Buried Alive in Kilburn: The Tale of Mike Meaney

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For most people, the idea of being buried alive is a terrifying thought. Yet in Kilburn, north London, in 1968, one brave man decided to give it a try.
His name was Mike Meaney, and he was aided in his quest for fame by Ireland's strongest man; Butty Sugrue. This is their story.
I’d like to express my sincere thanks to the residents of Malvern Mews, NW6 for allowing me to film on their private road, and also for assisting me in locating the approximate site of Mike’s ‘grave’!
I’d be interested to hear your thoughts regarding Mike’s story. Were you aware that a man was buried alive in Kilburn in the late ‘60s? Maybe you- or a friend or family member- remembers this strange event? Please be sure to let me know in the comments!
As ever, thank you so much to all of you who support this channel with your viewership and kind words; it means the world to me.
I’d also like to offer a very special welcome to all new subscribers: it’s lovely to have you here!
If you haven’t yet subscribed to robslondon, I’d appreciate it very much if you could please consider doing so, as this will ensure you don’t miss out on any future content, as well as helping the channel to grow. And if you do sign up, please be sure to click the bell icon to receive notifications whenever I publish a new video!
If you missed my previous 'Exploring London's Pubs' video which looked at the Carlton Tavern, you can watch it here:
• Exploring London's Pub...
You may also be interested to know that I currently have two books available: ’The Knowledge; Train your Brain Like a Cabbie’ (Quercus):
www.quercusbooks.co.uk/titles...
And ‘Waterloo Station: A History of London’s Busiest Terminus’ (Crowood):
www.crowood.com/products/wate...
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My website (robslondon.com)
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Thanks again for watching, friends. Stay well, and please be sure to stay tuned!
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Credits:
Music used in this video:
Ominous (Kevin MacLeod)
The Colonel (Zachariah Hickman)
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms (Zachariah Hickman)
The Cannery (Kevin MacLeod)
Burnt to a Crisp or Bloody as Hell (TeknoAXE's Royalty Free Music)
• Burnt to a Crisp or Bl...
Animations used in this video:
Eye in dark: VidsFX RU-vid channel:
/ @epicstoics.
BBC Globe, 1968: Daniel Mullins Channel:
• BBC1 Globe Ident - 1968
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Опубликовано:

22 июн 2024

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Комментарии : 129

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Hello friends, I hope you're all keeping well. I first uploaded this video yesterday, although a technical problem (a section was missing for some reason!) meant I had to remove it pretty much immediately! If you left a comment on that first upload, please accept my sincere apologies- I did see your kind words and also responded, although as the original video has now gone you may not see my replies. Anyway, hope you enjoy this video about the Irish legends, Mike Meaney and Butty Sugrue! ☘️ Stay well.

@marymeaney8289 Год назад

This is my dad Mick Meaney. He would have liked this video, thanks

@Robslondon Год назад

Thank you so much Mary, that means a lot to me. I did try to contact your family through Facebook when I was making the video, but I imagine the message wasn't received. Thanks again; really happy you've seen it 🙂Stay well.

@thewrecker3140 Год назад

Hi Mary I was with my son Robert when he did this video. It was my idea as I lived in Kilburn and my dad took me to visit your dad in Malvern Mews. Ironic as Malvern Mews is the same initials as your dad who is a legend.

@aversivespider Год назад

@Mary Meaney we're second cousins then. Your dad and mine were first cousins. We were living in Kilburn then, but moved to Dollis Hill soon after. My dad was called Tom Martin. He died a long time back. His mum was called Nora Meaney before she married my grandfather. She must have been your grandads sister.

@k.jamescarters9557 2 года назад

Mike wanted to be a professional boxer…however as his chin is the size of jay Leno’s he decided to try his luck at being buried alive. Great story as usual and proper insane!

@Robslondon 2 года назад

😂

@sharonleong7120 2 года назад

Thank you for sharing another great and interesting video. I will always like it. 👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Thank you so much Sharon ☺️ Stay well.

