More space was soon needed, so the fledgling engineering division moved its Development Department to Avenue House, 87 Kings Avenue, Clapham in south London - the former residence of the governor of Brixton Prison.  Outside the front door there stood two "beasties", lion-like creatures about 4ft high, which had been made by one of the prisoners.  Apparently it was intended for the pair to hold shields, but the prisoner was released before he had time to make them.  Little did he know that one of his creations would be seen, in the next century, holding a web site banner.

They were originally painted cream but over the years became just dirty white, until Avenue House was repainted by Bill Picket.  He was a notable character with a sergeant major-type waxed and pointed moustache, who was so taken with the beasties that he seemed to spend more time on them than on the house.  He finished them in a dark chocolate colour with teeth and claws in gleaming white and tongue in red.  He managed to produce a most wicked look in their eyes.

When the department moved to Chiswick in 1958 the new building was also named Avenue House and the beasties moved there.

BBC Equipment Department moved out of Avenue House in 1993 and the beasties moved to Kingswood Warren in Surrey, home of BBC Research & Development, where they remain to this day (with paint removed).

They guarded over BBC Engineering Division throughout most of its existence, so it is appropriate to feature one of them on the home page of this web site.  At some point they were named Pinky and Perky.  Pinky is holding the web site banner!

With thanks to

The Emergence of
Broadcasting in Britain

and "L.G." Smith

for most of the information above.

The prisoner story is based on information passed via Neale Davison (ex-R&D) from Dennis Booty (ex-D&ED) and it ties in with information from "L.G." Smith.

Here they are in their present home: