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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 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.”

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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.    

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.            

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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 (Reform) 829; Andrew Hutchings (Reform) 826; 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

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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.  

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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”.

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Centenary of 1926 General Strike is a reminder of its impact in High Barnet and the role of the non-unionised Barnet Press

Such was the success and respect for Barnet’s former weekly newspaper, The Barnet Press, that a century ago it published an emergency edition on sale each evening in central London during the 1926 General Strike.

For just over a week there were no streetlights in Barnet town centre, an appeal was issued for volunteers for Barnet Special Constabulary, but food supplies in the town remained normal.

Nearly two million workers led by railwaymen, transport workers and printers joined the strike in support of a miners’ pay dispute.

Local action included a strike by 60 members of the Electrical Trades Union who worked at Finchley’s coal-fired power station in Squire’s Lane.

Finchley Council said there was not the slightest hitch in supply as technical staff and volunteers took over. The station had 2,000 tons of coal in stock. Meals were provided and there was bedding in the offices.

Historians describe the strike as the greatest act of working-class solidarity in British history.

Local newspapers around the country which were non-unionised seized the opportunity to print more copies as the national newspapers had been forced to suspend publication of all but a few emergency editions.

The Barnet Press, first published by George Cowing in 1859, was a family-owned weekly newspaper which defended its political independence and whose workers who were not trade union members.

The editor wanted to ensure that the public were informed about the strike.

A reporter was assigned to listen to BBC news bulletins and then write up news stories for a special daily edition as the Cowing family was anxious to inform readers about the “serious pass to which this country has been reduced”.

A 5 o’clock National Emergency Edition was printed for sale in central London.

The BBC – or British Broadcasting Company as it was then known – had only recently been established and had become a rival source of news to the newspapers.

By 1925 it was being broadcast across the UK. It was supplied with news and information by the Reuters news agency. Sales of radios increased dramatically during the strike.

BBC news bulletins became a vital source of national news for these small non-unionised local newspapers which upped their print runs to meet the extra demand generated by the absence of national dailies.

John Reith, then the managing director, was said by historians to have “prudently self-censored” the BBC’s output so as not alarm ministers fearing that government might requisition the service.

A selection of front-page headlines from The Barnet Press gave an indication as to why the Cowing family had not recognised the print unions: “Prime Minister stands firm”, “Rioting at Edinburgh”, “Motor cars attacked”, “Government to protect non strikers”.

It was not until the Second World War that printers at the Barnet Press joined a trade union, the National Graphical Association.

Publication of The Barnet Press was halted by industrial action in November 1977 because of work to rule.

A front-page statement on an emergency edition explained that had happened:

“The Barnet Press group management very much regret that for the first time since the paper was first published 118 years ago, we have been unable to produce normal edition of the Barnet and Potters Bar Press.

“Industrial action by members of The Barnet Press composing room chapel of the National Graphical Association has resulted in our newspaper not being published this week.”

Trustees for the Cowing estate sold off The Barnet Press in the 1990s. It continued publication under new ownership in Hendon until its final closure in August 2017.

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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.”

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Leaseholders of The Spires Shopping Centre in administration – Chipping Barnet Town Team seeking full explanation 

Chipping Barnet Town Team are seeking a full explanation given concern about leaseholders of The Spires Shopping Centre in administration.

A renewed attempt is being made to get up to date information on the future ownership of The Spires Shopping Centre in High Barnet following a second intervention by the High Court appointing administrators for companies involved with its leases.

Purchase of The Spires for £28 million in 2021 was made in the name of BYM Capital which went into administration in 2023.

Freehold of The Spires’ site is owned by Barnet Council.

Companies House has now confirmed new administrators have been appointed to take control of NEG The Spires Ltd, named as the holder of the leases.

An associated company NEG Barnet Market Ltd, which owns the freehold of the former site of Barnet Market, is also under the control of the same administrators.

Given the new situation and the possibility, the adjacent sites could now be split up – and the added grave uncertainty about the future of one of the town’s key assets – the Chipping Barnet Town Team is seeking to make contact with the new team of administrators.

“Community groups and other key stakeholders in the town are desperate to find out what is going on,” said town team secretary Eamonn Rafferty.

“We have all been left in the dark for far too long.”

