out&about Chiswick Magazine Feb & Mar 2016

FREE CHISWICK, ISLEWORTH, BRENTFORD & OSTERLEY

STRICTLY

Dancing Keeping Fit

FEB - MARCH 2016

The Vet

In Old Isleworth

COUNTRYSIDE

Fashion with Gamebirds Clothing

BUSINESS MATTERS with

Tea Dances in Isleworth � Vinyl and Coffee in Chiswick � Lavender Rooftops � Business with Hounslow Chamber of Commerce � New Media Arts at Watermans � Community and Politics � Education at West Thames College

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CONTENTS Regulars 5 Tomato Power At Toyin’s Kitchen 7 Lasting Memories With Sunvil Travel 9 Words Poems by Lauren Merin 16 Hen Corner Easter Celebrations 18 Local History War and Peace 31 Business Matters Hounslow Chamber of Commerce

Features 4 Altered Landscapes Exhibition at Watermans 8 Strictly Dancing Keeping fit 10 Rhythm & Brews Coffee and Vinyl in Chiswick

10 Tea Dance Shopping and dancing 12 Countryside Fashion Gamebirds Clothing 13 Precious Time Watches in Brentford 14 The Vet Opens in Old Isleworth 20 Lavender Rooftops Spreading nature in London 20 Gardening Tips Get weeding 24 Apprenticeships At West Thames College 26 Community and Politics A chat over coffee

Food 27 The Weir Riverside delights 29 Le Vacherin A Valentine’s treat

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PUBLISHER

EDITOR

FHW Events & Marketing Ltd 1 Times Square, Sutton, Surrey SM1 1LF www.fhwem.com Tel: 020 8770 3177

Gerry Devine | gerry@fhwem.com Claire Eccleshall | claire@fhwem.com

Nisia Studzinska | nisia@fhwem.com

14 HOUNSLOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Sally Smith - Chief Operating Officer Hounslow Chamber of Commerce Ltd sallysmith@hounslowchamber.org.uk Tel: 020 8326 6416

Published by: FHW Events & Marketing | Printed by Direct Colour | ©2016 FHW & out&about magazine.

While we endeavour to make sure that all published information is accurate, the publishers cannot be held responsible for mistakes or omissions or any loss resulting from non-publication of an advertisement. While all reasonable care is made to ensure accuracy of information, the publisher accepts no responsibility for the views or claims made by any of the contributors, advertising or editorial content included.

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of ‘out&about’ or the editor.

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LOCAL BUSINESS

ALTERED LANDSCAPES An Artist’s Response to the Syrian Crisis Watermans is well known for its cosy independent cinema and children’s theatre but it has another more surprising string to its bow: a leading year-round exhibition programme of New Media Arts. For the technophobic among us, this is art that uses digital technology as its medium or subject. It’s been around since the 1950s and it’s a massive growth area in the art world, with Watermans one of the front running venues internationally.

New media artists use film, photography, coding and other media to explore their interests. Previous Watermans new media exhibitions have ranged from Anna Dumitriu’s exploration of the history of TB to the current exhibition What’s In a Line? in which artist Andrea Tierney explores society’s relationship with the line, using anything from sculpture to lino cutting to animation.

The exhibition programme is often accompanied by free art workshops, but you have to be quick, the What’s In a Line? workshops sold out in a morning!

places and monuments refugees encounter. The artwork that will be shown at Watermans will be an immersive installation which will include video, photographs and testimonies of Syrian refugees now based in the UK.

Stairs to Nowhere Copyright Juan delGado

The exhibition promises to be moving, aiming to get to the human truth behind the hype and fear currently pervasive in the media.

Dragana Kaurin, who fled from Sarajevo as a child, summarises the experience: “The most important part of being a refugee is being a good loser; it’s the only way to survive this. You learn to lose your nationality, your home to strangers with bigger guns, your father to mental illness, one aunt to genocide, and another to nationalism and ignorance. You learn to lose your kids, friends, dreams, neighbours, loves, diplomas, careers, photo albums, home movies, schools, museums, histories, landmarks, limbs, teeth, eyesight, sense of safety, sanity, and your sense of belonging in the world.” This promises to be an exhibition to mull over and respond to.

The next exhibition reflects Altered Landscapes opens Watermans’ commitment at Watermans on 28 March. to exploring current and Please see Watermans’ sometimes controversial issues website for details of all through the medium of New exhibitions and accompanyMedia. Altered Landscapes ing workshops.

by Juan delGado opens on 28 March and explores the experience of Syrian refugees.

Evening Impasse Copyright Juan delGado The work is currently in production with delGado travelling to Greece where he will meet refugees and explore their journeys and landscapes they traverse with his camera.

He will film traces left on the landscape by refugees travelling www.watermans.org.uk through Greece, record ambient sounds, and photograph the

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Cover Image

WELCOME

Spring is in the air with Daffodils Shutterstock

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke Signs of spring are slowly emerging, the odd daffodil in February to a full carpet in March and ready to pick for Mothering Sunday. The weather is getting a little warmer, although as unpredictable as ever, but there is a new energy that fills the air.

EDITOR’S TIPS Tomato Power When it comes to tomato based cooking sauces, ỌObé-Ata . . . from Toyin’s Kitchen is in a league of its own

No matter how you are kicking of the new season, either with health incentives, trips to the gym, a spot of romance, travel, or finding a new hobby, time for yourself, then spring is the season to get motivated and inspired. Watching new life grow, outside our windows brings belief and aspiration to us all. We hope that you enjoy reading this issue of out&about, and give you inspiration to start a new business or get fit or get planting in the garden!

If you are looking for new challenges, then why don’t you contact us with an article or a short story or even a poem?

Get creative this year, involve out&about in the process.

We are here to support individuals and the community.

We want to hear from you and your ideas and tell us your stories. Get in Contact.

Nisia nisia@fhwem.com

Toyin’s Kitchen is owned by Beverley Ajayi, a Chiswick based mum who has recently started the business. She believes that every one should be able to cook healthy, tasty and affordable meals using her sauce. When it comes to good cooking, flavour and freshness is key; qualities you are guaranteed to find in Ọbé-Ạtạ. Ọbé-Ạtạ is a traditional West African base cooking sauce that dates back hundreds of years. Translated, Ọbé-Ạtạ means the natural sauce that comes from a blend of tomatoes, peppers and onions; the only ingredients you will find in this product!

Nisia

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LOCAL BUSINESS

ROMANCE IS IN THE AIR Lasting memories with travel Venice that is the draw. The pleasure this beautiful city offers is inexhaustible.

Venice, ‘La Serenissima’ - still reigns supreme when thoughts turn to a romantic break and especially so over Valentine’s day. This is a city break destination that never fails to draw a gasp of elation and anticipation and whether you are in a small cosy hotel hidden amongst the many canals or in one of the more luxurious, resplendent establishments, it is

But Venice is not alone in Italy where romance beckons from around every corner. Consider Verona, Rome, Florence and Sienna; all cities with a rich historical background, cities with stunning vistas and intimate cafes and restaurants, cities waiting to be explored hand in hand.

