100 years of Colindale - A film by Borough of Barnet Archivist Hugh Petrie ***** Review

 Someone asked me earlier this week if I'd be doing the Barneteye Awards this year. The honest answer is I don't know, but if I do, I have a strong suspicion that this will be the "Barnet Film of The Year". I would be absolutely delighted if there are any film makers out there who have made a film  about the Borough of Barnet that would give this a run for its money. 

I received a whatsapp messager from Mark Amies, BBC Radio London Industrial Historian and custodian of the amazing @Time_NW Twitter account (if you haven't already followed this, do, it is wonderful). Mark said "Have you seen the new video about Colindale that he's made? I immediately checked it out. Mark is a great and wise judge of all things historical and I fully concurr with his assessment. The film maker,  Hugh Petrie is a real jewel in the crown of the Borough of Barnet. Hugh is the Borough Archivist and curates a large collection of photographs and documents. I've only had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of times, but he is the go to guy if you need to know something about the history of the Borough or you need a historcial photograph or document. I thought I knew a bit about the history of Colindale, but Hugh traces the development from the times when it was fields with just four houses, up to the second world war.

This film was put together in association with Barnet's library service and is the second in a series, following another excellent film about Burnt Oak. I am delighted that Barnet Council are developing this theme. Having a sense of place and history is a very important matter. It helps us appreciate our environment and community. If you enjoyed Hugh's film, I made a film a couple of years ago with Mark Amies, where we take an up to date look at the remnants of Airco in Colindale, which as Hugh mentions, the worlds largest aircraft manufacturer in 1918.  The video has had nearly 3,000 views, so clearly there is a strong local interest in the history of our area. 

I look forward to Hugh's next film. Well done to Hugh and all in Barnet Council, Barnet library service and everyone else who contributed.

The Barnet Eye Advent Calendar - Tuesday 2nd December

Today is day two of the Barnet Eye Advent Calendar. This series will run every day until Xmas day. We are reclaiming the concept of giving from the consumerist society. We will give you a little snippet of our love our neighbourhood and we'll also feature a link to a great local charity, so if you are inspired, you can do your bit and make this festive season a little better for someone who may just appreciate some help.

Today we are featuring Colindale. Back in 1951, Colindale lead the world. Checkout this British Pathe film from 1951 about the British Museum Newspaper Library at Colindale.

Sadly the Newspaper Library recently left the Colindale and the Borough. So iin homage to this great institution, Todays Charity is the Colindale foodbank. Sadly foodbanks have become a feature of Great Britain in 2014. Whilst I thinl this is truly awful, we cannot bury our heads in the sand, The Trussell Trust sponsor the Colindale foodbank. Food and sanitary products are collected and distributed to people in our community in dire need. I can think of nothing more in the true spirit of Xmas than a donation to the Colindale foodbank, check their for full details website - http://colindale.foodbank.org.uk/ - the Sacred Heart Church in Mill Hill Broadway is organising an Xmas collection for the foodbank on Sunday 6th December on behalf of the Mill Hill Churches together. Please note donations from everyone is welcome.  Please drop off tea, coffee, dried food (pasta, rice, etc), tinned food (soup, veg, Meat & Fish), biscuits, Jam etc.   Please help.
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you have a story and a Charity in your neighbourhood? Why not submit a guest blog to tell us the story? We need a Gem to share and a Charity to help. 

Tragic news as Council election in Colindale is postponed.

There has been some extremely sad news. Jessica Yorke, the Green Party candidate in Colindale has unexpectedly passed away. As a result and in line with election law, the local Council Election has been cancelled. Please note that the Euro Election will still be taking place in this ward on Thursday.
As is required by electoral law, a new election will be held in the Colindale ward within 35 working days of the current local government election date of 22nd May. Polling for the European  Parliamentary elections for Colindale ward will still go ahead as planned on 22nd May and all polling stations in the ward will be open as normal. All European Parliamentary postal votes received from residents in the Colindale ward will still be counted. All the other candidates in the Colindale ward local elections will remain validly nominated for the new election date that will be announced soon.

The Barnet Eye received this email from Poppy, Green Party Candidate in High Barnet.

I am sad to tell you that one of our candidates - Jessica Yorke, candidate in Colindale - has died rather suddenly. I found out at the weekend, I went to see her parents today. We notified the Barnet electoral authorities this morning, and as a consequence the local election in Colindale has had to be cancelled.

I am very sad, and offer my condolences to all Jess's friends and loved ones.

The Barnet Eye also  extend our condolensces to Jessica and her family.

There is an announcement on the Barnet Council website

http://www.barnet.gov.uk/news/article/514/notice_of_cancellation_of_colindale_ward_local_election_22_may_2014