Tag: People and personalities

Posted on by — Leave a comment

New museum at Trent Park reveals wartime espionage secrets of fashionable country house which once entertained London high society

A decade long campaign to get Trent Park House open to the public was celebrated with the official opening of the House of Secrets, a new museum within the house which reveals the secrets of espionage during World War II.

Actress and comedian Helen Lederer – above – sat at the listening station in the basement where her grandfather listened in to the conversations of top German generals to gather information for the British war effort.

Over 80 German generals were held at the former stately house as prisoners of war.

During the 1920s and 1930s Trent Park was visited regularly by British Prime Ministers and royalty who were the guests of Sir Philip Sassoon, one of the wealthiest men in the country.

For several years the fate of the house and grounds – on the border between Enfield and Barnet – hung in the balance after it was vacated by Middlesex University and purchased by the Berkeley Group which obtained planning permission in 2017 to build 262 houses and flats on the site.

A campaign to preserve the house and open it for public benefit had already been launched in 2014 by Enfield councillor Jason Charalambous.

A trust was formed to establish a museum at the house, which had witnessed so many pivotal events and which had made such a significant contribution to wartime espionage and deception.

For Mr Charalambous – above – founding trustee and chair, the official opening of the Trent Park House of Secrets was a magnificent illustration of what could be achieved by a campaign which drew widespread support across Enfield, Barnet and further afield.

“It is truly heart warming to see the museum take shape and for Trent Park House to be restored and accessible to the public – our vision of a decade ago has finally become a reality.”

He said negotiations with the Berkeley Group were tough to start with but had ended really well and there was now a “wonderful partnership” of which the developers could be proud.

The shell of Trent Park House was restored by the Berkeley Group, and the upper floors are being converted into 17 apartments.

The has museum has taken over both the ground floor, which has been refitted to recreate Sir Philip Sassoon’s grand state receptions room, and the basement, where there has been a painstaking reconstruction of the concealed wartime listening rooms.

“Secret listeners”, many of whom were German-speaking Jewish refugees, recorded conversations between captured German officers and produced crucial intelligence for the Allies.

Helen Lederer’s Czechoslovakian grandfather Ernst spent the First World War in the trenches alongside German and Italian soldiers.

He sent his son to England and arrived himself in 1939 with his wife and daughter following on of the last trains out of Czechoslovakia.

He was recruited by the British Intelligence Corps and posted to Trent Park. Among his tasks was to act as a stool pigeon, to mix among the German generals and manipulate their conversations to tease out information.

Ms Lederer – see above with Dr Giuseppe Albano, museum director and trustee Francesca Mendes – said returning to the house for the opening, and sitting where her grandfather listened in to conversations, had brought her out in goose pimples once again.

Ernst took the secret that he was a secret listener to the grave. To imagine how he must have felt listening in to conversations of the captive German generals was “as important and it was humbling”.

The recreated listening rooms, which are on either side of the basement, were linked to a complex network of miniaturised bugging devices, hidden in every corner including walls, light fittings, plant pots, window ledges, the billiard table and even garden benches.

The German generals held as prisoners of war were encouraged to relax in relative comfort, unaware the site was bugged, and their conversations were providing intelligence.

Under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Kendrick, the secret listeners gained critical information from a conversation between a Luftwaffe pilot and a U-boat petty officer about how German Enigma cipher machines coded instructions to U-boats at sea.

In March 1943 a whisphered conversation between two generals, Ludwig Cruwell and Wilhelm von Thoma, revealed that German scientists were developing weapons which could travel “15 km into the stratosphere”. British scientific intelligence staff realised the Germans were developing ballist weapons, V! and V2 rockets.

The state rooms on the ground floor have been restored to their 1930s opulence, with artwork and furnishing belonging to the Sassoon banking family which has been returned for the first time since 1939.

During the 1930s Trent Park became one of the most fashionable houses of the era with Edward VIII and Winston Churchill among those entertained at weekends with artists, writers and entertainers including Rex Whistler, George Bernard Shaw, Noel Coward, T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), Charlie Chaplin and Fred Astaire.

The original Trent Park House, with a landscape modelled by Humphry Repton, passed to the Bevan family, who remodelled it into a Victorian mansion.

The house was bought by Sir Edward Sassoon, whose son Philip inherited it in 1912 and remodelled it on the lines of an early Georgian country house.

After Philip died in June 1939, the house was requisitioned the following September and became a site used for holding prisoners of war including high-ranking Germans, of whom more than 100 passed through the house.

David Cholmondeley, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley – the great-nephew of Sir Philip – is co-chair of the museum trust.

He said that after a decade of fundraising and restoration work, the trustees were thrilled that the extraordinary stories of Trent Park House could be revealed and inspire and inform future generations.

Museum director Dr Guiseppe Albano (above) said he hoped the opening of the house to the public (from Tuesday 21 July) would prove especially popular in the local community and become an attractive and interesting visit for local schools and history groups.

For more information: enquiries@trentparkhouse.org.uk

Posted on by — Leave a comment

A well-attended open-air service in Ravenscroft Park was held by Christ Church, Barnet, to reach out to the community     

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.

Worshippers were invited to stay on for a picnic lunch under the shade of the park’s mature trees – and an ice cream van was on hand as well.

Andy Rimmer, the Christ Church vicar, said it was the first time they had organised an open-air service.

They were determined to take advantage of the exceptional summer weather.

Open-air service held by Christ Church Barnet in Ravenscroft Park takes advantage of exceptional summe weather

“Our ‘Church in the Park’ event builds on our church in the community programme.”

In recent years Christ Church has organised well attended Christmas carol concerts in Ravenscroft Park.  

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Another accolade for staff at Chipping Barnet Foodbank as key campaigner receives top award for work combatting low pay

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.

Mr Bevil (centre) is seen above with Matthew Bolton (left), chief executive and lead organiser of Citizens UK, and Bruce Daisley, host of the awards.

The award recognised his role in campaigning to encourage the London Borough of Barnet to become an accredited real living wage employer which means Barnet Council now pays more an hour than the legal minimum under the government’s national living wage.

The higher rates will benefit hundreds of sub-contracted professionals across the borough, especially essential care workers.

His next challenge is to help step up the campaign to persuade Barnet’s largest employer, the Royal Free Foundation Trust, to follow the borough council’s example and provide an increase in the pay of hospital workers across the borough.

The legal minimum wage, known as the national living wage, is £12.71 per hour, whereas the real living wage, as calculated by the Living Wage Foundation, is £13.45 per hour across the UK and £14.80 per hour in London.

Nearly 17,000 accredited employers across the country pay higher rates on a voluntary basis.

Chipping Barnet Foodbank, through the advocacy of Bob Bevil, is at the forefront of campaigning across the borough to try to reduce dependency on foodbanks by increasing the wage rates of low-paid workers.

After he was presented with his award, Mr Bevil said the accreditation of Barnet Council as a real living wage employer had provided a big economic boost for the borough and they were hoping to persuade the Royal Free Trust, the borough’s largest employer to follow suit.

There was recognition at the awards ceremony that demand for emergency food parcels has increased because of the cost-of-living crisis.

Poor wage levels were largely responsible which was why the progress being made in Barnet was so important in a borough with “very few” accredited real living wage employers in the borough.

Graham Griffiths, director of the Living Wage Foundation, congratulated Mr Bevil and the living wage campaign team in Barnet for helping to transform the lives of local employees.

A full-time worker paid the £13.45 real living wage receives £1,400 in additional wages each year compared to those on the legal minimum and for a full-time worker in London this figure rises to over £4,000 a year.

Since it began 25 years ago, the real living wage has secured over £4.1 billion of pay rises for low paid workers which had made a “profound difference” to millions of people.

Award for Beb Bevil, who is advocacy and campaigning lead for Chipping Barnet Foodbank for his work combatting low pay -- his award is for living wage champion of the year

Chipping Barnet Foodbank – one of over 20 across the borough – helped to organise an all-day conference in 2024 to discuss concern about the levels of malnutrition among local people seeking support.

Mr Bevil – seen above with foodbank manager Victoria Miller and the Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson – joined other speakers in arguing that assisting those on low incomes was the only way to improve the life of those whose food intake was insufficient to meet the needs for normal health.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

The Barnet Society mourns the passing of its remarkable President

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:

The Barnet Society committee sometimes met at Aubrey’s house, Monken Holt on Hadley Green. In 1995, as part of the celebrations of the Barnet Society’s 50th anniversary, we held a garden party there.

He was elected President in 2005, succeeding Sir Sydney Chapman MP, who had been unseated by Theresa Villiers in the 2005 General Election, and Gwyneth Cowing, the Society’s Co-founder and first President. 

Aubrey was modest in appearance and gentle in manner, but jovial and very sociable. He was a wise man to whom one could take one’s problems. He would listen intently, think deeply, then answer in a kindly way.     

Aubrey was born in 1926. His parents had come as immigrants from Poland to London’s East End in the early 20th century, and their experience gave Aubrey a sympathy for immigrants, particularly those from Commonwealth countries. In the 1940s, after a couple of years in the army, Aubrey became a lawyer the hard way, starting as an articled clerk while studying for the exams to become a solicitor. In 1951, at the age of 25, he set up his own practice – half a room furnished with a desk, one chair and a filing cabinet – in Fleet Street.

His first client was a young woman and her aunt who were opening a dress shop. The young woman was Sheila, whom he married in 1954 and with whom he lived happily until her death in 2007. He built up his business, taking on assistants and partners and was the Senior Partner from 1971 to 1995.

Aubrey tells the story of his life as a solicitor with great humour in his book ‘Brief Encounters of a Legal Kind’ published in 1997. Many of his early clients came from Poland, Ireland and the Caribbean. But that was just the start of a remarkable career.

In the 1950s, one of his clients was a confidence trickster – the father of John le Carré. In the 1960s, he advised on the development of Carnaby Street in the heart of ‘Swinging London’.

In the 1970s he was the legal advisor to the Hosein brothers accused of kidnapping Mrs Muriel McKay.

In the 1980s he advised the enquiry into the Brixton riots that led to the Scarman Report.

In the 1990s he was involved in the legal conundrum of whether the London Electricity Board had the right to build an electricity substation under Leicester Square. (In the end, they did.)  Also in the 1990s, Aubrey was involved in the setting up of the National Lottery.

It was in the 1970s that Aubrey moved with his family to Monken Holt. My first contact with him was in 1979.  His elder son, David, had died of cancer, leaving a large collection of interesting abstract paintings. Aubrey was desolated and determined that his son would not be forgotten. He came to the Old Bull and arranged with Pam Edwards to use the gallery to exhibit David’s works. After that, Aubrey became a great supporter of the Old Bull and chaired a committee to raise money for the proposed theatre that was opened in 1988.

