Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Pop Culture»People
    People 3 Mins Read

    Perec (Peter) Rachman

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    Perec (“Peter”) Rachman moved to Britain after his discharge from the Polish army.

    He borrowed money and bought a number of slums in the Paddington area of London in the 1950s for a pittance, then intimidated sitting tenants – once even removing a roof – to force them out and let the rooms for huge rents (which was allowed under the 1957 Rent Act).

    Rachman’s ‘Heavy Glove Mob’ – which included former professional wrestlers – smashed the furniture or ripped up floorboards of many flats.

    Their middle-of-the-night hammering on the doors of tenants was likened in the House of Commons to what happened in Hitler’s Germany.

    Once the controlled-rent tenants were out, the rooms and buildings could be let at exorbitant rents to prostitutes, to people in acute need of housing, and to cellar clubs where drugs and other forms of debauchery were dispensed.

    One four-room flat, let at a controlled rent of 30 shillings a week, was eventually shared by four prostitutes each paying Β£3 a day – Β£84 a week.

    There are some who believe that Rachman even instigated the Notting Hill race riots of 1958 to persuade some of the white tenants to leave a district where he wanted to pack three times as many West Indians into the same space, each paying three times the rent charged to the white people.

    The second phase of Rachman’s operation was then to throw up a screen between the actual owner of the houses and the Borough Council and the Inland Revenue. This was done by forming a series of interlocking companies, conducting all possible operations in cash and shuffling superficial ownership of the properties from company to company or to nominees behind whom Rachman and his friends could hide.

    Rachman’s slum housing racket was finally exposed during the John Profumo/Christine Keeler scandal of 1963. One name kept cropping up in the long and arduous investigations – Rachman.

    It was Rachman who had owned the apartment Dr Stephen Ward lived in. It was Rachman to whom Ward had introduced Keeler. It was Rachman to whom Dr Ward introduced blonde Mandy Rice-Davies, then only 16 – and they also set up housekeeping together.

    “During our two years together,” said Rice-Davies, “he gave me a mink coat, three mink jackets, a Persian lamb jacket, two pairs of diamond and ruby earrings, a big gold diamond and ruby watch bracelet, two diamond rings worth about Β£500 each, a Jaguar car and an allowance of Β£80 a week”.

    According to hospital records, Perec Rachman was stricken with a heart attack on the morning of 29 November 1962 and sent to Edgeware General Hospital in an ambulance by his personal physician Dr David Waxman. When he died that afternoon after another attack, his wife identified his body.

    Hospital attendants filed a gold bracelet off his wrist. It bore the name “Perec Rachman”. A post-mortem showed coronary thrombosis and Rachman was known to have a heart condition.

    A rumour that Rachman, in fact, might still be alive was circulating all over London – along with another report by a newspaper that Rachman was in fear of his life because he had reneged on a massive loss in a chemin-de-fer game.

    Basil Coulolias, a 36-year-old wrestler and friend of Rachman, claimed he had seen him alive in Hyde Park after his reported death.

    Related Posts

    • Yuppies
      Yuppies
      What rich 1980s white-collar workers were called in the decade when the western world revelled in unapologetic materialism. Yuppies (an…
    • Avon Ladies
      Avon Ladies
      "Ding Dong, Avon Calling" The most successful door-to-door makeup enterprise in history, Avon has been bringing front door service to…
    • George Best
      George Best
      There is a famous story about George Best after he had won one night at a casino and a bellboy…
    • Peggy Moffitt
      Peggy Moffitt
      The top American model of the 1960s, Peggy Moffitt was a startling innovator who didn't just wear fashions, she inspired…
    • Yorkshire Ripper
      Yorkshire Ripper
      The 'Yorkshire Ripper' killings started in July 1975 and continued until November 1980, during which time 13 women were murdered…
    • Malcolm McLaren
      Malcolm McLaren
      Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren was born on 22 January 1946 in North London. His father left when he was two…
    • Pete Myers - 'The Mad Daddy'
      Pete Myers - 'The Mad Daddy'
      Born in San Francisco, Pete Myers (aka "The Mad Daddy") was the wildest Disc Jockey from America's golden age of…
    • Hippies
      Hippies
      Like no other time before, the ’60s exploded into personal freedom and self-expression, seen through bands of teenagers with unique…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleRajiv Gandhi
    Next Article Pee-Wee Herman

    Comments are closed.

