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West End Extra - The Xtra Diary
Published:9 May 2008

Prince Charles - building bridges

Charles builds royal bridge to China in Soho

PRINCE Charles has waded into the debate surrounding the future of Chinatown.
In what is being interpreted as an olive branch to the Chinese community, the Prince of Wales is offering his assistance in the redesign of the area to make it more authentically Chinese.
Following his alleged snub to China when he turned down an invitation to the opening ceremony of the Olympics, could it be the heir to the throne feels he has damaged his political relations with the country and needs to build some bridges?
Westminster Council confirmed that they were approached by the Prince’s Foundation – the charity set up by the prince to support sustainable architecture and building projects.
Councillor Robert Davis, planning chief at the council said: “He doesn’t think Chinatown is very original in appearance, and wants to work with the Chinese community in Westminster to improve the public realm so it becomes a more genuinely Chinese environment.”
The Prince’s Foundation will lead a two-day workshop on the plans for Chinatown later this month.

Al’s tribute to Mark

A SHOWBIZ pal of Mark Speight has released a tribute song in his memory.
Al Pillay, who is most famous for his 1980s dance floor hit Human Nature, says he will donate profits from the track The Higher the Wall to Climb to Mark’s favourite charities, Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and Young Pavement Artists.
The children’s television presenter, 43, was found hanged outside Paddington Station on April 13.
Mark Speight died after apparently being unable to cope in the wake of the death of his fiancee, Natasha Collins. He discovered her unconscious in the bath in their St John’s Wood penthouse after an all night cocaine binge in January.
Mr Pillay, who lives in Primrose Hill and is due to sing at Mark’s memorial service later this month said it was his favourite song.
He said: “Mark loved this song so it is fitting I dedicate it to him. He did a lot of work with the charities so I hope he would be pleased about my choices.”
It is available for download on iTunes.

The communication business came of age in 1794

YOU don’t get much change from a pound when you buy a first-class stamp these days, but a green plaque that has just gone up in Chinatown reminds us of a time when a stamp cost a mere penny.
The green plaque outside 39 Gerrard Street marks the location of Westminster’s first sorting office for the Penny Post.
It comes at a particularly significant time as the future of three post offices in the borough hangs in the balance. Before the opening in 1794 there was no building solely dedicated to post. They didn’t exist and if you wanted to post a letter it would be a trip to the stationery shop or the grocery store. Exactly what Westminster Council are proposing to do with the threatened services.
Who was it that said history was cyclical?
At the time the opening marked a renaissance for the post and letter writing in general but by 1834 the paper mountain became too much for the building and they had to move out. Pillar boxes were introduced in 1855 making it unnecessary for people to visit a post office to post a letter.
Unveiling the plaque Councillor Robert Davis, cabinet member for planning said: “The story of how people have communicated with each other through the ages is fundamental to a greater understanding of history so we are very proud to commemorate such an important milestone.”

A great front of house

THEATREGOERS no longer have any excuse blindly to walk past the Jermyn Street Theatre after it received a swish makeover.
The outside of the building was in a sorry state of neglect before the addition of new front-of-house display boards.
The scrub-up, courtesy of songwriter Sean Keepers, was completed just in the nick of time for the theatre’s latest production of Romeo and Juliet.
Theatre manager Penny Horner said she was delighted the theatre finally had a visual presence to match more prominent West End theatres.
She said: “It is amazing when you consider Sean lives in the middle of America. He has designed this based on photographs we sent him on the internet.”

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