@richardsingh5827 2 года назад

Great to see a video about Kilburn, my old stomping ground

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Cheers Richard! 😉

@lauraswann5543 2 года назад

This story, of which I'd never heard, was very entertaining. Fair play to you, Mike Meaney!

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Thanks Laura 😊

@TheUluxian 2 года назад

Fascinating story. I doubt anyone here across the pond would remember Bill White, much less Mike Meaney.. Thanks for the tale, Rob. Entertaining as always!

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Thank you so much 😊

@idatipping2428 6 месяцев назад

Amazed by your knowledge and old times images 👏🏻

@Robslondon 6 месяцев назад

Thank you 😊

@thevjoiners 2 года назад

What a bonkers story! And how cool is it that your dad was there. And Diana Doors as well! Great video. Thank you

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 😉 Stay well

@cherylchapman6163 2 года назад

Good grief!!!!!! People do some seriously bizarre things 🤫 your film takes me back to the old Rock and Roll years series, super stuff. A mixture of history, news and music.....perfect! 💕

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Thanks so much Cheryl- I’m very flattered by that comparison as I used to love that programme!

@FluffyMcFluffavicMeowskiOFluff 19 дней назад

I love Kilburn... never a dull moment LOL

@Robslondon 19 дней назад

🤣

@SMichaelDeHart Год назад

Love the background music of "Leaning on the everlasting arms"!!!

@Robslondon Год назад

Thank you :-)

@triciaford1957 2 года назад

Always interesting, unusual and thought provoking!

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Thanks so much Tricia! 😊

@1minigrem 2 года назад

I was 6 years old when this happened but I don’t remember it on the news. Absolutely fascinating, please write a book about quirky London I would certainly buy it.

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Thank you so much Kerry ☺️

@PaulMcCaffreyfmac 2 года назад

I love your videos. They set me off in all sorts of different directions memory-wise. The mention of Percy Street set me thinking of an old girlfriend of mine called Vivien who, back in 1978, was the object of desire for at least two of Spandau Ballet who lived down the road from her. On reflection and a bit of looking on street view I realised it wasn't Percy Street at all... It was Great Percy Street 😁 Mention of the Admiral Nelson also reminded me that the band I was in around that time was the last band to play at the Lord Nelson in Holloway Road, a major venue on the so-called pub rock scene which thrived until Albion took over the agency booking for all the venues and you couldn't get a gig anymore based on giving the landlord a tape...Sad, Don't quote me on Albion. The agency that killed it for lots of bands might have been called something else. I'm typing too much to avoid thinking about being buried alive. Stone me! What a way to make a name for yourself eh? Great work, as ever. Thanks very much.

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Thanks so much Paul; really enjoyed reading your thoughts. I know Great Percy Street; might be worth a video! Stay well.

@mikego18753 2 года назад

Hay Rob,great vid,i especially like the'then and now'pictures. Thanks.

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Much appreciated Mike; cheers.

@bryan3550 2 года назад

Bizarre or what? Thanks for another excellent post, Rob. 🙃

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Cheers Bryan 😉

@basfinnis 2 года назад

Kilburn innit 😄 Interesting stuff. Thanks 😗

@thewrecker3140 2 года назад

Best place in London.

@Robslondon 2 года назад

😁 Cheers Basil! 😉

@mccstuff 2 года назад

Strange how there was a bit of a craze of bring buried alive at that time. I was a bit young for this one but I do remember seeing David Blaine in his glass box by the Thames, not as bad as being buried alive but not too dissimilar either. Great stuff by the way, it's a good story and very well told.

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Ha ha! Great comment mccstuff ;-) Yes, I remember the David Blaine stunt too- at the time I was working as a teaching assistant in a secondary school, and I remember a bunch of lads saying they were going to go and see the box one weekend (it was beside Tower Bridge if I remember?) and throw pukka pies at it- I kid you not! I guess they thought David Blaine was hungry and it would be fun to tease him with food! Anyway; thanks again for reminding me of that, and also for the kind words- much appreciated! Stay well my friend.

