Local horrible history talks: Rachman and Christie

If you're a local history buff, then there are a couple of treats coming up featuring two of North Kensington's most notorious characters, slum landlord Peter Rachman (pictured left) and serial killer John Christie (pictured right). Each is the subject of two special events at Ladbroke Grove Library, with Rachman featuring on Tuesday 26th February and Christie on Tuesday 5th March.

Joshua Levine will be introducing his fascinating 2012 BBC Radio Four documentary The Real Rachman – Lord of the Slums and Colville Community History Project’s Tom Vague will present his Rachmania slideshow. As well as an assessment of Rachman, the programme will include material about the heady mixture of high politics and sexual scandal that was the 1963 Profumo Affair.

The second event deals with the gruesome story of murderer John Christie who managed to pin one of his crimes on the unfortunate Timothy Evans who was sent to the gallows. This miscarriage of justice was immortalised in a book by Ludovic Kennedy, 10 Rillington Place, later made into a film with Richard Attenborough as Christie. Crime historian Jonathan Oates will talk about his book John Christie of Rillington Place: Biography of a serial killer, published in October 2012. Also speaking will be John Curnow, of the 10 Rillington Place website.

Rachman Lord of the Slums
Tuesday 26th February, 5.30 to 7.30pm

John Christie of Rillington Place
Tuesday 5th March, 5.30 to 7.30pm

Both events are at North Kensington Library, 108 Ladbroke Grove North Kensington, London W11 1PZ.

The events are free but booking is required. To reserve a place, visit North Kensington Library in person or call Kensington and Chelsea libraries on 020 7361 3010.

North Kensington Library

Colville Community History Project newsletter (PDF)

10 Rillington Place

Peter Rachman