In my teens in Kennington there was a charming gentleman, Mr Smith, who lived a few doors away with his wife. I remember him stopping one evening to admire my racing bicycle which i was cleaning in our front yard. Sadly his wife became very ill and my mother and other neighbours would sit beside her hospital bed on a rota basis. Eventually he moved to the country upon his retirement, which was announced in the press. He had been head of MI5. My Dad had visited him at his house a few times and told us that Sir Howard Smith had told him what his job was, adding "but please don't talk about it". After his departure there were a number of vans outside the house marked "Post Office" taking away equipment installed in the house. So... Walcot Square has a slight connection with the world of espionage!
@@Loki1815 I know Christopher Chataway lived on the corner of our road when he was the Tory party chairman - I once spent a couple of hours in his house fixing his charming daughter's hifi, though now I cannot begin to recall how I met her. As for "front yard" - well, now I live in Australia which is my excuse, but what would I have called it then? "Front garden" springs to mind but the most it would have had would have been a plant in a pot...
It is good to have good neighbors especially when we treat them as extended family I have with me neighbors close to sixty years plus I am already a grandfather to my childhood friends grandchildren Happy day 😊
Fantastic video, Rob! The couple in the Ruislip incident, the Cohens, make an appearance in one of Helene Hanff’s books (the author of 84 Charing Cross Road). The wife of Frank Doel, who sold Helene all her books, told Helene the story of the couple coming to a party and the wife had on a slinky black dress. “Oh, you look just like a spy!”, Frank’s wife said. Imagine the jolt that sent! Not long after the Doel’s heard that their friends really were spies.
This was quite interesting, it made me think about how we can walk around certain places in our cities every day without having a clue about the events that took place there in the past, and that applies to any city not just London.
They're only creepy because we decide they're creepy. There's nothing really creepy about a computer voice reading numbers. Don't let your imagination run wild.
What a fantastic recap of the dark side of post-WWII activities in London. While the mod generation was dancing, sinister elements were brewing up schemes that pitted one culture against another. Thanks, Rob, for another comprehensive look at what makes London a fascinating city.
Coram fields was well known to the security services in the early 70s. This was due to myself and my friends who played there on most days then , found some maps and forms in an envolope .I took these to my father who was apoliceman at the time . That eveing I was given a long lecture by him about leaving things alone. This was done in the presents of some very scary men. it was soon after that we moved from Kings cross to Depthford Years later when I was in the army my dad told me the guys were from special branch and we moved from there by them . my dad did get a promotion though to desk sargent at greenwich police station.
Tied in very well with Radio 4s Orwell readings of 1984 this weekend. It all seems so dated and almost ridiculous by the gadgetry of today and yet it was in my lifetime. Very interesting and well put together
Superb comment and thank you so much for the kind words Michael. I know exactly what you mean- it was a different world for sure, no CCTV or smart phones! Didn’t know about Orwell on Radio 4; will look that up. Cheers.
Absolutely riveting, Rob - your content just gets better and better! When you announced the subject of this video last week, I wondered if there might be a reference to 'Ring Of Spies' - and indeed there was! Great stuff.👍👍👍
Better than ever Rob, as an aside i was flying USAF F111F out of RAF Lakenheath with nukes during Able-Archer. It was a scary time...I still lose sleep over it. Keep up the good work mate!
I was serving in the RAF at the time and visited Lakenheath as a guest of the 48th TFW. I remember their fondness for something they referred to as ‘Mountain Doo’! (Mountain Dew).
@@AtheistOrphanBecause I'm allergic to caffeine I researched the sources of it, so I read a while back that Canadian Mountain Dew has no caffeine, but that the US stuff has a considerable amount. Beside the unique taste, the caffeine might help pilots, and servicemen and women.
@@AtheistOrphanI served at RAF Lakenheath 1980-82 and RAF Greenham Common 1983-88. Lots of Eastern European Intel types crawling around Berkshire then. If the general public actually realized it at the time, they wouldn't believe it.
