Not to be confused with the Packhorse & Talbot further down the road, the Old Packhorse is situated on the corner of Acton Lane and Chiswick High Road. The former was actually called ‘The Packhorse’ until 1811. On a very hot Sunday afternoon recently, I popped in there with my son for some refreshment. The Continue reading
Category: West London
Remembering Kimikawa de Castro: “She was our very own Mayor of Shepherd’s Bush”
On this day in 2014, Alix Culbertson reported for the local Gazette the shocking news that Kimi de Castro had passed away the previous weekend! ‘Family and friends have paid heartfelt tributes to a community activist who is fondly remembered as the unofficial Mayor of Shepherd’s Bush. Kimikawa de Castro, of St. Stephen’s Avenue died Continue reading
The Red Lion & Pineapple: 281 High Street, Acton, London W3
Bill was down from Edinburgh in March for a Rangers home game and as is customary on these occasions we get to meet up for a pint or two. After being informed that the Red Lion & Pineapple in Acton was managed by an R’s fan (thanks Steve), I suggested this to Bill and we Continue reading
The Sounds of West London: No.4 – ‘Under the Westway’
This classic ‘Blur’ song about the Westway, that elevated two-and-a-half mile West London section of the A40, was written in 2012. Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon performed the song that year on 19th February at a Benefit concert at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Albarn told the audience: “It’s a new song we wrote just up the Continue reading
Carole Allen: ‘A Shepherd’s Bush Girl on Her Way Up’
The following article appeared in the West London Observer on 7th June 1957: ‘A piece of good luck set 18-year-old Carole Allen, of Askew Road, Shepherd’s Bush, on the road to stardom and since then she hasn’t looked back. Three years ago, an open radio audition was being held for youngsters at Portland Place. Carole Continue reading
First in the Barkers Queue was Ernest Spillard of Rylett Road, Shepherd’s Bush’
The following article appeared in the West London Observer on 31st December 1954: ‘Despite the expenses of Christmas, stores in West London report successful openings to their winter sales this week. Last night a spokesman of the Barkers group at Kensington said queues had been larger than last year’s, and that the stores had been Continue reading
“Rock ‘n’ Rollers did no Harm” – Manager of the Gaumont Cinema, Shepherd’s Bush in 1956
Formerly the Pavilion, the cinema at 58, Shepherd’s Bush Green reopened in 1955 as the Gaumont. ‘Rock Around the Clock’ was released a year later in the UK. The following article appeared in the West London Observer on 31st August: ‘Reports of near-riots at the Gaumont, Shepherd’s Bush, when ‘Rock Around the Clock’ was shown Continue reading
When Henry (Harry) Taylor from Greenside Road, Shepherd’s Bush, Climbed Nelson’s Column
A couple of months ago, Bill in Harrow phoned BBC Radio London to contribute to Robert Elms’ excellent ‘Notes & Queries’. He told Robert what he knew about the time his wife’s step-grandad climbed Nelson’s Column. The following article appeared in the local press on 19th April 1946: ‘People at Trafalgar Square on Saturday could Continue reading
‘So far as Shepherd’s Bush was concerned, undoubtedly from the Decorative Standpoint, the Brightest Part of the District on the Night of Coronation Day, was Askew Road’
The Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary took place on this day in 1911 at Westminster Abbey. The two following articles later appeared in the West London Observer: Here, the traders, with enthusiastic goodwill, had vied with each other to make the road as bright as possible after dark, and they succeeded. Numbers Continue reading
When Barry McGuigan was Crowned World Featherweight Champion at Loftus Road
The news that Barry McGuigan would fight in London for the World Featherweight title was all over the press and the media in April 1985. Not only was the fight with Panama’s Eusebio Pedroza in London but it was to be staged at Loftus Road. The fight was shown live on BBC TV and also Continue reading