“Bearing in mind the strategic importance to the town of The Spires precinct of shops, the Waitrose supermarket and the multi-storey car park, we think the Town Team must be consulted before any key decisions are taken about their future.

“We want to know more about the options being considered by the administrators. If there is a complicated break-up of the assets it could put the future of the entire shopping centre at risk.”

Barnet Councillor David Longstaff, a member of the Town Team, and the Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson, have both indicated they will try to gain more information. 

When administrators were first appointed in November 2023, Barnet Council – which owns the freehold of The Spires’ site – insisted that there would be no interruption in the running of the shopping centre.

Operation of the centre and its facilities such as public conveniences – conducted through the management of Savills Property Management – was said to be the responsibility of a separate company which the council had been assured was not in the hands of the administrators and would continue without interruption.

FMX Urban Property Advisers, which took on responsibility in March 2024 for leasing retail units in the shopping centre, told the Barnet Society that it was “business as usual” when it came to seeking for new tenants for vacant outlets.

“Our role as letting agents is not affected” said FMX.

In promotional material, it describes The Spires as a “primary retail destination…boasting an affluent surrounding catchment and benefiting from excellent transport links and a 440-space multi-storey car park”.

FMX said their instructions were to help implement a “dynamic and proactive retail strategy” for The Spires.

Prior to going into administration BYM Capital held discussions with Barnet Council and public consultations about possible redevelopment.

There were proposals – about which nothing further has been heard – to convert the shopping centre into a new retail thoroughfare with blocks of flats and shops below together with more flats above the car park and on the site of the former market.

Currently the market site is a car park operated by Britannia Parking, which also operates the multi-storey at the shopping centre.

Concern over how best to safeguard the future of the shopping centre, prompted the formation of a resident’s “Save The Spires” campaign which handed out leaflets calling on Barnet Council to take active steps to preserve “a safe, quiet and much used” civic space at the heart of High Barnet.

Covered walkways and squares within the shopping centre were an important amenity because they were “free of traffic and deserved to be maintained and kept open to the public”. 

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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.   

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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.

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Historic prayers and verses add a moving to tribute to the men who lost their lives in the 1471 Battle of Barnet

A service of commemoration and laying of wreaths marked the 555th anniversary of the Battle of Barnet – a service researched and devised by the recently appointed rector of Monken Hadley parish church, the Reverend Francesco Aresco.

He read from texts which would have been known by the men who fought in the battle, most of whom left no name and who were buried in unknown graves in the vicinity of Hadley Highstone.

Francesco said the service was a moment to stand at the Highstone and remember their dying before God:

“These men who woke that morning, laced their boots, felt the fog on their faces, and did not come home.”

Whatever divided the Lancastrians and Yorkists on the battlefield, the ground around them received those who died without distinction and “has held them these five hundred and fifty-five years” since the day of the battle, 14 April 1471.

Dr Susan Skedd (above, right) director of the annual Barnet Medieval Festival, led the wreath laying ceremony – seen with Dame Theresa Villiers, the former MP for Chipping Barnet.

Her wreath – made from recycled flowers by Ursula Stone of the Flower Bank community project in New Barnet – included red and white roses and carnations “perfectly arranged” to reflect the colours of the Lancastrians and Yorkists.

Other wreaths were laid by Martin Russell, Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London; Monken Hadley church; East Barnet Royal British Legion branch and club; and by Barry Swain of the Barnet Tourist Board.

Francesco, who was appointed rector of Monken Hadley parish church in February last year, said that he had carried out his own research into the Battle of Barnet and hoped that the service reflected the momentous events that day.

His order of service – see illustration above – began with a prayer which the church of 1471 would have used, in the Latin the men at the battlefield would have known:

“Gloria Patri et Filio

et Spiritui Sancto”

Many of the men who assembled for the battle did not leave. “They were men of a world ordered by oath and obligation, by the faith they owed their lord and the faith they owed their God.”

Martin Russell then read verses which were composed in England some five hundred years before the Battle of Barnet by a poet whose name is lost.

“They were made for exactly this: for standing at the edge of a world that is no more and asking where the dead have gone”:

“The halls have fallen. The rulers lie dead.

Where is the horse gone? Where the young warrior?”

Wreath laying and service of commemoration to remember the men who died in the Battle of Barnet of 1471, Special service for 555th anniversary

Ursula Stone’s Flower Bank project has been providing a wreath for the Highstone commemoration since the services were introduced in 2021.