Wow! A fascinating insight in to London’s dark underbelly. It makes you wonder what spying shenanigans continues to this day in the capital. We now have many more countries and regimes that wish us all harm. I hope that our security services remain vigilant and outstanding in their work. Thank you for the brilliant YT video, a fascinating history lesson. I left London in 1994 and probably wouldn’t recognise my old stomping grounds around the West End. Please keep uploading, and thank you again for your episodes!
Best Sunday treat. Thanks Rob. Sending along a tip $. You really do create some of the best videos on TH-cam. I look forward to seeing you reach the 1m subscriber mark, for you surely deserve it.
Absolutely brilliant Rob, your videos are always a joy to watch but this one was just something else, well done fella, fantastic work. Look forward to the next!
Hello Rob Excellent video. I love spy stories. Well researched and presented. Most be harder to do drop boxes with the amount of cameras in London. We arrive in London a week today. As I had to work today I am now watching the Canadian Grand Prix. Take care Chris and Sandra of Canada.
@@Robslondon Harder but not impossible. There are lots of little passageways in central London that aren't covered by CCTV. Alternatively use quiet suburban streets or green spaces like Hampstead Heath.
As alway, a perfect escape (no pun intended!) from the humdrum of a solitary life to find utterly fascinating information of the city I will sadly not now visit. Joyous stuff, Rob, perfectly researched and delivered! Thank you. Rob
It seems that like you, Mr Taylor, I find my entertainment in TH-cam and Rob is one of my regular reads. I don't know London very well but I have found Rob's posts about it so interesting. Fortunately there is a young man that lives in my city, Norwich, that has a similar talent for posting local tales so I have something to relate to. Best Wishes J
@Robslondon John Atkins has ''Lost Norwich ' which cleverly uses old street photos and shows the present day to explain the history and changes. ' A little bit of history ' tells the stories and history of places around Norwich. 'Norwich Castle and Art Gallery ' has a mixed bunch of videos but some are the history/use of things and customs like weapons, kitchen items,clothes etc which are interesting and informative. I am guessing that you already know the shorts videos on 'Living London History ' Enjoy !! Best Wishes John 👌
Great video, Rob. If you are interested in the 'numbers stations', may I suggest that you check out the work of the 'CONET Project'. My favourite identifying jingle, was the chilling gongs, where the tape had stretched over time, and the sound was utterly hellish.
Another great video, Rob. One thing it did was to jog my memory of the Michael Smith trial, where one of the barristers was called Blofeld. Was this REALLY a coincidence?? George Blake caused some serious damage to the UK. Bad man.
Superb...what immaculate research 👍 well done. Thank you so much for all this work. Interesting to see that many of your followers have personal connections, extra information or were already reading about this. I, too, remember Ethel Gee and the rest because I lived near where it happened in Portland. Thank you Rob 👍
Nice to see photos of Cafe Daquise (pronounced dah-keez!) which was owned by my godmother & her husband. As a student in London, way back in the 70's, that cafe was wonderful as I got free meals! I only learned about the 'meetings' that were held there a few years ago.
@@Robslondon Just for fun...there's video of my godmother Joy (aka Juanita) on youtube, performing with her husband Serge & his 2 brothers as 'Juanita & The Ganjou Brothers' They were a famous adagio dance act
That was a brilliant video Rob, so much covered in such short time, but the presentation was excellent. Thanks again for all the hard work that you go to, it is much appreciated.
Interesting enough been watching a few films and tv series over again like 'The Professionals' which I did watch to remind myself the ep which featured 'Trellick' so now this documentary peaks my interests thanks Rob well done :)
I know and frequented many of those places. The Polish restaurant in South Kensington, pronounced ‘Dakees’, was a favourite of mine. You may also wish to check out St Ermin’s Hotel, in Westminster, very near to the former MI6 headquarters you mention. The hotel was a frequent hang out for spies. Great video.
Although it's in Greater London, so perhaps not quite "London" in the context of this film, Surbiton has a couple of pubs associated with cold war spies. The Maypole on the Hook Road was used as a meeting point for some of the people in the Portland spy ring. It's mentioned in Ben MacIntyre's book on the story. Also, the Toby Jug, just off the A3, which was also a famous music venue where David Bowie played some of his first gigs, was also used by spies. It features in the film ring of spies. Sadly, the pub is no longer standing, and flats are currently being constructed where it once stood.
