2009

S1.E1 ∙ Northern Heights

Thu, Apr 23, 2009

From a smiling introduction on Tower Bridge David Mawby takes the viewer north of the Thames to a symbol of Victorianism that dominates the North London skyline. Alexandra Palace the birthplace of BBC Television, a prisoner of war camp and a popular recreation center. After passing over notorious suicide bridge David takes us around the picturesque Highgate Village, home to numerous British poets, before resting at the watering hole of eighteenth century highwayman Dick Turpin. Next he revisits a childhood haunt Hampstead Garden Suburb, Britain's first experiment in social housing..the story continues.

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S1.E2 ∙ Ghosts

Thu, Apr 30, 2009

David meets Mr. North who says he has ghostly neighbors, he lives next to Highgate Cemetery. Parliament Hill and Guy Fawkes of the Gunpowder Plot come next then Clem Cattini on the life of Joe Meek.

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S1.E3 ∙ Tottenham n' Epping

Thu, May 07, 2009

It's time for a little history. David starts off in Tottenham, not at the local football stadium but at Bruce Castle, a magnificent Elizabethan palace. Museum Curator Deborah Hedgecock unveils royal plots, ghost stories and other mysteries as she reveals the history of this part of North London. Rapid population growth in this part of the capital in the 1800's led to a variety of social and other problems. David investigates how the Victorians solved the problem of sewage and meets a group of people who are faithfully restoring a powerful beam engine. Nowadays the nearby River Lea is a place for Londoners to mess about on boats. David rests for a moment on one of the many house barges found on this waterway. Never missing a moment to delve into London's rock n' roll history, David revisits Epping Forest where in the sixties mods and rockers would stage their infamous battles. Peace reigns though as David moves on to London's mecca for bikers and scooter fans, the Ace Café on the North Circular Road. Viewers are introduced to a grand selection of two Wheeler's old and new as former mods and rockers harmoniously share their passion for these superb vehicles.

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S1.E4 ∙ Mad Dogs and Englishmen

Thu, May 14, 2009

By now, viewers of 'Dave's London' will be aware of David Mawby's love for the harmlessly eccentric things in life. So it's time to go in search for some particularly British oddities in the country's capital. David starts off by admiring the chimneys of Battersea Power Station(well known to Pink Floyd fans). Next he calls in at the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and sees how this 150 year-old institution has given new homes to countless pups and felines. In the adjacent Battersea Park, David talks with American born Jennifer Ullman about her work in keeping this Victorian park, complete with Japanese pagoda, prim and proper. Then it's David's turn to reveal his love of an unusual hobby: short wave listening. After nostalgically walking pass Bush House, headquarters of the BBC World Service, David shows us an all American wireless and then meets up with fellow enthusiast Edwin Parsons who introduces his collection of radios. It's all hungry work so David shows us to his favorite restaurant in London before we meet Ralph Hutchings who explains the ins and outs of restoring old Rolls Royce cars.Totally bewildered by all this mechanical engineering, Dave goes for a pint in Hoxton on the fringe of London's east end and ends up in a sing-a-long with pub pianist Lee Newton, who also explains why he loves real ale.

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S1.E5 ∙ Transport of Delight

Thu, May 21, 2009

Of all of London's sights, perhaps the double-decker bus is the one most remembered by any traveler to the city. David seeks to discover the history of this grand four-wheeler. He manages to track down a member of the team who designed the Routemaster bus. At one time, over 2,800 of these double-deckers transported people to all parts of London. Retired Engineer Colin Curtis tells David how the Route Master came about and why it served Londoners for four decades. David also finds a group of ardent enthusiasts who have teamed up together to restore London buses past and present. We also get a glimpse of a horse drawn vehicle from Victorian times followed by nostalgic reminiscing over the city's long gone trams and trolleybuses. David then takes a ride on the underground in the north of London and meets a fellow train spotter. While strolling through the suburb of Enfield, he can't believe his eyes: standing before him is an old Finnish steam engine. Finding out how it got there takes David into a timber yard from where businessman Nigel Sill leads us on to find even more of these beauties in other parts of the city. The trek finally leads to an ambitious society of people dedicated to restoring a forgotten part of the London underground railway.

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S1.E6 ∙ River Walk

Thu, May 28, 2009

Memories of concerts past in the Royal Festival Hall motivate David to revisit the south bank of the Thames. To his horror, he sees the London Eye staring across the skyline. But even David must accept the new with the old. He pays a visit to the reconstructed Globe Theatre located not too far away from the site of the original venue supported centuries ago by William Shakespeare. As he walks along the Thames, he waxes poetic across the water from St. Paul's Cathedral but ends up on the Golden Hind. In pirate uniform he welcomes us aboard where we are given a guided tour of the life and voyages of Sir Francis Drake. After learning what 'knots' mean, David marches upstream, joins the navy and steps aboard H.M.S. Belfast where he marvels at its second world war weaponry. Over the river rests the Tower of London complete with the notorious Traitors' Gate, but, true to form, David says: no tourists please and moves along instead to stand in awe in front of Tower Bridge. Once inside, he ventures to the top of the structure to take in the view and learn just how this London landmark works. Finally from where he started his eccentric trip around the city he wishes the viewers "Bon Voyage."

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