Ken 'Snakehips' Johnson (1914 - 1941) - BBC - 8th March 2016

[@nickfilleul3463]

I’m here having just read Ben Aaronovitch’s “Moon Over Soho” in which Snakehips and the Cafe feature heavily. One of a terrific series of books.

[@ace3442]

He was a very good friend of my uncle, Ronald Stone. They both went to Borlase school in Marlow. Ken was a few years older than Ron, but they became friends because Ron was great on the piano. He would often play in the band at rehearsals when they were older. It was said that Ron would possibly join the band occasionally after the war. Sadly Ron died in the same year as ken. Ron was killed in Bomber command.

[@KC-gy5xw]

I just heard about him on Radio 4 yesterday. Marvellous story and I shall make sure I spread the word about him.

[@watchingyou245]

My wife's Aunt was mortally wounded whilst dancing with her husband at the time the second bomb exploded. She was 21. It took over 1 hour for the ambulances to arrive at the entrance in Coventry St and the deceased were carried upstairs. There was a blackout and many female bodies were stripped of their jewellery. The injured were taken to Charing Cross Hospital (now gone). Snakehips was decapitated. From my memory obtained from those with first hand accounts there were 74 deaths and countless injuries. It was truly awful. Looting took place from Liecester Sqaure along Piccadilly to St James' St. Wine was flowing from the broken wine cellars and Londoners were scooping it up from the gutter drinking it. The beautiful Wren Church on Jermyn St was badly damaged and the graveyard given post war to "the people of London for their fortitude" which is still there today. As an anedotal story about 25 years ago I saw on ebay a grand piano for sale. It wasn't especially good or expensive but something caught my eye. The vendor had written "this was the piano which was at the Cafe de Paris the night it was bombed March 1941" To this day I regret not having bought it.

[@aubreyalves1953]

What a tragedy!

[@jamieb0nd]

That 78 record playing in the beginning was the Ray Noble orchestra with Al bowlly on vocals, the song was called "easy to love" . Why didn't you mention that? Hmmmmm 🤔I know because I'm a subscriber of the Golden Age of Al Bowlly, which is EXCELLENT!

[@cberry6751]

I love that song! You’d be soooo “Easy to Love”… I grew up in the 70s but after reading about the Cafe De Paris bombing, I’ve become more interested in the Blitz. I’m an American who’s been reading about Kick Kennedy & the sad story with the future Duke of Devonshire who was shot in Belgium just months after their wedding. She was determined to marry into the aristocracy of England.

[@patstokes3615]

I is a lovely story to say and believe that Ken Snakehip Johnson didn't have a mark on him. That is how we want to believe happens to those we love but that is not the truth. The bomb that hit the stage he was standing on was 110 pound. The latest book by historian Eric Larson "The Splendid and the Vile" which tells a great deal about the bombing of London. Chapter 79 is called Snakehips and it tells the truth of what happened to the people in that club and Snakehips.

[@ultramet]

Pat Stokes great book. I ended up watching this video because of this book. Tragic end for such a talented man.

[@CJDJgamer]

I am afraid it is not strictly true as you say. He was decapitated, along with others. The rescue worker that found his two parts was the man that would later play the 'Major' in Faulty Towers.

[@watchingyou245]

@@CJDJgamer There is a picture of him with others in "The Blitz then and now" Volume 2 Sept 1940-May 1941 Page 460 together Snakehips playing the drums. When Ken(rick) Johnson arrived that night 8 March 1941 he said "Man, it's terrible outside - just terrible". RIP