Although a practising Jew in the Liberal tradition and serving on the Board of Deputies of British Jews for over 50 years, Aubrey was ecumenical in his outlook. He often came to the Parish Church on Christmas Day, and was a member of the Council of Christians and Jews. He was the first Jewish Commissioner on the Commission for Racial Equality and its Deputy Chairman in 1995. He was the only Jewish trustee of Barnet’s Hyde Trust.

He also supported Cherry Lodge, a Nurses’ Association, the Jewish Association of Spiritual Healers, and was a Freeman of the City of London. In 1997 he was honoured with the CBE for his work in the community.

Aubrey published several books and was proud to be a member of the Society of Authors, and to receive an honorary doctorate from London Metropolitan University in 2000. The book he wrote in 1997 about his son David – ‘Journey into Immortality’ was well received. This was followed by an autobiography – ‘Rainbow Never Ends’ in 2006 – and ‘Letters to my Wife’ as a tribute to Sheila. More recently, he has written books for children, such as ‘Sea Olympics’ published in 2012.  

Aubrey loved giving talks, many of them on life in the old East End. More recently, he made contributions to the Barnet U3A. He is fondly remembered by the members he introduced to the fundamentals of Bridge, and intrigued others by giving talks on faith healing and the spirit world. 

Aubrey’s funeral was held on 30th June at the Western Cemetery, Bulls Cross, attended by his family, colleagues and many friends. In her eulogy, Aubrey’s daughter Esther spoke of his gentleness. During his lifetime he gave help, advice and encouragement to hundreds of people, many of whom became lifelong friends. He was, she said, extremely perceptive and observant, with views on all sorts of things, but he expressed them with grace, kindness and restraint. He always saw the best.   

Barnet has lost a remarkable man.

Posted on by — 13 Comments

High Barnet hostelry The Black Horse is welcoming customers once again after a surprise initiative to rescue threatened pub

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.

When everything looked bleak last September after a sudden closure of the premises – and while worried residents succeeded in getting the pub listed as an asset of community value – the local trio were working away behind the scenes to mount their rescue bid.

Without any fanfare the three regulars – above, from left to right Danny Daly, Simon Anderson and Martin Taylor – started putting together a business plan and began negotiating with Star Pubs, part of the Heineken group.

Months went by because of legal complications following the pub’s closure last year, but the trio pressed on establishing Barnet Community Pubs Ltd to take on the tenancy.

“We three all live within a five-minute walk of The Black Horse, we understand what the locality wants, and Star Pubs realised we were really serious about wanting to run a proper community pub,” said Simon Anderson.

“We have secured a first year’s tenancy, and we finally got the keys on June 8 and here we are a fortnight later serving drinks.”

Barnet Community Pubs has taken on a staff of 12, led by a new general manager, Phoebe Thickson – see above with Archie Taylor (left) and Arni Nolan.

The new tenants say they plan a soft re-opening of the pub, taking it step by step, and, after some reconstruction work, hope to re-open the kitchen within the next six weeks so that they can offer a new simple menu of well-prepared food.

“We are keen to establish a family pub which knows what its customers like. “All 12 of our staff live within walking distance and our new manager Phoebe was formerly an assistant manager at The Black Horse, so she knows many of the former customers.

“We are a fully tied house. We have seven beers and four of those are cask ales which we know is what the locals want and appreciate.”

After being closed since last September the Black Horse public house has re-opened after three regular customers successful bid to re-open popular High Barnet community pub

Scaffolding outside the pub, which was installed when Star Pubs carried out some essential repairs, will have to remain for several more weeks because brickwork on the frontage of the building needs attention.

Simon said they were determined in the coming months to prove to Star Pubs the success of the business.

Once they had established themselves, they hoped to get a longer lease. Barnet Community Pubs might even take on other licensed premises if opportunities arose.

“Star Pubs have been really good to work with. I think they appreciated that what we were proposing was a community pub that had every chance of succeeding.”

The trio behind the initiative, who invested their own money in fitting out the pub, believe they have a good skills match to make The Black Horse a going concern.

Martin has considerable expertise in finance and sorted out much of the paperwork and agreements with public utilities.

“We turned round the pub in a couple of weeks, newly redecorated and with the garden re-opened.”

Simon has a track record in hospitality. He previously owned The Albion in Islington which was an award-winning pub.

Danny, who has experience in publishing and promotion, said that although they did not want to go public on their plans, they were helped by the petition that was launched to save The Black Horse and then the declaration by Barnet Council that it was an asset of community value.

“All that community support and loyalty worked in our favour when negotiating with Star Pubs.

“It’s great to see The Black Horse open again – our nightmare vision was that we might lose the pub and see the site redeveloped with a block of flats.”

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Praise for “amazing generosity” of classic and vintage car owners and supporters in raising money for Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice  

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.

Match funding from sponsors increased the money raised at the show and other club events to a total of £9,397.70.

Club committee member Chris Frost handed over the cheque to Faye Armitage, Noah’s Ark’s community engagement officer, who praised their support for the children’s hospice which she said was always more generous than the year before.

“The classic car owners and enthusiasts do an amazing job fundraising on our behalf.”

The club’s contribution of just over £5,500 included match funding of £1,500 from the Royal Bank of Canada whose staff were among volunteers who assisted at the show staged on the top floor of The Spires car park.

Chris Frost – seen above handing the cheque to Faye Armitage – said Classic Car Club and Barnet Rotary Club members were full of admiration for the contribution made by Noah’s Ark – “a children’s hospice is a vital resource for our community”.

Cars processed to the presentation from the playing fields car park in Byng Road.

The presentation followed closely on national children’s hospice awareness week.

Barnet Classic Car Club hands over cheque for proceeds from 13th annual show to Noah's Ark Children's Hospice and praised for their generosity

Noah’s Ark gets 76 per cent of its income from voluntary donations and fundraising – support which is especially vital at a time when the children’s hospice sector is facing an estimated £310 million funding gap.

Currently 91 per cent of children’s hospices in England – including Noah’s Ark – are operating at a deficit.

Noah’s Ark, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, has announced a new three-year strategy aimed at reaching more families and securing a sustainable future.

Across its catchment area – the London boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington and Hertsmere – an estimated 5,700 children may now be eligible for support provided by the hospice.

Essential services to babies, children and young people who meet the acceptance criteria currently cost over £7 million a year.      

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Blacked out parking signs thought to be indication of anger and frustration at Barnet Council’s pay-by-phone parking charges in Mays Lane

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.

After six months of protests and petitions the council’s cabinet has finally agreed to re-think the scheme – and there is every indication the parking restrictions and charges will be dramatically scaled back.

Instead of all-day charging the council is examining a proposal to limit this to one hour – between 2pm and 3pm – when a pay-by-phone parking charge would apply.

If the council agrees, parking would again be free in the service road in front of the six shops, except for the one hour when charges would apply.

Parking restrictions at the Mays Lane parade would then be in line with the adjoining CPZ where there is a 2pm to 3pm restriction when parking is only permitted by residents with parking permits.

A one-hour ban in the early afternoon is intended to prevent all-day free parking – and the same principle would apply outside the Mays Lane shops preventing cars being left all day.

Almost immediately when the parking charges were introduced at the start of the year, Mays Lane traders complained bitterly about a dramatic loss in business as regular customers, who made brief stops outside the shops, were intimidated by the restrictions and pay-by-phone charging.

Charges apply from Monday to Saturday, from 8am to 6.30pm, for a maximum stay of one hour – a requirement which the traders claim is out of all proportion and is intended solely to boost the council’s income from parking charges.

At a meeting of the council’s cabinet (15.6.2026), Councillor Alan Schneiderman who leads on the environment and climate change, indicated that the council was “minded” to lift all-day charging and opt instead for a one-hour restriction to discourage all day parking.

Council officials have been asked to examine the practicalities of bringing this into effect and a decision will be made within 20 days (by mid-July).

A petition calling on the council to think again was presented by Gina Theodorou on behalf of the Quinta Green Residents Association and Underhill Residents Group.

She said the six shops on the parade depended on customers being able to make brief stops in the service road, but they were now faced with having to pay the highest parking charges in the borough when many of their customers resisted using the pay-by-phone system.

Blacked out parking charge signs in Mays Lane a sign of local anger over imposition by Barnet Council of pay-by-phone parking outside parade of shops.

The impact of the charges had been dramatic:

Coopers of Barnet had received countless complaints and the restrictions felt like the “final straw” after 40 years’ business in Mays Lane.

Mays Pets – the last remaining independent pet shop in the borough – had lost 50 per cent of its takings and had been forced to lay off staff.

Much as she did not condone vandalism, Ms Theodorou thought the painting over of the parking signs reflected “the depth of local anger” when other parades of shops had free periods and when the restrictions failed to align with the nearby CPZ.

“Please instruct officials to carry out an immediate review and engage with the traders – once the shops are gone, they cannot be replaced.”

Ms Theodorou was supported by the newly elected Underhill Councillor Josh Tapper who proposed a continuing restriction with charging between 2pm and 3pm but otherwise free parking which would incentivise local people to use the shops while discouraging all-day parking.

Councillor Schneiderman explained that the rationale for introducing parking charges outside the Mays Lane shop was that the service road was midway between two CPZs and if it was left uncontrolled, there was a danger people would park there free all day.

However, he accepted that the idea of limiting charging to an hour – and bringing it into line with the CPZ – “did make sense”.

Councillors were keen to listen, and he hoped the solution which had been suggested would prove acceptable.

Ms Theodorou agreed that local business would be prepared to look at the compromise which had been proposed.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Volunteer guardians of Chipping Barnet’s open spaces, countryside and community initiatives praised by MP Dan Tomlinson

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.

What linked his guests was that they were all nature lovers determined to help others enjoy the natural world – whether it was growing fruit and vegetables, caring for the natural environment or protecting the green belt.

Seven allotment sites in the constituency had representatives at the reception as well volunteers from Barnet Environment Centre in Byng Road and the campaign to keep Dollis Brook clear of litter.

Another guest was award-winning Wendy Alcock, founder of Incredible Edible Barnet, a community group which encourages home cultivation in gardens and on un-used land.

“What people love about Barnet are our green spaces and all of you are the corner stone in protecting them,” said Mr Tomlinson.

A team of supporters from GROW, the school farm at The Totteridge Academy, were delighted to hear the MP’s praise for a project which produces fruit and vegetables for the school kitchen as well for sale to the community.

Team Grow – above, from left to right, Sam (trustee), Dan Tomlinson, Tara (communications lead), Marta (senior grower) and Lynn, volunteer – were keen to use their meeting with their MP to help promote a series of events at the farm in Barnet Lane: Open Day on June 27; Pick Your Own Flowers on 25 July, 8 August and 5 September; and Pumpkin Time on 24 October.

Mr Tomlinson reminded his guests that after his recent launch of a community action network for his constituency he was hoping to help promote initiatives where local people could get together to assist with non-partisan campaigns and projects.