Thanks Rob for a great video. I really like watching your videos, despite the fact there's more chance of me living on the moon than living in London or any other city for that matter, can't stand large crowds or the hustle and bustle. The freedom and peace and quiet of the joint countryside of Oxfordshire/Warwickshire does me fine!! Also I've read about the escape of Oleg Gordievsky and other events that it concerned, truly fascinating and very enjoyable read, highly recommended.
George Blake died in Moscow and he never paid for the betrayal of more than 50 agents who died because of him. The 42 years sentence he was given, of which he barely served 5 years, was not inhumane, but rather quite lenient. He defected to Moscow where he lived to be 98, which is a heck of a lot more than what the men he betrayed did.
A light hand on a dark body of information. Painful to see how for example Blake changed his mind for humanitarian reasons in N.Korea. Painful to know how many were betrayed and shot as collateral of his changing sided.. What is the answer in a troubled world? Do nothing? I think your presentation is so thought provoking and brought new information to the subject. Ill be watching!
My favourite spy master is the brilliant Le Carre, especially his personal experiences from, 'A Perfect Spy', his semi autobiographical novel. I love all productions of this book, from the BBC's tv drama with Peter Egan to BBC radio 4's dramatization with Julian Rhind Tutt. But that was based in Europe and it's so interesting to see how things went down, closer to home. Quite a complex thing, spying, thanks Rob, so amazing to hear all the effort involved.
Hi Rob, well that blows all the invisible ink, Aston Martin, Vodka Martini (stired or shaken) out of the spying game..,...,it all relied on a piece of chalk 🧐😉😎 However talking about Dead Letter Boxes it was standard practice to annotate RTS (return to sender) mail with a DLO (dead letter office) in most Government Organisations for undelivered/returned mail. Cheers matey DougT upt north.
Wow! That’s was so interesting! Once again you have put in so much work on this video. I’ve lived in Kew for 20 odd years and had no idea of the spy connection. Also My Dad - as his parents were Polish - (& later with my mum after they married) often frequented Daquise. How fascinating to think Christine Keeler might’ve been there at the same time. Always love your work thanks Rob 😊
At the east end of Carlton House Terrace there's an alleyway that leads down to some steps towards Admiralty Arch (alongside the British Council building.) This alley was used as a trap by Russian spies to see if they were being followed by the security services. Another agent would be loitering at the bottom of the steps to see who came through afterwards.
In my teens in Kennington there was a charming gentleman, Mr Smith, who lived a few doors away with his wife. I remember him stopping one evening to admire my racing bicycle which i was cleaning in our front yard. Sadly his wife became very ill and my mother and other neighbours would sit beside her hospital bed on a rota basis. Eventually he moved to the country upon his retirement, which was announced in the press. He had been head of MI5. My Dad had visited him at his house a few times and told us that Sir Howard Smith had told him what his job was, adding "but please don't talk about it". After his departure there were a number of vans outside the house marked "Post Office" taking away equipment installed in the house. So... Walcot Square has a slight connection with the world of espionage!
Incredible comment! thanks for sharing
@OzPeter: Wasn't this the same Manor that Tony Blair lived?
..and, "Front YARD"?...
@@Loki1815 I know Christopher Chataway lived on the corner of our road when he was the Tory party chairman - I once spent a couple of hours in his house fixing his charming daughter's hifi, though now I cannot begin to recall how I met her. As for "front yard" - well, now I live in Australia which is my excuse, but what would I have called it then? "Front garden" springs to mind but the most it would have had would have been a plant in a pot...
It is good to have good neighbors especially when we treat them as extended family
I have with me neighbors close to sixty years plus I am already a grandfather to my childhood friends grandchildren
Happy day 😊
I spy one of the very best Historians on TH-cam. Nailed it again Rob.
Much appreciated 😉
Rob I think has been watching too much gay porn.
