When I saw the memorial to the animals it reminded me of the little known fact that thousands of domestic pets were killed at Battersea Dogs home during the first weeks of World War II because people were so scared their family would be bombed and their pets would be left alone to wander the streets. So many people attended the dogs home that it operated 24/7 for a few weeks.

@suecondon1685

7 ай бұрын

Absolutely heartbreaking. I have a letter written by my Grandma to my Dad who was evacuated. She said the animal van came to take the poor cats away to destroy them, but their Tina jumped over the fence chasing a bird and was saved from the van man. She said no one must leave animals behind when they leave the town. So sad.

@highpath4776

7 ай бұрын

Mum lost at least one cat in WW2 air raids

@attlee1945

7 ай бұрын

During the war in Burma. The Chindits used mules and often their vocal cords were cut, to stop them making a noise. I guess another horrible necessity of war

As a professional classical musician it really upsets me that people think it’s out of reach of “ordinary” people. Classical music is for everyone. Thank you John for pointing that out and the price difference between affordable classical concerts and hugely expensive pop concerts.

@ianmaddams9577

7 ай бұрын

This is brilliant. As I’ve always thought attending a classical concert was also pricey. I now look forward to my first affordable concert. Thanks John 👍🏻

Me and my wife lived in the gatehouse of an Edwin Lutyen house a few years back, the designer of the Cenotaph. The house was a collaboration by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll who created the gardens. Giant Red Woods and a Rhododendron forest (each of them still had their original tags in Jekyll's own handwriting) you could get lost in for hours (I got lost in the gardens many a time on a pitch black night). Within the gardens were dozens of follies, including original Lutyens benches amongst other delights. During the Second World War there were food stores buried on the grounds including thousands of tins of spam. Occasionally while digging the gardens these tins would rise to the surface. Was a truly amazing place to live... Anyway my interesting fact about the Cenotaph! Thank you for the video John!

Congratulations, glad you are getting recognition, you deserve it 🎉

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

Thanks Kyran

What a wonderful mini pilgrimage to the monument in honour of Grandad Rogers. May he rest in peace . I’ve driven past the monument dedicated to the animals in WW2 that served and lost their lives. No better way said than “They had no choice “

Great walk. So much to be Remembered! Thank you John Rogers once again for allowing me to walk with you. The closest I shall ever get to London. Much emotion evolved during this video. Blessings to your father, you, and entire family. 🕊️💜🙋🙏

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

Many thanks Janet

I worked in Wigmore Street for 5 years from 1988. A wonderful area with tons of history. Producing this to link with Rememberance Sunday was particularly nice.

Great video John and included my old stomping ground. Worked in Balderton Street for 10 years and knew the building in Brown Hart Gardens when it was an electricity substation. The area above was developed later. The meeting place for our fire drills was Grosvenor Square and remember police coming up and asking why we were gathered. Must have thought we were protesters. Seemed every time I went to lunch at least one person asked for directions to the American Embassy! The flats are Peabody.

Nice to here tour dulcet tones on the beeb. My parents met in the choir at All Souls Langham Place in the 60’s and were married there in 1970. Interesting how they discovered the unturned arches in the basement there when renovating around that era.

Hi John...another brilliant informative post...and touching tribute to your family....you truly deserve ALL the publicity and fame for keeping the London what was born... and being forgotten under our feet .

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

Thanks so much Patrick

Lovely walk, John ,thanks for that. The west end and Marylebone brings back memories of working in london, and friday night drinks and curry up west !

I never knew this world existed. I must have walked along Oxford Street hundreds of times but never ventured into Cavendish Square or Wigmore Street. Thank you so much John for bringing this world to us. I hope the BBC interviews lead to wider recognition of your work.

Thank you John for this walk. I worked in Cavendish Sq in 1967 through to the mid 70's then moving to West London (BBC). The convent was still active during that time because a catholic priest I knew was allowed to park at the convent when in London. Happy memories of sunbathing in the park there at lunchtimes.

Two BBC things in one day is going some and no mistake, John! In fact, I think you'd be great with a weekly spot of some kind - if it were on radio then you wouldn't have to worry about the face cream! The Animals Memorial is indeed a poignant place, but it must be remembered that many people also had no choice. Nice one John! ⭐👍

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

Thanks William - I’d love a regular spot on the BBC

Cavendish I believe was so hated for slaughtering of those retreating at Cadogan and with the statue built placed pointing to Scotland it is removed. Since it stop people enjoying walking round, the square . In recent years it was replaced by one made from soap the idea being that it disintegrate. The problem was it never did so that one was dismantled too! I can honestly say your left eye doesn’t look a day over 45 . Great walk John. Thank you.

