Peter Carlyon
@petercarlyon.bsky.social
Freelance journalist living in London. Words in The Fence, Fieldfare Press, The Hackney Mixer
Hard-hitting journalism from the capital's premier conker competition. Great to report this one for @londonermag.bsky.social!
www.the-londoner.co.uk/they-came-th...
www.the-londoner.co.uk/they-came-th...
They came, they saw, they conkered
How the Peckham Conker Championships became the capital's dirtiest fight
www.the-londoner.co.uk
October 8, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Hard-hitting journalism from the capital's premier conker competition. Great to report this one for @londonermag.bsky.social!
www.the-londoner.co.uk/they-came-th...
www.the-londoner.co.uk/they-came-th...
Fun piece from me over the weekend, on the pigeonopolis that is modern-day London - and those who dedicate their lives to 24/7 pigeon rescue
www.the-londoner.co.uk/hes-like-the...
www.the-londoner.co.uk/hes-like-the...
‘He's like the Batman of pigeons’: On the road with London's bird rescuers
Rats with wings? Or long-misunderstood feathered friends? Meet the group who spend their days protecting the capital's Columbidae
www.the-londoner.co.uk
September 22, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Fun piece from me over the weekend, on the pigeonopolis that is modern-day London - and those who dedicate their lives to 24/7 pigeon rescue
www.the-londoner.co.uk/hes-like-the...
www.the-londoner.co.uk/hes-like-the...
Reposted by Peter Carlyon
Every day, a group of dozens of volunteers across the capital stand ready as a rapid response force.
Their job? To save trapped pigeons. @petercarlyon.bsky.social went out on patrol to find out why they're dedicated to London's most-hated feathery friend.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/hes-like-the...
Their job? To save trapped pigeons. @petercarlyon.bsky.social went out on patrol to find out why they're dedicated to London's most-hated feathery friend.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/hes-like-the...
‘He's like the Batman of pigeons’: On the road with London's bird rescuers
Rats with wings? Or long-misunderstood feathered friends? Meet the group who spend their days protecting the capital's Columbidae
www.the-londoner.co.uk
September 22, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Every day, a group of dozens of volunteers across the capital stand ready as a rapid response force.
Their job? To save trapped pigeons. @petercarlyon.bsky.social went out on patrol to find out why they're dedicated to London's most-hated feathery friend.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/hes-like-the...
Their job? To save trapped pigeons. @petercarlyon.bsky.social went out on patrol to find out why they're dedicated to London's most-hated feathery friend.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/hes-like-the...
After a chaotic Saturday of dodging bottles and interviewing all involved, my dispatch from the front lines of the 'unite the kingdom' is now up - for @londonermag.bsky.social
www.the-londoner.co.uk/the-day-the-...
www.the-londoner.co.uk/the-day-the-...
The day the right took London
A special dispatch from this weekend's Unite the Kingdom rally
www.the-londoner.co.uk
September 15, 2025 at 11:40 AM
After a chaotic Saturday of dodging bottles and interviewing all involved, my dispatch from the front lines of the 'unite the kingdom' is now up - for @londonermag.bsky.social
www.the-londoner.co.uk/the-day-the-...
www.the-londoner.co.uk/the-day-the-...
Reposted by Peter Carlyon
FT mag piece from me: Spent a long time looking into the Britannia hotel chain, beneficiaries of a vast amount of taxpayer money via the asylum system
on.ft.com/47HEE46
on.ft.com/47HEE46
The crumbling seaside palaces at the centre of Britain’s asylum crisis
[FREE TO READ] How one hotelier built an empire from beloved community assets — and a government struggling to cope with a surge in migration
on.ft.com
September 13, 2025 at 8:27 AM
FT mag piece from me: Spent a long time looking into the Britannia hotel chain, beneficiaries of a vast amount of taxpayer money via the asylum system
on.ft.com/47HEE46
on.ft.com/47HEE46
Reposted by Peter Carlyon
The cost of a single place in a residential children’s care home in England has nearly doubled in five years to an average £318,000 a year, with private firms racking up huge profits as a result of market failure, according to the public spending watchdog.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Cost of place in children’s care homes in England hits almost £320,000 a year
Private firms’ profits soar, watchdog says, as prices nearly double in five years
www.theguardian.com
September 12, 2025 at 6:02 AM
The cost of a single place in a residential children’s care home in England has nearly doubled in five years to an average £318,000 a year, with private firms racking up huge profits as a result of market failure, according to the public spending watchdog.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
I wrote about the Brazilian motoboys who supply London with blood, for @londonermag.bsky.social
'If you’re delivering food, nobody gives a fuck about you. With blood it’s more respect.’
