6 JUNE 2005 THE ARCHER - 08717 334465 Tuning in to By Daphne Chamberlain London Radio visited Finchley a couple of months ago for its lunchtime Round Your Manor series but reporter Max- well Hutchinson came prepared to be unimpressed. After looking at photos of Gaumont, Finchley past and present, he showing “one of the finest had written us off as “a sad story Art Deco cinemas in the whole of an interesting suburb being of London, with a wonderful, eroded by poor quality build- wonderful restaurant - like the ings, bad planning decisions Atlantic Bar and Grill behind and urban neglect”. Piccadilly Circus”. This was “Am I right?” he asked Bill the cue for Elms and Bill Tyler, President of The Finchley Tyler to praise the Phoenix Society. on the High Road, the oldest “We battle for better archi- cinema in the country still tecture and planning”, Bill told operating. him, “But it’s a hard struggle. Talk roamed on about the Terry Stone of Advisory Service (right) is handed a giant cheque for £1,000. Photo by Erini Rodis Developers seem to have the Naked Lady statue at Hen- whip hand.” ly’s Corner, our own statue A depressing start, but of the archer on the station, Charity trust money for studio presenter Robert Elms the former mental asylum looked on the bright side. in , Finchley Reeling off the names of Peter Common, highwaymen and community project Sellers, David Jason, Norman Turpin’s Oak, and the number By Terry Stone Wisdom, Ronnie Barker, of good pubs to eat, with Bill Ladbrokes Charitable Trust has donated a grant of £1,000 towards East Finchley Charlie Chester, Eric More- Tyler supplying historical Advice Service’s new project to help former recipients of the service to build and cambe, Terry Thomas, Spike detail. He also had several Milligan and more – all born good words to say about the develop skills, break away from poverty, and make a positive contribution to the in or residents of Finchley – he artsdepot – “architecturally community in the process. wondered what was so funny absolutely monstrous, but with East Finchley Advice people with experience of tend to have low self-esteem about living here. a lot going on there”. Service now wishes to deliver mental health problems. and low expectations. It is However, what really mat- The programme was broad- a volunteering project spe- East Finchley Advice Serv- expected that volunteers’ con- tered to Elms was the old open- cast opposite East Finchley sta- cifically for former users of its ice, based in Church Lane, plans fidence will be boosted as they air Lido. That was where – “like tion, which emerged as the star service and focus on increasing to recruit up to 10 local volun- move from being at the “receiv- most of London” – he spent of the show. Calling it “mar- opportunities to progress them teers and offer them a structured ing end” of services to a position the long, hot summer of 1976. vellous, modernist, absolutely into jobs. programme of training, includ- of providing a service that is While he lamented its closure, beautiful Art Deco”, Hutchin- This project will target ing office routines, dealing with needed and valued locally. Maxwell Hutchinson mourned son conceded that Finchley was local people from local hous- the public, welfare rights and The aim is to provide volun- the loss of cinemas. not as dull as he had expected. In ing estates who have been out legislation, IT and advocacy teers with the necessary skills, fact, he told us, he was definitely of work for lengthy periods: skills. experience and knowledge of Art deco star disabled people, lone parents, People with no employment the world of work, as well as He raved about photos of being won over. members of black and ethnic experience or who have been the confidence to move on. minority communities, and out of work for long periods 

