Benefit Concert In Memory of James Borrer at London’s Indigo at The O2

Benefit Concert to Celebrate the Life of James Borrer at London's Indigo at The O2

Obviously not a walk in the usual sense, but it did involve plenty of travelling and a fair amount of walking along the way.

The day started with a 1½-hour drive from Kettering to the Broadwalk Centre car park in Edgware. I normally use the commuter car park when staying overnight in London, which costs £6 for 24 hours, but unfortunately it was full. That meant using the shoppers' car park instead, setting me back £12 for a nights parking.

From there it was onto the Tube: the Northern line to Bank, followed by the DLR to Shadwell, and then a short walk to the historic Prospect of Whitby pub.

The Prospect of Whitby has a special connection for me. My mother came to England from Spain in the late 1950s as a 20-year-old, looking to build a new life. She eventually found herself living and working in Wapping, which at the time had a reputation as one of London's roughest and most dangerous dockland districts. While many people avoided the area, she absolutely loved it and often speaks fondly of the Prospect of Whitby and the unique character of old Wapping. Visiting the pub gave me a chance to see a place that meant so much to her and to imagine what the area must have been like when she first arrived.

I had planned to have lunch there, but in the end I settled for a nice cold pint of Guinness instead.

I was also hoping to walk out onto the foreshore to get a different view of the pub, but I should have checked the tide tables first. As it turned out, I would have needed a boat!

After my visit, it was time to head to my hotel in Greenwich. A short walk to Wapping station, where I took the Windrush line to Canada Water before changing onto the Jubilee line for North Greenwich.

From the station, it was about a 20-minute walk to the Radisson RED Hotel. It wasn't one of my favourite walks, as much of the route passes through an area that's currently being redeveloped. I'm sure it will look fantastic once the work is complete, but at the moment it's not the most attractive approach.

After checking into the hotel, I had a chance to relax for a while before heading back out to the concert.

The Concert 

'James borrer died of Bowel Cancer on 13th January 2026. He was ill for a few weeks having mistaken symptoms of bowel cancer for colitis. This is a common problem and happens often with tragic consequences. 

James leaves behind a wife, and two young daughters, Amelie and Seren. James worked in music his whole life and this event is a celebration of the life in music. Public Service Broadcasting and BIG SPECIAL were two of his favourite artists. Also with performances by Demob Happy and China Bears'.

I wasn't familiar with Demob Happy or China Bears beforehand, but I've been listening to Public Service Broadcasting for years. More recently I've become a fan of BIG SPECIAL after hearing their collaboration with Sleaford Mods, also featuring Gwendoline Christie, on the track The Good Life. 

All four acts put on excellent performances, but for me BIG SPECIAL absolutely stole the show. Their set was full of energy and emotion, and they were simply outstanding.

 

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