Brougham Road, Hackney, London E8
I had an idea of setting out some history of this road in the then, wasteland of Hackney, between the Grand Union Canal and London Fields.
The history has not actually been written yet, as I have no real leads on when the road became a small part of the underground counter-culture. All my leads so far were residing in the road from 1981 when it had already been set up as squatted accomodation.
I would not like to hazzard a guess to how long the road had been active with squats or who was the first person to bust open a door, before the brightly coloured haired visionaries took over the street in the early 1980′s.
I am hoping that some passing comments on this post may start to give me a more detailed view of what I will have to write. For now, a few bits of mail from folk (in no particular order) who were there in the early 1980′s to jog your memories.
J.C. (Treasurer of Co-Op/sometime soundman and security at gigs):
I got there in 1982, so don’t know too much about the early history. I thought the Mob/Zounds crew would be able to help more with that. Or maybe even Hugh, but not sure how much him and the Tibetan hippies would actually be able to remember, or if it would be accurate.
OK – When I got there, co-op was more or less set up. Main culprits were Richard, number 70 I think, a guy up at number 106 whose name I can’t remember and Elizabeth.
The ´face´ for the street was definitely Richard – I think he was going out with Fiona at the time, so again, Hugh might know more about him. He convinced me to become ´administrator´ and later secretary/treasurer /general dogsbody!
I think Patchwork ran several houses, but were (gently) persuaded to hand them over to us! Six houses (at the bottom) were knocked down for road, but this was balanced by 4 ´derelicts´ being brought back into commission.
Loads of money wasted by council (as usual) during repairs. There was a rolling program of repairs to bring all houses to some sort of standard, but some houses were worse after renovation than before.
Josef Porter (Zounds/The Mob/Blyth Power):
The real story happened before we moved in – I heard some of the old hippies squatting there before us hid Astrid Proll from the Baader Meinhof Gang, and other such madness. We just picked up their leftovers. Steve Lake might know more, and you need to find Dave Morris A.K.A. Dave the Anarchist Postman, who predates us all. He was the one in the McLibel case.
Dave Morris:
Well I was squatting in 64 Brougham Rd from 1974-1980. I was a postman in Islington. The house was very run down, with an old outside toilet and a sink for a kitchen. But we decorated the inside with posters, murals, press cuttings and inspiring slogans etc.
I shared the place with Alan, a really decent and quiet young bloke who became an alcoholic in the late 1970s. Alan once got nicked when drunk at a train station wearing my post office jacket and wheeling about a post office trolley with bags of letters on it. This led to a raid on the house and some laughable police hysteria about him and me being in an anarchist train robbers gang… I testified in court that I had known nothing about it (and that probably nor did Alan), but he still got 6 months suspended (Mentioned in Albert Meltzer’s autobiography). After I left I think he went downhill, and last I heard he tragically got run over by a bus.
The other bloke we shared with was Des Kelly from Ireland who I recall was writing a book… I have a mad photo of him trying to ride his bike UP our staircase. I did bump into him in Hackney 15 years later but cant remember what he was doing them.
Spanish Elizabeth was next door I think. Zounds folks moved into my place or next door after I left. I vaguely recall a guy (Bruce?) living at No 66 who did animation and who told me he was working on an amazing path-breaking new film called ‘Star Wars’.. it didn’t sound to me like it would get anywhere with a crap name like that…
There was a very strong Broadway Market Squatters Association (with maybe 50+ homes in it from the area) which met regularly for mutual solidarity and campaigning. I remember we decided to boycott an amnesty offered by the GLC (London Authority) to squatters if we would accept licenses… the Association saw it as a sell out and divide and rule – we were all pretty militant and independent. But eventually many did accept licenses and then formed housing co-ops in order to keep together and survive.
There were lots of radical feminists in the area, many squatting – I admired them a lot. Some were involved in the Women In Manual Trades group. Former german urban guerrilla Astrid Proll did apparently spend some time in the area and many people in the area helped form the Friends of Astrid Proll to campaign for her after she was arrested.
I think a building which had been squatted at the south end of the street sometime in the early 70s became a collectively run playcentre..
There was a revolutionary socialist guy who was a tenant in the tower block at that end of the street and had had some run ins with NF fascists.. I vaguely remember getting involved in anti-fascist stuff in the area, painting out nazi slogans etc…
There was a good community, with squatters, tenants, feminists, anarchists and all age groups and nationalities all mixing and getting along pretty well.
There was famous graffiti on a wall at the end of the street by the market which survived for over 10 years: ‘Broadway Market is not a sinking ship – its a submarine.’ It has been restored in recent years, but unfortunately gentrified a lot. It was amazing to go back there last year after decades away and visit Tony’s cafe which had been there when I was there I think, been evicted in order to be ponced up, and then re-occupied as a high profile squatted political centre opposing gentrification in the area (by some anarchists and ‘Hackney Independent’ activists.. see the Hackney Independent website for full info on this).
John:
I remember the Mob had a house there and they lived next door to Andy from Null and Void (I think the bass player lived there too who’s name if I remember rightly was Mark) and Steve from Yeovil (long dreadlocks).
Rob Vex, Rob Challice, Paul (Faction, This Bitter Lesson and Christie) and J.C. lived at 96 Brougham Road.
Next door was Spanish Elisabeth (who was an old school revolutionary/anarchist type from Spain-hence the name) she later ended up having a kid with J.C. and I lost touch with him.
Neal (original guitarist of Blyth Power) also lived on Brougham Rd with his Mum and his sister Liz (great people) but I’m not sure of the exact number.
I also remember Tim Hutton (ex Mob drummer before Josef and ex-Zounds) living somewhere on Brougham Road great guy and amazing musician.
That’s about all I remember about Brougham Road. It was quite hippyish and if I remember rightly the whole street was squatted, or at least that one side of it was. There was on old bus station on one end and Broadway market on the other and it was a five minute walk to a 24 hour bagel shop.
I think the Ukrainian Mountaine Troupe were part of the hippy bus convoy crew that lived in the bus station, which at one point I lived next door to, very briefly as they had a tendency to break into the local squats and steal stuff. After I lost my radio/cassette and Kelvin lost some stuff, it seemed like time to move.
