The Happy Wanderers, Portobello Road 1965

A 1960s colour photo of members of The Happy Wanderers busking on Portobello Road in 1965. Standing outside Walter Hildreth Ltd removals at number 137, one man holds a red “HAPPY WANDERERS” collection box while his companion plays a Hohner piano accordion. Both men are dressed in dark blazers, with the man on the left wearing a distinctive white peaked cap and a maroon cardigan. A black Austin FX4 taxi is parked at the kerb, and the background is filled with the bustling activity of the Notting Hill street market, including shoppers and canvas-topped stalls.

The Happy Wanderers were a famous London busking band comprised of disabled veterans from the Second World War who remained a common sight across the city into the 1960s. Today, 137 Portobello Road still stands as part of the street’s historic terrace, though the Walter Hildreth Ltd removals company has long since departed, replaced by modern retail businesses. The area remains a world-renowned destination for antiques and street markets, though the vintage taxis and the specific post-war characters seen here have passed into the latter half of the 20th century’s history.