What secrets lie hidden behind closed doors? Here on Romney Street, we’re not talking about a scandalous affair, but rather a gathering of minds. This unassuming street housed the first meeting place of the Romney Street Group, a think tank established in 1917. Imagine a group of influential figures gathering at 58 Romney Street, the residence of actress Edyth Goodall. The group, founded by J.P. Thorp, a drama critic for Punch magazine, sought to shape policies for Britain’s post-war reconstruction. This wasn’t just a casual discussion over tea and biscuits. The Romney Street Group, or RSG as it became known, attracted some of the most brilliant minds of the time. Think civil servants, academics, journalists, even future politicians like Arthur Greenwood, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party in the 1930s. These meetings, bound by the Chatham House rule of confidentiality, birthed ideas that eventually found their way into legislation. Although the RSG moved to the Garton Foundation in Dean’s Yard after 18 months, their legacy began right here. They say great minds think alike, but on Romney Street, they shaped the future.
Southfields Methodist Church
Curiosity stirred within the heart of Southfields as a new chapter began. Southfields Methodist Church held its first public service