Mark Wilson (The Mob):
The Mob were living in a rented house in Seend in Wiltshire and we bought a bus to tour on. When we got it ready we took it for a test drive to visit Josef who was living in Brougham Road.
The next morning a guy walked out of number 74 and asked us if we wanted to buy the house for £40. This was the amount he had spent on getting water on and changing the Yale lock. Yale locks have a big place in the history of squatting!!
Sylvianne (pictured in Friends of the Puppies in photo gallery) lived next door at number 72. Number 76 was inhabited by some radical feminists who disliked us and most other people intensely. Spanish Elizabeth who was involved in the Centro Iberico lived up the other end, possible number 94.
There were many interesting characters such as New Zealand Andy the mechanic who would take copious amounts of mind bending drugs and stay up all night fixing trucks. My personal favorite and life long inspiration was Ray who was a cockney wide boy with loads of kids. We would often get work with him fixing transit vans and old Ford Capri’s outside his house. We were best known for tipping cars on their sides to change the gearboxes to the horror of their owners.
The oven in number 74 was permanently turned on and the whole street would use it to cook bread – we had a special arrangement with the electric bill.
Sara, Liz Rosie, Neil, and Chris lived up in the number 90’s After I left the street, number 74 became a den of skag for a while with Guy, Max, Mark H, and Glen from Weymouth I believe.
The bus garage was squatted after we arrived by members of the Peace Convoy including my sister Jen. We were a bit pissed as we seemed to get the blame for the invasion having just landed in a bus.
The Tibetans were living temporarily in the street on or around the same time.
Rob Challice (Faction/All The Madmen Records):
Sara, Liz, Neil and co lived at number 94
Sara and Liz lived for a while round the corner to the right of the bus garage entrance.
I remember that it was somebody from number 102/104, Spanish Elizabeth, JC and a couple of other organized heads who made the push to get the houses into a housing association.
We were proud of our house, number 96, and the street. We made plenty of home (and garden) improvements. J.C. was always responsible for gas, electric and such amenities.
I regularly explain to people who have no experience of squats that actually in some squats the standard of accommodation was higher than some rented accommodation that I’ve seen, and I imagine better than much student accommodation on offer.
Ray and family were in the number 60′s I think. ‘Diamond geezer’ he was.
J.C. took over 96 Brougham Road. Paul, Rob (Vex) and I joined him in 1981. I was 17.
I ran 96 Tapes and WOT Distribution from number 96 from 1982/1983 onwards.
I can’t remember many break-ins at our house I moved out approx 1985/1986
Val Puppy (Kill Your Pet Puppy contributor):
The Tibetan Ukrainian Mountain Troupe was around when I was living at number 66. Various members of whom run the kids’ field at Glastonbury now (including Tibetan Tony and Wandering Will), They promote it as a free festival within the larger festival.
Photographs by Val and Penguin
Taken during summer solstice.
Probably not taken during summer solstice (this photo is not from the Penguin or Val collection)
May 17th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Saw Neil a while back. Liz & their mum still live there in adjacent houses.
May 25th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Nice picture of a zombied up Neil on this post now, a few more on the photo gallery Brougham Road section.
May 27th, 2008 at 11:09 am
I’ve got a load of photos taken at Dave Fanning’s place on Brougham Rd. Andy & Dave, plus New Zealand Andy, Hippy Nigel, Sally , Dave’s French girlfriend for a while and a few others. I also remember ‘Dead Kev’ who stayed at #74. I’ve also got some photof of the grafitti Andy & Dave did along that coruggated sheeting; “Kill Nazis” and suchlike. Will try to get em looked out, scanned and off to you soon, Pengy.
Brougham Rd was like a total throw-back to hippy times – just could never imagine anything like that existing now.
May 31st, 2008 at 12:39 am
Well, I know this isn’t a LOT of help, but I recall that Colin from 79 Balls Pond Road squat moved in with a woman called Karen at a different squat in the BPR, and then when they were evicted from that they both moved into a squat on Brougham Road. I think this must have been early 1979. They were known (though possibly not to their faces, ahem…) as ‘The Gruesome Twosome’ and weren’t ‘punks’ as such but still part of the scene then. And I remember a hippy called Kevs who was also part of the scene squatting in Brougham Road. Lot of dope and patchouli oil, you know…
I’m sure the more people post stuff, the more I and others will remember – it’s all in my brain somewhere,it’s just that my brain’s getting smaller but because I’ve been alive so bloody long the memories are taking up more space, and something has to give…
May 31st, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Stu there’s a picture of hippy Kev in the 1st huntingdon pic you posted, with you me twotone steve hippy Mark and another hippyish guy from middlesbrough
May 31st, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Ta Phil! Thought that was them, but didn’t want to libel anyone! Bloody hippies – all look the same! :O
June 17th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
New Zealand Andy was an interesting character. He had all sorts of stories to tell about his travels round the world. Outside his house was parked his old ambulance, which had a stove pipe going through the roof. Inside, the ambulance was well-furnished with fitted wooden cupboards and shelving.
He had a bandy-legged Jack Russell which he used as a kind of mobile first aid kid. Once I’d cut myself badly on the hand and the wound wasn’t healing very quickly. Andy told me to hold my hand out to the dog and keep still. The dog chewed up the scab and licked all the pus away with enthusiasm. As Andy predicted, the wound healed quickly and cleanly afterwards.
The bus garage was an astonishing place. All that could be seen from the street was the large, high entrance. This gave no clue as to how extensive the garage was inside. Dave Fanning took me to see people living there to score acid off them. The power was off and all that could be seen at first was the flames of dozens of candles dotted all around, like the interior of a cathedral.
June 17th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
errr, are you sure it was your hand you proffered to NZ Andy’s dog, Ian? Funny, I don’t recall it being ‘bandy legged’ till after that very day.
June 18th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
threadkillah!
