Everything must go... news.fitzrovia.org.uk Fitzrovia News Fitzrovia News is produced by residents and volunteers and distributed free to business and residential addresses in Fitzrovia Issue 156 Spring 2020 Last ‘crown’ post office to close, and go private

By Linus Rees be operated by an independent franchise partner, from the current One of the last remaining crown premises, offering the same great post offices in the West End and range of products and services the only one serving Fitzrovia is with extended opening on Satur - to close this year and be taken day afternoons. Our new fran - over by a private operator. chise partners, Mr Zahirkhan “Great Portland Street Crown Subekhan Pathan and Mr Anish Win this book Post Office workers were given Mustufa Vohra, plan a major re - the bad news at a staff meeting,” furbishment of the premises, pro - signed by said the Communication Workers viding a brand new, modern Post Union. Office branch and a retail offer of the author Seventeen workers at the stationery, packaging, drinks and busy post office on the corner of confectionery. page 11 Mortimer Street were told that the Post Office’s Head of the Di - branch would close in May this rectly Managed Branch Network year and that a deal with private Steve Blampied said: operators is currently being nego - “We are making this change tiated to run it as a franchise. in order to maintain Post Office “The closure will result in the services in Great Portland Street. collective loss of almost 400 years’ There are unprecedented changes service by colleagues, to the local on our high streets and the needs community. Such franchises often of our customers are evolving too. mean a reduction in access, ser - “Our priority is to provide se - vices and staffing levels plus a cure and commercially sustain - lessening in the quality of service, able services in Great Portland received by customers,” said Street, continuing to meet our cus - Staff at Great Portland Street post office have been told the branch will be run union representative Garrie Bond tomers’ needs now and into the by a francise from May this year. who attended the staff meeting. future. The vast majority of our The branch is in a busy com - 11500 Post Office Branches, large Boy George mercial street serving thousands and small, are already success - Ltd and the Government recon - the defective Horizon computer of residents and tens of thousands fully operated by independent sider. system in branches. returns to of people working within 500 me - franchises.” The Post Office has also been tres of the premises says the In October 2019 a House of criticised for the way it handled Sign the petition to stop the clo - Carburton Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Associ - Commons report criticised the its relationship with sub-postmas - sure of Great Portland Street ation. Post Office for its strategy of clos - ters and had to pay out £58m after Crown Post Office. Street The announcement means ing Crown Post Offices and rec - the High Court ruled the com - See: bit.ly/Save-GPS-PO that nine Crown Post Offices are ommended that the Post Office pany to be at fault for installing page 6 being closed so far in 2020 with the loss of 75 public sector jobs. “Since the New Year opened, there has been an acceleration of the franchising programme by the Post Office — a programme which makes a total nonsense of government claims that the post est1958 office network is ‘safe’ in their hands,” said Andy Furey the na - Awarded The home of traditional tional union officer for Post Office tripadvisor workers. certificate of fish and chips. In a statement to Fitzrovia excellence five GIGS News, Post Office Limited said: years running Fully licensed Greek restaurant “From May 2020 the branch will 2014 - 2018 12 Tottenham Street 020 7636 1424 2 —Fitzrovia News issue 156 Spring 2020 Fitzrovia News Formerly The Tower Letters, email and comment established 1973 news.fitzrovia.org.uk Write to [email protected] twitter.com/fitzrovianews face - book.com/fitzrovianews instagram.com/fitzrovianews Frank Dobson opened the I suffered with AirBnB [email protected] Issue 156 Spring 2020 Published 3 March 2020 first Fitzrovia Festival guests for two years Editorial Team In the last Fitzrovia News the trib - the steps of Cottrell’s (now the I’m a woman living in a small flat in Fitzrovia which I rent from a hous - Pete Whyatt: ute to Frank Dobson describes Charlotte Street Hotel). ing association. I only work part-time due to an ongoing illness. I’ve editor and news editor him as our MP opening The War - In “40 years ago” in the same lived here relatively peacefully for nearly 20 years, but the last two Linus Rees: ren playground in November issue is an account of the collapse years of the comings and goings at all hours of the day from the flat editor and website editor 1979. of two houses at The Warren 24 below me has ruined the modest life I have. Mike Pentelow: His first appearance in hours before it was due to be It first started in March 2018 when an American family arrived at editor and features editor Fitzrovia was in June 1973 when opened by Frank. A narrow escape the street door and rang my buzzer. They had broken their key off in Clive Jennings: as Leader of Camden Council he for him and many others. the lock and needed my help to get in. They had rented the small two arts editor opened the first Fitzrovia Festival Janet Gauld, bedroom flat (owned by a private landlord) for a few days while visit - Brian Jarman: in Charlotte Street, standing on Ridgmount Gardens ing London. They had come via AirBnB. writer and sub-editor This was the start of my unwilling role as an unpaid AirBnB Janet Gauld: concierge as it became more and more a regular occurrence. People associate editor Mural must be sensitively restored would arrive with all their luggage, bump their way in through the Barb Jacobson: front door, or ring my buzzer asking me if this was the right place. associate editor Sometimes there were four people, often eight, and every now and Jennifer Kavanagh: I feel heartbroken by the decision piece, and their sensitivity in pre - again there would be a party, and fire alarms would go off. The average associate editor by Camden Council to offer the serving it. Their CEO Lee con - hen party would go out at 10pm and then come back at all hours and Contributors: “restoration” of the Fitzrovia tacted me a few years ago, saying then some of them would go out again for a cigarette. One group of Nick Bailey Mural to Global Street Art. I have he wanted to paint a giant box of guests turned up to make a film and had 30 people in the flat. They Ann Basu a connection to the mural (my fa - popcorn over the mural. Is this kept going outside with these girls in skimpy clothes and filming them Terry Egan ther and uncle are painted in it) the level of “restoration” we are in the street with a drone! Clifford Harper and have been actively trying to dealing with here? The original July and August was solid with different guests. Even when people Bess Linnet get it restored since 2008. We’ve work is a product of the local are well behaved you get this constant noise of coming and going. Angela Lovely carried out fundraising, produced community, and its locality and In October that year I contacted AirBnb because the short-letting Helene Parry surveys and engaged with the sense of “place” is intrinsic. I was exceeding the 90-day limit, large numbers of people were occupy - Anna Perera community, to try and have this hope, then, that this large-scale ing the small flat, and the front door was getting damaged. I also con - Clifford Slapper work sensitively restored. The de - historical document (one of only a tacted the freeholder of the building. Sunita Soliar cision to award this to a commer - handful of murals left from the After I got nowhere I contacted Camden Council’s planning de - Chris Tyler cial agency feels like a slap in the 1980s) will be preserved for future partment and asked them to take enforcement action. They wrote back Sandra Wheen face. generations. to me saying that there wasn’t enough evidence to take action and that I Kipper Williams The campaign began when Murals across London have would have to keep a diary of all comings and goings, backed up by Printed by: Sharman & Co Ltd, the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood As - been successfully and sensitively photographs. Newark Road, Peterborough sociation put me in touch with the restored — the Dalston Peace After the first few times of taking photos I realised that this was not PE1 5TD. sharmanandco.co.uk original artist, Mick Jones. I inter - Mural and Cable Street Mural are going to be a workable solution because I would have to be in all the Fitzrovia News is produced viewed and eventually befriended high-profile examples. These time and have to lean out of the window taking a photo. by the Fitzrovia Community Mick, gaining valuable insight restorations enhanced the origi - So I spent £200 on a camera with a motion sensor to film the com - Newspaper Group. into his hopes for the restoration. nals. They were carefully planned ings and goings of the guests from the street door. This was money I ISSN: 0967-1404 Together with the FNA and the and carried out — do Global could not afford to spend but I really wanted to get my life back. Published by Fitzrovia London Mural Preservation Soci - Street Art have any real experi - I started a spreadsheet and backed up every entry with a video Neighbourhood Association ety I arranged a guided walk, sold ence of carrying out historical recording. (registered charity 1111649) tea-towels of the design, and pub - restorations? It took until the middle of July to record at least 90 days of short- c/o Flat 2, 19 Tottenham Street, licised the mural’s restoration on Aside from grave concerns letting activity. I sent Camden the spreadsheet, video, website links to London W1T 2AN BBC radio. After Mick’s passing I over the mural being lost, I’m the AirBnB listing, the company running the commercial short-letting fitzrovia.org.uk met with Paul Butler, a contempo - worried that even if the content is scam, and photos of the cleaner dumping rubbish in the street. rary of Mick’s and someone who to be preserved, the quality of the I didn’t hear from Camden for some time. In the autumn I con - Fitzrovia News is published successfully restored the Dalston restoration could be compro - tacted one of my local councillors. But still nothing happened and it all four times a year. mural. We worked with Eazl and mised. Part of the research we’ve dragged on as they said they were reviewing the evidence. By this time Our deadline for news, the Fitzrovia Centre to produce a carried out consisted of detailed I was getting concerned that I hadn't given them enough information public exhibition at Arup in conversations with Mick Jones features, letters and adverts and that I would have to start the whole process again of recording yet Fitzroy Street about the mural, over the best types of paint to use, is normally two weeks another 90 days and more of short-letting. fully documenting the current for instance. before publication. The This all took its toll on me. It was draining, and I was constantly on state of the wall with high res Our proposal to Camden edge. I didn’t know if the next group of guests would be noisy or quiet. next issue will be out on photos. £2,000 of funds raised Council took time, money and ef - Large groups of blokes drinking and shouting were the worst because I Tuesday 2 June 2020. went towards the wall condition fort. Personally I have worked en - found them intimidating and I didn’t feel safe in my own building. Deadline: 15 May survey. tirely in a voluntary capacity on Eventually Camden issued an enforcement notice in November in - I’ve tried for years to make this project. It’s a gross insult, structing the company to cease the activity within 30 days, but it was Notice this project happen. I’m disap - then, that no-one in the council Please note we are no longer not until the end of January that it actually stopped and the last of the pointed that Global Street Art (a even had the decency to let Eazl short stay guests came and went. based at Fitzrovia Neighbour - company who plaster buildings or myself know that our proposal hood Centre. Please email Everybody involved in the property was making money out of my with giant advertisements for had been rejected. After years of misery. There was the freeholder who owned the building, the lease - [email protected] and visit makeup and electronics), will be work we are rewarded with two our website news.fitzrovia.org.uk holder who owned the two bedroom flat, the managing agents who carrying out this project. sentences: a shrug and a ‘sorry’. managed the flat, the tenant who rented this flat on behalf of his short- to keep in touch. Since my first encounter with This ‘apology’ is dismissive and Subscribe to Fitzrovia News letting company, and AirBnB who took a share of the income from the Global Street Art, I’ve been un - disrespectful. short-letting. And none of them gave a damn about what they were for regular updates: convinced of their commitment to doing. bit.ly/fitzrovianews the historical importance of the Kristina O'Donnell Name and address withheld Fitzrovia News issue 156 Spring 2020 — 3 Camden criticised over Women’s group McGee apologise gather evidence for for overnight ‘safe zone’ around work Fitzrovia Mural contract Whitfield Street Camden Council has been criti - Contractors McGee working for cised for its choice of contractor to health centre American private equity firm undertake the restoration of the A group campaigning for an end Westbrook Partners apologised to Fitzrovia Mural, and the way it to the harassment of pregnant local residents after they ignored handled the competitive tender - people outside abortion clinics na - environmental protection regula - ing process, writes Linus Rees tionwide is gathering evidence in tions to erect a crane on a street in Kristina O’Donnell, whose fa - order to create a safe zone around Fitzrovia overnight denying local ther and uncle are depicted in the a health centre in Whitfield Street, people the chance to sleep, writes mural, says she is “heartbroken writes Angela Lovely. Linus Rees . by the decision” to award the con - Many residents and workers Residents contacted Fitzrovia tract to Global Street Arts (see let - in Fitzrovia would have noticed News after they endured a noisy ters, p2). the sometimes large numbers of weekend where operators of huge Global is more known for cre - people holding a “vigil” opposite vehicles ran diesel engines for ating corporate advertising made the Central London Marie Stopes hours on end as a crane was in - to look like community art, and Clinic on Whitfield Street and stalled on a construction site in has painted graffiti art in and usually one or two people stand - Tottenham Street over the week - around Camden Town. The com - ing right outside. end of 18 and 19 January. pany is not known for its mural Now a group called Sister McGee blamed delays in get - restoration work. Supporter is collecting first-hand ting equipment onto the site but “I’ve been unconvinced of accounts as evidence of the trau - residents were angry that work their commitment to the historical matic effects the clinic “vigils” carried on until the early hours of importance of the piece, and their have on women seeking health the morning. sensitivity in preserving it,” says care. People living in Goodge O'Donnell who led the campaign Sister Supporter successfully Place, Tottenham Street, and Tot - to get mural restored. petitioned Ealing council in 2018 tenham Mews were kept awake The Mural, originally painted which resulted in a Public Space on Saturday night and past 4am in 1980 by Mick Jones and Simon Protection Order around the on the following Sunday night Barber, is one of London’s most clinic. Anyone who breaches the into Monday morning at the start famous. order could face a fine or impris - of this week. In 2010 Jones recalled how he Photographing the Fitzrovia Mural in 2015. onment. Despite the promise of con - and Barber created it. Now the group want Camden siderate construction and commit - “In close consultation with pointed out that they had already graffiti and how the colours council to do the same for the ments not to run engines when local people we took inspiration been taken in 2015. would have looked when the Whitfield Street clinic and are ask - idle McGee staff carried on re - from local life: newsagent work - Camden then put the contract mural was first painted, by look - ing women to submit their per - gardless with contempt for local ers, a butcher, builders, office for the restoration out to tender. ing at the vibrancy of other mu - sonal accounts of harassment by residents and environmental pro - workers, nurses, a pub, and local Eazl put in a bid as did other rals from the period. This filling out a form on their website. tection regulations. When asked school children all found their contractors including Global. thorough research will facilitate Later this year they will submit to stop working, they refused and way into the composition. Eazl worked with Hirst Con - us to restore the mural authenti - evidence to Camden and ask for a carried on. “The skyline reflects the spec - servation to submit a bid that cally. safe zone to be implemented. While it is normal for cranes ulative building of the time, the would have involved the artist “Since we were founded in to be installed on a weekend, con - young boy behind a fence is a Paul Butler re-painting the mural. 2012 we have organised 2,500 See: sistersupporter.co.uk/ tractors are supposed to keep resi - comment on the lack of open Butler and Hirst had worked on legal murals across London. That whitfield-street dents informed of work through spaces and amenities in the area. the restoration of the Hackney number greatly exceeds our com - regular contact and act with con - We developed a highly figurative, Peace Carnival Mural in 2014, also mercial projects and we are proud sideration and get work done in narrative cartoon style which con - originally painted by Mick Jones, of our extensive history of work - Soho walk-in the daytime hours. tains humour and wit as a way of and Ann Walker, based on designs ing with local communities within “We apologise for any incon - highlighting the themes and is - by Ann’s husband, Ray Walker. Camden,” he said. health centre venience and disturbance caused sues,” he said. Eazl heard via a third party Councillor Adam Harrison, to local residents as a result of our Jones died of cancer in 2012 that the contract had been instead cabinet member for parks, said: under threat recent planned out-of-hours but O’Donnell continued to cham - awarded to Global. Camden had “We received a number of A busy health clinic used by tens works at Arthur Stanley House. pion the mural and worked with not even bothered to inform them high calibre proposals during the of thousands of local residents, Due to unforeseen circumstances the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood As - that their bid had been unsuccess - tender stage and appointed workers and visitors to the West on the day, the activity on Totten - sociation, the London Mural ful. Camden later apologised over Global to restore the mural fully End every year will have to close ham Street overran, requiring Preservation Society, and then the the way it had been handled. and historically accurately, repli - unless changes to the way it oper - McGee to request an emergency Fitzrovia Centre and community However, both Camden and cating both the historical colours ates can be made, say NHS man - dispensation from Camden Coun - interest company Eazl on the ini - Global now stress they are com - and design. Global have an excel - agers. cil to continue working through tial steps to get it restored. mitted to a faithful restoration of lent track record of designing new The Central London Clinical the night to ensure the works Eazl photographed the entire Jones and Barber’s original art - murals and painting murals de - Commissioning Group are were completed safely,” said a mural in 2015 and held an exhibi - work. signed by others, including high proposing to close the Walk In spokesperson for the noisy con - tion in collaboration with Lee Bofkin, co-founder of profile locations. centre in Soho Square from 31 tractor. Fitzrovia firm Arup at its gallery. Global, told Fitzrovia News : “We “We are excited to be able to March 2020 unless the way it op - Camden Council officers told Camden Council was involved are incredibly proud to have been ensure that the mural is at long erates can be brought in line with Fitzrovia News: and committed to pay for the awarded this project and appreci - last going to have the restoration new national guidance. “We will issue a formal restoration as part of the transfor - ate the sensitivity around this it deserves allowing it to once The nurse practitioner led ser - warning reminding the company mation of Tottenham Court Road. much loved mural. again be enjoyed by future gener - vice treats around 50,000 people a of the requirement to liaise effec - But in 2018 Camden forgot all “We have undertaken a great ations complemented by the reju - year. tively with residents in the future about this groundwork, and ap - amount of research for this pro - venation of Whitfield Gardens,” CLCCG Board. Date and and provide evidence of this to proached the Fitzrovia Neigh - ject, including a comprehensive said Harrison. venue of next public meeting: 11 the planning obligation team in bourhood Association asking if digital mapping of the mural, an The restored mural is due to March 2020, 3.00-5.00pm, Room good time. there were any photos that could extensive study of how it looked be unveiled this summer. 1.1, 87-91 Newman Street, W1. aid the restoration. The FNA before lower parts were lost to 4 —Fitzrovia News issue 156 Spring 2020 Planning and Permission given for short-letting licensing