His search for a project met an immediate response from leading members of Friends of Tudor Park and Pavilion who have launched a bid to rescue and renovate the abandoned former cricket pavilion in Barnet Vale.

He told their deputation – above, from left to right, Simon Kaufman, Alexander Cohen, Dan Tomlinson, Hannah Lawrence and Simon Cohen – that he was very supportive of their campaign to save the pavilion.

“I will be looking to see what more I can do as their MP to help get the project off the ground.”

Currently the abandoned pavilion is considered unsafe and is cordoned off but what concerns the activists is that the building is deteriorating quite rapidly – a crack in the western elevation has expanded to two inches in width within a year.

“A structural engineer has told us that this crack needs to be repointed to stabilise the building otherwise it could become a risk to public safety,” said Mr Kaufman.

“We are frustrated by the length of time it is taking Barnet Council to finalise the paperwork for the Friends to sign an agreement to lease the building, so any help from our MP would be much appreciated.”

MP Dan Tomlinson praises nature lovers who care for green spaces in his Chipping Barnet constituency and who encourage home cultivation of fruit and vegetables

Robin Bishop, who leads for the Barnet Society on planning and the environment, (above right with Barnet Society member Kim Ambridge) used the reception as a chance to impress on Mr Tomlinson the need for action over the long-standing proposal to create a regional park to the west of Barnet.

A large swathe of green belt and metropolitan open land stretching west from Arkley and south to Mill Hill was earmarked as a possible regional park in the Barnet strategy plan for 2019-2030.

Given all the pressure for new housing – and the likelihood that substantial parts of Barnet’s green belt could be designated ‘grey belt’ for residential development – Mr Bishop said a regional park designation could safeguard farmland and open spaces and open them up to the public.

“A regional park designation would become a significant planning consideration, to which any planning inspector would have to give it due weight. It is proposed in Barnet’s Local Plan, but so far nothing has been done about it,” said Mr Bishop.

“Safeguarding this open land from development is the only way we can preserve a green gap between Barnet and Borehamwood.”    

Posted on by — 1 Comment

After another record year for Barnet Medieval Festival, Wars of the Roses re-enactors are hoping to lay on an even better display next summer

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.

Re-enactments of the Second Battle of St Albans and the Battle of Barnet filled the arena with ample space all around for crowds of spectators and living history exhibits.

Such was the enthusiasm for what is fast becoming one of the premier engagements in the calendar of Wars of the Roses celebrations that re-enactors and medieval traders left Barnet at the end of the two-day event declaring they were confident the long-term prospects for the festival could not be better.

Given its location in accessible Green Belt fields off Galley Lane at the Lewis of London Ice Cream Farm, the festival’s setting – lined with woods and uninterrupted views – is regarded as having a close resemblance to the countryside north of Barnet where the Yorkists fought the Lancastrians in 1471.

Innovations this year included many more events for children.

A period costume competition was won by Princess Sophia whose dress caught the eye of Queen Elizabeth who judged the competition with Edward IV.

Linda Godden, event co-ordinator from the House of Bayard, expressed her delight at the way the festival – now in its seventh year – has continued to expand and grow in popularity.

“Even with the bad weather on Saturday, the re-enactors sensed the strength of loyalty among the festival supporters and local community.

“It is such encouraging atmosphere, which is why we all want to keep coming back for the Barnet festival.”

A third eight-acre field has now been set aside for re-enactments – increasing the total site to 20 acres – and the extra space has made all the difference by allowing room for larger displays with mounted knights in full armour joining the battles.

“The site is fantastic with the extra land, and hopefully we can grow the festival with even more re-enactors and medieval traders.

“What we desperately need are more local volunteers to help the festival organisers,” said Ms Godden.

Among the new attractions was a display of birds of prey – with barn own Buzbee delighting the crowd with his aerial dexterity at the command of his handler Kevin Lochner of Hawking About.

Buzbee was hand-reared and cannot hunt in the wild so eats defrosted mice.

Events for children included a mock battle which was conducted with the help of parents, under the capable control of Ico Willis of The Past Presents.

A period costume and fancy-dress competition was judged by King Edward IV (Will Carr) and Queen Elizabeth (Eleanor Eden).  

With better weather for the second day of the festival, the highlight of the morning was the re-enactment of the Second Battle of St Albans.

Expert commentary on the Lancastrians’ victory was provided by Rupert Hammerton-Fraser (above) and Allan Harley, both members of the Beaufort Company, one of the 40 different households represented at the festival.

Re-enactors have high praise for expanded site for Barnet Medieval Festival with enlarged arena for re-enactments of Battles of St Albans and Barnet

They were back in action for the re-enactment of the Battle of Barnet which rounded off the weekend in spectacular fashion with spectators still arriving late in the afternoon, crowding around the battlefield arena.

Daniel Lewis, proprietor of the Lewis of London Ice Cream farm, said he and his family had been bowled over by the growing popularity of the festival.

“I’m already getting excited thinking about next year’s festival. It’s been so rewarding to see that all the additional space has been put to such good use with extra displays and encampments and events for children.

“We doubled the size of the site this year and I am hoping there can be even more entertainment for the public next year.”

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Expanded battlefield lay-out and record numbers of Wars of the Roses re-enactors boost this year’s Barnet Medieval Festival

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.

Wars of the Roses enthusiasts and supporters have filled farmland off Galley Lane with tents and encampments entertaining crowds of visitors with a wide range of displays.

Now in its seventh year, the festival – over the two days of the weekend – is bigger than ever with an expanded lay-out and a much larger arena for battlefield events at the Lewis of London Ice Cream Farm.  

After the St Albans re-enactment, Councillor Parveen Rani, Mayor of Hertsmere joined the King Henry VI and Queen Margaret of Anjou to celebrate the Lancastrians’ victory over the Yorkists.

Councillor Rani (see above, far right) with her son and escort Pryanshu Kumar (far left) met re-enactors, including men from the Harrington Company, expressing her delight at meeting so many enthusiasts determined to relive and explain the Wars of the Roses.

“This is my first visit to the medieval festival, and it is so impressive,” said Councillor Rani.

“It is a great credit to the organisers that it has become such an important event, attracting medieval re-enactors from all over the country.”

Despite wind and rain forcing the cancellation of some events on Saturday, especially those for children, the battlefield arena was packed for a display of medieval firepower.

A long line up of 15th-century artillery, including handguns and canon, provided an impressive display of synchronised firing.

Visitors were welcomed with medieval music from the Merrie Noyse who stationed themselves beside the main refreshment marquee, appropriately named the Royal Feast Pavilion.

A plentiful supply of food, drink and ice creams was on offer, organised by Lewis of London and Ozzi’s Burrito Shack from Barnet High Street.

Daniel Lewis – seen above with his wife Fiona and assistant Holy Cornwell – said he was delighted Fold Farm (home of Lewis of London Ice Cream) was able to host the medieval festival for the second year running.

Dr Susan Skedd, festival director, met Councillor Rani and her son and escort Pryanshu Kumar on their arrival.

She said she hoped the weather would be better on Sunday.

There would be a full programme with re-enactments of the Second Battle of St Albans and the Battle of Barnet.

Other events will include a mock battle for children and a fancy dress and period costume competition for the under 12s.

Prizes will be awarded for the most historical and creative costumes.

Once again there is free parking onsite in Galley Lane, including disabled parking and taxi drop-off and a free shuttle bus running regularly from behind The Spires shopping centre in Stapylton Road.

Full information: www.barnetmedievalfestival.org

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Expanded Barnet Medieval Festival promising another premier event for Wars of the Roses re-enactors and spectators

Expanded programme planned for Barnet Medieval Festival with more mounted men at arms, a falconry display and competition for youngsters in period costomes and fancy dress

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.

For the second year the festival is being held at its new and much larger site in the fields around the Lewis of London Ice Cream Farm in Galley Lane.

D Susan Skedd, the festival director – see above with volunteer Chris Nightingale – says the £15 new tee shirt is a special edition which she hopes will appeal to Wars of the Roses enthusiasts.

After record attendance and participation last year, the festival is becoming a premier event for among military re-enactors and medieval traders and there is again an expanded programme of events.

Twice as many mounted men at arms and their horses will be taking part this year and for the first time at the festival there will be falconry displays by the falconry team Hawking About.

Among the highlights each day will be the re-enactments of the Second Battle of St Albans 1461 (at 12noon) and the Battle of Barnet 1471 (at 4pm).

Younger visitors under 12 will be able to take part each day in a competition for the best period costume or fancy dress (judging at 1.30pm).

Prizes will be awarded for the most historical and creative costumes.

Tickets can be bought at the gate or in advance from the online shop before June 5: www.barnet-medieval-festival-committee.sumupstore.com

There will be free parking onsite in Galley Lane, including disabled parking and taxi drop-off and a free shuttle bus that will run regularly from behind The Spires in Stapylton Road.

Full information: www.barnetmedievalfestival.org

Posted on by — 3 Comments

Campaign to save and rebuild an abandoned clubhouse for benefit of Underhill residents gathers pace ahead of its sale by Barnet Council

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.

Gina Theodorou (above), chair of the Quinta Village Green Residents Association, is appealing for a concerted push by the locality to help to secure and re-open the derelict club as a community hub and space.

“We fear Barnet Council may favour selling the abandoned building to an organisation from outside the area rather than a genuinely local community-led proposal.

“Our aim is to create a flexible new community building and integrate it into Quinta village green which is alongside and which we have already made sure is preserved for the use of our community.”

As a first step a community interest company is to be established by the residents’ association to develop a business plan.

An image, showing what a revived Quinta Club building might look like, has been issued in support of an appeal on Facebook and GoFundMe to help with the cost of planning and funding the application:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-the-quinta-club-for-the-whole-community

https://www.facebook.com/quinta.green.9/posts/pfbid0Z7oaBfVJP2sHuaZ1kcaYyYSJBMtoSDBP5QZts4jNrQCrM3iRFkvkFZZA2z9EGzaul

The club building – originally constructed by the Underhill community in the 1960s with the help of local tradesmen and residents – has been derelict for the last 20 years, raising concern among Mays Lane residents about continuing vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

Gina Theodorou – seen above with Rory (16) who is supporting the campaign for a new community space for local youngsters – is urging the community to rally round as quickly as possible so that a proposal can be submitted to the council by the deadline of October 17.

“In its heyday the Quinta Club was a wonderful community space – it was a youth centre, a meeting place for the elderly, for a nursery and for all sorts of exercise classes.

“We are becoming increasingly concerned because the council is getting expressions of interest from community groups outside the area– including religious organisations – and the priority for the council seems to be getting rid of the freehold for the best possible price.

“We want to keep the building as broad-based shared community asset, which is financially sustainable and offer affordable room hire, café, and space for family and youth activities.”  

It was at the request of residents’ association that the abandoned building was registered by the council as an asset of community value.

