THE ST. MARYLEBONE SOCIETY

NEWSLETTERAutumn 2013 Number 339 www.stmarylebonesociety.org Registered Charity 274082

Marylebone Cricket Club has beennotified by the Privy Council Office that ithas been granted a Royal Charter by HerMajesty The Queen.

MCC had previously applied for a RoyalCharter, in 1864 and again in 1929, so itwas third time lucky this year with thegranting of the Charter which came intoeffect on 1 July. This altered the Club'scurrent status from that of unincorporatedassociation to that of a body incorporatedby Royal Charter.

In 1929 the petition was declined because,it was explained to MCC Committee, thata Royal Charter had never been granted toa body whose objects are the promotion ofsport and athletics. Today an increased

awareness of the importance of sport forhealth, community, commercial andpolitical reasons, together with thesuccess of the London Olympics possiblyhelped Lord’s achieve its Royal Charter.The St Marylebone Society were delightedto be invited to take part in the CharterDay celebrations which included meetingthe Princess Royal, visiting the Museum,hearing fascinating speeches and enjoyinga wonderful luncheon in the famous LongRoom.

The Royal Charter of MCC is made ofcalfskin. From it hangs the Great Seal,representing the signature of Her MajestyQueen Elizabeth II, and it is illuminatedwith symbols in gold leaf and rich colourwhich beautifully illustrate the history of

Marylebone Cricket Club since itsFoundation in 1787.

St Marylebone is represented by theBlessed Virgin Mary holding the HolyChild, clad in gold and standing betweentwo water lilies. To her right is an EnglishRose, on which sits the insect Gryllusassimilis – better known as a field cricket.

Father Time, the weather-vane, is alsorepresented and depicts the weather-vanepresented to MCC in 1926 as a gift fromthe architect Sir Herbert Baker, whodesigned the Grand Stand.

All countries playing Test Cricket arerepresented with symbols including asilver fern for New Zealand, Jasmine forPakistan, a Palm Tree for the West Indies,

Photo: Matt Bright – Copyright MCC.Princess Anne unveiling the Royal Charter for Marylebone Cricket Club.

Continued overleaf.

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the Flame Lily of Zimbabwe, the LotusFlower of India, Blue Water Lily of SriLanka and white water lily for Bangladesh.

The Ashes Urn represents the friendlyrivalry between England and Australia, andit was wonderful that the Ashes were wonin this Charter Year to remain on display inthe Lord’s Museum. MCC is an importantinstitution we are proud to have inMarylebone and its influence andsignificance are of global proportions.

MCC has recently announced a newMasterplan for the development of Lord'sGround with a phased plan which will startwith the redevelopment of the WarnerStand in the autumn of 2014 and finish withthe reconstruction of the Compton andEdrich Stands in 2027. The plan wascompiled by MCC's Ground Working Party(GWP) – under the chairmanship ofarchitect Colin Maber and has beendesigned by Populous, a design consortiumwith expertise in sports planning.

MCC’s 10-year Strategic Plan commits theClub to ensuring that Lord’s is the finestground in the world and, aside fromimprovements to facilities, the Masterplanreflects the importance placed on: retaining the size of both the Main andNursery Grounds; establishing individual,architecturally-significant stands; andmaintaining the unique character of Lord’scomplete with gardens and trees.

It is estimated that the entire project willcost between £180 million – £200 million.

The Masterplan includes:

Rebuilt Warner, Tavern, Allen,Compton and Edrich Stands;

The resiting of the Nursery Groundtowards the Wellington Road;

A new entrance on Grove End Roadwhich will be the main point ofaccess on non-match days;

Extensions to the Pavilion toreinstate its symmetry and establishmore pitch-facing facilities forplayers and match officials; Anincrease to the capacity of Lord's by2,700 to 32,000;

New buildings at the North, Eastand Grace Gates incorporatingbanqueting facilities, retail space andoffices for MCC and ECB staff;

A new Food "Street" behind theCompton and Edrich Stands toreplace the existing Food Village; andNew, subterranean car-parking,access routes, waste management,catering and storage facilities.

Colin Maber, the Chairman of MCC’sGround Working Party and Estatescommittee explained,

“The Masterplan has been designed to

provide a framework within which Grounddevelopment over the next 15 years canbe set. The phased approach allows roomfor flexibility and evolution. Our keyprinciples – on the absolute need to retainthe size of both grounds, on keepingLord’s as a Ground rather than making it astadium, on the importance of green openspaces, and on enhancing the experiencefor every visitor – will underpin all we do.It is advanced work in progress, but can beflexed to reflect changing economiccircumstances, technology and research.”

