Yardie Neighbours
Pappers and I used to share a flat in Harlesden. For those who know the area it was not far from the Harrow road/Scrubs Lane junction, near the muggers paradise that is Willesden Junction. It was just over the road from where poor little Toni-Ann Byfield was murdered when saw who had just shot her dad.

I wouldn't call them immediate neighbours, but we certainly lived in the proximity of some of the areas finest, most upstanding Yardies. This was around the time that a pregnant lady was shot in the leg on Tubbs Lane, just over the road, for giving a bit of verbal to one of them while exchanging details after he went into the back of her car.

One evening Pappers heard what he said sounded like a whole heap of corrugated metal falling off of a passing train (our flat commanded splendid views of the frieght line). In the morning we discovered there had been a drive-by shoot outside the nightclub ("Mr Yardies" as we knew it) about 150 yards away, in which the gangstas weapon of choice, the AK47, was used to defend the premises against a rival gang.

There were numerous incidents within a 1000 yard radius of the flat, which we would usually find out about on the evening news. After moving to the comparatively peaceful haven of Willesden Green, some friends who lived round the corner from the Harlesden place were hurriedly relocated when they witnessed an execution-style killing almost literally on their doorstep.

Harlesden may have few redeeming features, but it was home for a year, so I can't complain.

No apologies for length, you'll learn to love it.
(Stop, look, listen - Pheeeel. ...most turnin', stormin' sound of soul, Thu 25 Aug 2005, 15:28, Reply)