This has established a six-month moratorium during which the council may only sell the former club to a qualifying community interest group – a window of opportunity which lasts until October 17.

An open day will be held at the site in Mays Lane on Tuesday 30 June (from 11am to 2pm) when qualifying groups can view the property and ask questions, although there is a warning that viewing might be limited to “an external walk around on grounds of safety”.

To build up support for its GoFundMe appeal and a combined local response, Mrs Theodorou is hoping to draw on professional expertise within the community and wider backing from local politicians.

Dan Tomlinson, the MP for Chipping Barnet, launched a Community Action Network in March this year, aimed at “shaping and showcasing” projects proposed by the local residents in his constituency.

Mays Lane is within the council’s Underhill ward and one of its two councillors, Zahra Beg, is the newly elected Mayor of Barnet.   

Campaign to mount a bid for community to rebuild the Quinta Club in Mays Lane which Barnet Council has put on the market for £300,000 with deadline of October for community bids

Ms Theodorou says residents have been become alarmed at the state of the dereliction.

There are gaps in the boarding surrounding the derelict building and it has become a dumping ground for rubbish.

After its success in getting Quinta village green registered as a public open space, the residents’ association liaises with the council to ensure maintenance of the green and to ensure that fly tipping is removed.

Posted on by — 6 Comments

Chipping Barnet MP launches petition to support TfL’s bid to extend London Overground to New Barnet and increase train frequency

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.

His new petition is seeking support for a proposal by Transport for London to extend the London Overground network to include the Great Northern lines from Moorgate to Welwyn Garden City and Hertford North.

If the takeover was approved and the lines became part of London Overground, TFL has plans to increase off-peak services from two to four trains an hour.

A total of 26 stations that would benefit from more trains include Brookmans Park, Potters Bar, Hadley Wood, New Barnet, Oakleigh Park and New Southgate.

Mr Tomlinson (above in 2023) was the prospective Labour candidate when he launched a constituency petition to boost support for a campaign against the closure of railway station ticket offices – a campaign which produced 750,000 objections across the country and forced a government climbdown.

He said the current frequency of trains to London from New Barnet and Oakleigh Park was “not good enough”.

If the line became part of London Overground, TfL hoped to offer a more frequent service which would benefit residents across the Chipping Barnet constituency.

The results of the petition – https://dantomlinson.org.uk/better-rail-barnet/

will be presented by Mr Tomlinson to the Mayor of London and the Secretary of State for Transport.

Chipping Barnet MP backs bid to get increased train frequency at New Barnet and Oakleigh Park and to lines Welwyn Garden City and Hertford North being taken over by London Overground.

Mr Tomlinson, who was appointed Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury in September last year, the issued a photograph of himself with the Deputy Mayor for Transport Seb Dance, Barnet Councillors and local campaigners.

TfL announced last December that it had submitted a business case to the Department of Transport for London Overground to take over the Great Northern inner services from Moorgate to Welwyn Garden City and Hertford North.

These services are currently operated by Govia Thameslink Railways which is now under public ownership – opening the door to a possible government hand over of control to London Overground.

A TfL make over for the lines could cost £47 million – which would increase to £70 million if Crews Hill station was upgraded as part of the construction of the proposed Crews Hill new town.

Options for increasing the frequency of both lines include an estimate of £239 million to increase off-peak services from two to four an hour and £310 million for increases in peak services of up to eight per hour and off-peak up to six per hour.

Currently TfL is refining its business case for a London Overground take over and a more frequent service.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Live cartooning was highlight of the afternoon at North London Hospice shop to promote the sale of second-hand books

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.

Assistant shop manager Dora Pavlou sat for Barnet caricaturist Simon Ellinas while fellow resident and cartoonist Genn Marshall was hard at work on the floor on his latest cartoon character.

They were all helping to raise money for the hospice and provide publicity for an enlarged bookshop at the rear of the shop.

Recent donations and house clearances have helped the North London Hospice build up a large stock of second-hand books ready for sale – paperbacks £1 and hardbacks £2.

Dora was delighted by her caricature by Simon whose work has been published widely, most recently in the Mail on Sunday and other national newspapers and magazines.

Glenn Marshall displayed a collection of his cartoon characters which filled the front of the shop.

There were some wry smiles for his depictions – all an indication of the wide range of Glenn’s published work in magazines such as Private Eye, Punch and the Spectator.

Cartoons and caricatures filled Barnet shopfront of North London Hospice to promote enlarged bookshop.

Another High Barnet resident, Professor Neil Martin organised the event. He is a volunteer at the shop responsible for sorting and pricing donated books.     

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Black Horse to re-open in mid-June after extensive repairs – but uncertain future for Builders Arms now on the market for £695,000

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.

Scaffolding surrounds the building and local residents who feared the worst when metal grilles were installed across the doors and windows are delighted to hear the news.

With the approach of warm weather, they say they can’t wait for the re-opening of the pub’s garden which is popular weekend venue.

Star Pubs told the Barnet Society that additional building work has proved necessary and it will take longer than originally anticipated, but they hope the pub can re-open by mid-June.

A new tenant – described as “a local businessman” – has taken on the tenancy.

To the disappointment of some previous customers, Star Pubs say the Black Horse will not be reverting to a micro-brewery which had operated at the pub in the past and produced its own ales.

Earlier this year, because of concern about the future of the Black Horse, Barnet Council accepted a community request for the pub to be protected by an order declaring the building as asset of community value.

ACV protection allows the community to enter a bid if the pub is sold for redevelopment – protection already provided for three other nearby pubs, the Lord Nelson, Sebright Arms and Ye Olde Monken Holt, as well as the Prince of Wales in East Barnet.

Black Horse public house in Wood Street Barnet to re-open after nine-month closure but now closed Builders Arms in New Barnet for sale at £695,000

A petition has been launched to secure ACV protection for the Builders Arms in Albert Road, New Barnet, which closed in mid-April and is now on the market for £695,000.

A two-year struggle to keep going finally defeated the pub’s landlady who blamed a loss of trade on the disruption caused by ending up in the middle of a massive construction site.

Albert Road is the main access to the site where Fairview Homes are building eleven high-rise blocks of flats to provide 420 new homes, and the pub found itself marooned in the redevelopment.

Despite considerable local support, the landlady reluctantly decided to hand her tenancy back to the brewers Greene King raising local concern about the future of a pub praised by the Campaign for Real Ale.

Former customers and friends started the petition in an attempt to preserve what they say is a “much loved local institution”.

Greene King, which is reported to be planning to sell off 300 of its tenanted and managed pubs, put the Builders Arms on the market soon after it ceased trading in mid-April.

WTS, agents for the sale, say the building does offer the potential for alternative use, subject to planning consent, and the property might appeal to “local licensed operators, developers, builders and investors.”

Another recent pub closure was that of the Hadley House bar and restaurant in Barnet High Street, which in previous years was known as the King George and earlier as the King of Prussia – but another High Street hostelry, the King’s Head, which closed for a month for renovations is due to re-open on June 12.

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Control over Barnet Council remains with Labour after an agreement with the Conservatives results in key votes to end the uncertainty  

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.

A “very relieved” councillor Barry Rawlings (above right), who was re-elected to the post of Labour leader of the council, congratulated Underhill Labour councillor Zahra Beg on her appointment as the new Mayor of Barnet.

A tied result in the council elections on May 7 – with both Labour and the Conservatives gaining 31 seats – forced the two sides to get together and agree a voting procedure for the first meeting of the new council (19.5.2026).

With advice from the council’s chief executive Cath Shaw and her staff, councillor Rawlings and the Conservative leader, councillor Peter Zinkin, reached a co-operation agreement.

The deal accepted that as the outgoing Labour mayor councillor Danny Rich held a casting vote, the presumption should be that to preserve continuity Labour should retain control of the council.

However, under the agreement, it was agreed the first vote should be whether to appoint Conservative councillor Zinkin as leader.

This was defeated 32 votes to 31 votes on the casting voting of the council’s Green Party councillor Charli Thompson.

Once councillor Thompson had voted against councillor Zinkin and he had been defeated, the Conservatives councillors all abstained on the second vote which resulted in councillor Rawlings being re-elected as council leader for four years by 31 votes in favour, 31 abstentions and one vote against (Green).

In discussions which started immediately after an election result which had left the council with no overall control, councillor Rawlings said that he and councillor Zinkin had accepted they had to work together to avoid deadlock in council business and ensure services to residents continued without interruption.

The agreement with the Conservatives was designed to make sure the council didn’t slip into no political control given that one Green Party councillor held a casting vote.

Councillor Thompson, who won her seat for the Greens in Woodhouse ward, and who is a High Barnet resident, was cheered by her supporters in the public gallery for a series of interventions – see above – in which she challenged the way Labour and the Conservatives had done a deal “behind closed doors”.

She said that the Greens had secured 16 per cent of the total vote in the Barnet Borough elections yet their representative was being excluded – an act that would lead residents feeling disconnected from council decision making.

After the meeting her mother Christine Thompson (above left) joined in the congratulations for the stand her daughter had made in challenging the refusal of Labour and the Conservatives to allow her to work with them on improving adult social care and care of the disabled.

Barnet Council remains under control of Labour Party after post-election pact with the Conservatives to agree on key votes which resulted in re-lection of Labour leader councillor Barry Rawlings

Councillor Beg – seen above with the outgoing Mayor of Barnet Councillor Danny Rich – was praised by fellow councillors for the way she had shown real skill in working across communities and faiths within the borough.

Councillor Rich had opened the proceedings with an appeal to residents to support each other following recent hate attacks in Golders Green.

 A seventh of the borough’s population was Jewish and an eighth Muslim. “Our priority is to the safety of Barnet residents and bringing those responsible for these outrageous incidents to justice.”

He praised the visit by the King to Golders Green which had been “a profound gesture from His Majesty.”

Voting for a new council leader was preceded by a short debate. Councillor Ross Houston said he was proud to nominate councillor Rawlings for re-election based on his track record of dealing with significant challenges, including the delivery of 1,000 new council homes.

In acknowledging that the election left the council with no overall control, he said that the mayor’s casting vote was reserved for occasions when it was necessary for the administration to preserve continuity and the best result would be for councillor Rawlings to be re-elected.

Councillor Richard Cornelius, a former Conservative group leader, proposed councillor Zinkin, reminding the council that in the election the Conservatives had won the popular vote in the borough – gaining 102,246 votes (35.4 per cent), well above Labour’s vote 79,353 (27.5 per cent).

To laughter from fellow councillors, he said that he had never been a supporter of proportional representation but perhaps now was the time.

“It is important we get this right. An agreement has been made (with Labour) and we must make it work.

“We are looking forward to co-operating, and we can co-operate to make Barnet better. Let’s hope we can have some solid achievements, especially on housing.”

