to paint Tom Driberg to see black 1937) which contributed to his All Souls' Place, W1 (Telephone which had the regulars in fits of it], but as the motive was a pure - Amerian jazz bands in the clubs partial deafness had a bizarre Langham 2740), a precinct which laughter. ly political one, I was furious, of Soho. They got to know Fats bonus for him. His close friend I am occupying with the utmost Swingler persuaded Lambert particularly as the protest, being Waller and Duke Ellington. and sometime landlord, the and, alas, regrettable celibacy." to write a whimsical poem, In of an aural nature, merely spoilt When Lambert's first wife, artist, sculptor and broadcaster BBC producer Humphrey Praise of Snakes , for his journal. the music and left the scenery Florence, from Java who had Michael Ayrton explained. Searle arranged programmes Much to his annoyance however untouched." been to ballet school in Constant, he said, described with Lambert for the new Third the line "She hugs to her breast Lambert later sued Diaghilev Tottenham Court Road, mis - himself as "the only Francophile Programme in 1946, often meet - her withered dugs" was mis - for non payment of fees and heard his Mood Indigo as Rude English composer-conductor ing in The George, then going to printed as "She hogs to her they did not speak again until Indigo, Ellington wrote another born of an Australian painter his flat in All Soul's Place play - breast her withered dogs." Lambert conducted Diaghilev's under that title. from St Petersburg who could ing piano from midnight to 4am. Perhaps the height of his last programme (just before his At one of these clubs, the play God Save the King literally Lambert did not have much artistic achievement was to death) in 1929. Shim-Sham in Frith Street, by ear. This was no idle boast, as time for the opinions of some become the first British compos - When this ballet was per - Lambert and Driberg befriended he could demonstrate when critics, but praised the judge - er (of only two in total) to have a formed again in 1932 the cos - a mixed race Yorkshire woman weather conditions were ment of his local greengrocer, Mr ballet accepted by the great tume and scenery were designed who worked there called favourable, by holding his nose O'Leary of Great Titchfield Street Russian impresario Serge by John Banting, who lived in Laureen Sylvestre. She lived at and compressing his breath [number 188 on the corner of Diaghilev, who founded the Fitzroy Street. By this time 24 Conway Street, and when she through a punctured right Carburton Street]. company of which Vaslav Lambert was living at 16 Percy had a daughter called Cleopatra eardrum, to produce a recognis - In one of his final radio talks Nijinsky was a part. Street. in 1947 both Driberg and able if unfelicitous version of the he paid tribute to ballet compos - This was in 1925 and also Through ballet he met a 14- Lambert became her godfathers National Anthem." er Lord Gerald Berners, whom caused a furore. Despite year-old dancer called Peggy (and, states Lloyd, there was a In 1920 he was playing piano he often visited. His lordship Lambert's enthusiasm for Hookham (half his age) in 1934, rumour that Lambert was the for the Ballet Rambert. dyed his pigeons in five differ - Russian billiards, they got off to who later became famous as actual father). Cleopatra, as Soon Lambert was attending ent colours after which he was a bad start when Diaghilev Margot Fonteyn. They later had reported in the Camden New and being inspired by Henry disappointed to discover they changed its name from Adam an affair for many years, and Journal Review on October 6 this Wood's proms at Queen's Hall. "no longer enjoyed the happy and Eve to Romeo and Juliet . shared rooms during the war at year, later became a singer, play - Fellow composers such as promiscuity for which their race When it was performed in Paris 4 All Souls' Place, just round the ing briefly with the Rolling Stravinsky, Bartok, Webern, and is renowned but mated only in the following year there was a corner from The George and Stones before they became Schoenberg often met him at the with pigeons of the same colur." riot sparked by surrealists and Queen's Hall where he often famous, and an actress playing Casa Prada restaurant, at 292 After collapsing and being communists. They objected to conducted. alongside the likes of Alec Euston Road, opposite Warren taken to the London Clinic at 20 painters Max Ernst and Jean By 1942 Margot often looked Guinness and later in Crossroads . Street station. The Eiffel Tower Devonshire Place, Lambert died Miro designing the sets and, in after his seven-year-old son Deaf in his right ear and at 1 Percy Street was another and was found to have had dia - their view, allying themselves Christopher (Kit), who later lame in his right leg Lambert favourite dining place where he betes. facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Fitzrovia News issue 143 Winter 2016 — 11