The Fitzrovia Neighbourhood As - A bungled attempt by planning of probability” the three flats had sociation is encouraging residents enforcement officers in Camden been in use as hotel accommoda - to sign up to the Fitzrovia News Council to stop illegal short-let - tion for more than 90 days in each email newsletter to keep up to ting at a building in Charlotte year for more than ten years, and date with the latest planning and Street ended with permission as such the council would have to licensing applications, and other being granted for AirBnB-style approve its lawful use for short- public consultations. You can sign use to continue on a permanent term letting. up by visiting basis, writes Linus Rees . However the report also re - bit.ly/fitzrovianews In a case which is believed to vealed that a previous attempt to be the first of its kind in Fitzrovia, take enforcement action against Licensing applications: Camden Council have issued a short-letting of the three flats was Icco Pizza, 46 Goodge Street. Late “certificate of lawfulness” for “closed in error” in 2015. night refreshment. Camden coun - three flats at 68 Charlotte Street to Councillor Danny Beales, cil ref: APP\PREMISES- be used as short-letting and with cabinet member for investing in NEW\101103. the loss of three permanent resi - communities and an inclusive Flat Iron Steak Limited, 22-24 dential properties. economy, told Fitzrovia News : Great Portland Street, London The decision by the Council “This case highlights the chal - Previous illegal short term letting of three flats at 68 Charlotte Street has now W1W 8QS, sale of alcohol West - was made last year, but the offi - lenges involved in taking action been given a certificate of lawfulness. minster council ref: cers’ report describing the deci - against short term lets. 20/02153/LIPN. sion appeared to be withheld “We opened a number of en - ernment for the introduction of a as short-lets. Formerly Portland Food and until Fitzrovia News submitted a forcement investigations during national registration system, that The fear is that all these prop - Wine on the corner of Bolsover Freedom of Information request this period, but each time was not would allow for more effective erties could be granted a certifi - Street, 246-248 Great Portland asking to see the document. Cam - able to obtain sufficient evidence monitoring and enforcement,” cate of lawfulness if enforcement Street, London, W1W 5QY: sale of den later said the “information that the building was being used said Beales action is not prompt and success - alcohol. Application Reference: was not published by mistake and as short term accommodation The case raises concern that ful. 20/02266/LIPN is now available on the planning contrary to the legislation, which properties used for AirBnB-style Camden says it is introducing portal”. changed in 2015 to allow for up to short-letting for more than the a pilot this year within Blooms - You can also view the monthly The council report describes 90 nights short term lets a year. legal limit of 90 days a year could bury to work with residents to planning lists and latest licensing an attempt by officers to take en - The owners then proceeded to become permanent. identify short term lets, raise consultations at fitzrovia.org.uk forcement action against the submit a certificate of lawfulness When short letting takes awareness of the 90-day limit and owner of three flats. In response with evidence to demonstrate that place illegally, the business run - trial different ways to tackle short the property owner claimed the the use had been operating for 10 ning the letting only pay council term lets. News in brief flats had “been in use as an apart- years. tax rather than the more expen - “Bloomsbury is one of the Campaign group S ave Blooms- hotel (Class C1) since 2005 and “Unfortunately, providing ev - sive business rates which hotels most affected wards by the rise of bury wants residents to install have remained in continuous use idence of a breach is one of the have to pay. short term letting. We will be the C lean Camden app on their as such until the present” and most significant challenges for The Fitzrovia Neighbourhood reaching out to local groups to en - smartphones to report instances countered the enforcement notice councils like Camden, who have Association and the Charlotte gage in our pilot and urge local of fly-tipping. Save Bloomsbury by applying for a certificate of seen a rise in short term lets. Street Association have both residents to report any suspected was set up to help protect the lawfulness. Cases like this are disappointing, raised concerns about the amount short term lets,” says Camden. conservation area and improve The report which was seen by and have prompted us to take ac - of short-letting in the neighbour - the street environment. senior councillors on the planning tion trialling new technology and hood and have submitted evi - You can report any short term lets by savebloomsbury.co.uk/ committee’s Members Briefing techniques to tackle the issue, dence to Camden where whole email to: Drivers are being advised to Panel stated that on the “balance whilst continuing to lobby Gov - buildings are being used illegally [email protected] avoid the area around T otten- ham Court Road due to the resurfacing works that are being Developer wants to pack more carried out on G ower Street Woman hit by police driver from today until Sunday 8 rooms into underground hotel March, and B loomsbury Street on Tottenham Court Road until Sunday 30 March. Gower Street is due to be- come two-way for all traffic Residents living next to a an un - The residents thought this Part of Tottenham Court Road or life-changing.” from Easter 2020, when new derground hotel development on was a peculiar way of going about was closed on the evening of 19 Fitzrovia News understands traffic restrictions will also come Great Russell Street were stunned asking for planning permission: February after a police car struck that the police car was being into force on T ottenham Court to be told that the property devel - build it first and get permission a woman who was crossing the driven south on Tottenham Court Road. oper wants to increase the num - later. We agree. road. Road and that the collision oc - ber of hotel rooms in the already Camden police issued a state - curred on or near the pedestrian cramped space four levels deep. ment saying that road closures are crossing just south of the junction At a meeting in November in place at the junction of Totten - with Chenies Street. local people were told that Crite - West End Ward ham Court Road and Chenies Last year four pedestrians rion Capital want to increase the Street after a police vehicle “col - were hospitalised in separate col - Labour Councillor Surgery number of bedrooms from 166 to I run monthly advice surgeries. Residents and members of lided with a 19 year old female lisions with buses on the south - 208. This would be done by sim - pedestrian around 17:42hrs. bound carriageway near the ply cramming more rooms into the community can come and speak to me directly about “She is being treated by Lon - junction with Torrington Place. the former basement car park. any problems or issues they face. don Ambulance Service. We await Camden council also revealed The assembled residents got I run them on: an assessment of her condition. in a freedom of information re - another surprise when they were • the third Saturday of the month Enquiries into the circumstances sponse in November last year that told that the work was going from 10:00-11:00 at Danceworks, 16 Balderton Street, continue,” said the statement. there have been “seven reported ahead on this basis and that plan - Mayfair, W1K 6TN, The police later stated: “The incidents on Tottenham Court ning permission from Camden from 11:30-12:30 at 68 Dean Street, Soho, W1D 4QJ female has been assessed in hospi - Road that have involved buses Council would be asked for after - Alternatively, please call or write to me and I'll see how I can help. tal. At this stage her condition is and pedestrians since 20 April wards. Pancho Lewis 020 641 5377plewis@westminster.gov.uk not thought to be life-threatening 2019”. Fitzrovia News issue 156 Spring 2020 — 5 Registered housing provider left door Fitzrovia West area to homes open and broken for weeks plan progress Social housing tenants in a block of eight flats on busy Mortimer The Fitzrovia West Neighbour - Westminster’s project to re-land - Street in the West End ward were hood Forum, which represents scape Market Place just to the left without a front door for weeks residents and businesses on the north of Oxford Street, for which on end as registered housing Westminster side of Fitzrovia, has the New West End Company is provider A2 Dominion “waited made good progress in preparing taking the lead. The Forum is also for a quote” to carry out the re - its neighbourhood plan, writes promoting two greening projects: pair, writes Linus Rees. Nick Bailey. a green wall near the All Souls’ The street door at the block This will shortly be submitted School and improvements to the on Mortimer Street, Fitzrovia ap - to Westminster City Council and pavement near Holcroft Court. It peared to have been smashed in then examined by an independent has also welcomed Westminster’s and was only repaired after examiner. Subject to approval by decision to consult local people Fitzrovia News contacted A2D. the examiner, a referendum of on a scheme for Riding House This is on a busy street and an both residents and businesses will Street near the primary school. area of high crime. There was also take place later in the year. The The Council will also be consult - a notice taped to the back of the Forum will be organising a cam - ing soon on a west-east cycle door asking people to shut the paign to make everyone aware of route down Foley Street and into door due to a recent burglary. the plan and the opportunity to Camden via Cleveland Street and Fitzrovia News spoke to two vote on it later in the year. Tottenham Street. Front door was broken and left open for weeks. residents who said that the broken The plan emphasises in - Other concerns to the Forum door had been reported to A2D creased control of development are the possible closure of the but that nothing had been done. rives. In the meantime we have “It’s frankly totally, totally and the provision of more afford - NHS medical walk-in centre in One resident said it had been bro - made arrangements to secure the unacceptable that A2 Dominion able housing. Support for shops, Soho Square, which is used by ken for “about a month”, and an - street entrance and make things should have taken so long to re - small businesses and improved many people living and working other thought that it was broken safe for the residents. [Fitzrovia pair the door. This is a busy road air quality are also accentuated. A in the area and the possible clo - “since the beginning of the year”. News can confirm this was done with plenty of people passing by number of side streets are identi - sure of the Crown Post Office in It appears the premises was in January after we had been in — their inaction is hugely irre - fied where control of traffic and Mortimer Street. As is well inspected on 14 January, accord - contact] sponsible. Unfortunately they’re improved landscaping could con - known, this is heavily used ing to a cleaners’ signing-in sheet “However, we do appreciate now beginning to build up a tribute to what the Mayor of Lon - throughout weekdays and Satur - in the hallway. that on this occasion there was an record of a significant failure to don calls ‘healthy streets’. See the day mornings. We will also be This is not the first time we unacceptable delay in taking this deliver on their core responsibili - FitzWest Forum’s website for commenting on Westminster Air have heard of problems with A2D action. This was caused by the ties. I am taking this up and will more information and the latest Quality Action Plan. property. Last year we reported freehold of the block recently be pressing them and the Council draft of the neighbourhood plan. on a broken street door and other changing — leading to a lack of hard to let them know we are not The Forum has also been en - Nick Bailey is a member of the problems at the shared ownership clarity on the responsibility for re - going to stand for this. Fitzrovia gaged in improving the local en - FitzWest executive. See fitzwest.org housing at Rathbone Square pairs within the lease. deserves better,” he said. vironment by supporting for more information. which A2D were very slow to “We would like to apologise deal with, and residents claimed to the residents and assure them A2D was incompetent in dealing that now the obligation for this ac - with maintenance issues. commodation has been clarified, The Mortimer Street social this will not happen again,” said housing came about by a s106 Lingeman. agreement with Westminster West End ward councillors council for the developer to pro - expressed concern about the stan - vide affordable housing as part of dard of housing management by the redevelopment of the former A2D. Royal Mail delivery depot at Conservative councillor Rathbone Place. Jonathan Glanz told Fitzrovia The Fitzrovia Neighbourhood News : Association (FNA) said: “We are “It is unacceptable that the very concerned to see yet again a property should be left insecure, problem with A2D housing in and I have written to the Housing Fitzrovia connected to a s106 Team requesting that this be ac - agreement to bring affordable tioned immediately. I am increas - housing to the neighbourhood. ingly concerned at the attitude Residents in social housing and and approach of Housing Associ - intermediate affordable housing ations (now known as Registered should expect a better standard of Providers), and this is a recurring care from the registered housing theme across the West End and provider and security issues beyond. It seems to me grossly should be dealt with promptly.” unfair that these associations, that When the FNA made contact are in receipt of substantial public on residents behalf, A2D re - funding and other benefits and sponded saying: “We are cur - privileges, should do anything rently waiting for the approval of other than concentrate on their a quote [to repair the door].” core role of providing affordable David Lingeman, Director of housing for those in need, and Property Services, A2Dominion, maintain, repair and manage the told Fitzrovia News : properties in an efficient and “We have ordered a bespoke proper way,” he said. replacement door to be made. Labour councillor Pancho This will be fitted as soon as it ar - Lewis said: 6 — Fitzrovia News issue 156 Spring 2020