MCC is not seeking planning permissionfor the Masterplan as a whole. Instead theMasterplan provides a long-term contextfor separate planning applications. It isproposed that the first application – for thenew Warner Stand – will be submitted toWestlminster City Council at the end ofthis year. The St Marylebone Society willbe consulted and is keen to be involved inthis exciting, innovative project. If youhave a specific interest in this project andwould like to represent the Society in theLord’s Community Group please contactthe Society for more information.

Please see the MCC website for moreinformation about the club:

http://www.lords.org

The Lord’s Masterplan – indicative view.

Since April this year you may have noticed the eye-catchinguniformed Baker Street Quarter Ambassadors on dutyacross Baker Street and Marylebone. But have youwondered what they do? These full-time Ambassadors aremuch more than a friendly face. Welcoming visitors, is justone aspect of their role, even so with over 30,000 peoplewelcomed since they joined our streets, they’re certainlykept busy!

Anna-Liisa and Amparo are full-time Ambassadors whowork tirelessly to ensure that the area’s standards ofcleanliness and safety are maintained and improved wherepossible. With their bowler hats on, they monitor oursurroundings, looking out for any issues that need attention.Everything from anti-social behaviour to the amount ofrubbish, graffiti and general wear and tear on our streets ismonitored and assessed. Any issues are reported directly toWestminster City Council, the Police, outreach charities andother partners, to be addressed and resolved.

The team is already having a huge impact in many ways withover 1,800 issues having been reported so far. Successesinclude assisting local businesses to comply with theirallocated rubbish collection times so that our streets are notlittered with unsightly rubbish bags all day, getting repairs tocracked and broken paving stones and arranging forunsightly and unpleasant graffiti to be removed. Progress isalso being made to making the Marylebone Underpass morepleasant – something that we’re sure is welcomed by us all.

Actions have been taken to clear the area and ensure that regularcleaning can be carried out as scheduled. Further improvementsare planned to transform the underpass into a welcoming space -one that’s fit for the area. A little patience is needed however,there are quite a few hoops to jump through to make this happen.

Another aspect of the Ambassador’s role is to keep a watchfuleye on people’s safety and help to reduce street crime.Thankfully the area isn’t known for high levels of crime and wewould like it to stay that way. Having a uniformed presence onthe streets certainly helps to deter crime and also offers afriendly face and assistance to those few unfortunate victims.

Hopefully if you’ve not met Anna-Liisa and Amparo yet you soonwill. They’re a real asset to the area and we hope you’ll agreethat they’re doing a great job. Next time you pass our bowlerhatted friends, do say hi!

www.bakerstreetquarter.co.ukinfo@bakerstreetquarter.co.ukTelephone – 020 3056 5910

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B A K E R S T R E E T Q U A RT E R A M B A S S A D O R S

LO O K I N G A F T E R Y O U R Q U A RT E R

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AAnn EEnngglliisshh AAffffaaiirr:: SSeexx,, CCllaassss aannddPPoowweerr iinn tthhee AAggee ooff PPrrooffuummoo..

By Richard Davenport-Hines, WilliamCollins (2013), £9.99.

The Profumo affair rocked theConservative government 50 years agothis year and contributed to it beingvoted out of office in the following year.

The key figure was Stephen Ward, aMarylebone osteopath and socialite,who introduced Soho club hostessChristine Keeler to both the WarMinister, Jack Profumo, and Soviet navalattaché, Yevgeny Ivanov (suspected ofbeing a Soviet spy). The allegation thatshe slept with both of them and mayhave passed information from one to theother was blown up into a major scandal.The author of this book surmises thatKeeler was probably induced by hugenewspaper payouts to claim she sleptwith Ivanov, and that certainly no

secrets were passed from Profumo toIvanov. Profumo had to resign after hisclaim in parliament that he had not sleptwith Keeler was proved false.

Ward was made the scapegoat andaccording to Davenport-Hines wasfitted up by Marylebone police, underpressure from above. He was foundguilty of living off the immoral earningsof Keeler and fellow club hostess,Mandy Rice-Davies, who were coercedinto giving evidence against him. (Theonly money Keeler gave Ward was lessthan £50 which was repayment of a loan,which she received for sex frommillionaire businessman Charles Clore).Ward took an overdose of sleepingtablets towards the end of the trial on 31July 1963. While he was in a deep comathe trial macabrely continued, and hewas found guilty just before he died onAugust 3.

19 Cavendish Square (1 HarcourtCourt), where Ward first set up hispractice in 1947.

38 Devonshire Street, where Wardhad his consulting rooms during thescandal.

20 Marylebone High Street (KenyaCoffee House at the time), where Wardmet MI5 informant, William Shepherd,in October 1961 and asked if he wished

A month later Christine Keeler wasfound guilty of perjury during the trial of‘Lucky’ Gordon who had been falselyimprisoned for brawling with Keeler at33 Devonshire Street, where she wasstaying with a friend. Others who hadsex with Keeler and Rice-Davies inMarylebone included Peter Rachman(the notorious landlord who employedthugs to intimidate tenants), EmileSavundra (the Sri Lankan insuranceswindler), and John Bloom (whosewashing machine empire latercollapsed).