daughter, true. A jacket she wanted, Cadbury’s chocolates, some bobble-head cats from Hamleys – never mind about what they are or about shaking UNWINDING your head. You can travel light if you don’t give your kids any - thing. But you can also travel A short story by light if you’re not carrying your SUNITA SOLIAR parents. Touché. I vacuum- packed you too, so it’s like one of those Russian dolls. Cling f it were you, you’d unwrap film inside more cling film. We all of this cling film, take out wouldn’t want you scattering Ithree kilograms of junk right yourself on the flight. That one here on the airport floor, then really was funny. Come to think remummify this suitcase. You know you would, right? That of it, how much do you think cracks me up. How you’d have you weigh? There’s a good found the end of this vacuum- chunk of my allowance in carry - tight plastic, fumbling with your ing you back just so you can thick fingers and dark-ridged flow down the Umgeni River nails, beats me. Oh, I’m not say - ing you wouldn’t have; I’m say - alongside the Scaly Yellowfish. ing I couldn’t begin to find the Even that I resent because it’s end and I’m the one who my river now, my life, oh, built wrapped it. Yeah, you win. I put on your memories of it, you my hands up, although I sup - pose you might acknowledge want to say, that I moved back that if this were you, just hear there because of all our trips in me out a second, I’m talking my childhood. I moved there back in the day when you because distance is a real healer yanked an itchy, woolen hat over of relationships and because I my eyes, strangled me with a scarf and zipped my jacket over never have to hear the word my mouth – you caught my lip ‘earmuffs’, let alone think about more than once, by the way – wearing them. I don’t even think when even if it wasn’t cold and I you can buy them anywhere in was sweating, I couldn’t take the city, how about that? And them off in case I lost them. What, that’s not true? I lost my that’s another reason that you’re earmuffs when I was seven and in the suitcase. If I’d nestled you we know how that turned out, in my hand luggage, the tempta - but let’s not get off topic. If this tion to forget you on the plane were you, you’d have kiddy-me, mittens dangling from their coat might have been too much. clips, to do the hunting, to spool So now I have a choice. I can the stuff around my arms as you pay the thirty-five-pound over - unwound it. Be quick about it weight fee or I can bind myself too! And there’s me scrambling up in plastic unwrapping this to find it before you reach your elastic limit. You’ve got to admit suitcase. Is it worth it, Dad? I that’s an advantage. Anything called Mum. She said I should better than paying the over - Illustration by Clifford Harper unwrap the bag in honour of weight charge. No, really, I salute you. We laughed about that. your dedication. It represents all ‘It was more like laughter we’d way around the bag, thickening the values you taught me – isn’t Admittedly, we laughed more that the story we tell? It speaks up a clammy membrane, than was necessary. You could of your concern for preservation, bottled up over the years’ although you might not have say that actually there was noth - of a wily, Odyssean ability to been able to deal with my failure ing to laugh at and that we did - Before wrapping. You would missing and at least six or seven beat the system, but let me hob - to take the wrapping right to the n’t find it funny. It was more like ble that high horse and say the have read and reread the bag - other things, but the zipper edges. Well, you’ll have to live laughter we’d bottled up over truth: you were a stingy bastard gage allowance. Gee, Dad. I works just fine, and that’s what with it. Am I being funny? No, I the years and saved for a special who liked to suck the air out of guess you do win, huh? Except they stick to when you com - everything. There, I said it. am not being funny. And what’s occasion. It matured well. So did I tell you the scales weren’t plain: it couldn’t have been us. That pulls your face draw - also not funny is the cheek of what will I do, Dad? I bet the working and we had other The zipper works fine. Anyway, string tight. Watch that pucker - you giving me a talking to suspense is killing you. Ha! But things on our mind besides bat - no match for your cling film. ing at the corners – it might set because here’s a thing: I would - you know I’m going to pay the teries? So maybe I win? Or per - You’d have been pleased to see that way. Only fooling. No, I n’t be over the baggage fee. Leave out the disapproval. haps we’re even? Come on, let’s me on my knees in mum’s hear you. This is all semantics. allowance if it weren’t for the I’ve heard it. It isn’t because I’m just be even. kitchen – I guess it’s not yours Your thing, tawdry little phras - black suit I’m carrying. Now, I lazy, it isn’t even because I’m I’m not saying you weren’t anymore, although there was es. Beat around the bush. That’s know that suits are not the heav - generous, it’s because that is the right to wrap the suitcases. still a bundle of your pyjamas in the way the cookie crumbles. iest items, but straws and weight – no, feel it. You can’t There’s a ninety per cent chance the washing machine when I left Cry over spilt milk. Box your camels. I have gifts for my cheat it: that’s the cost. that when I arrive home in ten – but picture me winding my ears. Clip round the ear hole. I hours to the Durban brai heat, don’t mean to imply you had a some sly airport-security check - special thing for ears. Get a hid - All Saints Church er will cut the case open, loot the ing. But anyway, it’s all hypo - bag, and reseal the zip. How do thetical, irrelevant. This would Margaret Street they manage to make it look like never have happened to you it hasn’t been tampered with? I Our diverse and inclusive parish is grounded in the because – and here we come to get home and there’s the per - rich catholic tradition of Anglicanism. We offer a my major error – you would fume I picked up for my wife place of peace and beauty in busy central London have weighed the bags at home! (open daily from 7 to 7). We maintain fine liturgical traditions and excellence in music. The parish would be delighted to welcome you to all or any of our Bloomsbury ward liturgies if you are able to join us in ‘one of the ten buildings that have changed the face of Britain’ councillors’ surgeries (English Heritage). 6:00 - 7:00pm first Friday of the month at Main services on Sunday Fitzrovia Community Centre, Foley Street, W1W 6DN 11am High Mass 6pm Choral Evensong and Benediction 6:00 - 7:00pm second and fourth Fridays of the month at Marchmont Community Centre, 62 Marchmont Street, WC1N 1AB Times of Daily Prayer, Masses & opportunities Third Friday of the month is a 'roving surgery'. Get in touch if you would for confession & counselling are advertised at: like us to conduct the surgery at your street or building. www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk Adam Harrison, Sabrina Francis, and Rishi Madlani Parish office: 020 7636 1788 Contact 020 7974 3111 or [email protected] Please tell us if you came to All Saints [email protected] [email protected] after seeing this advertisement. 12 — Fitzrovia News issue 143 Winter 2016 facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Japanese community made lampshades in the area for 30 years before and after the war