A romantic break in Europe in February has to be in a city. Coastal areas where the weather can be inclement can feel empty and sad but cities come into their own during the winter where even the chance of snow, especially in Stockholm, can add that extra frisson of excitement. And here right on your doorstep is the UK. Gone are the days when British hotels were bland and uninteresting affairs.

This country is now host to some of the most luxurious establishments in the world, set in converted stately homes surrounded by magnificent gardens, with roaring fires to keep you warm and first class cuisine to keep you nourished.

www.sunvil.co.uk

LOCAL BUSINESS

STRICTLY DANCING Transform your body with dance fitness Most of us will never make it on to Strictly Come Dancing but for the millions of us who watch the benefits of dance are only too obvious. Week by week the celebrities are transformed, physically and emotionally. The love of dance they all experience is a joy to see. It’s perhaps no coincidence then that so many women, and more than a few men, are abandoning the gym and taking up dance fitness. Instead of pumping iron, they are dancing to a different beat and seeing not only fast, but long-lasting changes in how they look and feel.

Work your mind, body and soul

Dance is good for your mind as you have to learn the moves and keep to the beat, it leaves no room for thinking about the stresses of everyday life. It’s good for your body because it uses every muscle to perform the full range of moves. And it’s good for your soul because it connects you with the joy of simply moving to music. So if you’d like to create your own Strictly transformation why not dance yourself fit?

Rachel Lawrence, a trained dancer and a certified Pilates Instructor with Dance Specialisation has put her 30 plus years of knowledge into creating a new style of fitness class called Pop to the Barre. Mixing dance conditioning exercises, simple dance choreography and traditional Pilates, you

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will get a great cardio workout that is low impact but high intensity. Which means it’s easy on the joints but ideal for burning fat, toning and sculpting your body. It requires no dance experience at all, and there’s no need for a tutu!

An aerobic class, Pop to the Barre also improves your cardio fitness, but be prepared to sweat as you will burn a lot of calories, just like professional dancers do! In the one hour class you will work all the minor and major muscle groups, move your joints through all the ranges of motion, and work your core on the same deep level as you would in a Pilates class. The difference is the focus on moving to music, which means that you will be working your body hard without even realizing it!

The music is carefully curated by Rachel to create a unique playlist of contemporary sounds, which will make you feel great. You’ll get a wonderful rush of dance and music inspired endorphins which, combined with a complete workout for your body, leaves you feeling fit, fantastic and secure in the knowledge that you’ve had a thorough workout!

www.rachellawrencepilates.com

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GUEST WRITER

WORDS Poetry by Lauren Merin Tragedy

All I have to do to know where you are is check the theatre schedule. Are you a player tonight or do you watch the acts unfold from behind the spread of red curtains, your fan of cue cards blending in the backdrop? The apple caught in the heroine’s teeth has been laced; you feign surprise, staged. I see where you go with your dagger, velvet mouth lying.

Now you are in the audience, sitting up high in a box, the balcony a many-colored balloon to take you out of yourself. The tragedy is even when you aren’t acting out, you are on stage—click—echo—light—and that I cannot tell you from which trick— however slick—you perform for me through two lips.

Lessons

In second grade I was told to answer my own question, to look up something I wanted to know more than anything else.

Who made the sky blue?

My dad said, “How ‘bout the history of the piano?”

My mom said, “We’ll use the encyclopedia.”

She dictated and I wrote.

Pianoforte and clavichord, Cristofori-somebody-or-other, fake white curly wig— like a girl’s hair—and those high heels too. I wanted to know something much bigger.

My dad thought it was way over my head and my mom— her’s too—and he chuckled, closed the book and bought me piano lessons.

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Tarantula

Just when the desert had convinced me that spiders are good luck you scuttled across the floor and circled me twice.

Three time’s a charm.

It’s getting cooler.

Cobbled cloud cover and wind tendrilling in, I can’t tell from which direction you came.

You swirled without boundaries with impunity to physics, you felt at home here, tarantula.

I let you worship all over me, I moved your rocks around so I could put my weight on you, a billion living cells crenated.

You showed me how to collect rainwater as I slandered you.

You showed up for sunset and there was water enough to weep, to look you square in the web I caught you in.

I said you couldn’t come back. For the third time I said who let you in?

You caught me.

Lauren Merin is a second year MFA student at Kingston University. She grew up in the Sonoran desert in Tucson, AZ and currently lives in London. Her interests include poetry, gardening, evolutionary biology, teaching, cats, social justice, fiction, and challenging gender normativity.

erin Lauren M

We are looking for poems, short stories or extracts from short stories and flash fiction. If you are an established writer or an r inspiring writer, please send you work to nisia@fhwem.com www.outandabout.media

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LOCAL BUSINESS

RHYTHM & BREWS Ann Khoshaba, founder of Rhythm & Brews invites us to listen to vinyl whilst drinking great coffee Rhythm & Brews is a new Vinyl Cafe next to Turnham Green in Chiswick. Vinyl Cafes are the latest craze to hit London and Rhythm & Brews sells and plays vinyl. We also stock new pressed vinyl.

The menu at Rhythm & Brews consists of freshly prepared sandwiches, salads, homemade cakes, award winning teas and the top ranking speciality coffee Union is served to all coffee lovers. Come, relax and choose a vinyl to be played or bring your own and we will happily play it for you. Customers have described Rhythm & Brews as home away from home!

Thursday nights are BYO bottle listen to vinyl and enjoy various food platters from 7pm.

Watch this space more music nights coming to Rhythm & Brews!

A BOOGIE AT A TEA DANCE

Like our Facebook page for updates: Rhythm & Brews

out&about wishes to apologise for a misprint in the last issue. Rhythm & Brews’ website is currently under construction.

Vintage Tea Dance on Mondays and a monthly Sunday vintage market, which is also open to the younger generation. Entrance to the Vintage Tea Dance is free of charge.

Flourish’s project co-ordinator said, “The music we will be playing at the Tea Dance is the 1940s to 1950s; boogiewoogie, wartime songs, rock & roll, swing, jazz, and also includes Caribbean & Bollywood music from the 1950’s & 60s. We wanted to revitalise nostalgia by picking music from the ‘40s and ‘50s. It was a period of austerity, but they had better sense of money, great community spirit and values. We wanted to ask, how did people live? what can we learn from that era?” The dances will be guided by the wonderful London Swing Dance Society. Come along to dance, socialize, enjoy a cup of tea and wholesome cake, all for FREE!

Get dancing in Isleworth with a spot of vintage shopping

Flourish, a Hounslow-based charity, has launched a social enterprise scheme for local residents aged 50 and above, to run regular GoVintage events, including exciting vintage dances and a community vintage market. For this project, the charity, funded by the London Borough of Hounslow aims to promote health, wellbeing and companionship for older people. The GoVintage events include a regular

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Open 7 days a week!

Tea Dances: Monday afternoons between 2:30-4:30pm.

