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THIS WEBSITE IS DEDICATED TO MY PARENTS AND TO MR G

My father was born in Dulwich in South London and my Mother in Bethnal Green and was a REAL COCKNEY, as I am. Read about my parents who were colourful characters and the events in their lives.

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THE LATEST SERIES TO BE UPLOADED IS

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE HOME PAGE

my-father-1978-red-red

Read some stories of my father …… a colourful character
who both inspired amusing tales and also told some ……
my father who had the ability to charm dogs, babies and people

He also made the best cup of tea that I ever tasted.
Learn his secret here!

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THE CHRONICLES OF
HER GRACE THE DUCHESS

Duchess

When Casanova/Puppy died I was very upset and miserable for about three months. I said that I would not get another dog, as I could not go through the gloom and doom of their loss. However, I was advised to find another since this was the best way to get over (or as near as possible) the loss of such a wonderful companion.

And it seems that they were right! For had I not, I would not have met THE DUCHESS and then fallen under her spell!

CLICK HERE TO READ

THE CHRONICLES OF HER GRACE THE DUCHESS

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WAITING TO CROSS
THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

The story of a beloved Labrador who now waits at the foot of
THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

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THE CLOSURE OF THE
ODEON THEATRE/CINEMA
WESTON SUPER MARE
&
THE FINAL CONCERT GIVEN AT
THE THEATRE ORGAN

The Odeon Theatre Weston Super Mare (2017)
(Photograph provided by Paul Bland)

On Monday, June 5^th, 2023, the Odeon Theatre/Cinema Weston Super Mare closed with no plans to re-open anytime soon. Closure came eighty-eight years and one month after its opening on May 25^th, 1935.

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The Compton Theatre Organ of The Odeon Theatre Weston Super Mare

On Sunday, May 21^st, 2023, the renowned Theatre Organist, Michael Wooldridge, gave what would seem to be the final concert (for the present that is!), which was sponsored by the Theatre Organ Club.

CLICK BELOW TO READ ABOUT

PART 1: THE BUILDING OF THE THEATRE/CINEMA

PART 2: THE OPENING OF THE THEATRE/CINEMA

PART 3: THE THEATRE ORGAN
& HISTORY OF THE THE ODEON THEATRE

PART 4: THE FINAL CONCERT
GIVEN AT THE THEATRE ORGAN
OF THE
THE ODEON THEATRE/CINEMA
WESTON SUPER MARE

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A SURPRISE FOR ME
OR
HOW I GOT MY DOG!

Over the years, friends have literally nagged me to get a dog, but I always had some good excuse. To tell the absolute truth, I did not believe that any dog would take to me and allow me to become the centre of their world. A friend suggested that we go to the local Animal Shelter and allow a dog to choose me. This filled me with horror since despite these poor creatures being desperate to find a home, I believed that no dog would ever be sufficiently desperate enough to choose me! Evidently, when it came to judging my appeal to a dog, I had very low self-esteem!!!

How little I knew of dogs and one dog in particular!

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT HOW I GOT MY DOG AND THE TRIALS, TRIBULATIONS & FUN OF OUR LIFE TOGETHER!

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JACKIE BROWN
NOT JUST A THEATRE ORGANIST

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE LIFE OF THE ORGANIST, COMPOSER & ARRANGER
WHOSE LIFE WAS CUT SHORT ALL TOO SOON

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LEN RAWLE
THE PROFESSIONAL AMATEUR
& ORGANIST SUPREME

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE FASCINATING LIFE OF THE ORGANIST & RESTORER OF THEATRE ORGANS

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TO COMMEMORATE
THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RELEASE OF

SGT. PEPPER’S
LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND

CLICK HERE TO READ MY ACCOUNT OF THE EFFECT IT HAD ON A CERTAIN GROUP OF PEOPLE

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CARVE HER NAME WITH PRIDE

Stories of FOUR extraordinary women from history including

BOADICEA & NURSE EDITH CAVELL

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE & ELIZABETH FRY

In Preparation

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POPPIES AT THE TOWER

Read about the Ceramic Poppies planted in the moat of The Tower of London in remembrance of the fallen of The First World War

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MEMORIES OF THE TOWER OF LONDON

& TOWER BRIDGE

A return to The Tower of London together with a walk across Tower Bridge after an absence of thirty years

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THE LIFE & TIMES OF SAMUEL PEPYS

SAINT OLAVE’S CHURCH

Samuel Pepys lived during turbulent times in British History: The Civil War, The Execution of Charles I, The Commonwealth of England, Scotland & Wales under The Protector, Oliver Cromwell and The Restoration of the Monarchy. Although he was the Chief Secretary to the Admiralty, he his best remembered today for his Diaries written between 1660 and 1669 where he recorded both events of daily British life and major events in the 17th Century including The Great Plague (1665) and The Great Fire (1666) of London, as well as The Anglo Dutch War (1665-1667). At one time, Samuel Pepys worshiped at St. Olave’s Church in The City of London, which is one of the few medieval churches to have survived The Great Fire of London. It is also the site where he and his wife are buried.