@websitesthatneedanem 2 года назад

Love the 'tone' of your videos .... very well done! 👍🏼👍🏼

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Really appreciate that Martin; thank you 😊

@user-mt6hr4qf9n 2 года назад

This was great Rob - how funny that there was competitive alive burying at the time!

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Thanks so much; and yes it’s crazy isn’t it?! Stay well 😉

@liamkatt6434 Год назад

Great story and I well remember following this in the press and on tv at the time. My father's first wife's father was a grave digger in Cork city. Part of his job was clearing out the old graves which always attracted interest. Two old ladies approached him one day and asked what did the corpses look like after being buried so long? He replied 'A lot better looking than you two'. He collapsed and died on St Patrick's Day, 1957 while at work and fell into.....a grave.

@Robslondon Год назад

Ha ha! Great comment Liam!

@johnbacon1854 2 года назад

Hey Rob. I wondered what happened. It went into error as i watched. It just after you posted. Then i couldnt comment came back and it was down. Great story and well researched. Love how your dad got to see some of it. Brilliant memories for him for sure.

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Lovely comment John, thank you so much. And apologies about the first upload! Glad you enjoyed it 😊

@RichardWells1 2 года назад

Another absolutely fascinating tale, Rob, well-researched and well-told, with some great archive footage and photography. I had heard of the famous Butty Sugrue, from my days as a young news reporter on the Acton Gazette, but I wasn't aware of his links with The King's Head, next door to our editorial office, and Paul Kelly, one of our good sources of news. Maybe I was too busy writing up Townswomen's Guild reports and chasing fire engines! Of course, today's news is soon history and I'm afraid Mike Meaney's name was barely a whisper around the newsroom, all the editorial staff from 1967-68 having moved on by the time I arrived in 1970. Thanks again for a fascinating story!

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Really enjoyed reading this Richard- one of my favourite comments by far. A fantastic insight. Thank you so much for sharing your memories, and thank you too for the kind words. Much appreciated. Stay well sir.

@clivefelgate9802 2 года назад

Another excellent wander through the weird and wonderful stories of London.👍 really admire your research which always results in interesting vids. Keep safe and well. C.

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Thank you so much Clive, much appreciated. Stay well

@PaulB-17 Год назад

Brilliantly told story, Thanks.

@Robslondon Год назад

Much appreciated Paul, thank you.

@Britoverseas 2 года назад

Great story and must admit to having never heard of this tale even though I was born in London in the early 60's. I wonder what gave you the idea to tell this story? Cheers for another good one. I always look forward to your posts.

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Thank you so much! The idea came from my Dad; he lived in the area at the time and has often told me about it ;-) Cheers and stay well.

@thewrecker3140 2 года назад

What a fantastic and most enjoyable documentary. first class research as always, hats off to you my man.

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Thank you so much The Wrecker; very much appreciated. Stay well.

@SLane249 2 года назад

Another great video, and the first time I have liked the same video twice ! :)

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Ha ha! Thanks Stephen ;-)

@louisep4805 2 года назад

Wow Butty was so strong and must have had incredible teeth too. Thanks for the vid very interesting 👌👍

@Robslondon 2 года назад

It’s a pleasure; thank you so much Louise. I guess Butty had a good dentist! 😉

@louisep4805 2 года назад

@@Robslondon Must have Rob and mega strong jaw 👌

@rosemarymoore9825 2 года назад

Bonkers absolutely bonkers!😊thank you for sharing! Sending Many Blessings to you 🌟🙏🙏🙏

@Robslondon 2 года назад

😂Thanks so much Rosemary!

@Chevy-jordan 2 года назад

Would love a video on the story behind London Bridge being sold to the American. How did they disassemble, transport, and rebuild it? Why did Britain sell it? Did he get tower bridge and London Bridge mixed up? 😂 Learned about this fact a month ago and still baffled at the concept of a country selling a bridge from its capital to a man. Great video too! Thanks Rob.

