SEBRA NEWS W2 In this Issue INTRODUCTION LTN TRIAL SCHEME TIME FOR CHANGE 6 14 FROM THE CHAIRMAN 2 FROM THE EDITOR 4

SPECIAL ISSUE No 100 AUTUMN 2020 SAFETY VALVE QUEENSWAY PARADE QUESTIONS 16 SUPPORTING CYCLE LANES 17 SAVE OUR TWO PLANE TREES 18 PROPERTY DISGRACE 22

AROUND MY TWO UNSUNG HEROES 43 SEBRA'S FIRST PRESS COVERAGE 50 BOB ROGERS' CORNER 62 MORE ABOUT W H SMITH 66 WCC LEADER'S SEBRA'S 50th HEATHROW WAKE UP CALL 67 26 LATEST UPDATE 29 ANNIVERSARY SEBRA - RESPECTING THE PAST 70 PHOTOS OF PEOPLE AND PARKS 74 A BAYSWATER MISCELLANY 82 COMMENTS ON OUR STREETS 84 FORTY YEARS OF DEVOTION 85 BAYSWATER'S LOST FOUNTAINS 88 BEAUTIFUL PLACES AND THINGS 90 HALLFIELD SCHOOL NEWS 102 POLICING BAYSWATER 104 CELEBRATING 100 MAGAZINES 107 SHOPPING AND RESTAURANTS 114

HEALTH AND WELLBEING SMOKE AND MIRRORS 118 HALLFIELD ESTATE RUBY - A FOUR OSTEOARTHRITIS MYTHS 120 44 THE FIRST 73 YEARS 49 LEGGED FRIEND TIPS TO BEAT THE BLOAT 121 THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE 122 PORCHESTER CENTRE NEWS 123

THE ROYAL PARKS THE PARKS WELCOME YOU 126 CRYSTAL PALACE VIRTUAL TOUR 127 NEWS FROM THE FRIENDS 128 SERPENTINE GALLERIES 132

POLITICAL COMMENTARY KAREN BUCK MP 134 NICKIE AIKEN MP 136 KEEPING TO THE RIGHT 138 NEW ELIZABETH THE COW KEEPING TO THE LEFT 140 57 LINE STATION 60 A REMARKABLE PUB CITY HALL NEWS WARD BUDGETS UPDATE 142 YOUR COUNCILLORS WRITE 143

PROUD TO BE SERVING OUR PROPERTY AND LICENSING MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY CHESTERTONS MARKET NEWS 150 KNIGHT FRANK INSIGHT 152 LICENSING SEBRALAND 154 th LETTERS AND ABOUT SEBRA SEBRA’S 50 ANNIVERSARY AND YOUR LETTERS 156 ABOUT SEBRA 159 100 EDITIONS OF OUR MAGAZINE SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2020 1 INTRODUCTION From the Chairman Chairman: John Zamit London. Email: [email protected] Phone: 020 7727 6104 Mobile: 074 59954 245 Address: 2 Claremont Court, Queensway, London W2 5HX Property.

SEBRA'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY Below is a cover design which we decided not to use. You will find a full s you receive this issue size version on Page 13 followed by an of SEBRA NEWS W2 we explanation of why it was not chosen. would normally have been We get it. Following it on Page 14 we feature a preparing for our AGM at the hard-hitting article on begging and rough sumptuousA Porchester Hall. Sadly, due sleeping by Roger Harding. In my opinion to COVID-19 and a second lockdown*, it is essential reading. this year's event cannot take place. This is especially disappointing because a star-studded evening was planned, at Above is a photograph of the late Sir which we would not only have celebrated Simon Milton's statue in Merchant SEBRA's 50th Anniversary, but thanked Square, which has been adorned with a all of those who have made those fifty face mask. It is both a light-hearted and years such a very special journey. powerful image which I wanted to share. Huge thanks too would have gone to our I do not know when COVID-19 will be members, without whom SEBRA would defeated, or at least not impact our daily not exist. Please accept those thanks lives, but in the meantime I wonder if our here in print instead of in person. politicians are listening. There seems to Had the AGM gone ahead I could have be a new twist or a U-turn with alarming given my already written "Oscar speech" regularity. I have fond memories 'Yes and thanked a great number of people. Prime Minster' and cannot help but think We put service at the heart of everything we do and Here I do not have the room. However, I that Dominic Cummings is a modern day stop at nothing until we deliver the result you need. cannot miss the opportunity to express Sir Humphrey Appleby. sincere gratitude to our very own John Walton. No amount of praise is too high for his fifty years of dedication to our AND FINALLY... Book a sales and lettings valuation today. members and the Bayswater community. Let us end on a happier note. 2020 has been an "annus horribilus" for just about kfh.co.uk/bayswater 100 MAGAZINES everyone, but there are many reasons There is another milestone to record to feel positive about 2021. We will with great pleasure, the publication all surely meet again in our pubs and today of our 100th issue of the restaurants, and then at our Summer magazine. At 160 pages it is by far our Garden Party and beyond. Paul Hyman Tom Foreman-Browne largest ever and it contains some special I am also confident that we will close the Sales Manager Lettings Manager pages to celebrate our fifty years. I hope year being able to enjoy Christmas and you enjoy reading it. New Year's Eve with our families, though Thanks for must go to our three main 020 7724 1222 020 7563 5090 perhaps in a limited capacity. Indeed, to [email protected] [email protected] Editors, David Brewin, Christopher paraphrase the late, great, Morecambe Tanous and, last but not least, Steve and Wise, there could well be sunshine Olive who has taken the magazine to in our smiles as we look forward to a even greater heights. brand new bright tomorrow... COVID-19 Best wishes The pandemic has affected everyone, BEGGING FOR CHANGE from young children to senior citizens and This issue praises the near completion people of all ages in between. We cannot after many years waiting of the thank our NHS enough, nor our carers, Queensway Public Realm Project. Sadly key workers and charities who have the street is still blighted by begging and helped us through this storm. rough sleeping with no solution in sight. *Some articles, in particular those from our Councillors and MPs were written before 2 www.sebra.org.uk the second lockdown was announced.

KFH_SEBRA A4_Brand Ad_V4.indd 1 22/05/2019 11:48 SAFETY VALVE SAFETY VALVE

"Letting off Steam" QUESTIONING THE LTN SCHEME A BR Standard Class 2 locomotive, pulling a 3 coach consist on the Fred Konings I don't know when the baseline flows were measured but they do Keighly & Worth Valley Railway. She is no 78022, one of just 65 of the Craven Hill Mews, W2 class built and saw service with British Railways from 1954 to 1966. not show the mess of standstill re you familiar with the traffic that we experience every proposal to turn the Hyde day (even in these less congested Park Estate into a car free virus-times) on Bayswater heading area? That sounds good but east from the traffic lights just East itA is fixing a self-inflicted mistake with of the Black Swan pub, nor the another self-inflicted mistake. standstill traffic heading west on And we have to suffer standstill traffic all Bayswater from Hyde Park Street day and all night as a direct result. They through to past the Victoria gate first choked off Bayswater Road, which entrance to Hyde Park. The LTN Trial Photograph by Andrew Southwell. as a result of underused bike lanes and At rush hours there is a tailback "Fixing a self-inflicted mistake". Visit: bit.ly/sebra-southwell extra traffic lights is now reduced to one of traffic on Gloucester Terrace waiting Safety lane east and west. Now they want to to get onto Lancaster Terrace which is Valve Clearly any baseline was also done choke off the 'rat runs', which are in fact clogged by the new cycle lanes and traffic before the reduction of traffic on Brook The Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme dominates our first few pages of Safety Valve. A powerful objection letter from the only way left of getting from Marble lights. This is also not reflected in the Street to a single lane, which is already Councillor Susie Burbridge makes interesting reading, whilst regular contributor Andy Beverley offers a strong case for the Arch to SEBRALAND. baseline data. causing queuing traffic all the way back scheme. Roger Harding has written an excellent article about the ongoing problems of begging and rough sleeping, whilst Interesting that the plan acknowledges All of this data and the projections which to Westbourne Street at peak times, so further topics include cycle lanes, fly tipping, and on a marginally lighter note, problems with pigeons in Cleveland Square. spillover traffic as a result of these show minimal expected impact to all but waiting time for traffic that has to pass changes, which will create congestion on parts of Bayswater and Lancaster Terrace, around the Royal Lancaster London Praed Street and hence the need to make as well as northbound Sussex Gardens hotel on all the approach roads will be SERIOUS OBJECTIONS TO THE HYDE PARK ESTATE additional road closures for ambulances seems dubious. If traffic is increased on increased. And therefore rat-running LOW TRAFFIC NEIGHBOURHOOD (LTN) TRIAL SCHEME to access SMP. Why this spillover doesn't Lancaster Terrace and Westbourne Street, through all the residential streets outside Mark Harvey seem to have a meaningful impact for then inevitably the southbound queues the new protected traffic area of the streets more directly adjacent in their on Sussex Gardens will worsen and the Hyde Park Estate will increase to avoid now, where every single Council initiative It is a transfer of quality of life away , W2 post-implementation traffic flow forecast eastbound queues on Gloucester Terrace the worst of these bottle-necks. This is has been aimed at redirecting every from Paddington towards the Hyde s a long term resident is therefore a mystery to me. will also worsen. This is not shown. also not shown. of Paddington, I possible vehicle on to just a few streets. Park Estate. In other other words, wholeheartedly object to I can in particular think of Westbourne valuing some residents over others. the proposed traffic scheme Terrace, where traffic has been increased Worse, the residents that will benefit TRAFFIC SCHEME WILL MAKE LIFE forA the Hyde Park Estate. from even lower trafic already live in an to such an extent that it was deemed No doubt, the scheme will be beneficial impossible to continue the cycling lane area that benefits from extremely low "INTOLERABLE FOR US OLD CODGERS" to the residents living within it, but it beyond Craven Road. As a comparison, traffic whereas the residents that will be will make traffic related pollution in it is worth remembering that the negatively impacted are those that are Caroline and Jimmy Duff surrounding streets even worse than it is Embankment(!) was reduced to single already suffering from very high levels SEBRA MEMBERS, W2 now. In fact the scheme should be called lane traffic in both directions. of pollution. immy and I very much hope ‘Low traffic Hyde Park Estate / Higher Exacerbating even more this situation The problem with redirecting all traffic SEBRA can help us in our traffic Paddington’. with this scheme appears to me on to a few streets is that in Paddington, protest against the Hyde Park This would continue a theme that has these streets are entirely residential so the completely unfair. The scheme should Estate LTN Scheme which will been going on for more than 20 years scheme is not an overall improvement. be scrapped. Jmake life in Sussex Square intolerable to us old codgers. SEBRA'S RESPONSE TO THE LOW TRAFFIC NEIGHBOURHOOD TRIAL SCHEME I wrote to Council, hoping ollowing the Mail Chimp we sent you, to tell you The peripheral roads would be Bayswater Road, at least for postponement of this plan about this ‘experimental’ scheme, we have listened Road (in their sections leading to ) and Sussex until residents' views are consulted. They to your comments and our response to the City Gardens. The ‘Choke’ narrowing Bayswater Road between asked us to "have our say " so here it is. Council is summarised here. For the full text, please Victoria Gate and Westbourne Street has led to long We need you to : Fvisit sebra.org/ltn. queues and delays affecting buses and all other traffic, in Keep the junction Sussex Place / SEBRA is opposed to the introduction of the scheme both directions. The LTN as now proposed would make 1. even as an experiment. No information has been provided this worse. Sussex Gardens open. Aged in our 90s by the Council on its side effects, especially those on There would be a large increase of vehicular traffic in we need a taxi for hospital, GP visits the peripheral roads. These are expected to suffer from Sussex Gardens, due to removing from Praed Street, and occasional shopping to be able Sussex Place/Sussex Gardens increased traffic, with the accompanying delays and through eastbound traffic (other than buses and taxis), to go and come back via Sussex Place Bayswater Road at Lancaster Gate. The author needs this junction kept pollution. The proposed design of the ‘experiment’ appears and the diversions due to the LTN. Traffic seeking other junction with Sussex Gardens. To go out Direct access to Stanhope Terrace open to through traffic. to be unnecessarily damaging, and makes vehicular routes to reach the elevated A40 would add to congestion via Brook Street and Bayswater Road to from Bayswater Road has meant more movement in and out circuitous and difficult, for those who on , Harrow Road and Bishop's Bridge, on whatever destination is more expensive, " rat runners" and tourist coaches Street as this was formerly the route. cannot walk or cycle. its way, via Orsett Terrace, towards the A40. takes much longer and thus causes more entering the estate, the latter parking SatNav systems encourage drivers to pollution in an already very polluted area. in Sussex Square in Summer 2019. It enter Stanhope Terrace directly from JUST AS WE WERE GOING TO PRESS WE LEARNED THAT THE COUNCIL HAS DECIDED 2. To close direct access from Bayswater would be better to return to entering Bayswater Road which also adds to STOP PRESS! NOT TO PROCEED WITH THE HYDE PARK ESTATE LOW TRAFFIC NEIGHBOURHOOD TRIAL. Road to Stanhope Terrace from the Stanhope Terrace only from Westbourne pollution in Sussex Square . 6 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2020 7 SAFETY VALVE SAFETY VALVE