It was in Marylebone Magistrates’Court that Mandy Rice-Davies came upwith her famous retort (when told LordAstor had denied her claim they hadbeen to bed): “Well, he would, wouldn't he?” According to Davenport-Hines,however, this was just a "slick evasion",as Astor had probably not slept with her.

MARYLEBONE ADDRESSES wherethis drama unfolded include:

17 Wimpole Mews, where StephenWard lived in the first floor flat, and atvarious times let Christine Keeler andMandy Rice-Davies live there. It wasoutside here that Johnny Edgecombefired a gun while looking for ChristineKeeler, on 14 December 1962, whichbrought her into the headlines.

THE PROFUMO SCANDAL – A MARYLEBONE AFFAIR

Mandy Rice-Davies (left) and Christine Keeler on the way to court on 27 July 1963. Getty Images.

Stephen Ward getting out of a police van on 1 June 1963.Getty Images.

A schematic map of Marylebone locations connected with the Profumo scandal.

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On 11th June the Society was delightedto be invited to the opening of the newYork Gates into Regent's Park. TheCrown Estate Paving Commissionreceived Planning Permission andConservation Area Consent last year toremove the existing utilitarian steelgates and replace them with the'Edinburgh Gates' recovered from HydePark, which date from 1958 and werecreated as part of the Bowater Houseoffice development on Knightsbridge(now demolished).

Originally the gates were painted greenbut, in keeping with the other streetfurniture in Regent's Park, have beenrepainted black.The frames for the gateposts and leaves are hollow steelsections, with openings in the frames ofvertical flat bars. Between the fixed bars

are lines of pointed stars.

At a lunch-time ceremony Sir JohnRitblat spoke of the history of Regent'sPark, personally recalling the campaignto save the Nash terraces in 1947, andpraised the Crown Estate PavingCommissioners for their dedicated andcareful management of the park, afterwhich Prince Edward officially opened the gates. Local councillorsjoined residents and communityrepresentatives to celebrate the newgates at a champagne reception, hostedby the Royal Academy of Music. Thegates are a splendid addition to thestreetscape and are closed at midnightand opened at 7am every day,preserving the peace and quiet forRegent's Park's residents at night

THE NEW YORK GATES

The gates in their original site.

Cllr Robert Davis and Sir John Ritblat.

Prince Edward with Sir John Ritblat.

to meet Ivanov. Rice-Davies alsoclaimed to have been introduced here byWard to Savundra (whom she referredto as "the Indian doctor").

84a Great Titchfield Street (ThePaintbox at the time), a club where Wardused to paint nude models, posing on acircular stage, in 1960. He had studiedat the Slade School of Fine Art in GowerStreet in the 1950s.

1 Bryanston Mews West, owned byRachman, who moved in both Keelerand Rice-Davies, and installed a two-way mirror, bought from film star DianaDoors, for voyeurs to watch couples ona bed. The mirror was smashed by Rice-Davies. Ward moved into this flat in theaftermath of the shooting outsideWimpole Mews. Rice-Davies had tomove to make room for him, which sheresented.

2-3 Park West Place (Flat 164, ParkWest), where Keeler lived just beforethe scandal.

33 Devonshire Street, where Keelerwas staying with her friend PaulaHamilton-Marshall on 17 April 1963,when Paula’s brother John punched andkicked Keeler. They later lured ‘Lucky’Gordon there, and then phonedMarylebone Police Station accusing himof the assault, for which he was jailed.

50 Marylebone Lane (MarylebonePolice Station in 1963), where Ward wasoriginally accused of procuring womenfor rich patients in 1954 by John Lewis,who resented him putting up his wifewhen she fled from his abuse. Policefound no evidence of it, but made use ofit ten years later when told to bringcharges against Ward. Keeler and Rice-Davies were both held several times forlong periods of questioning here andpressurised to implicate Ward,according to this book.

181 Marylebone Road (MaryleboneMagistrates’ Court), where Wardappeared on 28 June 1963, for thecommittal proceedings of his trial,charged with eight violations of theSexual Offences Act of 1956. It was alsoat this court that Keeler was foundguilty of perjury and sentenced to ninemonths in Holloway prison.

