English Chess Forum

Thanks for that - one source did mention Frenches Road, but said that it was a mile North of Redhill, which seemed wrong until I discovered that they were calling Earlswood (South of Redhill), Redhill. The Grange now seems to be a housing estate, with Osborne Rd, Gordon Rd and Alpine Rd on it. It is fairly near Battlebridge, apparently so named as it was a bridge where there was a battle in 893...

Can you guess who wrote this about him?

A similar query (Merstham or Redhill?) occurred to me when reading the piece about Harry Golembek . His family was described as living in Railton Road, Herne Hill, London. Now, when I lived in Clapham Park nearly 50 years ago we always thought Railton Road was in Brixton. I guessed that the Golembeks just preferred to say they lived in Herne Hill, but who knows?

Golombek rather than Golembek

A Golem is "In Jewish folklore, a golem is an animated anthropomorphic being that is created entirely from inanimate matter. "

"Now, when I lived in Clapham Park nearly 50 years ago we always thought Railton Road was in Brixton. I guessed that the Golembeks just preferred to say they lived in Herne Hill, but who knows?"

Brixton has changed in desirability over the years! During the riots in the early 80s, it was best avoided, but at other times before and since, it wasn't as bad. Herne HIll may have sounded better.

Reverting to Redhill, neighbouring Reigate has always seemed more desirable, so some people who lived in Redhill would claim to be in Reigate as it sounded posher. Like most towns Redhill has good and bad areas.

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 05, 2021 11:35 am

! During the riots in the early 80s, it was best avoided

Of course this may depend on who you are. Some people may have felt it was the policing than the riots that made life unpleasant. Other people may have found it more comfortable and amenable than other parts of London.

(Talking of policing, anybody know who runs the British Chess News Twitter account?)

"During the riots in the early 80s, it was best avoided

Of course this may depend on who you are. Some people may have felt it was the policing than the riots that made life unpleasant. "

I have to say I thought avoiding riots would be a non-controversial concept.

Interestingly, John Allain (quite a good player) was in charge of the local police then. He and I had a lengthy argument over a chess dispute somewhat later.

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 06, 2021 9:47 am

(Talking of policing, anybody know who runs the British Chess News Twitter account?)

Yes.

I was amused to see they have blocked me. I wonder why?

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 06, 2021 10:30 am

"During the riots in the early 80s, it was best avoided

Of course this may depend on who you are. Some people may have felt it was the policing than the riots that made life unpleasant. "

I have to say I thought avoiding riots would be a non-controversial concept.

For sure, but they pass in a way that oppressive policing does not.

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 06, 2021 10:40 am

I was amused to see they have blocked me. I wonder why?

Do you consider that a loss?

Well it strikes me as petty unless there is a better cause than any I'm aware of. Are you able to cast any light on the matter?

While waiting (for the restore Horton campaign to develop further) a few things to remember (besides the fact that this has little or nothing to do with Henry Atkins) -

"Brixton has changed in desirability over the years! During the riots in the early 80s, it was best avoided, but at other times before and since, it wasn't as bad. Herne HIll may have sounded better."

Not necessarily that much better -

"13/04/2019 · Herne Hill. Herne Hill in Lambeth. ... Theft alone appears to have bumped the rate of crime up to seven per thousand residents..."

https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-lo ... h-16103115

Times have changed Brixton, though, even in 2005 it was-

Ghetto fabulous

Twenty years after the young photojournalist David Hodge was fatally injured during the Brixton riots, long-time resident Miranda Sawyer reports on the vibrant mixed community that now thrives along the old 'Frontline'

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/apr ... ntity.race

Things are changing all over these days - I even hear there's now a national shortage of marijuana in Jamaica.

I never felt threatened in any way when visiting Brixton in the 1970s. (Well apart from one evening at a rock'n'roll retro night at The Telegraph on Brixton Hill.) The only time I ever suffered any violence in South London was when I tried to stop a man hitting his female partner outside Clapham Common tube whereupon they both turned and punched me.