Word from the Streets By CHARLOTTE STREET and her siblings UCL in TV semi-final The University College London Lisa Stansfield at the Cock (UCL), based in Gower Street, Popular singer, songwriter and ac - theatres and pubs, including several competed in BBC TV’s Univer - tress Lisa Stansfield appeared at in Fitzrovia. Last year his drawing of sity Challenge at Christmas and The Cock in Great Portland Street the Horse and Groom , also in Great reached the semi-final, where last month. Portland Street, was unveiled in that they were beaten by Leeds Uni - She was there for the unveiling of read geography at UCL), Poppy Hugh Griffiths (Department of pub. versity. a drawing of the pub by her friend Sebag-Montefiore (journalist, Electronic and Electrical Engineer - My brother Percy and sister In the UCL team were (pic - Stephen Lees , the author of “Music broadcaster and film maker), ing). Margaret are pleased to report that tured left to right facing Jeremy Hall - Our Finest Hour.” Maryam Moshiri (BBC television For another University Chal - real ale from the hand pump has been Paxman ) Pen Haddow (the first The book (SPEL Publications, broadcaster who graduated in lenge contestant see “On the Box” restored to the Horse & Groom as person to sledge alone from £8.50) includes his drawings of many Italian in 2000), and Professor at the bottom of this page. well as the dart board. Canada to the North Pole, who Archbishop’s student days 100 Club

The new Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, studied at the Poly - technic of Central London (now the University of Westminster) in gets lifeline Riding House Street from 1976 to 1979. It was music to my ears that the “I was part of the second ever cohort of students doing media 100 Club in Oxford Street has studies, then a new, novel and unusual course to be studying,” he been made exempt from busi - told me. ness rates byWestminster Coun - “Michael Jackson - the one cil. This saves the club £78,000 a of Channel 4 fame - was in my year so helping to safeguard its year group.” This is the Michael future. Jackson who later became Con - Interestingly the club was troller of BBC1 and BBC2, and known at the very top of govern - Chief Executive of Channel 4. ment circles in the 1960s - by Stephen himself worked in prime minister Harold Macmillan the film industry for a short time no less. before becoming ordained into When the then Chancellor of the church in 1984 at the age of Celebrity squatters return the Exchequer, Reginald 26. Currently the Bishop of Pop singers Boy George and acters they met. George moved Maudling , visited him at 10 Chelmsford he takes over as Marilyn returned to Carburton the next year into a room in the Downing Street, he was wearing Archbishop of York in June. Street (where they squatted 40 loft at 37 Goodge Street for a year a velvet midnight blue dinner A strong opponent of nu - years ago) for a BBC 4 documen - or so. suit. “Ah, Reggie, off to the 100 clear weapons he reportedly tary, broadcast on January 24. The programme was called Club again?” the prime minister told a rally: “The renewal of Tri - They fondly recalled their “Boy George’s 1970s: Save Me greeted him. dent is an affront to God and to time at 21 Carburton Street in from Suburbia” which could well “Plays the drums, y’know,” all that is decent.” 1980 and the many eccentric char - be repeated on the same channel. Macmillan muttered to other ministers round the cabinet table. Sinful singer commemorated on radio ON THE BOX According to a biography of A true bohemian from Fitzrovia was favourite couplet from it: crushed her by his weight. (They Playwright Sue Blundell of Reginald Maudling (being read heralded by comedian Barry See that her youth lived at 15 Percy Street from 1928 Goodge Street was reminded of by my older brother Mortimer ) Humphries , on his Radio 2 pro - isn’t wrecked by vermouth. to 1931). her 1967 appearance on Univer - Reggie was “quietly rather hurt gramme of “Forgotten Musical Mas - Pull her up short In describing the “decadent life sity Challenge recently. at the time, but enjoyed telling terpieces” last month. if she goes for the port. style of the bright young things” in She represented Westfield the anecdote” as he was “no He played Elsa Lanchester Humphries did not mention that the 1920s Humphries mentioned an - College from Hampstead on the stranger to the late night, smoky singing “Don’t Tell My Mother I’m Elsa, an actress and cabaret artist, other doyen of the era, Kate television show when reading bonhomie of London’s jazz Living in Sin.” There was an irony ran an illegal drinking club, the Cave Meyrick . classics. clubs.” about this as her own parents caused of Harmony, at 107 Charlotte He revealed that she was “jailed A newspaper report of the The book is “Reggie, The a scandal by refusing to get married Street , from 1924 until evicted the several times for serving alcohol after event appears in the “Camden in Life of Reginald Maudling”, by after her birth in 1902. following year. hours in clubs for the nobility and the Swinging Sixties” exhibition in Lewis Baston. The song tickled the fancy of He did however mention that criminal classes.” One of these, inci - the Holborn archive centre at 32- Street David Hepworth in the Radio she was married to the “portly” actor dentally, was the Folies Bergere club 38 Theobalds Road, which contin - arlotte Times who quoted what was his Charles Laughton and he possibly in Newman Street . ues until the end of March. Ch Fitzrovia News issue 156 Spring 2020 — 7

The Italian delicatssen, H T Harris, has been on the corner of Great Titchfield and Little Titchfield Streets for over 50 years. It is a family run business by Giovanni Di Iulio (left in picture), and his sons Si - mone (right in picture) and Danila. Delightful deli Giovanni originally worked there with his father-in-law 40 years ago, then after a spell away returned 11 years ago. “Our customers are like a family,” he told Fitzrovia News. “Everyone knows each other and it is a real community, like a village.” One of his regular customers is author Anna. Perera who said: “There is nowhere in the world quite like it. Giovanni is the proprietor, chef, waiter and everyone’s best friend. “He serves delicious, inexpensive food with a delightful nod and an immense desire to help. “There’s never a menu, price list or absolute closing time and the neighbourly comfort is a unique experience. “The usual bunch of locals can be seen hanging out for hours, along with visitors from far and wide, who join in the chat while window watching a cast of characters that only Fitzrovia can provide. “It’s a hidden gem, open seven days a week.”