Fantastic video, Rob! The couple in the Ruislip incident, the Cohens, make an appearance in one of Helene Hanff’s books (the author of 84 Charing Cross Road). The wife of Frank Doel, who sold Helene all her books, told Helene the story of the couple coming to a party and the wife had on a slinky black dress. “Oh, you look just like a spy!”, Frank’s wife said. Imagine the jolt that sent! Not long after the Doel’s heard that their friends really were spies.
Ah! Brilliant, I wasn’t aware of that! Thanks- and thank you so much too for the kind words 😉
This was quite interesting, it made me think about how we can walk around certain places in our cities every day without having a clue about the events that took place there in the past, and that applies to any city not just London.
Thanks 👍
Those number station transmissions sound really creepy 😱 Absolutely fascinating subject, Rob, and a brilliant video. Thank you 😊
Ha ha! Thanks so much for the kind words Vicky 😄 I reckon they sounded creepy on purpose to put people off listening in 😉 Thanks again and stay well.
The Ringway Manchester TH-cam channel geeks out on these stations. Quite interesting.
They're only creepy because we decide they're creepy. There's nothing really creepy about a computer voice reading numbers. Don't let your imagination run wild.
@@Robslondon no reason to. They know thousands are listening, and recording them. Without the one time pad, they are secure.
What a fantastic recap of the dark side of post-WWII activities in London. While the mod generation was dancing, sinister elements were brewing up schemes that pitted one culture against another. Thanks, Rob, for another comprehensive look at what makes London a fascinating city.
Great comment Paul 😉 Cheers
Coram fields was well known to the security services in the early 70s. This was due to myself and my friends who played there on most days then , found some maps and forms in an envolope .I took these to my father who was apoliceman at the time . That eveing I was given a long lecture by him about leaving things alone. This was done in the presents of some very scary men. it was soon after that we moved from Kings cross to Depthford
Years later when I was in the army my dad told me the guys were from special branch and we moved from there by them . my dad did get a promotion though to desk sargent at greenwich police station.
Blimey!!…… 😳
Double blimey!!
Well done sir,
Great job Rob.
What a fascinating mini doc. Loved it. This comment will self-destruct after reading
🤣 Cheers Paul! 📼💥
Tied in very well with Radio 4s Orwell readings of 1984 this weekend. It all seems so dated and almost ridiculous by the gadgetry of today and yet it was in my lifetime. Very interesting and well put together
Superb comment and thank you so much for the kind words Michael.
I know exactly what you mean- it was a different world for sure, no CCTV or smart phones!
Didn’t know about Orwell on Radio 4; will look that up. Cheers.
Fascinating as always Rob . Thankyou ❤
Much appreciated, thank you
Fascinating video. You did an excellent job putting it together as well!
Much appreciated, thank you.
Absolutely riveting, Rob - your content just gets better and better! When you announced the subject of this video last week, I wondered if there might be a reference to 'Ring Of Spies' - and indeed there was! Great stuff.👍👍👍
Thank you so much Tragicyouth 😄 Lovely comment as always; I’m blessed to have you here. Hope all is well.
Better than ever Rob, as an aside i was flying USAF F111F out of RAF Lakenheath with nukes during Able-Archer. It was a scary time...I still lose sleep over it. Keep up the good work mate!
Wow…. Incredible comment John, thank you. My Grandad, who was in the USAF, was based at Rammstein at that time.
@@Robslondon Your Gran was USAF??? Now thats a story worth a pint or two on me!
I was serving in the RAF at the time and visited Lakenheath as a guest of the 48th TFW. I remember their fondness for something they referred to as ‘Mountain Doo’! (Mountain Dew).
@@AtheistOrphanBecause I'm allergic to caffeine I researched the sources of it, so I read a while back that Canadian Mountain Dew has no caffeine, but that the US stuff has a considerable amount. Beside the unique taste, the caffeine might help pilots, and servicemen and women.
@@AtheistOrphanI served at RAF Lakenheath 1980-82 and RAF Greenham Common 1983-88. Lots of Eastern European Intel types crawling around Berkshire then. If the general public actually realized it at the time, they wouldn't believe it.
It’s great to get this background, comparing everything to the great spy movies,which I always like to watch. Thank you.
