Bye Bye Banksy

The latest Banksy piece that showed up down on The Grange, Southwark, a collaboration with Kieth Haring, was boarded up the next day by the building’s owner… but not before Maggie Jones got in one last sneaky shot.

This photo by G2Burning is what it looks like underneath.

The man who boarded it up told Maggie he was covering it to protect it because he is a Banksy fan and an artist himself. In about one year from now, the building is set to be demolished and he is hoping to salvage this piece of wall.

Listen to a Londoner: Sean McGourty

Listen to a Londoner. This is a weekly post where people who live (or have lived for a while) in London answer a few questions about the Big Smoke. If you fit the bill and want to be interviewed, give me a shout at littlelondonobservationist@hotmail.co.uk. Always looking for new victims volunteers….

Sean McGourty, 27

Sean plays bass for Camden-based trio, The Stayaways, fills his bedroom with mahoosive amplifiers and his stomach with oddities from Borough Market. He enjoys fiddling with programming codes, oooh-ing and ahh-ing over planes, and spoiling his dog, Muddy. Oh, and don’t touch the hair.

LLO: How long have you lived in London?
SM: Erm, 27 years

LLO: Where are you (or your family) from originally if not London?
SM: Mum’s Irish; Dad is from London

LLO: Best thing about London?
SM: Me…..Does that count? Otherwise, the diversity. It’s one of the few places where you can dress or do whatever you like and no one really worries about it. Also, there are so many hidden places and quirky independent things to keep you interested and always something going on.

LLO: Worst thing about London?
SM: Dodgy winters without real snow, smelly people on the tube, busses with erratic schedules…

LLO: North, south, east or west?
SM: Northwest every time

LLO: Best restaurant?
SM: Depends on mood. Ooooh, the Jerk Pit on Wardour street, I think. I like the Chelsea kitchen too. Paul for hot chocolate.

LLO: Best shop?
SM: Depends on funds, but Wunjo or Macari’s Musical Instruments for interesting vintage guitars or cool handmade effects and a good chat. Foyles for books and coffee and cakes 🙂

LLO: Best place to escape the city?
SM: Hampstead Heath or the South Bank, walking along the river.

LLO: 2012 Olympics – stay or go?
SM: Go

LLO: How do you spend your time on the tube?
SM: Reading and/or people watching.

LLO: Most random thing you’ve seen in London.
SM: There’s a guy with a pink tank in Southwark. I’ve only seen pictures, but it looked cool.

LLO: Best place to catch a gig?
SM: Dublin Castle

LLO: Best local band?
SM: Can I say mine? The Stayaways

LLO: Favourite book, song or film about London?
SM: Dial M for Murder is kinda getting up there. I just saw it in a theatre and it was really good. There is a film version set in London. Quadrophenia is a film I really love too and it is set in London.

LLO: Favourite London discovery?
SM: There’s a part of Hampstead heath where you can climb up this building and see all over North London.

LLO: Best place to spend a Sunday afternoon?
SM: Pub having a roast or walking through Portobello Market. Ooooh, or the food-y part of Camden Market.

LLO: Best museum or gallery?
SM: The Victoria and Albert is amazing, although there’s a place called the Shuttleworth Collection just north of London that has loads of vintage planes that still fly. It’s really cool and good fun for aviation geeks :0.

LLO: Favourite market?
SM: Portobello. There’s loads of cool stuff from the guys selling old things they’ve discovered to the old clothes, food stalls and then down to the classier end. Always a good vibe and you can stop off at a pub to take a break or get a fresh coconut.

LLO: Most influential Londoner?
SM: If I was under the influence, could I be classed as influential?

LLO: Best time of year in London?
SM: Probably around June/July when things start to get warmer and the days are longer.

LLO: First place to take a visitor?
SM: Some pubs around Camden to experience the nightlife and at the same time a kind of local feeling if you get the right ones.
 
LLO: Boris is……
SM: …a scary cyclist

LLO: What would you change about the city if you had the power to do so?
SM: Hmmm, I’d love it if the tubes ran later.

LLO: If you were to dress up as one of the tube station names for a costume party, which would you be?
SM: If I was playing safe then probably go for King George V (on the DLR), however I think I’d prefer to be daring and try Queensway 🙂

Thanks Sean!

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