June 22nd, 2008 at 9:39 pm
hi, i lived with andy martin and dave fanning at 108 in the late 80′s, ted and dog sadie used to sleep curled around the drums in the practice room as i was kindly given an upstairs room after arriving after some crisis or other, i remember doing some illustrations for andy for smile and having interesting conversations throught the hatch between his room and the kitchen and drawing a lot with dave in his room listening to tony hancock and derek and clive…i loved it there, i was very young and they were very kind to a naive messed up hippy
August 7th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Lived for a year or so across the road from Dave Fanning and Andy Martin having got to know ‘Hackney Hell Crew’ people Martin, Alien, Olly (Oily) Bucket, Simmo, Puss Goatbreath (RIP) and often stayed there (stayed in a garden shed with Simmo for a short while, situated across a lovely ‘ditch’ feature instigated and no doubt dug by Andy Martin).
I stayed with Diana Lloyd (RIP) who had a lot of interesting history going back to the sixties and although suffering a bit from the profound substances abuse in her youth was a very wise head at a time when I was struggling.
This was all around 1986 when there was a definite feeling that time was being called on the way of life Brougham Road offered. Would have liked to have explored the lifestyle in a more positive way than I did but on reflection the people sights and sounds, like a good song or book, have left a lasting impression.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Stump! Is this the Stump so-called because of one leg shorter than the other after a motorbike accident? Is in the Daubeney Road photos with Sue and Urk etc????
August 16th, 2008 at 2:32 am
Hi all
Well I was squatting in 64 Brougham Rd from 1974-1980. I was a postman in Islington. The house was very run down, with an old outside toilet and a sink for a kitchen. But we decorated the inside with posters, murals, press cuttings and inspiring slogans etc.
I shared the place with Alan, a really decent and quiet young bloke who became an alcoholic in the late 1970s. Alan once got nicked when drunk at a train station wearing my post office jacket and wheeling about a post office trolley with bags of letters on it. This led to a raid on the house and some laughable police hysteria about him and me being in an anarchist train robbers gang… I testified in court that I had known nothing about it (and that probably nor did Alan), but he still got 6mths suspended. (Mentioned in Albert Meltzer’s autobiography). After I left I think he went downhill, and last I heard he tragically got run over by a bus.
The other bloke we shared with was Des Kelly from Ireland who I recall was writing a book… I have a mad photo of him trying to ride his bike UP our staircase. I did bump into him in Hackney 15 years later but cant remember what he was doing them.
Spanish Elizabeth was next door I think. Zounds folks moved into my place or next door after I left. I vaguely recall a guy (Bruce?) living at No 66 who did animation and who told me he was working on an amazing path-breaking new film called ‘Star Wars’.. it didn’t sound to me like it would get anywhere with a crap name like that…
There was a very strong Broadway Market Squatters Association (with maybe 50+ homes in it from the area) which met regularly for mutual solidarity and campaigning. I remember we decided to boycott an amnesty offered by the GLC (London Authority) to squatters if we would accept licenses… the Association saw it as a sell out and divide and rule – we were all pretty militant and independent. But eventually many did accept licenses and then formed housing co-ops in order to keep together and survive.
There were lots of radical feminists in the area, many squatting – I admired them a lot. Some were involved in the Women In Manual Trades group. Former german urban guerrilla Astrid Proll did apparently spend some time in the area and many people in the area helped form the Friends of Astrid Proll to campaign for her after she was arrested.
I think a building which had been squatted at the south end of the street sometime in the early 70s became a collectively run playcentre..
There was a revolutionary socialist guy who was a tenant in the tower block at that end of the street and had had some run ins with NF fascists.. I vaguely remember getting involved in anti-fascist stuff in the area, painting out nazi slogans etc…
There was a good community, with squatters, tenants, feminists, anarchists and all age groups and nationalities all mixing and getting along pretty well.
There was famous graffiti on a wall at the end of the street by the market which survived for over 10 years: ‘Broadway Market is not a sinking ship – its a submarine.’ It has been restored in recent years, but unfortunately gentrified a lot. It was amazing to go back there last year after decades away and visit Tony’s cafe which had been there when I was there I think, been evicted in order to be ponced up, and then re-occupied as a high profile squatted political centre opposing gentrification in the area (by some anarchists and ‘Hackney Independent’ activists.. see the Hackney Independent website for full info on this).
I could say more no doubt… and I have a few photos of the street and other sites in the area (poss. the bus garage, the corrugated iron church, and the green tiled ‘Dublin Bottling Company’ off the market)..
August 16th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Thanks for adding this Dave, It would be lovely to get some photos uploaded from your collection. Be fascinating to view them. I will email you direct concerning this. I will also add this text to the main body of the post. Thanks.
August 16th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Hi Dave, I remember looking after Alan when he had the D.T.s really bad. He was in a different world and i remember him spending hours trying to untangle string that pixies and elfs had tied around the house. Really gone..
August 16th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Great stuff Dave, a real piece of alternative history. I wonder why the similar story of squatting in west London – e.g. Frestonia – seems to be (relatively) better documented in comparison to east London?
August 28th, 2008 at 12:10 am
hey stumpy just seen stuff bout old days H.H.C n stuff, Ha Ha, long time,hope u well, am down in whitstable these days, u still in the west country? get in touch u toothless ape…
August 28th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Alright Martin, I’m in Oxfordshire now with my plastic teeth and all. I’m very well thanks and you’ve worked out how to use a computer so you can’t be bad either! Don’t really know how to get in touch using this website without leaving personal details on the internet maybe just set up a temporary email address and go from there?
Are you still in touch with anybody from then? Apparently the Apostles continue to play around Hackney (Chat’s Palace last year, I think) Cheers -Stump
August 28th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
i saw olly last oct in copenhagen,been there bout 13 years,he was o.k. alien lives in tottenham,workin as a tube station manager, HA, HA,doin drummin still,simo died bout 5 years ago,it was only the other day i was thinkin about diane, its sad she died, i have caught up wiv quite a lot of old faces and old mates bands through my space,yeah im not sure wot the crack is wiv givin out myspace/email contact on ere?
August 28th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
I can do it on your behalf guys…cos I have the power!
