Londonist.com. is currently hosting this series under the title ‘The Folk Olympics.’ All content will appear below 14 days after being posted at Londonist.com.

This week, another Waltham Forest tale. That of Frederick Bremer, the original boy racer.

“London is one one of the richest cities in the world and with that wealth comes the power of the status symbol; the house we own, the clothes we wear and of course the car we drive. But for some a motor is more than an interest but an obsession.”

Watch the video and enjoy the London song inspired by this tale, ‘The Breaking Dawn’- available to download soon!
Lyrics can be found here.

In this latest ‘Folk Olympics’ instalment, Ruairidh Anderson pens the song ‘Shed Leaves & Fading Steps’ as he begins the journey through the Borough of Waltham Forest with a trip to a forgotten plague pit.

“Many would like to claim they live in the city’s worst areas, but only the residents of Walthamstow can truly state that they reside in London’s original dumping ground.”

Watch the video and enjoy the London song inspired by this tale,’Shed Leaves, Fading Steps’- available to download soon!
Lyrics can be found here.

This week, the final Hackney tale, that of William Lyttle — Hackney resident, retiree and notorious tunneller.

“Do you have issues with neighbours? Not that proven stepping stone between Australia obscurity and the dizzying heights of a pantomime in Woking. Your physical neighbours. The residents of Mortimor Street in Hackney certainly did. Though their complaints had a little more depth to them.”

Watch the video and enjoy the inspired song ‘Always The Same’- available to download soon!
Lyrics can be found here.

This week, the tale of Deerfoot — native American, athlete and holder of the 10 mile world record, set at a Hackney Racecourse.

“Lewis Bennet was born on a reservation in Buffalo, USA under the name Hutgosedoneh which literally means ‘he who peeks through doors’. Now it’s unclear as to whether or not he was a sex pest, but we do know that he was a full-blooded Seneca who could run really fast.”

Watch the video and enjoy the London song inspired by this tale, ‘The Distance Between Us’- available to download soon!
Lyrics can be found here.

In the second week of our third Olympic Borough, Hackney, songwriter Ruairidh Anderson tells the story of Hackney South MP and early 20th Century rogue, Horatio Bottomley.

“Over the years London has played host to many gangsters and criminals but one name you’re unlikely to find sandwiched between Jack the Ripper and Mad Frankie Fraser is the less terrifyingly named, Horatio Bottomley who sounds more like a sad rejected extra from the Muppet Show than an evil genius.”

Watch the video and enjoy the London song inspired by this tale, ‘Fruit Of A Wicked Plant’- available to download soon!

Lyrics can be found here.

And so we arrive at our third Olympic Borough, Hackney, and the story of Mrs Basil Holmes, saviour of London’s graveyards.

“Many would have considered Mrs Basil Holmes a little odd when she decided to spend her leisure time wandering around in graveyards and cemeteries. But one thing she wasn’t was blind. She noticed what everyone else had failed to see…”

Watch the video and enjoy the London song inspired by this tale, ‘Quietus Relieved’- available to download soon!
Lyrics can be found here.

In the final week of our second Olympic Borough, Greenwich, Ruairidh Anderson tells the story of Frenchman and anarchist Martial Bourdin, who exploded in Greenwich Park one winter’s morning.

‘It was a fresh February day in 1894 when young Frenchman Martial Bourdin left his house in Fitzroy Sreet central London for a jaunt across town. Catching a tram from outside the houses of Parliament, he must have enjoyed a relatively uncrowded journey, kept company only by his head full of ideals and the package under his arm.’

Watch the video and enjoy the London song inspired by this tale, ‘Time Will Tell’- available to download soon!
Lyrics can be found here.

This week, the tale of General James Wolfe — soldier, hero and father of 13 illegitimate kids. You may have seen his statue at the top of Greenwich Hill.

“General James Wolfe was a battle-hardened war veteran, a fearless hero in everyone’s eyes. Well almost everyone.. his work colleauges started to wonder if there was actually something wrong with him…”

Watch the video and enjoy the London song inspired by this tale, ‘The Cause & The Cure’- available to download soon!
Lyrics can be found here.

In week ten of our folk tales from the five Olympic London Boroughs, Ruairidh Anderson tells the story of Anne Boleyn, former Queen, and former Greenwich resident.

“Of all the residents of Greenwich perhaps the most famous is King Henry VIII. Many happy days were spent in the area with his court and whichever wife he had on his arm at the time’

Watch the video and enjoy the London song inspired by this tale, ‘Maytime Flowers’- available to download soon!
Lyrics can be found here.