Advertisement Opening and Fitzroy Mews News Located within the Fitzroy Square Conservation area, Fitzroy Mews was originally constructed to provide coach house and stable accommodation for the houses located on Fitzroy Square and today mostly comprises residential units. There are a number of closing characterful properties located on this beautiful cobbled mews with properties mostly comprising of two and three storey buildings with different kinds of architecture including Closed period and modern. Loft furnishings 52 Warren Street The mews was part of a speculative development of Fitzroy Square by the First Baron No. 26 coffeee shop Rathbone Place Southampton in order to provide London homes for aristocratic families with the street Yo Sushi! 105 Tottenham Court Road having first been laid out in the late 1700s. Coffee cakes and kisses 54 Warren Street Eat sandwiches 94 Tottenham Court Road We are delighted to have been instructed on the sale of a stunning four bedroom Arbina tapas restaurant 110 Whitfield Street townhouse spread over 1,281 square feet with four bathrooms, a reception room, a fully Kalifornia Kitchen vegan eatery 19 Percy Street fitted kitchen, separate dining room, and an additional storage room. The house is well located for the open space of Regents Park as well as the shopping facilities of Oxford Street and Regents Street with the subject property a short walk away from the Opened restaurants and bars of Fitzrovia. RIB are proud of our heritage as local agents and bring expert insights on the Fitzrovia Sushi Fabrique area. To get in touch with one of our residential experts about viewing an apartment on 105 Tottenham Court Road Fitzroy Mews, or any of our other properties in Fitzrovia, please contact us on 0207637 0821. Ampéli Greek restaurant 18 Charlotte Street Oklava bakery+wine 64 Grafton Way Wrapchic wraps 48 Goodge Street Hugs and bites eatery 23 Warren Street Farm girl cafe 29-32 Berners Street Ai flowers and tea 10 Great Russell Street

Feisou beauty products 11 Great Russell Street Rawr nails and beauty 38 Rathbone Place Hubber hair salon 19 Rathbone Street Old Chang Kee Singaporean cuisine 56 Goodge Street

Opening soon Ole and Steen Danish bakery 46 Eastcastle Street Mak’s guitar shop 56 Rathbone Place Flat iron steak restaurant 22-24 Great Portland Street Henry Austrian cuisine Unit 4 103 Tottenham Court Road Busi cafe 48 Great Portland Street Aqua restaurant 170 Great Portland Street Davi d Ca ldeira Ilana Ormo nde Akoko West African restaurant 4 Berners Street Tel : 020 7927 0616 Tel : 020 7927 0609 Lidl discount supermarket 145 Tottenham Court Road Email: da vid@ rib. co. uk Email: ilana @r ib. co. uk Banjarah Indian restaurant 79-81 Mortimer Street 8 — Fitzrovia News issue 156 Spring 2020 Inspirational writers at the Wheatsheaf

By Beryl…. from you. Apart from that, after - It is amazing the variety of regu - wards you have the opportunity lar events one can attend in to speak with each one. As a result Fitzrovia. The university is a case of this I was able to send a Treat - in point. It produces a guide to ment of one of my film scripts di - what each department has to rectly to a producer. offer. However, if you are a Some of my favourite screenwriter and wish to get out evenings have been : How to get of your bunker and come up for an Agent, with agents Julian air – and meet other writers - Friedman and Louisa Minghella; there is somewhere just for this. Script Feedback – Take it like a Once a month, Euroscript holds a Pro, with writer/director Paul Vi - networking event at the Wheat - ragh (Sex & Drugs and Rock and sheaf pub in Rathbone Place on Roll); What do Directors Look for the last Tuesday in each month in a Script, with Robert Thoro - when top screenwriters, produc - good, creator of Death in Par - ers and directors are invited to adise, and Kate Rowland of Red come and inspire the room. Planet Pictures; Writing Epic I have been to quite a few of Biopics, with producer Anabel these events. Apart from the in - Wigoder of Salon Pictures, the spiriting speakers, (this alone producers of Churchill. would suffice me) you also have Should you wish to attend the opportunity to network. One one of these wonderful evenings, of the things I like the most about visit the website : euroscript.co.uk these evenings though is the inti - The evening costs £8 and macy. There you are, in this takes place every last Tuesday at Much loved cat goes missing medium-sized room with a well- the Wheatsheaf in Rathbone known speaker sitting a few feet Place. on Cleveland Street. Have you seen him? Riding House Street closure to cars A much loved black cat has gone missing and we are asking readers of Fitzrovia News if they have seen him. “He is very much loved and we miss him so very much,” says Ver - ity who contacted us. “He has been missing since 30 December from our flat on Cleveland Street, near the corner with Greenwell Street.” He is about a year old, neutered, all black, with short hair, a very long tail and long legs. He is slightly Siamese-looking, meows a lot, and his name is Coco. Unfortunately he does not have a collar with ID as he lost it shortly before he went missing. However he is microchipped and registered. People are asked to check rooms and out buildings in case the curi - ous cat has got himself locked in. He may have wandered out of Fitzrovia into Marylebone or even towards Regent’s Park, Bloomsbury or Soho. If anyone has seem him or is looking after him, please contact Ver - ity by email [email protected] so that they can be reunited. Westminster council are asking for comments on the proposed permanent closure of Riding House Street at the junction with Cleveland Street to motor traffic. The street would have new paving, the zebra crossing a lights removed, but access for motor vehicles would be maintained from the western part of the street. The Please mention Fitzrovia News closure to motor traffic would also help with connecting All Souls Primary School to its annex classroom in the Fitzroy Place estate. Any comments on the proposals should be returned no later than the closing date of when replying to advertisers 10 March 2020 by email to [email protected] the council's street contractor.

Fitzrovia Neighbourhood 41 Fitzroy Square W1T 6AQ Registered Charity since 1920 Association (registered charity) Ideal place for students, professionals and transit guests A real “Home away from Home” centrally heated wi-fi study rooms TV lounge indoor recreation and gym facilities is seeking trustees to support its proposed new advice service based in email Cromer Street, King’s Cross. YgsM@indCianAymc a.Iorng diaAunthe nStict Inudiadn ceuisnine t7 dHays oa wseetk el We need local people from Camden to join us to se - vegetarian and meat / fish options take away available cure a housing and welfare advice service that meets visit weekdays : – breakfast 7:30 - 9:15am, lunch 12:00 - 2:00pm, the needs of residents in south Camden. www.indianymca.org evening meal 6:30 - 8:30pm For more information and to apply, (please check for weekend and Bank Holiday hours) visit our website fitzrovia.org.uk/trustees Equipped conference rooms (25 - 250 people) 020 7387 0411 Fitzrovia News issue 156 Spring 2020 — 9 A bite of octopus balls

Ippudo Japanese Restaurant, 40 cial-blended’ miso paste and fra - Goodge Street. grant garlic oil. The most com - Recently I was visited by a skate- monly used meat at Ippudo is boarding, piano-playing, 21-year- sliced belly of pork and I made old Canadian relative. Apart from sure to check there are also vege - learning a lot about free skate- tarian options. The prices vary boarding at the South Bank, and from £11 for the Classic Shiro - free piano-playing at St Pancras maru Classic up to £18 for the ad - Station, I found out about Ramen. dition of varyingly more pork One day this young man started belly, and extras like soft boiled looking for strange spices, buying eggs and seaweed. You can even noodles, marinating strips of beef, choose exactly how you like your saying “not till tomorrow.” And noodles: soft, medium, firm, or the resulting version of Japanese very firm (!) These noodle broths FCamaours ctarotooonisnts’ swo rfk rfroom m whole world

Ramen was so delicious that By the DINING DETECTIVE are utterly delicious and you defi - all over the world are included at

. d n e t e e r t S t e l a M e h t r a e when I saw a new Ramen Restau - n nitely feel as if they are somehow a special exhibition called “Dear

l l a w n r e h t u o s e h t n o t e e r t S l e p p e rant was opening in Goodge K good for you! Mr Poole” at the Cartoon Mu -

t a n e k a t s a w e g a p s i h t f o m o t t o b e h

Street I was of course intrigued t The main other kind of dish seum, 63 Wells Street, until June

t a e r u t c i p e h T . E L Z Z U P E R U T C I and decided to add it to the Din - P served at Ippudo is called Don - 28. ing Detective’s list. buri which has a rice base and is It celebrates Philip Poole At first I had gone past and people but room for a few more. made from either chicken or pork. (1909-1999) who sold nibs to car - found it open, shining, sparkling First things first: we each had The Chicken Katsu Donburi (£9) toonists, other artists, illustrators, ready – but fairly empty. Then on one large glass of house wine at which was sliced chicken cutlet designers and calligraphers (often a Friday evening four weeks after £8.50 per glass – (sigh) but pleas - served with freshly cooked rice, on credit) for over 50 years. it opened it was completely full – ant tasting, and there is also shredded lettuce and ‘special’ Those who showed their we got the last table and for the Japanese beer on sale Katsu sauce was fresh-tasting gratitude by giving him their car - next hour there was a constant The Japanese starter of octo - and, again, absolutely delicious. toons included Larry, Michael queue outside – I think the abso - pus balls (£7), recommended by With every dish we had there is, Heath, Ralph Steadman, Ronald lute rush hour is about 6-7.30pm. friendly dining neighbours, were somewhere on the side, excellent, Searle (illustrator of the St Trini - TOP: Les Gibbard. ABOVE: Word must have got about very eaten with great enjoyment and pink, pickled ginger. ans books), Alex Graham (creator Michael Heath. BELOW: Larry. quickly – and rightly so. It also very quickly by my companion, We looked (but were too full) of Fred Bassett, the Daily Mail means there’s no hanging about but I found them a bit strong-tast - at the dessert menu, different comic strip), Hank Ketcham (cre - once you get a table while the ing. My time was yet to come! flavours of Mochi, Japanese ice - ator of the American Dennis the rush-hour is on. The service is Ramen itself, as I had already cream: available in vanilla, green Menace from 1941 onwards), good, and starters and mains learnt, is a really good and tea, toasted sesame, Yuzu and Donald Rooum (who produced come together, just whenever the healthy sort of broth with differ - chocolate. This ice-cream, they the anarchist Wildcat strip), Bojan dishes are ready. But although ent names and slightly different say on the menu, is Japan’s M Djukic (the Serbian who drew very efficient, nobody actually recipes but the basis is the same; favourite dessert Tom & Jerry), and Les Gibbard pushes you out or says how long at Ippudo a combination of meat The whole meal, including (the New Zealander who had a you can stay, for which, grateful slices, home-made ‘thin and the wine and the service and the daily cartoon in the Guardian for thanks. And if you want to really straight’ noodles, sesame VAT was £49.50 for two. many years). linger, you can just turn up a bit kikurage mushrooms, bean I have since found that Ip - Mr Poole started his sta - later when, I see now when I pass, sprouts, and spring onions, all pudo is part of a chain of Ramen tionery business when he bought that there are often quite a lot of mixed with Ippudo’s ‘secret, spe - Restaurants in London and I feel a box of elastic bands, divided lucky that they have opened one them up and sold them at a in Fitzrovia: I have already made profit. “His Nibs” shop opened at a return visit. 182 Drury Lane in 1956, and Picture puzzle Go there! moved to 105 Great Russell Street in 1990.