By ANN BASU itzrovia, as many people know, has a long history of Fhosting many different immigrant communities. But when I started researching those communities I didn’t expect to find a group of Japanese men who were all involved in making Japanese-style paper lampshades by hand. These makers began to appear in the 1930s, and by 1950 there was a small cluster in Howland Street: a surprising discovery since there were few Japanese in London at this time. What brought them there? Edwardian Londoners were interested in Japanese decorative goods and furniture, a fashion that had started in the late 19th century fostered by retailers like Arthur Lasenby Liberty, who ABOVE: Remnants of the trade in Whitfield Street. was “in the avant-garde with the RIGHT: Traditional craft methods back in Japan. vogue for everything Japanese” (A. Adburgham Architectural making, who had fallen into the ly remained in Britain when the down the street at number 27. the top, designs of ladies and Review, May 1977, 296). trade simply because they need - Second World War started. Some Nakamura moved out of things like that … then he’d This public interest was ed a job. who stayed became naturalised; Howland Street to New have to have a fire on all the enhanced by the Japan-British The Japanese economy was others were interned, though Cavendish Street in 1958, operat - time to dry it. Of course his back exhibition of 1910 at White City doing very badly in the first most Japanese internees were ing his business from there until used to be very hot all the time which brought a little group of decades of the 20th century and eventually released well before 1965. and he eventually started lean - specially-hired craftsmen and was hit severely by the First the end of the war. A number of lampshade ing over … They were really experts to London. The World War. The country suffered Those who had been seamen makers worked for T.K. slaves to be honest. It would Exhibition was sponsored by the famines and rice riots, as well as were classed as prisoners of war Nakamura after the war. John take me all night to make 36, Japanese Government at huge a devastating earthquake in as, if they had gone back to Neill, an Englishman, had mar - just the small ones, which we cost to raise the prestige of Japan 1923. So many Japanese emigrat - Japan, they could have directly ried Agnes Urashima whose called candle clips … I made 36 and to showcase high-class ed and a few ended up in helped to fight against Britain. father, Urashima Masato, had for ten shillings" (qu. Itoh, 80). Japanese products. At first I London looking for work. Itoh Some were later repatriated and taken a job at Nakamura’s and Nakamura, however, gave thought that some of these says: "Just why the Japanese some returned to their British asked Neill to join him. Neill his workers a party every New craftsmen had become our found a niche in lampshade homes. reveals that the wire workers Year, which sound like lively lampshade makers. making is difficult to pinpoint. It’s likely that the Fitzrovia who worked for the firm all had affairs: "That’s when they all got But there actually seems to Perhaps the earlier pioneers lampshade makers were English wives. drunk … There was the bream, be no link between the exhibi - entered the trade because of its internees, as they almost all van - It seems as though life at the fish, all wrapped up in tion craftsmen and Fitzrovia’s association with Japan’s tradi - ish from the Post Office Nakamura’s was literally sweat - parcels. We all had Japanese lampshade makers, who catered tional craft of lantern making, Directory during the war years ed labour as work was carried food … He used to sing an for the cheaper end of the mar - and others simply followed … and reappear afterwards. on in very hot and harsh condi - English song" (qu. Itoh, 81). ket; though, over in Bloomsbury, Yet, up until lampshade-making By 1950 N. Mayeda is mak - tions. It was sweating of a type The workers could also Modern Lampshades boasted of became mechanised and mass ing lampshades at 20 Howland that had always existed in cor - socialise at a club nearby in making Japanese lampshades for produced, the Japanese seem to Street, as is Soneya at 143 ners of the neighbourhood and Tottenham Court Road. the Queen Mother. have carved out a certain por - Cleveland Street. But the best- that had been unfairly connected Sometimes lampshade mak - According to Keiko Itoh who tion of British lampshade pro - established business in Fitzrovia with the whole of the furniture ers unexpectedly fell out of as has researched the pre-war duction" (The Japanese was probably T.K. Nakamura at trade in Fitzrovia. well as into the trade: a Japanese community, the majori - Community in Pre-War Britain, 43 Howland Street, who very Neill says: "Pop [Urashima Nakamura worker, Kenji Takaki, ty of the lampshade workers 78). likely also employed, among Masato] was crippling himself became an actor, taking small were ex-seamen with no previ - The Japanese workers, many others, the lampshade wire … We’d put plaster around the roles in well-known films of the ous experience of lampshade married to British women, most - worker, Nagatomi, who lived bottom of the shade and round time, such as A Town Like Alice (1956) and The Long and the Poetry corner Short and the Tall (1961). It seems that cheap and THE CHRISTMAS PUDDING REGAIN (for those who chose Leave) cheerful was the rule and by Wendy Shutler by C McArthur trained craftspeople were the Blue flames flicker on the brandy-soaked pudding, We are not Tolkeins's Dragon 'Smaug' - exception in local Japanese triumphantly brought to the candle-lit table. The slumbering fire drake, bent on lantern making. And everyone The mixing of spices, fruits and dark treacle, domination, amassing his mountain of gold. No,"we" are Rowlings dragon of Gringots in the trade appeared to have the 6 hours of steaming and bubbling away, gloom. CHANGED, powerless, wakened only to be found themselves there by acci - all worthwhile now, as I bask in a fluttering, cowed by the "lankers" - voices, warning of dent: even Nakamura himself flattering confetti of compliments: punishment, if we tried to break Free. had no experience of lampshade my moment of glory as the pudding-maker. Million in these ancient isles - felt production beforehand but was CAROLS IN ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL like this poor creature in the gloom. a butcher in the 1930s before he by Wendy Shutler Dreaming of past and better days. moved to London. He must Bells ring out over London. Inside, Our 'inner fire' almost quenched, by M I T Sveinsson have spotted a minute gap in the the choir sings. My spirit soars: Foreign regulation and authority. home furnishings market and they sound like the angel host. Memories of our independent past THE MAN IN THE DOCK taken his chance, joined by fel - The glittering mosaic growing dim. by Mac Ingvar Theodor Sveinsson low-countrymen who were find - of Christ in Majesty floats THEN. The many stirring hearts become one - (1946-2006 ) beat, and freedom a possibility to be struggled for. ing it hard, in a post-war climate above a cloud of incense. The Man in the Dock "wings" long unused and folded, were powered unfavourable to the Japanese ex- We all sing the carols, the old familiar carols, Stood before judge and jury by over seventeen million wills, that stopped enemy, to get a job. singing our hearts away, As the endless list of his sins The binding chains, and we soared high. Diverse and unpredictable, it and leave the cathedral cleansed, drained, Were paraded around the courtroom. Do we scent a better future? seems to me that Japanese lamp - yet strangely sustained, When asked if he had anything to say There are no guarantees, but whatever comes, shade making was typical of to the triumphal pealing refrain He said "No" We'll face it FREE - than in submission to daily life in Fitzrovia. of bells ringing out over London. others, on our bended knees. "Just take me away." facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Fitzrovia News issue 143 Winter 2016 — 13 Asian tapas bar: small but delicious Foleys, 23 Foley Street Asian-influenced tapas bar with ly small but perfect squid and they have a fairly extensive Old Fitzrovia corner shops are small plates. arrangement stuffed with sea - list. closing as the rents and rates go By 8pm it was over three- soned minced pork among other We went on a chilly autumn up: our new Fitzrovia is opening quarters full: a moving, chang - things with, to me, a slightly night, with a tiny bar opening new restaurants on a regular ing clientele of young, happy odd taste (£11) was my least out to the street where a sturdy basis. And Foleys is another of customers, but, hallelujah, not favourite and that one I would - couple sat having a drink on them. Booking is a slight prob - with that kind of noise where n’t order again. In between these high stools which somehow lem: fighting my way past the you can't speak to your compan - two extremes we ordered things gave the place a welcoming feel - building sites in Foley Street I ion. As well as a restaurant, I like aubergine stuffed with ing. Inside was cheery and actually went in to book one late guess it might be a place people pomegranate and chilli lime friendly with good service and morning, and even though I come to for a drink and a couple yoghurt (£8.50) and belly of with lighting that made it cosy: tried to reserve a table with a of small plates after work. pork (£9) which we enjoyed. a place it was nice to be in, for real person for that evening I

