Neighbours’ Paper Issue No 82 Putting the People of First Autumn 2017

Free Please Take One Overdevelopment Special Ealing Broadway

With special Questioning... Celebrating! guest editors Is it OK for the council to Arts in Ealing Eric Leach and Will French be a property developer? Ealing Lawn Tennis Club

Acton | Ealing | | Hanwell | | | Read NP Online at www.neighbourspaper.com ContentsContents

Editorial Editorial...... 2 Guest editors Eric Leach and Will French are specially highlighted. Eric chairs take charge for this edition. They focus the West Ealing Neighbourhood Forum Events Around Ealing...... 2 on residents' concerns about property which is preparing a spatial plan for developments that are replacing the West Ealing Town Centre and Will chairs Window on West Ealing...... 3 best bits of the borough with poorly Save Ealing’s Centre, an umbrella group designed over-sized blocks of flats. of residents associations who have Ealing Notes...... 4-5 Examples in West Ealing and Hanwell views about the state of central Ealing. Overdevelopment in Hanwell...... 6

EVENTS AROUND EALING Plans for Perceval House...... 7

Soundbite Street Food Markets Neighbourhood Planning in Ealing.... 8 Saturday 9 September,1:00pm + Acton Farmers’ Market: to 9:00pm, Dean Gardens, Every Saturday: 9:00am – 1:00pm Ealing Planners Out of Touch...... 9 West Ealing W13 9BG Outside Morrisons, Acton Free entry, music, food, craft market, + Ealing Farmers’ Market: UFO Steel Band...... 10 free children’s activities, donkey Every Saturday: 9:00am – 1:00pm rides, free cookery workshops Leeland Road, West Ealing+ Tap into the BEAT...... 11 www.soundbitefestival.org + Northfields Market: Every 3rd Saturday: 10:00am – 2:00pm 135 Years of Lawn Tennis...... 12 BEAT Borough of Ealing Art Trail Northfield Avenue, West Ealing Friday to Sunday 8–10 & + W5 Food Market: 15–17 September. Every 2nd Sunday: 11:00am – Neighbours’ Paper Free entry to 61 Open studios, 3:00pm Outside Ealing Town Hall 170 artists showcasing their works Subscribe for a year: Just £4. Send a in houses, studios, or pop up Ealing Walking, Talking cheque to The Publisher, Neighbours’ exhibition spaces across Ealing. & Exploring Group Paper, 12 Waldemar Avenue W13 9PY www.ealingbeat.org.uk South Acton and its Street Art Now. Find 020 8579 4847 out about Carrie Reichardt’s mosaic, Dr Bike: Free Maintenance Thierry Noir’s promised mural and is Twitter.com/NeighboursPaper Checks Bollo Lane’ name traceable back to Learn how to check your bike The Vikings? Saturday 16 September: Facebook.com/NeighboursPaper for roadworthiness and get 11:00am – lasts 2 + hours. Starts at some good cycling advice. Acton Town Tube Station £10/head Email: [email protected] Locations throughout the Borough. Enquiries: Joanna Dudzinska: Google: Dr Bike Ealing for [email protected] Editor in Chief: Tom Whiting locations and monthly dates. London Open House Weekend Guest Editors: Will French, Eric Leach Free Concerts at St Sat/Sunday 16/17 September. Mary’s Church Hundreds of buildings all over central Treasurer: Judy Breens The Friends of St Mary’s Perivale: and greater London are open and Every Tuesday 2.00pm. Wednesdays free on Open House London weekend. Writers: Judy Breens, 7.30pm and Sundays 3.00pm Catalogue from the libraries or see Will French, Kay Garmeson, Enquiries: 020 8997 7691 or www.openhouselondon.org.uk Eric Leach, Tony Miller www.st-marys-perivale.org.uk Ealing Half Marathon 2017 Designer: Jamie Anson Free Concerts at St Sunday 24 September: 9:00am – 2:30pm Cover: Buildings: (In order) Barnabas Church 13.1 mile/21.09 kilometre run. Starts Replacements for: Perceval House, Lane Every Friday at 1.00pm and ends in Lammas Park, W5 5JH, BHS & former Peugeot site. and Sunday Operas 7.00pm in the where a retail village will be located. Hall 10th September, 22nd October, Run, volunteer or spectate Webmaster: Sonia Nimley 19th November, 17th December. www.ealinghalfmarathon.com See: www.barnabites.org/concerts Advert Designer: Sandy Anson Welshore Chess Club The Taming of The Shrew Welshore Community Hub, 99, Printer: Pollyprint Ltd, 263 Northfield By William Shakespeare: Church of Broadway West Ealing W13 9BP Avenue, Ealing W5 4UA, the Ascension, Beaufort Road, W5 3EB All ages- Saturdays 9 & 23 September 0208 579 1441, www.pollyprint.co.uk Beaufort Players Wednesday, Thursday -Every fortnight following. 10:00am - and Friday 8pm Saturday 7pm 27 – 30 1:00pm Enquiries: Richard Mwangi: Advertisement rates: Single Box £25, September Enquiries: 07730 572389 [email protected] Double Box £45, Triple Box £70

