Stand by me... 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 157 Summer 2020 Tributes paid to Mike Pentelow, editor of Fitzrovia News page 5 Who’s By Linus Rees and Pete Whyatt the talent on Fitzrovia News has been overwhelmed with the number of tributes paid to Mike Pen - telow, editor-in-chief of the newspaper, who died suddenly at his home on Nassau Street Nassau Street? on 1 April aged 73. He had suffered a short illness which included Covid-19 on the post- mortem report. Mike was a journalist all his working life and over the past 20 years he authored books about history, pubs, and a walking guide. He played a large part in the life of Fitzrovia since moving to Nassau Street in 1970 at the start of a decade where the residential community was beginning to assert itself: fight - ing for housing, preserving its heritage, and creating new public open spaces, and popu - larising the name Fitzrovia. A chronicler of Fitzrovia life past and present, he also helped shape its future. He con - tributed articles to Tower community newspaper, forerunner of Fitzrovia News, helped to organise the first Fitzrovia Festival, took part in setting up the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association, and eventually editing this newspaper. He loved the neighbourhood’s pubs and restaurants and led guided walks revealing the secrets behind the doors and windows of its quiet back streets which he’d gleaned NNHHSS from hours of research sat in London’s libraries. In recognition of his life and achievements, obituaries have been published in the three New Journal local papers serving Camden, Westminster and Islington, The Morning ppoorrttrraaiittss Star, The Guardian, and The Journalist, the magazine of the National Union of Journalists. In a special edition of Fitzrovia News we publish several pages about Mike’s life, as well as tributes from friends, and feelings of loss from the many people who were close to him. PPaaggee 1166 Due to the Covid-19 crisis Mike was cremated following a brief ceremony according to his wishes at Golders Green Crematorium on 20 May. There will be a full memorial cer - picture Mark Thomas emony and celebration of his life when social distancing restrictions are relaxed. Fitzrovia a Low Traffic Neighbourhood? Camden and Westminster The Fitzrovia Neighbourhood As - and Marylebone Road via Gower Mortimer Street and Goodge council have responded by saying sociation (FNA) has called on Street and Tottenham Court Road Street could see increased traffic, that they would look carefully at Camden and Westminster coun - on the Camden side and via Port - as the lockdown is eased and the plans. cils to consider making Fitzrovia land Place and Great Portland from possible restrictions in Ox - The Fitzrovia West Neigh - a Low Traffic Neighbourhood Street on the Westminster side. ford Street, unless the east-west bourhood Forum is also pressing (LTN), in line with the Mayor of All businesses and homes route is closed. In 2018 the FNA Westminster council to cut out London’s Streetspace plans to could still receive deliveries to found that pollution from NO2 at through traffic and wants the help people with social distancing their door and the plan would not the junction of Goodge Street and page 13 council to bring forward proposals and enable walking and cycling. displace motor traffic into other Charlotte Street was nearly fifty in the groups’ Neighbourhood The FNA has asked for both local streets or neighbourhoods, percent higher than the legal Muriel’s Plan which is currently out for the Camden side and Westmin - unlike pedestrianisation schemes. limit. ster side of Fitzrovia to be consid - The FNA is concerned that public consultation (see page 3). parlour ered together as a single LTN. The FNA says this can be best achieved with many of the dis - trict's narrow streets being closed to through motor traffic and mak - ing the neighbourhood access only, some on-street car parking est1958 removed, and more space for cycle parking added. The FNA wants a 10 mph speed limit across Awarded The home of traditional the LTN. tripadvisor Access in and out of the certificate of fish and chips. excellence five GIGS Fitzrovia LTN can be quickly Fully licensed Greek restaurant achieved from the Euston Road years running 2014 - 2018 12 Tottenham Street 020 7636 1424 2 — Fitzrovia News issue 157 Summer 2020 ment, and again led the rest of the team -- who in - Fitzrovia News cluded Samina Dewan, Mairi Mills and then Nicola Formerly The Tower Letters, Dave Ferris Charalambous -- and adapted his skills and knowl - edge. established 1973 Every year the three neighbourhood workers news.fitzrovia.org.uk would go to Dave's sunny Bloomsbury flat to talk twitter.com/fitzrovianews face - email without interruption and put the annual report to - book.com/fitzrovianews gether. It was a collective effort but Dave played the