   ST. JOHNS CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALIST CHURCH Tele: 079 444 989 30 ~ Web: www.stjohnsfinchley.co.uk Finchley Society history talk Services Sunday 6.30 p.m. Thursday 7.30 p.m. John Heathfield will tell a th Holy Communion 1st Sunday of the month 6.30 p.m. 20 Century Finchley and its has an extensive knowledge of Healing every Tuesday between 1 p.m. & 3 p.m. meeting of The Finchley surroundings in the local wildlife and environ- Weddings ~ Christenings ~ Funerals (at the church or cemetery) Society history group of his at 8pm. Entry is free and non- ment. by arrangement with the Minister All are welcome work and approach to local members are welcome. Information on The 4 Woodberry Grove N12 (behind Homebase) history in a talk at Avenue Derek is a member of the Finchley Society and how to House, East End Road, N3 society’s archive team. He is join from 020 8883 2633 and EAST FINCHLEY ARTS FESTIVAL 2005 at 8pm on Wednesday June familiar with the area and also www.finchleysociety.org.uk. Friday June 25th - Sunday July 3rd 15. Entry is free and non- Art Drama Music Poetry members are welcome. th th John is a well-known local Friday June 24 London Ripieno Society a programme to mark the 500 historian who has written Golden age Anniversary of Thomas Tallis and a performance of Geoffrey Hanson's extensively about Finchley. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Church Farmhouse recent setting of the Requiem. Museum is hosting an exhibition from 30 April until 4 Saturday June 25th Fidelio Piano Quartet. Acclaimed group of young He is about to publish a new players in works by Haydn, Brahms and a new work by James Francis- book on the district in World September which traces the history of the museum and Brown War 11, written in co-operation its collections. Sunday June 26th Thamyse String Quartet. A return visit of this popular with Percy Reboul, another From transport to Troika museum in 1965. Quartet in works by Haydn, Brahms & Britten well-known historian. pottery and from gadgets to th The next half-century Monday June 27 East Finchley Open local artists exhibition open ghost stories, this celebration Pam Usher, Barnet’s Head evening - admission free. Common ground th The society history group of the museum places particular of Cultural Services, says Wednesday June 29 Duo: Matsumi Hatano & Takashi Tsunoda, a emphasis on its past exhibitions, recital of English Lute Songs. is studying the enclosure of that for the past half-century Thursday June 30th Margaret Wolfit, daughter of Sir Donald, in a Finchley Common and its many of them based on the pri- Church Farmhouse Museum dramatized performance based on the journals and letters of Octavia Hill. effect on Finchley and seeks vate collections of local resi- has played a unique part in the Friday July 1st Three Poets: Fleur Adcock, Jill Bamber & Alan help. Anyone interested dents and virtually all unique heritage of the borough, enter- Brownjohn read a from a selection of their works. to Church Farm. nd should contact Tony Roberts taining and informing hundreds Saturday July 2 London Mozart Players David Juritz on 020 8883 5954. Another Built around 1660 but with of thousands of visitors: “The Conductor/Soloist Mozart, Purcell, Hanson, Grieg & Piazzolla rd project is photographing local many Victorian alterations and next 50 years should be just as Sunday July 3 Finchley Children's Music Group. Musical Director: shops for a survey planned for a additions, Church Farm is Hen- successful; come and join us as Grace Rossiter in a programme of music by Tchaikovsky, Verdi, Sallinen, don’s oldest surviving dwelling, Tippet & Hanson. repeat every two or three years. we embark on them.” Anyone interested in helping now listed Grade II. Church Farmhouse All events at All Saints Church, Durham Road, should contact David Marcus For nearly 300 years the Museum, at Greyhound Hill, East Finchley, N2 at 7-30pm centre of a busy hay and dairy Tickets: London Mozart Players £14; Concessions £10; Children under 16 £1 on 020 8346 1734 , is open Mondays All other events except East Finchley Open £10; concessions £8; Children under 16 £1 By-gone Finchley farm, the building opened to Thursdays 10am–1pm and Box Offices: Coral Travel, 50 High Road N2. 020 8444 7268 as a museum for Hendon in On Thursday 30 June Derek 2–5pm, Saturdays 10am–1pm Les Aldrich, 98 Fortis Green Road, N10. 020 8883 5631 1955, and then became the Warren will show slides of early and 2– 5.30pm, and Sundays Visit our website www.eastfinchleyartsfestival.org.uk ’s 2–5.30pm. Admission is free.