2 Putting the People of Ealing First Next copy deadline: 30st October Read NP Online at www.neighbourspaper.com Window on West Ealing

By Eric Leach Save Our Woolworths Heritage 136 Flats in 11 Storey

Property developer A2Dominion wants block on the BHS site Artists impression of the Mosque to build a 14 storey residential block at 96 - 100 Broadway, West Ealing. The On 24 February 2016, Ealing Council New Mosque for 3,000 Worshippers plan involves demolishing the iconic Planning Committee approved the Woolworths building frontage. Built in building of this residential tower block Demolition work has begun in 1926, the Woolworths building features with an excessive density almost twice preparation for the West London a classic four tiled art deco façade. that permitted in planning guidance. Islamic Centre’s (WLIC’s) new regional The store finally closed its doors for The inhabitants in the 136 flats in an mosque on the corner of Brownlow business in December 2008. This façade 11storey tower will be served by 270 and Singapore Roads. This elegant, is one of 22 Heritage Asset buildings bike racks. The current site owners distinctive piece of architecture will to be retained in the emerging are Thames Valley Housing. Previous rise to five storeys and be a ‘no car West Ealing Centre Neighbourhood owners were Southern Grove of development’. WLIC has so far raised Plan (www.wecnf.org). The West Ealing Mayfair, Sir Philip Green’s stepson £3 million of the total estimated build Centre Neighbourhood Forum (WECNF) Brett Palos and BHS. Demolition cost of £8.3 million. Phase 1 will provide wants to save this valuable piece of West started in September 2017. With the new ground level facilities and has a Ealing history. WECNF has begun petitions neighbouring WLIC mosque being target completion date of May 2018. to save the façade. 550 people have demolished at the same time it’s Phase 2 will complete all external already signed. A paper based petition going to be a dusty and congested structures and Phase 3 will be internal is available at Jeff’s Flowers in Melbourne Autumn for local residents, business fit-out. No dates have been released Avenue. An online petition is available at: staff and visitors in West Ealing. for the completion of Phases 2 and 3. www.wecnf.org/save-our-heritage. [Visual: 2nd building on the cover] More at: www.wliconline.org

New West Ealing Web Site

Money from Ealing Council’s 2012 Riot Recovery/High Street Innovation Fund has been invested in creating a new online presence for everybody who lives in, works in or visits West Ealing. You can find the address and contact details of over 500 retail, business and community organizations on this site. More at: www.mywestealing.org.uk Welshore Chess Club

Welshore Community Hub, at 99 the Broadway, West Ealing, hosts fortnightly meetings of the Welshore Chess Club. The club meets from 10:00am to 1:00pm on alternate Saturdays, (next meet is 9 September). Adults and children all welcome.

Club member Christo Sivakov stole the show at the 2017 Middlesex Mega Final Delancey UK Chess Challenge Christo clinched a brilliant First Prize to become Middlesex Under 8 Chess Supremo! The Middlesex Mega Final was held at Harrow High School on 1 May 2017. Club members are looking forward to another great year at the London Chess Classic on 29 November – 11 December 2017 to be held at Olympia. More from Richard Mwangi: [email protected].