That was a lovely walk with a touching end. Love all the old architecture we saw on the way.

The memorial to the animals really touched me. 😢 Thank you so much for showing it.

What a lovely treat, only just caught up with the Memorial Sunday walk, good to share your family history John, will try and catch up with your radio interview.....always a pleasure

My grandfather was in the machine gun corp as well but sadly your grand dad and he were firing at one another. My grandfather left Germany in 1922 for the US and never looked back. He too was a quiet man. And my disappointment at not seeing you get a facial was cured by the arrival of your book, wrapped in tissue paper, sealed and autographed..just in time for long winter evenings

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

Nice symmetry Linda Sue - and great to hear the book arrived safely

When I was a young US Marine on the guard staff of the US Naval HQ at 7 North Audley street back in the 1990’s (sat at the NE corner of Grosvenor Square near the embassy), plans were already being discussed to move the embassy south of the river. There were many reasons, but security was the primary driver. I can assure you that the concept of leaseholds were very well understood, and the fact that the Duke of Westminster, and not the US Government, owned the land was also very well understood. The fact that the embassy building was ugly bordering on eyesore was also well understood, though I daresay they didn’t do much better down at Nine Elms. Love the videos, John! Keep them coming.

@Maitreya0208

7 ай бұрын

Correction, NW corner of Grosvenor Square. Sorry for the typo.

@2Sugarbears

7 ай бұрын

It was ugly wasn't it?

@Maitreya0208

7 ай бұрын

@@2Sugarbears So ugly

@highpath4776

7 ай бұрын

@@2Sugarbears No. imposing but had an elegance

@ko6el

7 ай бұрын

The only ugly thing is American Foreign Policy. Maybe you could stop fucking up the world, with the UK/EU in tow. We've had enough American 'culture' thanks. 😶

My paternal was also a machine gunner in the first World War. He also got shot in the foot, and I remember some shrapnel coming out in the 1970s. He was another quiet man who rarely talked about his experiences.

The Wigmore Hall is a beautiful concert venue, not intimidating at all. Great acoustics. Yeah, there used to be a Steinway & Sons piano showroom down there too.

Have to comment again John. Great video again. A lovely tribute to your grandad, I’m sure your dad appreciated it. The memorial to the animals reminded me I was stage managing a performance by Steeton Male Voice Choir and Otley brass band at Kings Hall Ilkley on 11th November, they sang a song called ‘If they could speak’ which is also a tribute to the animals in war.

John, what a fine looking man your Grandfather was...

Brown Hart Gardens - in the early part of the 20th C Many of the flats in this & the surrounding streets (Cavendish , Balder ton Sreet & Binney Streets were occupied by civil service eg. police, ambulance families as well as the servants for the wealthier residents of Mayfair. My grandmother & her 2 sisters amongst them.

The eye cream works… great stuff at the end! More credit to Dr Ross: 3/4 of the people who ever died did so from a mosquito bite

Wigmore is a lovely treat, especially, I find on a winter Sunday for a lunchtime concert. Even give you a complimentary sherry after in the bar. Such a warm and welcoming place with adorable music. Take your family over Christmas perhaps. Or just you and Heidi.

and there it is - it's a monday night, and i am just getting to view this video. phew, i've had a rough couple of weeks, and your videos are always a welcome oasis, john. i'm hoping to receive your book this yule as a gift, as i received your first book! if not, haha, then i'll just have to buy it for myself! love from canada!

John. Great tale as ever. Thanks for the Portland Stone - Olympic references, as the island is my home. A further reference is that the Olympic sailing took place in Portland and off the Weymouth coast. Christopher Wren was MP for Portland and Weymouth. Use of so much of the stone after the great fire; too much of a coincidence?!

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

Love all those connections Phil

@philjohnson4770

7 ай бұрын

@JohnRogersWalks thanks for the new book too. I'm out of UK for most of the year and your books and the films are great company. Will there be a new audio book? I really like the one you did for your first book.

A touching memorial.

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

Thanks Timothy

Touching tribute to your grandfather😊, they don't make em like they used too.

Thanks for sharing your family history.