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Thank you so much for the kind words Chevy. I’m very tempted to to a video on the sale of London Bridge… so stay tuned 😉 Thanks again and stay well.

@scientchahming5 2 года назад

It must have been a horror when they were dismantling London Bridge and found 80 people entombed in the foundation of the bridge! Those 80 people were victims of a macabre ritual known as "immurement", a type of imprisonment or human sacrifice in which people were placed in enclosed spaces with the openings walled off. Immuring living people in this manner was thought to help a building or bridge remain standing.

@kevinlordan7992 2 года назад

Very good Robert

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Cheers Kev! ;-) Hope you're keeping well.

@barrywa39 2 года назад

Loved every minute of it Rob, watched it last night. Keep up the excellent work Sir.

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Thank you so much Barry; much appreciated. Stay well my friend.

@RachelDeBono73 Год назад

Great story Rob! Well told, love seeing Diana Doors arrived to welcome him above ground.

@Robslondon Год назад

Thank you! :-)

@hlederer3938 2 года назад

Great story I had never heard before..

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Thank you :-)

@nwlondontimemachine9484 2 года назад

Great stuff Robert. I didn't know about this.

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Thanks so much; great to see you here! I love your Twitter feed 😉

@nwlondontimemachine9484 2 года назад

@@Robslondon thank you.

@Rachel-bo3qg 2 года назад

Very interesting and informative.

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Thanks 😊

@mickmcguire4571 2 года назад

Excellent once again 👏👏👏 well put together

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Much appreciated Mick; cheers 😉

@SeventhSwell 2 года назад

Fun and interesting video. Thanks!

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Thank you, much appreciated :-)

@JPB-1976 2 года назад

Happy New Year Rob. Hope its a good one.

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Cheers Jamie; same to you my friend.

@pauldoyle9709 Год назад

Only just seen this as I was scouring RU-vid. I remember this well. I was an 8 year old at the time and lived in Exeter Court right opposite The Admiral Nelson. I went to school with, and was a friend of, Michael Sugrue who was/is Butty Sugrue’s son. My Dad took me down to Malvern Mews which was just down the road, to see Mike Meaney in his coffin. I remember vividly looking down the tube at his bearded face and shouting “hello” and he replied a greeting back to me 😎. There was a Catholic Nun there just beside me and she shouted down the pipe, “how will you have Mass while you’re down there Mick ?” and Mick bluntly replied … f**k off!. I can still see the grin on my Dads face to this day. As I lived opposite the pub, we didn’t go to see him being dug up as we knew we would get a better view of him being brought back to The Admiral Nelson from our flats. There were so many people ! We saw Mick’s coffin being brought into the pub from the lorry and then he was presented from an upper floor window of the pub, sunglasses still on, sat on the window sill with his legs sticking out and him waving. God, that seems so long ago yet… just like yesterday. Thank you for sparking the memory 😎

@Robslondon Год назад

Thanks so much Paul, brilliant comment- really enjoyed reading that! Cheers and stay well.

@jean-pierresharp8050 2 года назад

Great story Rob. I'd not heard of it before. Thanks.

@Robslondon 2 года назад

A pleasure Jean-Pierre; thank you as ever for you support! Stay well my friend.

@mikereilly5005 2 года назад

Hi Rob Once again a great post, I was aware of this story having heard it from my father who frequented all of butty's pubs , but have never heard the whole story in such great detail, I really enjoyed the tale. As always another great post All the best

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Thank you so much Mike; really appreciate your kind words. Great to hear your Dad drank in Butty's pubs! I wonder if he ever saw his displays of strength? Stay well :-)

@mikereilly5005 2 года назад

@@Robslondon Hi Rob Yes my father used to tell me about butty lifting the large 22 gallon beer barrels above his head , and he also used to tear telephone directories in half He must have been a very strong man Regards Mike

@Robslondon 2 года назад

@@mikereilly5005 Brilliant!

@paulmerryman 2 года назад

Great informative video Rob. Very strange what some people used to do for entertainment.