www.the-londoner.co.uk/londons-braz...
'If you’re delivering food, nobody gives a fuck about you. With blood it’s more respect.’
www.the-londoner.co.uk/londons-braz...
London’s Brazilian Blood Couriers
'If you’re delivering food, nobody gives a fuck about you. With blood it’s more respect.'
www.the-londoner.co.uk
September 4, 2025 at 1:19 PM
I wrote about the Brazilian motoboys who supply London with blood, for @londonermag.bsky.social
'If you’re delivering food, nobody gives a fuck about you. With blood it’s more respect.’
www.the-londoner.co.uk/londons-braz...
'If you’re delivering food, nobody gives a fuck about you. With blood it’s more respect.’
www.the-londoner.co.uk/londons-braz...
Reposted by Peter Carlyon
Across London, hundreds of couriers carry blood, urine or tissue samples all over the city. Almost all of them are Brazilian.
@petercarlyon.bsky.social finds out what it's like to be the secret backbone of the capital's medical sector.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/londons-braz...
@petercarlyon.bsky.social finds out what it's like to be the secret backbone of the capital's medical sector.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/londons-braz...
London’s Brazilian Blood Couriers
'If you’re delivering food, nobody gives a fuck about you. With blood it’s more respect.'
www.the-londoner.co.uk
September 4, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Across London, hundreds of couriers carry blood, urine or tissue samples all over the city. Almost all of them are Brazilian.
@petercarlyon.bsky.social finds out what it's like to be the secret backbone of the capital's medical sector.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/londons-braz...
@petercarlyon.bsky.social finds out what it's like to be the secret backbone of the capital's medical sector.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/londons-braz...
I wrote about the crime ring diverting pet food meat into London butchers for @londonermag.bsky.social
www.the-londoner.co.uk/a-rotten-bus...
www.the-londoner.co.uk/a-rotten-bus...
A rotten business: Inside London's spoilt meat dealing ring
How a visit to a Walworth cutting shop blew open a nationwide scheme to sell pet-food grade meat to unsuspecting customers
www.the-londoner.co.uk
August 28, 2025 at 10:50 AM
I wrote about the crime ring diverting pet food meat into London butchers for @londonermag.bsky.social
www.the-londoner.co.uk/a-rotten-bus...
www.the-londoner.co.uk/a-rotten-bus...
New piece in @londonermag.bsky.social this morning on the current status of Haggerston Baths!
The private equity scheme to restore the building... is not going so well. Still derelict after 8 years, and Hackney Council now spends over £200,000 p/a on security
www.the-londoner.co.uk/haggerston-b...
The private equity scheme to restore the building... is not going so well. Still derelict after 8 years, and Hackney Council now spends over £200,000 p/a on security
www.the-londoner.co.uk/haggerston-b...
Haggerston Baths is sinking into ruin — and locals fear it won't be saved
The Grade-II listed pool has been shuttered for 25 years. But with a private-equity-funded redevelopment falling through and a cash-strapped council, will it ever reopen, wonders Peter Carlyon.
www.the-londoner.co.uk
August 7, 2025 at 1:41 PM
New piece in @londonermag.bsky.social this morning on the current status of Haggerston Baths!
The private equity scheme to restore the building... is not going so well. Still derelict after 8 years, and Hackney Council now spends over £200,000 p/a on security
www.the-londoner.co.uk/haggerston-b...
