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 Reunion: Former members of the Basement meet up again. Colleen Garton and David Bieda are standing, together, rear |
Basement reunion highlights demise of
youth club culture
‘Street crime is not a new thing but troublemakers used to behave themselves’
EX-MEMBERS of a pioneering youth club that closed in 1989 have spoken out about the lack of services for teenagers in Covent Garden.
A dozen member of the Basement Youth Club in Shelton Street – a crucial hub for teenagers for 13 years from 1976 – met in Islington on Saturday to reminisce.
Colleen Garton, who lived in Bloomsbury and is now a high-flying management consultant with her own company in California, said she owed everything to club.
She said: “Even when we started to be able to get into pubs – we would always go to the Basement instead. I am doing really well and so are a lot of the other people I met on Saturday.
“I really believe that without the Basement none of us would be where we are. The confidence a place like that gives you when you are young. There used to be lots of youth clubs but this one was really special.
“Even through I live in America I still check the BBC London website and every day there is a story about teenagers stabbing each other. It’s really sad. There was trouble in those days. Street crime is not a modern day phenomenon. But I remember how the troublemakers would come to the club and change. Everyone was so worried about being banned they would behave themselves.”
A fortnight ago the West End Extra reported on a group of teenagers who said they were forced to roam the streets at night because there was “nothing to do” in Covent Garden.
Prized youth services run from Dragon Hall are now open for just six hours a week – because of cuts to funding.
David Bieda, a former youth worker, turned schools campaigner, who helped raise £15 million for the club over 13 years, said: “There were 55 youth workers in Camden at the time and now there are 11.
“This happened right across London. There are no youth clubs south of the Euston Road. The change came after the abolition of the Inner London Education Authority. People wonder why there is trouble on our streets.”
Another reunion of former Basement Youth Club is planned for next year and anyone who attended the club is asked to contact Colleen via basement@gartonconsulting. com |
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