Great video. I have fond memories of the American Embassy where I got my visa to live in America. I rang her from the park opposite ans we both wept.

I’m glad you mentioned that going to a concert at Wigmore Hall was so affordable. Not stuffy or upper class in any way, just the greatest performers in the world playing for everyone. I suggest you give it a try next time Stephen Hough is playing there. It will be an experience you’ll never forget. And say hi to him afterwards.

@johnoleary5293

7 ай бұрын

And Stephen (or Sir Stephen as he is now) is not only one of the greatest pianists who ever lived, but he’s also a singularly lovely man.

Great walk as usual John. The building in the Mews beneath the statute at the start is The Kings Fund

Wow john your a celeb today ❤ regards from the north west

Another great walk thank you from New England.

The sandwich man,what a film.Michael Bentine .

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

Favourite London films? #london #londonfilms #bestlondonfilms #londononfilm

I had to remind myself about The Sandwich Man , not having seen it for many years . Have you seen the cast list - it's incredible ! A veritable collection of British 60's film icons - Diana Dors , Terry Thomas , Wilfred Hyde-White , Harry H Corbett ....amongst many , many others . Noted John Le Mesurier played the role of Senior Sandwich Man ! What would Captain Mainwearing have said !?

Glad to see you getting recognition for your books. Well done!

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

Many thanks

Nice...👍.

I’ve throughly enjoyed the video. Thank you.

Enjoyable video John. Great memories of your grandfather. Cheers, as always, from Richard in Reno

When I think of London John, I think of a chilly Hyde Park at Easter. This was a great walk, and as mentioned, it was a terrific discussion on Radio London afterwards. Cheers! ❤

Great walk as ever! Btw, there is no such thng as anti wrinkle cream. Well, there is a lot of stuff labelled as such but it doesn't ever work. Lovely tribute to your dad and granddad. I'm glad he survived and as a consequence you're here to share these awesome videos :)

Fascinating walk, which as usual, adds a different perspective to some familiar London landmarks - such as Wigmore Hall. Book a ticket - I think you will enjoy the concert and the period decor...Recommended!

Hi John, these videos remind me how much I miss London and the UK

New subscriber John 😊 Started watching after searching... "BURNHAM ON CROUCH" videos...as I used to visit and walk there often when I lived in Essex (in Ramsgate now). It was one of my favourite walks in the county...most of who's coastline I have trudged. I think Essex is a massively under-appreciated county, with some lovely coastline, and riverside villages and towns. Have you walked around Mersea Island yet? Or Brightlingsea and Point Clear? I look forward to watching many more of your videos...as I was an enthusiastic coastal walker for many years before age and frailty started to change that... Which is why I appreciate videos like yours. 😊

Hi John. Just finished reading my signed copy of your latest book. It's the first physical book I've bought in a long time and it was worth every penny! Regards, Ivor

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

Thank you so much Ivor - brilliant to hear

What a great occasion!

Thanks for sharing your family history with us, it is very interesting. I'm glad your grandad survived the war.

Lovely video john,and a great tribute to your grandad.sorry john couldn't see difference with your cream.lol.x

Evening John, the Tyburn runs down James Court crosses Wigmore Street then carries on down St Christopher's Place, I remember it being mapped on my drawings I had, I sent you the map for Upper Walthamstow if you remember correctly. The same map I had shows the river running down Marylebone Lane, then down James Court, then down St Christopher's Place. Sadly, I had them on my phone, which got stolen. Great video again, all the best.

Always enjoyable Thanks again John in Chicago

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

Thanks John

Hi John, there was a workhouse in mount st, Mayfair & the statue is naked to show how vulnerable the machine gunners were. I think I read that in a Christopher Winn book .🍻

Thanks for the Wigmore, Herefordshire mention John. My late in laws resided there.

