Comments on: Elephant And Castle, Teddy Boys and Tommy Steele http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele/ A blog about 20th Century London Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:01:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: dennis http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele/comment-page-1/#comment-161786 dennis Wed, 28 Dec 2011 01:57:52 +0000 http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele.html#comment-161786 I lived in the Pullens estate just off the Walworth road..two minutes from the elephant..did anyone notice in the movie "The Kings Speech" with colin Firth,,that when the king goes to meet the therapist at his own house..the exterior shots look a lot like the Pullens estate...is I right? I lived in the Pullens estate just off the Walworth road..two minutes from the elephant..did anyone notice in the movie “The Kings Speech” with colin Firth,,that when the king goes to meet the therapist at his own house..the exterior shots look a lot like the Pullens estate…is I right?

]]> By: Mac http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele/comment-page-1/#comment-87671 Mac Sun, 04 Sep 2011 16:51:08 +0000 http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele.html#comment-87671 If you google 'Forty Elephants girl gang' you can read articles drawn from Gangs of London relating to the girls side of the Elephant and Castle gang. If you google ‘Forty Elephants girl gang’ you can read articles drawn from Gangs of London relating to the girls side of the Elephant and Castle gang.

]]> By: Mac http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele/comment-page-1/#comment-86106 Mac Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:54:35 +0000 http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele.html#comment-86106 There was a Russian Bill who was an associate of Billy Hill the 'Boss of Britain's Underworld' in the 1950s, when he rivalled Jack Spot who liked to be called 'King of Soho'. Aggy Hill, who was the wife of Billy Hill, was never one of the Forty Elephants, it was Hill's sister Maggie who sometimes bore the title Queen of the Forty Elephants, which was mostly applied to Alice Diamond who was born near the Elephant and led those great shoplifting sprees in the West End in the 1920s/30s. There was a Russian Bill who was an associate of Billy Hill the ‘Boss of Britain’s Underworld’ in the 1950s, when he rivalled Jack Spot who liked to be called ‘King of Soho’. Aggy Hill, who was the wife of Billy Hill, was never one of the Forty Elephants, it was Hill’s sister Maggie who sometimes bore the title Queen of the Forty Elephants, which was mostly applied to Alice Diamond who was born near the Elephant and led those great shoplifting sprees in the West End in the 1920s/30s.

]]> By: tonyblue http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele/comment-page-1/#comment-75706 tonyblue Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:18:13 +0000 http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele.html#comment-75706 @Rob... as in "Bob"... sorry @Rob… as in “Bob”… sorry

]]> By: tonyblue http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele/comment-page-1/#comment-75383 tonyblue Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:10:15 +0000 http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele.html#comment-75383 @ Liam. "winning the Beckett in a card game" True. I also recall the night I chauffeured your grandad on a meet with a character called Russian Bill at the Thomas 'a Beckett. x @ Liam. “winning the Beckett in a card game” True. I also recall the night I chauffeured your grandad on a meet with a character called Russian Bill at the Thomas ‘a Beckett. x

]]> By: tonyblue http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele/comment-page-1/#comment-75382 tonyblue Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:03:37 +0000 http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele.html#comment-75382 Yesterday I recommended the site (again) to all the members of the Original Modernists 1959-1966 site/group. So if you notice a spike in traffic you know where it came from.... By the way, one photo - the one of the three teds leaning against a wall with a bill-board(?) displaying "picture house Old Kent Rd" is an absolute nugget. Have you ever heard of The Brick? It's the shortened name of a complete, functioning community with all/every facilities centered on the Bricklayers Arms. The "picture house" caught in the photo was The Astoria I believe. One day they tore the whole bloody lot down and put up a fly-over (sounds like a cue for a song). For a while now I've been toying with the idea of doing something to promote The Brick but, frankly, can't be arsed when I trawl the web and see some of the trash posted. Your site always perks me up... thanks Yesterday I recommended the site (again) to all the members of the Original Modernists 1959-1966 site/group. So if you notice a spike in traffic you know where it came from….

