News from The Barnet Society

Ravenscroft Park was the setting for an outdoor service held by Christ Church, Barnet, allowing the congregation and passersby to take advantage of a sunny Sunday morning. “Church in the Park” was the first service of its kind organised by Christ Church as part of its ongoing commitment to reach out to the community.

Pioneering work on behalf of the low paid by Bob Bevil, who is a lead campaigner for Chipping Barnet Foodbank, has won national recognition. He was presented with a Living Wage Champion of the Year Award at the annual awards ceremony held by the Living Wage Foundation.

Aubrey Rose CBE, proud President of the Barnet Society, died on 26th June 2026 aged 99. He was a great supporter of the Society, always ready with encouragement and advice. He helped secure The Bull as a community resource, and his experience of town planning was a help to the Society’s planning and environmental work. Jenny Remfry, our Vice President, writes the following appreciation:

Standing proud in the re-opened garden of the Black Horse public house are three former regular customers who have taken on the lease of what they hope will once again become a popular community pub.

Ten classic and vintage cars lined up outside Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Byng Road for the handover of a cheque for the proceeds of the 13th annual show held in May by Barnet Classic Car Club.

Anger among Underhill residents over Barnet Council’s imposition of parking charges outside a parade of shops in Mays Lane is said to be a likely reason why parking signs have been obliterated with black paint.

Volunteers who look after the countryside and manage outdoor activities met their MP Dan Tomlinson at a reception at the House of Commons where he congratulated them for all they did to preserve the greenery which he said was such an attractive feature of the Chipping Barnet constituency.

An expanded site for Barnet Medieval Festival with a much larger battlefield for re-enactments and displays won high praise from a record attendance of well over 600 Wars of the Roses enthusiasts.

Barnet Medieval Festival welcomed a record turnout of over 600 medieval military re-enactors who opened the two-day event – being held over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday June 6 and 7 – with a re-enactment of the Second Battle of St Albans.

A new tee shirt commemorating the 555th anniversary of the Battle of Barnet will be on sale at the annual Barnet Medieval Festival over the weekend, on Saturday and Sunday June 6 and 7.

Residents around Mays Lane are anxious to attract support for a community bid to take over the derelict former Quinta Youth Club which has been put up for sale by Barnet Council for £300,000. Local groups have until October to submit offers and proposals to the council. Several eligible community interest organisations have already expressed interest.

After starting his parliamentary career with a petition to keep station ticket offices open at New Barnet and Oakleigh Park, a campaign to increase the frequency of train services has now been launched by the Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson.

Cartoons and caricatures filled the front of the North London Hospice shop in Barnet High Street at the launch of an expanded book shop – all in aid of a new fund-raising push.

After the loss of several pubs around High Barnet in recent weeks, work has finally started on major repairs to the Black Horse in Wood Street, and it is due to re-open in mid-June after being closed since last September.

Labour has kept control of Barnet Council following a post-election pact with the Conservatives to ensure administration of the authority and services to residents continue without interruption.

Barnet’s newly-elected Green Party councillor, Charli Thompson – who lives in High Barnet – says her priority will be to tackle issues surrounding adult social care and disabilities rather than get involved in party political infighting.

A chance to see live cartooning, sit for a caricature or enter a raffle for a set of signed copies of the latest books are some of the highlights planned for the grand opening of an expanded bookshop at the North London Hospice shop in Barnet High Street.

Spectators and enthusiasts lined up to see the annual parade along the High Street ahead of the 13th annual show held by the Barnet Classic Car Club.

David Bone broke off from selling fruit and vegetables to accept a Civic Award for Lifetime Achievement in recognition of 65 years of service at the twice weekly Barnet Market.

An historic whalebones arch beside Wood Street, High Barnet, has had to be encased in scaffolding after the owners of Whalebones House feared it might collapse and cause an injury to passersby.