Seven Dials Covent Garden is a unique quarter of London whose star-shaped layout remains as constructed in the early 1690s. It was brought back to life largely through the dedication of the Seven Dials Trust, working in partnership with the local authorities and landowners for nearly forty years.

We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of  Lord Peter Brooke - Peter was one of our patrons and a great supporter of the Trust and our work over many years.

Trust chairman David Bieda recalls: “When he [Peter Brooke] retired as an MP I held a dinner for him in Dean Street [David's residence, a masterpiece of early Georgian architecture]. I remember asking Peter if I should invite Frank Dobson MP and he said ‘Don’t do it without Frank as we’ve worked behind the scenes for years’. One of the most civilised politicians of his generation, a great raconteur, immensely knowledgeable and a very good constituency MP. He also initiated the N. Ireland peace process.” 

We were deeply saddened to hear of the death of our Founder Trustee and later Trust Patron Christina Smith OBE who passed away peacefully at home in Covent Garden on 11th March 2022. Christina was a proactive member of the Trust and our work over many years. Her presence and many words of wisdom will be missed by us all.

The Trust was very sad to learn that Colin Smith, past MD of Comyn Ching has passed away. Comyn Ching were the oldest company in Seven Dials, established in 1700, and one of the country’s foremost architectural ironmongery companies.

The Trustees were very sad indeed to learn that Gordon Taylor has passed away at the age of 95. Gordon was our astronomer when we planned the reconstruction of the Sundial Pillar at Seven Dials and his work involved the detailed calculations for the dial faces and orientation of the Pillar which can be seen on our Orientating for Sundial Time page.

We were deeply saddened to hear of the death of Trust Patron Frank Dobson. Frank was a great supporter of the Trust and our work over many years. His wit and many words of advice will be missed by us all.

Trust chairman David Bieda says: “We were close friends for almost 50 years, and I shall miss his friendship, wit and wide-ranging knowledge.”