Category: West London

At the end of May 1962, Frank Sinatra’s private aircraft, ‘The Christina’, landed at Heathrow Airport. He brought his own band with him, which included his long-time pianist, Bill Miller, plus Emil Richards, Ralph Pena, Irving Cottler, Harry Klee and guitarist Al Viola. Frank firstly appeared at the Royal Festival Hall on 1st June. The midnight performance was for the Invalid Children’s Aid Association.  The following (partial) report was written by Continue reading

The following article appeared in the West London Observer on 17th May 1957: ‘Further news of ‘The Blue Jeans’ Skiffle group – the boys, under leader George Plummer, of Shepherd’s Bush, who have been providing musical entertainment at the Classic cinema during the past fortnight: They now possess a silver cup. They won it on Tuesday evening at an Continue reading

One of the reasons I’ve been meaning to visit ‘The Fox & Goose’ is because ‘The Who’ performed there in 1963 as ‘The Detours’. They made their one and only appearance there on Friday 11th January. I came across the website shown below, which revealed that there was a Jazz Club there in the 1950’s. Continue reading

As is usually the case, when my mate Bill Burnett from Edinburgh is down for a Rangers home game we arrange to meet-up post-match in a pub. Our latest rendezvous was the Rose & Crown in South Ealing, the day after the 1-1 draw with Norwich City. The pub is tucked away close to a magnificent grade 11 listed church, St. Mary’s.  It is Continue reading

The following article appeared in the West London Observer on 29th May 1953: ‘Hammersmith’s old age pensioners and blind folk who have had their names registered at the Town Hall are to receive souvenir caskets containing 11lb. of tea and a free ticket for a special film show. The ticket will entitle them to see the Continue reading

This Music Hall song was written by J. B. Geoghegan during the 1860’s and performed by Harry Liston: ‘Oh! I loved her & I love her still, And her absence I bewail, They caught her picking pockets in a bus at Notting Hill, And carried her to Newgate Gaol’ (The above illustration was by popular Continue reading

The following article was written by Richard Wells and appeared in the local Gazette on 15th July 1971: ‘Askew Road…the busy, bustling shopping area which belongs neither to Hammersmith or Shepherd’s Bush, was once a quiet “village street” type shopping centre with a pond at the far end. It is one of the few North/South Continue reading

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

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

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