Humans of Shepherd's Bush No 17 - Tom House

Tom House of Tom House Fitness

"I'm a personal fitness trainer; I live in Shepherd's Bush with my family, and I love what I do, helping people to get fit, stay healthy, and take care of themselves.

My Dad was a dairy farmer, but the big supermarkets made it impossible to make a living in farming. 

I get to work from home - I have a fully equipped gym outside my house, and I welcome clients both in person and online. 

Remembering Claire Hickey of Greenford Timber

Our local community was saddened to learn of the passing of Claire Hickey, a familiar and much-loved presence at hardware store Greenford Timber on Uxbridge Road.

Claire died on 17 April 2026 after a long battle with cancer, leaving behind many friends, neighbours, and customers who knew her for her warmth, kindness, and steady presence.  

Anyone in Shepherd's Bush with a DIY project will have met Claire; her hardware store Greenford Timber at 328 Uxbridge Rd somehow manages to have everything in stock, despite its modest size.   

One local resident said "Claire was incredible, she could always lay her hands on whatever you needed, even when you didn't know yourself". 

Humans of Shepherd's Bush No 16 - Khadir

Kadhir

Meet Khadir, one of our local streetcleaners, and one of the many people in Shepherd's Bush who helps to make life just a little bit better for everyone he meets.

Originally from Somalia, Khadir is everyone's friend; he always says hello, is always happy to offer the time of day - and ask after local friends, families and neighbours. 

On occasion Khadir has even help to prevent crime by stopping some of the anti-social behaviour that so often causes trouble in Shepherd's Bush.

Humans of Shepherd's Bush - No 15

Meet Gary Rawlings, the finest window cleaner in Shepherd's Bush.  Gary knows everyone in our neighbourhood; his family have been in the area since 1880; his great-grandfather was a local coffin maker.

Today, Gary cleans the windows of the Bush with rain water he collects in his garden - purer than water from the mains, and better for your windows. 

Gary is a busy man and his order book is pretty full - but his inside-and-out service is well worth the wait.

Humans of Shepherd's Bush - No 14

Amar, aka Tony

Meet Amar, also known as Tony. Amar's father, Amaro, came from India to London in 1954 and started this shop at Shepherds Bush Market in 1960.

In the beginning Amar sold men’s ties in Petticoat Lane in East London on Sundays; he moved the business to W12 a few years later.

"Most of the shops here were run by women during the week, while the men had day jobs in factories.  My father cut rubber at a foundry nearby and worked in the market on the weekend for an extra income. The market ran for three days as it was also hard to get much stock in due to London rebuilding after the war".

Tony’s mother, Manjit, joined his father 15 years later from Punjab. She was chosen by his grandmother as a suitable wife for the then 19 year old Amaro while he was still in London. 

Humans of Shepherd's Bush No 13 - Michael Schumm

Head Teacher Michael Schumm

Michael Schumm is the Headteacher of one of Shepherd's Bush best local primaries - St Stephen’s CE Primary School on the Uxbridge Road.

St Stephen's is an excellent local school, one where parents are invited work together with staff to produce outcomes which have earned the school the classification of "Outstanding" from Ofsted.

Visit a classroom at St Stephen's and you will see happy children eager to learn, in an environment that feels both challenging (expectations are high) but also supportive and nurturing. Parents are encouraged to get involved and also to put their hands in their pockets for FOSS - Friends of St Stephen's.

In this interview, republished from an original interview at https://www.resource-arm.net/, head teacher Michael Schumm explains how he led St Stephen's from being a failing school in special measures to "Oftsed Outstanding" today.

Humans of Shepherd's Bush - No 12

Kamal

"I cut hair at Hamada barber shop on the south side of Shepherd's Bush Green.

I grew up in Libya, where I married young and had a family; that's what was expected of us back then.

I left Libya in 2013, and since then I've been living in North London.  I got re-married in London and I have a four year old son.

I was raised a Muslim but I like to keep an open mind; I visited the Hindu temple in Wembley recently just to see what they are up to.

Most of my family still live in Libya. Things are very bad there; the country is lawless; they will even rob you at the airport.

Induction of Denis Adide on 24 June at St Stephen's

Rev Denis Adide

The Reverend  Denis Adide, the new vicar for St Stephen's church on the Uxbridge Road, is to be inducted into the parish on Monday 24 June at 7.30pm.

The Reverend Adide is currently finishing his curacy at Christchurch, Turnham Green, Chiswick and will begin his new job as vicar of St Stephen’s following his induction.

Reverend Adide's appointment follows the departure of the much-loved Bob Mayo earlier this year.

Denis was born in Northern Uganda and came to London as a child. He is married to Anna Fiona and they have three young children.

Humans of Shepherd's Bush - Number 11

Mike Walsh - childhood in Little Percy St

"I lived on Little Percy Rd in the 1940s; it was a street surrounded by bombsites but it was still our playground for street football, cricket & marbles.

The only trouble though was the chance of smashing a window, or being told by an angry neighbour to go and play in the park. But when we went to Ravenscourt Park with our football gear there was a problem.

All the signs read Keep Off The Grass, so if we put our ball down and kicked it around, a big man in a brown uniform with a bright metal badge pinned to the hat on his head would come marching along in his new leather boots and his little walking stick which had a spike on the end (used to retrieve sweet wrappers that had been left on the grass) & shout, "Go on, out of it, gone on away with you. Don't let me catch you around here again!"