Putting the People of Ealing First 3 Read NP Online at www.neighbourspaper.com Read NP Online at www.neighbourspaper.com

Ealing Notes Compiled by Will French

9-42 The Broadway Days before the Inquiry was due been no investment in it for years and Public Inquiry to start, Benson Elliott announced it devalues the town centre overall. they had sold the site at what British Land has a reputation for taking As widely reported, the long those in the know said, was a huge a strategic approach, so SEC looks anticipated public inquiry into profit and were pulling out. New forward to hearing its long term vision the giant development opposite owners British Land, who also own for Ealing and its plans for this site’. Ealing roadway station was the Ealing Broadway Centre next surprisingly cancelled in May. door, say they are still considering British Land are promising to their development options. reimburse SEC for all its expenses Developers Benson Elliott had obtained in preparing for the inquiry. planning permission to replace the Will French, Chair of Save Ealing’s remaining historic buildings on the Centre who lead local groups Long after the deadline expired site with an 18 storey tower block, objecting to the plans says ‘SEC for doing so, LBE said they were still but the Government decided there is pleased Benson Elliott’s scheme considering whether to apply for should be an inquiry into the plans would not go ahead. However, this the £74,350 it spent on behalf of the and their impact on two of Ealing’s key site at the heart of the town borough. Easy come, easy go. It’s most prominent Conservation Areas. centre has become a plaything for just public money. So Why bother? speculators. It’s grown tatty, there’s

Corner of Haven Green to The inspector agreed with FoHG that lose its Common Land status LBE was wrong in claiming the cycle hub had any recreational purpose so it Following last Spring’s four-day public had therefore been erected unlawfully. inquiry, planning inspector Alan Beckett, However, he thought Crossrail would has ruled that the corner of Haven increase demand for cycle parking, so Green on which the Cycle Hub was there were ‘exceptional circumstances’ built in 2012 should be deregistered as to justify its deregistration. common land. No replacement land will be provided in compensation. FoHG Chair Greg Phelan, said ‘LBE knew very well it needed consent to Government policy is that deregistration put the cycle hub on the common of common land without replacement land. This decision rewards its high- land is permissible only in exceptional handed decision to go ahead without circumstances. Friends of Haven first obtaining consent. Common Green claimed replacement land was land is statutorily safeguarded for the could create a precedent for other available in the undeveloped car park enjoyment and recreation of the public. common land in the Borough. Huge next door and there were no reasons Although 188 square metres might development pressure and high why it could not be used. Anyway, seem a small area, this is only a small land prices mean nowhere is safe.’ there were other equally-suitable common and the hub occupies the FoHG’s web site is at locations for cycle parking nearby. most prominent corner. This decision www.friendsofhavengreen.com.

4 Putting the People of Ealing First Read NP Online at www.neighbourspaper.com

Ealing Notes continueD

Save our Hospitals

Protests are growing against the plans to downgrade Ealing and Charing Cross Hospitals. On 30 Sept marches start from Southall and Acton Parks and culminate at at 1pm. Crossrail Delays Get Worse Ealing’s Council Leader, Julian Bell, Work on Ealing’s Crossrail stations urges Ealing residents to sign the petition continues to slip. In 2012 it was to the Government against the cuts. announced some station works would The QPR development be advanced to benefit existing services He says: “With no blue-light A&E, but almost the only work so far are no maternity, no children’s ward, no Save Warren Farm: the hoardings that appeared around acute beds and an 80% reduction Campaign Update. some stations 2 years ago. TfL and in beds overall, no local resident will Network Rail who are jointly in charge recognise the husk - run by GPs, not Save Warren Farm Campaign say little, but national press reports consultants - that will be left at Ealing (SWFC) seeks more support in their suggest that money is running low. under these proposals as a ‘hospital’. efforts to stop Ealing Council giving To argue that what will remain is a away Warren Farm to QPR and its Ben Sherliker of the Draytons Community ‘local’ hospital is the biggest con of all. shareholders. SWFC is appealing Association (DCA) contacted BBC At a time when Ealing’s population is a court decision in March that the London News and they ran a news story growing and the pressures on the local Council has the right to dispose of this www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england- NHS are already so acute, stripping area of Metropolitan Open Land this london-40458246 on the lack of away vital services and capacity is way. It is challenging the decision on progress. Only then did Crossrail admit nonsensical. A&E waiting times in north the grounds that Ealing Council failed the delays, saying some work was being west London are already amongst to follow the strict legal tests required re-tendered as the previous contracts the worst in the country and these when building on Metropolitan Open were too expensive. They promise proposals threaten to make that worse. Land. These require that the benefits the station buildings will be ready for I urge Ealing residents to show their of a development have to significantly the introduction of the full Crossrail opposition to these reckless plans by outweigh the loss of the land. service in December 2019. Public areas signing the petition to the government, around the station will have to wait urging them to think again and save SWFC is raising the £25,000 it needs to until after that. Expect chaos then Ealing and Charing Cross hospitals.” take the case to the Court of Appeal as extra passengers attracted to the through the Crowd Justice website. service fight their way past contractors Sign the petition at: trying to sort things out outside. www.sohpetition.co.uk. For more Go to SWFC website at www.crossrail.co.uk/route/ news and alerts on the campaign www.crowdjustice.com/case/ western-section go to www.ealing.gov.uk/soh. appeal-to-save-warren-farm.

