Category: West London

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The following article appeared in the Hammersmith & Bush Gazette on 10th February 1966: ‘A Hammersmith group who started practicing in a garage are now stealing the local limelight. Calling themselves the “John Brown’s Bodies,” these five Hammersmith boys plan to entertain professional audiences before the year is out. The group came into existence when Continue reading

Situated virtually next to ’The Seven Stars’, the Park Cinema opened its doors at 6pm on 27th June 1912. Prior to its opening the following article appeared on 16th May in ‘The Bioscope’, titled: ‘Application Against a Shepherd’s Bush Cineatograph Company.’ ‘In the Chancery Division on Friday, before Mr Justice, on behalf of the occupier Continue reading

Following his wedding in early 1929, legendary Notting Dale boxer, Alf Mancini, was set to make his come-back against Carlo Galbusera at Rangers’ Loftus Road on 1st June. A report appeared in the West London Observer on the following Friday: ‘There were two striking features about the open-air boxing tournament which was held at the Continue reading