40 Portland Place, where Rachman'ssolicitor and front man, AbrahamKramer, had an office.

Mike Pentelow

Wednesday 6 November

The Medical Society of London

Chandos Street W1

Chair – Colin Amery

from 6.00 – Meeting starts 6.30

7.30 talk by Andrew Saint

THE ST MARYLEBONESOCIETY

AGM 2013

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Following the discussions about planningboundaries during the neighbourhoodplanning area application earlier this year wedecided to focus the planning walk on theMarylebone Road and overlapping areas ofinterest on either side of what is perhaps oneof London’s busiest and most prominentthroughfares.We met planning officers and CouncillorsSheila D'Souza and Robert Davis atMarylebone Station where Cllr D'Souzadescribed some of the problems with trafficand pedestrian safety in the area and theproposals for a new pedestrian crossing inHarewood Avenue. The narrowness of theroad by the station is exacerbated by thepositioning of a large delivery bay servingthe station, and the taxi parking area downthe centre. In addition, the limited numberof right turns into the Marylebone Road inthis stretch, leads to some bad behaviour byimpatient motorists.We looked at the Council House and Libraryin light of the project to link the twobuildings with a glass structure, which willstart on site very soon. The glass linkstructure will form the new main entrancefor the London Business School, and itprovides a rational way of accessing bothbuildings from one point. The 1960s CouncilChamber will be demolished and replacedwith stacked lecture theatres, two of whichcan be converted into a single space whichthe city council can use for meetings. Theregistry office will return to the CouncilHouse once the work is done. MaryleboneLibrary will move to a site in LuxboroughStreet, and has found a temporary home inBeaumont Street until the design of the newMarylebone Library can be agreed.We discussed the sudden closure of the

petrol station in Dorset House, shut down bythe fire brigade after an unrelated fire in theNCP car park in the basement of thisbuilding. WCC has noticed the increasinglack of petrol stations in this area and arevery reluctant to lose this one, althoughresidents are increasingly reluctant to liveabove such uses. Passing by Berkeley Court,we saw that the refurbishment of the facadecontinues, but is mostly complete, and auniform scheme of restricting shop signs towithin the boundary of the glass shop frontsand not on the repaired stone fascia is beingestablished. The Baker Street Quarter initiative, led bythe Portman Estate, was also considered,and we look forward to some improvementsto the area, not least Baker Street Station. Aproject looking at possible upgrades toStation Place, currently a mess of tourist

buses and souvenir shops, is alreadyunderway. Another interesting proposal byBSQ is that the current traffic gyratorysystem, which has motor vehicles goingnorth up Gloucester Place and south downBaker Street, should be done away with, andthe pavements along Baker Street widened.This would greatly improve the pedestrianenvironment, and perhaps encourage morepeople to linger in Baker Street, which mightencourage a greater variety of interestingshops.We crossed the road near Madame Tussauds,and were shown into the University ofWestminster, which has recently roofed overits courtyard, creating a very successfulmeeting space for students. Then we weretaken to see the enormous Ambika P3 spacebeneath this building. It was once used as themachine workshops for Engineering, and isnow used for exhibitions such as the annualKinetica show, always very well attended.Our route then took us east to the WesleyMemorial Garden which we have beenrestoring for the last few years. We thankedCllr Davis and the City Council for theirstrong support, and for helping to fund therestoration. We stopped by the site for the proposed newMarylebone library building in LuxboroughStreet. We feel that the proposed buildingneeds further development, including a morecivic appearance, and await revised designswith interest. The new library is to openonto the old burial ground behind, and wedetoured into this garden to look at theprogress of the new building on the ChilternStreet car park site. Our route then returnedto Baker Street, looked at the pedestrianunderpass which urgently needs upgrading,and then we adjourned to Weatherspoons inthe Baker Street station for dinner and morelively conversation on the future planning ofMarylebone.

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Discussing the planning issues either side of the Marylebone Road.

Discussing the restoration of the Wesley Memorial Garden.

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tourists flocking here to enjoy art, cultureand our wonderful green spaces. The Mayorprofusely thanked the London Forum and itsmember Amenity Societies, admitting thathe was happy to take the credit for theircombined voluntary work, protecting andenhancing their areas, which contributes tomaking London so great. He took time tolisten to members’ concerns and ideas withgenuine interest and passion.The event provided a fascinatingopportunity to meet others involved inneighbourhood planning and it was inspiring

to talk to those already creating their ownNeighbourhood Plans. The London Forumconnects like-minded people from acrossGreater London, and it is evident that we allfeel lucky to live and work in one of theworld’s most fascinating, complex cities.London is a diverse ‘City of villages’, withdifferent social, historical and architecturalcharacters that somehow meld together tocreate a rich, unique environment and wemust be careful to protect this.

The London Forum’s Chairman PeterEversden, coordinates and sends out regularupdates on planning policy which help the St Marylebone Society’s planning committeekeep abreast of changes and allow sensible,realistic planning comments and objectionsto be made on planning applications. If youare interested to know more, or would like toattend the London Forum’s regular meetingsand talks, please get in touch with CynthiaPoole, Chair of our planning committee, formore information.