HPA RESOLUTION REGARDING THE EXPERIMENTAL LOW TRAFFIC NEIGHBOURHOOD PROPOSAL BY WESTMINSTER COUNCIL Dr Allen Zimbler Chairman of the Hyde Park Estate Association

in not one single significant request or lead to increasing divisiveness and suggestion by ourselves being adopted acrimony on the Hyde Park Estate, or any significant modification being with a deepening polarisation between made; opposing groups of “activists” and 5. Our insistence that the Council’s egregious verbal attacks being made survey questionnaire was biased was on individuals; he Hyde Park Estate met with dismissal from the Council’s 10. Fundamentally, the rights of people Association has endeavoured Traffic and Place Shaping Officers and needing or wanting to use private to remain neutral on the issue our suggestions for its improvement of the proposed Experimental vehicular transport, particularly during were rejected; TLow Traffic Neighbourhood, preferring the pandemic, will be subordinated in to listen to views on both sides of the 6. The Council’s leaflet inviting people this scheme to those who are able/ argument and encouraging residents to respond to the survey was clearly choose to walk or cycle, which cannot to have their say. not delivered to all relevant addresses be accepted as being reasonable and on the Hyde Park Estate; However, at a meeting of the will prejudice particularly our elderly Executive Committee of the Hyde Park 7. The survey process itself is and more vulnerable people; Estate Association this evening, the significantly flawed in terms of the following resolution was tabled and 11. The implementation of this type identity of respondents not being able The area affected by the Experimental LTN Scheme - The trial is opposed by the Hyde Park Estate Association. put to the vote; to be verified, with some lobby groups of scheme in other London boroughs has caused traffic mayhem and huge NOTING THAT boasting about having posted multiple Notwithstanding the fact that we neighbourhoods, causing air and returns and some respondents not dissatisfaction, notwithstanding the remain committed to promoting noise pollution. 1. We have tried, unsuccessfully, even being from the Hyde Park Estate benefits to cyclists; cycling and walking wherever to persuade Westminster Council or its immediate surrounds; We specifically do not wish to have 12. The abnormal patterns of road possible, WE HEREBY AGREE to to enable local and neighbouring the scheme implemented on a trial 8. Neighbouring areas that would be usage at present caused by the notify the Council in writing that residents to be permitted to drive or experimental basis until a more directly affected by the scheme were COVID-19 lockdown measures would through the internal barriers of their we are opposed to its proposed suitable and appropriate scheme not consulted; suggest that any “experimental” LTN scheme, even to the extent of Experimental LTN scheme and can be found. scheme would not provide a valid and suggesting a workable mechanism; 9. As we had feared and warned our request the Council to delay the Councillors, the implementation of the objective comparison; implementation of any scheme The resolution was PASSED by 2. That the WCC scheme introduces scheme in its proposed form would twelve votes to one, with the A familiar sight. Choked traffic on until a broader and more inclusive at least one significant new rat run, Church Commissioners abstaining. process of consultation has taken (going past two entrances to Square Bayswater Road but an empty cycle lane. place and a more equitable solution We therefore urge our Hyde Park Gardens and a children’s play area), the can be found to deal with the selfsame reason having been used by Ward Councillors and Westminster the Council to reject the scheme the increasing problems of traffic rat City Council NOT TO PROCEED HPEA put forward in response to the running through our residential with this Experimental LTN. WCC’s invitation to do so; Bayswater Road looking in a westerley direction. Additional Note from Dr Allen Zimbler 3. Despite the indications of their highly questionable modelling, the t has been extremely difficult to relinquish our neutrality mutually considerate solution. This is not a contest that proposed WCC scheme will cause as the HPEA and oppose a scheme that promised an end should be won at any cost. major traffic blockages, delays and to the excessive traffic running through our Estate. But The Council’s proposal uncompromisingly sets the needs of pollution on our surrounding arterial Ithings have to be measured against their cost. one group of residents against another. It has already created roads, already narrowed by dedicated The Council stands to be granted £160,000 from TfL to an unhealthy and ugly polarisation in our community. This cycle lanes; implement this scheme quickly. But the disadvantaging of too creates opportunities for politicking and activism instead of many members of our local and neighbouring communities by the promotion of tolerance and understanding, the highest 4. Notwithstanding the fact that no a restrictive scheme does not, in our opinion, contribute to values of a civil society. consultation is legally required prior to the common good. With the conflict that has now emerged, we are losing our the ”experimental” implementation of Given that we are all bound up with each other, the empathy - the ability to walk in each other’s shoes and to such a scheme, the Council’s process maintenance of our sense of community requires a more understand and respect each other’s needs and concerns. of consultation with ourselves resulted 10 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2020 11 SAFETY VALVE SAFETY VALVE to resolve it. They’ve been saying that Another Cover? - Chairman's Note for years. When will an operation be Rough sleeping is illegal Readers will most certainly have spotted another magazine cover on the previous enacted to enforce the prevention of accordingy to the Vagrancy page, and with the problems of begging and rough sleeping continuining on gang-mastered beggars plying their Act of 1824. Queensway and elsewhere in Bayswater, it is a cover that we produced and were trade? We know that the problem goes ready to use. However, with COVID-19 still making life difficult for everyone and further: human trafficking, modern day our 50th Anniversary to celebrate, we went with a more upbeat option. slavery and prostitution. Let’s see some action please. We still wanted to show the "Begging for Change" cover though, especially as we received this hard-hitting article from respected local resident Roger Harding. Councillors may say that the Council should resolve the problem. Police say that their hands are tied by legislation. “SPARE SOME CHANGE?” Courts say that the libertarians have Roger Harding outsmarted them. The Home Office spouts grand words but takes no action. Chairman Lancaster Gate and Bayswater Safer Neighbourhood Panels When will somebody rid our streets and Now I’m not a lawyer but the, much and, as such, are barred from charitable communities of this pestilence? A CPZ Ex-servicemen and women have been Our local SNT [Safer Neighbourhood altered, Vagrancy Act 1824 is pretty clear accommodation. Perhaps they have es, many of the residents of [Community Protection Zone] has been trained, while accepting the Queen’s Team] police officers patrol our streets – rough-sleeping is illegal. The relevant, mental health problems that need a our Wards are begging for declared on Queensway, Moscow Road, on a regular basis. All they can do is extracted section of the definition that different solution. change. Change of behaviour shilling, to expect to be looked after and Inverness Terrace and part of Bishop's move on beggars. They can no longer has not been repealed states (in old- on retail streets where the be told what to do. When they leave Bridge Road. Officers are empowered It’s also true that there are several arrest persistent offenders; take them fashioned English): contingentY of passive, active, and service, there’s no one to tell them what to issue a CPN [Community Protection hundred people on the streets living on to a custody suite where the offender sometimes aggressive beggars ply to do or to look after them – and many Notice] warning and could face a CPN “Persons committing certain offences the borough’s streets. I recognise that will be processed; taken to a cell; given their pan-handling trade, notably on end up on the street. followed by arrest. BUT, what happens [i.e.] . . . . . every person . . . . . lodging in these are all complex situations. Yet a hot meal; roof overhead for the night; some authority has to take responsibility Queensway, Bishop's Bridge Road and There are professional beggars who then? What penalty could the beggar any barn or outhouse, or in any deserted an opportunity for a hot shower and to create solutions to these problems. . live comfortably in their own homes face? Would that do any good? or unoccupied building, or in the open breakfast, before being put before a air, or under a tent, or in any cart or I understand that there is one case On Edgware Road they’ll dress in Muslim but choose panhandling as a career. magistrate who used to be able to offer waggon, and not giving a good account in hand of a rough sleeper who has They may even have a car to drive to no documents. He has engaged with regalia or head coverings to convince a ‘three strikes and you’re out policy’ – of himself or herself . . . . . shall be a suitable pitch where, by guile, they Westminster and liaison is underway Middle East tourists to comply with their deportation to country of origin. deemed a rogue and vagabond, within can earn a couple of hundred pounds a with the Romanian embassy to provide faith by giving alms to the apparently The best penalty that a magistrate the true intent and meaning of this Act; documents that will enable his return needy – particularly during Ramadan and day by appearing hungry, homeless and can offer is ‘one day of imprisonment’ and it shall be lawful for any justice home. It may be possible that that other festivals. pitiful. Tax free £70k pa. Not bad, eh? and because you’ve already enjoyed of the peace to commit such offender During Spring, Summer and Autumn solution could be replicated many times In general, aggressive panhandling is a the luxury of a police cell, that will be (being thereof convicted before him by over – perhaps even assisted voluntary months there are those that are most solicitation made in person for immediate considered as ‘time served’. Goodbye. the confession of such offender, or by the repatriation for several of them. prominent on Queensway – Known donation of money or other gratuity. Why are magistrates’ hands tied? On evidence on oath of one or more credible colloquially as Roma Beggars: These witness or witnesses,) to the house of Panhandling is the habitual, manipulative, 14 December 2017, celebrated cases SETTLED STATUS folk are imported, controlled and correction, for any time not exceeding coercive, or intimidatory use of another (Nos. CO/1440/2017, CO/2016/2017 EU citizens can apply for Settled or coerced by gangmasters. They are three calendar months.” individual's sympathy, fear, guilt, or & CO/2384/2017) brought by two Pre-Settled Status. If an application sent out to designated pitches on our insecurity for monetary gain. libertarian, hand-wringing charities The full text of the Act may be found at: is unsuccessful, they can apply again streets, dressed as gypsies, with a who spent their sponsors’ donations by legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo4/5/83/ at any time until 30 June 2021 (or 31 This may be done by vocal appeal - Starbucks (other brands are available) defending and winning a case against section/4 which also shows the clauses December 2020 in a “No Deal” scenario) asking, requesting, coercing, badgering, disposable cup. They plead “Please”, if they think the decision should have the Home Office, thereby preventing the Community Protection Zone that have been repealed. sympathy appeals, harassment, threats, “Give me”, or similar plaintiffs in order deportation of two Polish rough sleepers. been different. There’s no charge for (marked in blue). Rather than prosecute rough sleeping, or demands or by non-vocal appeal to solicit a few coins. Often they’ll have That created the ‘case law’ that’s this. New information or evidence can which they are entitled to do, these - usage of signs or other signals, a piece of cardboard with the message hamstrung many deportation cases. be submitted. We, the residents, continue to have days takes a gestures, postures, children, animals, “Hungry and homeless. Please help. Refusing to apply for Settled Status, or if Councillors will talk up Roma-style our streets blighted by street people. more lenient and charitable approach or props such as toys and musical God bless”. If you stroll around a given an application is unsuccessful, will leave begging as a complex, ongoing, They lounge around on the pavements by metaphorically washing its hands instruments. Fortunately, in this them ‘undocumented’ and puts people area, you may notice that all these international situation involving the UK, outside convenience stores. They of the problem by farming it out to country, children are not deliberately cardboard signs have been written in France and Spain. It may well be. They’ll at risk of forcible removal from the UK. harass shoppers and passers-by. outreach services such as StreetLink or In August 2019, The Times reported that maimed and sent out to beg. the same hand-writing! say that a huge operation is underway They lurk in dark corners intimidating St. Mungos. If you are concerned about forty thousand failed asylum seekers are residents. We live in a residential area someone sleeping rough, or if you find THERE ARE SEVERAL still in the country despite being targeted that does not deserve to be untidied by yourself at risk of sleeping rough, contact TYPES OF BEGGAR for removal, according to official figures the detritus of misbehaviour. streetlink.org.uk or call: 0300 500 0914. that one MP called a national disgrace. There are those who have lost their job, I appreciate that the hands of our How many of the “Roma Beggars” have family or home through circumstances ROUGH SLEEPING authorities are tied by the justice system applied on their or their gangmasters’ beyond their control and end up in a Many of the beggars sleep rough – and that, often, rough sleepers are smart phones for Settled Status? Do they chaotic lifestyle on the street seeking breaking into and hiding away on private involved in chaotic lifestyles and won’t even know about Settled Status? What handouts. Often these people become property such as the under-pavement engage with authorities or outreach visible means of support will they offer addicted to alcohol or other substances vaults of our Regency terraces. Many workers for fear that life in a hostel, to support those applications? to manage their despair and isolation. Begging on the streets. more sleep rough in shop doorways with a perception of bullying, being What chance that they’ll continue to be Others have become destitute as a A never-ending problem but or under shop canopies. There’s a nest beaten up or raped, could be worse than ‘invisible’ to the authorities, yet continue result of misuse of substances, other magistrates' hands are tied. under the Westway at the north end of living on the streets. Maybe they are to be very visible to the residents of our addictions, or mental health problems. Porchester Bridge. addicted to substance or alcohol abuse neighbourhood? 14 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2020 15 FROM THE LEADER FROM THE LEADER With our current Tier Two status and a 10pm curfew, restaurants and bars continue to face desperately hard times. Councillor Rachael Robathan One measure we have just announced Leader, Westminster City Council is a decision to clear away red tape so venues can put out low-carbon heaters and brollies in the winter months to shelter outdoor diners. THE LATEST UPDATE FROM A grant from central Government has allowed us to cover the cost of barriers THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL and road closures. Obviously, you can’t legislate for the British weather, but the more we can do to encourage We now have testing centres available to leave the house. The volunteers people to enjoy our City safely, the ello to SEBRA NEWS W2 for seven days a week, 12 hours a are now prepared to support shielding better. The hospitality trade is a big readers and I hope everyone day, with three new facilities set up or vulnerable residents in the Winter employer in Westminster supporting is managing in what are recently in local community centres phase of the pandemic. around 80,000 jobs. uniquely difficult times. H and residents’ halls. As I have said in these pages before, I First, may I say congratulations to You can see the locations and how am humbled by the spirit people from CITY PLAN: SEBRA on your 50th Anniversary and to book a test by visiting the Council all walks of life have shown in coming We submitted our plan to the Secretary also on 100 issues of your magazine – it Programme Director Overall, we successfully moved the website. While Westminster has been forward to volunteer. I can assure of State in November 2019 after both is a great privilege to appear in such a Elad Eisenstein and his plan for the vast majority of rough sleepers staying hovering below the London and readers that the #WestminsterConnects an informal and a statutory consultation. landmark edition. Though I feel a very neighbourhood. in our COVID-19 hotel provision into averages for infection, we can only plan team are here to stay. Two independent inspectors were recent arrival compared to stalwarts like efficiently if we have a true picture of longer term accommodation - around appointed to examine the plan and former SEBRA Chairman and President the R rate, and that comes from having AL FRESCO DINING The Council is committed to enhancing 85% of the 266 we housed moving into John Walton, who I understand began they recently concluded public hearings Oxford Street and the surrounding more settled homes at the end of the adequate testing facilities. With 3,700 cafés, bars and restaurants contributing just after issue number which were recorded and are available neighbourhoods and has previously programme. and pubs in Westminster, we are one! To him and everyone who has on the Council’s website. set aside £150m of capital funding to WESTMINSTER CONNECTS doing as much as we can to help the made the magazine such an institution kickstart this vital work. Engagement beleaguered hospitality trade. for local people, congratulations and with local residents, businesses and I am sure you will fight the corner for partners is ongoing to understand the residents for years to come. longer-term impacts of COVID-19 on Since we last spoke, the COVID-19 central London’s economy so we can pandemic has taken further significant develop the right plans. turns and I write this just after London has gone into tier two status. This BEGGING AND ROUGH presents everyone in Westminster – Read about how you can help at: SLEEPING IN WESTMINSTER Many rough sleepers have been found residents, the vulnerable, businesses bit.ly/WCC-COVID-HELP Our approach has always been that we longer term accommodation. – with the prospect of a tough winter do everything we can to help people off with severe challenges to jobs and the Our amazing army of volunteers, A consultation on modifications to the the streets and into accommodation and Our rough sleeping team is working economy. I will start here with measures put together in March, now stands plan they consider are necessary will services - but we also work with police with experienced organisations like St to enforce against anti-social behaviour. Mungo’s and The Passage to ensure we Westminster City Council is taking to at 3,000. Since being set up, this take place later this year, with adoption help and then update readers on some can provide a route off the streets for network has helped more than 6,000 to follow early next year. The aims of local issues. those rough sleepers who are willing to people and carried out a whole range our plan remain the same – to ensure engage with us. While I appreciate the of volunteering work – for example that Westminster remains a world- COVID-19 TESTING frustrations for Bayswater residents, delivering around 80,000 meals and class City, a great place for people to please be assured our teams are I have pressed Central Government picking up shopping for those unable live and a magnet for investors and hard in recent weeks for more COVID- working hard with police on regular overseas visitors. operations to try and manage this often 19 testing facilities in Westminster Three new COVID-19 testing facilities difficult to reach community. and that lobbying has brought results. have recently opened in Westminster. OXFORD STREET DISTRICT UPDATE Westminster City Council has just The 'al fresco' scheme proved to be appointed Elad Eisenstein as its new very successful during the Summer. Oxford Street Programme Director. An In July we launched an ‘al fresco’ dining architect and urban designer, Elad is scheme which, through the use of a cities and regeneration expert with widescale temporary road closures, two decades of experience specialising allowed restaurants to set up temporary in leading projects including Stratford dining spaces in the street. It proved City’s International Quarter and The Council continues to help people The Council works with local to be very successful, with up to 60 Tottenham Regeneration in London; off the streets, but also works to stop organisations to help those in need. temporary restaurant areas being set up Sydney’s Central Railway Corridor and the Singapore Sports Hub. anti-social behaviour. which benefited more than 550 venues. Continues overleaf 26 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2020 27 Here’s an amazing view FROM THE LEADER from Bayswater Road. SEBRA NEWS CELEBRATING Continued from overleaf plans to combine routes to cut down th on vehicle movements – and that has SEBRA'S 50 the knock-on benefit of cleaner air for Joe Le Beau everyone. Sales Manager ANNIVERSARY D: +44 (0)20 7908 2663 M: +44 (0)7775 711 142 [email protected] John Walton 24-25 Albion Street London W2 2AX kayandco.com PRACT Secretary and former SEBRA President