Isleworth Public Hall. Next Vintage Market: 15th February 2.30-4.30 Isleworth Public Hall

For further information on this please call Debal or Afsana: 020 3096 4270 email: govintagehounslow@gmail.com

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LOCAL BUSINESS

COUNTRYSIDE FASHION Sarah Wood, founder and director of Gamebirds Clothing talks to out&about My friend, Cindy Boundy and I created Gamebirds clothing in 2015. I used to be in finance and then freelance website design so I am used to working for myself. However, starting your own business in a totally new industry, designing and manufacturing clothing from scratch has been an interesting journey. It came out of a long-term frustration with finding comfortable, functional yet stylish clothing for women who enjoy country pursuits. Our initial focus was on designing clothes for women who shoot. Most ladies shooting clothing is designed by men who just “shrink it and pink it.�

Our core range launched in September has been really well received and is perfect for anyone who enjoys getting out in the countryside, or indeed Richmond Park, and wants to look elegant and stylish. Our skinny range is fantastic with the skinny cord Partridge trousers and skinny moleskin Pheasant trousers becoming big hits! Breeks are becoming more and more popular not only in shooting circles but with women who want to walk in boots but not have their trousers uncomfortably stuffed down them. This spring will see an exciting range of spring/summer shirts and accessories!

All our products, despite being created with shooting ladies in mind, are equally perfect for dog walkers, country amblers or women who like the country style.

www.gamebirdsclothing.co.uk

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LOCAL BUSINESS

PRECIOUS TIME Lorne Gifford is a subsea engineer who lives in Brentford. Away from his profession, he builds chronographs, which are mechanical watches with integrated stopwatches. He tells out&about why he was driven to design his own watch

I live in Brentford but am currently working in the Middle East. Subsea engineers get around a bit, so I’ve also worked in central Africa, central America, Norway and the arctic, as well as some truly horrible places such as Aberdeen where it never stops raining and Starbucks hasn’t quite got the hang of a decent cappuccino. It’s a perfect job for me, but one in which I’ve got through quite a lot of watches. You know the sort, looks solid and bulky, cost a small fortune so should

be good, turns out not to like salt water or 50 centigrade heat. Having tinkered with many of these upmarket brands it wasn’t really all that surprising that I should eventually get around to building something altogether more suitable.

Hence OFFSHORE Professional Chronographs. The watches, developed from the early medieval cathedral clocks are designed to withstand the lifestyle I inflict on them, so they’re completely waterproof, dust proof and environment proof. Achieving this whilst keeping a finely tuned mechanical machine that runs at 28,000 beats per hour on your wrist to better than 99.99% accuracy is quite difficult. Since engineers are not known for our ability to make anything aesthetically pleasing, I used mathematical methods, and in particular the Fibonacci sequence, to produce the overall look of the watch. Leonardo Fibonacci was an Italian mathematician of the early middle ages and amongst his many accomplishments was the discovery of the numerical sequence that bears his name. The sequence tends toward the golden ratio, a ratio that is aesthetically perfect, and is not just the basis but the driving rule of my chronograph design.

www.classicchronographs.co.uk

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LOCAL BUSINESS

THE VET IN OLD ISLEWORTH The pet population stands at around 58 million with 12m households owning a pet, so knowing a local, trustworthy, dependable Vet is on every pet owners wish list words: Agnieszka Studzinska

Trust has named it its most remarkable nature reserve.

It is also now fittingly, the home of a new, much needed veterinary practice, called The Vet in Old Isleworth, which has recently opened in South street. Vet and proprietor, Dr Scott Miller, radiates both confidence and belief in his third practice as well as his genuine love for the area, “We have our independent practices in St Margarets and Richmond, and many clients had sought us out from Old Isleworth. Also my wife’s grandfather was Mr Taylor, owning Taylors Wharf many decades ago so we have a real family connection to the area and its inhabitants.” Scott who was born in Brisbane, Australia to British parents, studied at the University of Queensland Veterinary School and since graduating in 1997, began his veterinary career working at the largest animal hospital in Australia, the RSPCA clinic in Sydney, which at the time was the home of TV series ‘Animal Hospital.’

Old Isleworth is one of the oldest Thames riverside communities to be found in London. Much of the village overlooks the Isleworth Ait, an island along the River Thames that is home to a variety of wildlife including several rare species; it is due to this that London Wildlife

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The Vet in Old Isleworth is a family run independent practice and an essential addition to South Street. In the past, locals have had to travel further afield for their pet care but with the new business now attracting the attention it deserves, residents no longer need to travel too far from their doorsteps. It is impressively renovated; a wall of exposed brickwork creates warmth and ambience, making a refreshing change from other veterinary environments, which are too often, too clinical. Scott asserts, “I am passionate about

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LOCAL BUSINESS

providing top quality and affordable veterinary treatment.

Our staff are all exceptionally capable and caring individuals who strive to offer the best veterinary care for your pet. The practice is able to provide a wide range of veterinary services including consultations, dental procedures, neutering, radiology, ultrasound, endoscopy and a wide range of surgical procedures and medical care in our state of the art hospitalisation facility. We pride ourselves on being friendly and approachable, and we welcome new clients to meet us and take a tour around the practice.”

Scott is effervescent when he talks about his love of animals and family life, it is clear to see an outstanding vet who has a genuine appreciation for both, “We are an animal loving family, with my dog Betty and cat Rickets being the much loved furry babies who live happily among my three human ones. My kids also have three guinea pigs, so with the human and animal family, we are quite the full house!” Having travelled widely around the world, Miller has experienced some amazing wild species, including helping to rescue chimpanzees from circuses in Spain, Sloth bears in India and Slow loris in Indonesia, and he modestly admits that the best thing about being a Vet is, “Working with a broad range of animals and meeting the wonderful people who care for them.”

Closer to home, Scott has also written a book, guiding new parents of puppies on the various stages of this rather challenging job, “I wrote it after getting my own puppy Betty and realising that even as a vet, I had so much to learn about the trials and tribulations of looking after a puppy day in day out. It works like a baby book, giving you a month by month break down of what to do and when to do it, while offering a trouble shooting guide at the back and sprinkled with anecdotes of my time bringing up Betty

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and the mischief she got up to!” His extensive experience makes Scott’s CV quite a read, “I also worked as a vet for broadcasting since 2001, when the first series of Big Brother required a vet to help treat the sick chickens. I have since appeared on Blue Peter, This Morning, The Paul O’Grady Show, Pet Nation and Co-Presented a kids show called Who Let the Dogs Out and About on CBBC. Most recently, we have been honoured to have been asked to film a fly on the wall observational documentary based on my work and the work of my dedicated team around the vet practices, and in particular the development and opening of our new Old Isleworth practice.” The observational series is called The Vet on the Hill, due to air on More4 at 9pm during March, “My practice manager Maz, who also happens to be my sister in law, was given the job of turning the old run-down tabacconists into a top quality veterinary practice. She does a great job, while being very funny in the process.” The programme will certainly secure Dr Scott Miller’s reputation as an aspiring, dedicated and caring vet and community player.

