Comments on: Mayfair and the fall of the hippy squat at 144 Piccadilly http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2009/04/mayfair-and-the-fall-of-the-hippy-squat-at-144-piccadilly/ A blog about 20th Century London Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:01:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: janey http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2009/04/mayfair-and-the-fall-of-the-hippy-squat-at-144-piccadilly/comment-page-1/#comment-174542 janey Sat, 21 Jan 2012 23:57:36 +0000 http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/?p=834#comment-174542 I was at school, doing exams as usua. I saw TV reports of the boules downpour. Sid Rawle (who squatted across the road from me) was there, I believe as part of the London Commune thing. While he was there, some Irishman offered him an islet in Dublin Bay for a commune, so off they trooped. The island was too small and had no water or other facilities. It was soon after this that John Lennon came up with Dornish Island, on the Irish West coast. I was at school, doing exams as usua. I saw TV reports of the boules downpour. Sid Rawle (who squatted across the road from me) was there, I believe as part of the London Commune thing. While he was there, some Irishman offered him an islet in Dublin Bay for a commune, so off they trooped. The island was too small and had no water or other facilities. It was soon after this that John Lennon came up with Dornish Island, on the Irish West coast.

]]> By: Sebastian http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2009/04/mayfair-and-the-fall-of-the-hippy-squat-at-144-piccadilly/comment-page-1/#comment-143439 Sebastian Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:14:03 +0000 http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/?p=834#comment-143439 Nice site, brought back a flood of memories of me at 14. Lost my virginity and got the clap over there, whilst bunking from school. Didn't go because it was "cool" but because of lack of housing, callous govt indifference, disgust at council control of housing stock and police were out of control. Surprising how many "city types" supported us with food and money. Many of us were from the middle classes and were trying to educate our peers about the social mess that was evolving. Ended up having my leg broken by a copper who rugby tackled me for no reason on the way out. I managed to break his collar bone in the process, winning myself an absolute discharge and he ended up dismissed from thforce (thanks to BBC footage). In some ways we got our messge through, despite the establishment "disgust", and I may be getting on a bit now but I'm not ashamed of what we did given our reasons. The Hells Angels were not as depicted, they were there to help and protect, not fight skinheads (who were just there for a fight) Nice site, brought back a flood of memories of me at 14. Lost my virginity and got the clap over there, whilst bunking from school.

Didn’t go because it was “cool” but because of lack of housing, callous govt indifference, disgust at council control of housing stock and police were out of control. Surprising how many “city types” supported us with food and money. Many of us were from the middle classes and were trying to educate our peers about the social mess that was evolving.

Ended up having my leg broken by a copper who rugby tackled me for no reason on the way out. I managed to break his collar bone in the process, winning myself an absolute discharge and he ended up dismissed from thforce (thanks to BBC footage).

In some ways we got our messge through, despite the establishment “disgust”, and I may be getting on a bit now but I’m not ashamed of what we did given our reasons. The Hells Angels were not as depicted, they were there to help and protect, not fight skinheads (who were just there for a fight)

]]> By: VXIII http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2009/04/mayfair-and-the-fall-of-the-hippy-squat-at-144-piccadilly/comment-page-1/#comment-80033 VXIII Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:34:08 +0000 http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/?p=834#comment-80033 This is so utterly interesting and has led me to research some more, most people dont even remotely know this and its something that needs to be written about in more depth, especially the original skinhead movement, brought a few things together for me, thanks. This is so utterly interesting and has led me to research some more, most people dont even remotely know this and its something that needs to be written about in more depth, especially the original skinhead movement, brought a few things together for me, thanks.

]]> By: My Vipassana Experience | A Course in Miracles Explained http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2009/04/mayfair-and-the-fall-of-the-hippy-squat-at-144-piccadilly/comment-page-1/#comment-71323 My Vipassana Experience | A Course in Miracles Explained Wed, 27 Jul 2011 21:52:15 +0000 http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/?p=834#comment-71323 [...] make the cut, he flew to London, decided the whole hippy thing was cool, became one, did the whole squatting thing at Piccadilly Circus, did a whole bunch of epic stuff which I don’t know about / have forgotten, and settled down [...] [...] make the cut, he flew to London, decided the whole hippy thing was cool, became one, did the whole squatting thing at Piccadilly Circus, did a whole bunch of epic stuff which I don’t know about / have forgotten, and settled down [...]