Our diverse and incluAsive plalri shS is garouinndedt ins th eM rich caathrolgic traadirtioen otf ASnglitcarniesme. Wt e offer a place of peace and beauty in busy central London. (open Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm and Saturday from 11am). Main services on Sunday - 11am High Mass. 6pm Choral Evensong and Benediction

We look forward to welcoming Bishop Rowan Williams as our Holy Week preacher Holy Week 2020 Palm Sunday High Mass 5 April 11:00pm Monday Tuesday and Wednesday Mass 6:30pm Maundy Thursday High Mass 9 April 6:30pm Good Friday 10 April 12noon Preaching the Passion 1:00pm Solemn Liturgy How well do you know Fitzrovia? Holy Saturday 9:00pm Easter Vigil Easter Day 12 April 11:00am Can you identify this photograph (taken by Paul Bishop Rowan will be Procession and High Mass Rowson)? with us from Palm Sunday to Easter Day For the answer see below the detective picture at the top of this page. Times of Daily Prayer, Masses, and Confessions are advertised at: www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk Parish office: 020 7636 1788 10 —Fitzrovia News issue 156 Spring 2020 Adventurous chefs make it

By BRIAN JARMAN

When Brontë met Jonas, it wasn’t exactly what you’d call a romantic encounter . It was at Copenhagen air - port. They were both returning to work in London, he a Swede, and she a Dane. He’d broken his leg Maggie to so she helped with his bags. Their flight was delayed so they had a couple of drinks. release her Many years later, they are the Aurells and they run the hugely successful Scandinavian Kitchen new single in Great Titchfield Street. She’s published several cook books, A classically trained singer they have an online sideline sup - and local bartender will be plying Scandinavian goods releasing her new single in throughout the country from two warehouses in West London, and May . ABOVE: Nordic foodie Brontë Aurell in the they’re planning a new café in the She is Maggie McCreat (pic - Scandinavian Kitchen. area this spring. tured above) , aged 19, who works Always the adventurer, she in the Bricklayers Arms, Gresse RIGHT: The Aurells outside their 'special left her small village when she Street, and plays guitar, bass and place.' They have plans to branch out. was sixteen and went to Luxem - piano as well as singing and writ - bourg to learn French. Jobs in ing songs. BELOW: From recipes on napkins to cookery Switzerland and the UK fol - Her previous releases can be books. lowed, before she went to univer - seen on YouTube: sity in Edinburgh to study “Moonlight”, which she ‘We ended up working Communications. Then came the about because I ended up spend - wrote of a chilling experience, alongside the Mayor of London’s fateful meeting at the airport. ing so much of my time here writ - walking home from playing at a office. Sadiq Khan has done a lot ‘We both wanted to be chefs,’ ing recipes down on pieces of pub when she was 16 (and so for us European citizens in Lon - she says, ‘and we missed food napkins for people, so I thought under age), and looking at people don. When the overall message from home. But both our mums well, I might as well write a cook waiting at a taxi rank under a full from the Government hasn’t been realised that cheffing is a really, book.’ moon; and particularly positive, he has been really hard career, and said it was She didn’t realise that she “Drag Me Up”, about feeling positive and I’m so happy that better to have another back - should have an agent so she went very low. happened. ground.’ straight to publishers bearing From Lancaster, she is on the ‘I’m proud to be a Londoner, So their thoughts turned to a plates of open sandwiches. She first year of a three-year univer - super-proud to have a business in café and deli and they scoured came out with a contract for her sity music course in London, and Fitzrovia, to be part of the com - London for a suitable place. first book. hopes to make a living out of munity and to have a Mayor who ‘We did it on a shoestring,’ That was The Skandikitchen - singing and playing. actively says: “You are wanted. she says. ‘It’s very difficult to set Simple, delicious dishes for any She comes from a musical You are needed. You are loved up in London with no money.’ occasion in 2015. It proved popu - family; her father being a disc and welcomed.” That has made a They opened their doors in lar and three others followed. It’s jockey (very much into punk and massive difference to my per - July 2007. At the end of the day not all pickled herring and open reggae) and her mother a singer, sonal feelings about sticking Brontë swept up, locked up, and sandwiches, although there’s who sang “Annie’s Song” to her Her advice in dealing with them: around.’ three hours later gave birth to the quite an array of those. There’s as a baby. ‘Block, block, block and don’t When the Aurells first first of their two daughters. Then Sautéed Reindeer, Crayfish, Fika After being classically trained take it personally.’ opened up shop, they found came the recession. and Hygge. The Kitchen also has in singing for two years Maggie It became clear that Euro - Great Titchfield Street to be quite ‘We were hit hard,’ she says. a deli section for Nordic goodies. joined an electronic band in Lan - peans would have to apply for a quiet place, unlike its trendier ‘It wasn’t fun.’ But a year later came another caster and would like to work settled status with fewer rights neighbour Charlotte Street. But But things soon turned blow - the Brexit referendum re - with them again. and more red tape for changing things have changed. around. sult. Brontë took to social media She wants to be a solo per - jobs, homes and doctors. Brontë ‘We have amazing neigh - ‘There was a Scandinavian to express her dismay. She wrote: former, but also now jams with a started Buns and Brexit sessions bours that we work really well food wave in 2009, and Scandina - ‘You see, after 20+ years, 2 band of university friends from downstairs at the café at week - with. We love the fact that this vian design and TV series. Every - kids and a 30-people business, it’s many different musical back - ends, with the help of a customer whole street is a community thing Scandinavian was not just a matter of saying ‘I’m grounds. who’s an immigration advisor. street and it’s brilliant to have popular..’ off’. Firstly, that’s just not how Her own musical influences ‘It’s not very nice to have to seen it change over thirteen years They soon found that what you do things, it’s also not feasi - include David Bowie, the Beatles, apply to stay in your home. A lot with all the hustle-bustle. they term the ‘locals’ flocked to ble. You can’t rip your British- Lady Gaga, Simon and Garfunkel, of elderly people are frightened. ‘It’s going to be strange for us the café during the week. Then at esque children out of school and Amy Winehouse. “Their The sessions are free and infor - to branch out but this is always the weekends it was the turn of without it changing their lives. beautiful lyrics appeal to me,” she mal and people just turn up be - going to be the really special the Scandinavians - Swedes from You don’t just give up. You can’t said. tween eleven and four and we sit place.’ Marylebone, Danes from Hamp - bring yourself to consider leaving “I like mixing things up and and help people one on one.’ Never one to sit still for too stead, and Norwegians from - because you love your life. You experimenting, and have very At the first session, a hun - long, Brontë is now thinking of Wimbledon. feel (almost) British.” eclectic tastes.” dred people turned up and to turning her hand to writing fic - Soon Brontë’s thoughts One of her posts got two mil - Those wishing to hire her for gigs their surprise that level was tion. began to turn to writing a collec - lion views, but also attracted should email her on maintained in the following So the next time your flight is tion of recipes. trolls - many of whom Brontë [email protected] weeks, so since they started they delayed, just think what it could ‘The cookery books came thinks are ‘professional trolls.’ or text 07946 290128. have helped hundreds. lead to. Fitzrovia News issue 156 Spring 2020 — 11 Heartbreaking history behind hotel the communal kitchen about their By MIKE PENTELOW experiences with children in lodg - The third victim of Jack the Rip - ing houses. One of them, whom per, Elizabeth Stride, had been a he later believed was her, said no housemaid at a “genteel” lodg - one cared what became of them ing house in Gower Street. and perhaps they would be killed It was run by a widow called by the Whitechapel murderer Elizabeth Bond at number 67 next. (now the Ridgmount Hotel). Two women, both probably Mrs Bond and her widowed living rough in the street not hav - daughter, Emily Williams, man - ing the rent for that night, were aged the business. Meanwhile killed on the same night of young Stride (or Elisabeth September 29. Stride was found Gustafsdotter as she was then with her throat cut, on her side called) and another servant against a wall in a back street “trudged up and down three Elizabeth Stride (in 1872) who worked as a housemaid in the lodging house at 67 Gower Street, now a hotel. yard in the foetal position looking like she had been asleep. Cather - flights of stairs with scuttles of housemaid when she was out Whitechapel staying in the work - her increasing unruliness near the ine Eddowes was the other victim coal and buckets of water, supper shopping for her employer. house or lodging (when she could end, with arrests for drunken dis - and was known to have been trays and laundry” as Hallie By early 1869 the couple had avoid the daily rent) at 32 Flower orderliness and obscene lan - sleeping rough in a shed. Rubenhold describes in her new become engaged and on March 7 and Dean Street (which was be - guage. The disease attacks the Rubenhold believes that the book. This is entitled “The Five: got married at St Giles-in-the- tween Brick Lane and Commer - brain and nervous system, mani - killer was targeting street sleepers The Untold Lives of the Women Fields church [near the southern cial Road; and between Fashion festing in epileptic fits, which while they were actually asleep Killed by Jack the Ripper” (pub - end of Tottenham Court Road]. Street and Thrawl Street). Stride suffered. The seizures were rather than prostitutes. This lished by Black Swan, price £9.99). Rev Will Powell conducted the Her husband died of heart so bad that sometimes the police would explain why no screams Young Stride also had to service, witnessed by the coffee disease, aged 73, at Stepney Sick let her off charges. were heard, and no sex took scrub grates and make beds for house owner Daniel Fryatt, and N Asylum in October 1884, and her Three days before she was place. the lodgers. These included a lec - Taylor. The bride changed her sur - life spiralled downwards after killed she was visited at Flower Another book that examines turer, merchant, brewer, solicitor, name to Stride and anglicised the that. Just two weeks later she was and Dean Street by the famous the case is “Elizabeth Stride and and a German musician, Charles spelling of her first name from arrested for being drunk and dis - children’s home founder, Dr Jack the Ripper” by Dave Yost Louis Goffrie, and his daughter Elisabeth to Elizabeth. orderly, and soliciting, for which Thomas Barnardo. He spoke to (published by McFarland & Co in who gave singing and piano Later she was nicknamed she was sentenced to seven days’ her and several other women in 2008). lessons in their rooms. “Long Liz”, the “long” being hard labour. She had come to London linked to “stride” not her height, Despite the popular portrayal from her native Sweden in 1866 which was 5 ft 2 ins (1.57m). of her as a prostitute this was the Win this book signed by the author and started working in Gower Some months later they only time she was arrested for so - Street about two years later. moved to Poplar in the East End Answer this question: Where liciting. Her future husband, a car - to jointly run a coffee shop (while did Elizabeth Stride live in Back in Sweden she had been penter called John Thomas Stride, John also continued carpentry Fitzrovia? Email your answer to placed on a police register for a worked in the furniture trade, work). [email protected] before time when, pregnant and unmar - based around the northern end of Sadly this venture failed and May 14, 2020, with your name ried at the age of 21, she was Tottenham Court Road, and lived Liz had left John by 1877. She be - and address. found to have syphilis. She was nearby at 21 Munster Street, came destitute and was taken to CONGRATULATIONS to detained in a venereal disease which used to be between Os - the workhouse after being ar - the winner of our last book hospital and treated internally naburgh Street and Munster rested under vagrancy laws for prize: with hydroiodic acid. Then she Square [near Great Portland Street begging and sleeping rough. Chris Daniels of London gave birth to a still born girl two station]. The couple were reconciled in NW1 wins “William Godwin” months prematurely while still He regularly went to Daniel April 1881, but by December the from the last issue with the cor - locked up in the hospital. Fryatt’s coffee house at 6 Munster same year they agreed to part per - rect answer of 44 Gower Place Rubenhold speculates in her Street, and this could well have manently. (where Godwin lived in book that it was the latter stages been where he met the Swedish Then she moved to Fitzrovia). of syphilis which might explain The shoemaker who died for the liberty of all The 200th anniversary of the joined the Spenceans, a radical were. They were all arrested and trate the masked executioner after Cato Street conspiracy to assassi - club that believed all land should put on trial. he had decapitated the hanged nate the entire government cabi - be shared equally, and attended Brunt was found guilty and men. net in London was marked on its meetings at the Cock tavern in executed like four of the others. Brunt’s widow, Mary Welch, February 23 this year. Grafton Way (Grafton Street at At his trial he said he had acted along with the other widows, pe - This was planned as revenge the time). in the public good against the en - titioned the king to allow them for the Peterloo Massacre in When the government not emies of the people and would access to the bodies so they could Manchester the previous year, only organised the Peterloo Mas - fight for liberty to the death. “shed a silent tear over their mu - when government troops shot sacre, but actually applauded it, In his Newgate death cell he tilated remains ‘ere they are con - dead peaceful demonstrators. Brunt said no punishment was wrote a song condemning the signed to the tomb.” This was Second in command of the too severe for them. government’s crimes and ending: refused and the bodies buried in Cato Street conspirators, duly ex - Early in 1820 his wages were Still each Briton’s last words shall quicklime under the cells. ecuted, was John Thomas Brunt, a savagely cut from £4 to 10 be, An exhibition about the af - bootmaker who had spent his en - shillings (50p), which was not JOHN THOMAS BRUNT Oh! Give me death or liberty! fair is being held at the Guildhall tire life in Riding House Street enough to support his family. On the scaffold he declared: Library, Aldermanbury, London (called Union Street at the time). A revolutionary coup was George Edwards. He supplied the “It is better to die free than to live EC2V 7HH until April 30. An his - He was born there in 1782, planned but one of those in - weapons and organised the meet - like slaves.” torical enactment of the conspir - and was apprenticed as a shoe - volved was a government spy ing in Cato Street, Marylebone, The crowd expressed their acy will be held there on April 7 maker there at the age of 14. He and agent provocateur called then told the police where they disapproval by attempting to cas - from 6pm to 8pm. 12 — Fitzrovia News issue 156 Spring 2020 The real Ziggy Stardust