It has been a busy 2015 for Scott, yet somehow I get the impression that there are more projects and plans in the pipeline for this driven Vet and his team, however for now, Scott is, “Looking forward to meeting the animal lovers of Old Isleworth and surrounding areas, hosting The Richmond May Fair Dog Show on little Richmond Green in May and spending as much time as possible with my three kids.” Never a dull moment at the Vet in Old Isleworth!

www.thevetinoldisleworth.com 35 South Street, Old Isleworth, TW7 7AL Tel: 020 87582763

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LOCAL PROJECT

A TRIPLE CELEBRATION Easter at Hen Corner words: Sara Ward

Whilst we usually wait patiently for the first bulb shoots to peek through in spring time, many a yellow daffodil was nodding its head on Christmas morning before winter had even begun. Last year, 2015, saw the warmest December since records began in 1910 and the wettest calendar month ever. These two factors awakened sleepy bulbs from their deep dark beds, bringing a lovely surprise yet several months too soon…

This time of year, February and March, is often associated with some very specific flowers that, whilst seasonal, are closely linked with significant celebrations. The Victorians developed traditions through floriography, the language of flowers, as a means to communicate feelings that could not be spoken. Red flowers indicate passion and romantic love, while yellow flowers signify friendship and devotion.

This is why many a red rose may be given on Valentine’s Day. Here at Hen Corner, 14th February is a triple celebration, as it’s also the day that we expect all of our 17 hens to start laying their spring time eggs as well as the most important

event being my husband Andy’s birthday. Fortunately, we have our own roses growing in the garden and a huge flowering red camellia tree.

From romance to devotion, March is a time to celebrate both Mother’s Day and Easter. I always give my own mother yellow daffodils on her birthday, which falls on 1st March, St David’s Day, and as a Welsh woman, she is proud to accept the national flower as a birthday gift on her national day of celebration. With Mothering Sunday on 6th March and Easter on the 27th they will be many yellow flowers given, received and admired both in the house and garden this month.

We will be making some special treats in the run up to Easter at the Micro Bakery, hot cross buns and simnel cakes are being planned as well as chocolate eggs and nest cakes.

If you’d like to visit and help us celebrate, we would love you to join us for Easter at Hen Corner, on Saturday 26th March, which will include children’s crafts, egg hunt, hug a hen, hot cross buns and much more. Happy Celebrations!

Easter at Hen Corner Easter Saturday, 26th March, 2-4pm. £10 per person, tickets booked through our website

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LOCAL HISTORY

WAR AND PEACE Linda Lingham Taylor on Algernon Percy, the King’s War with Parliament and the Battle for Brentford In the early days of the English Civil War, on 11th November 1642, the 10th Earl of Northumberland, Algernon Percy, scion of Syon House and son of the Wizard Earl, galloped along Brentford High Street, a passel of retainers in his wake. As head of a Parliamentary delegation, he had been negotiating with King Charles I at Colnbrook on the western edge of the then vast Hounslow Heath, where the Royalist army was encamped. And glad were the tidings he bore: the king had agreed to hold peace talks in Windsor!

The earl had been the king’s man at first, during the ‘Eleven Years Tyranny’, when Charles ruled without parliament and raised his own taxes. But in 1641, desperate for money, the king was forced to recall the MPs. Northumberland did not support criticism of Charles’s policies, but he did oppose the reduction of parliament to a ‘mere instrument’ of the king’s will. When Charles failed to arrest opposition MPs in 1642, he left London and in August the Civil War began.

Battle of Brentford & Turnham Green 1642 painted by John Hassall

Following victory at the Battle of Edgehill, the king advanced on London. His nephew, Prince Rupert of the Rhine, wanted to send his cavalry to take the city, but Charles moved slowly with all his army, finally settling at Colnbrook. In the meantime, the commander of the Parliamentary army, the Earl of Essex, had raised seven regiments of infantry and mobilised London’s civilian Trained Bands. Troops were sent to defend Kingston, the first crossing of the Thames above London Bridge and two regiments marched to Brentford, which held a strategic position on the great west road out of London, particularly its bridge across the River Brent.

But at dawn on the 12th November, under cover of thick fog, Prince Rupert’s cavalry raced along the London Road towards the town with three regiments of Welsh foot bringing up the rear. On the outskirts, they were met with artillery fire from Sir Richard Wynne’s house, set amongst fields near the present-day Lion Gate of Syon Park and for a while, Denzil Holles’s red-coats held the Royalists in check.

But when the infantry arrived, they were overwhelmed and fell back to the bridge. Under heavy fire, they retreated, past St Lawrence’s church in New Brentford to a second barricade (near modern Ferry Road) manned by Lord Brooke’s purplecoats, which held the way to Old Brentford.

The Royalists (numbering 4,500) steadily beat Parliament’s 1,300 men back, ‘[with the] push of pike and the butt-end of muskets … from the one Brainford (sic) to the other, and from thence to the open field’. It was a rout, with many soldiers forced into the Thames to drown. Only the late arrival of green-coats under John Hampden prevented their total destruction. Syon House was also damaged when it was taken by the Royalist, Colonel Blagge, whose cannon bombarded Parliamentary barges on the river.

Algernon Percy 10th Earl of Northumberland

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Following his victory, the king controlled the London Road.

This was the time to press his advantage and make a political settlement, but instead, he advanced on Turnham Green, where Parliamentary forces were gathering. In the meantime, the Royalists sacked Brentford: houses were looted, animals driven off farms, boats burned and beer and wine poured

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LOCAL HISTORY into the streets. In fear for their lives and property, the citizens of London finally turned against their king.

The next day (13th November) found the Royalist and Parliamentary armies massed on the open plain of Turnham. But now, the tables were turned. Essex’s army numbered 24,000, stretching southward for half a mile across Chiswick Common Field to the walls of the earlier, Jacobean, Chiswick House. The 13,000 Royalists, heavily outnumbered and short of supplies, were reluctant to engage and Essex had no need to attack, only block their advance. So, after a prolonged stand-off, Essex allowed the king to withdraw to his winter quarters at Oxford.

Parliament had won a crucial strategic victory.

Northumberland was appalled by the violence at Brentford and in 1643 led a delegation of the ‘Peace Party’ (Presbyterians) to treat with the king at Oxford, but Charles was obdurate. By January 1645, following a further failed negotiation at Uxbridge, he switched to the ‘War Party’ (the Independents). He had earlier supported reforms, which created Glovers map of Brentford battle the professional New Model Army (the Roundheads), led by Oliver Cromwell. He was also guardian of the king’s younger children and, after the Royalist defeat, of the Duke of York (later James II). Charles was imprisoned at Hampton Court and often visited his children at Syon.

By 1647, many Presbyterians sought to restore the king without major democratic reforms or the religious freedoms for which the Puritan soldiers had fought and there were rumours the army would be disbanded. Royalist mobs rioted in London and leading Independents fled, Northumberland being one of nine peers who attended a council with Cromwell at Syon and pledged support. In August, the army occupied London and restored the Independents and when the king escaped from Hampton Court in 1648, the Second Civil War began.

