Author Archives: John Pullen

There’s money in most things, if you know how to make it. And I suppose scrap metal merchants down the ages, always have an eye for a bargain or something which might accrue in value at a later date. This latter reason was certainly understood by Mr Rivett, a scrap metal merchant in the timeContinue reading “There’s Money in Royal Scrap Metal”

All of us probably have memories of our school days and of the teachers who had the most influence on us. Personally, I had two teachers who encouraged me to become a writer. It took some years and a number of other professions before I took their advice but I have to agree with theirContinue reading “The Teacher Who would be King”

To have a statue erected in your memory is perhaps one of the greatest compliments people can pay you. Having a statue planned for you and then finding no one was prepared to pay for it and even when built, everyone hated it, then maybe you’ve not led a life to be proud of. So,Continue reading “The Statue No One Wanted”

One of the biggest complaints about travelling on the London Underground is the noise in the carriages when the train goes over certain areas of the tracks. Exactly what can be done today and the associated costs and logistics I will leave to Transport for London or TFL. What I would like to highlight here,Continue reading “The Silence of the Tubes”

These days cremations are popular. But before they became acceptable, the dead were buried. Now, if we understand that in years gone by, London was made up of villages or particular areas with their own church and graveyard. These obviously still exist, but stay with me. Today, we not only have cremations but there areContinue reading “The Real Book of the Dead”

There are sayings which state that if you have very strange habits and you are rich, then you are an eccentric. However, if you exhibit the same traits and you are either poor or just not rich, then people will often say that you are mad. Today, when hopefully we are a lot more understandingContinue reading “The Pig Fat Lady”

The area of St James, just south of Piccadilly is known for a number of things including the home of many private clubs. Some of these have a long history, but they usually have one thing in common; they are exclusive. This means and has meant in the past that some were for gentlemen onlyContinue reading “The Most Exclusive Club in London”

Let me point out straightaway, this has nothing to do with gambling. Yes, Las Vegas is one of the most famous gambling cities in the world and although Mayfair might have one or two casinos, it is not what connects them in this instance. Las Vegas is also known for the ease at which couplesContinue reading “The Las Vegas of Mayfair”

I have written about King Edward VII before and how he had penchant for practical jokes and enjoyed being un-king-like. The sombre presentation and the seriousness of his duties were not for him. He wanted to have fun. So, what made him act like this? It was a common problem for many people, royal orContinue reading “The King Who was a Fireman”

This is the final tale of London hauntings for December and this one has a ghost who only appears, they say, on Christmas Day.     The frontage of Buckingham Palace is probably one of the best known buildings in the world. Many people believe that it is the home to Queen Elizabeth II. But itContinue reading “The Christmas Ghost of Buckingham Palace”