Councillor Zinkin thanked the council’s officers for helping the two parties through some “unusual and quite difficult” negotiations, but this had achieved the continuation of an “effective council” which was in the interests of residents.

Councillor Rawlings (above) agreed it had been difficult to achieve the agreement, but it was vital the council continued to run, and the electors had depended on the councillors to find a solution.  

But there was a pointed reminder that if Labour were to lose a seat to the Conservatives during the next four years, the tables might well be turned, the council would no longer be tied, and the Conservatives might take control.

Councillor Cornelius fired the warning shot: “We must make this agreement work…until the next council by-election.”

Posted on by — 3 Comments

Fighting for improved adult social care and support for the disabled are priorities for Barnet’s new Green Party councillor

Priorities for Barnet Council's new Green Party Councillor, who lives in High Barnet, will be fighting to improve adult social care and support for people with disabilities

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.

With Labour and the Conservatives each having 31 councillors, Ms Thompson might well have a casting vote at future council meetings, but she has no intention of exploiting her position for political purposes.

“I realise I hold the balance of power, but I am not interested in forming a political alliance with either Labour or the Conservatives.

“My role as a councillor will be to listen to residents and their concerns, support their interests and align myself with Green Party policies.”

Her resolve to avoid playing party politics was put to the test when the council met for the first time (Tuesday 19 May) to decide whether Councillor Barry Rawlings should remain Labour leader and control the council or whether the post should go to the Conservative leader Peter Zinkin with control passing to the Conservatives.

She voted first against councillor Zinkin, who was defeated by 32 votest to 31, and then voted against councillor Rawlings who was re-elected leader for four years with 31 votes in favour, 31 absentions by Conservative councillors and only one vote (Green) against.

Ms Thompson topped the poll with 1,331 votes in the Woodhouse ward, taking a Labour seat, in the Barnet Council elections on May 7.

Support for Greens was strongest in the Barnet wards closest to inner London where the party is now in a majority in some London boroughs.   

Her first move on being elected was to approach Barnet’s Labour and Conservative groups to see if they would agree to her becoming a member of the council’s committee for adult social care.

“I am disabled myself and to my disappointment both parties have blocked my attempt to use my expertise as a campaigner on adult social care and disabilities to help improve council services.”

In 2019 Ms Thompson was signed off work as a freelance designer because of a worsening brain condition (Chiari malformation) and during the last few years she helped to care for her father, who died earlier this year, and her sister who is autistic and in supported living care.

“I went into politics because I became so disillusioned about the level of care.

“I want to use any influence I have to improve council services for adult social care and disabilities.

“It is not asking a lot to seek to use my expertise as a campaigner, and now a councillor, for the benefit of the community, but already Labour and the Conservatives say they won’t work with me.”

Ms Thompson, who stood previously for the Green Party in a by-election in the Whetstone ward in 2025, was attracted to politics when Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader of the Labour Party in 2015. She went on to become a Labour Party member.

“I found Corbyn inspiring, the way he connected with people who had been marginalised and gave them a voice.”

After Labour’s defeat in the 2019 general election, she didn’t want Corbyn to stand down. She voted for Rebecca Long-Bailey in the 2020 Labour leadership election which was won by Sir Keir Starmer.

Shortly after the 2024 general election she resigned from the Labour Party – and joined the Green Party –following the Starmer government’s withdrawal of winter fuel allowance for the elderly and military support for Israel over the war in Gaza.

Ms Thompson has had a lifetime association with High Barnet. She was born – Charlotte Thompson– at the former Victoria Maternity Hospital in Wood Street;  went to school at the former St Martha’s Convent; and then St Michael’s at North Finchley.    

Posted on by — Leave a comment

An afternoon extravaganza of cartoons and caricatures will celebrate opening of enlarged book department at the North London Hospice Barnet shop

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.

After recent donations and house clearances the shop has built up a large stock of second-hand books ready for sale – paperbacks £1 and hardbacks £2.

Over thirty copies of newly published books – all signed by authors – will be prizes in a raffle to be held during the official opening at 12.30pm on Friday 22 May.

Cartoonist Glenn Marshall – of Private Eye, Punch and The Spectator fame – has already been hard at work in preparation for the opening.

His depiction of Hamlet, Batman and other literary figures will be on display as he takes his position at the front of the shop and demonstrates the work of a cartoonist.

A fellow High Barnet resident and well-known caricaturist, Simon Elinas, will be pen in hand ready to draw caricatures.

Simon, who trained as a graphic designer, has provided illustrations for a wide range of newspapers and magazines.

During lockdown he started drawing a caricature of a celebrity connected with all 272 tube stations on the London Underground.

Working behind the scenes planning the launch has been another High Barnet resident, Professor Neil Martin, who has been a lead volunteer at the shop responsible for sorting and pricing donated books – see above with some of the hospice staff, Dora Pavlou, assistant shop manager, Emily Cronin, retail development manager, Professor Neil Martin and Maxine Aldridge, assistant shop manager.

Neil said he agreed to help sorting books donated to the North London Hospice six months ago after a massive donation of 60 boxes of books from a house clearance.

“We have been fortunate with recent house clearances, and we had so many books donated we decided to turn a section of the shop into a proper book shop.

“After all Barnet is the largest of the North London Hospice’s 21 shops and we have done well recently – we resold one valuable donated book for £250 and a bookseller paid £400 for a whole series of books.

North London Hospice opening an enlarged book department with aftrnoon event featuring live cartooning, a caricuturist and raffle for signed copies of new books.

A highlight of the opening will be the raffle – tickets are £1 each – and the signed copies of over 30 new books, worth around £500, have been sorted by assistant shop manager Steve Fletcher (see above).

First prize will be a set of signed books; second prize any 20 books from the bookshop; and a third prize of any ten books.

Neil, a professor of psychology, has donated signed copies of some of his 13 books on psychology, horror and crime.

Confirmed books for the raffle include:

Joel Morris, TV comedy writer (Cunk/Mitchell & Webb/Viz)/podcaster/author (Ladybird spoofs, Philomena Cunk)

James Henry, Green Wing & TV & radio comedy scriptwriter (Pagans)

Dr Nicky Brunswick, psychologist (Dyslexia- A Beginner’s Guide)

Matthew Sweet, broadcaster, TV drama writer and author (non-fiction books)

David Quantick, Thick Of It/VEEP/TV Burp writer (2 x DQ’s novels)

Dan Kaszeta -poison specialist (Toxic)

Paul Stevenson, Editor, Haunted magazine (will send signed copies of mag)

John Rain, author & podcaster (Thunderbook, Superbook)

Adam MacQueen, Private Eye staff & novelist (will send lots of thriller novels)

Prof Gina Rippon -psychologist (The Gendered Brain, The Lost Girls Of Autism)

John Grindrod, historian (Concretopia, Iconicon, Tales of The Suburbs, Outskirts)

Prof Adrian Furnham, psychologist, former Sunday Times columnist (six of his 100+books)

Alessandra Pino, author (The Gothic Cookbook)

Will Maclean, co-creator of Broken Veil podcast (The Apparition Phase)

Nick Jones, local journalist (Miners’ Strike, 1984)

Louis Barfe, journalist & author (Morcambe & Wise & Les Dawson biographies)

Kim Newman, film journalist & writer (some of hKim’s many books, including his new one)

Lindsey Scott, author, creative writing director (Suffolk Haunts)

Neil (Psychology, Psychology-Beginner’s Guide, Psychology of Comedy, Horror Theory Reader)

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Classic and vintage cars took centre stage for annual Barnet show which is highly popular for family outings  

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.

Seventy cars made it all the way to the top deck of the car park at The Spires Shopping Centre ready to be inspected and appreciated by masses of admirers.

The club’s annual show has become one of the town’s premier events and is always well supported with the proceeds going to the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice.

A welcome was on hand from committee member Paul Johnson as the cars arrived at The Spires’ entrance – ready to climb two floors to the top of the car park, the smell of petrol exhaust fumes filling the air.

The show prides itself on being a family event, a moment to stop and stare at some fine vintage cars.

One toddler – clearly a future classic car enthusiast – toured the show in his own miniature Mini Cooper.

In one of his final events during his term as Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Danny Rich, arrived in style in a 1923 three litre Bentley.

He was welcomed by show marshal Howard Pryor (left) together with the car’s owner Paul Griffin.

Councillor Rich said the parade through the High Street had been a delightful experience.

“Arriving in a vintage Bentley is one of the few times a local councillor ever gets cheered in the High Street – even if the cheering was for the Bentley and not for me.”

Thought to be the oldest car at the show was a 1904 Wolseley which was completely rebuilt by its owner Ken Goddard – above with his wife Ann.

He bought the car in 2009 as “a collection of bits and pieces” after previous attempts to restore it and he spent 18 months on a complete rebuild.

For the last 15 years Mr Goddard has exhibited the car at rallies. It clocks up about 1,000 miles a year.  

A first for the show was a four-wheel amphibious Dutton Surf – registration number WE 60 WET – owned by Jeff Finegold.

The car, which is one of 300 made by Tim Dutton in 2021, makes a regular appearance at the annual classic boat show at Henley on Thames.

Mr Finegold’s wife Vicki said it was great fun when the car was out on the water – at Stanstead Abbotts Marina on the River Lea or Harefield Marina at Uxbridge.

Manning the club stall were Marty Collins (left) and Chris Frost ready to welcome potential new members.

Stalls were manned by volunteers and supporters of Noah’s Ark, Barnet Rotary Club, and a tea and cake stall provided The Bull Theatre.

Seventy classic and vintage cars lined up on the top of The Spires' car park for the 13th annual show of the Barnet Classic Car Club.

Live entertainment included music by Boxty and performances by students from the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Lifetime achievement award for Barnet Market stallholder who had his first pitch at the age of eight selling cauliflowers

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.

He was unable to attend the annual awards ceremony at Hendon Town Hall, so the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Danny Rich, paid an official visit to the Saturday market.

David, now 74, told the mayor he started at the age of eight helping his father Albert who in 1959 had opened the first fruit and vegetable market at what was then a cattle market.

“I was only eight, just a boy. My father gave me a jam sandwich, pushed me out, and told me to stand in the market selling cauliflowers.”

In presenting the award, the mayor told assembled shoppers that David had been “a fantastic” part of the market.

“That is what is so special about Barnet: people giving their time, devoting their life to serving the community.

“Barnet only runs so well as a town because of people like the Bone family.”

Barnet Market stall holder David Bone pressented with Borough of Barnet Civic Award for Lifetime Achievement by Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Danny Rich

David told the mayor that his son Tyler was now running the stall.

He said his grandfather, Albert Bone senior, had helped his father with the stall, so four generations had been selling fruit and vegetables at Barnet Market.

“Without my son Tyler running the stall, I would not be here today.”

 The citation for David’s 2026 Borough of Barnet Award for Lifetime Achievement recognised his “unwavering commitment and dedication” to serving generations of Barnet residents through rain, snow and sunshine.