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Following the Royalist defeat, Northumberland made a last-ditch attempt at talks with the king at Newport, on the Isle of Wight. But the Independents, including Cromwell, now believed that only Charles’ execution would end the conflict. In December, Colonel Pride ‘purged’ Parliament of dissenters and the remaining ‘Rump’ charged Charles with treason and on the 30th January, 1649, he was executed. Northumberland refused to continue to sit in the Lords, but he did take an oath of loyalty to the republican Commonwealth.

After Cromwell’s death, the monarchy was restored under Charles II in 1660.

Northumberland, with habitual moderation, supported an indemnity for the regicides and voted against their execution, but the new king had his revenge. Thereafter, Northumberland retired from politics and died in 1668.

The two battles fought around Brentford and Chiswick, in retrospect, marked a major turning point in the Civil War. The Royalists never again came so close to capturing London and without it, they had no real hope of winning. And our lord of the manor, Algernon Percy, played his part too, labouring long for a peaceful settlement between king and parliament, until Charles’ intransigence and duplicity made this impossible.

Throughout, Percy preserved his ‘esteemed and unblemished reputation’ and men of all parties trusted him. ‘Neither was this due to any chance of his birth,’ wrote the Earl of Clarendon, for all he was ‘the proudest man alive’, but to the quality of his character and the considered course of his life.

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LOCAL BUSINESS

GARDENING IN SPRING Get out into the garden, allotment or to the window-box Buy and plant container-grown snowdrops - add some compost to the soil plus a sprinkling of bonemeal and plant them slightly deeper than they were in the pot. Pot up lily bulbs to flower in early summer in barely moist compost and keep somewhere light and frost free. Only increase watering if the compost dries out or you see shoots appear above the surface; lily bulbs rot easily in overly wet conditions. Bring dahlias out of hibernation and pot them in compost singly or dormitory style in a tray! Keep them somewhere light and frost free.

Sow sweet peas under a cloche or in the greenhouse for a cheery reminder that spring is on the way. Brighten up a dull month with pansies, violas, primroses and heathers, pansies densely packed make for a truly striking display.

as you can - those chilly winds will really help to dry out the soil. Mulch bare soil once you have done the work and remove moss and weeds from paths, terraces and driveways.

They may be boring tasks but if you don’t get on top of the garden now (especially the weeds!) it will be a nightmare for the rest of the season.

Read more: www.wyevalegardencentres. co.uk/gardening

March is the time for a thorough spring clean; weed and dig over your borders incorporating as much organic matter

BRING LAVENDER BACK TO LONDON Marisa Oliveira tells us how we can bring nature to our rooftops Historically, lavender was grown and harvested across areas of London, but as time passed this slowly disappeared from the capital. Wild About Roofs aims to ‘Bring Lavender

Back to London’ and has developed methods to utilise the roof space to grow this beautiful plant. Besides this, it gives you a striking pool of colour attracting bees and butterflies. This year, Wild About Roofs installed some lavender rooftops in both for commercial buildings and for residential projects, creating bespoke solutions. If you love nature you should love our company.

The benefits of a Lavender Roof are countless. A research study from the University of Melbourne, said that a green roof boosted the mental resources controlling attention, which explains why a moment of looking at green roofs (for a mere 40seconds) boosts tired workers. People tend to think that a lavender roof is much more expensive than a standard green roof but the cost is roughly the same.

The cost of installing a green roof can be easily offset by reducing ground level water storage. Also, it acts as an additional layer of thick insulation and improves the air quality by absorbing pollutants.

Wild About Roofs sets itself aside by being a one stop contractor for all roofing requirements as well as focusing on the mission to bring lavender back to London.

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What was it? a. A hare, b. A possum, c. A cat, d. A dove 5. Which musician below has not recorded a song called Easter? a. Bruce Springsteen, b. Jefferson Airplane, c. Patti Smith, d. Marillion 6. A traditional English Easter game, yet what the heck is pace-egging? a. Smashing hard-boiled eggs together to find the toughest, b. An egg-and-spoon race, only with a spatula not a spoon, c. Rolling hard-boiled painted eggs down a hill, d. Blowing hard-boiled eggs along a table top

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LOCAL BUSINESS

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? There has never been a better time to employ an Apprentice.

Last year the Government announced that it was committed to increasing the quality and quantity of apprenticeships. By 2020 the aim is to have 3 million new apprenticeships across all types of business in both the private and public sector.

Apprenticeships have long been recognised as an effective way of developing skilled workers who are more productive and more likely to progress within the company.

What’s more the Government is introducing new incentives and has plans to give more control to employers to make hiring an apprentice even more attractive; specifically • £1,500 grant for employing an apprentice aged 16-24 open to businesses with up to 1,000 employees • Free Apprenticeship training (saving up to £4,500 per apprentice) • Free recruitment, interview and selection to find you the right person for the job/apprenticeship (saving on advertising costs and agency fees).

There has never been a better time to find out about apprenticeships and to see how the changes to be introduced in 2017 could affect your business. West Thames College is a leading local training provider and offers a wide range of apprenticeship programmes for new and existing staff.

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EDITORIAL

Find your perfect Apprenticeship match.

We offer apprenticeships in business, customer services, childcare, health & social care, catering, hair & beauty and the construction trades.

Trained and motived staff are vital to meet your customers’ needs. West Thames College can help select and train staff to your exact standards.

We can help: • Find candidates or train existing staff for free • Train your apprentice to gain a nationally recognised qualification for free • Support you through the admin and let you know if you are eligible for the apprenticeship grant for employers (AGE) currently worth £1,500 per apprentice.

To find out more about the benefits of finding your apprenticeship match, contact an advisor on apprenticeships@west-thames.ac.uk or telephone 020 8326 2421.

LOCAL PROJECT

COMMUNITY AND POLITICS A cuppa with Councillor Steven Curren and MP Ruth Cadbury and seeing that they were making changes and things better for the residents of Hounslow, I decided to give it a go when the opportunity arose.

What does community mean to you?

SC: Community is about people, it is not just about buildings and the environment, important as they are. It is about having neighbours, friends and acquaintances and feeling comfortable about where you live.

RC: I’m lucky to live in, and represent, Brentford, which is a wonderful community – a place of networks of people. It’s been said that our borough, Hounslow, is “a community of communities.”

What made you become an MP?

RC: I’ve been a senior Councillor on Hounslow Council for 25 years and whilst that has been rewarding, there are limits to the power of local authorities.

I want my children to inherit a better, fairer and more just world and to achieve that you need to be in Westminster.

How long have you lived in this area and what do you like about it?

What are the three main priorities for you in the area?

SC: I have lived in Braemer Road in Brentford for about 20 years, I came here when I was single and was attracted by the number of pubs and the village atmosphere.

Brentford has good transport connection with the centre of London and Heathrow and not forgetting all the good things that Hounslow has to offer.

RC: I’ve lived in Brentford for over 30 years, after a spell in Chiswick. I like both areas because we have so many friends here, and because there are so many great community networks and activities going on.

SC: In Brentford it is ensuring that we have enough school places for our young people, that we build more social housing to try and meet the inexhaustible demand and that it is a safe and clean environment. All of these are really challenging goals, but we will keep trying.