Humans of Shepherd's Bush: No 10

"I first walked into St Stephen’s Church in 1985 and all my family and I still attend. My position is Chair of the Church Committee, which oversees all the business of the church; but really I see my role as one of drawing people into the community that the church provides, whether it’s through being on the weekly rota for lay duties (reading, prayers, refreshments), or singing in the choir, through helping in the Sunday School, welcoming people who have moved to the area and getting to know them, or through collecting up rubbish in the churchyard and looking after the garden.

Letter from Calais

The Jungle, Calais

Toni Sharpe is a teacher who lives in Shepherd's Bush. She recently took a career sabbatical and travelled to to the refugee camp in Calais - known as "The Jungle" - to teach English classes to some of the people living there.

Here, Toni shares some of her thoughts about her experience, in the form of a camp diary.

Sex Pistols Return To Shepherd's Bush

In this video from 2008, Sex Pistols' band members Steve Jones & Paul Cook return to Shepherd's Bush, with some not very nice things to say about the neighbourhood where they grew up, especially Shepherd's Bush Market. Cooke's Pie and Mash (sadly now gone) gets a good write-up - it's "the only thing" Steve Jones misses about the Bush, compared with his current life in Los Angeles.

Humans of Shepherd's Bush No 9

"I'm an English teacher at a secondary school in Shepherd's Bush. Or at least I was - until recently.  It is the best job in world. The challenging end of the state education sector has been my home for sixteen and a half years. The camaraderie, comedy and quiet conscience it breeds are priceless. And the 'kidz' are great. 

Yet, I have decided to take a six month career break. I was due a rest, but the real trouble is the current government's education reforms. The issues are: pace, people and pounds - the change is too fast.  The best teachers and leaders are bowing out due to the growing pressure. And now, silly sums of money are about to be spent "academising" all schools.  I hope to find my way back to an English classroom again, but right now I am seriously concerned about our schools."

What Does a Councillor Do, Exactly?

Harry Phibbs is one of the Conservative councillors for Ravenscourt Park Ward in the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham. He was described by Chris Underwood, author of the original Shepherd's Bush blog (and no fan of our former Conservative Council) as "genuinely good....Top Tory".

Harry writes the Hammersmith and Fulham Forum blog, where he posts regularly about the latest issues and seeks, as he puts it to 'hold the Council to account".

We asked Harry to talk about being a Councillor in Shepherd's Bush, what Councillors do, what life is like in opposition, and what are some of the challenges and opportunities in our neighbourhood.

Humans of Shepherd's Bush - No 8

"Since I was 16 I've been dressing as my idol Michael Jackson. My cousin was Michael's secretary so I have a link to him!

Everyone calls me Michael.  I listen to Michael all day long every day and I dance to his music. People see me and they dance with me on the streets too.  My favourite song is I Wanna Be Where You Are. I like it because its very bouncy - it's great to dance to.  

I never make any money out of Michael. I do it because I love him and his music. 

Humans of Shepherd's Bush - No7

I decided I would be a nurse at a very young age. My brother was killed in the [Second World] war, and my father was badly wounded at the Battle of the Somme.  My husband Selwyn, worked on the Arctic convoys during the Second World War, making the crossing eight times.

After the war, I became a midwife, working at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital when it was based in Goldhawk Road, Hammersmith.

I first sold poppies in 1921 when I was just six years old, on Twickenham Bridge with my mother.  I will go on as long as I can.  I’ll be 101 in January.  I do it because I’m able to do it. Someone has got to do it, why not me? I’m perfectly capable as long as I can sit. 

Humans of Shepherd's Bush - No 6

I’ve lived in Shepherds Bush for twenty-two years but early this year I left the Uxbridge Road to walk to the North Pole for the Prince's Trust.  

The idea started as a drunken plan after I was given five years to get back into shape after a back operation.  Having done that I felt I should honour the idea. We raised £250K for charity.  And now that I am back in the Bush I have many stories to tell!

The Bush Telegraph offers a personal view on life in Shepherd's Bush.  If you would like to contribute a story about our neighbourhood, email us at shepherdsbushblog@gmail.com.

Humans of The Bush No 5 - A Tale of Westfield Security

Westfield. Don't mess with us.

"At noon the other day I was stopped by security people in Westfield.  I was pushing a Waitrose cart through the mall to the Westernmost exit near Debenham's.

They said it was a health and safety issue. I caused a big ruckus, asking for the rules in writing.  I pointed out prams, and wondered if they were violating the health and safety of others.

Humans of Shepherd's Bush No 4

"I was born in Shepherd's Bush at Queen Charlotte's hospital last week, so there's not much to say about my past.  But my future is very likely to be 100 years long, according to the statisticians.

In 2020 I will start primary school in Shepherd's Bush.  In 2027, twelve years from today, I will be starting secondary school and jumping on the bus all on my own.

I'll do my GCSEs (or whatever they will be called by then) in the summer of 2032 and will hopefully have discovered what I am best at and most interested in by then and can do my A Levels (probably five as my parents have already told me how clever I am many times in my few days of existence) in 2034.

Humans of Shepherds Bush - No 3

"My dad was known as Wally Biscuits because this stall was called the Bush Biscuit Box. He started in 1933 and was on the stall until 1991 when I took over and it became Laura's Fruit and Nut Box.

It has been open non-stop all that time, apart from during the war when biscuits were rationed so it was closed.  Dad signed up and when they asked him what he could do he said that he was good at fixing things, so they put him on the air strip at Swindon to fix Wellington Bombers.

After the war he was offered the chance to go and work for Boeing in the US but he chose to come back and re-open the Biscuit Box.  It was so funny because no one on the market ever knew his real last name.  No-one knew anyone's last name, because everyone was known by what they sold."