In 2020, as we were in the middle of the covid crisis and the country was in Level 4 restrictions, with no singing at Church Services and many missing out on their services, I got together with Fr Eugene at the Sacred Heart and the choir Leader Claire Shah to record a socially distanced Xmas carol for the parishioners. This was played at all of the masses, which most parishioners watched on line. I've made a few music videos over the years, but in some ways, this is the one I'm most proud of. So as its Christmas day, I thought it would be the best way of wishing you all a Merry Christmas.
It has been a delight to feature the 24 local good causes and charities we've mentioned during Advent. Maybe, today Christmas Day, you could do something for me. If you know any of your friends are lonely, isolating, on their own, going through a bad time, etc. Just ring them up and say Hi. Sometimes, the smallest things we do are the greatest of all.
So our journey to Christmas is nearly complete. I do hope you've enjoyed a few of the treats we've given you about our neighbourhood. I also sincerely hope one or two of you have been generous enough to decide to give some of your time or money to some of the great organisations we've covered.
Today, our little treat comes from Hendon on Sea!!!! The start of the powerboat season at the Welsh Harp. I must say I love this video, shot in 1932, it shows the fun side of the age. I do hope you have as much fun this Christmas as the people in this little film have. It's been real fun for me putting this series together in the advent season! These clips really bring home just how much our neighbourhood has changed over the last century. As an aside, if you are interested in The Welsh Harp, then please follow The Welsh Harp Conservation group on Twitter, who are dedicated to preserving the beauty and the habitat of the Welsh Harp.
And so onto todays featured Charity. I specifically have been saving this one till today. 2,000 years ago today (according to tradition), a young woman was heavily pregnant. She didn't have the option of a hospital, pain relief or even a whiff of happy gas. As an unmarried mother, she would have been shunned by the untra orthadox society she lived in. She would have had little support. Now whatever you believe about the story of the birth of Jesus and whether Mary really was a virgin, there is one thing you can be sure of. If you are about to give birth today, things are better than they were for Mary! Mary would have had no choice in the matter of a natural child birth. Luckily for my family, when Mrs T (my wife, not the former Prime Minister) was giving birth, she was well prepared. We had attended sessions organised by Barnet NCT, which meant that we were as well prepared as we could be for the experience.
So on Christmas Eve, there really could be no other charity to feature. If you are embarking on the journey that is pregnancy and childbirth, I'd strongly recommend checking out National Childbirth Trust AKA NCT - http://www.nct.org.uk/branches/barnet - whilst our children are now teenagers, we still are in contact with friends we made in the group. The Xmas cards we received were a nice reminder of those classes. NCT in Barnet are looking for volunteers to help build up their branch. This is whats on their website. I sincerely hope some of you out there are able to assist. I can personally vouch for the benefits of attending NCT sessions as can my wiser half.
Our active branch is run by an enthusiastic team of parents who volunteer their time in order to provide invaluable support, services and social events to our local parenthood community.
Keep connected with NCT Barnet Join our Facebook page to keep updated https://www.facebook.com/NCTBarnetbranch It only really remains for us at The Barnet Eye to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. My band, the False Dots don't have any Xmas Carols in our reportoire, however we have a lovely song which is every evocative of this time of year, so why not pour a sherry, sit back for two minutes and have a listen on me. Have a great day!
We are nearly there! Today we are back in Cricklewood for our tasty nugget!
This is a talk given at Cricklewood Library on 9th October 2008 by Malcolm Barres-Baker, of the Brent Museum. He gave the talk with slideshow about the history of Cricklewood illustrated with photos from the local archives. I find local museums and talks on local history fascinating. As a community it is vital we appreciate our surroundings and understand why they are as they are.
And here is some great footage from 1957 showing just how much things have changed!