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Facing an uncertain future: unsteady state of Barnet’s iconic whalebones archway – can it be repaired or replaced with a replica?  

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.

Signs of movement in its footings and cracks in the archway – once the jaw bones of a ninety-foot-long blue whale – prompted concern about its safety.

Hill Group, who are building 115 new homes in adjoining fields, installed the scaffolding as a protective measure to safeguard the arch and to preserve “a unique local landmark”.

Hill’s intervention has been welcomed by the owners of Whalebones House, Patrick Shanahan and Helena Boland, who say urgent action is need to either repair the whalebones or replace them with a replica archway.

Straps have been applied around the surface to ensure there is no further fragmentation of the structure.

A set of jawbones was first erected as a gateway to Whalebones House in the 1860s or perhaps even earlier.

They were last replaced in 1939 by former owner of the house, Miss Gwyneth Cowing, whose family owned the Barnet Press newspaper.

She paid for two jawbones, each weighing three-quarters of a ton, to be transported to Barnet from Norway where the carcase of the whale, which had been captured in the South Seas, had been dismembered.

It took half a dozen workmen, under the direction of local builders W. Foster & Sons, all day to manoeuvre the gigantic jawbones into place and set them in six feet of concrete.

Cracks in the jawbone on the Arkley side of the drive started appearing at Easter; then its footing became dislodged; and it became clear the archway was in danger of collapsing.

Mr Shanahan said he first became aware of the damage after heavy equipment being used by the contractors started crossing the driveway less than three metres from the jawbones.

“Excavators and piling equipment kept being moved to and from the main construction area to a smaller site off Wellhouse Lane where there is to be a new community building and studio for the Barnet Guild of Artists.

“Because of the fragile state of the jawbones we have asked the contractors to stop crossing the driveway and generating the kind of vibration which has clearly been having a devastating impact.”    

After alerting the Hill Group to what had happened, the owners of Whalebones House asked for advice from Barnet Council on the historic status of the whalebones and whether permission would be needed to dismantle the archway and install a replacement.

They hope that the Hill Group and the trustees of the Gwyneth Cowing estate – which sold off the farmland for housing – will contribute to the cost of repairing or replacing the archway.

“Hill are going to call their new housing estate and gardens Whalebone Park, so they have a responsibility to ensure the whalebones remain an integral part of the whole development,” said Mr Shanahan.

“So far we have been unable to gain any assistance from Barnet Council’s planning or heritage departments, and we are anxious to work out how best to safeguard the future of the archway.”

Whalebones House is a Grade II listed building of special interest and the whalebones at the entrance to the drive are specifically referred to in the appraisal for the Wood Street Conservation area which includes the Whalebones estate.

It says that the whalebones at the entrance sit within “a notable tree boundary and create an entry feature to the space.”

Mr Shanahan says former fishing and whaling communities which have historic whalebone arches, including Whitby in Yorkshire and coastal ports in Scotland, are facing similar challenges over how best to protect them.

“Resin bonding has been used to repair some arches. Others have been replaced with replica arches made from synthetic compounds, steel or even brass.

“We need advice and help in working out how the arch can be preserved or replaced.”

There are competing theories as to how and why whalebones were first erected in Wood Street.

One report in the Barnet Press suggested the famous polar explorer John Franklin (1786-1847) once lived in Whalebones and according to local thinking installed the first set of whalebones as early as the 1830s.

A week later the paper published an alternative version: Frederick Brown, who lived at 92 Wood Street, said his sister was married to Mr Easton, a Thames waterman, who had lived at the house and started the tradition.

Mr Easton had joined the firm of Smith and Sons, whalebone and sealskin merchants, who plied their trade from the Thames, and he obtained a pair of whalebones which it was thought were erected in the 1860s and gave the house its name.

Records at Barnet Museum suggest the house was built in 1815 and the first reference to it being named Whalebones was on a map dated 1872.

Motorists travelling along Wood Street often miss seeing the jawbones, especially when the trees and hedges are in leaf and much of that side of the road is filled in parked cars.

Pedestrians get a far better view and might like to renew an old Chipping Barnet custom: according to local legal it was good luck to walk under the archway, make a wish or share a kiss.

Over the years countless Barnet youngsters have marvelled at the size of the jaw bones from a blue whale, the largest species captured in the South Seas.

Angela Morris of King’s Road, Barnet, remembers that as a seven-year-old in the 1950s she attended a Brownie pack that met in the barn at Whalebones.

“In those days there were another two sets of whalebones, only much smaller. One was at the gateway to the house and one that had fallen down beside a path that went to the barn where the Brownies met.”

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Service celebrating the founding of Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School – a tribute to retiring Barnet head teacher Violet Walker

Violet Walker led her final commemoration day service as head teacher of Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ ahead of her retirement at the end of the summer term.

Pupils walked in a procession up Barnet High Street to the parish church of St John the Baptist for the 138th celebration of the founding of a school which is one of the oldest and most successful all girls state schools in the country.

Mrs Walker reinstated the commemoration day service the year after becoming head teacher in 2015 and her final service featured another celebration of the past – the school’s chamber choir sang the original QE Girls’ school song which had not been performed since the 1960s.

Its title was the school motto – Ever in the presence of God – which used to be printed in Greek lettering around a symbol of a Tudor rose.

Resurrecting the song and getting it performed once again by the chamber choir became a personal mission for the school’s director of music, Cosima Rodriguez-Broadbent (left) who with Mrs Walker’s help managed to track it down.

“We hunted through the school’s archives and found a manuscript with the music and text,” said Cosima.

“I had to transcribe the music and with the help of the organist Jonathan Gregory we began rehearsals. The choir had to sign the chorus in Greek, so it was a real challenge.”

Guests at the service, who included the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Danny Rich, congratulated the choir on a brilliant performance of what Jonathan Gegory said was a “robust song” which the pupils liked to sing.

Lines from the song reflected the school curriculum:

“Sing we the song of day that are,

When in this school those dreams come true,

When science in her heart reveals,

This old world ever new.”

The service was conducted by the Reverend Cindy Kent who thanked the choir for reflecting on the school’s past – a reminder dedicated to Mrs Walker’s service as head teacher and whose inspiration it had been to reinstate the commemoration day service.

“Mrs Walker will be greatly missed, and I know the whole school community is so grateful for dedicated service to QE Girls.”

In her address, she advised pupils on how best to tackle tough times in their lives.

“Do try to be calm when things go wrong. Nasty things can happen and people can be unkind but do try to be nice to them.”

There was a chance for a chat with the pupils of today for three former QE Girls’ pupils – from left to right, Margaret Peart (Youngs), Val Mulder (Townsend) and Gill Williams (Rees) – who described what times were like when they started at QE Girls in the 1950s.

All three were present when Queen Elizabeth II visited the school – her first official visit to a school after her coronation.

“Remember in those days we were a grammar school and there were only around 500 pupils – far fewer than the 1,200 today,” said Margaret Peart.

“Back in those days all the girls wore Panama hats, and the police stopped the traffic for the procession from the school to the church.”

Violet Walker, Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School head teacher, leads her final commemoration day service ahead of her retirement at end of summer term

When Mrs Walker became head teacher in 2015 it was a case of coming home.

Not only was Mrs Walker a former pupil at QEGS, but she later returned to the school to complete her post-graduate training as a mathematics’ teacher.

From the start she said she intended to be resolute in her conviction that QEGS’ role was to continue to serve the Barnet area as a local community girls’ comprehensive, committed to reflecting the school’s history and traditions, while at the same time embracing the latest technological advances in teaching and research.

Mrs Walker (Violet Hamid) was a pupil at QEGS from 1969 to 1976 and has fond memories of the headmistress of her day, Miss Marjorie Payne, who was head teacher for 17 years and was widely respected.

A successor to Mrs Walker as QE Girls’ head teacher has yet to be announced.

QE Girls was established in 1888 and shares foundation trustees with QE Boys’ School, Barnet, which was created in 1573 by a charter from Queen Elizabeth I.            

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Uncertainty over future political control of Barnet Council to continue until critical meeting where the mayor’s vote could be decisive

After a split election result, future political control of Barnet Council will hang in the balance until the newly elected councillors meet for the first time at Hendon Town Hall on Tuesday 19 May.

Labour and Conservatives each gained 31 seats – with one seat going to the Greens – leaving no party in overall control of the council.

A final decision on whether Labour Councillor Barry Rawlings might remain leader of the council or whether the position goes to the Conservative party leader Peter Zinkin could rest on a casting vote by the new Mayor of Barnet.

Discussions have been taking place between party leaders and the council’s chief executive Cath Shaw to agree a procedure to determine the future political control of the council.

In a statement issued immediately after the election, Ms Shaw said it would be for the new councillors to decide how the council should be governed.

In the meantime, residents could be assured they would continue to receive council services as usual.

When they meet on 19 May, the first task of the new council will be to appoint a new Mayor of Barnet to succeed the outgoing mayor, Labour Councillor Danny Rich (who was re-elected in West Finchley).

The new Mayor was expected to have been East Barnet Labour Councillor Edith David, but she lost her seat in the council elections.

If Labour put forward a fresh nomination for mayor – and if that Labour nominee is elected (a decision on which the current mayor has a casting vote) – control of the council could possibly remain in Labour hands.

A new Labour mayor would have a casting vote for the next decision which is to appoint a council leader who would have the task of forming a new administration and appointing a new cabinet.

This is a scenario which could result in Councillor Rawlings continuing as council leader, but it would undoubtedly be opposed by the Conservatives and depends on what happens at the meeting.

An added complication is that given the tied election result, there would need to be a full attendance by both Labour and Conservative councillors. 

If there were absences on either side due to ill health or unexpected circumstances the votes on 19 May might still go either way, hence the continuing uncertainty as to the outcome.

In the council elections, Labour lost ten seats and the Conservatives gained nine resulting in each securing 31 seats with no overall control.

In his statement re-acting to the election result, the Chipping Barnet Labour MP Dan Tomlinson congratulated all the candidates elected for seats in his constituency.

“I look forward to working with you all in the coming years,” said Mr Tomlinson.

“We now have a unique election result – the council is now a balanced hung council.”     

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Devastating losses for Labour in Barnet Council elections as the authority faces uncertainty with no party in overall control

A dramatic backdrop at the RAF Museum at Hendon provided the setting for a marathon election count which upended local politics as the Labour Party haemorrhaged seats and Barnet Council slipped to no overall control.

Labour and the Conservatives finished with 31 seats each.

In another surprise a newly elected councillor for the Green Party ended up holding the balance of power, able to exercise what could become a casting vote.

Labour lost ten seats to the Conservatives – a wounding setback after its success in the 2022 council elections when Labour took overall control of the council for the first time since the London boroughs were created in 1965.