“We are always full of admiration for the wreaths which Ursula designs for us and this year the red and white roses and carnations are so appropriate,” said Susan Skedd.

Ursula’s flower arranging classes using surplus flowers from shops and events have been widely praised and her initiative was recognised in 2023 with a Barnet Council award for outstanding service to the community.

The wreath laying ceremony was an opportunity help publicise this year’s Barnet Medieval Festival which is to be held at the Lewis of London Ice Cream Farm, in Galley Lane, Barnet, over the weekend of June 6 and 7.

New attractions this year will include mounted knights in combat and a falconry display.

To highlight this year’s 555th anniversary celebrations, Barnet Tourist Board is hoping to announce a fresh attempt to determine the site of the Battle of Barnet.

Researchers Brian Carroll and Barry Swain have been drawing up plans to enlist a team of metal detectors to conduct a fresh search.

They were looking into new theories about the route taken by Yorkist army as it left London and headed for Barnet to meet the Lancastrians.

Cromer Road Primary School in New Barnet is one of the sites which the Yorkists might have passed and then returned to London after their victory.

“Close to the school is a small wood – which was once of playing field – where there could be a sweep by a team of metal detectors,” said Brian Carroll.

“We think this part of New Barnet is very promising as we know that someone who lived in Clifford Road said their grandfather discovered bit and pieces of a musket in the garden.”   

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Barnet, Borough of Towers – surely a local election issue?

The tsunami of tall buildings that started 20 years ago in West Hendon and Brent Cross is now breaking on the northern suburbs of Barnet. Above are samples: High Barnet Place and Great North Leisure Park, both refused by the Council but called in by the Mayor of London; and Edgware town centre, approved by the Council. Their transformation of our borough, visually and socially, should surely be a local election issue on 7 May.

The Mayor has referred the decisions on High Barnet Place and Great North Leisure Park to his Deputy, Jules Pipe, who’s on record as supporting high-density schemes at Arnos Grove and Stanmore. We’re concerned about the conflict of interest, and with Barnet Residents Association have written to him to say so. Read our full letter to him below.

Mayor Kahn is keen to improve his house-building record and recently announced reductions in the proportion of affordable housing to 20% of the total; the previous minimum was 35% (currently offered at High Barnet). He’s also lifted a requirement in his London Plan for all flats to be dual-aspect – a regrettable lowering of their quality threshold.

The Labour Council’s rejection of the High Barnet and Great North Leisure Park applications indicated its awareness of the growing strength of public opposition to overdevelopment. We understand that it has asked the Mayor to respect the Council’s resounding decisions (by 8 votes to 1 and 8 to 0 respectively) to refuse both applications.

Housing deserves to be a major issue in May’s local elections – but design quality and appropriateness to its neighbourhood are just as important as quantity.

Some excellent new housing has been built recently in Barnet. Brook Valley Gardens, 931 High Road and Edgewood Mews (L-R below) show what can be done by building at high density but retaining a human scale.

But High Barnet Place won’t do that. What it would deliver, if approved by the Deputy Mayor, is a row of slabs that will brutally dominate our gentle, historic town and its green surroundings.

Now that the local election campaign has begun, the public hearing can’t be held until after the vote on Thursday 7 May (in practice, probably June at the earliest). The Barnet Society & Barnet Residents Association intend to submit a joint written statement beforehand and to speak at the hearing with a single voice, as we did at the Barnet Strategic Planning Committee in December. Individuals who have previously made written representations about the application either to Barnet Council or directly to the Greater London Assembly (GLA) can also request to speak.

You can show your concern about the crisis in affordable housing and harm to our neighbourhood and heritage assets by joining in the National Housing Demonstration on Saturday 18th April 1pm In Central London. Sign up here https://www.housingdemo.org/ for the Assembly point.

You can also help mitigate the impact of the Great Northern development by signing this petition to save trees on the site boundary.

Joint letter by the Barnet Society & Barnet Residents Association, 28 March 2026

For the attention of Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor of London

Dear Mr Pipe,   

We write on behalf of the Barnet Society and the Barnet Residents Association regarding your decision to call in this planning application for Stage 2 review.