The private equity scheme to restore the building... is not going so well. Still derelict after 8 years, and Hackney Council now spends over £200,000 p/a on security
www.the-londoner.co.uk/haggerston-b...
Reposted by Peter Carlyon
Literally never misses
July 30, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Literally never misses
I went on the East London measles trail for
@dispatchmedia.bsky.social , where cases are currently the highest in the UK.
Spoke to a Rabbi trying to turn things around, and the antivax mums who aren't so worried...
@dispatchmedia.bsky.social , where cases are currently the highest in the UK.
Spoke to a Rabbi trying to turn things around, and the antivax mums who aren't so worried...
The London mums bringing back measles
From Shoreditch to Stamford Hill • A secret Facebook group • Why?
dispatch-media.com
July 29, 2025 at 10:29 AM
I went on the East London measles trail for
@dispatchmedia.bsky.social , where cases are currently the highest in the UK.
Spoke to a Rabbi trying to turn things around, and the antivax mums who aren't so worried...
@dispatchmedia.bsky.social , where cases are currently the highest in the UK.
Spoke to a Rabbi trying to turn things around, and the antivax mums who aren't so worried...
Reposted by Peter Carlyon
Obviously I'm biased — but this feels like important work by @petercarlyon.bsky.social on Britain's measles crisis.
Uncovering the human stories behind a very important (and unreported) datapoint:
Uncovering the human stories behind a very important (and unreported) datapoint:
There's been a surge in measles cases across the UK — but after crunching the data, one borough sticks out.
@petercarlyon.bsky.social reports from Hackney, east London:
@petercarlyon.bsky.social reports from Hackney, east London:
July 29, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Obviously I'm biased — but this feels like important work by @petercarlyon.bsky.social on Britain's measles crisis.
Uncovering the human stories behind a very important (and unreported) datapoint:
Uncovering the human stories behind a very important (and unreported) datapoint:
Reposted by Peter Carlyon
NEW: Tony Blair's staff took part in a BCG project for the redevelopment of Gaza along the lines of the 'Trump Riviera' plan www.ft.com/content/0b1b...
Tony Blair’s staff took part in ‘Gaza Riviera’ project with BCG
Former UK prime minister’s institute participated in meetings on plan to turn shattered enclave into trading hub
www.ft.com
July 6, 2025 at 4:16 PM
NEW: Tony Blair's staff took part in a BCG project for the redevelopment of Gaza along the lines of the 'Trump Riviera' plan www.ft.com/content/0b1b...
Reposted by Peter Carlyon
A superb piece of journalism in The Observer: it seems like the one of the sacred texts of Nature Writing (TM) is not quite as much of an unflinchingly honest read as claimed
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ...
Penniless and homeless, the Winns found fame and fortune with the story of their 630-mile walk to salvation. We can reveal that the truth behind it is ve...
observer.co.uk
July 6, 2025 at 7:54 AM
A superb piece of journalism in The Observer: it seems like the one of the sacred texts of Nature Writing (TM) is not quite as much of an unflinchingly honest read as claimed
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
my story of the Antepavilion architecture competition is still (just about) the cover of @thefence.bsky.social - and online here!
When Southwark Council first rejected one of Russell Gray’s planning applications, he bought a tank and pointed the turret directly at their offices – as @petercarlyon.bsky.social writes for Issue 23’s cover story, it would not be his last clash with authority.
www.the-fence.com/a-shark-tale/
www.the-fence.com/a-shark-tale/
A Shark Tale
Shiva is the God of destruction.
www.the-fence.com
June 24, 2025 at 11:08 AM
my story of the Antepavilion architecture competition is still (just about) the cover of @thefence.bsky.social - and online here!