By the way, one photo – the one of the three teds leaning against a wall with a bill-board(?) displaying “picture house Old Kent Rd” is an absolute nugget. Have you ever heard of The Brick? It’s the shortened name of a complete, functioning community with all/every facilities centered on the Bricklayers Arms. The “picture house” caught in the photo was The Astoria I believe. One day they tore the whole bloody lot down and put up a fly-over (sounds like a cue for a song).

For a while now I’ve been toying with the idea of doing something to promote The Brick but, frankly, can’t be arsed when I trawl the web and see some of the trash posted. Your site always perks me up… thanks

]]> By: tonyblue http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele/comment-page-1/#comment-75379 tonyblue Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:46:52 +0000 http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele.html#comment-75379 Bob... you've done it again... a blinder !! Bob… you’ve done it again… a blinder !!

]]> By: themusicologist http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele/comment-page-1/#comment-63542 themusicologist Thu, 30 Jun 2011 08:10:58 +0000 http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele.html#comment-63542 p.s Mac...just like to take this opportunity to commend 'the Elephant Boys'. Read it when it came out...EXCELLENT book. My grandad won the Beckett in a card game back in the late 50's early 60's. (He 'gave' it back the same night). He was a, (post war), South East London face who ran with the MANY and varied players South, (and East), of the River. I think you would agree that NO one firm ran South London. How could they it is FAR too big. Completely different North of the Thames which is tiny and MUCH easier to 'own' in comparison. All the firms North of the river NEVER came South. Too dangerous. p.s Mac…just like to take this opportunity to commend ‘the Elephant Boys’. Read it when it came out…EXCELLENT book. My grandad won the Beckett in a card game back in the late 50′s early 60′s. (He ‘gave’ it back the same night). He was a, (post war), South East London face who ran with the MANY and varied players South, (and East), of the River. I think you would agree that NO one firm ran South London. How could they it is FAR too big. Completely different North of the Thames which is tiny and MUCH easier to ‘own’ in comparison. All the firms North of the river NEVER came South. Too dangerous.

]]> By: themusicologist http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele/comment-page-1/#comment-63539 themusicologist Thu, 30 Jun 2011 07:58:40 +0000 http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele.html#comment-63539 Always a great read. Was having a debate about the Elephant, (with a North Londoner), the other day. She was coating the manor. Saying how it is and always was a khazi and couldn't understand my feelings for it. I tried to explain but she wouldn't have it. I concluded that If you're not from South you can't really appreciate the Elephant's meaning. The place itself, (and even the people), have changed beyond recognition since the 70's and 80's, (when i spent my youth there), but I still feel a sense of being 'home' when I reach the Elephant. It will always be the gateway to and hub of London for me. Always a great read. Was having a debate about the Elephant, (with a North Londoner), the other day. She was coating the manor. Saying how it is and always was a khazi and couldn’t understand my feelings for it. I tried to explain but she wouldn’t have it. I concluded that If you’re not from South you can’t really appreciate the Elephant’s meaning. The place itself, (and even the people), have changed beyond recognition since the 70′s and 80′s, (when i spent my youth there), but I still feel a sense of being ‘home’ when I reach the Elephant. It will always be the gateway to and hub of London for me.

]]> By: Mac http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele/comment-page-1/#comment-51264 Mac Thu, 05 May 2011 13:46:28 +0000 http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2007/10/elephant-and-castle-teddy-boys-and-tommy-steele.html#comment-51264 Sad to see that Henry Cooper has died. I used to see him a lot around the Elephant in the 1950s. He used to train at the Thomas 'a Beckett pub/gym on the corner of Albany Road and Old Kent Road. He was a real gentleman. Sad to see that Henry Cooper has died. I used to see him a lot around the Elephant in the 1950s. He used to train at the Thomas ‘a Beckett pub/gym on the corner of Albany Road and Old Kent Road. He was a real gentleman.

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