By the DINING DETECTIVE The plates are small: some of There are several curried its ambience really, as much as

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for sharing (but not among more quite hot-tasting salad (I think it We ordered six small plates,

t e e r t S n o i n U 8 1 - 6 1 s a w s s e r d d a s i h have to go away and phone T

than two). Spiced sweet potato was the smoked peanuts). All one of which was sourdough

. 9 5 9 1 l i t n u 5 4 8 1 m o r f d e t a r e p o g n i t l u o (0203 1371302), or go on line B

fritters which arrives as three the dishes available look as if bread with fennel butter for J T r e r u t c a f u n a m e v o t s e r e h w t e e r t

([email protected]. S round soft balls in a sweet-sour e s u o H g n i d i R 1 6 - 9 5 f o s i e g a p s i h t n o they would be worth trying, £3.50. Our bill for two: £87

uk), and when I went away and

w o l e b e r u t c i p e h T : E L Z Z U P E R U T C I P sauce of pineapple, onion, saf - depending on what you like, but including service. My Fitzrovian phoned nobody answered. fron and coconut, was my all are, indeed, small dishes. companion and I sadly decided We did get in eventually. I’m favourite dish: hot and tasty and A good selection of wine is that if we want to keep to our not exactly sure how to describe fortable sort of wine bar with smooth all at the same time sold by the glass (cheapest about putative budget of £70 for two what I think Foleys exactly is. seats and tables and food: they (£6.59) - excellent. £6); by the carafe (cheapest these days, we are going to have We found ourselves in a com - themselves describe it as an Grilled octopus, an extreme - about £16); and by the bottle – to stop drinking wine! Christmas chuckles Picture puzzle Two cartoon books by our own artist Kipper Williams have been brought out for Christmas. One is called "Christmas Comes" which highlights the best and worst of Christmas (which includes the cartoon right). The other is "All In Tents And Porpoises" (see cover left) which is a collection of his car - toons from the Spectator, Sunday Times, Private Eye, and Smash Hits. Books he has illustrated include "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson, and "Your Child, Your Way" by Tanya Byron. This year he was also official cartoonist at Courtesy of Private Eye the Cornwall Folk Festival. Grandiose Coates drama refloats Back by popular demand! A longer version of The Man from How well do you know Fitzrovia? Can you recognise where the Sleepy Lagoon will be performed at the Duke of York this building is? pub in Fitzrovia on 6 January. No prizes we are afraid. But for the answer look under the Sue Blundell’s play, first staged in June this year as part Dining Detective picture in the article above on this page. of FitzFest (as pictured right) , is a celebration of the life and music of Fitzrovia composer Eric Coates. David Acton returns to play the part of Coates, Rob McIndoe directs, and Fitzrovia Trust Looking For New Members the Festival Musicians (under director Dan Bates) will pro - vide even more foot-tapping tunes. The Fitzrovia Trust is looking to expand the num - Friday, January 6, 2017, 8.30 pm. Upstairs at The Duke of ber of members on its Management Council, York, 47 Rathbone Street, W1T 1NQ which meets once every three months. Tickets: £10 – To book, go to eventbrite.com search for “sleepy lagoon London” This is a great opportunity for you to play a signifi - Christmas lights at South cant role in the local community. For more informa - Crescent, Store Street tion on the activities of the Trust see www.fitzroviatrust.org If you live or work in Fitzrovia, and are interested in becoming a member, contact Colin Bascom on 0845 834 0014