With Xmas Eve tomorrow, our charity today is Gingerbread, a charity supporting lone parents in Barnet - http://www.gingerbread.org.uk/ - For many single parents on low incomes, Christmas is a difficult time. Gingerbread offer a special help service for single parents at XMAS. Their website says
However you celebrate Christmas and the holiday period, this time of
year brings lots of fun for you and your family. However, there may be
moments when you find the holiday period brings extra pressures and this
could be a difficult time for you. Here are our top tips for making the
most of your time and money over Christmas, including lots of ideas
sent to us by other single parents. Why not join our online forum at www.gingerbread.org.uk to share your ideas?
There is a list of useful organisations you can contact for advice and
support at the end of this factsheet, or you can call the Gingerbread
Single Parent Helpline on 0808 802 0925. Calls are free from landlines
and most mobiles.
As we move nearer to Christmas day, we're going to look a little bit at the story of Christmas. Before we start though, lets have some fun! We are heading up the Barnet Bypass to a sadly missed landmark.
This is the Barnstormers - house band of the Thatched Barn, a hotel on the Barnet Bypass from 1938!
Whilst at the Thatched Barn, I found a rather interesting clip, from a historical perspective, starting with a car journey up the A1 from the Thatched Barn. There is also some nice footage of Childs Hill (forward to 9.25) and the Brent Cross area from the 1960's and 70's and Mill Hill from Fiveways corner (at around 17.00), if you like vintage car footage
And on to our daily charity. As to the story of Chirstmas, we think of a lovely scene of a baby in a manger, the cattle lowing and three wise men turning up with gifts. Whilst those of us who are Christian draw much from the story, a wise old Jewish friend of mine, who was a staunch humanist socialist, once pointed out that we'd all missed the true story. He said that the Wise men had turned up and were interviewed by Herod, who wanted to know where the Baby was so he could murder it. The story has it that the Wise men turned up, gave their gifts and departed back to the East. He told me that he thought the Wise men were simply kind and compassionate wealthy residents of Jerusalem, who had heard that Herod planned a purge of babies in the Bethelhem area, so made their way to see if they could save any lives. He believed that they were wise, generous and kind, but in a way we should all recognise as being a model. He said that they probably told Mary and Joseph to get out of Bethlehem and gave the gifts so they had something to raise some cash for the journey. He said we rightly commemorate them for wisdom and kindness, but we should follow their example, as a message to aid those fleeing political persecution and repression. Whatever you believe of the story, sadly there are still families with young children suffering and fleeing violence murder and injustice in the name politics today. Whatever your view of the Xmas story, whatever your religion or lack of it, surely we have a duty to support anyone who finds themselves in the same situation as a family did in a barn 2000 years ago?
So todays charity can only be the New Citizens Gateway formerly known as Barnet Refugee Service - http://www.ncgateway.org.uk/
Their website says this
We are pleased to announce the adoption of our new working name New Citizens’ Gateway.
Still operating from Barnet, we will be supporting refugees and asylum seekers across the broader geography of England and Wales.
This new working name reflects our continued vision of supporting the integration of refugees into UK life and culture as equal members of our society and helping make the asylum process a more humane for refugees and asylum seekers.
The Barnet Eye Advent Calendar has only a few days left to run. We hope you've enjoyed a few of the clips we've posted showing just what a different world the Borough is today, to how it was in the early and middle part of the last century. Todays clip is one I found extremely interesting. It is a Pathe News clip of the Finchley Carnival Baby show in 1961 (the year before I was born), to raise money for the Imperial Cancer Research fund.
There is a statement in the film, where the commentator says "In this day and age, we spend millions on missiles and hold flag days for Cancer". What have we learned in the 60 years since the film was made? Well now we spend billions on missiles, but we still hold flag days for cancer, so I guess we my must conclude that we've learned absolutely F... all.
I suppose the good news is that many forms of cancer are treatable (as I am pleased to have personally experienced). This is due in part to the flag days and baby shows we've held for the last 60 years to raise money for Cancer Research.As someone living with Cancer, I wholeheartedly support these efforts. On a personal note, today I learned that my cousin's wife in Australia is starting chemo today, so this is tinged with a bit of a personal edge.