We reprint below a recent update from one of Marylebone’s SaferNeighbourhoods Teams (Bryanston &Dorset Square Ward), which gives a goodoverview of current issues and illustratesthe important work being done on ourbehalf. Our current priorities remain:

Motor Vehicle crime Burglary

Anti-social behaviour relating tobegging/rough sleeping

The ASB begging/rough sleeping has been amajor cause for concern on the ward and assuch has been addressed with a markedreduction in the number of Roma beddingdown on our ward. The problem seems tohave shifted to Marble Arch. A majoroperation, which was all over the news, in

which the police worked with immigrationand other agencies, offering the Roma thechance to relocate back to Romania. A recent new recruit to the team, PCWalford, is currently working on ASBOstargeted at specific Romanian roughsleepers who have been causing disruptionon the ward.There are also concerns about Anti-SocialBehaviour on the Blanford Estate, this isbeing addressed by increasing high visibilitypatrols wherever possible and has resultedin disrupting the youths congregating.A motor vehicle crime reduction initiativealong with West End Safer NeighbourhoodTeams has been undertaken targeting MotorVehicle Crime, specifically in the NCP carparks. This has involved plain clothedofficers sitting up on the NCP car park onBilton Towers along with an officer in theCCTV room specifically trying to targetthose responsible for theft from motorvehicles which has been a major issue on theward and working along with the council in

targeting prolific offenders.Crime figures for the borough are down 15%on last year in May and June mirroring trendsborough-wide in the Met where crimefigures are on the decrease.This is a reflection of the efforts we areputting in every day when on duty to try anddisrupt the anti-social behaviour that is beingput upon our community. There is also a lotof background work being done to try andachieve long-term permanent solutions byus, but as you can imagine this is a biggerproblem than just Bryanston & DorsetSquare.As always if you have concerns orintelligence that you would like to pass onplease do not hesitate to use our emailaddress below. This is always treated inconfidence or report it, again anonymously,to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. B r y a n s t o n . D o r s e t s q u a r e . S N T @met.pnn.police.uk Always call 999 in an Emergency.

The St Marylebone Society is just one ofmany amenity societies whose remit is tolook after their neighbourhood and togetherwe make London a better place foreveryone. The London Forum bringsrepresentatives of all these local communitygroups together and in July celebrated its25th birthday in style with a reception atCity Hall, hosted by Mayor Boris Johnson.

In a characteristically witty and emotionalspeech the Mayor highlighted the culturaland economic benefits being reaped byLondon following the 2012 Olympics, with

Mayor Boris Johnson addressing the London Forum members.

T H E L O N D O N F O R U M ’S25 T H A N N I V E R S A R Y – C I T Y H A L L

HOW OURNEIGHBOURHOODS

ARE BEING MADESAFER

Old Philologians at the Saville Club – 2 July 2013Paul Treadaway: 1946-51 Peter Walter: 1958-66 (Secretary) Bill Cory: 1946-52

Saville Club staircase.

We are delighted that Lloyds Bank, Baker Street, haverenovated their marvellous original Art Deco frontageand wall lights. When an application for alterations wassubmitted for planning recently the Society andWestminster conservation officers urged Lloyds toconsider the host building, Berkeley Court and the factthat, at this busy corner opposite Baker Street Station,their frontage is perhaps one of the first impressionsthat tourists and visitors see in Marylebone.

Berkeley Court itself is also looking resplendent nowthe scaffolding is down and its Portland stone cleanedand restored. The next improvement will beencouraging leaseholders to upgrade their shop frontsand signage to create a coordinated response to thebuilding structure and fabric. Berkeley Court is justoutside the 'Baker Street Quarter Business District',but its prominence has a significant impact on thesurrounding townscape and urban realm so we feel itought to be considered as part of the master-plan forthe whole of the Baker Street junction improvements.

In July the SMS Chairwoman wasinvited to the annual luncheon of theOld Philologians which was held in thedistinguished surroundings of theSaville Club. The club was establishedin 1868 by a group of distinguishedwriters and artists, its home is a fine18th Century house in the heart ofMayfair. It was largely created by Mayand Walter Burns in the 1890s, whoengaged the Parisian architects anddecorators, Bouwens Van der Boyer, toassist with the demolition andreconstruction of No 71 as a Ballroom,

whilst transforming the principal roomsof the old house into suites of elegantsalons.

After lunch Gaby Higgs gave a shorttalk about her ongoing researchconcerning 1940s Marylebone and townplanning after the devastation of WW2bombing. It was an ideal opportunity toscreen the short ‘war films’ the Societycreated from Reneson Coucher's colourfilm footage and these engendered alively and thought-provoking discussionabout what it was like to live throughthe Blitz in Marylebone. Many couldclearly recall their terrible, frightening

experiences as young boys and thefollowing excitement watching thereconstruction of modern buildings,such as Woolworth House and CastrolHouse, from the windows of theGrammar School. The Old Philologianshave a wealth of fascinating memoriesand information about Marylebone andit is a credit to their organisation thatthey continue to keep in touch and meetannually.

