About Dave

This weekend column is brought to you by the founders of Niceties Tokens, Liz and Pete of Team Nice. 14. The Right To Protest It seems to me that the government is particularly exposed whenever it is seen to block the right of its citizens …

14. The Jewel House Apparition Mr Edmond Lenthal Swift was the Keeper of the Crown Jewels, at the Tower Of London from 1814 to 1842. It was here, as mentioned in a previous episode, that a sentry encountered a huge phantom bear, which he reported …

This Week In London’s History Monday – 13th August 1977: Hundreds of protesters clash with police at a National Front march in Lewisham, south-east London. About 400 Socialist Worker Party members had gathered to try to prevent the National Front march, but had been prevented …

This weekend column is brought to you by the founders of Niceties Tokens, Liz and Pete of Team Nice. 13. Rehabilitation? This week Team Nice quizzed Liberal Democrat Councillor Simon Carter of Lewisham Borough Council. The topic ran to antisocial behaviour and whether our solutions …

13. The Horror Of Berkeley Square Over a century ago, No. 50 Berkeley Square, W1 was London’s most famous haunted house. Some of the residents to have lived on the street are William Pitt, the Earl of Chatham (No. 6), Horace Walpole (No. 11) and …

This Week In London’s History Monday – 6th August 1937: Barbara Windsor is born in Shoreditch in central London. She would achieve fame as an actress, notably as a ‘saucy strumpet’ in the Carry On films of the 60s and 70s and later as a …

This weekend column is brought to you by the founders of Niceties Tokens, Liz and Pete of Team Nice. 12. History Repeating Itself? Gordon Brown is clearly still enjoying a prolonged honeymoon period. It must be so. Under ordinary circumstances it would be no surprise …

11. Spring Heeled Jack: A Chronicle of Chaos “But most of all did he dwell upon some mysterious blazing entity that shook and laughed and mocked at him.” Beyond The Wall Of Sleep – H. P. Lovecraft Supernatural? Invader from space? Prankster? Hysteria? Spring Heeled …

This Week In London’s History Monday – 30th July 1966: England defeat West Germany in the FIFA World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, claiming the Jules Rimet Trophy (and, of course, the status of Football World Champions for the next four years). Tuesday – 31st …

This weekend column is brought to you by the founders of Niceties Tokens, Liz and Pete of Team Nice. 11. Marmite And Socialism Who feels comfortable about talking politics? The people that I know fall into two categories… Some people don’t really feel comfortable talking …