August 29th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
nice one,
August 29th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Hi Martin
Thanks for the info. Sad to hear about Simmo – always thought he had a chance – The phrase “will a breeeak it” has stuck with me ever since (to the point where other people around me also say it about any piece of technology that doesn’t work first time!) He was the first person from HCC who I met – bloody refreshing compared to all the fucking wannabes around at the time!
Diana’s demise was not a complete surprise but I’ve retained a lot of the great stories about/from her. Much of how I live now does owe a lot to that era (but without body lice!)
Give me a link to any other place on the net you reside in and I’ll get in touch. All the best – Stump
August 30th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Incidentally, I just wondered: would you be from Birmingham, Stumpy?
(If not, please ignore)
October 5th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Hey Chris
I find it really nice to read all these messages.
I’m Belgium Sally. Speaking double dutch and not french.
Together whith my husband David I had a amazing and unforgettable time at 108.
I read that you’ve got a few pictures that I really want to see.
Is it possible for you to send this pictures to me? You can make me quite happy whith those.
Now I live back in Belgium and still I drive a bus for my work and still floating time by time back to years ago. To memories that I forever hold in my heart and mind.
Hope to hear soon from you.
Lots of love to all of you there.
Kiss Belgium Sally
October 8th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Oh. You’ve deleted the spam message. I was quite interested in finding out how to enlarge my penis…
October 8th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Have you tried stinging nettles
October 8th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Can I confirm that ‘Stewart’ is Stewart formerly of Daubeney Road, Nightingale Estate etc. and, if so – Hello, how are you doing?
All the best Stumpy.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Stump! Took you two fucking months to reply, but hell, you were always a bit slow… (*winks*). I’m actually very good, ta – never thought I’d end up where I am, but I’m alive, happy and pretty contented on the whole. Completely broke. And completely stressed out in my new job, already. But Life is Life, you know…
What about you????
October 8th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
PS, Andus: Stinging nettles? Yes, I have tried them, but they’re still just small pricks, you know…?!?!
October 8th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Ha! Good one Stew, you bastard! Glad to hear all’s well. Last time I saw you was at Pip’s somewhat ‘last throw of the dice for some’ leaving do. You were a reporter/journo (and probably still are if you’re skint and stressed) at the time and were just off the back of a scoop regarding a certain Tory MP (might be slow but have an unfailing memory).
I’m thoroughly enjoying my 40′s having arrived in a happy situation beyond a bit of a trail of destruction (surprise! surprise!).
Always enjoyed your company, sharpness and rabid cynicism (not to mention the brilliant dub and reggae collection/system) – talents, no doubt, that keep your rent paid today.
I’m thoroughly enjoying the potential anarchy of the credit crunch thing – all that squirming by the once smug is truly great. Not a problem for me as I busted my credit years ago, hence nothing to crunch.
Stump
October 8th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Oh yeah! The photos were great by the way.
Stumpy
October 10th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
sounds like a great project – I hope you get loads of old photos so you can post them on here
October 12th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Hi Sally long time eh I was with Lee in Poland this week and he was asking after Griet. Anyone any news i can pass on? Many times i think of crazy times and people in Belgium.Remember that club in Hasalt where everyone used to go to come down on Sundays?
October 15th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Hi
Does any one know Martin Braindamage? We used to live at 66 Colvester Cres with him and others around 1986-87. Would really like to hear what he’s doin now.
October 17th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
i was chattin to womble (decadent few) who said martin moved back to harrow, and he’s a motorcycle courier in london these days,
November 1st, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Thank you for the news about Martin Braindamage if you ever see him tell him Val n Martin say hi . If anyone else knows anything about him would love to here about him how he’s doing etc
November 13th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Bloody hell! How do you guys remember all this stuff?
Stayed with Dave and Andy and moved with them to Viccy Park Road but ain’t got a clue when. Great mates really with Dead Kev until his downfall into smack with Thecla. Anyone remeber Frank? Is NZ Andy still alive he owes me a fiver!!!
November 13th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Ooo, pics of Dead Kev in the Huntingdon Road pix… I think.. Can’t be bothered to check. Bloody hippy… (*winks*)
November 14th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Yeah he’s in a picture with us two
December 10th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Sally from Belgium:
Would you be Sally who used to live in Mechelen?
I’m Ann, who used to live in Biekorfstraat, Antwerp.
I came over to see you when you lived in Mentmore Terrace in 1980 I think it was.
You must be her, I think.
Have been thinking of you often over the years.
It would be great to hear from you.
December 20th, 2008 at 12:10 am
I recall attending a party in someone’s backyard in the 80′s. The Seven Kevins played. My husband was good friends with JC, Sylvianne, Thierry and also Elisabeth. I will ask him to write his own post. I know for a fact he would enjoy hearing from JC. We’ve lost track of him (living in the US for 20 years now).
December 20th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
@ allison nicol
JC is living in Spain these days and does check out this site occasionally. If you want to pass a message on to him via the website, we can make sure he gets it.
December 22nd, 2008 at 4:43 am
Hello again, THANKS for the reply. I will ask Steve to post something. It would be great to hear from him after all these years.
Thanks again, Allison
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:53 am
Bloody hell Penguin, . Ari Up & Dave Morris.
Helloo Dave if your ever browse around, since august…
I was one of the punks around rising free then ‘the monday group’ when you were in the L W G. My name was either ‘jake or ‘tina’.
I think both groups did some ‘actions’ together?I remember you well anyway.
I know it aint cool to say it but what you and your freind did in Mclibel was absolutely stirling .
If we had half of your balls(whoops…) and determination , how different a place the world would be.
Good on yer fella.
From Al
“Great stuff Dave, a real piece of alternative history. I wonder why the similar story of squatting in west London – e.g. Frestonia – seems to be (relatively) better documented in comparison to east London?”
Cos it was 15 years earlier and actually broke away from the union?
njoy BVZ
December 31st, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Does anyone know the whereabouts of the people who I squatted with in the blue house, Hackney in 1984 to 86? I lived and ran “belgrano’s cafe” which was set up in the panelled room with the chess patterned floor. Most of us (josh, christine, karen, phil, little john, alex&fiona, pema, julian etc then moved to the mothers hospital in Laura Place. I painted a few murals in both squats and had a great time back then, loads of bands played the blue house and the hackney hell crew were at most of them. Good memories!