The climate emergency was the topic of our most recent Open Forum held on Facebook Live. In the course of a 45-minute programme we took dozens of questions on everything from his milestone will be reached biomass to bikes on pavements and John Walton—SEBRA’s President at 90 food recycling, so I am only too aware shortly, on 3 December, but The latest in a long line of testimonials from SEBRA's Summer Garden party of how passionately people feel about Editorunfortunately stepping the down celebration yet another satisfied client. Three major developments in W2 in Cleveland Gardens Square. If you arethis looking issue. for advice on buying or selling (or indeed renting or letting) we had planned, as part of our in W2, give us a call and we’ll give you some of the best views in London. CycleT50th Superhighway—work Annual General Meeting, starting must soon permanent has yet to be made – but If you missed the webcast, you can • Installation of cycle lanes in and on some 300 planning applications London Street - One of a number of 020 7262 2030 Road safetybe postponed, concerns due toin COVID Gloucester -19. This Terrace locations where temporary cycle lanes rest assured nothing will happen catch up with the full programme on around Bayswater Road, a year, and on many applications for kayandco.com is a great pity as these popular events, Estate Agentsdemand | Development & viaInvestment Westminster Consultants | Block Managers City Council's have been installed. without the support of local people. SEBRAheld M in AGAZINEthe great hallN ofO the 85 Porchester AUTUMN 2015• Preventing yet another big coach licensing of alcohol sales, or for late night Facebook page by visiting: Our approach on this is simple. Where Centre, are always very well attended. station proposal, at Royal Oak, and entertainment, and much else. TEMPORARY CYCLE LANES temporary schemes don’t work, we bit.ly/WCC-Open-Forum Our membership has remained fairly Sebra Ad Bayswater Rd View.indd 1 15/09/2015 14:28 For a description of the circumstances • Major construction projects in the take them out. You may recall that we introduced leading to our first AGM on 3 December ‘Paddington Opportunity Area’ steady at around 800 households, or well 11km of extra cycle lines on a (which is situated beyond Paddington over a thousand individuals. Our Summer ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 1970, see the article that I wrote ten temporary basis to try and make years ago, which we have reproduced Station and around the Paddington Parties in Cleveland Square Gardens Westminster easier to get around Traffic is slowly creeping back up – on the following pages of this issue. As Canal Basin). have gone from strength to strength, with some 500 members and guests, but and encourage people into our albeit not to its usual levels – and at explained there, I was not present at this In the midst of all this, our indefatigable sadly had to be cancelled this year. On shops and restaurants – part of what the City Council we are working on first public meeting but I am delighted to Chairman, John Zamit, has continued to the development of our magazine, see the Council termed its “movement ways to ensure we don’t return to levels I know many readers may subscribe report that one of the two Westminster organise our responses to consultation strategy”. This has included schemes of street pollution which have been to our #MyWestminster email, and Councillors who were there, Trixie page 108. in Bayswater Road, Inverness Terrace/ a longstanding problem. One of our we are putting together a new email Gardner - now Baroness Gardner - is still In the following, I describe these Porchester Road, London Street, and in major initiatives is to cut the number of specifically on environmental issues very much with us and lives in Bayswater. events, and our successes (or failures) in Westbourne Terrace. commercial rubbish collection trucks on to go along with that. It is something You can see her message on page 32. modifying or substantially changing the The situation at the moment is that our streets – or “waste consolidation” I want to keep talking to local people In the last decade our objectives have original form of each proposal, for the all the temporary cycle lanes installed as it is known. There are around 50 about, and SEBRA NEWS W2 readers remained the same as before; and our benefit of the local community. as part of our movement strategy are registered waste collectors in the are a vital part of that discussion. activities have been much the same but currently being reviewed. A decision City, but just six collect 95 per cent of have been shaped by the major events THE MAIN EVENTS on which schemes might become commercial waste. We are working on AND FINALLY affecting Bayswater in the period, such as OF THE LAST DECADE The past year has taught us the • Building of a new station for the CROSSRAIL CONSTRUCTION importance of residents’ organisations Elizabeth Line beneath Eastbourne Building the station underneath like SEBRA in looking out for people. Terrace, Eastbourne Terrace for this new railway, Across our City, the strength of • Partial demolition and redevelopment that will be known as the Elizabeth Line, community has been remarkable of Whiteleys, The "Indefatigable" John Zamit. has been continuous in at least the last in times unique in recent memory. eight years. For the first two of them, Many backgrounds, many traditions; all buses were diverted to Westbourne but a shared determination to make SEBRA's AGMs take place in the Porchester Hall. Terrace. Other traffic has been diverted Westminster a place that we all want throughout, to both Gloucester and to live in. Westbourne Terraces. After the two May I close by saying I hope everyone years, buses and emergency vehicles manages to enjoy a Christmas reverted to Eastbourne Terrace, but celebration of some sort, and I look there have been many temporary forward to writing again for SEBRA's closures at weekends etc, putting buses magazine in the New Year. back on Westbourne Terrace. Until very recently, access on foot to the the main line Station was only on its far, eastern, side. In the earlier years there was also tunnelling from the portal to WCC's Fergus Sheppard hosts an Open Forum with Council Leader Rachael the new low level Station and from it, Robathan and Cabinet Member Councillor Heather Acton. below Spring Street and beyond.

28 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2020 29 AROUND BAYSWATER AROUND BAYSWATER

In 1997 our Residents’ Association HALLFIELD ESTATE membership secretary personally counted 150 trees on Hallfield Estate. There are no doubt considerably more The First 73 Years in 2020. Michael Bews Now to the present day in November Hallfield Estate Resident and SEBRA Member 2020: The former welfare clinic accommodation in Pickering House is now used by Garway Medical Centre. The current Hallfield major works ome of our residents have lived refurbishment programme was scoped on Hallfield Estate for more Worcester House, with Exeter In 1951, Paddington Council appointed in 2012, with its primary purpose than 50 years, and one or two House in the distance. a three person committee to name being to replace the single glazed for sixty years. Their stories of the fifteen housing blocks on Hallfield Crittall steel windows with state- Searly days on Hallfield are fascinating. For the first approximately fifteen Estate and they decided to name them years after the estate opened, each after railway stations on the Great of-the-art double glazed windows. Severe bomb damage in the Hallfield of the Hallfield blocks had a resident Western Railway network. The project is now running to new area in 1944 contributed to Paddington schedules. But considering the caretaker. Communal hot water and Brecon, Bridgewater (named after Borough Council’s decision to build a challenges provided by our collective central heating was piped underground the town of Bridgwater), Caernarvon new housing estate rather than repair experience of COVID-19 and its to the whole estate from Porchester (an anglicised spelling of Caernarfon), the destroyed homes. mutations, the work is making good Baths, half a mile away, so we are Clovelly, Exeter, Lynton, Marlow, progress and our main contractors, The council appointed Tecton in informed. However, Pickering House Newbury, Pembroke, Pickering, Reading, Axis Europe, are doing a great job. 1947 and, after Tecton was dissolved was excluded from the communal Taunton, Tenby, Winchester, Worcester. in 1948, architects Denys Lasdun heating system. It was built with its The blocks were named in and Lyndsay Drake to design the The laundry building known table tennis. For our younger children own exclusive central heating and alphabetical order, counter clockwise, as "The Roundhouse". scheme. Denys there are swings, slides, climbing ropes, hot water equipment, situated in the starting with Brecon, on the right of Lasdun was very a seesaw and a wigwam! And older basement. Pickering House still has In the early 1950’s Paddington the entrance slope from Cleveland much influenced residents have not been forgotten. its own communal heating system. Borough Council asked Denys Lasdun Gardens. And concluding with Tenby, by the work of There is a quiet and well-tended Senior [Author’s note: I have searched both and Lyndsay Drake to build a self- Winchester, Worcester, on the left of Charles-Edouard Residents’ garden. Westminster Council and Porchester sufficient village, with a the entrance slope. Spa historical records for corroborative Jeanneret-Gris, welfare clinic, children’s The Hallfield Residents’ Association a Swiss-French nursery and primary school, a evidence of the early communal heating was set up in 1962 and has been architect and community hall and a laundry. system, without success. Any information instrumental in maintaining a two-way urban planner you might be able to furnish would All of these amenities were channel of communication between the who went on to be much appreciated, including the provided on the new Hallfield residents and the local Council. That plan the city of date when the estate-wide communal housing estate, with the was Paddington Borough Council from Hallfield Architect Chandigarh in heating and hot water system was welfare clinic and residents’ 1962 to 1965 and Westminster City Denys Lasdun. decommissioned. The Chairman of India. He also hall located in Pickering Council from 1965 onwards. SEBRA reports that he ‘seems to went on to change House and the laundry In 1990, Hallfield Estate was designated remember steam coming out of covers his name to (a version of located in what later became a conservation area by Westminster in the carriageway in Queensway’. An his grandparents’ name - Lecorbéier). known as ‘The Roundhouse’ Council. Conservation listing is Illustrious corroboration for sure]. The design of Hallfield estate was opposite Caernarvon House. usually applied to protect character Senior Residents' Garden. inspired by Le Corbusier's 'Radiant Hallfield Primary School was designed Map of Hallfield Estate. or appearance which it is desirable City' vision which aimed to combine by Denys Lasdun and opened, on to preserve. Such mass housing and accessible open Hallfield estate, in 1954. as the additional embellishment of using space. (Later, In 1963 Sir Denys We now also have two dedicated Pembroke House. Lasdun was appointed to design the ‘recreation’ compounds, one equipped alternating bands of red and slate blue brickwork National Theatre). with basketball, five a side football and The Roundhouse, no longer a laundry, on the chequered south is currently being used by Axis Europe elevations of Hallfield’s as a major works project office. ten-storey blocks (visible in the above At the completion of the current phase photo of Exeter House). of the major works, in 2021, six of This feature was Denys our 15 housing blocks will have been Lasdun’s idea. refurbished, with new window systems and LED communal lighting that we can Then, in June 2011 be proud of. Hallfield was Grade II listed by government Our experience with the first three Above and left, recreational areas Heritage Minister, blocks has shown that the new LED for youngsters and older children. John Penrose, communal lighting bills are a fraction following advice from of the bills for the previous fluorescent English Heritage. lighting equipment.

44 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2020 45 AROUND BAYSWATER AROUND BAYSWATER

VEOLIA CELEBRATES street cleansing before and after New Year’s Eve fireworks 25 YEARS IN WESTMINSTER display, The London Marathon, The Carnival and 2020 marks two important anniversaries in Westminster: 50 years of SEBRA and 25 the Pride Parade. Veolia has also years of Veolia’s waste management partnership with Westminster City Council. managed royal events, such To celebrate these milestones, residents are invited to learn about the evolution of as the iconic Royal Wedding waste in Westminster, from the 18th century to now. of William and Kate, and the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The waste service that Driving innovation Back in the day... In 1975, the European Waste never sleeps Hierarchy was introduced to help Veolia and Westminster City At the end of the 18th century*, protect the environment and Veolia operates a unique 24/7 Council are working together to one of the first informal recycling encourage residents to be more service in Westminster, ensuring help improve air quality in Central systems in the UK evolved in sustainable, by treating waste in the the city is clean and safe for the London. London’s Dust Yards. The waste following order: millions of residents, commuters obtained through household They have been trialing alternative collections (which at the time, due 1. Reducing waste and tourists who pass through it fleet solutions, including electric to the industrial revolution, was 2. Reusing where possible all day, every day. vehicles, to provide more mostly coal ash from domestic fires) 3. Recycling everything sustainable recycling and waste and street sweepings (horse waste) that can be recycled collections, and street cleaning. was taken to Dust Yards along the 4. Recovering energy from waste River Thames. The ash was sold Some of the first waste collections onward for brick making and the were carried out with wicker baskets 5. Disposing of waste through and horse-drawn carts. street sweepings were taken away landfilling Community spirit and used as a soil conditioner. leading its own waste management The Veolia Westminster team In the 19th century, during the system, which included collections goes above and beyond to provide victorian era, important legislation and street cleansing. a high standard of service. Many on public health and urban of Veolia’s staff have worked in sanitation was passed. the borough for years or even As a result, by the beginning of the decades, and are deeply engaged 20th century, Westminster Council took formal responsibility to protect To the Moon and back with the local community. the public health of locals, by Veolia’s street cleansing teams Special events In the last eight months during sweep over 400,000 kilometres of For over a quarter of a decade the pandemic, the outstanding streets per year. That’s more than Veolia has been involved in contribution of Veolia’s staff has the distance between the Earth various special large-scale events been uniquely recognised by the and the Moon! in Westminster. These include local community.