RC: Opposing expansion at Heathrow – Better no Bigger! Campaigning for more truly affordable housing in London especially for those who cannot ever buy their own home. Supporting growing media tech businesses that now cluster around our part of West London.

What made you want to become a councillor?

What will you be doing this Valentines?

SC: I started off as Vice Chair then Chair of the Griffin Park Residents Association and then became a Community Representative on the Area Forum. I was already a member of the Labour Party but not very active. After seeing the work of Councillors first hand

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SC: As it is on a Sunday, I will be able to sit at home on Saturday watching for the postman, ever hopeful!

RC: It’s half-term “recess” so going to see our son who’s working in Canada.

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LOCAL BUSINESS – THE WEIR, BRENTFORD

RIVERSIDE GASTRO DELIGHTS Last year, The Weir in Brentford opened their new cocktail bar, introducing a stunning range of of unique cocktails. We caught up with owner, Joanne Scully, to see what delights the Weir has on offer for 2016.

What’s new at The Weir this year?

We have just introduced a new weekend brunch menu. Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 2pm join us for a Full Irish breakfast, Smoked salmon & scrambled eggs, Eggs benedict, Greek yogurt with fresh fruit or Traditional kedgeree.

All are served tea or coffee, although we suggest brunch with a perfectly chilled glass of Champagne! Our chef, Srdjan Kovijanic (previously The Ritz, Quaglinos and Langhan), is passionate about creating the most exceptional seasonal menus, Srdjan is working on some great new additions to our menus whilst keeping the firm favourites we have become known for.

“Srdjan’s Seared Tuna Salad Niçoise is a masterpiece on a plate.”

We are very excited to soon be adding our ‘food matching cocktail tapas’, perfectly pairing cocktails to little mouthfuls of joy.

Sunday Roasts seem to be very popular, tell us more... We have a

wide choice of dishes on the Sunday menu, but from midday our Beef, Lamb, Chicken and Pork Belly roasts

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orders start rolling in fast and for good For those single guys and girls out reason, they are pretty spectacular! there, the cocktail bar will be open, so All our roasts are served with roasted don’t stay in alone when you can be potatoes, cauliflower here with friends!

“If it’s an impromptu March 6th is cheese, mashed swede, celebration, we always Mothering Sunday roasted parsnips, carrots, sugar snap peas, have Champagne on ice.” and The Weir is the Yorkshire pudding & perfect place to treat jus (two courses from just £16 or three special mums. Our staff are all ready courses from just £19.50). to help you spoil your mum in style.

Every year on March 17th, the Irish and the Irish-at-heart across the globe How is the new cocktail bar at The celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. With my Weir? The cocktail bar has been hugely Irish heritage, The Weir always joins popular, especially our ‘Cocktail this proud tradition with a special O’Clock’ happy hour from 6pm every menu and a whole lot of green! day. Get two cocktails for the price of one. All made with the finest premium The Weir is open 7 days a week for spirits and fresh ingredients (and love).

Which special events should we start looking forward to at The Weir?

There is always something going on at The Weir! We are always ready for the big celebrations in life and have a creative in-house organiser for making memorable private and corporate events. If it’s an impromptu celebration, we always have Champagne on ice and we can cater for large groups at fairly short notice. On Valentine’s Day, we welcome couples to our waterside restaurant with our finest sharing menus and cosy candle light. www.outandabout.media

amazing gastropub food, cocktails, events and celebrations.

Mon to Wed 5-11pm (Food 6-10pm), Thurs & Fri 12pm-12am (Food 12pm3pm & 6-10pm), Sat 11am-12am (Food 11am-5pm & 6-10pm), Sun 11am-10.30pm (Food 11am - 8pm) Reservations: 020 8568 3600 Events enquiries: 020 8847 3222 Email: info@theweirbar.co.uk Address: 24 Market Place, Brentford, TW8 8EQ

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LOCAL BUSINESS – LE VACHERIN

ST. VALENTINE AT LE VACHERIN Chef Malcolm John invites you to celebrate at Le Vacherin, a traditional French bistro restaurant in Chiswick, this festive season Malcolm John opened the doors to his first venture in French cooking; Le Vacherin in Chiswick in 2004, after a decade working in some of London’s most well known restaurants.

In the same year, Le Vacherin was nominated for Best Newcomer awards in the Harpers & Queen and Tatler magazines and was awarded an Egon Ronay star in November 2005. In 2014, Le Vacherin was nominated the 4th best French bistro in London, and currently holds 2 AA rosettes, is Michelin rated with two forks and spoons.

One of the most popular restaurants in Chiswick, the neighbourhood French bistro showcases the best seasonal produce, which change throughout the year - apart from the popular trademark dish the restaurant is named after: a

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‘French cheese’ in season between September and March. A Vacherin is served on a big sharing dish, with Bayonne ham, remoulade, brown bread, pickles and is covered by a layer of almonds and black truffle.

The classic, fine dining French menu changes most in February, when Le Vacherin offers a superb San Valentine menu: £70 per person for a Four Course Dinner to include a glass of Champagne cocktail (£55pp if you dine between 6-7pm and 10-10.30pm). Available 12th -13th February for Dinner only. Available 14th February for Lunch & Dinner.

Visit www.levacherin.com, to take advantage of our Prix fixe menu or discover the new a’ la carte menu.

For seasonal party bookings, Le Vacherin is available for private parties for up to 60 guests, offering tailored menus for all budgets. The best value for money deal in Chiswick by far are the lunch and Sunday roast offer deals: 3 courses for £28, “ No other restaurant at our level can do the same,” explains Chef Malcolm John, “During the week there are offers like the steak and frites for £11.95 or the whole Lobster and frites at £25, that allows occasional diners to experience the fine dining feel.” And if that isn’t enough, Malcolm John invites you to pop in and share some tips on how to cook the perfect steak.

www.levacherin.com

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Tailor made events with a personal touch

FHW is a boutique events and marketing agency working with corporate and private clients in London and the South East. Our highly experienced team can help plan and deliver your next event or marketing campaign. Our team has over 30 years expertise in delivering high profile, high quality events and marketing activities: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

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HOUNSLOW CHAMBER

MEMBER NEWS Hounslow Property Round-up Ross Sturley, editor of lookwestlondon.com takes a tour of the borough’s recent big property news.

Barratt and Wilson Bowden’s plans for a 27 storey residential tower in Hounslow town centre have been approved by both the Mayor of London and the Secretary of State for Communities. The overall development, on a site between the high street and the Blenheim Centre, will provide 527 homes as well as a ten screen Cineworld cinema, shops and restaurants. It will be a welcome addition to the town centre, and connect the Blenheim Centre much more effectively to the main retail area.

The council has embarked on two consultations. The first, for the regeneration of the Great West Road, covers the Golden Mile, and surrounding areas in Osterley, Brentford and Chiswick. It includes proposals for 1,580 new homes in the Great West Corridor, with 870 homes at Kew Gate, and 560 along the river at Brentford Lock North. The second consultation is for the western side of the Borough, which could include the 9,000 home Heathrow Garden City development. It focusses on Hanworth, Feltham, Hounslow West, Bedfont and Cranford and Heston.