That was a lovely,interesting and varied walk. Your walks are never less. I feel a sense of tristesse at the end. Im glad you found the Memorial. Im glad too,that your Granddad lived on after all. Often in family history there are moments that if it went another way the ,person we are would not have been born,or be someone else (thats mind bending),or be a New Yorker,or an East Ender or some other location. Ive often heard The Wigmore Hall referenced on the radio after pieces of music. I can now tell one of my favourite stories; years ago the Three Tenors were booked to play a summer evenings concert at The Royal Crescent,Bath. There was a lot of trumped up outrage locally. Our local radio did a phone in on it. The price of a ticket for the 3 tenors was £40. Thr price of a ticket to Glastonbury a week later was £200. Most of the callers in were saying (were they genuine or put up to it) anyway it was "this concert for toffs is elitist and it should be cancelled,I cant afford to pay £40". Then they would admit to the genial host that yes,they were going to Glastonbury and when asked why they could afford the higher sum but not the lower,well i cant remember exactly but they fluffed and flanneled and some said the ticket was a gift from a friend. However a naughty,honest few told the radio host the truth. They intended to go under the wire. Not pay at all. Some were taking wire cutters,most knew of the spot where the re was a weakness and some of them had friends on the inside who had paid legit,to assist them in! I think Michael Eavis may have been listening to our local radio that morning as the next year he had hired a professional company to do the security etc.

My nan's stepfather was a Scots Guards machine gunner taken prisoner in the Middle East during WW1and sent on a death march into captivity across the desert to Bagdad, by all accounts a very mentally tortured man I only remember meeting him once is an old peoples home when I was quite small.

Great video, the wee museum in the arch is worth a visit!

Nice wee walk John...i thought your grandad was with a Scottish regiment when i saw his bonnet in the photo🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿good luck with the book.

Very interesting walk me being here is bit of a lottery dad marching forward at el Alamein the soldiers on ether side of him fell but he survived least we forget

Thanks for the lovely stroll . Brought back my childhood and youth spent in this area. Have you any walks through Regents Park videoed ?

Another great video. As a Londoner exiled to Lincolnshire, your walks evoke many memories of years gone by, particularly your exploration of the City churches. Just received a signed copy of your new tome from Newham Bookshop. Can't wait to start reading it. Looking forward to seeing you on your next walk - wherever that may be ! Keep em coming

Lovely walk again, know the area fairly well as my dad worked for a while in Portman Square. The memorials info was most interesting. I’m signed up for the Earls Ct event which I am really looking forward to.

Loved the interview John. I love both your books - such compelling reads and you’ve now also prompted me to read ‘Rivers of London’ too. This a great walk through a fascinating part of London.

Great walk yet again john, the other day i was in the west end, Edgware Road, from there i walked to London Bridge then got the train back to North London

well done on telly, Guv

Yet another excellent watch, thanks John.

fantastic John xx

I really enjoyed your video and your story about your granddad.

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

Thank you Kay

@kaysridgedell2358

7 ай бұрын

@JohnRogersWalks blessings sent on the sell of your wonderful book

Thank You for Sharing This John, Keep Safe and Well .

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

Thanks Dave

The animal war memorial always moves me, animals are not on this planet to be used and abused. They have the desire to live and thrive just like we do. Please people, eat more plant-based and you'll be healthier too. Rescue centres are full of lovely animals of all breeds, ages, sizes and temperaments just waiting for a good home, no need to buy "brand new" from a breeder or shop. Thank you.

Great vid. as always, John. I received my copy of your book last week and liked the book wrapping with the lost byways sticker much thank you . I've just begun to read it and enjoying it so far.

In return for inviting you on the radio, you then unbeknowningly include shots of the building where I was born and the venue of my first date with my now wife. Thanks John, from ‘Phill the producer’.

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

Ha, what a wonderful bit of serendipity Phill! Many thanks again for having me on the show.

Interesting walk as always John. Just a gentle point. I might have used 'commemoration' rather than 'celebration' when talking about Remembrance Sunday. Anyway, I'll see if I can go onto the iplayer and listen to your interviews on the beeb.

john not seen you for months nothing ever comes up in my feed that was so intresting hope you and the family are well steve

You are just brilliant 🤩

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

Ah that’s great thank you

@smehmet21

7 ай бұрын

@@JohnRogersWalks I have actually got it on my bucket list to have a walking tour with you. Hopefully one day.

Good 1

Great stuff as ever sir! Good to see your national radio exposure too...I have just ordered your book & eagerly await its arrival...

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Phil

Another fabulous video John 🍺👍

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

Thanks Michael

Great video and music as always.

