Handel Hendrix House

It was Brenda's birthday yesterday but we marked it today with a trip to London. First to visit the house at 23/25  Brook Street where Handel lived from 1723 until his death in 1759. 209 years after Handel's passing, Jimi Hendrix rented a flat in the adjoining property with his girl friend Kathy Etchingham from July 1968 until April 1969. The rent was £30 per week and it was a meeting place for many of the key figures of the 60s rock scene. Handel composed his Messiah oratorio there, the anthem Zadok the Priest, the music for the Royal fireworks and many other celebrated works. Hendrix was at the peak of his creative career during his time there, on a relentless schedule of performing, writing and recording. He played Woodstock in August 1969 and the Isle of Wight Festival in August 1970. The following month he was dead at that fateful age for so many, whose star shone bright and then imploded, of 27. The extra is an interior shot of one of the rooms in the Hendrix flat that is now used for exhibit display. Sadly, I never got to see Hendrix play live. Following our visit we had a very tasty meal in a Prezzo restaurant and went on to an Ascension Day service at St Martin's in the Fields which was broadcast live on Radio 4. Walking to Trafalgar Square where St Martin's is located we passed a photo gallery which coincidentally had these images of Hendrix and Freddie Mercury for sale, the latter having been identified as a great fan of Jimi at the Hendrix House. They were priced at several thousands of pounds each but my midlife crisis period is long since over.