Category: West London

Today marks the 75th anniversary of ‘Victory in Europe Day’. The day when Nazi Germany accepted the unconditional surrender of its armed forces. A few days later the West London Observer reportedthat: ‘A brilliant sun heralded the day, throughout, which large crowds assembled in the main thoroughfares. A wireless loudspeaker installed on the roof of Continue reading

Released in the UK on 7th October 1971, ‘Bedknobs & Broomsticks’ is a Walt Disney production set during WW2 and involves three kids who are evacuated from London. Charlie, Carrie and Paul Rawlins end up at the home of a witch, Miss Eglantine Price, who is played by Angela Lansbury. She eventually tells them that Continue reading

Growing up in the Bush, Ravenscourt Park holds many childhood memories for me, and my family. The following article appeared in the Framlingham Weekly News on 1st August 1885: ‘Travellers to Kew Gardens and Richmond must have noticed, immediately after passing the Shaftesbury-road Railway Station, a very beautiful park with a fine avenue of trees. Continue reading

The following article is from the Hammersmith & Shepherd’s Bush Gazette and appeared in John Brunel’s ‘Diary’ on 17th February 1966: ‘Take a group of good musicians, an original sound and a good song and you can’t go wrong. You’ve got a hit record! The name of the group is “Jimmy Winston’s Reflections,” the name Continue reading

This curious article appeared in the Willesden Chronicle on 20th January 1888:- ‘Since Christmas, the whole neighbourhood of College Park and some parts of Kensal New Town and Willesden, have been in a state of amazement, not to say alarm, at the doings of a supposed supernatural being, or a man in the resemblance of Continue reading

Coming up on Friday 7th February at the Maxilla Hall in Latimer Road, is ‘International *Clash* Day’, featuring the Rotten Hill Gang, the Goldborns, the Clash tribute band, Take the 5th and many others. Mark Millar described the Rotten Hill Gang as: ‘Formed in a heartbeat within the cracks and back alleys of Ladbroke Grove Continue reading

Hammersmith Stadium was situated at 45 Brook Green Road, which is thought to have been a stretch of road between Hammersmith Broadway and Brook Green? News of a 1936 boxing event held at the Stadium appeared on this Home Page early last year. A few articles from the West London Observer relating to the Stadium’s Continue reading

Lane’s Club No.2 opened its doors in November 1934 in Queen Street, Hammersmith. Queen Street became known at some point as Queen Caroline Street. Titled, ‘Lane’s Club Closed’, the following article appeared on 28th February 1936: ‘Mr Paul Bennett, the West London Magistrate, heard summonses brought by the police on Monday (24th inst.) in respect Continue reading

In 2004 I purchased a copy of Frances Trinder’s excellent book: ‘Loftus Road Legacy – The History of Shepherd’s Bush Football Club.’ She writes in detail about events leading up to the Club’s move to Loftus Road and includes a short report of their first match on 22nd October 1904 against long-standing rivals, Old Malvernians. Continue reading

A couple of years ago, Robert Elms’ superb ‘Notes & Queries’ slot on BBC Radio London featured a wonderful tale about the antics of a troupe of escaped monkeys that had begun in Latimer Road. This prompted me to ask Colin Woodley to search the newspaper archives for further details. On 22nd November 1926 the Continue reading