The secretary of the Old PhilologianAssociation is Peter Walter and any oldboys are invited to join the Associationby contacting him at 62 Linden Avenue,Wembley, Middlesex, HA9 8BD

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L L O Y D S B A N K – B E R K E L E Y C O U RT

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After all that awful rain that kept on fallingearlier in the year, the sun shone on the 8thJune, for the unveiling of a new blue plaqueon a house that stands half in and half out ofMarylebone: in the parish but no longer in

opposite the Workhouse, where there waschampagne (courtesy of the house-owner)and lovely food (courtesy of the WorshipfulCompany of Plumbers).Dr Ruth Richardson

the borough. Members may remember mytalk to the Society about the discovery thatCharles Dickens had lived for nearly fiveyears very close to the Cleveland StreetWorkhouse – only 9 Georgian doors away infact.Dickens lived in the house - the address thenwas known as 10 Norfolk Street – betweenthe ages of 3 and 5, so he probably learned toread there. The family returned to the sameaddress when he was nearly seventeen andstayed until he was nineteen. Dickensworked as a clerk in Gray's Inn while he wasliving there, and learned the shorthandwhich would launch his career as a journalistand parliamentary reporter, and then a tellerof stories.The plaque was unveiled by LucindaDickens Hawksley, Dickens's great-great-great-granddaughter, and the street was fullof well-wishers. After the ceremony,everyone was invited to enjoy the hospitalityat the King and Queen public house,

U N V E I L I N G O F N E W D I C K E N S P L A Q U E

Dr Ruth Richardson writes to alert the Societyto a 'New Threat to the Cleveland StreetWorkhouse'

The owners of the old Outpatients'Department of the Middlesex Hospital inCleveland Street want to redevelop the siteto maximise its property value, and seem tobelieve they have carte blanche to destroyeverything except the oldest, Listed part ofthe site. A design was put up for'consultation' for two days during thissummer's heat-wave with a high-rise blockof flats behind the Workhouse, and anuninspiring design for new buildings oneither side of it, in place of the Workhouse

voluntary hospital The Middlesex Hospital[which stood diagonally opposite, and towhich it was connected by tunnels] and theera of the National Health Service sinceWorld War II. The site was an open fieldwhen the workhouse was originally builtthere. The Nightingale Wards are unique inLondon, in being attached to an 18th centuryworkhouse. The entire site around theworkhouse is consecrated, and deeplyburied with London poor down to a greatdepth. The complex palimpsest of buildingson this site is unique in London, and, inaddition to its intrinsic importance as acluster of historic buildings – not least theconnection with Charles Dickens – it hasextraordinary cultural importance forCamden, and for London as a whole.

The planned destruction of the buildings oneither side of the workhouse wouldirrevocably change the street-setting of theListed Workhouse building, and ruin thecharacter of the Workhouse itself from theMarylebone side of Cleveland Street. Peoplecoming to see the historic Workhouse whichmay have inspired Oliver Twist will see thebuilding rendered completely out of context.The rather fine front wall erected when theMiddlesex Hospital took over theworkhouse building in the 1920s will also belost if these plans go ahead.

If you agree that the setting of theworkhouse should be preserved and itssurrounding buildings retained andconverted rather than demolished, pleasewrite to your local Councillor, CamdenCouncil Planning Department or EnglishHeritage to make your views known.

Master's House and the Receiving Wards.The design appears to have been slightlyaltered following the consultation, butremains substantially the same, and stillinvolves the destruction of the flankingbuildings and the fine Nightingale Wards atthe rear.

This complex of buildings has a very longand important history, both in terms of thecare of the poor of London under the OldPoor Law (the workhouse was built in the1770s) but also under the New Poor Law, themore benign regime of the later Poor Law(when the Nightingale wards were erected)as an Annexe to the now demolished

T H E C L E V E L A N D S T R E E T W O R K H O U S E

5 December 1930 – Cleveland Street showing the workhouse.

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show the work of the Wharncliff ArtGroup. This is a group of local artistswho meet every Wednesday to paintand draw together and is part of the Westminster Adult EducationDepartment. The artist and teacher,Rupert Record, helps the groupinvestigate new techniques and developtheir own particular skills and paintingstyles. The results are very impressiveand illustrate the groups diversity,enjoyment and commitment to art.