Some opinion polls had predicted that the Conservatives might regain control of Barnet but strong showings by the Greens and Reform divided the vote in many wards putting paid to the two-party Labour/Conservative clashes of the past.

Wards in and around High Barnet were among those where Labour suffered defeats.

Conservative candidate James Esses topped the poll in the High Barnet ward just ahead of Labour Councillor Emma Whysall who was re-elected.

Oliver Gough just failed in his attempt to secure the seat of retiring High Barnet councillor Paul Edwards but was just ahead of Conservative candidate Amberley Thay.

Barnet Council 2026 elections end with both Labour and Conservatives on 31 votes and no overall control of the council. A newly elected Green councillor holds the balance of power

The High Barnet count was declared by the council’s deputy returning officer Deborah Hinde.

In East Barnet, where the Conservatives also gained a seat, Labour Councillor Edith David was narrowly defeated.

East Barnet councillor Simon Radford topped the poll, with David Allen taking second place for the Conservatives and Phil Cohen holding his seat for Labour.

Labour Councillor Ella Rose lost her seat in Whetstone where the Conservatives made another gain. Only seven votes separated the top three candidates and there had to be three recounts before the result was finally declared.

Candidates for the Greens delivered one of the first shocks of the count topping the poll in Woodhouse – one of their target wards – taking a Labour seat and nearly adding a second Labour scalp.

Charli Thompson (Green) topped the poll with 1,331 votes. Labour’s Anne Hutton (Labour) was returned for the second seat with 1,287 votes but she was only just ahead of the second candidate for the Greens, George Ttoouli on 1,194 votes.

In another of their target wards, three candidates for the Greens finished a close second to the three Labour candidates in Friern Barnet who succeeded in holding their seats, including Barry Rawlings, Labour leader of the council.

Although Councillor Rawlings – and the two other Labour candidates Pauline Coakley Webb and Beverley Kotey were re-elected – candidates for the Greens were only a couple of hundred votes behind them.

Former Friern Barnet councillor Linda Lusingu, who had defected from Labour to the Greens, lost her seat finishing in fifth place.

Reform were the main challengers in the Tory strongholds of Edgware and Edgwarebury but although their candidates were ahead of the other parties they trailed well behind Conservative candidates.

Reform drew the most votes in the north and west of the borough whereas the vote for the Greens was strongest in the east of the borough, closer to inner London where there was an even greater surge in Green support.

In some wards Labour suffered devastating losses, losing all three seats to the Conservatives in both the Childs Hill and Brunswick wards.

Results:

High Barnet (two seats): James Esses (Conservative) 1,558; Emma Whysall (Labour) 1,441; Oliver Gough (Labour) 1,417; Amberley Thay (Conservative) 1,372; Darius Hutchinson (Reform) 689; Rajesh Gulabivala (Reform) 631; Fanxi Liu (Green) 538; Charles Wicksteed (Green) 536; Andrew Jackson (Liberal Democrat) 497; Grant McKenna (Liberal Democrat) 357.

Barnet Vale (three seats) : Sue Baker (Labour) 2,130; David Longstaff (Conservative) 2,024; Richard Barnes (Labour) 1,994; Elmina Homapour (Conservative) 1,805; Tom Smith (Conservative) 1,797; Mukesh Oza (Labour) 1,674; Mark Francis (Reform) 952; Mark Devey (Green) 887; Julian Teare (Reform) 868; Uri Mofsowitz (Reform) 857; Kevin Meehan (Green) 694; Matty Robins (Green) 683; Simon Cohen (Liberal Democrat) 504; Duncan MacDonald (Liberal Democrat) 292; Dave Keech (Liberal Democrat) 274.

East Barnet (three seats): Simon Radford (Labour) 1,856; David Allen (Conservative) 1,832; Phil Cohen (Labour) 1,828; Edith David (Labour) 1,745; Pavan Pavanakumar (Conservative) 1,616; Anila Skeja (Conservative) 1,589; Emma Matthews (Green) 981; Kari Khan (Reform) 921; Dima Ouda (Reform) 916; Ozen Halil (Green) 719; Kornelia Szostak (Green) 755; Roger Aitken (Liberal Democrat) 383; Petros Ioannou (Liberal Democrat) 294; Walter Buchgrabr (Liberal Democrat), 241.

Underhill (two seats): Zahra Beg (Labour) 1,233; Josh Tapper (Labour) 1,128; Lucy Milner (Conservative) 829; Andrew Hutchings (Reform) 826; Alison Mills (Reform), 774; Reuben Ward (Conservative) 683; Gina Theodorou (Independent) 619; Hugh Platt (Green) 595; Carl White (Green) 427; Stephen Barber (Liberal Democrat) 252; Sean Hooker (Liberal Democrat) 228; Riann Mehta (TUSC) 128; Donata Briamonte (Rejoin) 122.

Whetstone (two seats); Ezra Cohen (Labour) 1,292; Stephen Lewis (Conservative) 1,290; Kevin Ghateh (Conservative) 1,285; Ella Rose (Labour) 1,200; Adrian Kitching (Reform) 543; David Burns (Green) 535; Vaidehi Hedge (Green) 478; Martin Navias (Reform) 471; Luigi Bille (Liberal Democrat) 194; John MacRory (Liberal Democrat) 146; Richard Hewison (Rejoin) 79.

There were a total of 312 candidates for the 63 council seats – a record number for Barnet which far exceeded the figure of 207 candidates in 2022.

The new council will meet for the first time on Tuesday 19 May when it will have to agree on the appointment of key roles and agree the future administration of the borough.

For the full results see Barnet Council website: https://www.barnet.gov.uk/elections-and-voting/local-government-elections-thursday-7-may-2026/results

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Preparations well underway by Barnet classic and vintage car owners ready for annual High Street parade and show at The Spires

Pride of place at this year Barnet Classic Car Club’s annual show in the top car park at The Spires shopping centre on Sunday 17 May will be some of the much-cherished vehicles which the club’s committee members have carefully maintained over the years – from run-arounds to the high-end motors of yesteryear.

A parade of nearly 80 cars is expected through the High Street at 10.30am followed by the display – from 11am to 3pm – which is expected to include over 150 cars.

Councillor Danny Rich, Mayor of Barnet, will open the show which will feature music by Boxty and performances by students from the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School.

Among the cars on display will be Chris Martin’s Riley RMC Roadster – see above – which in the 1960s was originally owned by Edward Streator, an American diplomat and ambassador to the UK.

In 1992 the car underwent a total restoration, retaining all the original components.

Another attraction will be a New Era Mini conversion – registration number POP 22 – which is owned by the club’s founder, Chris Nightingale.

The car was designed by Chris’s father Ken Nightingale, owner of New Era Ltd, Birmingham. It was left incomplete and only finished off in the late 1960s.

A recent edition of the magazine Mini World devoted several pages to the history of the car — one of three versions of an early variant of the mini and the only one of its kind still in existence.

Derrick Haggerty – above right, with Chris Nightingale – bought his Ford Popular in 1973 for £50 as an MOT failure.

After a £5 repair, it passed and Derrick has used it as a regular run-around for many years. He completed a full restoration of the car in the mid-1980s and completed respray in 2000.

Another high-end classic on display will be a Jaguar 3.8 MK2 owned by George Dimitriadis – a car with a reputation as a favourite among criminals and law enforcement alike because its 3.8 litre engine could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 8.5 seconds.

It has had six previous owners and work done since purchased in 2017 includes a new petrol tank, fuel pump, brake master cylinder and electronic ignition.

Barnet Classic Car Club's 2026 annual show opens with a parade in the High Street followed by a display in the top car park at The Spires Shopping Centre

Stalls at the show will be manned by Noah’s Ark Children Hospice, Barnet Rotary, a tea and cake stall, and a demonstration by the St John Ambulance Brigade.  

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Barnet High Street has become a showcase for Battle of Barnet banners – a heritage asset which might get international recognition

Painting and caring for the Battle of Barnet banners which are displayed along the High Street each summer is an historic legacy for the town which volunteers at Barnet Museum hope might gain international recognition.

An application has been made by the museum to see if the craft of making and maintaining replicas of these medieval banners can be recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage – a practice which is part of the cultural identity of a community.

Unlike tangible heritage, such as monuments or artefacts, an intangible heritage is passed down from generation to generation and is continuously being recreated.

Almost a decade ago Barnet Museum took inspiration from the town of Tewkesbury which has been celebrating the 1471 Battle of Tewkesbury for the last 50 years with re-enactments, a medieval festival and a display of heraldic banners.

Volunteers at Barnet Museum followed their example and started researching the history of the coats of arms of royalty and noblemen whose troops fought in the Battle of Barnet on April 14, 1471, the month before the Battle of Tewkesbury on May 4, 1471.

The application to UNESCO for a listing of intangible cultural heritage is now being made in conjunction with Wars of the Roses enthusiasts at Tewkesbury.

One of the first heraldic banners to be reproduced in Barnet was that of King Henry VI – seen above in 2018 with the museum’s curator Mike Noronhan and the deputy curator Hilary Harrison.

Permission was granted for a display of banners in The Spires Shopping Centre and agreement was reached with Barnet Council for them to be hung from lampposts along Barnet High Street.

All told the museum volunteers have now researched and painted 106 banners – of which 76 currently hang in the High Street and another 26 are displayed in various locations around the town including The Spires.

Barnet Museum is applying to UNESCO for recognition of its work painting and caring for Battle of Barnet heraldic banners to be declared an intangible cultural heritage

Mike Noronha said that once the museum staff heard about the UNESCO scheme for registering an intangible cultural heritage they decided to work with Tewkesbury in making an application.

“Painting, maintaining and displaying the banners is a real craft which we think we have mastered and which we think should be recognised.

“Each winter the banners have to be repaired and sometimes repainted as they get damaged in high wind, so this is an ongoing task for the museum.”

Mounting costs involved in hanging the banners along the High Street has become an issue.

Last year when it seemed there was some doubt as to whether they would be able to go ahead the Chipping Barnet Town Team stepped in and agreed to pay half the cost of the installation, work which was carried out by Barnet Council’s street lighting contractor.

This summer the council stepped in to meet the installation cost of £3,500, for which Mr Noronha said the museum was “hugely grateful”.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Civic awards for legendary Barnet Market trader David Bone and Barnet Museum’s deputy curator Hilary Harrison

Barnet Market stalwart David Bone, who has been selling fruit and vegetables since he started as a boy at the age of seven helping on his father’s stall, has been awarded a 2026 Borough of Barnet Civic Award for Lifetime Achievement.

His award is recognition of 65 years of “unwavering commitment and dedication” to serving generations of Barnet residents through rain, snow and sunshine.

David – above left, with his son Tyler who now runs the family stall – was praised for his legendary reliability among customers and fellow traders.