THE PERIVALE CLUB

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Putting the People of Ealing First 5 Read NP Online at www.neighbourspaper.com Residential Overdevelopment in Hanwell 144-156 Uxbridge Road W7: By Eric Leach Artist's Impression

Development in England is supposed policy transgressions including to fit Local Plans prepared by the height, mass, density, Council. These plans are examined and overbearing nature, and loss of privacy of which will be seven storeys high. approved by a planning inspector to and light for neighbours. Residents of 65% of the flats will be for private check they are economically, socially neighbouring George Street, have sale. None will be Social Homes and environmentally sustainable. reportedly asked the Mayor of London for Rent, which is surprising since to call in the plans for closer inspection. A2Dominion started out as the Acton Ealing’s Local Plan was published Housing Association, supplying and in 2012. It envisages ‘enhancing 64-66 and 70-88 Uxbridge Road managing Social Homes for the poor. and consolidating Hanwell centre’ (between Gold’s Gym and Lidl’s access) with 109 mixed tenure homes to Developer Lou Hanwell Ltd plans At a public exhibition on 5 July be built by 2026. Up to now things to replace a row of 2 storey shops 2017, Hanwell resident, ex-LBE seemed to be going that way. Since (including the Rolls Royce and Bentley Built Environment Director and 2012, 48 new homes have received Showroom) with a box-like 9 storey A2Dominion consultant Noel Planning Permission in Hanwell, so building and another 5 storey building. Rutherford promoted the plans. we were about halfway there. These will house 59 ‘car free’ flats, some of which are claimed to be This site surely cries out for community Things have suddenly changed. ‘Affordable’. The March 2017 Hanwell use. It would be perfect for a school. Hanwell is now confronted by three Community Forum roundly condemned Primary and secondary schools major applications from developers’ the plans which were considered to serving Hanwell are currently 99% wanting to build 386 new homes be overdevelopment, unsympathetic full and Ealing’s rapid population around the centre of Hanwell. This external appearance, lacking growth means new schools will be article looks at what’s in store. amenity space and car parking. The needed in the 2020s. Or what about developer now awaits a slot on the converting the Wickes building into 144 – 156 Uxbridge Road, LBE Planning Committee schedule. a multi-use sports hall or a cultural/ (the former Peugeot site) arts centre? Or with the chronic A Dubai based developer is planning a 75-109 Boston Road W7 3SA shortage of Social Homes for Rent – six storey building plus basement for 36 (Wickes/Nissan site) what we used to call Council Housing flats for private sale and 7 three storey Housing Association and residential – some of these could be built. terraced houses. In granting consent property group A2Dominion wants Sadly, neither the planning system for the plans on 21 June 2017, Ealing to build 284 flats on the large Wickes or Government policy or cash seem Planning Committee ignored numerous site. There will be three blocks, one able to turn these needs into reality.