Thank you Lois, it’s a pleasure
Just riveting Rob! I was glued from start to finish. More of this subject please.
Paul.
Thanks Paul! There is certainly another video in it 😉
Blimey! several locations I used to know very well! A first rate video,i look forward to more like this ..
Thanks so much Brett. Stay well sir.
You are the best on the historical bits regarding the Underground stations after the LTM
Thank you so much :-)
Cracking video once again, Rob.
About spies: I hear there's a building full of them across the road from Vauxhall Station.
Sssshhhh!
Ha ha! Cheers Graham! I have no idea what you’re talking about though 😉🕵️
Wow! A fascinating insight in to London’s dark underbelly. It makes you wonder what spying shenanigans continues to this day in the capital. We now have many more countries and regimes that wish us all harm. I hope that our security services remain vigilant and outstanding in their work. Thank you for the brilliant YT video, a fascinating history lesson. I left London in 1994 and probably wouldn’t recognise my old stomping grounds around the West End. Please keep uploading, and thank you again for your episodes!
Great comment, thank you! And thanks also for the kind words, much appreciated. Stay well.
New robs so excited good thing to watch during dinner 😅
Thanks Fiona! Enjoy 😉
I remember listening to the number channels late at night back in the 80's. Love all things espionage, thank you!
Great comment, thank you! Very evocative....
I missed it last night with having to work but I've really enjoyed it this morning with my cuppa Rob, great video, thanks 😊
Cheers Rob!
That is one of the best videos I have ever watched, totally enthralling.
Cheers Rob
Wow…. Thank you Sly, that means a great deal to me mate. Incredible words. Thank you.
Another great video, Rob! Best wishes, Jacqueline
Bless you Jaqueline, I really appreciate that! Many thanks indeed 😄
Best Sunday treat. Thanks Rob. Sending along a tip $. You really do create some of the best videos on TH-cam. I look forward to seeing you reach the 1m subscriber mark, for you surely deserve it.
I can’t thank you enough.
Your support means so much to me; thank you for the amazing words.
That was utterly fascinating, cheers Rob!
Much appreciated! Thank you
I look forward to these every Sunday! Thank you so much!
It’s a pleasure! Thanks for watching
Omg although a few years before I was born, most of those spies and dead letter boxes are near where I grew up! Loved this video, thank you!!
😄 Thanks Caroline!
Another excellent Sunday evening video.
Cheers Paul!
Absolutely brilliant Rob, your videos are always a joy to watch but this one was just something else, well done fella, fantastic work. Look forward to the next!
That’s really kind of you to say; means a lot to me. Cheers 😉
Fascinating and so well put together 🎉
Thanks for the hard work! 🇺🇸
Thanks so much Allie ☺️
Fantastic video ! Thank so very much ❤
Much appreciated, thank you
Hello Rob, Hope you are keeping well, Thank you for another outstanding and informative video, Great work Sir
That’s so kind of you Dave. Means a lot to me mate; many thanks indeed. Cheers and stay well ☺️
That, for me, is your best ever video. Tremendous work Rob.
That’s so kind of you to say! Many thanks indeed, much appreciated.
Thanks!
So, so kind. Many thanks indeed ☺️ I’m truly blessed to have wonderful viewers like you. Stay well and thank you again- much appreciated.
Hello Rob
Excellent video. I love spy stories. Well researched and presented. Most be harder to do drop boxes with the amount of cameras in London. We arrive in London a week today. As I had to work today I am now watching the Canadian Grand Prix. Take care Chris and Sandra of Canada.
Thanks guys! I was thinking that when filming, the CCTV is everywhere…. Have a good journey 😄
@@Robslondon Harder but not impossible. There are lots of little passageways in central London that aren't covered by CCTV. Alternatively use quiet suburban streets or green spaces like Hampstead Heath.
rob as always well done sir great work thanks for bringing us along
Thank you as always mate 😉
@@Robslondon cheers rob
More great work, Rob!
Particularly liked the atmospheric night footage..! 😲
Thank you Bryan!
wow, the George Blake story is really fascinating, would make a great action thriller spy movie
Yes, I can’t believe it’s not been done yet.