The area is next to Heathrow Airport but still contains large areas of open space, with much of it designated Metropolitan Green Belt. The plans include the area around the Clockhouse Roundabout, which the Council propose to redevelop as the 9,000 home Heathrow Garden City. Some of the open land described above would be required for that. The development, hopes the council, would also produce a new station at the roundabout serving Bedfont and a new southern rail connection to Heathrow, and south to Clapham Junction and Waterloo.

Meanwhile, in Chiswick, Galliard Homes have submitted plans for a 320 home development on the Chiswick Roundabout site. The plans would produce a 32-storey two-tower complex with the homes above six floors of commercial office and retail space. The two towers – the lower one would be 25 storeys – would be on the triangular site formerly the subject of plans to build The Octopus, which was a proposal for a commercial building clad in advertising hoardings. The Galliard proposals retain some advertising boards on the exterior. Along the road, Prime Place, the private residential arm of Willmott Dixon, and Brentford Football Club have at last secured detailed planning consent to deliver a new 20,000 capacity football stadium, together with 648 new homes. The new stadium and seven new residential buildings will be located

Proposed Chiswick Curve on Chiswick roundabout

on a ten-acre site on Lionel Road South, close to Kew Bridge. 304 homes will be provided for private sale and 344 for private rental through Willmott Dixon’s Private Rental Sector company be:here. Branded Prime Place, Kew Bridge, the homes will be in a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and will offer “hotel-style” living with facilities including a concierge service, private lounge/library and dining room, cinema, gym, and private landscaped gardens. On completion of the stadium, the Bees will relocate from Griffin Park, their home ground since 1904. Prime Place has already secured full planning consent to develop a further 75 two, three, four, and five-bedroom family houses for private sale on the site of Griffin Park. The development will include a memorial garden to celebrate the history of the football ground.

In Brentford itself, the Council has agreed in principle to use compulsory purchase orders (CPO) if necessary to acquire land needed for Ballymore to complete their Brentford High Street development. The land lies between Brentford High Street and the waterfront and makes up a small proportion of the total site, which would be redeveloped as a consented scheme delivering 876 new homes. Ballymore and the council own the rest of the land required.

www.hounslowchamber.org.uk

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HOUNSLOW CHAMBER

MEMBER NEWS “It’s a long way to Tipperary …” But it’s even further to Guangxi words: Stephen Fry CEO of Hounslow Chamber of Commerce The role of the Chamber to drive export from west London has been made just that bit easier recently as two international trade delegations specifically sought us out and asked us to partner with them. Over the last couple of years we have been extremely active working with our partners in UKTI, the International Chamber for Service Industry (India) and the China British Business Council to garner interest from inbound trade groups and Chambers of Commerce who are looking for natural partnerships with UK businesses. Our work in promoting Hounslow, as a source for products and services ripe for export, is working – we have gained a reputation as being open and ready for international business.

A meeting over coffee in Starbucks Waterloo heralded a maturing partnership between Hounslow Chamber of Commerce and Tipperary and Clonmel Chambers of Commerce in Ireland. The first meeting, sponsored

by Ulster bank (RBS), was held in the RBS Tower at Bishopsgate. It saw a bringing together of 20 or so businesses from Hounslow and Tipperary who began the initial steps of working together, opening doors and developing trust and reputation respect across a range of sectors. The CEO of Clonmel Chamber, Brian Cleary, said: “Irish businesses are hungry for developing trade links with Hounslow firms specifically and UK firms generally and also in working with Irish diaspora businesses established in the UK with a history in Ireland”

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The Trade Partnership will be formalised over the coming months with a Heads of Terms to be signed between the Chambers with meetings proposed in Clonmel and Hounslow on a quarterly basis.

Our MPs got in on the global conversation as they hosted a group of visiting Commonwealth MPs to a meeting with the Chamber at the Civic Centre where we introduced six local firms who are already active in global business and international trade. The discussions at the informal meeting surrounded business in Trinidad and Tobago – where the Chamber CEO spent many years doing business – Sierra Leone and the Solomon Islands. The opportunity of growing those relationships remains part of our agenda and links with the High Commissions and trade secretaries is ongoing.

If that wasn’t enough to whet our globetrotting aspirations for Hounslow firms, we were contacted by the Guangxi Development and Reform Commission and asked for a meeting with a delegation of six officials led by Pan Wenfeng, Deputy Director-General of the Commission.

Heathrow Airport hosted the meeting for us in Compass House where we met the Commission, Avi Nagel from CBBC, along with four Hounslow firms who either already have an active China trading portfolio or who are engaging specifically to develop a Chinese market for their businesses.

www.hounslowchamber.org.uk

HOUNSLOW CHAMBER Hounslow Council were represented by Tom Brooks of the Economic Development Unit and demonstrated the open door policy Hounslow Council has to promoting local businesses within the global market. The conversations lasted for some time, over running our two hour slot and delaying the Commissions arrival at their hotel; but we all agreed a valuable meeting and sharing of opportunity and information on technology knowhow, the creative media and tech sectors, cargo and logistic solutions and the need in China for engineering solutions to their rapid growth plans for smart cities.

Hounslow Chamber is growing its links with international partners, preparing the way for formal trade missions and exchanges in a number of markets; not least China, India, Pakistan, Ireland, France and Germany. This of course is in addition to our service to exporters of providing Export Documentation services through our offices in Isleworth, where Sally Smith is authorised to notarise and prepare export documents. For more information on our International Trade support services, expert documentation, introduction services, access to markets and referral to agents and distributors; please contact Hounslow Chamber.

Celebrations, Celebrations, Celebrations The 29th Spark! Annual Awards were held at the Holiday Inn on 19th November. The event celebrates the community work of businesses with schools, and nine awards are given out. These include the Malcolm Gibbins Cup, celebrating work with primary schools, and the Jubilee Cup, celebrating secondary school projects: both of these awards are supported by Hounslow Chamber.

Other awards are: Apprenticeship Business of the Year, Work Experience Business of the Year, Work Experience Student of the Year, Apprentice of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Teacher of the Year and the ‘Alan Bosson Trophy’ for STEM projects.

For more information: http://sparklondon.org/about/ media-and-events/partnershipawards2015/sparkpartnership-awards-2015-the-results/

www.hounslowchamber.org.uk

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HOUNSLOW CHAMBER

PAST EVENTS Business Growth and Sustainability Summit Hounslow Chamber held a Business Growth and Sustainability Summit on 3rd November at West Thames College. The workshops took place in the afternoon, leading into pre-dinner drinks, followed by a Punjabi buffet with guest speaker, Seema Malhotra MP for Feltham & Heston.