6 Putting the People of Ealing First Read NP Online at www.neighbourspaper.com Ealing Council Unveils Plans for Perceval House Redevelopment

By Will French

Ealing Council has announced plans to above the roof line of redevelop Perceval House in its most the Town Hall’ but it ambitious project yet. Supposedly doesn’t say whether here to run vital services – things like it would be more or waste collection, education, libraries, less intrusive than the social services, housing, consumer Dickens Yard intrusion. protection, and transport - the Council is to become a property speculator Total floorspace on the by demolishing its own offices. site will almost treble from 20,000m2 to Ealing says Perceval House’s 30 year 57,000m2. Residential old services - lifts, plumbing etc - are density will exceed near the end of their life. They’ve 550 housing units per not researched refurbishment costs hectare, compared but as the Council is cutting by 50% with 371 u/ha at Dickens the office space needed to run Yard which is already our services, it thinks its 1.29ha site excessive to many. is a redevelopment opportunity. The development Overall the idea looks bold - to some will create 471 new homes, half Perceval House Redevelopment Proposals perhaps reckless. Property speculation of which will be affordable. The on this scale is usually best left to single- Council wants its new wholly owned community, LBE will simultaneously be minded property speculators. As the company, Broadway Living, to a major developer seeking a good long delays at the Ealing Filmworks borrow £65.24m to purchase the 253 return, an office occupier, the housing site show, Ealing has no great success affordable homes. Separately it will authority, and the planning authority. in its previous dabbling in this field. have to borrow £63.74m to finance Is it a good idea to embark on such the offices and this would be repaid How would it resolve the inevitable a complex and high risk scheme? from ‘the overall development problems that arise requiring changes profit’ that it does not quantify. to the scheme? It will have to trade its Town Hall Intrusions different roles against one another. It The Council aims to replace its HQ with Risky Business, Conflicting Interests might go for a short term fix regardless a 7-10 storey office facing Uxbridge The costs and the complexity of of any long term costs, or it might Road for its reduced staff. A small the scheme make it truly high pursue some political advantage library will also be included to replace risk. Many risks lie in areas outside irrespective of any wider public interest. the one in the Broadway Centre. the Council’s control. Council documents include measures for Conflicts naturally arise between Packed behind the offices will be a mitigating them but they are unlikely these roles, so how would the Council cramped collection of residential blocks to reassure industry professionals. prioritise between them? It may take including a 20 storey tower. The tower, a short-term fix regardless of any 6 storeys higher than the Dickens Yard A bigger worry is that the Council long-term costs. It could go for a tower, would face the old Fire Station has so many interests and roles in political advantage irrespective of on Longfield Avenue. The Council this scheme. Run by a political party the public interest. Or it could make acknowledges it will create ‘intrusions supposedly to deliver services to the up for a profit shortfall by packing in even more homes never mind the impact on the conservation area.

It is now customary for decisions like this to be taken behind closed door without any effective scrutiny. Lines of accountability have grown worryingly blurred in recent years. However badly this high risk scheme works out, nobody would have to take the responsibility.'

More on www.saveealingscentre.com

Putting the People of Ealing First 7 Read NP Online at www.neighbourspaper.com Neighbourhood Planning in Ealing

By Eric Leach and Tony Miller

When the coalition Government was done with little came to power in 2010 it promised to input from Council make planning more accountable planners who to local people. In 2012 the Localism adopted a ‘hands- Act came into force. This empowered off’ approach, local communities (Parish Councils or but eventually Neighbourhood Forums) to prepare both submitted Neighbourhood Plans that would pass draft plans to the decision-making to more local levels. Council – CENF Communities in Ealing responded in 2016, and WECNF this year. Central Ealing. Once the report is enthusiastically. How have they submitted the LA can also make its been getting on after six years? Testing Examinations own changes without the agreement The plans were then scrutinized by of the Neighbourhood Forum The Borough has three Neighbourhood an independent Examiner to check concerned. Sadly, LBE has chosen to Forums: Central Ealing (CENF), whether they meet various statutory do this to the CENP and is attempting West Ealing Centre (WECNF) and tests. A plan must ‘contribute to to do this to the West Ealing plan. Central Acton (CANForum). Ealing the achievement of sustainable Council formally recognised the development’, meaning that it Referendum Plans first two in 2013 but because they cannot reduce local housing and Separate referenda for residents and centred around High Streets, they other development targets, but it can businesses will take place for the CENP were designated ‘business forums’, influence how those targets are met on Thursday 12 October 2017. As final meaning that they had to involve in terms of location and impact. The details of the West Ealing plan have both local businesses and residents. plan must also be ‘in conformity with’ still to be determined, the referendum national and local strategic policy. date there has not yet been set. Early History Getting going was a long-winded In Ealing, this led to disagreement over Central Acton process. With strong local support what was ‘strategic’ and it meant The creation of the Greater from elected representatives, each plans have little to say about housing Central Acton NF (CANForum) was Neighbourhood Forum won a targets, as these are set by the London complicated because there were ‘Frontrunner’ grant of £20,000 from the Plan. WECNF has based its plan on a two competing Neighbourhood Government. Unfortunately this money number of specific projects, while CENF Forums. Things are now resolved and went straight to LBE and the two forums has policies under four themes: the CANForum was formally designated in found it difficult to get access to it. economy, our built and green heritage, November 2015. For the latest progress Fortunately other funds were more transport, and culture and community. see its website www.CANforum.org. easily available to bridge the gap. The Examiner can recommend For more information about the The two forums spent over three alterations to meet the tests, and plans and the referendum visit years working with local stakeholders, also propose changes to the area www.centralealingforum.com creating draft plans and consulting with in which the plans are put to a vote (Central Ealing) and the public and statutory bodies. This in referendums; as happened for www.wecnf.org (West Ealing).