Unfortunately it doesn't have a 'feel good' ending as that traitors' only real punishment was having to live in Moscow at that time.
As alway, a perfect escape (no pun intended!) from the humdrum of a solitary life to find utterly fascinating information of the city I will sadly not now visit. Joyous stuff, Rob, perfectly researched and delivered! Thank you. Rob
Ha ha! Cheers Robert, much appreciated my friend. Hope you're keeping well.
It seems that like you, Mr Taylor, I find my entertainment in TH-cam and Rob is one of my regular reads. I don't know London very well but I have found Rob's posts about it so interesting. Fortunately there is a young man that lives in my city, Norwich, that has a similar talent for posting local tales so I have something to relate to. Best Wishes J
@@MrJohn768 Thank you so much Mr John! What is the name of the Norwich channel? I'd be very interested to watch that.
@Robslondon John Atkins has ''Lost Norwich ' which cleverly uses old street photos and shows the present day to explain the history and changes. ' A little bit of history ' tells the stories and history of places around Norwich. 'Norwich Castle and Art Gallery ' has a mixed bunch of videos but some are the history/use of things and customs like weapons, kitchen items,clothes etc which are interesting and informative. I am guessing that you already know the shorts videos on 'Living London History ' Enjoy !! Best Wishes John 👌
@@MrJohn768 Lovely, thank you!
Brilliantly well researched. Thanks Rob.
Thank you Michael!
@@Robslondon I even watched Ring Of Spies after you featured it LOL.
Great video, Rob. If you are interested in the 'numbers stations', may I suggest that you check out the work of the 'CONET Project'. My favourite identifying jingle, was the chilling gongs, where the tape had stretched over time, and the sound was utterly hellish.
I know it well. I toyed with the idea of using the gongs station but thought it was far too creepy…
@@Robslondon Oooh Rob, you know too much about these things......maybe your just not a TH-camr after all 🧐😎 shhhh you know who
@@douglasthompson296
And wouldn't being a cabbie be a great cover for undercover work, guv'nor?
This was absolutely brilliant to see . Thanks Rob, for your superb research into this fascinating subject 👌
Thanks so much Christine ☺️ Hope you’re keeping well and thanks again for the lovely words.
Another great video, Rob.
One thing it did was to jog my memory of the Michael Smith trial, where one of the barristers was called Blofeld. Was this REALLY a coincidence??
George Blake caused some serious damage to the UK. Bad man.
Thanks so much Stephen… yes, Blofeld- Fleming must’ve known the name! 😉
Thanks Rob… I knew very little about the Cold War spies etc another informative gem… very interesting.. cheers
Cheers Doug 🕵️😉
Great video Rob, well put together and very informative.
Really appreciate that Stephen, thank you
Superb...what immaculate research 👍 well done. Thank you so much for all this work. Interesting to see that many of your followers have personal connections, extra information or were already reading about this. I, too, remember Ethel Gee and the rest because I lived near where it happened in Portland. Thank you Rob 👍
Great comment, thank you! Hope you're keeping well.
Great and interesting sharing. Thanks Robert. 👍👍👍😍😍😍
Hey Sharon! Thanks as always my friend
Nice to see photos of Cafe Daquise (pronounced dah-keez!) which was owned by my godmother & her husband. As a student in London, way back in the 70's, that cafe was wonderful as I got free meals! I only learned about the 'meetings' that were held there a few years ago.
Thanks! I always thought it was pronounced like that, then I checked online and it told me the one used in the video 🤣 Oh well.
@@Robslondon Just for fun...there's video of my godmother Joy (aka Juanita) on youtube, performing with her husband Serge & his 2 brothers as 'Juanita & The Ganjou Brothers' They were a famous adagio dance act
Very interesting vid ..
Watched with 2 glasses of wine !
The best way! 😄 Cheers 🍷
That was a brilliant video Rob, so much covered in such short time, but the presentation was excellent. Thanks again for all the hard work that you go to, it is much appreciated.