In the early 20th century, two carts Helder Branco, Senior Contract Manager Veolia Westminster and horses were used for street During the first World War, when "I started as a Street Sweeper in Westminster 19 years ago and I am honoured to now lead the cleaning. The first cart splashed food rations were scarce, food team. Working closely with frontline staff, the Council and residents, we have been able to water on the road, while the second scrapings (like bones) were taken significantly improve recycling and waste services in Westminster, which makes me very proud. London Dust Yard in operation one followed, sweeping the street. to feed animals, mainly pigs. “I would like to say a big congratulations to John Zamit and the SEBRA team on their 50 year anniversary, and for all they’ve done for the Westminster community over the years."

* Information gathered from the ‘Centenary History of Waste and Waste Managers in London and South East England', by The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management. The Veolia era in Westminster Julie Angulo, General Manager, Veolia Westminster century resource management to a local to Westminster. This reduces “The environmental success that has been achieved in Westminster is a testament to the he waste management new level, fighting climate change travel distances and vehicle entire community. Working together, we have improved recycling, driven innovation, and built partnership between a more sustainable Westminster. through recycling, and building a emissions, helping to improve local Veolia (then Onyx) and circular economy with a focus on air quality. On the back of an incredible quarter of a century, we thank residents, the Council and SEBRA for Westminster City Council positively contributing to the community.” Tbegan in 1995. For the last 25 innovation. Mixed recycling is taken to Veolia’s years, Veolia has been integral in At present, Westminster is the most Southwark Integrated Waste supporting Westminster’s mission sustainable it's ever been, recycling Management Facility, one of the most advanced recycling facilities to protect public health, through over 35,000 tonnes every year, and in Europe, before being made into sustainable recycling and waste turning 155,000 tonnes of general Pascal Hauret, Managing Director, Veolia UK Municipal new items again. General waste is management solutions. waste into heating and power for “We are delighted to celebrate 25 years in Westminster and we congratulate SEBRA on their 50 taken to Veolia’s South East London local homes. years of service to the community. Maintaining the highest standard Combined Heat and Power facility, I’ve been part of the Veolia Westminster team since day one, and it brings me immense of collections and street cleansing Almost all waste collected in the where it’s turned into renewable satisfaction to look back and see all the great things we’ve accomplished, for residents, activities, Veolia has taken 21st borough is disposed of in facilities energy. Nothing is sent to landfill. businesses and the environment.” AROUND BAYSWATER AROUND BAYSWATER

There is quite a lot of history here too, and the premises (which was previously "Farrow's Free House") retains all of the original charm, wisely steering clear of refurbishments, which have often proved to be so detrimental. A beautiful jukebox sits proudly in a corner. In less troubled times it provides the music for many hours of late night singing and dancing. There was no singing and dancing on Wednesday lunchtime, but I found it easy to believe that the young lady THE sat opposite was typing her next blockbuster book, and the chap in the trenchcoat played bass in a 1970s supergroup. There is something rather special about The Cow, it is the feeling you get when sat inside. A feeling that you are in a private little world, but one where all are very welcome. To borrow from "Cheers", it is a place "Where everyone knows your name". COW Top: A photo wall of fun The Cow, as I wrote earlier, is a gem and Left: Best friends, Luca and Petro worthy of inclusion in my "I wish we had Above: With Mr Beckham and Mr Cruise this in Wellington" list. Believe me, it is a Westbourne Below: Mouthwatering food and a famous mural very short list. Park Road

From the Editor t some point in your life you will have been asked the question: "What one piece of advice would you giveA your younger self?" Mine used to be "Enjoy the freedom of youth" but it has now changed to "Don't wait 56 a reputation for delivering wonderful countless celebrities. We are not years to have Fish Stew in The Cow". seafood (with oysters a speciality) along talking about Daytime TV hosts either, The thing is, I'm not really a fan of with traditional classics like Bangers & Hollywood A-listers rub shoulders with fish. As far as I'm concerned it is what Mash and Beef & Guinness Pie. Dining world famous musicians and big names you order when there's no meat on areas at the back of the pub, and also from the sporting world. There isn't the menu, but our host Petro told me it upstairs, can seat a total of 60 people. room for a list, but look on the opposite was famous and that I really should try To be honest we have walked past page for a couple of people you will it. I did. It was awesome. John of course The Cow on many occasions during most certainly recognise. has enjoyed said Fish Stew on many magazine photo trips, and whilst occasions, so he chose the daily special we have previously nipped in for an Bavette Steak (which was excellent), afternoon ale, we have never had and when I went to take photographs lunch. Now though we have ticked on Queensway, he had a sneaky piece that box, the mini-review is being of Banoffee Pie too. written, and once again you lucky Foodnote: Chef Martin was on duty people of Bayswater have a gem on when we visited, he has been cooking up your doorsteps. great food here for many years, earning Pictured above are Luca (John describes him as "the good looking one") and Petro (who John describes as "the best barman in the world"). Both are natives of Albania, both have worked at The Cow for over 20 years, and both Petro said that The Cow was a "hotbed are just great guys who clearly love of celebrity marriage" and it really is working in this most remarkable of very easy to imagine the stars of stage, London pubs. stadium or screen exchanging first John and I had a good chat with Petro glances at the wonderful bar. who enthused about the The Cow, advising us that it was owned by Tom The Cow Conran, son of the late Sir Terrance 89 Westbourne Park Road, W2 5QH Conran, and how it is popular with Tel: 020 7221 0021 locals, visitors to Bayswater, and Web: thecowlondon.com

60 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2020 61 AROUND BAYSWATER AROUND BAYSWATER Steve Dunlop Photographer We know readers will really enjoy these four pages showcasing the work of local photographer Steve Dunlop. Featured here are examples of portraiture and some comment from his blog. Overleaf you will find photographs from our two Royal Parks as part of his "Desire Paths" project. First though, a few words from Steve...

"I am a commercial photographer by profession, but with more time on my hands during the COVID-19 outbreak I started taking portraits of people I know in the area. COVID-19 has had a severe impact on Small Local Businesses and I wanted to celebrate the diversity and recognise the contribution that small business people make to the W2 community. My most recent photograph is of your very own John Zamit. I hope you enjoy looking at my work, and you can see more by visitingwww.stevedunlop.com " Top Left: Ibrohim Namirol Ibrohim is from Uzbekistan, he gained a law degree at the University of San Left: John Zamit Francisco, and he serves the best coffee in the neighbourhood. SEBRA's Chairman has dedicated countless years working with Westminster Council Above: Chris Peart and residents to deliver a better Bayswater. Chris is a flower seller on Queensway, with a pitch outside the Prince Alfred Below left: Dawn Tiggy Green Pub. His family has been selling Founder and owner of women's fashion flowers there since 1981. store Kokoro London. Dawn knows almost everyone in Connaught Village. Left: George Collingwood George in Leinster Mews with his Below: Kay and Grace with their Cosworth Lotus 7. He ran a garage Yorkie Poodle named Bailey in the Mews then a car showroom in My good friends and fellow dog owners. Moscow Road until 1992. Kay was born in Ghana, Grace in Muscat. Right: Ian Aitken They married in St James' Church in 2009. An ex-punk rocker who hails from Edinburgh but moved to a squat in Islington when he got tired of British Rail sandwiches. He has seen all of the great punk bands except the Sex Pistols.

Below: New Perie New is General Manager (Landlady to you and me!) at The Leinster Arms. A friendly face in one of the friendliest of pubs. She's a good friend and a caring member of the community.

Steve Dunlop Photography stevedunlop stevedunlopphotography Dunlopphoto stevedunlopphoto www.stevedunlop.com

74 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2020 75 Bayswater in Film and TV ‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy’. In 1979, John Le Carre’s a ‘Withnail and I.’ 1974 novel: ‘Tinker, Tailor, ayswater The opening scene and Soldier, Spy’, was adapted many subsequent scenes into a very good television B in ‘Withnail and I’ (1987) series. ‘The Argyll Hotel’ were filmed at 57 Chepstow on Sussex Gardens in iscellany Place in Bayswater. Bruce Paddington (Hyde Park Robinson’s cult film Ward) is used as a safe regularly comes high up in house by George Smiley. M Alec Guinness plays the by Richard Elcho lists of the greatest British films. It is about two drunken out-of-work actors who live in in 1969. part of George Smiley. They decide to go to country in order to rejuvenate. The area is much more ‘Smiley’s People’. Where is Bayswater? often referred to as The café where Marwood has breakfast was located at The televisual sequel to ‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy’ was The boundaries of Bayswater Ward are clearly Bayswater, Notting Hill 136 Lancaster Road near to . ‘Smiley’s People’. General Vladimir and his dog live on defined. However, Lancaster Gate Ward is in the or Paddington. ‘The Mother Black Cap’ pub used to be at 41 Tavistock Westbourne Terrace (Hyde Park Ward). Bayswater area. Between 1900 and 1965, Bayswater was The Parish of St Crescent in Westbourne Ward. in the Metropolitan Borough of Paddington. Bayswater ‘Kind Hearts and Coronets’. Matthew, Moscow Road, Ward did not exist. The London Government Act of 1963 The shot of the two actors leaving London as a building Bayswater has clearly Alec Guinness played nine joined the boroughs of Paddington, St. and is being demolished was shot on Freston Road W11. defined boundaries. roles in ‘Kind Hearts and Westminster together. The boundaries of the City of When they return to London, Withnail is arrested by the Coronets’ (1949). The black Westminster today date from 1965. Hyde Park Ward is police on the roundabout next to the Westway and John comedy also stars Dennis sometimes referred to as being in Bayswater (see ‘Kind Parts of Bayswater are often described as being in Aird Court, which is in Little Venice Ward. Price, Valerie Hobson and Joan , despite the fact that Notting Hill proper is Hearts and Coronets’ opposite). Notting Hill Greenwood. in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. Estate The Local Government Boundary Commission for ‘The Spy Who Came in from the Cold’. However, Louis Mazzini says agents believe that a property will be more desirable if England recently carried out an electoral review of Richard Burton, Michael Hordern and Claire Bloom it is described as being in Notting Hill. The 1999 film: this: ‘Two days later I made the the . Parliament approved the starred in: ‘The Spy Who Came in from the Cold’ (1965). ‘Notting Hill’ added to the glamour the area. tedious journey to Bayswater. Commission’s recommendations on 9 October 2020, so It is an excellent black and white adaptation of John Le Bayswater Ward’s boundaries will be different for the It was typical of Lionel that Where is Royal Oak? Could the area around Royal Oak Carre’s famous novel tube station be accurately described as Royal Oak? elections for Westminster City Council in May 2022. he should live on the wrong of the same name side of the Park’. Lionel lives at 242 Connaught Square (1963). Alec Leamas (Hyde Park Ward). The murderous Mazzini is talking (Richard Burton) out of his hat. No journey to Baywater should be walks south along tedious, and Bayswater is on the right side of the park. Orme Court & Orme Square Chepstow Place (on It is interesting that he describes Connaught Square as the RBKC side) on Bayswater rather than Paddington. It is to the east of and his way to a labour what is normally considered to be Bayswater. However, They lived in Orme Court (Lancaster Gate Ward) in 1959. exchange (job centre). Connaught Square is close to the Bayswater Road. Should this fact be marked with a blue plaque? There is already a blue plaque for Spike Milligan on the West side of the building. Stephen Ward’s blue plaque should say: ‘Osteopath and artist’. Christine Keeler should probably have liked hers to say: ‘Model and writer’. Jeremy Thorpe Rachman A few yards away from Orme Court is 1-2 Orme Square. It was the home of Perec ‘Peter’ Rachman was born in in 1919. He died in Jeremy Thorpe from 1973 until 2014. He was the Leader of the Liberal Party 1967-1976. London in 1962. He had a successful property business in the 1950s In 1979 Thorpe was put on trial at the Old Bailey for conspiracy to murder and incitement to murder. and early 1960s. His office was on the corner of Monmouth Road He was acquitted. and Wesbourne Grove (Bayswater Ward). The address was 91-93 Westbourne Grove, but the entrance was on Monmouth Road. He owned property in Notting Hill and North Kensington. He owned Why SEBRA? No. 1-6 Vere House, Westbourne Gardens (Bayswater Ward). He owned The South-East Bayswater several houses in St. Stephen’s Gardens (Bayswater Ward). He owned property on Chepstow Road (Bayswater Ward). Residents’ Association area He also owned properties south of Westbourne Park Road. The area became derelict. It was bought by the Council in is east of the Bayswater the late 1960s. It was demolished 1973-4 so that the Wessex Gardens Estate (Westbourne Ward) could be built. Residents’ Association After Rachman died there were stories in the newspapers that he had charged exorbitant rents, failed to keep his area. However, SEBRALAND properties in decent condition and that he used thugs with Alsatians to intimidate tenants. ‘Rachmanism’ entered the includes North Bayswater. Oxford English Dictionary as a synonym for such behaviour. The truth about Rachman is more complicated. He had a tragic early life. He had quite a few friends and admirers during his lifetime. Rachman became famous after his death due to the fact that he had had an affair with Christine Keeler. Stephen ardW had introduced them to one another. AROUND BAYSWATER AROUND BAYSWATER BAYSWATER'S LOST FOUNTAINS WESTBOURNE PARK BAPTIST CHUCH - AUTUMN NEWS Sebastian Bulmer Jem Sewell Bayswater, W2 Pastor, Westbourne Park Baptist Church, Porchester Road “So long as London remains what it The exception is the drinking is, with its dry and dusty streets, so fountain on the Turquoise Island, long will the beneficent operations Westbourne Grove, which not only survives, but was restored of the Society be required.” by the Pembridge Association rom the the Metropolitan in 2007. Drinking Fountain and Cattle Within our area, the drinking Trough Association annual report of 1867, these words are as fountains on Praed Street Frelevant today as they were then. outside the underground station and on the corner City Hall is installing over one hundred of Westbourne Bridge and The church is very active on Youtube. might help others begin to work again, new drinking fountains throughout Harrow Road, have both gone. using our space to help others socially the capital. What seems to have been catch up at any point you wish. Just However, two have survived he Church and the Family distance when their own resources overlooked is that London already check our website or Facebook page for on the south side of Bayswater Centre have taken advantage of don’t allow. has hundreds of drinking fountains. In the details. parks and gardens, on street corners, Road. Both are listed Grade 2 the easing of the Lockdown over Christmas may well be a bit different to Westbourne Park Family Centre have in squares, by stations and outside and both were 'restored' around the Summer and early Autumn. last year but being told where we can also been back with Stay and Play 1989. The first is opposite Elms T go by Government and being far from museums, the lost drinking fountains of The church services have moved back sessions for Pre-schoolers and Club London stand forgotten in plain sight. Mews and Lancaster Gate, into the building and now we operate friends and family may make it a little ‘Xpress and Youth Clubs on a Friday West of Lancaster Gate Station. on three platforms: Firstly, In Real Life, more like the first Christmas. In all of this Founded in 1859 the Association night. Social distancing makes all of these oversaw a boom in drinking fountains, Dated 1872 and enigmatically although sadly without the singing we will be celebrating Hope and hope activities rather different but there is still with over a thousand installed inscribed "J E D - Know Thyself" or an opportunity to mingle and chat has a name – his name is Jesus. a tremendous sense of fun and noise! throughout London in the following in gilt lettering, it was originally afterwards. Secondly and simultaneously In these demanding times we are still hundred years. Most have gone. free standing, and moved back we meet on Zoom – this enables us to watch the service, sing as loud as building stronger families. In the neighbourhoods around against the park wall during The water fountain by Lancaster Gate Station. our neighbours allow and to chat with Getting back to normal now looks as SEBRALAND; Paddington Recreation the first half of the twentieth Its gilt inscription reads "J E D - Know Thyself". friends afterwards. Thirdly, our services though it may take a bit longer, in the Ground and Paddington Green have century. It no longer works. Once one of a pair, all that remains of its are available on YouTube, so you can meantime, we are looking at how we both lost their fountains; the combined The second is a combined drinking companion is a metal plate among the drinking fountain and cattle trough on fountain, cattle trough and dog trough paving slabs stamped MDF&CTA. the corner of the Great Western Road opposite Inverness Terrace. Inscribed and Westbourne Park Road has gone; “Be Kind and Merciful to All Animals - In Does our future need to be so dry? as have the fountains on Notting Hill Memory of David Benjamin 1815 – The Victorians installed fountains to Gate opposite Clanricarde Gardens and 1893”, it no longer works. address the lack of clean drinking water on the corner of Edgware Road and Old in London. Today, we have water on tap The drinking fountain, cattle and dog Marylebone Road. The fountain between at home. It is when we step outside that trough on Bayswater Road, found the entrances to Warwick Avenue our city dries up and we turn to plastic Station survives in part as a planter. opposite Inverness Terrace. bottled water. Earlier this year the 1902 fountain outside Turnham Green Station was fully restored following a combined effort between Hounslow Council, Heritage of London Trust, the Drinking Fountain Association and Thames Water. Where there is a will, London's historic drinking fountains can play their part in helping us reduce our reliance on single use plastics. For now, if you are wondering where your nearest fountain might be, on the plus side it could be closer than you might think. On the downside, it will almost certainly not work.