instagram.com/fitzrovianews most crucial role of all. [email protected] and His commitment to the local community was very Issue 157 Summer 2020 strong and his thoroughness in helping people who Published 16 June 2020 were often living in extremely difficult situations was Editorial Team unquestionable. comment Dave Ferris with his partner Adrian Pete Whyatt: editor and print editor As an out gay man, he was outraged by Clause Linus Rees: editor and website editor 28's “pretend family relationships”, and valued his Clive Jennings: arts editor An open letter to sec - chosen family. He would send warm and funny hand - Dave Ferris, who died in April, was a community Brian Jarman: writer and sub-editor retary of state calling made birthday cards from ferrisdowson publications. worker at the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre for Janet Gauld: associate editor As local authority grants got smaller each year he Barb Jacobson: associate editor for an end to rough more than two decades, and was highly regarded by would spend more time working late and often on Jennifer Kavanagh: associate editor his colleagues and the management of the organisa - sleeping and home - Saturdays writing funding applications trying to keep Contributors: tion, write, Nick Bailey, Helen Haigh, and Mairi lessness the organisation afloat. Peter Arkell Mills. After his (early) retirement in 2000 he worked John Axon Generous in spirit, and genuinely democratic, it part-time at several community projects. He returned Nick Bailey To: Robert Jenrick, Secretary was his idea that the neighbourhood workers operate to work for the FNA from time to time -- happier and Ann Basu of State for Housing, Commu - as a collective, but he was also a leader who pulled refreshed -- as a consultant, and in 2003 he proudly Sue Blundell nities and Local Government. everyone together. joined his former colleagues at the march against the Robert Cunning Though Dave would refer to himself as grumpy, Iraq war. Terry Egan I am writing to you on behalf he was generally charming, witty, and always had Later Dave and partner Adrian moved out of Etienne Gilfillan of our organisation which op - time for everyone. He nearly always wore sandals, their top floor flat in Bury Place and into retirement Ann Goodburn erates in central London. We but was definitely not a hippy. In his spare time he housing at the Brunswick Centre in Bloomsbury. Helen Haigh are pleased to hear that the loved to listen to classical music and visit the theatre. In his mid-70s he suffered a number of strokes Stephen Heath majority of people sleeping Dave was born in Canada in 1942 and after grad - and after suffering a short illness he died at Univer - Chris Kaufman rough on the streets have now uating from the University of Alberta came to Lon - sity College Hospital in April. He leaves behind a Peter Kirker been put up in hotels and don in 1969. At Goldsmiths College he took a diploma brother Jim and sister Heather in Canada, and long- Joseph Mattey other accommodation. in youth and community studies and worked on time companion Adrian in London. Mairi Mills Westminster council has community projects in Wandsworth and Battersea. Dave Ferris: born Windsor, Ontario, Canada 1942; Angela Nicholson accommodated 249 people Dave began work in January 1977 for the died London April 2020. Aristos Papsavva and Camden council has ac - Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association (FNA) at the Helene Parry commodated around 190 peo - Neighbourhood Centre, 39 Tottenham Street. I knew Dave when I was Chair of the Neighbourhood Wendy Shutler ple in this way. He managed to keep on top of the four key Association in the early 80s. He brought great dedica - Clifford Slapper This is an opportunity to strands of activity: providing an advice centre special - tion to the work of the Neighbourhood Centre, and Sunita Soliar end rough sleeping in London izing in welfare benefits, housing and immigration through his work he made a significant positive im - Jean Sveinsson and elsewhere in the UK. law; bringing together a disparate group of residents’ pact in the Fitzrovia community over many years. Mark Thomas However, we are concerned and tenants’ associations on both sides of the borough There are other reasons I shall always remember him. Pat Tulloch that when the lockdown ends boundary; making collective representations to both The date my wife could make for our first date was Chris Tyler the majority of those housed Camden and Westminster on a wide variety of plan - the day I had already promised to go to Dave's 40th Printed by: Sharman & Co Ltd, temporarily in hotels will re - ning, environmental and licensing issues; and en - birthday party, so instead of a romantic restaurant, Newark Road, Peterborough turn to the streets such is the abling new organisations for groups such as children PE1 5TD.