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The 2013 Marylebone Village Fayre wasa wonderful community event and theSMS stall showcased the renovation ofthe Memorial Garden with panelsdescribing the evolution of the designand the works on site. The Fayreprovided us with a great opportunity topromote our aims, sell our publications,talk to local people and introduce newmembers to the Society.This year we organised an art exhibitionon the Memorial Garden's railings to

T H E M A R Y L E B O N E V I L L A G E F A Y R E 2 0 1 3

The Newton Circle Project is designedto help some of Westminster’s moredisadvantaged young people becomeexcited about the history on theirdoorstep through the discovery anddramatic reimagining of Isaac Newton’ssocial life in early eighteenth-centuryLondon, when he mixed with the likes

of Wren, Halley, Addison and his wittyniece Catherine Barton. Newton wasnever known for his social skills, so thegreat man’s awkwardness andauthoritativeness will be part of the funof this six-month intergenerationalproject.

The first half will involve a core group ofindividuals from local youth groups andadult history groups who will read,discuss and write about the project on aweekly basis at Westminster CityArchives and Westminster ReferenceLibrary. Beginning with introductorytalks and a London walk or two, Dr.Cindy Lawford of Jermyn StreetTheatre will guide everyone throughthe process of research and be availablewith online assistance throughout. Thesecond half will include the core groupand up to ten more young peopleinterested in dramatically realisingNewton’s circle. With the guidance of

actors and directors, the young peopleand adults will create and act in a shortdrama that will be performed at JermynStreet Theatre.

If you are the least bit interested or just want to impress me with your knowledge, please contactcindy@cindylawford.co.uk.

T H E N E W T O N C I R C L E P R O J E C T

OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY2013

Patron: Lord Montagu of BeaulieuPresident: Colin Amery

Chair: Gaby HiggsVice Chairman: Mike Wood

Hon. Secretary: Andrew CooperHon.Treasurer: Keith Evans

Council Members:Dorian Aroyo (Social Secretary)

Cynthia Poole (Planning Committee Chairman)Robert McAulay (Newsletter)

Douglas Temple (Events)Mike Wood (Local History)

Ian Wylie (Planning)

Clare Mullens.

Rose Hutchison.

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This year we were delighted to receiveover 250 entries for the St George’sDay Photography Competition 2013.The 23rd April fell on a Tuesday so weincluded the weekend of 20th-21st toallow residents and workers to takepart.

The three judges have very differentbackgrounds and look for differentelements in deciding what makes agreat photograph:

Marylebone Journal Assistant Editorand photographer, Viel Richardson,looks for effort; an image that suggeststhat the photographer has thought abouttheir shot, decided on a view andperhaps returned for better light. Herejects snap shots or ‘accidental’ views.

Morley Von Sternberg, internationallyrenowned photographer, stated that helooked for a story in a picture. Goodframing, composition and lighting gowithout saying, but an extra dimension,a narrative, and something not theobvious, will make the image stand out.

Jonathan Makepeace, of the RIBAphotographic archive, looked forcomposition, details, technical abilitybut also thought, evocative mood,shadow, texture and atmosphere wereimportant.

In selecting the top 50 images thejudges were asked to remember that theshot should be identifiably inMarylebone. It is perhaps telling that StGeorge’s day does not stand out in ourshared cultural calendar, as perhaps StPatrick’s or St David’s Days do, andimages portraying people celebratingour national English culture were few.There are a handful of pubs which dressup and get into the party spirit and wewere fortunate that summer camefleetingly to join in the fun this year.

The judges selected as 3rd PrizeAntoine Thevenet’s House of FourDoors. This features a straight-on shotof colourful doors on De Walden Street,W1 and is typical of many post warbuildings in Marylebone. Understated‘Georgian’ detailing of 1950s austerityBritain, entirely suitable forredeveloping bomb sites inMarylebone’s gridded streets. Thejudges like the simplicity of the shotwith the colour, humour and joy thatemanates from the bright tones. It alsoprovoked the question, ‘What’s going oninside?’

Runner up was Polly Hancock’s portraitof Mick and Bernie, enjoying a drinkoutside the Lord High Admiral Pub on

Church Street. The judges thought itshowed great character, friendship andoffered us a glimpse into the lives ofpeople (Martin Parr style) who hadperhaps lived in Marylebone for manyyears. There is a lot going on in thispicture. England flags flutter above, anda cacophony of signage and graphicshang from the shop fronts. Thecomposition uses perspectivedramatically to frame the subjects andthey stare out of the frame, which makesone wonder what is going on out of shot.In the background post-war flats towerover the market stalls and one can seethe recently completed WestminsterCity College in the distance; Mick andBernie may have seen many changes tothis area over the years.

First prize was unanimous. All are

Welcome by Colin Best captures the

clergy and altar servers at St

Marylebone Parish Church awaiting the

arrival of the Bishop of London, to

officiate at the annual Confirmation

ceremony. The black and white

composition, framed by stone steps and

columns adds gravity and formality to

the occasion. The boys are turned away,

which highlights their white collars

and emphasises the priest’s white

vestments, which positively illuminate

the scene. The narrative is intriguing.