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8 Putting the People of Ealing First Read NP Online at www.neighbourspaper.com Read NP Online at www.neighbourspaper.com Ealing planners out of touch with local views

Box 1: The 9-42 The Broadway Petition By Kay Garmeson a market researcher with Save Ealing’s Centre 596 of the signatories to the petition commented on the Dislike the amount and quality of scheme. The key themes of the development in the Borough? comments are shown right.

You’re not alone. Analysis of Most respondents remarked on public comments on two major the loss of Ealing’s architectural schemes reported previously by the heritage – which they think gives it its Neighbours Paper shows that planning character, uniqueness and charm – decisions on major local schemes and the risks to its Conservation Area are at odds with local opinion. status. The scheme’s architecture was also strongly criticised. Its SEC’s 2016 petition against the 9-42 design was considered to be bland, town centre is being turned into the The Broadway development attracted soulless and of poor quality, and its Croydon of the west. For goodness’ 2,114 signatures with many adding their overbearing scale (including the sake, we are the Queen of the Suburbs!’ comments about the scheme. Analysis 18-storey block dominating Haven of these comments (Box 1) shows how Green) seemed out of place in People feel it is Ealing’s historic people who live, work or shop in the Ealing’s leafy, low-rise town centre. character that makes it desirable, historic town centre hold it in great and that development in the town affection and are deeply dismayed While criticising the scheme centre needs to blend old and at the way it is being transformed. itself, however, many were more new more effectively. Some go broadly unhappy. The following further and say the Council is riding Similar sentiments emerged from a two comment was typical: roughshod over residents’ views and week SEC opinion survey of proposed even colluding with developers in ‘minor amendments’ to the Ealing ‘… I am horrified to find that Ealing the town centre’s destruction. cinema site that would raise its height and increase the number of flats by Box 2: The Ealing Filmworks Survey ‘We’ve seen this so many times 30%. Unsure whether to object and risk before. Developer gets approval further delaying a cinema in Ealing, SEC Most of the 497 people who responded for Plan A, then starts pushing to asked local people what they thought. rejected the changes to the scheme make it higher, wider, holding more Box 2 summarises their comments. that the Council approved in 2015 occupants, and adversely affecting the and presented to the CPO Inquiry. community. They only want to make Taken together, these exercises more money. Hold them to Plan A.’ suggest many Ealing people dislike 65% objected to the increase in developments that change their the number of flats from 161 to Most tellingly, when asked to decide neighbourhood so drastically. It 209 (including the replacement of between accepting the changes seems the Council that is supposed to commercial premises with residential to ensure prompt delivery of the represent them is just not doing so. on Barnes Pikle (60%) and Mattock cinema vs. risking further delay by Lane (45%), while 69% objected improving the design, two out of three More on this and other news from SEC to the increased height of the respondents said Ealing should go at www.saveealingscentre.com development. Some went further: back to the drawing board and come up with something more suitable.