January 1st, 2009 at 3:37 pm
hey stuart
alex and fi are in the west country and still an item. alex was in “weapons of sound” until recently and has started his own recycled instrument ensemble. julian – if you mean celtic julian – is on the river lea in a narrowboat drifting between old ford and tottenham marshes. josh had a hard time with smack after inheriting some cash but is now, so i hear, a foster parent but i don’t know where. pema became a hardcore buddist and was last heard of in a retreat in scotland. karen is working as a postie in walthamstow, so lugworm told me. which phil do you mean? if you mean astro phil he passed away suddenly years back, just dropped down. apparently there was an accupuncture needle in his back in a position to slow the heart… phil ritchie posts on the site, though. little john, which john is that? if it’s john bates, he’s in germany with a partner and a child of must be nearly three by now. christine has also died, as announced on the site, od in germany.
slyme68 (simon)
January 1st, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Were all the houses in Brougham Road as bad as 108?
In the kitchen, there was a sponge pudding on the ceiling above the cooker. Apparently somebody has left one simmering away on the stove and it exploded.
The toilet was, well, barely a toilet!
I remember being upstairs one day. Downstairs some of the Hackney hell crew were, having a good time (Im pretty sure Andy and Dave had let them live downstairs as they had nowhere else to go).
I could hear this rumble, and feel vibrations. I asked Andy what was going on down there. “Its just the punks breaking up firewood against the wall”. Ok, it continued. “Are you sure thats all it is” I asked Andy.
Dave eventually went down. When he came back up, Andy knew Dave was really fucked off, and could tell he wanted to kill someone.
As it turned out, they weren’t breaking up firewood against a wall, they were smashing a brick wall down!!
Funny now, but not back then, fuck knows what would have happened had they knocked more of it down.
I’m sure they got a big telling off from Dave when he saw them next.
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:26 am
Classic. I have heard the story of that sponge pudding before, When I used to visit 108 it was in good condition but that was after the HHC had left. I remember a cassette recorder being melted after someone left it on top of the grill, I was there when that copper got shot and when the Apostles called it a day. I used to go down to play dungeon and dragons with Dave his mate Bob (Vietnam Bob as I called him) and Tim with his dog Leo, I remember a chap called Robert Dellor visiting a lot, author of the magazine Straight Up. He was always there.
January 2nd, 2009 at 1:03 pm
“In the kitchen, there was a sponge pudding on the ceiling above the cooker. ”
heh heh I remember that! It was a jam sponge pudding. The pot was all ballooned out with the force of the exploding tin.
Bobby Dellar from Watford was a good guy. iirc he now does advocacy work for people with mental health problems.
About ten years ago he put together a book of short stories by different people under the title “Gobbing, Pogoing and Gratuitous Bad Language: An Anthology of Punk Short Stories”
Happy new year everyone.
January 2nd, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Oh God I remember that, the book’ gobbing’ pogoing and gratuitous bad language’ how could I forget that, I remember reading it during a visit to 108, Pity Andy has never published the two books he wrote, although Mr Dellor did run ‘The Wasteland’ in Straight Up, yes Mr Dellor was a very nice intelligent chap. I seem to recall that sponge pudding leaving a permanent mark. ha ha.
January 4th, 2009 at 1:26 am
Saw Robert Dellar several months ago in Walthamstow at a Subway Sect gig when I met Lugworm, Tony and a few others in the summer.
He seemed a little broken up that night, think he had a tear up a couple of days before while he was walking home from somewhere a little beered up. Either that or he was jumped by some villians. Either way he lost…
I remember him quite well and with some fondness when he used to visit Brougham Road, Chats Palace and such places, always reminded me of a late teen / early 20′s Bowie for some reason…
He is indeed involved in madpride who no doubt have a website if you google it.
January 4th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
i was there when that sponge pudding(strawberry as i remember)exploded in the boiled dry aluminium pan,it sounded like a bomb goin off,”fuckin hell wots that” the pan was left oval shaped,and all the pudding went up into the corner and ceiling above the cooker,we went down to investigate and i remember we were toying with the idea off scrapping it off the ceiling but it just got left there in the end,eventually it was all covered in dust and cobweds fm bein there so long, very lucky no one was near it when it went off, my mum did the same thing wiv a fray bentos steak and kidley pie in the oven,forgot to pierce hole in it before putting it in,opened the oven, the pie was obliterated. happy days…(fuckin hell,i feel hungry now!)
January 5th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I remember going round to 108 must have been in the late eighties perhaps early nineties, Dave and Andy living there at the time. I turned up with a mutual friend. Daz Lloyd who is unfortunately no longer with us. He lived just around the corner. Him and I were in a band together (Murderous Musicians) so it was decided to have a jam with The Apostles. I recall having to go upstairs where all the gear was set up, it was a case of switch on and away you go!
God knows what we played Apostles/Mob/Flux/Murderous Musicians
material I guess happy times I do know. Skip several months Dave and Muzz turned up at Daz’s wedding in Scunthorpe. An unrehearsed gig was to follow,which I have on video.
January 8th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Hey Stuart Belgrano> its Phil R here. We lived in Ashwin St with Simon, Paula, Mandy etc.
Hope your doing well!
January 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
“steak and kidley pie” That’s either a spelling mistake or I guess I know which Martin this is. I remember you coming over to Petherton Rd and making that same joke. Funny stuff. It’s weird the things you remember as clear as if the happened yesterday. How’s it going mate, good to see you posting on here.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
“thats wot i said diddle i” hey is that John who used to play in The Apostles, and we woz on that community programme gardens thing on Bethune Rd/Stamford Hill back in 86 ? (where no one did any work and we just stood about chattin & muckin about)
January 9th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
The who? never heard of them, (selective memory) but that thing on Bethune Rd was hilarious, they hired that one guy to be our boss and try to make us actually do something, so instead we gave him such a hard time he quit after a few weeks. Funny stuff, after that they just kind of gave up on us completely. For about 6 months I used to ride up on my skateboard once a week, hide it in the bushes nearby and walk into the office there saying my knees were still messed up and they would give me my cheque and let me go home. Good to see you’re still around.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Hey, that’s not Martin Cobb is it, with whom I used to be in a band called Primal Chaos before joining AOH?
