The Barnet Eye Advent Calendar - 21st December

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.

At the height of lockdown, I digitised many pictures in our families collection. I posted a blog featuring pictures taken at Finchley Carnival in 1966 and 1973, which locals may enjoy - https://barneteye.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-saturday-list-263-my-top-memories.html

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	0208 3494962
Borehamwood 124 Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire WD6 1EF	0208 2076366
North Finchley  775 High Road, North Finchley, London N12 8JY	0208 4468289
Barnet 75 High Street, Barnet, Herts EN5 5UR	020 8440 1658
Golders Green 871 Finchley Road, Golders Green, London NW11 8RR	0208 4586914
East Barnet 276 East Barnet Road, East Barnet, Hertfordshire EN4 8TD If  you can't make it to a shop, click here to donate	0208 4490850

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/support-us/donate

The Barnet Eye Advent Calendar - Sunday 21st December

So it is the last Sunday before Christmas. 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 53 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 bugger all.


I suppose the good news is that many forms of cancer are treatable. This is due in part to the flag days and baby shows we've held for the last 53 years to raise money for Cancer Research.As someone living with Cancer, I wholeheartedly support these efforts. 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	0208 3494962
Borehamwood 124 Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire WD6 1EF	0208 2076366
North Finchley 775 High Road, North Finchley, London N12 8JY	0208 4468289
Barnet 75 High Street, Barnet, Herts EN5 5UR	020 8440 1658
Golders Green 871 Finchley Road, Golders Green, London NW11 8RR	0208 4586914
East Barnet 276 East Barnet Road, East Barnet, Hertfordshire EN4 8TD If  you can't make it to a shop, click here to donate	0208 4490850

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/support-us/donate

Finchley Carnival Committee - response to Brian Coleman

Last week, Brian Coleman insulted the organising committee of Finchley Carnival calling them, amongst other things, a bunch of amatuers. One of the committee, Bill Lethorn responded this week to Coleman in the pages of the Edgware Press. Click on this link and go to page 8 for full letter


http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?referral=other&pnum=&refresh=f09S18LzgM06&EID=57b6624f-676f-4b4b-823a-396e5c4b93a6&skip=

Here's my quote of the week from Bill.

If to be an amatuer means that we do not take out a penny including expenses, from the carnival committee funds, yes then I'm proud to be an amatuer.


If to be a professional means to cost the taxpayer or local people many thousdands ofpounds in taxi fares and the like, then I'm proud not to be a professional

Nuff said really

Brian Coleman attacks unpaid community volunteers and big society

Brian Coleman never ceases to amaze me. Why Boris trusts him enough to let him run London's fire brigade is a mystery to me. If Boris loses the Mayoralty by a small margin next year, I suspect that as he pores over the coals, he'll wish he sacked Coleman long ago. Coleman never learns. How many times will he have to be hauled before the Standards Committee before he actually gets sorted out properly? Today we see yet another instance of him using his public office as a Barnet Council Cabinet Member to settle old scores.

So who is Brian Coleman attacking today? The unpaid team of volunteers who organise the Finchley Community Festival (formerly the Finchley Carnival). In an act of total greed, Barnet Council upped the amount it was charging the Festival to use Victoria Park from £140 to £3,500. The committee of volunteers organising the festival had no choice but to cancel 11 events ncluding a blues and soul evening, local drama and dance groups and plans for 30 rides and side shows. As if that wasn't bad enough, Brian Coleman waded in to say :-

"The council has rescued the event and saved it for the benefit of the people of Finchley. We saved it from a bunch of amateurs who failed to deliver. Last year it was sad and pathetic. This year it’s going to be fun in Finchley."

Brian Coleman's comments are a total disgrace. He clearly despises the efforts of ordinary people, working for free for the community, who are dismissed as "a bunch of amatuers".  If I was involved with Finchley Community Festival, which I'm not, I'd be sorely tempted to report Coleman to the Standards board for bringing the Council into disrepute and failing to treat people with respect. I know Vicky Churchill who organises the festival well. My company sponsored the festival for several years and I can attest to the hard work she puts in (for the record, we were not involved last year). It is a thankless task at the best of times organising a festival without rent-a-gob idiots like Coleman putting the boot in.

Brian Coleman is one of London's leading Conservative Politicians. Whilst the Tory Party believes in Big Society and volunteers taking their place in local government, Coleman clearly states that "amatuers can't deliver". It is interesting that at a time when Barnet Council is talking about OneBarnet, they choose to insource a festival such as this.

This is not the first "third sector" organisation to suffer the wrath of Brian Coleman. His comments about a local charity "The Larches Trust", which provides facilities for disabled children are well documented. Coleman took umbrage at the decision of the boss of the Charity, Linda Edwards to stand for the residents party at the last local elections. 

It is inconcievable that Boris Johnson is unaware of the bully boy tactics of Coleman towards local community groups and volunteers. Why does he tolerate them? Why does anybody. The man is clearly a very nasty piece of work.