Reposted by Peter Carlyon
The cover story from Issue 23, written by @petercarlyon.bsky.social, is now free to read online. Do dig in this afternoon.
www.the-fence.com/a-shark-tale
www.the-fence.com/a-shark-tale
May 31, 2025 at 12:21 PM
The cover story from Issue 23, written by @petercarlyon.bsky.social, is now free to read online. Do dig in this afternoon.
www.the-fence.com/a-shark-tale
www.the-fence.com/a-shark-tale
For the cover story of @thefence.bsky.social #23, I wrote about the incredible story behind the 5 giant fibreglass sharks floating in Regent's Canal - and how one man, Russell Gray, has battled to keep them there.
www.the-fence.com/a-shark-tale/
www.the-fence.com/a-shark-tale/
A Shark Tale
Shiva is the God of destruction.
www.the-fence.com
May 30, 2025 at 12:47 PM
For the cover story of @thefence.bsky.social #23, I wrote about the incredible story behind the 5 giant fibreglass sharks floating in Regent's Canal - and how one man, Russell Gray, has battled to keep them there.
www.the-fence.com/a-shark-tale/
www.the-fence.com/a-shark-tale/
thrilled this piece is now online!
Here is the cover story from Issue 23, an encounter with Russell Gray, a redoubtable property developer who commissioned the 15-foot fibreglass sharks in Regent's Canal.
A brilliant piece by @petercarlyon.bsky.social
www.the-fence.com/a-shark-tale/
A brilliant piece by @petercarlyon.bsky.social
www.the-fence.com/a-shark-tale/
A Shark Tale
Shiva is the God of destruction.
www.the-fence.com
May 30, 2025 at 12:43 PM
thrilled this piece is now online!
Open days, LEGO lodges and karaoke nights are just some of the ways London Freemasons are attempting to attract (and retain!) a new generation of members.
For @londonermag.bsky.social, I met several young Londoners turning towards the tradition.
For @londonermag.bsky.social, I met several young Londoners turning towards the tradition.
London’s lonely young men are lining up to join the Freemasons
'I think maybe the younger generation is moving towards Freemasonry because it’s got something that’s pure.'
www.the-londoner.co.uk
May 22, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Open days, LEGO lodges and karaoke nights are just some of the ways London Freemasons are attempting to attract (and retain!) a new generation of members.
For @londonermag.bsky.social, I met several young Londoners turning towards the tradition.
For @londonermag.bsky.social, I met several young Londoners turning towards the tradition.
Reposted by Peter Carlyon
The crisis of male loneliness is well publicised. But in London, a very modern affliction is pushing young men towards *very* traditional institutions.
@petercarlyon.bsky.social is on the cobbles of Covent Garden, meeting a new generation of fresh-faced Freemasons.
@petercarlyon.bsky.social is on the cobbles of Covent Garden, meeting a new generation of fresh-faced Freemasons.
London’s lonely young men are lining up to join the Freemasons
'I think maybe the younger generation is moving towards Freemasonry because it’s got something that’s pure.'
www.the-londoner.co.uk
May 21, 2025 at 7:04 AM
The crisis of male loneliness is well publicised. But in London, a very modern affliction is pushing young men towards *very* traditional institutions.
@petercarlyon.bsky.social is on the cobbles of Covent Garden, meeting a new generation of fresh-faced Freemasons.
@petercarlyon.bsky.social is on the cobbles of Covent Garden, meeting a new generation of fresh-faced Freemasons.
“Why doesn’t a duck act like an elephant, and why doesn’t an elephant act like a duck?”
I spent an evening with the Icke family learning to the answer to that, and much more. For @dispatchmedia.bsky.social
I spent an evening with the Icke family learning to the answer to that, and much more. For @dispatchmedia.bsky.social
My Easter with David Icke
Lizards in Brum • Family fun • A Man City cameo
dispatch-media.com
May 1, 2025 at 8:56 AM
“Why doesn’t a duck act like an elephant, and why doesn’t an elephant act like a duck?”
I spent an evening with the Icke family learning to the answer to that, and much more. For @dispatchmedia.bsky.social
I spent an evening with the Icke family learning to the answer to that, and much more. For @dispatchmedia.bsky.social