Please can I make a simple request. As Christmas approaches, why not buy one of your friends or family a present from a local Cancer research UK shop?
So if you were one of the bouncing babies at the1961 Finchley Carnival Baby show or even if you weren't, here's your local Cancer research shop, pop in and buy something. My greatest hope is that one day, cancer Research UK can shut all its shops and say "Job Done". One way or another this day will come all the sooner with
Mill Hill
37 The Broadway , Mill Hill, London
NW7 3DA
0208 9064628
Stanmore
24 The Broadway, Stanmore, Middlesex
HA7 4DW
0208 9540462
Finchley
69 Ballards Lane, Finchley, London
N3 1XT
Five days to go until Santa comes down the Chimney. We've been enjoying this series, we hope you have.
Today we visit Colindale, which back in 1917 was leading the world in the field of flying. Our video today looks at the historic Graham White flying school based at Hendon Aerodrome (now Grahame Park estate). An amazing video showing a trainee pilot receiving instruction in the art of flying
It really is amazing to think just how far the aviation industry has come.
Cherry Lodge Cancer Care is an independent charity committed to improving the quality of life for people living with cancer, their carers, family and friends.
At Cherry Lodge, we work alongside the clinical care of the NHS in an area centred on Barnet and covering much of North London and South Hertfordshire. We are based at the very friendly and welcoming Cherry Lodge Centre, in Union Street, Chipping Barnet. We also have an Outreach Service with an impact across the borough of Barnet, concentrating particularly on providing information and support to members of black and minority ethnic groups. Our Befriending Service provides additional support for people in their own homes.
Cherry Lodge provides free, high-quality information, support and complementary therapies to people affected by cancer. Our services enhance practical, emotional and physical well-being. We work in partnership with local hospitals and community healthcare providers
Volunteer support is at the heart of the Cherry Lodge Centre and at the heart of the services we provide. We value the time given by all our volunteers in helping us to achieve our mission to support people living with cancer, their family, friends and carers.
Today we are in back in Mill Hill. This video shows the magnificent work that was being done at the then state of the art National Institute for Medical Research in Mill Hill. This iconic institute was demolished is in the process of being replaced by a large and rather controversial housing development (regular readers will know all about the problems with Barratts) It is great to think that millions of people across the planet are still alive due to the efforts of researchers in the heart of our community. I've always been proud to have the institution on our doorstep. I wondered if the council could have done more to persuade them to stay? I'd like to say a personal thanks to all of the researchers across the planet working to protect us from Covid. I'm proud that the scientific foundations were laid in Mill Hill. Sadly not every affliction is treatable by medical science. Alcoholism is one such condition. My family has suffered from the effects of this disease (and yes it is a disease). I think most familes have similar experiences. The condition brings misery and heartache to family and friends, who often suffer financial hardship as a result. Recognising that you have a problem is the first step to recovery (and yes I have friends and family who are in recovery).
For many, the charity which we turn to is Alcoholics Anonymous. If you are worried and want to speak to AA about your drinking, here is your local Barnet Contacts - http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/members/Regional-&-Local-Websites-%28new%29/London-Region-%28north%29/London-North-Intergroup/Meetings - just remember, having a problem is nothing to be ashamed about. If you feel you may need help or counselling, the sensible thing to do is to get it. Dealing with any addiction is never easy or simple. There are many problems as wetake the road towards recovery. Having a good support network is the best way to succeed.
There's a week until Christmas, and it's only a a week to go until Christmas Day. Today we focus on all things Barnet. For us locals Barnet is many things. We have the town of Barnet at the end of the Northern LIne, we have the Council, we have the Borough, but for the rest of London the thing Barnet is best known for is it's use as Cockney Rhyming slang for hair!
Today we look at the reason for this, Barnet Fair, with a video from 1931 of this long standing event in the local calendar.