And is Ian S Ian Slaughter of the excellent PFS fanzine? If so, hey Mr Kalashnikov it’s Mr Sterling here!
January 10th, 2009 at 1:59 am
Hey Pete, different Martin, as far as I know Martin Cobb now lives in Australia, hopefully he’ll show up on here at some point as I’d love to hear from him too.
January 15th, 2009 at 2:43 am
Hi Sally..
its Fran here… i think the last time I saw you was when you were leaving the bus garage…….. I remember when you just bought your bus an started fitting it out….. would love to get back in contact with you but not sure how to email you… would leave my details but…….
peace
franxx (bedford ob bus)
how do I look at the pics you all have on this site ?
January 15th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Hi Fran,,
Remember me? I’m Steve with Sue, Rose and Paul in the ‘swamp’. Lost touch with Rose and Paul but had a kid with Sue, Annabel who’s 21 now and living round the corner. remember when some idiot (Nick Jones?) scrapped the stair case! And the truck full of curtain material that disappeared like a time lapse photo. And when we set up a load of lights at the entrance to mess with the old bill when they came on one of their little visits (looking for Gary who is around).
And and and…Mad times.
January 15th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Hi Steve…. ffs….
How the hell are you and Sue doing, it has been a long long time…. I am speechless and that never happens….
I just found Janet (Smush) on facebook, Rosie also on it, I remember Sue being pregnant…
wow wow wow…. email me please…… afranb@hotmail.com
Wow I am so gobsmacked again…. in past couple days so many old friends have found each other… even Dangerous is about……
if you on facebook join the New Age Traveller group…. we all seem to be meeting up there….. even TUMT…….
I look forward to hearing from you real soon…….
Lots love
Franxx
January 15th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Hi Fran, you don’t know me, but I used to know Sally back in Belgium. I visited her when she hadn’t been in the UK long. That was 1980 or 1981. She visited me in Belgium a few years later. Since then we lost touch. I posted on here a while ago but still haven’t heard from her. I guess she doesn’t visit here much. Anyway, if I hear from her, I will let you know. Please do the same for me. I’d love to hear from her again.
Ann from Belgium.
January 15th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
hi anne
email me on my hotmail address and if i hear from sally i will let you know and same if you hear first…
so many years have gone by, and this seems to be the year for re-unions
thanks
fran
peace
January 15th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Hi Fran I see you and Janet have got photos of the bus garage and Brougham Rd which really want putting on here as well. Im sure Penguin will be hustling you for them soon……Theres over 5000 photos on the new age travellers site and ive never managed to get past about 1500.
January 16th, 2009 at 10:31 am
hiya mark,
i only got a couple pics of hackney But there is loads of people coming out of the woodwork, with loads of photo’s and no scanner …… janet has kept a wonderful photographic history of where she has been… and i am sure she will put her pics up… if you ask her…. i have only just found this site and i am slowly sussing out what /when/where/who…… i will upload my few pics soon…………… but……….. where do i put them?
i used to squat in london from about 1972-78, and i am trying to find stuff on squatting in 70′s in camden, there has to be somewhere pics of prince of wales rd, polytantric, hampstead etc etc.. also trying to find pic s of the free one day festy’s in an around camden, islington,hampstead etc …..that used to be common when we had the GLC, the global village trucking co used to always be playing at them…
peace x
January 18th, 2009 at 12:27 am
Hi Fran,
you can email me photos via the ‘contact’ button at the top of the page, or if they’re already on the internet somewhere email the location and we can copy from there.
To view pics on here go to the ‘photo archive’ button at the top and it takes you to the photobucket album, then look at the list of albums down the left hand side. Then there’s sub-albums in those albums, so keep looking.
January 18th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Hi all, im really pleased to hear from you, its good to meet so many old friends here in one place. In the end of May ill be in London on a city trip. It will be great to meet some of you again in a pub in Hackney. If you wish to come in contant with me mail me on bewicked@hotmail.com
PS: Does any one know were Dave or Trich is, and how to contact them ??
Let me know
Greetings Sally
January 19th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Hi Sally, its Phil here, that lived in the end house with Min and Christina.
Last time i saw Trish (the fudge) and Dave was the summer of 89 at many festie’s. They had brought a bus and were living on the road.
January 25th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Anyone remember the bus parked with ‘THE MICHAEL RYAN EXPERIENCE’painted on the side, late 80′s or early 90′s?
January 26th, 2009 at 12:35 am
Of course! My brother in law was a member of the band, along with JC and Simon Dickinson. They traveled to Spain in that bus, if memory serves. JC loaned us his black cab while they were gone.
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:33 am
Hey Val and Martin, I know yous. How are you guys. I used to go out with Matlock Carol. How is she. Dog shit alley that house but good mad times.
Chris.
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:58 am
Hi, Val and Martin. Dunno where he is. I used to go out with Carol-Matlock Bath and hung out with you lot in them days. Mad good times. You two still
going, thats great. How is Carol. Still got birds of prey tatts martin?
I live in oz these days, working married, a boy called RONNIE. LIFE IS GOOD. Saw Gail, a few years back – Scarlet must be 26ish now.
Colvestone Crescent was pure filth.
February 17th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
@ allison nicol
hey – val told me someone was after me – somehow doesn´t suprise me, but didn´t realise it was you! glad to hear you´re all ok.
maybe mr. puppy could pass my mail on & you could drop me a line…?
otherwise it´s all lies…..
February 17th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Hiya! Hooray, so happy to hear from you, JC! I don’t mind telling you our email… snicol1@wi.rr.com.
Looking forward to hearing from you and all that you have been doing. Please email us at the above email when you can! — Allison
February 18th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
THANKS, Val for putting us in touch with JC after all these years!