About the Author Editor's Note: Sebastian will be writing Sebastian Bulmer lives in Bayswater. He posts the#LostDrinkingFountainsOfLondon about another pair of water fountains on Instagram and would be happy to hear from readers with memories of these or in the Spring 2021 edition ofSEBRA any other of London's lost fountains. NEWS W2.

88 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2020 89 AROUND BAYSWATER AROUND BAYSWATER This was in contrast to ‘picturesque’ however reduced and finally stopped her for something only to be looked at. He artistic work. She died in 1995 aged 93. became very influential both in London Throughout her career she was invited and further afield. His greatest work is to exhibit her work, which is now greatly considered to be the Derby Arboretum, a prized and commands high prices at pleasure ground for industrial workers. auction. Today we can see that she helped He grew shrubs and trees not only for change ceramics, elevating pottery to a their beauty but also to study, long before fine art, and laying the foundations for ecology showed the inter-relationship later potters that have made a special between flora and fauna. His many works contribution to Britain’s art heritage. were aimed at and paid for by the growing We have featured some wonderful "Blue Plaque" articles from Professor Lewis Lesley over the last few years, In two separate centuries artists have middle class, rather than the aristocracy, greatly influenced the culture and outlook and for our 100th issue our tales turn to John and Jane Loudon, a married couple from the field of horticulture, which had formerly sponsored the likes and to Dame Lucie Rie, a ceramicist who "elevated pottery to a fine art". of British people. The Loudons made of Capability Brown. With hindsight Plaque at 18 Albion Mews. gardens works of art, both beautiful Jane also achieved much in her short His writings include “Observations on to look at, a source of knowledge and Professor Lewis Lesley life. Firstly she brought gardening into Life in London was very different from Laying out the Public Spaces in London”, recreation by means of studying plants many homes, through her writings, and Vienna, both in terms of society and also s we contemplate more an “Encyclopaedia of Gardening” and and learning to cultivate and grow them. ability to communicate with enthusiasm the appreciation of pottery, as works months of COVID chaos the “Green-house Companion”. Not Books and publications made gardening showed practical ways to garden, which of art. This was epitomised by the then and the approach of winter, content with writing, he established an accessible to a growing middle class became a leisure activity for many people. foremost potter Bernard Leach who I would like to splash some Agricultural College to propagate his society, not just for the enjoyment of the Something today we well appreciate. said “few people in this country think of sunshineA in the form of art that grows gardening knowledge and experience, aristocracy. Their public spaces brought making pottery as an art”. Yet she helped on you, by reviewing the lives of three already well known from his work the art in gardens to everyone eyes. DAME LUCIE RIE, 1902-1995 change this by articulating pottery’s own people who lived in Bayswater but are remodelling London Squares and other A century later another artist arrived language and inherent laws. commemorated by only two plaques. open spaces. This was augmented by in London, from further afield than tours of Europe where he collected Thanks to Lucie Rie and other potters, Birmingham or Scotland, Vienna. Dame JOHN LOUDON, 1783 - 1843 specimens that he cultivated, including today ceramics are held to be as equally Lucie Rie changed the perception and trees, in his own arboretum. important as other art mediums like appreciation of pottery and ceramics both painting and sculpture. She did much At the ripe age of 47 he met Jane (Bell) by public exhibitions and through the to promote her studio ceramics for a (23) in the V&A. He wanted to talk creation of domestic items like tableware, worldwide audience. with the author of a book favourably vases and bowls. In her long life she was Her technique pioneered ceramic given many honours in recognition of her reviewed in his magazine but was taken Botanical print by Jane Loudon. aback when the writer turned out to be production where she applied the glazing contribution to the culture of the country. by brush before a single firing. Not only a woman, half his age. It was however Jane has been called the “Mrs. Beaton All three were residents of Bayswater, did this save costs and time but also love at first sight. They married within a of gardening” because she championed and we should remember their pioneering led to more vivid colours and surface year and their only child Agnes was born the work of her husband and her own works, raising the awareness of art in textures, including luxurious bronze rims, a year later. writings. Her book“The Flower Garden” different forms, and also adding to the giving a unique signature to her work. was a best seller, with over 200,000 Country’s stock of lovely things. In 50 JANE LOUDON, 1807 - 1858 printed. It turned many middle class ladies At first in London life was hard and to years time will contemporary artists be into avid gardeners, or at least flower make ends meet she made small items similarly appreciated ? The first plaque on 3 Porchester Terrace arrangers. Her inventiveness included including buttons and jewellery as an records a couple whose marriage was a steam plough to make the work of income. She was proud to have exhibited made in heaven but with their feet farmers easier. Jane lived for another 15 at the Festival of Britain in 1951 on the firmly on the ground. John Loudon was a years before passing away aged only 51. South Bank, in the Dome of Discovery, Scotsman who came to London in 1803 Dame Lucie in her studio. where she progressed to elegant John’s plan for a kitchen garden is aged twenty. tableware, coffee and tea sets, which included in his Encyclopaedia of In contrast, Dame Lucie Rie was an were both functional and beautiful. These Gardening (1828). He coined the term artist of the twentieth century, and an were sought after in Heals and other “gardenesque” to describe his philosophy. innovative ceramicist. She was born upmarket stores. From 1960 to 1971 she in Vienna in 1902, where she studied taught at the School of Art. pottery from 1922 under Michael Her creative work was helped by fellow Jane also came to London but in 1827, Powolny in the School of Arts and Crafts, artist Hans Coper from 1946, another from Birmingham, where she was an heavily influenced by the Art Nouveau Jewish refugee, who arrived Examples of Dame Luci Rie's work. orphan. Before railways this was an Movement. She was particularly keen penniless looking work. to learn the science of glazing, which uncomfortable journey by stagecoach, Hans became a partner in the fascinated her throughout her working and would have taken at least a day. To Studio until he died in 1979. life, and was used to great effect with her make ends meet she wrote “The Mummy: In 1969 the Royal College of choice of colours. (or a Tale of the Twenty-Second Century)”. Art awarded her a honorary This was ahead of its time, pre-dating Her hand thrown works in contemporary Doctorate, a year after she had science fiction authors like Jules Verne forms with bright colours won great received an OBE. In 1981 she Plaque at 3 Porchester Terrace. and H.G. Wells. Her husband’s interest acclaim, including a Gold Medal at got a CBE and ten years later infected her and she went on to write the Paris International Exhibition in the title Dame Commander He had studied agriculture, biology botanical books that she illustrated 1937. This however led to her moving (DCBE) was conferred. These and botany in Edinburgh and put these herself, a self taught artist. Many of her to London in 1938, escaping with her were in recognition of her to good use in London, designing and illustrations can be seen in the V&A. They husband from Nazi Austria. In London she laying our gardens, town squares and had 13 years of marriage before he died set up a small studio in 18 Albion Mews continuing creative work, well A kitchen garden plan by John Loudon. cemeteries. in 1843, aged 60. to continue her work. into her 80’s. A series of strokes

90 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2020 91 HALLFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL AROUND BAYSWATER NEW SCHOOL PAVILION AND MULTI-USE GAMES AREA AROUND BAYSWATER times of change, uncertainty and trauma, and was a great way for us to reconnect with the children after six months away from school.

HALLFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL NEW SCHOOL PAVILION AND MULTI-USE GAMES AREA

View of the existing site The MUGA will be an all-weatherProposed surface, fenced Side off fromView the restof of the the schoolHallfield site.The Pavilion larger of the two playgrounds on-siteAbove has a good size open and space thatbelow. will be suitable forArtist impressions of the new sports facilities coming both tennis and football. This facility will be the ideal area to be rent out to third parties in the evenings after school classes or in the weekends, with the school expecting use News from Hallfield School to stop at 6pm each day. to Hallfield School. Construction will start later this term. Aaron Sumner HALLFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL NEW SCHOOL PAVILION AND MULTI-USE GAMES AREA Headteacher at Hallfield Primary School RETURNING TO A NEW KIND OF NORMAL e were finally able to reopen the school "Tree of Life" forming a "Forest of gates to all children Life", an important educational tool. on 7 September. Even Wthough we had been open throughout this approach enables children to 4 x 8 metres high posts with Sand dressed MUGA speak about their lives in ways that Rebound Mesh Fencing This will2 Nobe LED floodlightsa highly at each specialised surface suitable for tennis lockdown, this was for specific groups NEW SPORTINGaround FACILITIES the MUGA corner of the MUGA and football games on make them stronger. It involves site. of children only. It was a great day, Porchester Gardens Street View of the Proposed Hallfield Pavilion AND A NEWView towards NURSERY proposed pavilion from the new MUGA provision, ensuring that the children children drawing their own ‘tree of one that felt like we were able to In other exciting news, our school are able to access the Early Years life’ in which they get to speak of their begin to return to ‘normal’ or at least a sports facilities, including a multiuse curriculum whilst also accessing new kind of normal. ‘roots’ (where they come from), their games area and sports pavilion, are individual programmes such as speech skills and knowledges, their hopes and and language and occupational dreams, as well as the special people in due to begin construction in the later LIFTED BY therapy. COMMUNITY RESOLVE their lives. part of this term. This will be a very exciting development of the school I look forward to updating you in A lot of planning took place before The children then join their trees into grounds providing excellent sports future editions of SEBRA NEWS W2 that Monday, including reviewing and View of the existing site a ‘forest of life’ and, in groups, discuss Proposed Side View of the Hallfield Pavilion facilities for the pupils of Hallfield and on the progress of these two exciting updating risk assessments, reviewing some of the ‘storms’ that affect their drop off and pick up arrangements, lives and ways that they respond to other local schools. Hallfield School projects. developing contingency plans in the these storms, protect themselves, and case of families isolating or even a each other. further possible lockdown, and much more besides. I have to say that I have THE TREE OF LIFE PROJECT Above and below. Children from CURRICULUM MATTERS been really lifted by the resolve of the nursery to year 6 have been taking part We structured a two week Of course, another very important whole school community to make sure in a "Tree of Life" project. An "inspiring reintegration programme with piece of work in the recovery our children transitioned back into approach to working with children". a predominantly heavy focus of curriculum approach, was that of school, and did so in a way that was supporting children’s emotional well- identifying the key learning that sympathetic to the strange times we being, addressing and dealing with children would have missed during continue to experience. some of the changes that had taken the spring and summer terms. This From the very beginning, the staff place, and equipping them with the included reviewing subject aspects worked hard to instigate a ‘recovery tools to move forward. One such and concepts that needed embedding curriculum’ approach which is designed exciting piece of work that children before children could move onto new to help a school community recover from Nursery to Year 6 participated in, learning, or that they are not likely to emotionally while sensibly addressing was called the ‘Tree of Life’. be revisited in future learning. View towards proposed pavilion from the new MUGA children’s gaps in learning. Two of the Porchester Gardens Street View of the Proposed Hallfield Pavilion We are also in the process of finalising The Tree of Life is a hopeful and As a result, a lot of work has also HALLFIELD SCHOOL BLOG key levers in this approach include plans for an autism resource base for the rebuilding of relationships and inspiring approach to working with been undertaken by the teachers to Remember, you can stay up to nursery aged children called "Acorns". understanding the individual child children, young people and adults ensure that our curriculum continues date with all that is going on at Children who will be attending and needs of their community, which who have experienced hard times. to engage and inspire, whilst also Hallfield by regularly checking the Acorns will either already have had given the circumstances of the last six Previously, it has been powerfully used giving children the space to adjust website and our new school blog: an assessment of autism or be on a months, had drastically changed for with children, young people and adults and minimise any disadvantages that hallfieldblog.wordpress.com some of our families. in many different contexts, following lockdown may have caused. pathway to an assessment of autism. 102 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2020 103 AROUND BAYSWATER FROM NEWSLETTER No 1 TO ISSUE No 100 CELEBRATING 100 ISSUES A Brief History of SEBRA Publications - 1984 to 2020 Our second gallery of covers begins with the first publication that carried our new title "SEBRA NEWS", followed by Issue No 69 celebrating 40 years of SEBRA. All of these editions were in A5 format and edited by Christopher Tanous. t is highly unlikely that when Christopher Tanous in Spring 2005, and When Christopher announced that he "Newsletter No 1" was put together Christopher handing over to our current was stepping down after 31 editions, in the Summer of 1984 that anyone Editor, Steve Olive, in Spring 2016. the decision was taken to rename the considered the 100th edition of the So with the early history of the magazine to SEBRA NEWS W2, the INewsletter might coincide with SEBRA's main reason being that its content and magazine already covered we shall focus 50th anniversary, yet here we are on developments of the last ten years. reach extended to the W2 area (and celebrating two milestones. We should however mention here that well beyond). Even less likely is that anyone would in Spring 2010, the 'SEBRA Newsletter' The change of name and change of have predicted the massive expansion became titled SEBRA' NEWS'. Editor seemed like a good time for a of that Newsletter, to a full-colour A4 You will note from our second gallery redesign of the magazine and SEBRA magazine, consisting of 144 pages and that under Christopher's stewardship member Wilford Augustus was given the covering a vast range of topics. SEBRA there was a very consistent look to our task. New typefaces, new colours, big NEWS W2, as it is now titled, is both a publications, with his 40th anniversary imagery and distinctive covers became labour of love and a really good read. issue being a particular highlight. The the order of the day, with Wilford The Newsletter was the idea of the famous Whiteleys staircase featured on getting Issue No 86 up and running for late Edward (Jimmy) James. That first Issue No 75 (Summer 2012), another new Editor Steve Olive to finalise for Newsletter and the following four, special edition, in this instance marking publication. Our printers at the time comprised of just one or two double- the Queen's Diamond Jubillee. were Canterbury-based Broadoak, but sided pages and were written by Lady Having already established a very high from Issue No 88 we returned to our Kennett (who continued to submit quality magazine with a great deal of good friends at Edox, run by the very occasional articles before her sad death engaging content, it was becoming capable and helpful Adrian Barnes. We in 2015) and then by John Walton. fairly apparent that the A5 format was also returned to the square-backed In our reproduction of"SEBRA's First rather too restrictive. Thus Issue No binding process. 40 Years" you can read what John 80, published in the Spring of 2014 Steve's involvement with the magazine Walton wrote about the magazine's and featuring a big red bus on the has led to additional sections and many evolution (page 40). In the item John cover marked the move to A4 format pages with creative designs. The covers highlights the important appeal for an (Thanks must go to Christopher for too have really become a much-loved Editor which appeared in Newsletter making the case for change). Fewer (but feature that sets the magazine apart, No 5, an appeal to which David Brewin much bigger) pages meant a return to a with clever wordplay and some cunning dutifully responded. David's magazines stapled binding rather than the previous ideas receiving much praise. were almost all printed in black and square-backed method of production. There is good news on the cost to white, simply stapled together and The move to an A4 format was members as well, because we continue comprising a relatively small number welcomed by advertisers and allowed to be able to attract advertisers and of pages. Kal-Kwik of Spring Street for bigger photographs too. The content run advertorial features. To all intents printed the early editions. continued to be relevant, current and and purposes the magazine meets its Just three Editors have been responsible driven by the need to keep SEBRA production costs, meaning that SEBRA for the magazine over the last 32 years, members informed of goings on in membership fees have remained both with David Brewin handing over to SEBRALAND. low and unchanged for many years. The Editors ewsletter No 6 (Spring 1988) was the first publication which had a cover and stapled Npages. The earlier newsletters were produced by Lady Kennett and the then Chairman, John Walton . Issue No 6 also marked the David Christopher Steve beginning of David Brewin's BREWIN TANOUS OLIVE tenure as magazine Editor and he Issues No 6 (Spring 1998) Issues No 54 (Spring 2006) Issues No 86 (Spring 2015) remained at the helm for almost to No 53 (Autumn 2005) to No 85 (Autumn 2015) to present 17 years. Our first Editor is our Christopher edited the Steve has been responsible We feel fortunate that David's longest serving. David magazine for over a for SEBRA's website since successors have both proved to remained a regular decade, with a strong 2014 and was a natural be so willing and capable. contributor for many years. journalistic approach. successor to Christopher.

108 www.sebra.org.uk HEALTH AND WELLBEING HEALTH AND WELLBEING Meanwhile, as Henry VIII determined Then there is another kind of mirror becoming ever more persuasive as the to release England from the papal that writers are able to hold up to contrary arguments of deniers have constraints on his sovereignty which nature not as we know it but as we become ever more strident, desperate impeded his desire for his marriage to fear it might become. Margaret Atwood and discredited. Katherine to be annulled so that he refers to it as "speculative fiction" and But along with the mirrors held up to would be free to marry Anne Boleyn she first wrote The Handmaid's Tale nature by Hamlet and Hilary Mantel and secure a male heir to his throne, as long ago as 1985. But as we watch and the dark glass through which we we shudder at yet another wave of the shrinking demographic of white glimpse Margaret Atwood's dystopian uncanny déjà vu as we realise that the future, there is also the contemporary Brexit we have had to endure for so America determined to manipulate witness statement which addresses the long is not the first. their political majority on the Supreme Court with all that that threatens for here and now. It did, of course, result in the fall the future of Roe v. Wade and the from grace of Cromwell's first master, Cardinal Wolsey, and for anyone who freedom of women's rights, do we has recently seen the Showtime mini- sense a prophetic warning in Margaret series, The Comey Rule, with Brendan Atwood's imaginative transformation Gleeson as Trump, the dismissal of of the U.S. we know to-day into the James Comey (Jeff Daniels) from his Gilead of her compelling fiction? We post as head of the FBI will surely have are looking perhaps, not so much at a Health & Wellbeing resonated with Hilary Mantel's account mirror, but through a glass, darkly. of the fall of Wolsey. So how fit are we, as a species, to act on the cautionary tales that both past and future have to offer us? As the very current pandemic threatens to swamp The planet's climate and biodiversity our health and wellbeing with are at a tipping point, but all is not lost. a second wave of infection, it bears down on our mental health In the recent Netflix film "A Life On at a time when our world is out Our Planet", the 93 year-old David of joint in so many ways. Attenborough bears witness to how the Do we have good reason to climate crisis and loss of bio-diversity wonder whether the good which are now at tipping point, have Christopher Penfold health and longevity we have mostly developed during his remarkable Co-chair, Garway Medical Practice PPG come to take for granted might lifetime. So, after decades of hand- be under permanent attack as wringing and erosive feelings of guilt epidemiologists talk of ever more as we have been overwhelmed by the hen Shakespeare's who emerges from the front door of virulent viruses that might be enormity of the challenge and the puny Hamlet realised there a comfortable home to survey their waiting in the wings for their and ineffectual responses of which we current surroundings and is able to was something rotten moment to strike? imagine ourselves capable, his witness in the state of Denmark conclude that god's in his heaven and Do we have good reason to fear statement is a clarion call to us all. Wand was determined to expose the all's well with the world, would have to for the future of the democracy Anxiety on its own is bad for our fact that the health and wellbeing of be, by definition, insane. which has afforded, for those mental health, but anxiety that drives the court at Elsinore had become so A reflection of history perhaps? Because all is so very un-well with our of us fortunate enough to have lived us to action is empowering. The health corrupted by his fratricidal uncle that Henry VIII, Wolsey, Trump and Comey. world. Not only are we smitten by the under its aegis, the personal freedoms and wellbeing of our whole planet may he felt compelled to take action, the pandemic but we face serious ailments As the great cardinal was of movement, of speech, of religion and be at risk but all is not yet lost and it's device he employed was a theatrical in our body politic which we share with unceremoniously expelled from lifestyle that we have been able to take our children and grandchildren who are performance "wherein I'll catch the countries and communities across the his palace at York Place and forced more or less for granted? leading the way, pleading with us to conscience of the King". globe. And when we find ourselves to endure an ignominious and Do we have good reason to believe take up arms on their behalf. Despite And in his role as theatre director, involuntarily anticipating an even more Shakespeare's Hamlet held uncomfortable journey to cold, damp that the once stable climate of the the pandemic, there is time for each Hamlet urged his actors "to o'erstep not dystopian future of extreme weather, up a mirror to nature. and unoccupied Esher having been planet on which we live and which and every one of us, whether we are the modesty of nature; for anything so rising sea levels and vanishing bio- spitefully deprived of his horses, we are we have been able to enjoy, along nine or ninety, to shake off the stasis of overdone is from the purpose of playing, diversity, the mirrors that writers and sixteenth century world of the Tudors surely reading a pre-echo of Trump's with the bio-diversity that engenders our anxieties and take those very small whose end, both at the first and now, dramatists have held up to similarly and our own similarly troubled times. refusal to allow "the very bad person" it, will survive for our children and individual steps which, together, will was and is, to hold, as 'twere, the mirror dystopian times, both in the past and The most immediate parallel is the Comey a government paid flight back grandchildren to enjoy? make up the giant leap for all mankind. up to nature; to show virtue her own in the future can surely be useful tools plague which visited Tudor London to New York from Los Angeles where Does anxiety about big issues such feature, scorn her own image, and the to help us prevent the repetition of most summers and which first took he had learnt of his dismissal on as these, or smaller but no less Chairperson Garway Medical very age and body of the time his form history as tragedy or farce and to shape Cromwell's wife, then his daughters. television. The sycophantic pettiness of poignant personal issues such as our Practice Patient Group and pressure." our future without endlessly repeating Their smitten household was vulnerability to COVID-19, keep us White House officials is all too familiar e: [email protected] As we attempt to adjust to the "new the same mistakes. constrained "to hang a bunch of straw awake at night? Do we fear that such from Hilary Mantel's vivid portrayal of t: 020 7617 2900 normal" of mask wearing, social One such mirror which has deservedly outside the door as a sign of infection" anxieties might be gnawing away at our the politicking and back-biting of the w: garwaymedical.nhs.uk distancing, shielding and remote been showered with accolades galore and to quarantine for forty days. And in Tudor court. In George Santayana's health and wellbeing? Garway Medical Practice medical consultations we might is Hilary Mantel's "Wolf Hall" which any summer when the plague relented, memorable phrase "those who do not The science that identifies and Pickering House, Hallfield Estate reasonably agree with the '60s teems with contemporary resonance wreathes of white lilies were hung out remember the past are condemned to measures climate change has been Bishops Bridge Road W2 6HF psychologist, R.D. Laing that anyone and uncanny parallels between the in celebration of relief. repeat it." talking to us for over 60 years,

118 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2020 119 HEALTH AND WELLBEING HEALTH AND WELLBEING HOW THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE COULD HELP YOU DURING OUR TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY Chris Gunness speaks to practitioner and teacher, Angie Herzberg