And for todays charity, we look at the excellent Barnet Museum - http://www.barnetmuseum.co.uk/. There are many historic facts about Barnet that you can learn from a visit. They say about themselves
About us Barnet Museum is a free local history Museum in North London run by volunteers. The Museum’s collection contains hundreds of artefacts reflecting the history of Barnetand those that have lived there, dating from the Bronze Age to the present day. There is also an extensive archive, and we are a centre for local and family history research. The Museum focuses on Chipping Barnet, East Barnet, New Barnet, Hadley and the surrounding districts.
The Museum opened in March 1938 to house and make available to the public the growing collection of the Barnet Record Society (now Barnet Museum & Local History Society) which had been founded in 1927 to record and preserve Barnet’s history. The Museum building is an attractive early Georgian house in the heart of Chipping Barnet, and is part of Wood Street conservation area. The Museum is a registered charity (no.295950) and accredited Museum.
Volunteering If you’re interested in volunteering at Barnet Museum, please get in touch at enquiries@barnetmuseum.co.uk or come in to the Museum. Volunteers do a whole range of jobs including welcoming visitors, manning our shop, helping visitors with research, cataloguing our collection, keeping our garden tidy, cleaning the museum, etc.
Here we are at the 17th day of Advent. There is a saying that the Devil makes work for idle hands. We look at both sides of that coin today. Today the Barnet Eye Tardis takes us back to Cricklewood Railway Depot in 1969.
So you think things used to be so much better than they are today? It's a myth we all sometimes subscribe to. We say "The kids today are so much worse than we were". Well when you actually research the truth, it is not always so cut and dried.
Check out this video, filmed in Cricklewood Train depot in 1969
For many of us, football hooliganism was something predominantly of the mid 1970's but as you can see, it was alive and well in the swinging 60's. The video refers to the "Home secretary and British Rail wanting to do something about it". Well the problem of football special trains was comprehensively stopped by the Conservative government of the mid 1990's who abolished British Rail and with it football specials. I only ever once travelled on a Football Special. That was in 1975, with some friends who were Spurs fans, to watch them play my team, Manchester City at Maine Road. Spurs lost 5-1 and were relegated. The bar on the train was ransacked and missiles were thrown at unsuspecting passengers on the platforms as the train sped through. I was 13 at the time and found it all a bit scary. I doubt I'd let my 13 year old son go on such an excursion on his own today. How times have changed.
Of course, such acts have always been carried out by a tiny minority. We hear about the bad things they do, but we rarely hear of the good things and the hard work for the community carried out by many.
One organisation that does sterling work and we are only too keen to promote is TS Broadsword, based at the Welsh Harp, which offers young people the chance to experience many forms of naval an water based training - http://www.seacadet.org/index.html
Their website says
THE CORPS AND IT'S AIMS
The Sea Training Corps is a voluntary youth organisation for Boys and Girls. It aims to develop qualities of self-discipline and leadership, and provides a service to the community. We believe this is an important function in today's multicultural and multi-faith society, and that we are helping to develop good citizens for the future. Our organisation is run on Naval routines and traditions.
Broadsword is a Self Help/Self Financing Group, and has a long wish list needed for it to progress, expand, continue and to develop further in order to support the vitally important work it carries out voluntarily for Youth and the Community. To this end any Donation, however small or large, would be very gratefully received and formally acknowledged. Donors kind enough to donate for running costs will be sent a set of Professionally Audited signed Annual Accounts. Donors kind enough to donate for a specific project or items of equipment etc. will be sent receipts and invited to inspect any purchases. All donors will be welcome to visit T.S. Broadsword either officially or un-announced.
They are currently looking for volunteers and helpers, so if you are interested in helping CLICK HERE or you can check out their FACEBOOK page CLICK HERE
The Barnet Eye is a long term supporter of TS Broadsword, it's aims and its activities. If you have children who are interested in experiencing something more challenging than watching X Factor, I'd heartily recommend getting them to have a look at TS Broadsword.