February 21st, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Iain Sinclair has just written a 600 pages book on Hackney which includes an interview with Astrid Proll who lived on Brougham Road…review in Guardian today [21 Feb 09]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/feb/21/sinclair-hackney-review
February 22nd, 2009 at 1:08 pm
it also mentions andy martin and the hackney hell crew. i’m so pleased that the HHC are finally receiving the literary recognition that they so richly deserve…
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Wow this is fantastic. As a former resident of 96 it’s great to know so many of you are still alive. I’d like to big up me old housemate JC while I’m here…lost your email adress me old son.
March 3rd, 2009 at 11:24 am
Met with Andy Martin the other day..Hasnt changed a bit…still caining the tea n’ fags! Great to see you Mate . Thanx 4 the CD x
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Hi, I used to hang out at Laura Place Squat with Julian Kelly,Paul Vernon and Simon ….surname French or English I forget now.Have been searching for Julian for ages.Am guessing he is Celtic Julian…would make sense as I still have a lot of his Celtic artwork. Amazing to find this site,brings some great memories back to life.Does anyone have any more info on Julian,name of boat perhaps.. or am I going to have to tramp up and down the canal calling his name? Thanks for any help.
July 24th, 2009 at 8:43 am
Hi Nicky i’ve got a mobile phone number for Julian…Maybe Pengy can give you my email & i can send it to you…Im also in contact with Simon
but hav’nt seen Paul V since 97
July 24th, 2009 at 10:30 am
Wow, thats brilliant. My email is niknak66@googlemail.com. I am smilimg like mad, have been thinking about Julian and the others a lot. I wonder if you and I met at Laura place, parties other squats etc. I lived with Paul V in Cranwich Road Stamford Hill for a while, lost touch before 97. Last time I saw him he had just had a baby, Kizzy I think. I haven’t seen Simon since Laura Place, he might not remember me. Julian and I met when I was 13 and stayed friends into my twenties. Last saw him Old Compton Street Soho,we had a beer, promised to stay in touch….life took over and lost touch. Thanks for replying Phil. Cheers Nicky
July 26th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Paul V lives in Spain.has another young daughter,hes a handyman in some village.was best man at my wedding and we stay in touch.
July 28th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Hi Chris.Thanks for info about Paul, good to hear that he is ok.Please send him my love next time you have contact.Tell him its Nicky from Reigate/Dorking early days. Thanks once again.
August 31st, 2009 at 12:25 am
I lived on brougham rd as a child…with my mum mad mary – I remember all the trees blowing down in 87…memories!
January 7th, 2010 at 1:09 am
I remember a band called The Murderous Musicians that hailed from ‘up north’ That hung around in Hackney in the late eighties early nineties. Would be nice to meet up with these guys again does anyone know of there whereabouts?
January 9th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Sorry I haven’t been back to this thread for ages and apologies for not responding before.
Belgian Sally: I’ll try to look out the photos. Definitely still got them. Taken one summer we got stoned in Dave’s room. I had a real crush on you back then. Unfortunately I was fourteen at the time
Hippy Nigel: There’s a photo of you here, in The Apostles pics. Taken at Recession Studios I think: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=202292018&albumId=318737&page=2
Hope you’re all well and wishing you all every happiness in 2010.
January 12th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Thanks Chris that’s a warm comment on a cold day.
How are you these days? Still playing music?
January 13th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Hi Sally, i’m fine & dandy, back in London for a few days and most discomforted, it’s not much warmer than Scotland
My post Apostles musical ‘career’ has been varied, to say the least. Do more DJing than drumming these days, off to Tokyo next week.
Hope you got the email I sent (to bewicked?), will send the piccies when i’ve got them scanned. Cx
January 14th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Hi Chris I did not get the email you did send to bewicked.
You still playing music I am still driving with buses, working part-time job as a bus driver and full time as witch.
You play Goa trance the music style?
Sometime I throw party with some friends of me under the name, GETAFIX.
Do you know Mark van der Vlught , Jodi Sidhu, Dino Psaras?
They have been here once before playing music on a party from me.
Specially Mark he has been over a couple of times.
Dj name, you haven’t told me yet
If you can send a sample.
Greetings Sally X
bewicked.be@hotmail.com
January 14th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
Aha! you’d forgotten to add the ‘be’.
Will resend
Cx
January 18th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Hey Mark & Lee
I’ve posted some threads on a Belgium website looking for “Griet”.
If you passes Belgium sometime again let me know,
your always welcome at my house in the bushes
so we can go together to a belgium psychedelic party.
I will try to upload some pictures of recent garden party’s. Hope you come party soon.
Sweet greets & kisses to the Brougham Road gang
January 23rd, 2010 at 10:18 pm
I stayed at 64 Brougham Road in July 1981. Steve and Mandy Lake and some other folks stayed there, me and then boyfriend Phil were invited around. I had a great time, felt very welcome and everyone was so friendly. It was a hot summer and we saw lots of gigs, were on many guest lists. I have such fond memories. Wish to say hello to everyone, including Mark and Josef of the Mob (I got a photo of Josef just like that taken in Middlesborough!), hello to the Zoundz and those I can’t remember. They all came to Brussels a few weeks later and played gigs…
I live in Edinburgh now, nearly 30 years on….
January 23rd, 2010 at 10:26 pm
You maybe interested in this post Gina:
http://www.killyourpetpuppy.co.uk/news/?p=2545
June 15th, 2010 at 9:40 am
See you at Stonehenge.