By MIKE PENTELOW “We asked him if he had got the money and he said ‘money its One of David Bowie’s most fa - the evil of the earth’ and started mous creations “Ziggy Stardust” burning it with a lighter, burning was based on a character he the carpet in the process. knew from meetings in Totten - “At the theatre he took a pen ham Court Road. and crossed out Vince Taylor on This was Vince Taylor, a pop the poster and put Mateus in its star who had achieved fame in place. the 1960s mainly in France, but by “He performed Come On Ev - the 1970s had become a victim of erybody but then went into the LSD. audience saying ‘God bless you, I The two had originally met at am the son of Jesus Christ’. Then La Giaconda cafe in Denmark he was taken out by the man - Street, by Tottenham Court Road agers.” tube station, in the 1960s, when Another band member, Brian Bowie was a teenage mod, Lockier, last saw him in Totten - fronting a band called The Lower ham Court Road in 1972 with Third. He regularly bumped into whitish hair, very pale and wear - Taylor at this venue. ing dark glasses. “The conversa - Bowie recalled the momen - tion was not much. How are you tous occasion they met again in man? Been in France. Not much 1972 (in a recently repeated pro - beyond that, a bit odd. We had a gramme “Ziggy Stardust Came brief chat and hugged.” from Isleworth” on BBC Radio 4 After the Paris performance Extra). the band left him, but later re - Taylor (who was born in Isle - united, and had success recording worth), by then had seen his ca - albums and sharing the bill with reer collapse after he had become the Rolling Stones in 1965. Then convinced that he was the son of they split again and Taylor Christ. recorded and performed intermit - Bowie saw him sitting out - tently. side Tottenham Court Road tube His last few years were spent station “with a world map show - working as an aircraft mechanic ing where aliens were” crouched in Switzerland with his wife and on all fours in the middle of rush stepdaughter which he said was hour. Taylor unravelled the map the happiest time of his life. He and pointed to Bowie where all died there from lung cancer in the alien bases on earth were, and 1991, aged 52. Plaque at 23 Heddon Street, off Re - said: “Look, David, see, there are Apart from Ziggy Stardust, The iconic Ziggy Stardust album... and the rock star who inspired it gent Street, where it was recorded. UFOs everywhere, the extrater - tributes were also paid to him by restrial is living among us.” “He was not part of this The Playboys. of his live performances literally Golden Earring with their 1973 (UFO was also the name of a world, but too good, part of an - His career started in the late led to a riot. song “Just Like Vince Taylor” (on famous club in Tottenham Court other world, and he became the 1950s when he became known as Chas McDevitt, a skiffle star the B side of “Radar Love” in the Road, see later). blue print and main inspiration the “British Elvis” in the coffee in the 1950s, said of Taylor: “He US), Van Morrison’s 1999 song Bowie knelt beside him on for Ziggy Stardust,” said Bowie. bars of Soho. His first record re - was cool and quiet in person, but “Going’ Down Geneva” (with the the pavement hunched over the Thus was born “The Rise and lease was “Right Behind You on stage he got up to wild antics, lyric “Vince Taylor used to live map, and thought: “This guy was Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Baby” in 1958. In the following hip gyrating, a great mover and here…”), and Adam Ant with a a nightmare, he was bonkers.” Spiders from Mars”, released in year his own composition “Brand performer. Very sexy, gyrating track “Vince Taylor” on his 2013 He had heard that Taylor had 1972, and also “Jean Genie” in New Cadillac” became a hit in Eu - Elvis style on the Oh Boy ITV album “Adam Ant is the Blue - been booted off stage when 1973. rope, and was later considered a show for example. He had a weak black Hussar.” dressed in white robes and told The rise and fall of Vince classic when it was covered by voice but his performance made Ant claimed that he received everyone he was the messiah, and Taylor was described in the pro - such artists as The Clash (in their up for that.” He always dressed a gold plated chain which had this ended his career. gramme by members of his band, 1979 album “London Calling”). in black leather and chains. been owned by Taylor from a At the time the BBC refused The downfall came in 1965 French girlfriend. He said he later to play the original because of its when, as Bobby Woodward de - used it as a weapon around his ban on advertising (the lyrics scribed, the group were in Paris fist in a fight with Sid Vicious. Bloomsbury ward mentioned Ford and Cadillac), so and Taylor went to London to col - In another radio programme it was not a great hit in Britain. lect money they were owed. on David Bowie, recently re - councillors surgeries But it was a different story While he was there he took LSD. peated, he remembered fre - First Friday of the month 6:00-7:00pm 52 Club basement 52 Gower Street when he went to France. His When he returned to Paris quently visiting the UFO Club at Second and fourth Fridays of the month 6:00-7:00pm drummer Bobby Woodward re - the band members got worried. 31 Tottenham Court Road in the Marchmont Community Centre, 62 Marchmont Street, WC1N 1AB called: “He was a sensation there, “His eyes were staring, and he mid 1960s, where he used to hang Third Friday of the month is a “roving surgery” Get in touch if you would like us to smashing microphones, rolling was in a silk purple robe. He had out with Marc Bolan (T Rex conduct the surgery in your street or building about on stage, and causing riots. a bottle of Mateus wine, and said leader). “We were both impressed Adam Harrison, Sabrina Francis and Rishi Madlani He was known in France as La Di - ‘You all think I’m Vince Taylor. by the space mysticism of Syd contact 020 7974 3111 able Noir.” My name is Mateus and I am the Barrett in Pink Floyd,” he said. [email protected] [email protected] Taylor recorded in French for son of Christ.’ The hotel was not Syd, of course, was another men - [email protected] Barclay Records, and in 1961 one paid for and we had no food. tal casualty of LSD. Fitzrovia News issue 156 Spring 2020 — 13 Interesting Technically origins of local street names not me The origin of the name of Totten Hall (which gave its name to Tot - tenham Court Road) was told in A short story by SUNITA SOLIAR a recent talk by Camden coun - cil’s senior archivist Tudor Allen. Dior: I don’t mind if we miss it. There’s nothing to do at home. The old manor house of that Moncler: I thought you wanted Don’t bail. name was near Tolmers Square, to see it. It would be no use trying. He he said, [which is almost opposite Dior: It’s just a film. is very good at taking prisoners. Warren Street station], where it Moncler: Yeah. And besides, this is what life is, was until being pulled down in We planned to go to the film. right? All the people you know? 1808. He agreed to go to the film. The He is who I know. Totten, he continued, was an only reason I said I’d hang out with Moncler: No, it’s great to hang old word meaning “nook of land” him is because of the film. He out. I saw it actually. I watched it Illustration by CLIFFORD HARPER or “a looking area”. Alternatively makes no sign of moving. at home. it could have been the name of the Moncler: Oh. I thought you lowed to make himself too comfort - Dior: Try the matcha. Dior: You pirated it? Why? owner of the land. Moncler: I was leaving Beijing said Parasite. able in case he damages the walls Moncler: I don’t want to. Other place names which he just as it came out, then it wasn’t Dior: You’ve seen it. or the furniture, which will mean Dior: The bitterness is so good. explained included: Cleansing. out when I got here. Technically it Moncler: I don’t mind if you an inconvenient replacement before Charlotte Street, built in 1763, We are friends because we wasn’t me. It was my friend. want to see it. I think you should the new tenants arrive. was named after Queen Charlotte were both at school in Singapore Dior: How was it? see it. Moncler: It’s just good when (1744-1818) who had married and because neither of us knows Moncler: There’s not that Dior: I don’t care as long as I you can feel that something is actu - George III in 1761 before he suc - anyone else in London. And for much to it until you really think don’t have to go home. ally happening. I want to see your these reasons, we will probably about it. I think that’s the charm of And I want to go to Parasite so reaction when you see it. ceeded to the throne. continue to know each other. So it. Actually I don’t mind seeing it maybe we can find another show - Dior: I don’t need to see it. Windmill Street, between Tot - what is it we are expected to talk again. ing. I am going to stay here grip - Why would you see it four times? tenham Court Road and Charlotte about? How long are we going to ping the edge of my chair. Moncler: It has a lot of charm. Street, was named after an actual Moncler: This is the restaurant sweat here in our jackets, as Moncler: I saw on the poster it You wonder who the bad guy re - windmill that used to be there. I was telling you about. It’s called though about to make a move at said Act Like You Own the Place. I ally is. Technically, it’s the…I don’t Euston Road was named after something with an F or a P-H. I any moment? thought that was kind of cool. want to spoil it for you, but you the Earl of Euston who allowed it don’t remember but it has three Dior: I guess we could go to a Dior: We’ve got to bounce. keep wondering. You start thinking to be built on the land that he Michelin stars. I took, like, a million movie. We’ll miss the film. crazy thoughts too, like, even if you owned. pictures. Have you been there? It Am I the one who is going Gripping the edge of my chair. are just pretending to be who you Details of future talks are on has three stars. crazy? Still, it would not be wise to Moncler: Is it on another time? are, you’ll probably end up that camden.gov.uk/localstudies. I do a pretty good impression point out the absurdity of this situ - Dior: What? way, you know? of myself. You can’t help but be us ation. Take what you can get. Moncler: Parasite? Dior: Come on. 8.45. amongst other people like us. It’s Moncler: There’s an Odeon on Dior: No. He is leaving, his footsteps infectious. It’s not like I have some - Tottenham Court Road. Moncler: You didn’t check. It’s thumping, running down the stairs. one else to be. He gets out his phone as just that if we go to a really long Parasite isn’t on anywhere at a later Moncler: You haven’t been though this were entirely his idea. film…I don’t know if I can sit that time — I checked — and there isn’t there? Dior: 8.45 long. any other direction to go so I am Dior: I think you just told me Moncler: If we leave now. Ac - Dior: So you can just zone out. following. about it. tually, this will be my fourth time It’s too early to go home. Moncler: Actually, the food at Moncler:. You go there and it’s watching it. I want to point out that neither the ‘f’ something place sucked. like six hours for a meal. You’d like Dior: What? of us is at home. I am in a rented Dior: I can’t wait to get into The Old Manor House at Tottenhall it though. Moncler: Parasite. flat and he is in a property that his this movie and maybe fall asleep. (courtersy of Camden Local Studies Dior: Really. Dior: No. It’s 1917 at 8.45. parents own, in which he is not al - & Archives Centre). Moncler: Six hours. Dior: To be honest, I don’t want to spend that long eating. Poetry corner No, but he can draw this drink out. Café Fragments #27 some special look, extra imprint, Know Your Demons Moncler: Yeah, it’s a lot for one By Terry Egan left in your vessel? We found him still friendly, still By Bess Linnet meal. talking of ‘us’ Dior: And it must be expen - Won't you tell me, cup, Ah! But let's not mind And remembered the couple Know your demons sive. what she will not - how soft they are, how gently I sip or let be they’d been, Walk up and greet them That drink is two inches from her fingers, how kind, during this gulping... Small caravaning people, twins Ask them about their days the bottom — it must be all ice by holding you in her hand like that? the inquisition leads nowhere. joined at the hip. now. How she knew to flip and fill you, How silent you are at the last... You spoke their names in one Discover their longings Dior: Is it expensive? laughing, with her love - breath. For bad things, for wrong things Moncler: Six to eight hundred. before delivering you up Man with Television Dior: Yeah, I’d rather buy Determine what led them astray to my questioning? By Sandra Wheen something from Dior. But only today have I seen with a Give them a snuggle Of course he would. He must shock Although they are ugly Don't hold back now, cup - I have often thought back to our always not want to do what you are Why he’d had to buy such a large For when the veneer strips away weren't there any sweet nothings, look! visit doing, or want to do. screen cryptically whispered Moncler: 8.15. Now we defi - A year after his wife’s death So out of proportion with himself People will meet you in the proce nitely missed Parasite. I guess if ss of your pouring? Seen him alone in that tiny room and his room - And love you, and leave you there’s nothing to do… Fill me in as I swig from you - With the huge television he’d He was matching the size of his But your demons are with you to Dior: We can’t go home. isn't there a glance, bought. grief. stay. 14 — Fitzrovia News issue 156 Spring 2020