Healing Hands Complementary Therapies Facial Rejuvenation Massage - Reflexology - Deep Tissue Massage - Therapeutic Massage from a fully qualified and insured member of Complementary Therapists Association www.healing-hands-therapies.co.uk Telephone Philomena on 07931 502 029 14 — Fitzrovia News issue 143 Winter 2016 facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Murder in our midst

Weinstein and on February 20 of that year three masked intruders armed with shotguns burst in demanding money. Weinstein and his assistant Charles Day were knocked down with shotgun butts, and when the other assistant, Frank Biering, aged 67, fought back he was shot and killed at point blank range. The robbers fled with £2,500 which they had stolen and sped off in a red transit van. The police hunt was led by Det Chief Inspector Bruce Wilson from Marylebone Lane police station. Weinstein told him it was the third time his shop had been multitude of murders in robbed. He had chased an Fitzrovia are revealed in a book by Jan Bondeson armed robber away 13 years pre - A viously, and coshed another six called Murder Houses of London. years before that who had fired One that is probably in the two shots. living memory of our older resi - Two car dealers, Charles dents involved a jewel robbery Parsons and George Smith, plus 65 Warren Street today 35 Gosfield Street today in 1969 at 78 Great Portland an unemployed labourer, Arthur he had run out of money and tool and then strangled, under a Street (on the corner of Riding Sullivan, were charged with oned for conspiracy to rob. she had screamed at him to pile of laundry. House Street). murder but found not guilty. Three murders in Warren leave and in a furious temper he At first he blamed Nicols but The jewellers and pawn bro - Smith and Sullivan, however, Street are included. One was at grabbed a knife. eventually confessed. In kers was owned by Leon were found guilty and impris - number 65 in 1931. The top floor On the following morning, November he was found guilty front room was rented by a 23- his clothes still splashed with but insane and sent to year-old Cypriot waiter called blood, he confessed to a police Broadmoor. Alexander Anastassiou, who constable outside the house and Another Charlotte Street took his 22-year-old girl friend, was taken to Tottenham Court murder is listed at number 101 waitress Evelyn Holt, there on Road police station. At first he where French butcher Louis the evening of February 26. asked: "Is she really dead then?" Voisin murdered his former mis - In the middle of the night and then admitted his guilt tress Emilienne Gerard in 1917 the landlady heard screaming again. (which we have also reported and rushed upstairs to find a At his trial on June 6 his previously). bloody bundle on the floor. defence was temporary insanity, Three murders in Whitfield Evelyn's throat had been cut which failed and he was sen - Street are described briefly: with a razor, and her hands tenced to death, and an execu - Elisabeth Stofel at number 53 in were injured consistent with a tion date fixed for July 11. 1891, servant girl Sophie Richard struggle. He was reprieved, however, at number 8 in 1899, and prosti - Anastassiou told the police after a petition was signed by tute Dora Piernicke at number detective summoned: "I was 78 Great Portland Street today numerous Portsmouth sailors 115 in 1903. happy with her. We have been to that he had an unblemished Finally, musician Dan tea, pictures and supper. But she record and was a decent hard Kildare murdered his wife and made me excited. I kill her." 6 Fitzroy Square: The Perfect Venue working man. sister-in-law at the Bell public But at his trial he claimed The other murder in Gosfield house, 15 Little Titchfield Street, she had attempted suicide and The perfect venue for meetings, launches, Street was eight years later in 1920. he had tried to stop her. The fact seminars, dinners, wedding receptions and when the Blackout Ripper, that her throat had been cut Gordon Cummins, was hanged other corporate events. with great force eight times did for the murder among others of not bear this out and he was Shiv Margaret Lowe at Flat 4, number sentenced to death. On appeal The Georgian Group’s elegant 9-10, on February 11, 1942 his defence was changed to self Pharmacy eighteenth-century headquarters (which has also been reported defence as he claimed she had overlooking Fitzroy Square provide before in this newspaper). attacked him with the razor. 70 Great Titchfield Street a unique location for all types of Another ship's stoker was This was equally implausible London W1W 7QN private and corporate events in the convicted of the murder of a and he was hanged on June 3. heart of central London. woman at 63 Charlotte Street on Prescriptions The other murders in Warren September 27, 1952. The killer Street were at numbers 73 and Multivitamins was a former West Indian pro - 74 by Frenchman Emile We cordially invite local fessional boxer who had only Herbal Medications Barthelemy in 1854 (previously businesses and individuals to visit one eye, James Smartt, and the reported in Fitzrovia News), and Natural and our building and get a taste of the victim was his Irish lodger at number 42 in 1862 when Homeopathic authentic Georgian experience… Eleanor (Nellie) McCombs. Elizabeth Carley was murdered Her boy friend, another West produce by Charles Cotier. Indian stoker called Arthur Gosfield Street has been the For booking enquiries, Nicols, was suspicious when she scene of two gruesome killings. availability and rates please contact: was not at home, and Smartt Friendly Medical The first was at number 35 on Rob Kouyoumdjian on said she had walked out. When Advice April 3 1934 when a 35-year-old 020 7529 8921 or Nicols called the police they at Open Monday to Friday French woman, Juliette Merrill first suspected him as he had [email protected] was stabbed to death. 