Many thanks :-D
Interesting enough been watching a few films and tv series over again like 'The Professionals' which I did watch to remind myself the ep which featured 'Trellick' so now this documentary peaks my interests thanks Rob well done :)
Ha ha! Nice comment, cheers 😉
You are such a great storyteller, Rob!
That means a lot to me Dennis. Thank you so much my friend ☺️
Thank you Rob for another very well researched and interesting video. I enjoyed it very much. All the best from Sydney Australia 🇦🇺
Thanks so much Scott
I know and frequented many of those places. The Polish restaurant in South Kensington, pronounced ‘Dakees’, was a favourite of mine. You may also wish to check out St Ermin’s Hotel, in Westminster, very near to the former MI6 headquarters you mention. The hotel was a frequent hang out for spies. Great video.
Thanks Bob!
Yet another fine and absorbing piece. Fascinating!
Thanks Jon!
Another great video, thanks for your efforts Rob 👍
Much appreciated John, thank you.
Brilliant as always. Great to listen to whilst cooking dinner ❤
Glad to be of service! Thanks so much for watching 😄 And great name by the way 😉
Excellent research, Rob. Many thanks
Thank you Jonathan
Very Enjoyable ! Thanks for the upload.
It’s a pleasure! Thank you so much for watching 😄
Excellent job Rob. Really enjoyed this one !!
Thank you so much (and love your avatar!) 😉
A fascinating diversion, Rob! Many thanks as always.
Ah, thanks so much William! 😉
Although it's in Greater London, so perhaps not quite "London" in the context of this film, Surbiton has a couple of pubs associated with cold war spies. The Maypole on the Hook Road was used as a meeting point for some of the people in the Portland spy ring. It's mentioned in Ben MacIntyre's book on the story. Also, the Toby Jug, just off the A3, which was also a famous music venue where David Bowie played some of his first gigs, was also used by spies. It features in the film ring of spies. Sadly, the pub is no longer standing, and flats are currently being constructed where it once stood.
Great comment, thank you.
@Robslondon Thanks! I've just corrected a couple of typos!
@@therighthonsirdoug That's ok!
Brilliant as always Rob. Thank you.
A pleasure as always my friend. Thank you.
Fantastic stuff Rob! Fascinating.
Thank you! 🤩
Another great video, thanks Rob , isn't it funny what goes on around you ,and you don't really take much notice at the time.😊
Very true indeed! And thanks for the kind words Rob 😉
Thanks Rob for a great video. I really like watching your videos, despite the fact there's more chance of me living on the moon than living in London or any other city for that matter, can't stand large crowds or the hustle and bustle. The freedom and peace and quiet of the joint countryside of Oxfordshire/Warwickshire does me fine!! Also I've read about the escape of Oleg Gordievsky and other events that it concerned, truly fascinating and very enjoyable read, highly recommended.
Lovely comment Michael, thank you! Lovely part of the country by the way 😉
George Blake died in Moscow and he never paid for the betrayal of more than 50 agents who died because of him. The 42 years sentence he was given, of which he barely served 5 years, was not inhumane, but rather quite lenient. He defected to Moscow where he lived to be 98, which is a heck of a lot more than what the men he betrayed did.
True.
Fascinating. Thank you.
Thank you! And thanks for watching 😉
Another excellent documentary. Thanks very much, Rob.
Thanks so much Jake. Much appreciated.
Superb video Rob. Thanks.
Much appreciated Keith, thank you!
Great video, as always. Thanks
Thanks so much Jason 😉
Excellent. Thank you.
A pleasure, thanks for watching
A light hand on a dark body of information. Painful to see how for example Blake changed his mind for humanitarian reasons in N.Korea. Painful to know how many were betrayed and shot as collateral of his changing sided.. What is the answer in a troubled world? Do nothing? I think your presentation is so thought provoking and brought new information to the subject. Ill be watching!
Very interesting video Rob. Thanks for sharing
Thank you, appreciate the kind words
Excellent job and very interesting. Keep ‘em coming
Thank you Paul, will do
Great video as always Rob. Found it really interesting like I do all your videos. 👍👍👍👍
Thanks so much Adam!
