Chaz D was ere fitzrovia.org.uk/news Fitzrovia News Fitzrovia News is produced by residents and volunteers and distributed free to all businesses and residential addresses in Fitzrovia Issue 124 Spring 2012 A tale of two centuries: rediscovering Dickens He lived in Cleveland Street twice. So why not celebrate 100 News in brief years since his birth twice? Thursday 8 March is In 1912 the book trade geared International Women's Day . It up to promote his life and was first observed in the early works and 100 years later we twentieth century and was are doing it again. Charles associated with radical and Dickens is not so much being socialist movements. Today it discovered but re-discovered. continues to be observed and To commemorate the 200 in many countries it is recog - years since his birth there are nised with a national holiday. events taking place in the name This year the United of Dickens 2012 and several Nations recognises "the critical books are being published. role and contribution of rural Dickens lived at many women, the theme of IWD addresses all over London but 2012 is Empower Rural also at several addresses in Women – End Hunger and Fitzrovia. Much of the time his Poverty." family moved from place to The Bloomsbury Pro- place to avoid debt collectors Choice Alliance (BPCA) has who were chasing his father. been formed to counter the 40 In this special issue of Days for Life group who have Fitzrovia News (pages 9-13) we begun their protest outside the explore where he lived and how British Pregnancy Advice the neighbourhood had an influ - Service clinic on Bedford ence upon him. Square . The BPCA intend to We will also take a critical raise awareness by holding a look at a new book published to counter-protest. They will coincide with his bicentenary: have a presence in Bedford Dickens and the Workhouse by Square every Sunday until 1 Ruth Richardson which sheds April 2012, holding events and Above: Charles Dickens’ former home at 22 Cleveland new light on his life in providing factual information Street as seen today on the bicentenary of his birth. Cleveland Street and makes a about women’s health. Left: The same building as it appeared in a book trade strong case for the Cleveland A planning application for journal in 1912 on the centenary of his birth. The Street workhouse being his main the proposed redevelopment street was previously called Norfolk Street and the inspiration for Oliver Twist . of the Berners Hotel in neighbourhood was often referred to as Fitzroy Square. Berners Street is a cause of Photo: courtesy of Camden Local Studies and concern to residents living in Archives nearby streets. The Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association is opposing a number of Residents could be priced out after aspects of a revised planning application for the hotel. The new developer seeks to extend UCLH Charity pushed tenants into the hotel capacity and facili - ties, which will result in a larg - er volume of delivery traffic. accepting refurbishments Residents are concerned at Full report page 4 Continues on page 4 ... GIGS est. 1964 The home of traditional Fish & Chips Fully licensed Greek restaurant “The secret’s out. Gigs is back” 12 Tottenham Street 020 7636 1424 2 Letters and comment Fitzrovia News Spring 2012 Fitzrovia News Formerly The Tower established 1973 fitzrovia.org.uk/news Your Letters twitter.com/fitzrovianews facebook.com/fitzrovianews Stabbings show Send your letters to Fitzrovia News, 39 Tottenham Street, [email protected] London W1T 4RX, or email [email protected] 020 7580 4576 the need for express the disappointment and However, pigeon droppings Issue 124 Spring 2012 community frustrations they feel with any - require professional cleaning, so Published 6 March 2012 one at all. Relationships matter, maybe she, along with other involvement where we can talk things feeders, should be made to pay Fitzrovia News is published through (as the 2012 Children's for this. And, if “everyone” was quarterly by the Fitzrovia It was a terrible shock on St Society report suggests). allowed to put down “a few Community Newspaper Stephen's Day, more familiarly Building up the conversa - crumbs” (and there are many in Group, and supported by the known as Boxing Day that tions within communities, build - this area), then that is tanta - Fitzrovia Neighbourhood reports were quickly coming in ing up trust in relationships mount to large quantities which PATIENCE EDNEY Association about a fatality on Oxford Street, between all people irrespective she recognises as a nuisance. So (registered charity no. 1111649) followed only a couple of hours of age, could contribute to the by her own definition she is Heroic nurse 39 Tottenham Street, later by a second stabbing on good of our community and causing a nuisance. London, W1T 4RX Oxford Circus. nation. As a community in the She is quite wrong about braved bombing