June 16th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Sally – did you get the photo i emailed you that I found of you and Dave, Brougham Rd , ’83 or ’84 ? If not please email me and i’ll re-send it. Sure I had others of you but couldn’t find them anywhere
July 16th, 2010 at 1:01 am
‘Ere I’m a bit pissed at the moment, should be filling in a job application and also practising interview answers for an interview and also should be writing couple of birthday cards but anyway I digress (I’m the Queeeeen of procrastination… I’m hoping it becomes a recognised skill one day)… I’m in Brougham Road at the moment and was also a resident back in t’day. A few observations: you spell my brothers name Neil not Neal but lets not be pedantic. Val, just so ye know – Frazzle the lovely black ‘n’ white cat lived with me until 1997 when she popped her clogs (God luv her) she’s buried underneath the apple tree in the garden of number 96 wrapped in my angora cardigan with a pic of me and a spray of my perfume… broke my frikkin’ heart (and I’m an ice-queen I tell you!!). Joseph – I sooo remember you pulling faces in Harrow to make me and my sis laugh and thinking you were really surreal… I LUV surreal… and you were cool. Rob – you dressed up as a lass in 82 Shrubland Road… there’s photo evidence… MWOOOHAAA HAAA HAAAA!!!! Elaine – where you at lady? Hope all is well with ya. JC, JC he’s our man if he can’t fix it NO-ONE CAN!!! Say no more! x Funny how all the corrugated iron in Broadway Market has turned to trendy coffee shops… who would’ve thunk it?! The Cat ‘n’ Mutton is now decent (meaning it’s no longer like the pub in American Werewolf in London where everyone turns and gawps at you if you dared to trespass on their grubby property!!) Welshpool House has had a make-over (it now has a concierge don’t ye know… oooooh ooh!). Bit different around here now, mix of middleclass trendies and angry gangs popping caps in each others asses (no lie!), which is quite odd, I often fall asleep to the sound of helicopters going over head. I’m waiting it out coz I recon this place will come good. Anyway I remember you all fondly-ish… I was a brat… ooooh it’s like a game of guess who! Well better get back to the paperwork YAWN. Take care y’all. x x x
July 16th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
A = Ally? Martin here. Elaine up in Norff London as far as I know saving lives for St Johns. JC in Spain fixing stuff most probably. I’ve been kidnapped by Australians to work A/V & IT in exec boardrooms. Photos of Rob & Paul vamp shoot must surely be made available for upload. Joan Jett had nothing on these guys. Hard to believe the bit about the Welshpool concierge. However, sounds like the capshooter has longevity as Jane got shot in the bum sometime in the late 80s. Anyway, hope you’re well and love to bruv N & C & Sis E & R. XXX
August 15th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
This site is quite a surreal find i must say… i lived on brougham road, number 66, from about 1977/8 to 1983-ish i’d guess.
we had the only indoor plumbing on the street (my dad’s a builder) and loads of people used to come in for a bath. i was seven when we moved to queensbridge road. my brother and me used to play in the bus garage all the time and come home covered in oil and wonder how mum knew where we;d been – duh.
You lot were the background characters to my early childhood ! Its mainly only the other kids from the street that i remember, of course. Though i wouldnt be surprised if i’ve met half of you at things with my ‘rents over the years.
August 24th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
i lived at 64 brougham rd with me cousin theckla and dead kev, timmy townmouse and chris, in 1984, then again when they moved to number 88 (after 64 was demolished) with my girlfriend amber in 1986, love to know what happened to dead kev, tim and chris,and punky paul and carrot from derricote street…and thanx to you penguin for allowing this to happen xxx
October 8th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
also later on was the time of the seven kevins and 2000 dirty squatters formed on brougham road
October 21st, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Hi
Sorry to say but the last I heard Dead Kev had died, not sure whether it was an OD or Aids that finally got him.
January 15th, 2011 at 10:14 am
Hi
I lived on the road as kid with my mum, Conchita, Curtis (Mob), Phil and Kath. They were all involved in setting up the Osbourn Co-op back then. We all still keep in contact Syvian, Mark and the rest. My step my Fiona was part of the feminist movement that set up a woman only Co-op opposite the London Fields. Willpost more when I remember. I found memories growing up there and feel lucky.
March 8th, 2011 at 7:20 am
Its hard to cook dinner with 2000 DS Going for it in your basement!!! I lived in 74 and 76 for about 6 years in about 1986, met a few of the people mentioned here. Quite a diverse bunch from the Dykes at one end, Sonny and his wife in the middle, and the Punks at the end not to mention Jane and Hughs caravan park!
March 14th, 2011 at 10:25 am
i used to go to the hell crew parties. i was wondering if any of the old crew were still about? you out there alien? i remember the home brew!
i was a young punk who they loved because i dislocated my elbow at an eatshit gig.
March 14th, 2011 at 11:07 am
Alien’s still about & well, he’s a tube station manager these days! Still drumming, saw him play with Coitus a few weeks ago. He also plays with Dirty Love & Mush
More Hell Crew discussion here:
http://killyourpetpuppy.co.uk/news/?p=868
March 16th, 2011 at 2:55 pm
[...] Some nice insights into the history of the anarchist and punk squatters who lived on the road in the 70s, 80s and 90s over at Kill Your Pet Puppy. [...]
March 17th, 2011 at 6:47 pm
pat, that’s not you of marquess estate is it? mate, if that’s you then i often wonder where you went… it’s simon, southgate rd, ashwin street etc etc… if it’s you then Penguin can let you have my email (i’m still sorry about chucking that glass at chat’s palace…)
September 8th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
so glad I found this, like going home, I have some pictures of the bus garage and one of Brougham Road, will post them.
September 9th, 2011 at 6:37 pm
Belgium Sally, Hello my name is Jenny and I am Trish’s daughter, I would have been only young when we all last saw each other. please contact me jennylovelock24@hotmail.com
September 14th, 2011 at 10:53 am
Recently been blasted back to those ‘heady daze’ in Brougham Road…My interest in the ‘majik of herbs’ still remains, as I am embarking on a BSc in Herbal Medicine at Lincoln Uni…great to see that Hippy Nigel is about…anything on Townmouse or Punky Paul(a Diamond amonst Geezers)…Love-Peace-Unity-Thecla xxxx contact me on Facebook…xxx
November 27th, 2011 at 12:16 pm
We get a namecheck on this page about squats in the London Fields area including Brougham Rd:
http://www.alphabetthreat.co.uk/pasttense/hackneywalk.html
August 17th, 2012 at 11:35 am
The photo taken of the two girls waving by the buses is me Ricki and Katy, myself and my partner Jolly Jay squatted no 66 and we also discovered the bus garage and came to an arrangement with the council. The troupe came a little while later.