Putting the People of Ealing First 9 Read NP Online at www.neighbourspaper.com The UFO Steel Band

By Will French

Hurry quickly past Ealing Christchurch Steelpanners have a special Hall and you might think they’ve role in the 2017 Carnival; turned the place into a fuel depot. it falls to them to break Old style 44 gallon drums are stacked the minute’s silence with up in the glass fronted vestibule as if ‘Bridge Over Troubled waiting to refuel a fleet of army lorries. Water’ to commemorate Take a closer look and you’ll see how the Grenfell Tower tragedy. wrong you are. These are musical instruments - they are called pans - Rehearsals and Classes and they provide the bass notes for UFO rehearses on Monday what must be Ealing’s sweetest music. and Tuesday evenings when this quiet learn to play and share with people corner of Ealing seems transformed the chance to learn to play - and For the past three years, the Church of into somewhere from the Caribbean. to bring the music to audiences’. Christ the Saviour has been the home Mondays start with the VIP (visually Fiona’s constant challenge is to of the Urban Fox Orchestra Steelband, - impaired persons) class – aka “The UFO secure support to keep UFO going. or UFO. UFO is made up of musicians of Pilots” led by Trinidad born Michael UFO runs classes to suit almost everyone. pretty well all ages, backgrounds and Toussaint. Michael, who is blind, plays It’s very welcoming and the first lesson musical abilities who share a love of tenor steelpan and his VIP musicians is free. After that students are expected the joyous sounds of steel band music. work together performing old classics. to join the band and can soon find UFO moved into Ealing from their VIP stalwart Bill, a retired Notting Hill themselves performing at gigs. Notting Hill origins where the Church Carnival police commander whose gave them a welcoming home. sight has now gone, finds the sessions Visit UFO’s website - a great way to bring back memories. www.ufosteelband.com or Gigs all over London As the evening moves on serious email ufosteelband@gmail. The band plays at events all over rehearsals start. Seated at a standard com to find out more. London and beyond. Perhaps drum kit, Trinidad born Jason Constantine you’ve caught them at the Hanwell, takes this mixed ability group of players Greenford or Acton Carnivals, at the through complex rhythms to create Make it Sunday event on Bond Street arrangements based on Trinidad’s in the Town Centre or the Ealing Half fabled soca music. Tenor players on Marathon. UFO also play to bigger their smaller pans work the hardest. audiences at the New Year’s Day Tenors are the virtuosos of panning. Parade and the Notting Hill Carnival They pick out tunes as intricate as any on the back of a giant truck. lead guitarist. By 9pm when sessions are supposed to end the whole orchestra Notting Hill Carnival is very much the puts together their performance high point of UFO’s year. Attendance pieces and the hall is really rocking. at rehearsals builds up through the Artist Fiona Hawthorne is UFO’s summer to prepare for the 9 hour organisational brain and chief parade. Last year saw the innovation ambassadress. Passionate about steel of an onboard toilet which made pan music, she says its ‘wonderful to a giant difference to performers.

10 Putting the People of Ealing First Read NP Online at www.neighbourspaper.com Tap into the BEAT

Visit 170 local artists over two weekends this September

Will French

BEAT - or the Borough of Ealing Art Bigger and Better that numbers will grow and future Trail – is your chance to visit the BEAT 2017 this September will be visitors will come from further afield. Borough’s thriving community of bigger and better. Over two weekends artists at their homes, studios or other you can visit 170 artists at over 60 Publicity is key and this is where BEAT’s venues. You can meet artists and view venues. It’s all free and visitors will efforts has been concentrated. Funds and talk about their work. They will find themselves warmly welcomed. come from the artists themselves, be even more pleased if you would Visit 5 different venues and you can local sponsorship, advertising and like to buy something from them. enter a prize draw where you could individual donations. The most win £150 to spend on local art. valuable donation this year was a BEAT 2017 is organised by local artists two-week pop-up shop in the Ealing for local artists. It brings together Vivien Phelan, BEAT’s treasurer, says Broadway Centre, provided by the people working in a vast range of that organising the event is hard work owners, British Land. The shop was media, including painting; printing; but hugely rewarding. ‘It’s very much a great way to promote the event textiles; sculpture; mosaics; metal work; a community effort. All sorts of people and hand out information about it. photography; ceramics: jewellery and pitch in to help where they can. This woodwork. Whatever your interest, gives BEAT its uniquely Ealing feel.’ Find out more there is something for everyone! Look out for BEAT 2017’s brochure The BEAT team want the event to with maps of all the venues which BEAT launched in 2016 to great feature annually on London’s artistic are available at local outlets acclaim. Eagerly encouraged calendar. While BEAT 2016 drew in including libraries. Downloadable by Ealing Broadway Councillor some visitors from outside the Borough, maps and an interactive map of the Seema Kumar, Ealing’s busy artistic most were locals. However, BEAT’s exhibition venues are available on community decided it was time to research shows most participants www.ealingbeat.org.uk/brochure#map. put the Borough on London’s art found out about the event by word For a brochure or if you are a local map. 150 artists exhibited their work of mouth and Viv is confident that artist and interested in joining BEAT at 50 different venues and the public experiences have been so positive 2018 email [email protected]. response was overwhelming.