ISSN: 0967-1404 Essentially, visitors to our bit heart of a city we reflect a pigeons not spreading diseases. I used to visit Patience Edney of London were perpetrating "moral or social barometer" of There is no scientific proof that (Fighting Franco's Fascists, FN Editorial Team and being afflicted by other visi - what's going on. pigeons are not connected to 123) in her old age in Camden Mike Pentelow: tors' actions: strangers doing We cannot allow such vio - avian flu. Plus, pigeon fouling Town. She was best friends with editor and features editor strange things in a strange place. lence to continue on our streets. attracts insects and can cause my mother-in-law, Nan Green. Linus Rees: As a resident and as a priest Most young people are law salmonella. The inhalation of Patience was immensely assistant editor I wondered how I relate to what abiding and contribute amazing dust from dried pigeon drop - wise, and both women were my Pete Whyatt: is going on. I can't help because things to community life. pings can also lead to respirato - heroines. news and production editor in a place with so many visitors Perhaps to influence our ry problems. Nan was a nurse in the Fiona Green: I am not known. I can't visit community we need to be more Furthermore, pigeon fouling Spanish Civil War (see "Doves of arts and listings editor those who have suffered because genuinely interested and on fire escapes is a major safety War" by Paul Preston, published Brian Jarman: they live umpteen miles away. I involved in each others' lives. As issue, whilst fouling on the by Harper Collins, a marvellous writer and sub-editor can't even say "we abhor the the old Sunday school song stonework of a building, win - book about four women of Barb Jacobson: crimes in this place" because goes: "Let there be peace on dow ledges, architectural fea - Spain, two fascists and two anti- associate editor those who need to hear this earth, and let it begin with me." tures of interest and the walk - fascists). Jennifer Kavanagh: message will not receive this Fr. John Pritchard, Assistant ways is unsightly. Therefore, all Nan was also secretary of the associate editor paper. Priest, All Saints Church, who feed pigeons need to stop International Brigades Jess Owens The last decade has seemed Margaret Street . and recognise that they are a Association. She had gone out to associate editor preoccupied with reporting the public nuisance that blight our Spain to join her husband increase of gun and knife crime, environment Flying rats: Clear George, an ambulance driver for Contributors: and gang culture. That God- Fitzrovia has a large number the International Brigades. He John Alford inspired and law-abiding part of of outlets that contribute to their mess if you was killed on the last day of the George Binning me simply cannot understand “food debris”. Additional feed - war, returning to rescue a com - Sue Blundell why anyone would physically ing is irresponsible and is a self - feed pigeons rade when his ambulance was Leslie Carlyle wound another. I suspect it per - ish pursuit. There may not be a blown up at the Ebro. Claire Cleverton plexes many. Pigeons are recognised as a pest law against it, but then, spitting Nan was the first woman to Ann Goodburn Yet as we continue to see problem in built-up areas where isn’t illegal either. That doesn’t swim the Ebro to heroically give Clifford Harper physical violence increase in our food debris is in plentiful sup - mean that society approves. blood. She was nursing at the Clive Jennings society I wonder whether it ply. So I was very angry to read Councils can and do act on per - Front, in the cave mentioned in Denise Julien replaces the anger or frustration about a Charlotte Street resident sistent offenders who feed the article, while Franco and Eugene McConville that some of us can most effec - defending her right to feed pigeons. Mussolini's jets strathed over - Guy O’Connell tively express and articulate in pigeons. Denise Julien, Holcroft Court. head, shelling day and night for Julie Parker word. So many in our society Civil society pairs rights months. Fr. John Pritchard are being left behind with a with obligations. Therefore, if I had a wonderful letter from Dr Morris Nitsun diminishing vocabulary, unable she has the right to feed pigeons Dolores Ibarurri (La Passionaria) Mavis Seaman to articulate and deal with diffi - then she has an obligation to written to Nan, praising her for Sunita Soliar cult lives and relationships or clean up their droppings. Pat Tulloch her work, for which she and her Chris Tyler family were awarded Spanish Kipper Williams 6 Fitzroy Square: The Perfect Venue Pigeons in Whitfield Gardens CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 Printed by: Sharman & Co Ltd, The perfect venue for meetings, launches, Newark Road, seminars, dinners, wedding receptions and Peterborough PE1 5TD other corporate events.