Mayor Patricia McAllister and Rev Simon Buckley at the new community cafe in Soho

IT was a pleasure to bump into Reverend Simon Buckley of St Anne’s Church and Lord Mayor Patricia McAllister yesterday (Thursday) at the new community café in Soho.

The Sacred Grounds coffee shop, at 54 Dean Street, opened its doors on Monday.

The mayor had just been a guest on the Soho Society radio show along with the society’s David Gleeson and the photographer Stephen Leslie.

She recalled coming to London from Scotland seeking a promotion from the Department of Social Security. “I first lived in Bayswater for 14 years, working in Harlesden,” Cllr McAllister told Soho Radio.

“Then I moved to Broadwick Street with my job. Broadwick House used to have all kinds of interesting organisations in the building. We had the ground and I think second and third floor. We did national insurance. We used to visit employers, make sure their records were accurate. We had a huge team of inspectors.

“It was as you came down Poland Street. I used to love working here. Berwick Street market was fantastic. There were all these lovely dress shops. You would get all these garments that had been worn on the catwalk. I still have a pair of grey velvet knee-length culottes that I got in the Berwick Street market shop. They don’t fit me any more. I remember those days with huge fondness.”

She said her most memorable moment as mayor so far was giving a speech in a boxing ring at Porchester Hall.