West End Girls : Working girls and their maids

Soho 1948. A glamorous West End Girl charms a naive young barmaid into her service. This is the maid's true account of life in the decadent underbelly of postwar London.

On this website, you can read book extracts and explore Barbara's interesting world.

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Home / Soho / Soho / Do you know someone who lived in Soho in the forties?

Do you know someone who lived in Soho in the forties?

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Hannes Buhrmann

When I met Barbara for the first time, I was quite amazed to learn that there are still some people around who lived in Soho just after the second world war. I have since managed to track down one or two other people who lived or worked in Soho in those days. Their stories are fascinating, and I would love to hear more.

I work in Soho. Having heard Barbara's first-hand accounts of a Soho that no longer exist makes my experience of the place so much deeper and richer, and it would be great if I can use this site to build a rich anecdotal tapestry of Soho life back then.

If you know of anyone, or if you have any anecdotes about the Soho of the late forties or early fifties, please leave a comment, or contact me here. There aren't many people around who can still give us a first-hand account, and it would be a great sadness if we cannot record their stories for posterity - on paper, on audio, or on video.

Please get in touch. If you think that someone else might be able to contribute, please forward this article to them.

Comments (4)

|2010-07-25 09:26:45 Peter Tulk - Possible information

My wife and I have ordered a copy of Barbara's book for my mum, who worked at the soho hospital at about this time.

I grew up listening to her stories, which could easily fill a book all by themselves.

She is in her eighties now, but her mind is still sharp.

If you are interested, I could possibly arrange for you to meet her. I am sure that she would be overjoyed to talk to you.

Let me know, and I'll put you in touch with her.

Best of luck,

Peter J Tulk.
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|2010-07-25 10:00:00 hbuhrmann - Would be delighted to

Hi Peter

First of all thank you for ordering the book. I am sure your mother would enjoy it very much!

I would be delighted to talk to her. If you don't mind, please send your details, email should be enough, on the enquiry form (the link is in the last paragraph of the article) or send an email to info@barbaratate.co.uk.

Kind regards

Hannes
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|2010-08-08 12:33:36 Doug - Happy Days

On leaving school I got a job in Darblay Street, just off Wardour Street, Soho. This was in 1948. I often look back on those days with fond memories, in particular how friendly the residents were. Opposite our printing office a block of "flats" were the home of the working girls. Each one was friendly and would talk when passing (once they knew you worked nearby)
As a 16 year old and a country boy,it was a side of life I had never seen. I would not have missed it for the world.
Great times...Great people.
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