THE RIVERSIDE STUDIOS in west London’s Hammersmith was built on the site of a demolished ironworks in 1933. Many films were made there including “The Seventh Veil”. In 1954, the studios were taken over by the BBC for making television programmes including the well-known “Dr Who”. A dalek such as would have appeared in this series stands in the café/restaurant near the entrance of the present building. The BBC left the Riverside in 1974 and two years later, it became what it is now, a vibrant arts centre with performance spaces, cinema halls, and the above-mentioned refreshments area. Between 2014 and 2019, the Riverside was closed and rebuilt. We often visit the place to see films and plays, as well as to enjoy morning coffees in its café, which has a fine view of Hammersmith Bridge.

Recently, the Indian industrialist Anil Agarwal (born 1954), founder and chairman of Vedanta Group, acquired the Riverside Studios, which have now been renamed ‘The Anil Agarwal Riverside Studios Trust’.  Although some have criticised certain of the Vedanta Group’s activities, it is a great thing that Mr Agarwal is helping to finance such a worthy institution as Riverside Studios during a period when there is a great shortage of money available to encourage cultural activities in the UK.