So as we continue on our trip around the Borough, looking for items of interest, we take a little trip down memory lane to Golders Green. Golders Green is famous for many things, not least the former Golders Green Hippodrome, I had hoped to find some video footage of Jimi Hendrix seminal gig there in the mid 1960's, sadly I couldn't. What I did find was this fascinating video of Ernest Bevins funeral at Golders Green cemetary in 1951.
For those of you who don't know too much about Ernest Bevin, after Winston Churchill, he is probably the man who did most to help the Allies defeat the NAZI's. Bevin was the minister for Labour in the wartime coalition, drafted in by Churchill as a Trades Union Leader who deeply opposed pacifism and NAZI politics. Bevin organised the British workforce and despite the UK having a far smaller population than the Germany, British wartime production far outstripped that of Germany. This was achieved by ruthlessly forcing everyone who could work into employment. 48,000 conscripted servicemen were diverted into working in the mines, being dubbed Bevin Boys. After the war, Bevin took a leading role in the Labour Government of the day, playing a very important role in the founding of NATO. It is interesting to see the crowds lining the streets. Can you imagine such a reception for any of the current cabinet or the cabinet of the Cameron/ Blair/ Brown/ Johnson/Truss/ Sunak era? And for our charity, as we are in Golders Green, we look at The Finchley, Golders Green and Hendon District Branch of the RSPCA. They do great work and run a clinic for the pets of people on Benefits, where charges are heavily subsidised. Here's what they say about themselves. This is a great charity, so please consider giving some support.
Finchley, Golders Green, Hendon & District Branch
We are one of the many small branches supporting RSPCA campaigns.
We cover Finchley, Hendon, Golders Green, Edgware and the surrounding area in North London
Our aim is to improve animal welfare, to promote responsible pet ownership and support pet owners who are unable to afford private veterinary fees. We offer low cost veterinary treatment for their sick and injured pets. We have recently changed our eligibilty criteria. Read more about our animal clinic.
As a separately registered charity we are primarily responsible for raising our own funds. Take a look at Support us and Volunteer if you would like to get involved.
We have opened our first charity shop in Finchley. Through fundraising we hope to expand the services offered at our small animal surgery and save more abandoned pets.
Woo Hoo - only ten days until Christmas! And here we are at the Barnet Eye still going strong with our Advent Calendar!
Today we have a rather quaint video showing "new police training methods" from the old police training centre at Hendon. This was in the days when policemen looked like Policeman and there was not a shred of body armour or stab vest in sight. The days when villains said "It's a fair cop guv" and didn't pull out a knife and stab the arresting officer as all too sadly seems to be the expected outcome today if the villain isn't given a good Tazaring.
Todays charity is Penniwells Riding centre for the disabled. Here's what they have to say
Our aim is to provide disabled people with the opportunity to ride to benefit their health and well being. Without our much valued Team of Volunteers & Staff at the Centre such a first class service would not be able to be provided.
Penniwells RDA provides riding & stable management sessions for adults & children and are dedicated to ensuring that all our riders receive a high standard of professional tuition tailored to their personal ambitions and capabilities. Our instructors work closely with physiotherapists and other health professionals to encourage every individual to aim for attainable goals – some modest, others far more ambitious.
Local Mill Hill Paralympian Michael Murphy, who competed at Tokyo, started riding at Penniwells.
Just how much have we changed in the last 50 years? If we were to see a film of a popstar or filmstar relaxing at home with their wife and children, what would we expect? The Osbornes maybe? In the 1950's one of the countries biggest stars was Dennis Lotis, who at the time happened to be a resident of Mill Hill. So famous was he that Pathe News made a film about his homelife. I find it fascinating to watch films such as this. Nice to see the footage of an old bubblecar (I liked it so much I wrote a song about it!). I have an affection for one, as my elder brother had one and it was a rare treat to have a trip in it.
One of his best known films was "What every woman wants". I watched it and I think times have changed and maybe they want different things in 2022, but it may give some of you an Xmas card idea!
For our charity of the day, we have Community Focus. If you have not heard of Community Focus before, it is an inclusive arts centre based in the borough of Barnet in North London. Founded in 1978 by photographer Maria Bartha.