Other award winners included a Civic Award for Lifetime Achievement for the late Christine Shields, for her contributions to the East Barnet Residents’ Association and the East Barnet Festival and her role as school governor and hospital volunteer.

A Civic Award for Outstanding Service to the Community went to Sheila Gallagher, in recognition of her initiative in setting up and sustaining the Chipping Barnet Foodbank.

Hilary Harrison, deputy curator of Barnet Museum, was awarded a Civic Award for Outstanding Service to the Community for her work “championing Barnet’s history, heritage, culture and identity”.

An exhibition for which she collected and assembled the information was the display at The Spires to mark the 60th anniversary of the London Borough of Barnet – see above, from left to right, Mike Noronha, Barnet Museum curator; Hilary Harrison, deputy curator; and Councillor Paul Edwards.

In the citation for her award, Hilary was praised for her role in organising the 60th anniversary display, her work in preparing the annual display of Battle of Barnet banners and for her role at Barnet Museum leading education and outreach activities with local schools and community groups.  

The 2026 civic awards ceremony was held at Hendon Town Hall where the Deputy Lieutenant for the Borough of Barnet, Martin Russell, read the individual citations for the awards which were presented by the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Danny Rich.

Civic awards for Barnet Market trader David Bone after 65 years' legendary service and for deupty curator at Barnet Museum, Hilary Harrison

David Bone’s long connection with Barnet Market began in 1959 when his father Albert – see above – opened the first fruit and vegetable stall at what was then the Barnet cattle mark.

Albert, who died in 2021 at the age of 95, was helped on the stall by his wife Joan, his son David, and his sisters Roma and Rachel.

David started a separate vegetable stall next to his parents’ pitch when he left school, and he now assists his own son Tyler who runs the family business.

“It’s always been a family affair. My father’s father, Albert Bone senior, used to help, and now my son Tyler runs the business. So that’s four generations who have been serving customers in Barnet.”

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Small children not cars take control of the road outside their homes as High Barnet parents take advantage of a play street closure

A road closure most parents might welcome would be when the street outside their homes is transformed into a safe play space for small children free of traffic.

Encouraging children to start playing outdoors – an activity which has been in sad decline in recent years – is a passion for a High Barnet mother who has followed through and delivered for her neighbours.

The end of Calvert Road, which forms a short cul-de-sac, becomes a designated play space for the morning of the last Sunday of the month – and it has official recognition with a road closure notice installed by Barnet Council’s highways department.

Several roads across the Borough of Barnet are closed when residents apply for a play street closure and the parents around Calvert Road are hoping other neighbourhoods in High Barnet might joint in so that children could have even more opportunities to play outside their homes in safety.

Hiranya de Alwis Jayasinghe, above with her three-year-old son Freddie, first applied for a temporary Sunday morning play street closure for Calvert Road last summer and it proved an immediate success.

Sometimes up to a dozen small children from homes in surrounding roads such as Sebright, Puller and Alston join in the fun – a chance to ride up and down, chalk pictures on the road, or even blow bubbles.

“What children have lost in recent years is the freedom to play safely in the street outside their homes, the kind of encounter that was so commonplace years ago,” said Hiranya.

She wanted her son Freddie to experience playing with his friends outside and made inquiries.

“We got up a petition to support our application and checked with people living nearby. Largely they were all ok with it and Barnet Council were really helpful and supportive, so we now have a Sunday morning street closure for three hours once a month.”

Hiranya had seen how her son Freddie had started taking an interest in the road outside. He began to recognise the different fences and front doors as they walked along, and she realised that he was interested in what was happening in the street outside.

“Playing outside in the street is something which previous generations took for granted, but playing outdoors is like clean air: you don’t miss it until you don’t have it and sadly that is what happened.

“Children playing outside has gone down by 50 per cent within a generation – and we all know the reasons: cars go so fast they are such a risk to children; cars are parked everywhere and seem to have taken over; for too many children screentime has become far too dominant; and parents have so many other fears for the safety of their children.”

Hiranya thought every parent should be aware of the consequences about not encouraging outdoor play: the health issues arising from a sedentary life and the worrying signs for mental health – 15 per cent of children aged seven to ten have a mental health problem.

“I now have a passion for encouraging children to play outside, especially close to where they live rather than always having to go to the park.

“It is such a simple intervention, but it makes such a difference. Here are opportunities for children to make social contact right on their doorstep which is so beneficial.

“They build up an association with the street where they live. It is their street and they care for it, and who knows in the future they will make sure it is a free of litter and rubbish.”

Small children take over as play street road closure in Calvert Road, High Barnet, provides a chance to play outside in the street -- an encounter in sad decline in recent years.

Longtime Calvert Road resident Chris Nightingale – who donned a yellow jacket to volunteer to help – said the Calvert Road play street closure was a model for other nearby roads and a marvellous example of community support and action.

He agreed with Hiranya that if other nearby cul-de-sacs such as Falklands Road or Cecil Court thought of joining in with the playstreet scheme there would be a network of places where small children could play outside on Sunday mornings.   

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Repairs needed to earth bank at Jack’s Lake after leak in dam wall threatened Monken Hadley Common beauty spot  

Steel piling has been used to strengthen the retaining wall along the side of Jack’s Lake in Monken Hadley Common after the bank sprang a leak which was posing a danger to the long-term future of one of Barnet’s most popular beauty spots.

Barnet Council provided a grant of £40,000 from community infrastructure money to pay for the work which will include the restoration of the bank with water loving plants and foliage.

Steel piling was inserted to a depth of 3.5metres along a 25-metre-long section of the retaining wall and then backfilled with 36 tons of pudding clay to provide a permanent plug to stop further leaks.

Dan Tomlinson, MP for Chipping Barnet, was shown progress on the two-week project – above, from left to right, Phil Keown, treasurer of Monken Hadley Common Trust, Dan Tomlinson, Hadley Common duty curator Roger De La Mare, and Steve Johnson, project manager.

Jack’s Lake – established in around 1770 – is one of several ponds which continue from the common through Hadley Wood Golf Course. They are all fed by local streams.

The retaining wall, which holds in Jack’s Lake, is alongside the footpath from Monken Hadley to Cockfosters – where the overflow from the ponds joins Pymmes Brook.

Until the 1950s, Jack’s Lake was a popular boating lake, and it is now the preserve of the Hadley Angling and Preservation Society.

Project leader Martin Vaughan (above) said the leak was causing serious erosion in the retaining bank and had needed a full repair.

The next phase of the project would be to lay coir matting over the top of the piling which would provide growing space for reeds and plants, and which would encourage lakeside wildlife.

Urgent repairs after a leak in retaining wall at Jack's Lake in Monken Hadley Common paid for by a grant from Barnet Council.

Andrew Langford, a volunteer bailiff for the angling society, described to Mr Tomlinson how the vegetation would recover and once again provide a natural habitat.

Mr Tomlinson, who is Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, congratulated the trust on doing so much to safeguard the common and Jack’s Lake and for the support of East Barnet councillor Edith David.

“As a Treasury minister I must say how happy I am to see that £40,000 of public money has been really well spent on stopping a potentially dangerous leak and in ensuring that the public can go on enjoying Jack’s Lake for years to come.”  

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Imagining what happens when Charles Dickens gets stranded in Barnet – latest theatre production puts the author of the spot

When Charles Dickens was forced the spend the night at the Red Lion in Barnet he faced some harsh truths – a challenging story line delivered with style and conviction by the cast of Between the Lines, which had its first night at The Bull Theatre in a run of sell-out performances.

Barnet’s rich history and literary connections are brought to life in the latest original production by the Blue Door Theatre Company.

When the town is snowed up halting all coaches to and from London, Dickens takes refuge at the Red Lion along with other stranded passengers whose enforced stay leads to some awkward conversations and unexpected revelations.

Dickens, by now an old man with a walking stick, died six months later.

The thrust of the story line created by Barnet playwright Sarah Munford and her co-writer Claire Fisher is to encourage the audience to form their own view about Dickens and whether he had been misogynistic towards women.

Dickens (Chris Browning) was heading north when his coach was halted by a snowstorm.

He was welcomed to the Red Lion by the landlady Peggy (Naomi Richards) who catches her visitor by surprise – she was one of the many prostitutes taken off the streets of London with the author’s help and who later made a success of her life.

Reminders of Dickens’ earlier visits to Barnet – and the inspiration he found in the town – provide material for a range of script lines.

An opening scene is a meeting of the guardians at Barnet Workhouse who are hearing an application from a blacksmith’s widow from Finchley and her son.

The guardians are divided on what to do – from left to right above, Miss Pooley (Lynne Austin), Lady Huffington (Jan Parker), Constance Dribble (Niki Patel) and Norman Nunhead (Gary Murphy).

Another flashback is in the capable hands of Abel Abel (Ross Wilson) whose conversations with Dickens hark back to the time he was said to have found inspiration at the steps in the High Street of the former Victoria Bakery – the location in Oliver Twist where Oliver was thought to have met the Artful Dodger.  

Most of the action features Barnet’s lowlife, including the Barnet Belles – as named by Dickens – who were a group of prostitutes based across the road from the Red Lion at The Bull public house.

Revelations come thick and fast as women share memories and anecdotes of past liaisons and encounters.

Such is the rich tapestry of recollections that newspaper reporter Percy Perchance (Francesco Giacon) – who is also marooned in “desolate, deepest North London” – is spoilt for choice and is soon writing the headline for his own story: Dickens Unmasked. 

Rivalry between the Red Lion and The Bull in offering a welcome to the loose women of Barnet provides some graphic commentary – and a chance for a pertinent and amusing piece of casting.

Susie Earnshaw, founder of the Susie Earnshaw Theatre School, which is based at The Bull Theatre takes on the role of The Bull’s landlady. A well-known regular is the notorious Barney Betteroff (Tony Nagle).

A key moment is when Peggy finally confronts Dickens with letters which she wrote to him but never posted and which delve into the author’s past relationships with women – a confrontation full of contradictions which Dickens does not enjoy being reminded of!

A constant backdrop to the production are the blow-ups of photographs from the Barnet Museum collection showing how the town centre looked in the Victorian era – images which are all the more powerful because some capture period buildings like the Red Lion and the parish church during heavy snowfall.  

Interspersing the scenes are songs written by the musical director Nick Godwin of The Silencerz.

Latest production at The Bull Theatre, Barnet, imagines what might have happened when author Charles Dickens is marooned for the night in the Red Lion on the opposite side of the High Street.

Paying tribute to the cast and all those who had contributed behind the scenes, director Siobhan Dunne said Blue Door Theatre Company was proud of its work in providing community theatre for the town – above, front row, from left to the right, Claire Fisher, Sarah Munford, Siobhan Dunne and Susie Earnshaw.

Their aim was to continue producing one original and locally written play a year as well as a published text.

She made a heartfelt plea to the audience to support an appeal to raise £10,000 to help with the cost of new theatrical equipment for The Bull.