8 May 2022

The Women’s Room

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Photo documentary series, made in the late 1970s, showcasing a friendship group of young women living at Beacon House Hostel in Leinster Square, Bayswater, London. The hostel served as a safe haven for young people moving to the city to find work. Curated from a broader picture set.

The series title was prompted by one of the subjects’ seen reading “The Women’s Room”, a novel authored by Marilyn French and published in 1977.

  • G on bed reading book. Beacon House Hostel, Leinster Square, Bayswater, London 1979. From "The Women’s Room" documentary photo series.
  • D and J smoking and talking in room. Beacon House Hostel, Leinster Square, Bayswater, London 1979. From "The Women’s Room" documentary photo series.
  • D and J smoking and talking in room. Beacon House Hostel, Leinster Square, Bayswater, London 1979. From "The Women’s Room" documentary photo series.
  • D and J reading magazine and discussing article. Beacon House Hostel, Leinster Square, Bayswater, London 1979. From "The Women’s Room" documentary photo series.
  • S, J and D larking about in room. Beacon House Hostel, Leinster Square, Bayswater, London 1979. From "The Women’s Room" documentary photo series.
  • S and J watching TV in room. Beacon House Hostel, Leinster Square, Bayswater, London 1979. From "The Women’s Room" documentary photo series.
  • S and J on bed. Beacon House Hostel, Leinster Square, Bayswater, London 1979. From "The Women’s Room" documentary photo series.
  • D and J on London Tube train traveling to Regents Park, London Zoo.  London 1979. From "The Women’s Room" documentary photo series.
  • D and J at Zoo taking photographs with a snapshot camera. London Zoo 1979. From "The Women’s Room" documentary photo series.
  • J and S walking along street in Bayswater towards Hyde Park, Sunday afternoon. From "The Women’s Room" documentary photo series. London 1979. From "The Women’s Room" documentary photo series.
  • S, D and J in room. J about to throw towel at photographer. Beacon House Hostel, Leinster Square, Bayswater, London 1979. From "The Women’s Room" documentary photo series.
  • S relaxing on grass, Hyde Park, London 1979. From "The Women’s Room" documentary photo series.

“The Women’s Room”. Photos 1979 ©Peter John, All Rights Reserved

5 May 2022

London #01

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South Africa House, Trafalgar Square, London, UK. 10 November 1979. Massive Metropolitan Police presence outside South Africa House, the South African Embassy in anticipation of possible Anti apartheid protesters. Foreground shows Police traffic motorcyclist. In the background St Martin-in-the-Fields parish church can be seen at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square, City of Westminster.
Massive Metropolitan Police presence outside South Africa House, the South African Embassy in London, anticipating anti-apartheid protesters, November 1979.
South Africa House, Trafalgar Square, London

1979, personal journal

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3 May 2022

London #04 Piccadilly Circus

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Piccadilly Circus, 1980, impromptu gig by group of music buskers on steps of the Piccadilly Circus Anteros statue roundabout in it's original location. At junction of Regent Street, Piccadilly, Shaftesbury Avenue, London
Piccadilly Circus, 1980, impromptu gig by group of music buskers on steps of the Piccadilly Circus Anteros statue roundabout in it's original location. At junction of Regent Street, Piccadilly, Shaftesbury Avenue, London
Piccadilly Circus, 1980, impromptu gig by group of music buskers on steps of the Piccadilly Circus Anteros statue roundabout in it's original location. At junction of Regent Street, Piccadilly, Shaftesbury Avenue, London
Several members of Risca Male Voice Choir from South Wales, UK. Public singing on steps of Anteros statue (also known as Eros) Piccadilly Circus, London, 1980.
Several members of Risca Male Voice Choir from South Wales, UK. Public singing on steps of Anteros statue (also known as Eros) Piccadilly Circus, London, 1980.
Several members of Risca Male Voice Choir from South Wales, UK. Public singing on steps of Anteros statue (also known as Eros) Piccadilly Circus, London, 1980.
Piccadilly Circus, 1980, impromptu gig by group of music buskers on steps of the Piccadilly Circus Anteros statue roundabout in it's original location. At junction of Regent Street, Piccadilly, Shaftesbury Avenue, London
Piccadilly Circus, London 1980

The steps surrounding the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, beneath the statue of Anteros (popularly known as Eros), Piccadilly often became a focal point for impromptu musical sessions. London, UK. These images were made one Saturday afternoon in 1980.

The plinth, fountain and statue were moved to a new location in 1985.

1) Photographs show buskers singing and playing a guitar surrounded by groups of young people sitting or standing around. In the background can be seen a red London bus and the London Pavilion theatre showing the Great Rock n’ Roll Swindle mockumentary film.

2) Photographs show members of Risca Male Choir (Welsh male voice choir based in Risca, South Wales) performing an impromptu gig.

1980, personal journal photos.

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