The first presentation at the workshops was given by Garnahm Salvarajah, who spoke of the services offered by Grant Thornton, who generously sponsored the afternoon/ evening. Second up was Steve Forey of Branduin Business Support, who work in conjunction with Hounslow Chamber to give business support and advice to smaller companies. Daniel Austin from the Procurement team at Hounslow Council was on hand to give advice on how to win business from the local Council, which is worth £240M each year. Panvir Thind and Andrew Tricker from Menzies gave a fascinating insight into wealth management and investment, with Matthew Odu from Practical Advice and Consulting giving hints on how to improve the back room. Small businesses should now all be aware of pension

Lord Sardar Singh, President of Hounslow Chamber of Commerce with Seema Malhotra, MP for Feltham and Heston

auto enrolment and Ideal Auto Enrolment were able to give much information on how to make it less onerous.

The afternoon was rounded off by Alan Rides, of UKTI, extolling the virtues of export.

Pre-dinner drinks and dinner followed in the elegant Music Room within Spring Grove House at West Thames College.

Seema Malhotra MP spoke of the importance of research and development for the future of business and Britain.

Indeed we were the dress rehearsal for her speech in the House the following day.

The Summit was sponsored by Business Growth Service, Pernod Ricard and Rombouts was much appreciated by the logistics companies within the audience.

Aviation Summit

In December the government announced the delay of the decision over airport expansion in the south east. Stephen Fry, CEO of Hounslow Chamber was interviewed on BBC Five Live, BBC Radio London, BBC Radio Surrey and he had this to say, “Without a doubt the decision to not make a decision over Heathrow demonstrates that Cameron is more interested in saving the political neck of Zac Goldsmith as he runs for Mayor of London, later this year. It is a gutless decision. The argument that there needs to be yet even more investigation into the environmental impact of Heathrow expansion is fatuous. This debate has been going on for over 30 years. If we do not know now, what the commercial, social and environmental impact of the third runway will be, then we will never will.”

John Holland-Kaye, CEO of Heathrow and Nick Platts, Head of Cargo were the guest speakers at the Aviation Summit at the Heston Hyde Hotel on 17th November.

John spoke about the challenges ahead and how far Heathrow has come. Nick spoke in depth about the cargo facilities at the airport and the plans for the future, which

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The consensus of business opinion is for the government to please make a decision so it can be implemented as soon as possible. Procrastination and delay only means that the country loses out to other European airports, such as Schiphol, Frankfurt and Charles de Gaulle, Paris. We need a decision!

The Aviation dinner was made possible by Heathrow, Staffing Match and Heston Hyde Hotel

www.hounslowchamber.org.uk

HOUNSLOW CHAMBER

INS Christmas Concert Sally Smith, Chief Operation Officer for the Hounslow Chamber of Commerce reflects on Christmas

Just before I finished work for Christmas I went to the INS Christmas Carol Concert in Holy Trinity Church on

Twickenham Green. I am so pleased that I made the effort rather than just sitting in front of the TV! It was the most uplifting and moving evening of Christmas celebration, opera, readings and instrumental music.

Special performances by singers from the National Opera Studio included John Pierce, tenor, performing O sole mio, complete with a Cornetto at the finale! Other voices included Sally Silver, soprano, singing from Puccini, my all time favourite composer. Sally had stepped in at the last minute to replace the scheduled performer, Katie Bird.

More music was provided by Hampton School’s Voices of Lions. They are a male voice choir of 40 young singers based in south west London and reached the finals of The Voice Festival2015 and the Choir of the Year 2014. They are so good and well worth following. However, the high spot of the evening was the INS Choir and I am pleased I had plenty of tissues with me.

Tickets were only £10 and included refreshments – mulled wine and mince pies. Integrated Neurological Serives (INS) is a local charity that supports people with Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, stroke and other neurological conditions. I will let you have the date for the 2016 concert as you need to be there!

www.hounslowchamber.org.uk

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HOUNSLOW CHAMBER

EVENT SCHEDULE 3rd Feb

8.00am - 9.30 am

Chiswick Park Business Breakfast Union Bar, Chiswick Park, 566 Chiswick High Road, London W4 5YA £5 for coffee and hot breakfast

9th Feb

10am - 12 noon

Business Biscotti Brentford Urban Villa, Great West Quarter, Great West Road, Brentford ,TW8 0GP Joint breakfast with Business Biscotti Brentford

10th Feb

12.45 pm

Hounslow Business Lunch The Sun PH, 148 Hanworth Road, Hounslow TW3 1UG Free Lunch

18th Feb

9.00 am -10.30 am

Business Breakfast at the Bulldog 556 London Road, Ashford TW15 3AF (large car park!) £5.00 for a full breakfast including tea and coffee Joint event with Spelthorne Business Forum and Surrey Chambers

24th Feb

12.45 pm

Chiswick Business Lunch The Roebuck, 122 Chiswick High Road, W4 1PU Free Lunch

2nd March

8.00am - 9.30 am

Chiswick Park Business Breakfast Union Bar, Chiswick Park, 566 Chiswick High Road, London W4 5YA £5 for coffee and hot breakfast

8th March

10am - 12 noon

Business Biscotti Brentford Urban Villa, Great West Quarter, Great West Road, Brentford ,TW8 0GP Joint breakfast with Business Biscotti Brentford

10th March

12.45 pm

Hounslow Business Lunch The Sun PH, 148 Hanworth Road, Hounslow TW3 1UG Free Lunch

17th March

9.00 am -10.30 am

Business Breakfast at the Bulldog 556 London Road, Ashford TW15 3AF (large car park!) £5.00 for a full breakfast including tea and coffee Joint event with Spelthorne Business Forum and Surrey Chambers

23rd March

12.45 pm

Chiswick Business Lunch The Roebuck, 122 Chiswick High Road, W4 1PU Free Lunch

If you would like to attend any event please contact Sally Smith on 020 8326 6416 or sallysmith@hounslowchamber.org.uk or visit www.hounslowchamber.org.uk

www.hounslowchamber.org.uk

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LOCAL BUSINESS

A DETOUR FOR DEVONSHIRE ROAD Top Hat Cleaners never stop cleaning

500 meters down on the right hand side just before Beavor Lane.

You can stop outside in the part time bus lane from 10 am to 4pm so for some this might be easier.

You will receive the same excellent service in whichever shop you decide to use. We have been cleaning up Chiswick for the past 48 years and we are not going to stop now!

If you have any questions feel free to call and we’ll do our best to help.

20 Devonshire Road Chiswick W4 2HD 020 995 9813 289 King Street Hamersmith W6 9NH 020 8741 2581

We were notified by Thames Water that they are going to close Devonshire Road for 12 weeks. The start date had actually moved three times but we are now assured that they will start work on Monday the 25th of January and aim to be completed by Easter.

The first section of the Road will be closed from The High Road to Prince of Wales Terrace. The section from Glebe Street to Prince of Wales Terrace will become two-way with traffic turning left into Devonshire Road from Glebe Street.

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We ask our customers to work with us and continue to support us during this period. Mike will be opening the shop from 6 am Monday to Saturday to help any early birds drop off or collect and of course you can collect from us at any time day or night 24/7 by using our Auto Valet System!

There is of course another option for you to continue to get our quality service, you can drop off and collect at our Hammersmith Branch, which is 5 minutes away straight down the High Road and on to King Street opposite Ravenscourt Park. If that suits you just drive down Chiswick High Road on to King Street and we’re

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