from luminaries who practice it such performance and to prevent strain/ as Sting, Hilary Swank, Hugh Jackman, injury in drama, music, and sport. It has Jonathan Pryce, Judi Dench, and Ian also helped business people improve McKellen presentation skills and professional performance in many other fields. There Gunness: So, what exactly is it and how really isn’t a single human activity that it does it work? does not impact or benefit in some way. Herzberg: AT is a process not a NEWS FROM THE PORCHESTER CENTRE As for specific conditions and ailments treatment, I teach people to identify PORCHESTER CENTRE JOINS ST MUNGO’S TO HELP THE HOMELESS it helps with, these include skeletal and rectify poor habits - hopefully problems, RSI and performance strain, Using the Everyone Active App, before they lead to acute conditions, Tia Mancuso migraines and headaches, asthma, our residents underwent an online particularly when they are carrying St Mungo’s Relationship breathing and vocal disorders, stress induction and completed an online out their favourite and most common Bridging Manager and anxiety, high blood pressure, health commitment statement. The activities. These poor habits can range sciatica, ME, chronic fatigue syndrome eing ‘homeless’ encompasses residents now get booked in remotely from slouching or rounded shoulders, and pregnancy related discomfort. other experiences as well leading to neck and back pain, muscle and take a pass with them to access as rough sleeping, like living Photo by Jackie Dixon tensions and stiffness, breathing and Gunness: And why do you feel the the site. in a hostel, or ‘sofa surfing’. vocal problems as well as conditions Alexander Technique is so useful now in The Porchester Centre runs 50 minute he “COVID-19 world” in BHomelessness is complex. related to anxiety and stress. these days of lockdown and restrictions gym sessions followed by 10 minutes of which we live has placed It can be a result of individual The technique helps people understand on our daily lives? cleaning before the next group come in unprecedented strains on circumstances – relationship Herzberg: The COVID-19 pandemic to make it COVID-19 secure. us, as individuals as family their physical responses to everyday has unleashed all sorts of personal breakdown, bereavement, and mental Above: Manpret, a St Mungo resident Tmembers and communities. Wellness situations and empowers them to Going to the gym at the Porchester and societal tensions that are taking a health issues – often exacerbated by with Winston Fowler on the left – Deputy and wellbeing therapies are becoming improve those responses, often Centre is one way that helps our toll on all of us. Mental pressures are wider social and economic factors – Manager of St Mungo’s shelter for increasingly popular as we strive to increasing flexibility, mobility and clients not only find a meaningful use leading to increased strains that affect eviction, job loss, or lack of access homeless, and Simon Plummer on the right. cope with the pandemic and live lives enhanced ability to recover from pain of their time but also a way to see us physically. So right now, with more to much needed physical or mental Manpret, a longer term resident at St better adapted to our new realities. and injury. benefits for their physical and mental uncertainty in the job markets and as health care. It is a problem faced by Mungo’s, has been doing really well and he health. This has a real impact on their One of the tools available to us is the Gunness: So what sorts of people and we move towards the extra stresses individuals and a social concern which is rehabilitating back into society and trains state of mind and assists in their Alexander Technique – long practised situations does it apply to? of our first Christmas holiday period is not inevitable. with us at least twice week. Manpret is very journey back into society. here in the UK. To find out more, Chris Herzberg: In nearly 30 years of under possible restrictions, it has never That’s why at St Mungo’s we want enthusiastic about the centre. "It’s brilliant!" Gunness spoke to Angie Herzberg, a “Alexander” I have had referrals from been more important to think deeply everyone to have a place to call home, When Simon Plummer approached us Below: St Mungo's scheme helps local Alexander practitioner and teacher doctors of various specialties and am about the basics of life: how we think and the opportunity to fulfil their hopes from the Porchester Centre offering gym people to help themselves, to give with more than 25 years’ experience, currently working with a leading Harley and move, how we breathe, how we do and ambitions. Our ambition is to reverse passes to assist with the rehabilitation them more confidence. Residents including two decades at a leading Street Rheumatologist. I have taught something as basic as sit in a chair, read the rise in rough sleeping in England. In the of our residents back into society, we Silvia and Damien, in the centre, St London drama school. and helped a wide range of people of or use a computer. areas where we work, we aim to halve the jumped at the idea. Mungo’s Community Bridging Officer all ages, many in the creative world Gunness: What is the Alexander At the risk of sounding too grandiose, number of people sleeping rough by 2021. After an initial meeting with our shelter Tia Mancuso is to the right and Simon such as actors, singers, musicians and Technique and how long has it been Alexander Technique is a powerful We put the person at the heart of how manager, Simon issued a batch of Plummer on the left. artists and people from a wide variety of practised in the UK? vehicle for human improvement, we work. Whatever the issues someone passes for us to initially take some of Silvia commented that she wants to backgrounds and professions, including Herzberg: The Alexander Technique positive change and professional faces, be they drug or alcohol related, our residents down with a staff member. lose weight and coming to Porchester judges, politicians, teachers and office helps her get back on track in was created by F.M Alexander, an development and at every level. I or to do with mental or physical health, Then as the resident became acquainted workers. general. Damien said how he likes Australian actor who began developing have worked with a broad range of we use a recovery-based approach. and confident with the centre and And to be clear, the technique can booking procedures, they then started the place, it helps him feel good and the technique in the 1890s in response medical and other practitioners in This uses a person’s unique skills and enhance personal performance across going by themselves. he wants to eventually join. to his own voice loss and breathing group, institutional and individual strengths as the foundation upon which a whole spectrum of human activity, problems. He came to London in settings, to nurture physical and mental to build their recovery. helping people to feel better mentally realignment, encourage an awareness 1904 and soon earned support among St Mungo have an assisted and physically, as well as calmer and of helpful behaviours in mind and body important members of the medical accommodation block at 217 Harrow more confident. and engender deep-seated processes of community who referred patients to Road, London, W2 5XQ. St Mungo self-awareness and healing. In a word, him. His reputation grew and he became Gunness: And what specific sorts of Association is a housing association these skills are more relevant now than the teacher to some of the most high- situations and activities are you talking providing a range of low cost social ever before. These are qualities that profile actors, politicians and business about? housing to people needing somewhere to enrich our personal world. people of his day. Herzberg: the Alexander Technique live. Our team provides semi-independent Today the Alexander Technique is touches on all of our daily activities in Angie Herzberg is offering a accommodation for people who have so widely accepted by the medical helping us identify bad physical habits 20% discount to all SEBRA members a history of rough sleeping. It’s a good establishment that some insurance and dealing with them by promoting on an introductory session and 10% stepping stone for people to have their companies routinely cover it. And true co-ordination, poise, balance and on all subsequent lessons. own flat with support on-site or just to the days of Alexander himself, it enabling alignment of ourselves. It has Email [email protected] down the road as they continue to continues to enjoy celebrity support been used to improve stamina and progress with their recovery. 122 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2020 123 THE ROYAL PARKS THE ROYAL PARKS The Royal Parks THE CRYSTAL PALACE - A VIRTUAL TOUR THE ROYAL PARKS WELCOME YOU THIS WINTER

Andrew Scattergood Swans on the Serpentine. Chief Executive, The Royal Parks I’d like to begin by wishing SEBRA congratulations on its 50th Anniversary. So much has changed since SEBRA formed in 1970. Back then in the 70s we were celebrating hip new devices such as the microwave, we were amazed at the first use of a barcode in a supermarket and we were shocked when went their separate ways. And certainly, no one could have predicted the strange new world we would find ourselves in today. But one thing has remained constant throughout: London’s Royal Parks have been here and free for In fact, this is nothing new: during the Great Plague of London whoever needs them. in 1665-6, many sought refuge in The Royal Parks for respite. or the first time in 169 years, And now, 169 years since the exhibition The interactive website shows the In recent months, local residents have particularly valued Many used the green spaces for the duration of the plague, visitors can take a 360 tour opened, visitors can step back in vast scale of the Crystal Palace along Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens during the lockdown. achieving their own form of social distancing away from the around The Crystal Palace, the time and explore the building once with exhibit information. The parks have provided a chance to get some fresh air, have crammed and mazy medieval streets. And again, Londoners venue of the formidable 1851 again, using their phone, tablet or a break from all the uncertainty and to enjoy the beautiful education resource and built the virtual sought out the parks for fresh air and social distancing during FGreat Exhibition held in Hyde Park – but PC. A combination of CGI and 360 natural environment. reality tour of The Crystal Palace as the the last global pandemic in 1918-20, the Spanish flu. this time without leaving your home. photography which overlays the historic competition prize. Right now, the parks continue to play a vital role in protecting The Royal Parks, the charity which building onto the present-day site, Hyde Park on a Winter's Night. and supporting people’s health. They were a lifeline over summer manages London’s eight Royal Parks allows visitors to switch between then Ledy Leyssen, Head of Learning at The and they will be a wonderful way to boost wellbeing over winter. has partnered with educational virtual and now. Users can marvel at the huge Royal Parks, said: “The Great Exhibition So, we are welcoming reality company, Seymour & Lerhn, to scale of the site. People can discover opened on 1st May 1851 in London’s Hyde people to continue create the first virtual tour of the historic intriguing stories as they navigate: Park to showcase the arts, science and to enjoy the great building, on location in Hyde Park. You can find out about the first ever technology of the day, yet nothing remains outdoors with these The Crystal Palace was a marvel of its public toilets and the lady who walked of the structure now. So, 169 years later valuable green spaces. time when it opened in Hyde Park on from Cornwall to attend, becoming a we’ve harnessed today’s technology to Wrap up warm and 1 May 1851. It was an enormous celebrity in the process. bring the Royal Parks’ heritage to life, step outside. Enjoy structure constructed from glass and uncovering the park’s past for everyone to The building was regenerated digitally the parks’ stark cast iron, measuring 563m by 138m, and using The Royal Commission for the enjoy, especially those who aren’t able to beauty over the 39m high. The giant building hosted the Exhibition of 1851’s archive of plans visit in person.” coming months. thousands of global exhibits of The Great Fun on a frosty morning. and images, as well as The Royal Parks’ The Royal Parks will seek funding to Experience crisp, Exhibition of the Works of Industry of historical documents such as old maps. further develop the project by populating frosty mornings and soft sunlight. They are fantastic places All Nations, the brainchild of Queen The Crystal Palace with the artifacts of to engage in nature, get some exercise and connect safely Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, to The Royal Parks was the winning entry with friends and family. Put simply, a walk in the park makes celebrate the industrial technology and to a competition set by Seymour & The Great Exhibition. you feel better. design of the Victorian age, showcased Lerhn which invited organisations to put Charlie Power, Head Honcho, Seymour And I hope you don’t mind me mentioning that to more than six million people. forward proposals for a virtual reality & Lerhn, said: “The Great Exhibition Riding horses in the snow. by buying food and drink in our catering outlets of 1851 'Crystal Palace' was a truly or by buying sustainable Christmas trees from incredible feat of engineering, and we're our parks, you are helping to support these delighted to see it brought to life on its beautiful green spaces. The Royal Parks is a 169th anniversary! With the lockdown charity and we really do need your help to keep continuing, the virtual tour offers a the parks beautiful and safe for everyone. unique way for people to ‘get out of the It strikes me that today you house’ and explore the history hidden are reading the 100th issue of within Hyde Park - all without actually SEBRA NEWS W2. I believe having to leave their homes.” that these vital green spaces will be just as crucial to our Further Information wellbeing when the 200th Virtual tour website: bit.ly/sebra-cp edition is published. Royal Parks website: royalparks.org.uk I wish you all well over the Tour on Youtube: bit.ly/sebra-cpvid winter months.

126 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2020 127 THE ROYAL PARKS THE ROYAL PARKS

General Ecology project Credit: Jenna Sutela Sporulating Paragraph, 2017 Photo: Istvan Virag © Punkt Ø/Momentum 9 Courtesy of the artist and Momentum 9. Serpentine Galleries Dear friends at SEBRA...

e are delighted to continue welcoming Join us to hear anthropologists, artists, foragers, scientists visitors to the Serpentine Galleries, which and a wide range of contributors across art, literature, are FREE to enter as always, with a major environment, science and technology explore the boundaries new exhibition of the New York-based and connections between all life on earth - with a particular Wpainter Jennifer Packer opening on 18 November. focus on the life beneath our feet. Join us for Jennifer Packer’s first institutional solo exhibition in Europe, The Eye Is Not Satisfied With Seeing, which includes paintings and drawings from the past decade alongside recent work. One of the most significant painters of her generation, Packer is known for painting intimate portraits of friends and family members, and flower still lifes. Beautiful and timely, the exhibition will draw out necessary discussions on racial politics, representation and art history.

James Barnor, Constance Mulondo, London University, published in Drum magazine, August 1967.

Details on all these events and exhibitions, as well as our many other online projects can be found on our website at Say Her Name, 2017 Oil on canvas 101.6 x 121.9 cm, 40 www.serpentinegalleries.org. Our role as a public institution x 48 inches Courtesy: The Artist, Corvi-Mora, London and is to support artists and sustain access to culture for all. Now Sikkema Jenkins & Co, New York Photo: Matt Grubb. more than ever we must look to artists for innovation, hope James Barnor, A group of friends photographed during Mr. and perspective. Here at the Serpentine Galleries, we’re always questioning and Mrs Sackey’s wedding, London, c. 1966. © the artist. everything around us, even the ground beneath our feet. Looking ahead to Spring 2021, we will present the first Serpentine Galleries Did you know a mere handful of soil holds 50km of fungal major survey of British-Ghanaian photographerJames Winter 2020/Spring 2021 mycelium and 100 billion bacteria? Barnor, whose career spans six decades, two continents and Jennifer Packer As part of our ongoing General Ecology project, the numerous photographic genres through his work with studio The Eye Is Not Satisfied With Seeing Serpentine's ongoing exploration of art and ecology, we are portraiture, photojournalism, editorial commissions and wider Serpentine Gallery 18 November 2020 - 14 March 2021 presenting an online symposium on consciousness across social commentary. The Shape of a Circle in the Mind of a Fish species, reflecting on soil, earth, land and ground.The As always, entry to the Serpentine Galleries is free of charge. Online Symposium, 5 and 6 December 2020 Shape of a Circle in the Mind of a Fish: The Understory of the We now offer timed, ticketed entry via our website at: Understory, is the fourth of our ongoing festival series and www.serpentinegalleries.org/tickets, and we have made a few Spring 2021 takes us right into the ground. This year’s festival takes place tweaks to your journey through the gallery spaces. To ensure James Barnor 30 March - 30 August 2021 Jess, 2018 Oil on canvas 76.2 x 61 cm 30 x 24 inches online, and will be livestreamed over two days on 5 & 6 your safety whilst visiting us, we have an enhanced cleaning www.serpentinegalleries.org Collection of Ursula Burns Photo: Jason Wyche. December with participation from all over the world. routine and an easy-to-follow, one-way route through the show.