8.30am to 6pm blood on his trousers. He The killer was a 29-year-old explained that these trousers Tel/Fax ship's stoker from Portsmouth had been lent to him by Smartt. called Eric Russell who had 020 7580 2393 The police revisited Smartt known her for six months and and found the body, which had paid her for sex. On this night [email protected] been beaten with a shoemaker's facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews Fitzrovia News issue 143 Winter 2016 — 15 Paying tribute to lost artists and musical venues The pace of commercial devel - my in the face of the homogeni - opment in Fitzrovia has recently ‘The Piano sation which is choking central become even more rapid. Like in Man’ No 7 London. many other cities, the central by The best way for us to parts of London are being CLIFFORD mourn and pay homage to our turned inside out by the dead SLAPPER musical heroes is to take their hand of corporate finance. example. In my own case, it was closed, 2016 marked the loss of Pusillanimous property develop - David Bowie who had been the an extraordinary number of era- ers sneak in anonymously, and most compelling influence and I defining musical artists. From turn their millions into billions was fortunate to have the oppor - David Bowie in January, through by building uninhabited £5m tunity to work closely with him, Prince in April to Leonard flats and shopping malls that playing the piano on his last Cohen in November, it really make Wormwood Scrubs look ever television appearance. does feel like the world has pretty. Corporate chains replace His art was defined above all become a greyer place without characterful family businesses as by constant movement and these artistic geniuses shaping rents spiral. The inexorable pri - innovation. It is going quite the horizon. orities of the social system we all against his approach, therefore, Cartoon by Chris Tyler Another very colourful fig - live within, allow no sentimen - that so many tributes to him ure we lost, in October, was Pete tality to get in the way of max - have been attempting to provide recording of “Stay” by Marcella away with that.” Burns of Dead or Alive. I had imising profit, even when it carbon copies of what he did, Puppini (from December 5, The young man playing the toured with him in 2000 to Japan means the destruction of com - imitating every instrument and 2016) and the album, Bowie part of Jim Morrison seemed to and in 2001 to California and munities or of a vibrant music sound. Songs One, will be out on March be taking it all a bit too serious - found that his notorious sharp scene. 5, 2017. ly, getting into the role, off as and often caustic wit sat side by well as on stage. He offered me Since 2007 London has lost For many years I have been I was recruited in the 1990s side with a very generous, a lift home, and was literally 35 per cent of its grassroots adapting his songs for the piano to play keyboards in the biggest warm-hearted and caring side. knocking back the Jack Daniels music venues, and gay and in a way which reframes those Doors tribute band in the world, We embarked on some song- from a bottle whilst he was at alternative clubs have been par - songs or brings out something The Australian Doors. Joining writing together a few years the wheel, and pointing down ticularly hard hit. New organisa - different and new in them. For the “tribute band” culture was ago, for which he visited my flat the backstreets off Shepherd’s tions like the Music Venue Trust the past three years I have been pure comedy from the outset. on Charlotte Street. He wore his Bush roundabout and telling me are now trying to slow down or working on a project with They had a fast turnover of "Ray full make-up and flamboyant about all the young “groupies” reverse this process, but have numerous singers, in which Manzareks" on keys, and want - costumes for these visits, and he had “bedded” on this or that the odds stacked firmly against those songs are arranged and ed to save money by not having some of my neighbours’ eye - street, with a totally straight face them. recorded simply for voice and to keep arranging a new velvet brows were raised a little, as and his accent veering towards It is not only the physical piano, in new ways. Stripped suit for incoming incumbents. they possibly wondered whether the mid-Atlantic – just as his car landscape which has been down to those skeletal elements The manager looked me up and my flat was itself being remod - was veering toward the trees on changing. Turning to the music and their emotional core, the down, and said: “Look, you’re a elled as an alternative live the roundabout. stars who first came to fame songs still stand up, which is for few inches taller than the last venue. For more information about many years ago precisely by me a demonstration of the one, so the trouser legs might be We need to celebrate such Bowie Songs One by Clifford playing the circuit of those genius of his songwriting. The a few inches short, but you’ll be individuality and encourage Slapper & Friends, go to smaller venues now being first release from the project is a sat at the keyboards most of the diversity and personal autono - time so we should be able to get www.bowiesongs.com