    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    You May Also Like
    • Fantastic Planet (1973)
      This remarkable animated French/Czech science-fiction fantasy […]
    • Blonde Bait (1956)
      US State Department agent Kent Foster (Richard Travis) is on the […]
    • Free Design, The
      The Free Design were a jazz-influenced family vocal group […]
    • Pub Rock
      The full story of Pub Rock can be read in Will Birch’s […]
    • My Beautiful Laundrette (1986)
      Originally made for Channel Four television, this delightful, […]
    • Tom Paxton
      The most covered of the early 60s folk artists (Dylan aside), […]
    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

    OUR LATEST FACEBOOK POSTS

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-64558222 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    David Bowie's handwritten Jean Genie lyrics sold for £57,000

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The handwritten sheet was given to the founder of the inaugural David Bowie fan club by the star.
    1 day ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    edition.cnn.com/2023/01/30/entertainment/cindy-williams-dead/index.html

    More sad news 😒
    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    'Laverne & Shirley' star Cindy Williams dead at 75 | CNN

    edition.cnn.com

    Cindy Williams, the dynamic actress known best for playing the bubbly Shirley Feeney on the beloved sitcom "Laverne & Shirley," has died, according to a statement from her family, provided to CNN by a...
    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64442824 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Television frontman Tom Verlaine dies at 73

    www.bbc.co.uk

    His band rose to fame in the 1970s New York punk scene, scoring UK hits including Marquee Moon.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64418847 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Mr Blobby costume sells for more than £62,000 on eBay

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The character, made famous by BBC show Noel's House Party, had been in storage since the 1990s.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Put some beefiness into your mid-week menu with these recipe ideas published in a Birds Eye advertisement from the Radio Times on 30 September 1965.

    Put some "beefiness into your mid-week menu" with these recipe ideas published in a Birds Eye advertisement from the "Radio Times" on 30 September 1965. ... See MoreSee Less

    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    They were awful. An overpowering savoury flavour that lingered in your mouth for hours. Heaven knows what unmentionable parts of a bull went into making them 😳

    More sad news πŸ˜ͺ

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    US rock legend David Crosby dies aged 81

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Crosby, who co-founded both the Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash, had been ill for some time.
    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    This is what they promised us when I was a kid. What happened? 

All I have is 700 channels of rubbish on the TV in High Def, TikTok, Facebook and a phone I can take photographs with . . .

    This is what they promised us when I was a kid. What happened?

    All I have is 700 channels of rubbish on the TV in High Def, TikTok, Facebook and a phone I can take photographs with . . .
    ... See MoreSee Less

    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 54
    • Shares: 22
    • Comments: 7

    Comment on Facebook

    I thought we would have moving pavements by now when I was a kid πŸ˜‚

    Totally agree!!!

    The new Tesla, 4.6 next century.

    We got transvestite story hour instead

    We appear to be going backwards

    There's actually a very good David Graeber essay on this very topic: thebaffler.com/salvos/of-flying-cars-and-the-declining-rate-of-profit

    The Jetsons strike again.

    View more comments

    Renowned Australian singer Renee Geyer is dead at 69 following complications from hip surgery. Such a fabulous voice. RIP😒

https://nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-r/renee-geyer/

    Renowned Australian singer Renee Geyer is dead at 69 following complications from hip surgery. Such a fabulous voice. RIP😒

    nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-r/renee-geyer/
    ... See MoreSee Less

    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    That is so sad to hear πŸ˜₯ rest in peace πŸ™ πŸ•Š xx

    Gina Lollobrigida: Italian screen star dies at 95
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64292026

    Gina Lollobrigida: Italian screen star dies at 95
    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64292026
    ... See MoreSee Less

    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 5
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    😍😍😍😍

    Vale Jeff Beck. Dead at 78. 😒

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Jeff Beck: British guitar legend dies aged 78

    www.bbc.co.uk

    One of rock's most influential guitarists, he was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.
    4 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Load more
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Popular Tags
    1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1975 1976 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games Britpop Canada Crime Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Power Pop Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Sport Surf music
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Copyright Β© 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.