@Robslondon always welcome. And always interested and entertained by your videos Rob 👍👍
Another great video Rob. Thank you so much. Mervyn
Thank you so much Mervyn. Stay well.
I love this era of history! Enjoyed the video Rob! 👍👍
Thanks so much! One of my favourite eras too 😉
Excellent - really enjoyable video
Really appreciate that Andrew, thank you.
Fascinating.
Thank you
I am a little late getting to this video, but it’s excellent as always!
Thank you so much asheland! Good to see you here, and hope you're keeping well.
@@Robslondon Doing well. Thank you! ☺️
@@asheland_numismatics Good to hear ;-)
My Sunday treat. Thanks Rob.
Always a pleasure Stephan. Thanks for watching my friend.
Great work Rob. Thank you.
Much appreciated David, thank you
My favourite spy master is the brilliant Le Carre, especially his personal experiences from, 'A Perfect Spy', his semi autobiographical novel. I love all productions of this book, from the BBC's tv drama with Peter Egan to BBC radio 4's dramatization with Julian Rhind Tutt. But that was based in Europe and it's so interesting to see how things went down, closer to home. Quite a complex thing, spying, thanks Rob, so amazing to hear all the effort involved.
Great comment Anne, thank you.
Excellent great production thanks Rob
Much appreciated Conrad. Thank you.
Hi Rob, well that blows all the invisible ink, Aston Martin, Vodka Martini (stired or shaken) out of the spying game..,...,it all relied on a piece of chalk 🧐😉😎 However talking about Dead Letter Boxes it was standard practice to annotate RTS (return to sender) mail with a DLO (dead letter office) in most Government Organisations for undelivered/returned mail. Cheers matey DougT upt north.
Very interesting! Cheers Doug! 😉
Another fascinating subject Rob. I'd heard about chalking lamposts, but didn't realise how bad.
😉 Cheers Paul! Hope you’re keeping well
@@Robslondon All good thanks Rob, hope you're good too.
@@paulmerryman All good thanks mate. Off for a short break in the countryside tomorrow ;-)
@@Robslondon Very nice. Enjoy your break.
Thanks Rob, looking forward to the next one.
Cheers Neil
Wow! That’s was so interesting! Once again you have put in so much work on this video. I’ve lived in Kew for 20 odd years and had no idea of the spy connection. Also My Dad - as his parents were Polish - (& later with my mum after they married) often frequented Daquise. How fascinating to think Christine Keeler might’ve been there at the same time. Always love your work thanks Rob 😊
Thank you Louise! Such a beautiful comment. Hope you're keeping well; and much respect for your Dad 🇵🇱
Also, hope my Polish pronunciation was ok!
@@Robslondon they sounded like it but I have no idea I’m afraid 😂
That was fascinating! Thank you! With all that's going on in the world now I wonder how much of this sort of thing is going on now?!
Thank you Lisa! You can bet similar stuff is going on as we speak ;-)
some really good spy history/location portrayals thanks
Thank you!
At the east end of Carlton House Terrace there's an alleyway that leads down to some steps towards Admiralty Arch (alongside the British Council building.) This alley was used as a trap by Russian spies to see if they were being followed by the security services. Another agent would be loitering at the bottom of the steps to see who came through afterwards.
Ah! Brilliant Eddie, thank you!
Wow, that was incredibly interesting. We don’t know what goes on behind the scenes all very James Bond.
Cheers Ron! 😉
One place was Gower Street, another was centre point and another was soho square , where the FA sits. Learnt this as a postman.
Interesting ;-) Thanks for sharing David
Very interesting video.
Thank you
just started watching and have given my thumbs up because i know its gonna be good...
Bless you Sharon, thank you! ☺️
One of the offices I worked in was 1 Curzon Street. Whilst it’s been rebuilt above ground the MI5 prison cells in the sub basement are still there.
Wow!!
Surprised that the suburbs were involved. Knew about Dead Letter Boxes but some of the places were surprising.
Fascinating, subscribed...
Cordialement..
Thank you! It’s good to have you here.
Brilliant video very interesting on the world of the secret agencies thank you ❤️
Ah, thanks Tracy! Hope you’re keeping well