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Ha ha! Yes; and thanks Paul, much appreciated 😉

@maggietwomey9890 2 года назад

I remember going with a school friend who lived in Malvern Mews. I can recall having to look down a long pipe to see him in his coffin. It was many moons ago and I was only 11 years old so do not recall too many of the details but he was the talk of the area at that time.

@Robslondon 2 года назад

That’s brilliant Maggie; thanks for sharing your memories!

@lindacrabtree3550 2 года назад

Although only 8 years old I remember this very well. Going to Malvern mews and watching folks shouting messages of support down the tube. Remember the day vividly when the coffin was hoisted up through the Nelson Hundreds of people were in the street. We lived in Carlton Vale it was all very bizarre to an 8 year old. I remember thinking why would anyone want to be buried alive. I remember seeing Butty Sugrue he was a very stout man. I’m not sure if the validity of this but I remember hearing as a child that Butty had suggest his own son was able to tear a telephone book in half ( not sure of his age) but he wasn’t able to do it and Butty was pretty miffed by that. Loved Kilburn growing up.

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Hi Linda, thanks so much for your wonderful comment- what great memories! Yes, when I was researching this video, I found an article in which Butty talked about his son (who was then just a baby); he said he planned to send him to Ireland to be raised in a way that would make him into a strong man... I think the plan mainly involved putting him on a diet of raw meat! Sounded more like one of his publicity stunts. Thanks again for sharing your memories and stay well.

@SlurpyDave254 2 года назад

What a pair of Crackpots, unbelievable 👏 lifting boxers up with ya teeth n Mike not telling his wife. Excellent video Rob, 👏 👏

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Ha ha! Cheers Dave 😉🍺

@butchknapman3939 2 года назад

Very interesting video, quite a few hours of research and record chasing . Not something I would do myself , I only want to be inside of one of those boxes once not make a habit of it. Good start for the new year

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Cheers Butch, much appreciated- and much agreed too! Stay well mate.

@jonathanhillman3232 2 года назад

I actually remember seeing this - was about 5 years old and my Gran took me... You could talk to him down a hole.

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Brilliant Jonathan, thanks for sharing :-) My Dad did the same!

@Corrus 2 года назад

Great video Rob. It's probably my warped mind, but my thought when they dug him up was that the smell (even with the lime) must've been horrendous after 61 days of being down there eating scrambled egg for breakfast!

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Ha ha! Yes, I imagine it wouldn't have been too pleasant! Cheers Paul and stay well.

@RedcoatsReturn 2 года назад

An incredible story, I didn’t know at all, I guess it got buried in time 😉 RIP Mike and Butty 😔

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Thanks for watching :-)

@scientchahming5 2 года назад

Now, the ultimate for escape artists is to escape being WALLED up alive! Immurement's a macabre concept!

@Frank-om4fc 2 года назад

God bless the mad paddy's they lighten this world up..!

@Robslondon 2 года назад

😄

@aversivespider Год назад

Mike Meaney was my dad's cousin.

@Robslondon Год назад

Nice connection to have :-)

@thekerryman 2 месяца назад

Nice video. Butty Sugrue was born in Kerry, not Limerick.

@Robslondon 2 месяца назад

Thanks

@ealing26 2 года назад

Omg I wouldn't have lasted even a minute underground

@Robslondon 2 года назад

Nor me! 😂

@alicemeaney2076 Год назад

This was y Dad

@Robslondon Год назад

Hope the video did him justice Alice.

@graemerigg4029 2 года назад

You had to make your own entertainment back then.

@Robslondon 2 года назад

😂

@the_birthday_skeleton 2 года назад

_buried st edmunds_

@Robslondon 2 года назад

😉

@joekulik999 Месяц назад

Stunts like being buried alive were common in the 1960's. It was a time of unprecedented affluence for the Working Man. Add to that the excessive amount of freedom granted to individuals in places like the UK and America, and what you get is people with nothing better to do with their leisure time than to undertake moronic stunts like this one or to become a member of the air head audience who actually worship such fools.

@Robslondon Месяц назад

🤣