Looking back through the archives See also archive.fitzrovia.org.uk

40 years ago twice the rent. 80 years ago 136 years ago Patricia Langton, the first Evicted for Fitzrovia neighbourhood work - er, resigned to go on a Far East Maples strike Teeth stolen Christmas trip, and was replaced by Dave From Daily Worker, Nov 20, From Tower, December 1976: Ferris. Clive Henderson, chair of 1936, reprinted in Morning Star, from corpses in Angela Deano, while having a the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Nov 20, 2016: brain operation, was evicted Association, paid tribute to Striking drivers and porters burial ground from her top flat at 4 Percy Patricia's encouraging groups to working for Maple & Co, 141- Memories of Prince Monolulu (left Street, by EMI in order to turn it help themselves - such as young 150 Tottenham Court Road, won From the Watford Observer, in picture), the colourful racecourse into offices. Chinese giving advice to other overtime rates of time and a April 10, 1880, reprinted tipster were described by Gina Squatters were evicted from local Chinese and writing their quarter over 48 hours a week. October 16, 2016: Jordanou of 158 New Cavendish Buckingham House, Cleveland own language supplement in the Cases of drivers working 90 A man was prosecuted for steal - Street to Hilary Davies. Streert, as part of a plan by own - paper. hours a week constituting a pub - ing teeth from bodies buried in ers Paddington Churches to order in May. Mrs Daly, who'd A new Cribbage league was lic danger had been quoted. the disused burial grounds at 79 erect an office block on the site. had a foot amputated was still set up by five local pubs - Marches through the streets had Tottenham Court Road (on the Tenants at 8, 10, and 12 living three floors up a difficult Yorkshire Grey, Wheatsheaf, been organised, lorries bringing corner of Tottenham Street). Tottenham Street were still liv - staircase. The Cheungs shared Kings Arms, Valiant Trooper materials for delivery were Nathan Woolf Jacobson of ing in overcrowded squalor an 8 ft by 3 ft room with their (now The Fitzrovia), and the turned back by pickets, and a Oxford Street had been seen by despite Camden council com - small son, and boarded out their Cunarder (latterly Jet Lag, now threatened extension of the dis - witnesses "sorting the bones, pleting a compulsory purchase other four children, so paying closed). pute to other department, led to and taking out the sound teeth "a speedy concession of the from the human jaws and put - THE DUKE OF YORK workers' demands." ting them in his pocket." Opening hours, Mon-Fri, 12-11pm, Sat 1-11pm, Sun closed 47 RATHBONE STREET,LONDON W1T 1NW 020 7636 7065 [email protected]

A traditional pub, with a good selection of real ales and varied wine list. Upstairs Bar/Function room available for private parties and Buffets. Check us out on Facebook! Cartoon by Chris Tyler 16 — Fitzrovia News issue 143 Winter 2016 facebook.com/FitzroviaNews :: twitter.com/FitzroviaNews WHAT’S ON AROUND FITZROVIA Email [email protected] by February 19 for the March 2017 issue, and put “Listings” in the subject box. LIVE MUSIC ART GALLERIES The Albany , 240 Great Portland Featured exhibitions. A full St (thealbanyw1w.co.uk): Ukeleles on Wednesdays, 8pm. list of all galleries is on our website Calcutta Street , 29 Tottenham St : Live 1920s Calcutta jazz, Dec 31.