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

Thanks Nigel

Sir this video is very good 😊,London is amazing almost incredible ❤ you are on BBC its really amazing in India its taking very honorfully ,and yes our favorite band is Ronan keating and Tom odell band ,and I saw dog statue really heartmelting your facial looks good,your family history is very pleasant 😀 You are very honored 🎖 because British military 🪖 is the best army in the world 🌎 and your grandfather was in army,my granny's father was also a good fighter and they fought for burma 🇲🇲 ❤Take care of yourself I think there will be cold too much...I heard that in winter London's temperature goes very down...and yes one more thing that if cream suits to you then use it daily...amazing video thanks to share with us your family history ❤

Great stuff! I hope it brings you more subs John. 😉

St Christophers Place!! Wow, that's taking me back. I had to go near there my first morning of work in 1981, to get my first lessons on computers at Wang. The MD met me (he was a darling, my new bosses told him to welcome me - got to know him very well over the next few years, always turned up at our office in Bolton Street with a bottle of fizz and some orange juice!!) and I remember eating deep fried potato skins with sour cream and chive dip at some bar down there one evening, when a very nasty Gary Moore was being horrible to a girlfriend - put me right off him!! OOooh, and didn't Yves Rocher have a shop there.. I think they did!! Memories... The Lamb and Flag!! Many a happy night there (not that I remember much..) Loads of social housing in the 'posher' places - if you dont' go round the back streets, you never see them. My nephew's gf lives in a tower block in Soho, near Chinatown. American Embassy land owned by Grosvenor Estates, the last Duke was a sweetie - worked for a Surveyors and did the 10 year report on his estate in the 80's.. Lovely, lovely man. I do live in the best city in the world.

13:41 I'm gonna take a guess here but how about The Peabody Estates? Maybe they sold one of them? Anyway thanks John I needed some cheering up today (Mon) and I found your vid. I haven't seen this area of London in forty years, so thanks. I also would rather go to the Wigmore for classical music( though I have seen many of my favorites in concert) have always wanted to go to The Proms. Thanks again for cheering me up John. You are a blessing to us all. Cheers from Canada.

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

So glad I could help cheer you up. Yes that estate is now managed by Peabody

As ever I enjoyed this. Thank you. You can stop plugging the book to me, my copy (ex 'A well known on-line bookshop') arrived this morning!

Nice one John, gud vid...

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

Thanks Ralph

Got the book, not read it yet. 👍

My mums uncles were piano tuners at stienways

My maternal Grandad also fought in the Machine Gun Corps, having transferred from the Sherwood Foresters after a couple of years of WWI. He died when I was 9 and before I was old enough to ask him about his experiences. I often wonder what horrors he saw during his service. I'd love to know more about his time in the Corps, so if anyone can point me towards relevant resources I'd be very grateful.

Have you ever watch the old movie The Blue Lamp? I have just ordered it to watch here in NZ as I used to live in Lisson Grove and Edgeware Road was where I used to hang out. I am hoping to see the junction of Harrow Road and Edgeware Road before the Westway was put in.

There's every chance if you ever had a cocktail after work in the 1980s in The Coconut Grove in St Christopher's Place (site of one of the finest poorly maintained public toilets in London) it was I that served it to you. Just saying...

Damn, I thought it was a Dementor hanging on the wall at 5:14. And those guys on motorbikes had Polish flags on them. I don’t know when you were filming this video, but on 11th November we celebrate the Independence Day in Poland.

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

I did wonder, this was the 12th November

👍👍

From 3:24, Lady Henrietta Cavendish-Holles, the Holles name is pronounced "hollis". Another very interesting and informative video, thank you.

@JohnRogersWalks

7 ай бұрын

thanks for that Ross

Your left under-eye puffiness is indeed shrunk a bit by the miracle cream, John. As a man of similar age, I’m not sure it matters, though !

John - oh to have the sort of cheek that when the US government asked to buy the land, the then Duke supposedly said, well you can have it as long as you return the land you confiscated/stole from my family in the USA after the War of Independence; as this is said to include 1,200 acres of prime Florida real estate, as well as vast tracts of land in Maine and New York, the answer was no. I hope he really said it? In reality he apparently 'gave' them the land, on a 999-year lease, at a nominal rate of £10 a year, possibly the best bargain in Mayfair and certainly a lot less than they paid for the Nine Elms site. The memorials on Hyde Park corner always have a special place in my heart as I was born in the then St George's Hospital, then overlooking the memorials. It's now the Lanesborough Hotel.

Story goes that the Americans wanted to buy the freehold of the Embassy, however he Duke said he would agree to the sale if the U.S. would return the land it had stolen from his family after the War of Independence. Those lands included the city of Miami and surrounding areas. So......Nine Elms it was then.

Great walk again John. Do you have any links for the BBC interviews?

Rumour is that the eyebag creams that work so well are really hemorhoid cream!