132 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2020 133 CITY HALL NEWS CITY HALL NEWS As we head into the winter months, stopped building. He's delayed his it's unlikely that any new restrictions £4.82 billion housebuilding programme, introduced now will be lifted until the which supposedly was meant to start spring. That means central London building 116,000 new homes by 2022. could lay empty for more than a year. Considering that half of these homes This is an economic catastrophe, and haven't been started after four years, yet, instead of working to safely get it's hardly a surprise Khan's jumped our city moving and open, Khan is at a chance to blame coronavirus and championing yet more restrictions. extend the deadline. While coronavirus is the biggest public Sadiq Khan: "The worst Mayor the health emergency in generations, the City has ever seen." economic consequences of Sadiq Khan's 'London is closed' approach risks making Together with the Conservative it an extinction-level event for the Candidate for Mayor, Shaun Bailey Capital's economy. AM and my Conservative colleagues It may prove necessary for new on the , we have restrictions to be introduced in London been calling for the Mayor to urgently if the latest national measures do not Many new homes have been delayed. City Hall News publish an economic recovery strategy slow the spread of the virus. If so, since June. Westminster Council has Londoners would expect that the Mayor London is facing an existential crisis. been doing some brilliant things which would be urgently looking at how this And the Capital, unfortunately, is I won't repeat here as SEBRA NEWS KEEPING TO THE RIGHT would impact people's livelihoods. being led by the worst Mayor the city W2 covers them fully elsewhere in Yet, we have heard nothing from the has ever seen. Without a Mayor with this issue. Supposedly, there is one in IN CITY HALL Mayor on how City Hall would mitigate a recovery plan, the ability to deliver the making in Sadiq Khan's City Hall, the economic consequences of a local new homes and transport upgrades, or but so far, there has been no sign of it. lockdown. Without a plan to protect sensible policies to get London moving, Without one, City Hall will continue to jobs or rebuild London's economy, the capital may emerge from this crisis be rudderless and ineffective when it Khan's push for tighter measures in permanently poorer. That's not just comes to helping London's recovery. London is self-harm at its worst. devastating for my constituents, but as It's irresponsible that more than To make matters even worse, the Khan warns, for the country. Tony Devenish AM seven months into this crisis, and with Mayor's disastrous transport policies difficult winter months ahead, there in response to coronavirus are grinding THE WAR ON THE MOTORIST GLA Member, West Central is no plan at City Hall to protect and the capital to a halt. Khan's congestion CONTINUES AND IT IS & Belgravia create jobs in London. charge hike has led to a 27% reduction NOT EVEN HELPING THE Ward Councillor in cars travelling into central ENVIRONMENT London, damaging businesses I wrote in detail about this in the last ormer US President Bill Clinton and discouraging people SEBRA NEWS W2. My one recent put it best "It's the Economy, from returning to the capital. success is that TfL have listened and Stupid." Where after seven long While TfL's anti-car measures removed the Edgware Road traffic months is Sadiq Khan's plan to are causing gridlock across barriers during September. Recent clean Fsave London's economy from decline? indeed the country, perhaps a trend the city with congestion air figures show air pollution is back to "There will be no national recovery which is inevitable now half of shopping without a London recovery." in parts of London soaring pre COVID levels and the Mayor must go is conducted online, what we used to past pre-lockdown levels. So back to the drawing board and come up with measures that improve air quality call the internet or the world-wide web. recession has led Britain back to much for his promise to be rather than just tax motorists more. But it would be a start if Sadiq Khan had prosperity. But this time, it may be the "the greenest Mayor ever". last place to recover. Yet, the Mayor a plan to address this enormous issue. Added to this newly created AN HONOUR TO SERVE fails to recognise that he is one of the May 2020 - Regent Street. "Central transport chaos are the consequences biggest obstacles to London's recovery London's economy has been drained." Finally, I should say how honoured I am SADIQ KHAN SNUBS LONDON of Khan's incompetent handling of – and given the huge challenges facing London's transport network for the to have a 5th year as YOUR AM. I am You may feel I am being unfair on the London, that's an enormous own goal. It's difficult to exaggerate the scale past four and a half years. In my corner in my 15th year as a Westminster City Mayor, until I tell you that at the July Councillor. The Mayor /GLA election is Bill Clinton: "It's the economy, stupid". To kick-start London's economic of economic destruction that has of London, the Mayor's dither, delay Plenary of the London Assembly on now on 6 May 2021. When YOU will recovery, the Mayor ought to do taken place in the London Assembly and blame game over Hammersmith Readers, please forgive me in this issue this very topic, London's Economy, have your say on both the Mayor and three things. Firstly, come up with an constituency which I represent. My Bridge has left south-west Londoners of SEBRA NEWS W2 from veering away the Mayor was a "no show”, as were your GLA Member. economic recovery strategy to find a constituency includes three boroughs at trapped for more than 18 months. We from my usual drum beat on crime, all his Deputy Mayors. An almost way out of this crisis. Secondly, get the heart of the Capital, which were once can't ignore the latest delay to Crossrail Please keep writing to me re police - housing and transport as your London unprecedented snub to London in London moving safely again. Finally, thriving with dynamic businesses, world- which leaves the Elizabeth Line nearly housing - transport - environment and our Assembly Member and a Westminster the 20 years of the Greater London deliver new homes and transport class theatres, and renowned tourist four years late and more than £3 billion economy matters. Councillor. I am focusing instead on the Authority's existence. No excuse was upgrades. This would require the Mayor attractions. But to stop the spread of over budget. And that's on top of the existential threat to London's economy offered by the Mayor. to roll up his sleeves, as both Ken coronavirus, the lifeblood of central 21 transport upgrades which have been Councillor Tony Devenish AM that the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan delayed or cancelled on Khan's watch. I agree with Mr Khan on one thing, Livingstone and Boris Johnson did as London's economy has been drained. [email protected] seems to have all but missed. he has said there will be no national Mayor during a crisis, take responsibility For more than seven months, there have Housebuilding has not escaped Khan's 020 7983 6576 The fate of the UK's oldest shopping recovery without a London recovery. and show leadership. Unfortunately, if been few office workers, few tourists, reverse Midas touch either. At exactly @Tony_Devenish centre and our local one, Whiteleys, is Our Capital is a gigantic economic Khan's time in office shows us anything, little footfall and much of London's the moment when London needs the tonydevenisham now being repeated across London and powerhouse, which in every past he is not the man for the job. culture venues have been closed. Mayor to build, build, build, Khan's

138 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2020 139 CITY HALL NEWS CITY HALL NEWS In the meantime, we do need the I have been keeping in touch with KEEPING TO THE LEFT carriages on the line replaced. Many small and medium-sized enterprises of them are almost as old as l am and like Normah’s Malaysian restaurant in IN CITY HALL do not have modern facilities like air Queensway Market to hear about the conditioning. l will continue to raise challenges they are facing. this with TfL, making sure the issue is It is apparent that a number of firms not forgotten. Who knows whether the have missed out on Government new Paddington tube station funding and support in Central London, for the Bakerloo line will be CLADDING SCANDAL due to conditions surrounding rateable open before Crossrail? AND ROUGH SLEEPING value thresholds. Normah’s have also Murad Qureshi AM Whilst the victims’ families seek told me about the confusion they have justice at the Grenfell Inquiry on experienced with the Government’s Former Westminster Bishop's Bridge Road, W2, we are grant systems. City Councillor also in the midst of a wider cladding scandal across London. This is causing s we enter a second lockdown a significant amount of stress and in the capital, it is crucial that discomfort to many Londoners as we all closely follow the new many can’t move or re-mortgage their and stricter rules, so we can containA the virus as swiftly as possible. properties, with annual insurance bills hitting the roof. Frustratingly, we have lost our grip on the pandemic in recent months A case in point in Paddington is the and this has been underpinned by the M&M Building on Hermitage Street, Government’s hesitation to implement where the residents discovered Potential hostel? The empty an early circuit breaker and their they had ACM panelling and were Paddington Green Police Station. generally shambolic handing of the Test landed with full liability for the and Trace system. remedial works by their freeholder. The latest figures show that there was It is abundantly clear that Ministers This will cost residents £40,000 per a slight decrease in rough sleeping Despite this, before the pandemic A key question to ask is why is the must now hand over some parts of the flat, leading to huge annual building in Westminster during the summer struck, Mayor Sadiq Khan managed Government treating TfL differently system for local authorities to run, as insurance premiums. months, when compared to the previous they know their communities a lot better to reduce TfL’s £1.5 billion operating from the failing private train operators year. This could be largely attributed The first lockdown had a dramatic it gave an 18-month blank cheque to? than largely unaccountable private deficit by 71%. TfL’s cash balances also to the ‘Everyone In’ campaign, which effect on the hospitality industry. contractors ever could. saw an increase of 13%. After all, London’s economic recovery was backed by Government funding, In recent months, I have implored the Londoners did the right thing during relies on stable and well-funded public Let us not forget what the World Health in which City Hall worked with Government to find a way to support lockdown and stayed away from public transport. The country’s recovery Organisation (WHO) has been advising local authorities and homelessness the small businesses who are still since the beginning of the year, ‘test, test transport where possible. There is no depends on London’s recovery. charities to bring almost 1,700 rough falling through the gaps. and test’. doubt they will do the same in the sleepers into hotels and other safe weeks ahead. CROSSRAIL AND It has been positive to see the accommodation to self-isolate. Chancellor recently refine components In the light of this, TfL have been THE BAKERLOO LINE We can’t afford to be complacent of his Winter Economic Plan and clear with Ministers on the need I have been hearing about Crossrail and now need to see Ministers agree extend the furlough scheme until for the Government to step in since my school days in Paddington to urgently put in more funding March, responding to some of the and provide a long-term and in the early eighties and l can well to support another round of this concerns raised by the business sustainable emergency funding remember when Cecil Parkinson MP campaign to last beyond Christmas. community. package to make up for their lost made the announcement for its launch. revenue. So, it is frustrating to hear it is not going With winter coming and the arrival of However, while these changes are to be operational until 2022. This could welcome, we have already seen a large It was positive to see the the second lockdown, we also need have implications for the opening date number of jobs unnecessarily lost in Government drop the worst of to be aware of the facilities available of the new Bakerloo Line entrance into the capital due to the Government’s the proposals they put forward to homeless people, particularly when The WHO testing advice is very clear. Paddington station being led by the previous missteps and failure to act during the latest round of negotiations. communal sleeping areas might be developers of Paddington Square. early on. TFL FINANCES This is down to the campaigning efforts unsafe. It is in this context, that l have As for the Bakerloo Line itself, it has been The M&M Building where ACM of City Hall, charities, business leaders suggested that whilst Paddington In addition to the measures recently During the first lockdown, TfL lost 90% disappointing to hear that is extension cladding was found and leaseholders and ordinary Londoners. Green Police station lies empty, it could announced, we need to see the of it fares revenue and as we go into into South London has been delayed due are faced with huge remediation costs. Government boosting sick pay, raising another lockdown period, it continues However, ahead of the current to the financial difficulties TfL is facing at be converted into a temporary hostel the cap on UC, increasing housing to face a financial cliff-edge. emergency funding settlement running the hands of the pandemic. Whilst they will now receive before it gets knocked down to make benefit and getting self-isolation Compared to other transport dry again in March, we must continue some remediation grants from the way for a residential development. This is why TfL and the Mayor have payments to low income Londoners. authorities across the world, TfL is keep the pressure on Ministers, so they been forthright about the need for Government, the whole sorry saga unique in that it mostly reliant on do not put punitive conditions back does shed light on the nature of the THE WEST END ECONOMY a long-term funding deal from the Murad Qureshi AM fares income. This is because in 2018, on the table, such as the extension of Government. Otherwise, key transport relationship between leaseholders and You will all have heard and seen first- the Government took away the £700 the congestion charge zone and the infrastructure projects, crucial to freeholders in England. This all makes a hand the dramatic impact the first [email protected] 0207 983 5545 million annual operating grant that it removal of free travel for under-18s job creation and London’s economic very strong argument for commonhold lockdown had on the West End and @MuradQureshiLDN gave to TfL. and older Londoners. recovery, will be put at risk. like they have in Scotland. particularly the hospitality industry.

140 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2020 141 LETTERS AND ABOUT SEBRA LETTERS AND ABOUT SEBRA A "BLOCKBUSTER OF Congratulations also to John and I have tried to glean a reason from INFORMATION" Steve on the 100th edition of SEBRA's Westminster, but to no avail - might wonderful magazine you be able to assist with this, and have just received the latest edition if what you find out is suitable, then of SEBRA NEWS W2 and once Councillor Susie Burbridge perhaps you might like to feature it in again it is another Blockbuster of and Snoopy SEBRA NEWS W2?! information, covering a truly wide Lancaster Gate Ward Irange of subjects. Philip Plesner The magazine is where I find out what is TREE FELLERS AT WORK Cleveland Terrace, W2 going on in Westminster, it is my bible. few weekends ago, we Thank you so much for producing such returned home to Cleveland DOG OWNERS NEED SHOW a splendid magazine of information and Terrace to find that the tree RESPECT BEFORE THE FOUL news, I love it. in question had been felled, in YELLOW CARD TURNS RED turnA ruining the “Tree Lined” effect that Sheila Davies ncreasing dog ownership is as Hyde Park Crescent, W2 has literally grown over the years! visible as the increased fouling, but why do it right outside people’s KIND WORDS FROM KAREN homes? As babies did our parents let Ius wee us on the pavement, or against would just like to offer my Your Letters someone’s property? congratulations to SEBRA on both their 50th Anniversary and the We know the problem of the We welcome your letters on any subject that might be of interest to the readers ofSEBRA NEWS W2. milestone of 100 magazines. intentionally antisocial (who leave Send your contributions to: [email protected] or by post to John Zamit, Chairman (address on page 2). I ‘bags of solids’ anywhere other than Your articles are always informative, Note that contributions may be subject to minor editorial changes. Please include your full contact details. varied and well presented and many of the relevant bins) but why let our The writer of the "Star Letter" will be presented with six bottles of wine. the covers have really made me smile. pavements turn into rivers of urine? I would also like to offer my thanks for PROMPT ACTION NEEDED ON MAGAZINE We look forward to the next your support of the Young Westminster magazine as ever and encourage here is a complaint that needs to be heard - Foundation, an organisation very close to you to take prompt action to you don’t charge us enough for your excellent my heart. rectify this oversight. Tpublications throughout the year! Councillor Karen Scarborough We appreciate your no nonsense approach and eternal Carl Richardson Marylebone High Street Ward vigilance on all our behalves in keeping us informed on local Porchester Terrace issues (always done with a twinkle in your eye!). AND KIND WORDS FROM SUSIE TOO CONGRATULATIONS TO It is both hugely informative and A happy 50th Anniversary to SEBRA and SEBRA FROM FM CONWAY beautifully compiled. The overall many congratulations to John Zamit, presentation is totally professional n behalf of everyone in FM our champion standing on our very own and I wonder how on earth you can Conway, I would like to Lancaster Gate plinth. Not far behind produce it for the reasonable price of our congratulate SEBRA on their him, hiding under the bench, is Snoopy. membership. Take care, stay safe. 50th Anniversary and the Opublication of their 100th magazine. SEBRA Member Why was this tree in Cleveland Bayswater, W2 Terrace felled? The author is stumped. Poo bags aren't the only dog waste AN INVALUABLE RECORD Ed: Thanks for the kind words! problem on Bayswater's streets. EBRA NEWS W2 arrived diet and well being was very useful. Not a day goes by without a dog walker yesterday, and I was glued to it And the report from the police. Nicky waiting mid-pavement or by a home for most of the day! It brought Hessenberg's piece was a classic! entrance to cock its leg or squat, and Bayswater so vividly to life on Though I am lucky to be safe and sound seemingly without a care as to whose Sthe page. It will be an invaluable record It has been a pleasure working with with grandchildren in a beautiful part of property is being contaminated and for future historians. SEBRA on numerous projects over many the country, London is where I belong, disfigured, even structurally damaged years and we look forward to continue I thought the political balance was just warts and all. (no joke). It seems letting the dog take working with the Association for many right, though the Councillors' reply to I was depressed to hear about Crossrail, a wee wherever and whenever it wants more to come. complaints can be a bit bland, especially tho not that surprised, having heard a is as de rigueur as spitting is to the from the Tories. I have a lot of time for talk by its CEO who was very concerned televised footballer. Alan Kraven Maggie and of course Karen Buck, who is about the effect of self distancing on the Dog owners need to show respect Service Development Manager a wonderful, dedicated MP. workers. Will it ever get completed? before the foul yellow card turns red So congratulations to all for another FURTHER MAGAZINE PRAISE All the best,and thanks again for all you and our Council Inspectors need prick bumper issue, a must read for everybody do for the area. We must keep any eye up their ears to this destructive and would like to take this opportunity to who lives or works in the area. I loved on future plans for the closed Pomona's. growing health hazard. congratulate you and your colleagues the profile of Eric Carter, one of my for the extraordinary high standard favourite people in Bayswater - and Sally Sampson We were really devastated to see this Pedro I of the magazine. of course the guidance on health, Hereford Road, W2 happen and are very sad! Gloucester Terrace, W2 156 www.sebra.org.uk SEBRA NEWS W2 - AUTUMN 2020 157