Meet the Locals

Madani Younis, artistic director of the Bush Theatre since 2012, tells Jo Reynolds about the theatre’s new home in the old Shepherd’s Bush Library. What brought you to this neighbourhood? I’ve known the Bush (theatre) all my professional life. I knew it when it was above the pub (in Goldhawk…

Jo Reynolds questions local cat burglar, Darjeeling, a real cat – who burgles – for real. What’s your name? Darjeeling.  You know, as in the tea grown in the mountains of Northern India. What breed are you? Bengal.  My owner, bless him, likes to say I’m one-fifth cat, one-fifth squirrel,…

Celebrity photographer John Garrett (above) talks to Jo Reynolds about clicking with the Dalai Lama and other stars.   How long have you lived in the village? 12 years. What brought you to the area? Divorce. What are your favourite places? Every day I have breakfast in Bertotti’s on Hammersmith Grove…

Jayne Hepsibah tells Jo Reynolds about faking it. When did you move to the area? About 24 years ago. Why here? My sister lived here. Because I’m Welsh, when you come off the M4, you get to Hammersmith and think it’s London. The aim was always to go in, in,…

Master butcher John Stenton chews the fat with Jo Reynolds. Where are you from originally? South Shields, Tyne and Wear. How long have you been here? I came to London over 40 years ago and have lived in Hammersmith ever since. What brought you here? There wasn’t any work at…

Aston Martin man Nicholas Mee tells Jo Reynolds about Goldfinger and Goldhawk Road. How long have you been in the area? Personally, forty years, but we’ve had the business in the area since 2000 when we took over the garage in Wellesley Avenue.  It was built as the village garage…

Jo Reynolds talks to Local casting agent Priscilla John. How long have you lived in the area? Since February 1987. I’d just bought a house in Cardross Street. Do you want to know what I paid for it? £103,000. That was a huge amount of money then. And it needed…

Annie Pennington tells Jo Reynolds about her rescue cat Robbie. Were you born in the area? No, I was born in Germany. My father was in the Control Commission, which governed Germany after the war (WW2). Is he German? No, he was English and based there. I was there maybe…

Having been a puppy star, Treacle already considers himself a well known television personality. He appeared on The Paul O’Grady Show at 12-weeks-old, co-starring with Pink. Treacle’s natural charisma threw the pop star into the shade. Despite his success, Treacle retired from show business after his appearance in the show’s…

Eminent local historian Oliver Cyriax reveals why there is little chance of the Museum reopening soon. Brackenbury Museum in its 1960s heyday It’s not every day that she comes to Brackenbury. This was a mercy-mission, from the goodness of her heart. She gives a private wave and I nod imperceptibly…