About Community Focus
Our Vision: We believe that everyone is an artist.
Our Purpose: We empower communities through art.
Our Mission: To encourage older people, those with physical, sensory, mental or social challenges and others to participate in creative activities in pursuit of education, recreation and personal development cultivating creativity, equality and strength.
CF actively seeks ways to extend its reach into the community, working with an unlimited variety of different groups and organisations including: our local authority, local resident networks, schools, special schools and higher education institutions, right through to theatre companies and national charities.
Find out how you can support Community Focus by CLICKING HERE
Community Focus has joined LOCAL GIVING ~ Any donation for Community Focus will be doubled by Local Giving. Please donate generously.
This morning we are over half way through Advent to Xmas!
For today's gem, we visit Childs Hill (which if you are unfamiliar with the area is to the North Eastern side of Cricklewood, where Cricklewood station is located), the manor of our friend Anne Clarke. This is a not too serious, spiffingly good little video, put together by videomaker Molly Brown.
The Childs Hill and Cricklewood areas are blessed with a fantastic community spirit. And as we are in Childs Hill, it only seems polite to give the Town Team a plug. They have worked tirelessly to promote the area, conserve green spaces and make the place a vibrant community. So if you are a Childs Hill or anywhere else in Cricklewood resident, please checkout their website and consider becoming a member. Here is a little flavour from team member Marie. I think the Cricklewood community are a model for what all our town centres should have, a team of great residents working for their patch.
The larger Cricklewood area is quite an interesting place, three different London Boroughs have a chunk, Barnet, Brent and Camden. This means that not only does the Town team have the usual challenges, they have to contend with three large bureacracys rather than the single entity most of us are blessed with!
The Barnet Eye Advent Calendar is all about promoting our community and organisations such as Cricklewood Town Team is a fantastic example of what you can do if you are prepared to put hard work into your community.
Today we are half way through our advent calendar. We hope you've been enjoying it so far.
Today we feature a perhaps more solemn video than usual for the Advent Calendar, but I am sure you'll agree it is fitting. I think that at this time of year, we should remember those that have to work at Christmas and those that put their lives on the line, every day for us. This reminds us that being policeman never has and never will be a "safe job". This is the funeral for murdered Police Constable Nat Edgar. It shows the funeral procession moving slowly along High street to the gates of St. Marylebone Cemetery in Finchley. It featuress the Home Secretary Chuter Ede and Sir Harold Scott, Commissioner of Police. PC Edgar's mother is also present. If you were wondering how PC Edgar died, here is a report. On 13th February 1948, PC Nathaniel Edgar was on plain-clothes duty in Wades Hill, Winchmore Hill, north London. There had been a string of burglaries in the area and, when he noticed a man acting suspiciously, he stopped and questioned him. People in the area heard the sound of three shots and, when they came to investigate the cause, saw a man running away. They found the policeman lying in the driveway of a house, dying. Before he expired, in hospital an hour later, he managed to tell colleagues that he written down the name and address of his killer, "Thomas, Donald, 247 Cambridge Road, Enfield," in his pocketbook. Brave til his last breath...... Sadly so many brave people in the emergency services are forgotten. Perhaps we can spare a thought for mums everywhere who won't have their sons or daughters at Christmas.
I have several friends who are serving police officers. One suggested that maybe the readers of the Barnet Eye would like to spare a few pounds to support the Police Benevolent fund as part of our Advent Calendar series. Although this is a London wide charity, I am sure we all agree that we should support retired police, their families and dependants who have fallen on hard times. Click here if you would like to donate.
If you would like to have a charity featured, please let us know via a Twitter DM or an email.
Today we have a guest window for our charity, more of that later, but for our treat, we take a train down to Cricklewood.