King & Queen , 1 Foley St : Music Hall and Popular Song Xmas Party, Dec 9. Burns Night with Carol Anderson and Racker Donnelly, Jan 20. Folk once a month on Fridays 8-11pm (visit web mustradclub.co.uk). Scaledown alternative live enter - tainments last Friday of the month (theorchestrapit.com). Mimi and the Mountain Dragon is playing at the Ricky Whittington and His Cat is playing at the New Diorama One Tun , 58 Goodge St : Josie Bloomsbury Studio, 15 Gordon Street, from Theatre from December 17 to January 7. The theatre is at 15-16 Florence sings Christmas songs, December 13 to 31. Performances last for 50 min - Triton Street, Regent's Place, on the other side of Euston Road Dec 8 and 22. utes and it is suitable for "families and children opposite Fitzroy Street. aged over three and everyone who loves stories." Lisa Lyon by Robert Mabblethorpe Sevilla Mia Spanish Bar , 22 Alison Jacques Gallery , 18 Hanway St (basement): World CINEMA/FILM EXHIBITIONS TALKS Berners St : “Teller on Fusion, Tue, 9.30pm; Swing 'n' UCL Darwin Lecture Theatre , Mapplethorpe” to Jan 7. Blues, Wed, 9.30pm; Spanish British Museum , Great Russell Malet Place ([email protected]): Rumba, Thur-Sat, 10.30pm. St (britishmuseum.org): Tuesdays and Thursdays (1.15- Free : Modern design and 1.55pm) during term time. The Simmons , 28 Maple St: Live graphics from post-war Europe, end of mass incarceration? The music every Wednesday evening. until Jan 22; French portrait moral purpose of prison, Dec 8. drawing from Clouet to The 100 Club , 100 Oxford St Courbet, until Jan 29; Maggi UCL Gustave Tuck Lecture , (the100club.co.uk): Live Xmas Hambling - Touch: works on Wilkins Building, Gower St : A E Show, Dec 12; Barry from paper, until Jan 29; Shadow pup - Housman Lecture, Professor Our Motto is Achieve, by Carla Watford's Xmas Special, Dec 14; pet theatre from Indonesia, Judith Butler on kinship trouble, Busuttil Johnny Moped: It's Christmas Malaysia, and Thailand, until Feb 8, 6-8pm. Baby! Dec 15; Boot Boys Christmas Josh Lilley , 44-46 Riding Jan 29; Defacing the past, Knees Up, Dec 16; Christmas Mod House St : Carla Busuttil – “The damnation and desecration in WALKS Ball with John's Children, Dec 17; Super-Suburb Defence imperial Rome, until May 7. Cockney Rejects Christmas Knees Fitzrovia Art Gallery Tour , Jan Authority” to Dec 23. Pay for : South Africa: the art of 26, starts 10.30 at GRAD Gallery, Up, Dec 21; New Year's Eve Pi Artworks , 55 Eastcastle St : Rhythm and Blues Party, Dec 31. a nation, until Feb 26; The 3-4a Little Portland St . Cost £20, Various artists – “American American Dream: pop to the book www.londonartsalon.com. Bolivar Hall, 54 Grafton Way Histories” until Jan 17. Various UCL North Cloisters , Wilkins present, from March 9. (cultura.embavenez-uk.org): The artists – “Strike Site” Jan 13 to Building, Gower St : Christmas Liberator (El Libertador), pic - London Literary Pub Crawl , Concert by the UCL Chamber UCL Art Museum , Wilkins Feb 25. tured above , about Simon every Saturday, 5pm. Start at the Music Club, Dec 13, 6-7pm. Building, South Cloisters, Bolivar, leading fighter for South Wheatsheaf, 25 Rathbone Place . Gower St : Vault, work from American independence, Dec 11, LondonLiteraryPubCrawl.com. THEATRE most promising talent of Slade 11am. London Socialist Film Co- School of Art, until Dec 16. Bloomsbury Theatre Studio , 15 op screen films at 11am on the CAROLS Gordon St (thebloomsbury.com): second Sunday of each month. All Saints , 7 Margaret St : Mimi and the Mountain Dragon, UCL Grant Museum of Christmas carol servie followed Zoology , 21 University St : Dec 13-31 (see picture). Green Man , 36 Riding House by mince pies and mulled wine, Natural creativity: sex and trick - St : London Animation Club, Dec 16, 12.30pm. Carols by can - ery, until Dec 23. Inventory by Sebastian Gordin Camden People's Theatre , 58-60 first Tuesday of month. dlelight followed by mince pies Hampstead Rd and mulled wine, Dec 19, 6pm. Rosenfeld Porcini , 37 Rathbone UCL Main Library , Wilkins (cptheatre.co.uk): Holy Presents Odeon , 30 Tottenham Court Rd : St : Sebastian Gordin – “If Building, Gower St : Fair play (Christmas comedy), Dec 6-17. Weekly film details from All Souls Clubhouse , 141 Animals Didn’t Exist…” Dec 9 and foul: connecting with www.odeon.co.uk or 08712 Cleveland St : Carols by to Feb 11. Shakespeare at UCL, until Dec Dominion Theatre , 269 244007. Candlelight, Dec 11, 4pm. Tottenham Court Rd (domin - 15. iontheatre.com): The Regent Street Cinema , 309 Fitzrovia Chapel, 2 Pearson UCL North Cloisters , Wilkins Bodyguard, starring Beverley Regent St : For daily programme Square : A Christmas Carol, by Building, Gower St : Two Knight, until January 7, 2017. visit regentstreetcinema.com/ Candlelight, performed by women on thin ice, climate programme. Matinee classics Maverick Theatre Company, Dec change science and contempo - every Wednesday at 2pm, for 23, 7pm. Preceded by walking rary art, until Dec 15. over 55s, £1.75. tour, starting at The Wheatsheaf, Rathbone Place, 6pm. Duke of York , 47 Rathbone St : LIVE COMEDY UCL Octagon Gallery , Wilkins The Man from the Sleepy Building, Gower St : Cabinets of OTHER EVENTS Tristan Hoare , 6 Fitzroy Square : Lagoon, Jan 6, 8.30pm (see page The Albany, 240 Great Portland consequence (works of UCL UCL Grant Museum of Flavie Audi (above) – “CELL- 13 for more details). St : Mondays at 8pm. geographers, neuroscientists, Zoology , 21 University St : (ESTIAL)” until Jan 10. archeologists, zoologists), until Mystery Specimens, short talks London Palladium , Argyll St Wheatsheaf , 25 Rathbone Place : May 29. by biology students on the (palladium.londontheatres.co.uk Improvisation on Thursdays, museum's incredible animals, ): Cinderella, starring Paul 8.30pm, and stand-up on Wellcome Library , 183 Euston Dec 9, Dec 16, 1-5pm; Creature O'Grady, Julian Clary, Amanda Saturdays, 7.30pm upstairs. Rd (wellcomecollection.org): creations, create works of art Holden, Nigel Havers, Count Bedlam: The asylum and inspired by the museum's weird Arthur Strong, from Dec 10 for PUB QUIZZES beyond, until Jan 15; Making and wonderful animals, Dec 17, five weeks. Nature: How we see animals, 1.30-4.30pm. The Court, 108a Tottenham until May 21; Electricity: The New Diorama Theatre (newdio - Court Rd : Every Sunday, 8pm. spark of life, Feb 23-July 2. Spanish lessons in Newman White Rainbow, 47 Mortimer rama.com), 15-16 Triton St : Permanent exhibitions: Medicine Street on Mondays from January. St : Ingeborg Lüscher (above) – Ricky Whittington and His Cat, Prince of Wales Feathers , 8 Now, and Medicine Man. Contact Susan, 07976 399335 or “It's 1 o'clock and the bell tolls 8 Dec 12-Jan 7 (see picture). Warren St : Every Monday, 7pm. [email protected]. times” until Jan 21.