Freshers' Week

[Nick Armstrong]

some geog lessons in order, is what AG is suggesting I think !!

Ah.... not someone else who doesn't know his East from his West (8tho!). Mind you I've done the same thing here to (I sent people the wrong way from Waterloo to that nice little pub behind the RFH I remember )

Easily done!

[Mr Pee]

Ah.... not someone else who doesn't know his East from his West (8tho!). Mind you I've done the same thing here to (I sent people the wrong way from Waterloo to that nice little pub behind the RFH I remember )

Easily done!

Do you mean The Hole in The Wall, in the railway arches by Waterloo Station?

I've always liked The Founders Arms. It's a few minutes walk, on the other side of Blackfriars Bridge, but it has some great views over the river to St.Pauls, especially on a summer's evening when you can sit out.

[Nick Armstrong]

Do you mean The Hole in The Wall, in the railway arches by Waterloo Station?

No - see my geographically confused (and subsequently corrected) post here: http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...854#post282854

[teamsaint]

Ah.... not someone else who doesn't know his East from his West (8tho!). Mind you I've done the same thing here to (I sent people the wrong way from Waterloo to that nice little pub behind the RFH I remember )

Easily done!

personal experience suggests that Londoners give incorrect advice on directions as a matter of course.Just one of those unlucky things I guess...

[Mr Pee]

No - see my geographically confused (and subsequently corrected) post here: http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...854#post282854

Oh yes, that is a nice pub, and Roupell Street itself is a little gem. I know the hostelries of this locality well, living as I did on this helipad barge just beneath the Oxo Tower during my college days:-




And of course since the re-generation of that whole area around the Oxo warehouse and Coin Street there is now a surfeit of eating and drinking establishments within a few minute's walk of the RFH.

[Nick Armstrong]

living as I did on this helipad barge just beneath the Oxo Tower during my college days

That's an extraordinary statement, Pee! Care to elaborate?! How come?

[Mr Pee]

That's an extraordinary statement, Pee! Care to elaborate?! How come?

My stepfather ( an ex Army Air Corps pilot) ran a Helicopter Charter Company, which was a very small part of the Vestey business empire. The Vesteys owned the Oxo Tower warehouse at that time, and wanted a landing facility in Central London, Battersea Heliport being the wrong end of town for their main offices, which were in the City.

So they purchased an old Thames lighterage barge- (called William)-fitted a large landing deck on top, and fitted out below decks with a living room, kitchen, bathroom, 5 single cabins, and one double. When I got into TCM, my stepdad did a bit of negotiation, and I moved in- rent free. The company quite liked the idea of having somebody in permanent residence, to keep an eye on it and generally be around. It was pretty luxurious; the only drawback was that it could get bitterly cold in the winter, although that was a small price to pay. Helicopters didn't land that often, but I would sometimes be woken by the sound of a Jet Ranger touching down a few feet above my head!!

Needless to say it was a great place to live, central, close to the RFH, and of course the Thames was an ever changing panorama. The Warehouse behind, which is now trendy flats and a posh restaurant, was empty and pretty much derelict. Access to the barge was through that warehouse- I got in and out via a big green gate at the RFH end of the building, to which I had a key. You can see where the gate used to be- the big archway is still there, and it now leads through the re-developed warehouse to the Riverside Walkway. When I lived on the barge there was no public access.

There were staircases inside the warehouse which eventually led out onto the roof, and there was access into the Oxo tower from there. Inside was a spiral staircase which led up to a narrow walkway above the top "O" of Oxo. The views from there, particularly at night, were stunning and I often took myself and friends up to enjoy them, usually with some alcoholic refreshment.

Whenever I go there these days, I walk out onto the jetty where the barge used to be and I'm aware that I was extremely lucky to have been able to live in such a spot. Even now, after the re-development, I don't think it is possible to get up to the top of the Oxo Tower.


Happy days. Writing this has reminded me of them. If I could go back, I would do it in an instant.

[Nick Armstrong]

Lucky old you. Fantastic.

[Beef Oven!]

My stepfather ( an ex Army Air Corps pilot) ran a Helicopter Charter Company, which was a very small part of the Vestey business empire. The Vesteys owned the Oxo Tower warehouse at that time, and wanted a landing facility in Central London, Battersea Heliport being the wrong end of town for their main offices, which were in the City.

So they purchased an old Thames lighterage barge- (called William)-fitted a large landing deck on top, and fitted out below decks with a living room, kitchen, bathroom, 5 single cabins, and one double. When I got into TCM, my stepdad did a bit of negotiation, and I moved in- rent free. The company quite liked the idea of having somebody in permanent residence, to keep an eye on it and generally be around. It was pretty luxurious; the only drawback was that it could get bitterly cold in the winter, although that was a small price to pay. Helicopters didn't land that often, but I would sometimes be woken by the sound of a Jet Ranger touching down a few feet above my head!!

Needless to say it was a great place to live, central, close to the RFH, and of course the Thames was an ever changing panorama. The Warehouse behind, which is now trendy flats and a posh restaurant, was empty and pretty much derelict. Access to the barge was through that warehouse- I got in and out via a big green gate at the RFH end of the building, to which I had a key. You can see where the gate used to be- the big archway is still there, and it now leads through the re-developed warehouse to the Riverside Walkway. When I lived on the barge there was no public access.

There were staircases inside the warehouse which eventually led out onto the roof, and there was access into the Oxo tower from there. Inside was a spiral staircase which led up to a narrow walkway above the top "O" of Oxo. The views from there, particularly at night, were stunning and I often took myself and friends up to enjoy them, usually with some alcoholic refreshment.

Whenever I go there these days, I walk out onto the jetty where the barge used to be and I'm aware that I was extremely lucky to have been able to live in such a spot. Even now, after the re-development, I don't think it is possible to get up to the top of the Oxo Tower.


Happy days. Writing this has reminded me of them. If I could go back, I would do it in an instant.

Wow!

I know you mentioned living on a barge by the OXO Tower before, but this story is amazing!

Lucky devil!

I used to knock around there at various times; 1970 - 1976 (Red Bus Rovers), 1979, the early eighties through to the 90s.

I wonder if I ever walked past when you were in there!!?

[Mr Pee]

Wow!

I know you mentioned living on a barge by the OXO Tower before, but this story is amazing!

Lucky devil!

I used to knock around there at various times; 1970 - 1976 (Red Bus Rovers), 1979, the early eighties through to the 90s.

I wonder if I ever walked past when you were in there!!?

I think if you were around the area at that time you almost certainly did!!

[Stillhomewardbound]

The picture is excellent and I would previously have scoffed at anyone who told me there had once been a mini-heliport in the very centre of London.

[teamsaint]

every so often, like to visit the OXO Tower, take a bit of time out, maybe have a meal, and take stock of my life.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

every so often, like to visit the OXO Tower, take a bit of time out, maybe have a meal, and take stock of my life.

I'm sure Life has bistoed you with glories in every season, knorr would anyone begrudge this.

[teamsaint]

I'm sure Life has bistoed you with glories in every season, knorr would anyone begrudge this.

to think we have been reduced to this. Its a gravy situation.

(OK, very weak, but had a long day at work !)

AND nobody else found a pun for the Fifty Shades/Tallis thing, so no flak till that is improved upon please !!