]]> By: Rob http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2009/04/mayfair-and-the-fall-of-the-hippy-squat-at-144-piccadilly/comment-page-1/#comment-56593 Rob Mon, 30 May 2011 11:11:37 +0000 http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/?p=834#comment-56593 There's news footage of the eviction here, with a quite amusing voice-over by Mr Disgusted http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mCurSKl7_Q There’s news footage of the eviction here, with a quite amusing voice-over by Mr Disgusted

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mCurSKl7_Q

]]> By: Weed http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2009/04/mayfair-and-the-fall-of-the-hippy-squat-at-144-piccadilly/comment-page-1/#comment-25578 Weed Sun, 02 Jan 2011 12:31:31 +0000 http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/?p=834#comment-25578 @ Paul Chambers -- Supercrew's excellent account of the Dilly Dossers can be found at http://www.wussu.com/squatting/144_piccadilly_supercrew.htm -- there's also an email address, but if that doesn't work let me know as i'm in net contact with him -- weed@wussu.com @ Bill Luther -- the London Hell's Angels were an authorised chapter with a charter from the US Oakland Chapter in Dec 1968 -- more details in interview with Levi and Odd Job in OZ #20 (April 1969) -- http://www.wussu.com/zines/oz16_20.htm (cover only) @ Paul Chambers — Supercrew’s excellent account of the Dilly Dossers can be found at http://www.wussu.com/squatting/144_piccadilly_supercrew.htm — there’s also an email address, but if that doesn’t work let me know as i’m in net contact with him — weed@wussu.com

@ Bill Luther — the London Hell’s Angels were an authorised chapter with a charter from the US Oakland Chapter in Dec 1968 — more details in interview with Levi and Odd Job in OZ #20 (April 1969) — http://www.wussu.com/zines/oz16_20.htm (cover only)

]]> By: Käsekuchen http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2009/04/mayfair-and-the-fall-of-the-hippy-squat-at-144-piccadilly/comment-page-1/#comment-14867 Käsekuchen Thu, 14 Oct 2010 12:24:40 +0000 http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/?p=834#comment-14867 Have you considered to adding some kind of social bookmark link to your posts? It will be smoother for me to bookmark such a nice site. Have you considered to adding some kind of social bookmark link to your posts? It will be smoother for me to bookmark such a nice site.

]]> By: IAN CAMERON http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2009/04/mayfair-and-the-fall-of-the-hippy-squat-at-144-piccadilly/comment-page-1/#comment-13558 IAN CAMERON Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:01:09 +0000 http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/?p=834#comment-13558 Paul Chambers I tried to email you just a day or two but no luck system said no go cant deliver etc., If you leave me a contact or get in touch via my google stockwell toilet watch link maybe something interesting re 144 piccadilly. Paul Chambers I tried to email you just a day or two but no luck system said no go cant deliver etc., If you leave me a contact or get in touch via my google stockwell toilet watch link maybe something interesting re 144 piccadilly.

]]> By: Paul Chambers http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2009/04/mayfair-and-the-fall-of-the-hippy-squat-at-144-piccadilly/comment-page-1/#comment-12406 Paul Chambers Tue, 28 Sep 2010 09:56:47 +0000 http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/?p=834#comment-12406 Further to the last posting, if anyone wants to chew the fat you can contact me at pchamber@glam.ac.uk. There was a film made at the time of Endell Street but somehow the sound got out of synch and it was unshowable. Anyone know if the images are available? Further to the last posting, if anyone wants to chew the fat you can contact me at pchamber@glam.ac.uk. There was a film made at the time of Endell Street but somehow the sound got out of synch and it was unshowable. Anyone know if the images are available?

]]> By: Paul Chambers http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2009/04/mayfair-and-the-fall-of-the-hippy-squat-at-144-piccadilly/comment-page-1/#comment-12315 Paul Chambers Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:42:41 +0000 http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/?p=834#comment-12315 I was homeless at the time and there at all three squats. Regarding the picture of the 'Hells Angels' - these were actually homeless street kids (Dilly Kids) who first turned up at the Broad Court squat. There were about 20 of them and they only appeared to to have one bike between them (which I think they probably stole) which was more of a moped really. They were a bit of a pain in the arse but relatively harmless. 'Supercrew's' account of Dilly kids, the LSC, etc is probably the best that I've read. If you're reading this Supercrew we had a lot of mates in common andmust have known each other. Tried contacting you through your email address but no go. You can find me at the University of glamorgan. I was homeless at the time and there at all three squats. Regarding the picture of the ‘Hells Angels’ – these were actually homeless street kids (Dilly Kids) who first turned up at the Broad Court squat. There were about 20 of them and they only appeared to to have one bike between them (which I think they probably stole) which was more of a moped really. They were a bit of a pain in the arse but relatively harmless. ‘Supercrew’s’ account of Dilly kids, the LSC, etc is probably the best that I’ve read. If you’re reading this Supercrew we had a lot of mates in common andmust have known each other. Tried contacting you through your email address but no go. You can find me at the University of glamorgan.

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