WANT TO Madcap radio rolls on DANCE? By ANNA PERERA By HELENE PARRY Dragging heavy shopping home from Waitrose one cold and This spring, Britain will lose an windy January afternoon, a new hour when the clocks go for - dance studio: dan’s.co.uk caught ward – but one Fitzrovian my eye. Only a three minute walk hour excels at bringing the past to from Oxford Circus, the entrance life. The Fitzrovia Radio Hour is looked invitingly bright so I took the comedy troupe still writing a deep breath, threw my not so and performing plays twelve young shoulders back, and left years after making its debut the endless, noisy traffic behind. in a cellar bar in Fitzrovia, the Greeted by the sight of a juice area that inspired its name. bar offering healthy drinks of the The group perform comic coconut, turmeric, youthful kind, the genuine welcome was a warm pastiches of 1940s-style radio surprise and something inside me plays, with the players delivering nodded. Yes, it’s super-chic, with their lines into period micro - three different classes on offer: phones while wearing sophisti - from high energy fitness to soulful, cated evening dress. What adds to meditative alternatives to yoga, their appeal is that they produce and salsa for all ages and abilities, their own inventive DIY sound ef - but I didn’t feel out of place de - fects live on stage. spite my scruffy jeans and water - “Audiences love seeing the proof coat. sound effects,” says founder The friendly owner, Daniel member Jon Edgley Bond. “It’s Bermeo, ex banker, tennis player taken us time to develop this. Our and successful health food en - have also appeared on the BBC Work that has clearly paid 80-year-olds who remember the early audiences enjoyed trepreneur, stepped forward. Danc - Radio 4 shows Today and Loose dividentds. He reports: “We’ve golden age, and younger people seeing one actor on the left of the ing often starts up beside the juice Ends, bringing something very found out there’s a type of cab - who like the hard-edged comedy stage making the footsteps, while bar and it’s clear to see why meet - different to the table with their bage called a Java which is we slip into our shows.” another actor was walking.” ing people the old-fashioned way particular expertise. easily the best when you want the The group started out adapt - Since their early shows at the by doing what comes naturally, “We’ve experimented over sound of someone getting ing old radio scripts, but pro - Bourne & Hollingsworth bar in equates with the current need for the years to find out what makes punched in the face! “ gressed to performing their own Rathbone Place, the Fitzrovia genuine attention. a good sound effect,” says Jon. When the troupe performs, versions of well-known stories in - Radio Hour have performed at With several beautifully deco - “We’ve spent hours messing beside their microphone stands a cluding Dracula and A Christmas the Edinburgh Fringe rated rooms celebrating Latin around with fruit and veg and table laid with an array of ob - Carol. And the good news yet to and in other London venues in - artists like Frida Kahlo, the oppor - hammers!” jects, similar to the ingredients for come is that they hope to present cluding Trafalgar Studios. They tunity to leap up and down in such a TV cookery show. All the ac - us with another show this year. attractive surroundings was one I tors play multiple roles in the “We’re in the early stages of couldn’t resist. Signing up for the show, wearing different hats to discussions with a producer and a beginners salsa (madness) turned denote each character. During a theatre for a new show,” says Jon. out to be anything but - because show, they’ll deliver their lines in “Hopefully for this year. It will be the classes are small and Alexis, 6 FITZROY SQUARE The perfect venue cut-glass diction, then dash across based on another well-known the master teacher, made the whole the stage to make the sound of story. In the meantime, we’ve all thing fun and easy. You turn up. The perfect venue for meetings, launches, seminars, a roaring fire (shaking Rice been doing different things – it’s a Someone grins and off you go. dinners, wedding receptions and other corporate events. Krispies) or simulate the sound of bit like an opera company, people Awkwardness doesn’t exist here someone’s neck being broken (a will be invited to join us, go off and Daniel himself often joins the The Georgian Group’s elegant eigh - quick twist of bubble wrap). and do another job, then come classes. So far, ours have gone over teenth-century headquarters The juxtaposition of actors back.” As well as early members time every single session. overlooking Fitzroy Square provides with plummy voices wear - Alex Ratcliffe, Alix Dunmore, Phil There are two more beginners’ salsa lessons to go and by the end a unique location for all types of pri - ing 1940s fashions and the home- Mulryne and Tom Mallaburn, I’m determined to try one of the vate and corporate events in the heart made sound effects adds to regular cast members include Sunday afternoon socials. We of central London. the comedy, says Jon. “It’s the Dan Starkey, known for his role as sight of a cast in vintage evening Strax in Doctor Who. “We’ve been know dancing is beneficial not wear waving rubber gloves to really lucky to have these people only for mental and physical We cordially invite local businesses health, but also memory, cognitive make the sounds of birds’ wings working with us,” says Jon. and individuals to visit our building function and cardiovascular flapping!” He thinks the Fitzrovia Radio and get a taste of the authentic health, so frankly, leaving winter To engage a live audience, Hour’s greatest success is that it’s Georgian experience... and hours in front of a dull screen the sound effects have to be visu - still going. “After 12 years, people behind for these weekly sunlit ally appealing too. “When the still want to come and see us!” pauses is a wise as well as pleasur - BBC sound people want a gun - Another factor contributing For booking enquiries, availability able choice. Dancing restarted my and rates please contact shot, they use a recording of a to the troupe’s longevity is surely enthusiasm for new face-to-face Rob Kouyoumdjian on 0207 529 gunshot,” says Jon. “But its sheer inventiveness: encounters in a real community 8921 or we burst a balloon!” “In one play, we needed to and as a result hurrying home [email protected] The 1940s-style dramas ap - make the noise of a car engine from the shops has led to more peal to a wide range of theatrego - starting. We couldn’t get the confident and lighthearted moves ers, he notes. “When we started, sound right, so we changed the whatever the weather. the credit crunch was going scene to four people jumping on For full details see: on. There was a spirit of make-do- bicycles instead. Four kitchen dans.co.uk; 0207 998 4086; and-mend, as well as nostalgia for whisks did the trick!” [email protected]; @danslondon; the old days. At our plays, we get 5 Cavendish Place, W1G 0QA. Fitzrovia News issue 156 Spring 2020 — 15