Back in March 2020, I attended Cricklewood station for the unveiling of the amazing mural commemorating the aviation history of the area. I interviewed the artist who brought this wonderful mural to life and reviewed the original designs. Sadly, this story was swamped by the pandemic which exploded as this was being put together. The mural commemorates the Handley Page aircraft factory and airfield, which was based in Cricklewood. It seems remarkable that the first scheduled air service between London and Paris went from Cricklewood. Here is a map showing the site of the Handley Page operation courtesy of www.ukairfieldguide.net/airfields/Cricklewood
A nice photo of the area was posted by the rather wonderful @time_NW twitter account
John Laing's Golders Green Estate under construction in 1930. The land was the former Cricklewood Aerodrome of Handley Page, the aircraft makers, whose factory buildings can be seen at the base of the image.
And as an extra bonus, here is a film of a 1923 flight from Cricklewood to Paris!
For our charity, our great friend Dr Julia Hines has nominated Art Against Knives as her good cause for todays window.
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This is a brilliant charity leading the fight in our community, educating young people that there are better things in life than violence and carrying knives.
Do you have a local gem and a local good cause that you'd like to see in a window? Why not drop us an email and let us know. The Barnet Eye is dedicating the Advent period to building community in our locality, so why not help by giving us your nominations? This has proven to be enormously popular this year, so why not add your window?
It's the tenth day of Advent and we continue our journey through the past today for our little Gem. Today we have a Pathe News Video of Dr Cunninghams collection of antique frocks. This was the largest collection of such items and Dr Cunningham lived in Finchley. I find such antique films fascinating. This video is from 1938, the year before the second world war. I guess this really was the end of the era when such things were seen as the height of fashion and elegance. Just a year after, we were plunged into a dire conflict, followed by the austerity of the late 40's & 50's. These gave way to the swinging 60's and the mini! I'd be fascinated to know what happened to Dr Cunninghams collection of antique frocks
For our Charity focus today, we also focus on Finchley and the excellent North London Hospice. Whilst it is an establishent none of us want to visit or enter, when we have to we find that it is the most fantastic establishment. How many of us have had a friend or relative who needed the services provided and have seen the excellent work first hand. I cannot praise this organisation highly enough and if you are looking for somewhere to help in this festive season, this is cetrainly somewhere that should be high on your list - www.northlondonhospice.org - if you don't fancy donating, why not visit one of their 18 local shops and buy a few presents for your friends and family there. It all helps and makes a big difference.
I'm often stopped by locals in Mill Hill as I'm shopping or getting the train, who like to discuss the subjects of the week. I had wondered how this series would be received, with its format of a video or topic of interest and a plug for a local charity. Everyone who I've spoken to has mentioned that it is great to have these jewels of local history highlighted. I've also had a good response to the highlighting of local charities. Thank you
Today our focus is on Edgware. Both of these topics are close to my heart. First we have a Pathe Video of the openiong of the old Ritz cinema in Edgware. In my day it was the Odeon. I hadn't realised until I saw this just what an amazing opening the cinema had. The scenes of Edgware are quite fascinating. It is sad that the cinema was redeveloped not too long ago. I hadn't realied just how magnificent a building it really was! Sad to say that Edgware today is a shoddy shadow of it's former self.
One of the great things about doing a blog and writing a series like this is that I discover some wonderful people and organisations and hopefully point a few people in their direction.
There mission is as follows. one I hope everyone who reads this blog supports.
True Care Foundation
We Are On A Mission To Help Children in Low Income Households
More than 14 million people in the UK are living below the poverty line and 41% of Londoners can be classed as having a low annual household income. The result of this is 26% of children in the UK are living in absolute low income; with a steady increase since 2013 of those considered to be under relative low income and materially deprived.
This is why True Care Foundation are working to deliver food packages to low income families who struggle to provide their children with meals during the half term when they are able to receive the aid they rely on from schools.
Reduce the number of low income households suffering hunger in the UK
Provide meals to low-income households outside Term- time
Raise funds to help projects/foodbank that are already working in the community
We support a wide network of food banks and together we provide and support to families locked in poverty, and campaign for change to end the need.
