He lived in Finchley for 19 years, from 1955 to 1974 – a period that many recognise as the most creative of his life. It was here that he created many episodes of “The Goon Show”, a radio series that ran from 1951 to 1960, as well as his “Q” series for TV. Here too he started writing poetry for children. His inspiration came from his own children: with them he took a delight in creating a world of fantasy in the family garden in Woodside Park. Jane, his youngest daughter, remembers those days with passion. When a plaque was unveiled to Spike in May 2004 she said:“Somewhere in the soil under these flats are the bones of our family hamsters, rabbits, fish, air rifle pellets and unread letters to the pixies and fairies.”

Spike loved his home in Holden Road, a double-fronted Edwardian house with its long garden stretching down to Dollis Brook. He loved his surroundings too: the open spaces, the often quaint architecture, the trees. He felt so deeply that he would often fire off a letter to the local authority condemning it, or insensitive developers, or careless owners, for their poor taste, or negligence, or indifference to an environment under threat.

When a local amenity group (The Finchley Society) was set up in 1971 he was one of the first to join. He was the first President of the Society. Later, after the death of the first two Patrons, Sir John Betjeman, Poet Laureate, and Sir Charles Curran, Director General of the BBC, he assumed the role of Patron, a position he held until his death in February 2002.