singer Joss Stone at a Soho club, just at the time she was first com - Class and fame ing to attention. I invited a group back to my Fitzrovia flat for a Piano Man life. No doubt the causes are mul - late-night party and jam session, tiple and complex, but one factor and had great fun performing No 20 by seems to be the hounding of such with Joss, songs such as “You Cartoon by Clifford people by sections of the press, Make Me Feel Like A Natural CHRIS Slapper and already a petition to end such Woman”. The following morning, TYLER harassment has attracted half a a neighbour knocked and com - Walking home from a musicians’ million signatures in just one day. plained about the music they’d party and jam session last New The petition aims to make it a heard in the small hours. I took a Year’s Eve, on the first day of the criminal offence for the British gamble and mentioned who it new decade, I passed over 30 media to “knowingly and relent - was they had heard singing, and homeless people sleeping rough lessly bully a person, whether they were so impressed that they on Tottenham Court Road be - they be in the public eye or not, failure to reciprocate and recog - which is Gerry’s, where he took dropped their complaint. After tween Warren Street and Stephen up to the point that they take their nise them is caused simply by the his seat unassumingly, and lis - all, they had experienced a free Street. They were seeing in the own life”. mathematics of the situation: a pi - tened. Seeing him applaud enthu - show from someone whose con - new year without music, as well For musicians, does fame anist performing to a hundred siastically at the end of my set cert tickets were selling at high as without warmth, that winter’s offer any escape from insecurity people in a club is seen and noted was, for me, the ultimate encour - prices! night. Fitzrovia is seeing a sharp - and poverty? An actress friend re - by each of them, but sadly the re - agement and accolade. To end on a note of continu - ening of class divisions in recent calls how she pursued David verse does not apply (admittedly, A few years later, a launch ity, which shows that musicians years, as elsewhere. A January Bowie relentlessly as a fan in her my inebriation in earlier years be - was held for my book at a local have long had a special, if dubi - 2020 report from Oxfam shows younger years, until she suc - fore I became a teetotal pianist venue. A dear friend of mine hap - ous status in how we are treated: that the world’s 2,500 billionaires ceeded in meeting him face to may also have something to do pens to be the father of a very fa - once, whilst playing at Joe Allen have more wealth than 4.6 billion face. At that point she received an with it!) What one wants, as a mous comedian, and was going restaurant, I met an historian people combined, or nearly three insight into the damaging nature musician, is to have one’s craft around introducing himself as who was at the bar, poring over fifths of the entire world’s popu - of the fame/fandom relationship, and creativity recognised, not such. Also present was the parish records from the 18th cen - lation. Locally, we see property from Bowie himself. He simply one’s face, and to be allowed the daughter of possibly the world’s tury. One address caught my eye: developers crudely building asked her, “What is it that you opportunity to go on creating for most legendary rock guitarist of 9, Meard Street, Soho – because street after street of multi-million want from me? Think about it". oneself and for a receptive audi - the late twentieth century, and at the time it was the address of a pound luxury flats, bought as in - She met him a few more times as ence. There is, however, a special she was also being introduced to musician friend of mine, Gayle vestment vehicles and left empty, a friend, and remains sceptical place for appreciation by a fellow people in that way. When the two Day. I asked if I could see the whilst local family businesses and about fame to this day. Fame has artist whom you already hold in of them met, and were introduced entry from 250 years earlier, and, long-standing residential tenants become an overused barometer of high esteem. I shall never forget as the father and daughter of peo - weirdly, it read: “at this place a are priced out of the area, all in achievement. Even young chil - one occasion when I was playing ple who were not themselves strumpet practises her clavinet the name of profit. dren who I teach ask me, “Are at Gerry’s club in Soho. The great there, it became comically clear daily, and is then carried in a At the time of writing, the you famous?” Tony Bennett was doing some just how absurd such definitions sedan chair”. My singer-song - entertainment world is reeling I have had people I don’t shows at Ronnie Scott’s that can be. writer friend is most certainly not from the shocking news of a pop - know approach me in the street week. We had a mutual friend Another amusing example of a “strumpet”, but she does play ular, quite young television pre - and say hello, because they have who brought him into the leg - the difference that fame makes oc - the modern equivalent of the senter just having ended her own seen me perform somewhere. My endary, intimate basement bar curred when I bumped into clavinet [an electric keyboard], and surely deserves to be treated Looking back through the archives to a sedan chair! 10 years ago 20 years ago From Fitzrovia News, Spring 2010: ‘Free Guinness in Singer Lily Allen has bought a “glitzy duplex penthouse flat” in public libraries’ + Friendly medical advice Great Portland Street, according + NHS and private to the national press. From Fitzrovia News, The Times newspaper com - March 2000: prescriptions ments that “the area could regain Ex-manager of punk group, the + Prescription collection LEFT: Lily Allen. its racy chic status” because “the Sex Pistols, Malcolm McLaren of and delivery singer has the hint of notoriety Scala Street , announced he was that represents Fitzrovia’s ABOVE: John Avery standing in the election for Lon - + Repeat dispensing celebrity ideal.” with Pricess Diana. don Mayor. Flats around the site of the He pledged himself to sup - + Multivitamins, health former Royal National Or - RIGHT: Drummer plying free Guinness to readers in and advice thopaedic Hospital in Bolsover David Rowntree public libraries (which was illus - Street, are for sale at prices from John. “And sitting in the middle trated by cartoonist Kipper + Flu vaccination £650,000 to £1.65 million. was Marlene Dietrich.” Williams), and providing a free bicycle to each household in Lon - + Herbal and nutritional The London Palladium manager “Drumming up political sup - don. support for 20 years, John Avery of Great port” was the headline on an in - “My favourite restaurant in Meanwhile, Ken Living - Titchfield Street, was profiled by terview with Blur drummer Fitzrovia is the Pizza Express in stone , who was later elected SHIV Brian Jarman. David Rowntree with Anne Charlotte Street,” he said. “When mayor, set up his campaign head - He mixed with all the stars, Shewring. I met my girlfriend, it turned out quarters in Hanson Street . and royalty including the Queen He was aiming to contest the that she lived on one side of it, A film called Fitzrovia Noir Pharmacy Mother and Princess Diana. Cities of London and Westmin - and I had worked on the other. was made by Paulo Sesazzari He remembers the BBC ster parliamentary seat for We had both spent many evenings against the Candy Brothers’ at - 70 Great Titchfield Street broadcaster Gilbert Harding Labour. He was motivated by the there, sitting in the same corner, tempt to name the development W1W 7QN inviting him to a party over in amount of poverty he had seen and ordering the same pizza, but on the old Middlesex Hospital Monday-Friday 8:30 - 6:00pm Cleveland Street. “He’d filled his when doing legal aid work for a had never met. The restaurant has site in Mortimer Street as Noho Tel/Fax 0207 580 2393 hallway with sweet peas,” says year. an air of destiny about it.” Square. 16 — Fitzrovia News issue 155 Winter 2019/20 WHAT’S ON AROUND FITZROVIA Email [email protected] with listings by May 14 for the June issue and put “Listings” in the subject box

LIVE MUSIC RADA , Malet St THEATRE (rada.ac.uk/whats-on): EXHIBITIONS ART King & Queen , 1 Foley St : Folk GBS Theatre : Circle Mirror Tran - British Museum , Great Russell St Featured exhibitions below. once a month on Fridays 8-11pm formation, by Annie Baker, March (britishmuseum.org): (visit web mustradclub.co.uk): A full list of all galleries in 11-21 (aftershow questions March Free : German emergency money Jim Eldon (fiddler/singer) and the area is on our website: 16). Won Best New American 1914-1924, until March 29. French Lynette Eldon (clog dancer), news.fitzrovia.org.uk Play award. Impressions, prints from Manet to March 13. Niamh Parsons (Irish Jerwood Vanbrugh Theatre : The Cezanne, until Aug 9. Piranesi songbird) and Graham Dunne Importance of Being Earnest, by drawings, visions of antiquity, (brilliant guitarist), April 3. Oscar Wilde, March 12-21 (after - until Aug 9. Edmund de Waal, li - Thomas McCarthy (great Irish show questions March 16, cap - brary of exile, March 12-Sept 8. traveller singer), and Viv Legg tioned performance March 21, Pay for : Tantra, Enlightenment to (west country romany singer), 2.15pm). Revolution, Apr 23-July 26. May 15. CINEMA Sevilla Mia Spanish Bar, 22 Han - Coningsby Gallery , 30 Totten - way St (basement): World Fusion, Bolivar Hall , 54 Grafton Way ham St: Tue, 9.30pm; Swing 'n' Blues, (cultura.embavenez-uk.org): Lon - Quentin Blake / “The Sennelier Wed, 9.30pm; Spanish Rumba, don Socialist Film Co-op screen Portraits” (above) , March 10-26. Thur-Sat, 10.30pm. films at 10.20 for 11am on the sec - Cartoon Museum , 63 Wells St: Fold Gallery , 158 New See under Dominion theatre. ond Sunday of each month. The “Dear Mr Poole” (see page 9), Cavendish St: Simmons, 28 Maple St: Live Bloomsbury Theatre /Studio, 15 Real Story of Winnie & Nelson until June 28. Philip Poole (pictured Will Cruikshank / “SILO”, until music every Wednesday evening Gordon St (thebloomsbury.com): Mandela, and A Woman’s Place, above) portrayed by Etem Caliskan. March 28. John Shuttleworth, March 31. March 8. Sorry We Missed You The 100 Club , 100 Oxford St Sara Pascoe and Friends Comedy (Ken Loach’s 2019 film about zero UCL Art Museum , South Clois - (the100club.co.uk): The Last Inter - Fundraiser, April 1, and Apr 30. hours contracts), April 12. The Oc - ters, Wilkins Building, Gower St: nationale, March 17. Downliners Alexei Sayle Live Tour, Apr 6-8. cupation of the American Mind Witnessing Terror: French Revolu - Sect, March 19. Clearwater Barking Mad at the Bloomsbury (exposes propaganda against the tionary Prints, 1792-94, until June Creedance Revival, March 24-25. (Dog Friendly Comedy Night), Palestinian people), May 10. 12. London Calling Play The Clash Apr 18, and May 16. Fifty Things “Sandinista!” March 27 and 28. About Us: Mark Thomas, Apr 28. Charlotte Street Hotel , 15-17 Wellcome Library , 183 Euston Rd Teenage Werewolves, April 12. Charlotte St: Film Club with meal (wellcomecollection.org): Play Celebrate Zappa, April 18. UK Camden People's Theatre , 58-60 and a movie for £40.To book tick - Well, explores how play trans - Subs, 40th anniversary tour, May Hampstead Rd (cptheatre.co.uk): ets visit bit.ly/ forms both childhood and society, Josh Lilley , 44-46 Riding House 1. Hung Like Hanratty, May 15. I’ll Be Your Dog (misadventures CharlotteStreetFilmClub. until April 13. St: LIVE COMEDY of a comedian in the Calais Jun - Celeste Rapone / “Retreat”, until gle), March 18. An Intentionally Green Man , 36 Riding House St: TALKS March 27. The Albany , 240 Great Portland False Statement (Charlotte Mc - London Animation Club, first Sohemian Society, Wheatsheaf, Benedetto Pietromarchi / St: Every Monday and Wednes - Shane one-woman show), March Tuesday of month. 25 Rathbone Place: Italian Futur - “Guardians” (above) , until March day (plus occasional other nights) 19. Obscene, Vicious and De - ism, an illustrated talk by Christo - 27. at 7.30 pm. praved (part anthology horror, Odeon , 30 Tottenham Court Rd: pher Adams, March 18, 7.30pm. part live reconstruction), March Weekly film details from The Phoenix , 37 Cavendish 26. Everything Is Absolutely Fine odeon.co.uk or 08712 244007. UCL Darwin Lecture Theatre , Square: Mondays. (comedy musical about anxiety Malet Place (ucl.ac.uk/events): disorders), Apr 7-11. Bonkers CABARET Regent Street Cinema , 309 Re - Lunchtime lectures, Tuesdays and (comic account of navigating The Wheatsheaf, 25 Rathbone gent St: For daily programme visit Thursdays (1-2pm) during term mental health and queer identi - Place: Maverick Theatre’s regentstreetcinema.com. Matinee time. SpeakEasy Cabaret, first Satur - ties), Apr 21-25. classics every Wednesday at 12 day of the month, 7.30pm. noon and 3.30pm, for over 55s, UCL Gustave Tuck Lecture The - Narrative Projects , 110 New Dominion Theatre , 269 Totten - £1.75. Kids' Kino Club, every Sat - atre , 2nd Floor, South Junction, Cavendish St: Ballroom dancing ham Court Rd urday, 11.30am. Wilkins Building, Gower St: All at Rachel Lowe / “Split” (above) , (dominiontheatre.com): The 6.30pm. Light, Film, Sound, Stone, March 3-April 11. Prince of Egypt, a new musical, Royal Anthropological Institute , March 10. Incentives in Health until Sept 12. 50 Fitzroy St Care, March 17. Alongside: (raifilm.org.uk/events): Regular Drawn to Know, March 23. The London Palladium , Argyll St programme of screenings. Future of Museum Anthropology, The Art Deco Orchestra present (london-palladium.co.uk): Lulu: March 24. Perspectives: Public the Fitzrovia Society Ball at the In - On Fire, March 15. Clannad, support for sustainable develop - dian YMCA Fitzroy Square danc - March 17. Jamie Cullum, March PUB QUIZZES ment, May 13. ing to recordings from the 1920s 18-19. Van Morrison, March 20-26. The Albany , 240 Great Portland and 30s from 7pm with the band An Audience with Arsene Wenger St: Sundays, 7pm WALKS playing live from 8.30pm. Fridays & David Dein, Apr 27. monthly 7:00pm Free soft drinks, London Literary Pub Crawl , Carpenters Arms , 68-70 Whit - every Saturday, 5pm. Start at the tea and coffee. Taxi dancers for New Diorama Theatre (newdio - field St. Tuesdays, 6.30pm. Wheatsheaf, 25 Rathbone Place. those without partners plus in - rama.com), 15-16 Triton St (Eu - dian snacks. Tickets on balcony ston Rd opposite Fitzroy St): Prince of Wales Feathers , 8 War - for non - dancers. Shorts and Socks Included (a FESTIVALS ren St: Tuesdays, 6pm. London Book & Screen Week , Pilar Corrias , 54 Eastcastle Street: check eventbrite.co.uk nun’s underwear company sup - March 9-15, at the Groucho Club. Shara Hughes (above) , until March fitzrovia-society-ball-tickets plies Leeds United’s away kit), Rising Sun , 46 Tottenham Court Visit londonbookandscreen - 28. Hayv Kahraman, March 28- for dates and prices March 31-May 2. Rd. Wednesdays, 6.30 for 7pm. week.co.uk May 2.