<<Wasn't SATCC nearer to the Peggy Bedford than the Magpies>>
The Southern Centre, as it was called in those days, was well along the north side of Heathrow, possibly half way between the two pubs, if not marginally closer to the Peggy Bedford.
One of the stories I heard years ago was that during an outside paint job the workmen took down the letters "Southern Air Traffic Control Centre" and left them nearby. The Centre Superintendent was Len Winter and some ATCO wags got a ladder and put up the letters "Lens Cafe". Next morning the incoming watch were amazed to find the car park full of HGVs!!
I fell about at Talkdownman's story of fires under the radar controllers, but such things happened then and it was that sort of raving lunacy which helped to attract me to ATC and which is sadly missing nowadays.