There’s an air of anticipation, a sense of

occasion… but is it slightly menacing?

Perfectly composed and balanced – it

even managed to capture a sign on the

left saying ‘welcome to St Marylebone’.

See all the photos on the Art in Marylebonewebsite: www. artinmarylebone.org.uk

A R T I N M A R Y L E B O N E 2 0 1 3

Antoine Thevenet Colin Best Polly Hancock

Fr Stephen Evans with the winning photograpgh.

ST MARYLEBONE SOCIETY PROGRAMME 2013Friday 18th October, 10.30 am, CoffeeMorning. London Marriott Hotel, 140 ParkLane, W1K 7AA. 020 7647 5605. SaintMarylebone Society members have been invited(by our new corporate member) forcomplimentary refreshments and theopportunity to view some proposedrefurbishments to this Boutique Hotel at MarbleArch.Thursday 24 October 2013, 11.00 a.m.Natural History Museum – Cromwell Road,South Kensington, London SW7. Vast numbersof exhibits telling the story of Evolution and amajor exhibition of winning wild life photographs.Meet outside 11 .00 a.m. Price £5.00Wednesday 13th November, 10.30 am,Coffee Morning. Saporito Café, 14 Melcombe

Street, NW1 6AH. 020 7262 3377. Pay your own way.Wednesday 20 November 2013 3.00 pm.The Florence Nightingale Museum – 2 Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 (StThomas’ Hospital), Florence Nightingale livedfrom 1820-1910 and did a great deal to reform andimprove the standards of nursing and hygiene inthe 19th century. She is chiefly remembered forher work with the wounded soldiers during theCrimean War – 1853-1855. She has exertedconsiderable influence subsequently. Talk at 3.30pm. for about half an hour. Meet outside 3.00 pm.Price £4.80Wednesday 11 December 2013 2.00 pm.Handel’s House. 25 Brook Street, London W1.The house and contents where George Frederick

Handel lived and worked from 1723-1759. Visitincludes fine period furniture, paintings andmusical instruments. Meet outside 2.00 pm.Price £5.00

Wednesday January 29th 2014, 10.30 am,Coffee Morning. Dorset Square Hotel. 39-40Dorset Square NW1 6QN. 020 7723 7874. A warming return visit, in the depths of winter, toour previous hosts and to the comforts of thePotting Shed restaurant. Pay your own way.

Date for your diary – AGM, 6 November 2013 at TheMedical Society of London, Chandos Street, W1.

For more information and late bookings pleasecontact: St Marylebone Society Events Secretary,Douglas Temple, Flat 1, 23 Seymour Place, LondonW1H 5BH – 020 7723 6417.

Dear Society, British Legion Poppy Collection –2013Last November the Poppy Collection inMarylebone High Street, which hadlapsed for several years, was verysuccessful, raising £2,804 for the BritishLegion Appeal supporting needy andinjured ex-service personnel and theirfamilies.This year, Shirley and I are intending toact as local organisers and headquarters,but as we are now not fit enough to dopavement collecting ourselves, we needadditional volunteers in order to do so.As before, the plan would be to have twohour “watches” outside Tescos andWaitrose from Saturday 2nd to Friday8th November and at the Farmers’Market on Sunday 3rd. This wouldinvolve collecting the tray of poppiesand money tin from here beforehand andreturning them afterwards. Please telephone me on 020 7486 5580at 19 de Walden Street to discussavailability and make provisionalarrangements.Roger Button

Rosa Maria Carless (1921-2013)

My mother Rosa Maria Carless, whowas a long-term Marylebone resident,died peacefully at St Clare's Care Home,Sussex, on June 28th, aged 91.

For many years she and my father (the explorer and diplomat, HughCarless, CMG) lived in BryanstonSquare. My mother, originally from SaoPaulo, Brazil, relished living in centralLondon.

Born on December 8th, 1921, the eldestdaughter of Martino and Ada Frontini.

She grew up in Sao Paulo speakingItalian in the home and Portuguese inthe street. University educated, with asuccessful career in her own right, sheworked for Sao Paulo's Museum ofModern Art and rose to deputy director.She married my father Hugh in 1957 inTehran and shared his life as a diplomatuntil their retirement in 1985. Theyenjoyed many postings around theworld.

In mid-life she became an accomplishedartist. She had many exhibitionsworldwide. Her last solo exhibition wasin Paris 2001. Rosa Maria's art styleevolved from intricate abstract forms byfelt tip pen to a more confidentexpressiveness through the use ofacrylics on canvas.

Rosa Maria was a caring and affectionatemother. She had two sons, Ronald andRoger (the latter sadly died in 2009 aged45). Hugh died in 2011.

Ronnie Carless

LETTERS OBITUARY

Published by the St. Marylebone Society, October 2013. ©St Marylebone Society.

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