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THE LIFE & TIMES OF
DOCTOR SAMUEL JOHNSON

Home Page

Doctor Johnson was a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, lexicographer & editor and is considered by many as the most distinguished man of letters in English History.

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He is a man of most dreadful appearance. He is a very big man, is troubled with sore eyes, the palsy, the king’s evil. He is very slovenly in his dress and speaks with a most uncouth voice. This ill-favoured, melancholy man with enormous creative and intellectual powers is named Samuel Johnson.

From The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. by James Boswell

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Walking up the High Street by Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827), from 1786

Also included in this series is information on Doctor Johnson’s biographer, JAMES BOSWELL

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ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL

Isambard Kingdom Brunel bord.

The life and achievements of the greatest of Civil Engineers who was the Chief Engineer of the Great Western Railway, builder of steamships, bridges and a variety of other structures of note.

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JACK THE RIPPER

An account of perhaps the most fascinating and famous (and infamous) serial killer of all time

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SIR JOHN CASS
FOUNDER OF MY FIRST SCHOOL

Founders Day - Copy RED

Memories of the my first school interspersed with the life & times of the philanthropist who lived in the City of London

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POSTCARDS OF OLD LONDON SENT
by DAVE HILL

and

AN ADDITIONAL SET OF POSTCARDS
OF OLD LONDON ALSO SENT
by DAVE HILL

A look at some old postcards and the memories they evoke and see how London has changed over the years.

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THE CITY OF LONDON
A RECORD OF DESTRUCTION
& SURVIVAL

by DAVE HILL
& CHARLES S.P. JENKINS

A look at a proposed plan for rebuilding certain areas of The City of London

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A SERIES OF WALKS ALONG
THE THAMES EMBANKMENT
Home Page

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emankment

A series of walks along the The Embankment are taken to re-look at the buildings and bridges. Memories of past walks are recalled and once again trips on London’s Trams and brass bands playing in the park on warm Sunday afternoons are remembered. The glorious Savoy Hotel and the Comic Operas of Gilbert & Sullivan are recalled.

Also included here is SOME information on ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL

Finally the many statues of once-prominent people found in the numerous Public Gardens along the length of The Embankment are discussed.

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THE DEPARTMENT STORES
Home Page

THE Great Store red

Read about some of the Department Stores of yesterday and today along with some amusing incidents associated with them.

Who remembers Dawson’s, Wickham’s & Gardiner’s?

Who remembers shopping with their Mother as a child?

The wonderful Dimmey’s of Melbourne was in the process of conversion from being a Department Store into a supermarket soon after my last visit and is included in this series.

Also learn about the history of

BURBERRY

and its wonderful new Head Office in
the former New Gallery Cinema in Regent Street

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THE SETTLEMENT MOVEMENT
& THE SETTLEMENT HOUSES

Mr. Atlee at Toynbee Hall in 1945

In the late 19th Century, members of Oxford University came to live and work
in the most deprived areas of the East End of London to help bring relief to the needy

Read about Samuel & Henrietta Barnett and their work at TOYNBEE HALL in Stepney
and
that of Edward Talbott and Arthur Winnington-Ingram at OXFORD HOUSE in Bethnal Green

The work of these inspirational people continues today in both the U.K. and around the world

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HOLD ON A MINUTE ………
DIDN’T THIS USED TO BE ……… ???

Odeon Theatre Hackney Road as a Cinema & as a Bingo Hall

Some stories where one learns that although nothing may last forever,
buildings my be re-invented and enjoy a second life.

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THE ODEON ISLEWORTH ………
DIDN’T THIS BUILDING USED TO BE A CINEMA???

Isleworth-Studios-2 red

A series of stories where the Chinese proverb, it is better to travel than to arrive, is brought into doubt. Like Alice in Wonderland, the reader will encounter a series of surprises including the Rolls-Royce of Trolleybuses, an unusual cinema, a Lavender Hill and a Junction, a wetland tucked away in suburban London, a once intriguing palace and a surprise encounter that proves to be the biggest surprise of all!

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ISN’T THIS WHERE
CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON
ONCE PREACHED?

Three stories where areas of South London are rediscovered and where the famous preacher and one of the world’s greatest evangelists comes to life again thanks to a minister in North Carolina!

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THE GRANADA THEATRE CIRCUIT
Home Page

Granada Sergeant - 1

A series of stories where the origins of the cinema circuit, the theatres and the giants that built them, are recalled and where one can learn the history of the first Jewish man killed in the American War of Independence and where he came from.

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