Said one couple ‘We spent two Sunday BEAT 2017 OPENING TIMES afternoons visiting around 20 sites in all and I bought a metal sculpture of a Friday 8th Sept — 4pm to 8 pm Friday 15th Sept — 4pm to 8pm snail from one. So a big thank you for Saturday 9th Sept — 11am to 6pm Saturday 16th Sept — 11am to 6pm telling us about such a brilliant initiative.’ Sunday 10th Sept — 11am to 6pm Sunday 17th Sept — 11am to 6pm Times may vary slightly. Check individual venues via the website or brochure

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Putting the People of Ealing First 11 Read NP Online at www.neighbourspaper.com

EALING LAWN TENNIS CLUB IS 135 YEARS OLD

By Eric Leach (Member since 1967) club, then with its 20 courts, attracted 18 Wimbledon Ladies new members and Championship Winners the ladies’ team, Founded in 1882, Ealing Lawn Tennis ever invincible, Club (ELTC) is one of the oldest and continually won the most prestigious lawn tennis clubs in Middlesex Cup. the world. Between 1886 and 1914 three ELTC members won a total of 18 For 52 years, from Wimbledon Ladies Singles titles – far 1924 to 1976, Mrs Keen, affectionately Champion-to-be Stephan Edberg more than any other lawn tennis club known as ‘Auntie’ worked at the learned his grass court skills at ELTC. anywhere. One of these, Dorothea club. She started at the club serving Douglass Chambers, won seven of refreshments, with her husband Club Goes from Strength to Strength these titles – making her by far the who was the club Groundsman. Ealing Ladies’ 1st team were Middlesex most successful British lawn tennis She ran the bar for decades. Premier League champions from player of all time. Eat your heart out 2003 to 2015! The club’s possible Andy Murray! An English Heritage National Men’s Champions in '75 & '78 latest star in the making is 16 year Blue Plaque celebrating Dorothea’s In the1960s the club next door, Ealing old George Loffhagen. He is ranked achievements adorns her former Common LTC, closed down and no:2 in the world at Under 16 level. home in North Common Road. The ELTC gained four more grass courts George is a product of the club’s two other multiple Wimbledon Ladies and 51 new members. Men’s tennis substantial early years junior coaching Singles champions were Mrs. Hillyard was particularly strong post WWII programme run by George Matheou. (formerly Blanche Bingley) winning with many top County players. In the six times and Mrs A. Sterry (formerly 1970s and 80s ELTC 1st team variously World Class Grass by 2019 Charlotte Cooper) winning five times. won the Slazenger National Cup and Three new artificial Continental Clay were London Home Counties and flood lit courts were laid in 2015. Birth in West Ealing: 1882 Middlesex Premier League Champions. Currently six of the grass courts have ELTC began life in St. Leonard’s Road, been laser leveled, re-soiled and re- West Ealing. Grass courts only, the club The club finally gained ownership turfed. An underground water sprinkler flourished there until it moved in 1906 of its land in 1987. In 1989 it took an system has also been installed. By to its current home in Daniel Road, inspired decision to build three tarmac 2019, these courts will be some of the off Creffield Road. The club actually courts inside an inflatable dome. finest grass courts in the country. took its original clubhouse with it! The Also during the 1980s, Wimbledon More at: www.ealingtennis.com.

12 Putting the People of Ealing First