""They were certainly prolific when we started recording in the Ladbroke Grove area - your neck of the woods I think - did you ever see them?""

You are partially correct Jim, in that I was born in Chesterton Road, which adjoins Ladbroke Grove, and we later moved, due to bomb damage, to 287 Ladbroke Grove, where I lived until age sixteen, when we moved again to Regents Park.

However, I can't help you with this topic, since I never was much of a pub goer during my first sixteen years.

I don't remember ever noticing any anti traveller signs, but I do remember gypsies, who lived on a site in Latimer Road and used to sell clothes pegs, lavender and heather.

My mother bought all her pegs from them. They never seemed to be unwelcome among our immediate neighbours and several of the men drank in thre "Spread Eagle" just across the road from us.

Don T.