We recognise the reasons for the Mayor’s recusal. However, delegation to a Deputy does not resolve the acknowledged conflict of interest. The application relates to TfL land, and TfL forms part of the GLA group. Given your strategic responsibility for planning and your publicly expressed support for the programme of developing station car parks, there is a perception risk that the decision-making process lacks the necessary distance and objectivity. This concern is heightened by your prior public statements on LinkedIn and elsewhere indicating that the High Barnet proposal “will deliver” key benefits. You have expressed similar sentiments in relation to the Arnos Grove and Stanmore schemes. Even if unintended, such language gives rise to a perception of pre-judgment. Confidence in the integrity of the review process depends not only on independence and fairness but on the clear appearance of independence and fairness.

Barnet’s Strategic Planning Committee refused the application primarily because of its fundamental conflict with the adopted Local Plan regarding height and townscape impact. That policy position was established through an evidence-based assessment and endorsed by the Planning Inspectorate in examination. Reliance on the Hillingdon case cited by the applicant and officers was misleading as Hillingdon never undertook an assessment of their site. If strategic intervention were now to override the Local Plan without compelling and transparently evidenced justification to demonstrate why Barnet and the Planning Inspectorate may have got it wrong, the credibility of plan-led decision-making across London would inevitably be weakened.

We also remain concerned that certain material planning considerations were ignored or presented in a misleading manner prior to refusal, including:

  • failure to properly test the visual impact of the eleven-storey block on the skyline and on the setting of the listed St John the Baptist Church, including the omission or manipulation of key viewpoints;
  • no recognition that the elevated topography of the High Barnet station site materially increases the perceived scale and dominance of the buildings;
  • misleading claims regarding improved drop-off and pick-up arrangements, which would reduce existing informal capacity and risk congestion on the A1000;
  • There are also evidently inadequate features of the scheme that were not properly addressed in the documentation provided by the applicant or in the officer’s report to committee;
  • creation of homes of unacceptably poor safety and quality in terms of layout, detailed design and amenity;
  • minimal improvements to modal inter-connectivity, accessibility and safety that would be negated by loss of the car park.

We emphasise that we do not oppose redevelopment of the station car park in principle. Our concern is with the scale, form and long-term consequences of this particular scheme.

You will appreciate the wider significance of this case. As Mayor of Hackney you previously expressed strong opposition when London Mayoral intervention overrode local planning judgment on the Bishopsgate scheme that you considered “far too high” and inappropriate to its context. The present situation raises closely analogous concerns regarding the balance between strategic objectives and the integrity of local democratic decision-making.

Given the strength of local opposition, the adopted policy context, and the acknowledged governance sensitivities, we respectfully urge that the review process gives full and transparent weight to these issues before any determination is reached.

Yours sincerely,

Robin Bishop, Planning & Environment Lead, The Barnet Society

Gordon Massey, Planning Officer, Barnet Residents Association

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Music festival organisers announce more details of a packed programme of summer concerts in and around High Barnet

Young musicians will be to the fore during a summer season of concerts to be held at several High Barnet venues including the parish church of St the Baptist.

Barnet viola player Inis Oirr Asano (above), who lives in Underhill, will be appearing with the Elmore Quarter during the High Barnet Chamber Music Festival in June.

Young students will be performing during the summer festival by Jack’s Lake at Hadley Wood which starts with a prelude concert at the parish church on Saturday 11 April.

The programme will include Vivaldi Four Seasons (Ilona Domnich, soprano; Charles Mutter, violinist; and Neil Varley, accordionist).

Summer concerts beside Jack’s Lake start in May and are in aid of the Monken Hadley Common Trust (see details below).

High Barnet Chamber Music Festival opens on Saturday 6 June with a free family concert at 3pm at St Mark’s Church, Barnet Vale, with flautist Hannah Gillingham and harpist Lise Vandersmissen.

Mad Song, a contemporary ensemble (see above) returns to the parish church with a programme themed around Fire and Water at 7.30pm on Saturday 13 June.

Music by Anna Clyne sits alongside works by other contemporary composers including Brett Dean and Richard Causton.

The Elmore Quartet, which has just won the Royal Overseas League string ensemble prize – with viola player Inis Oirr Asano – will be at the parish church at 7.30pm on Saturday 20 June with music by Ravel, Britten, Shostakovich, and Geyer.

The festival closes with a performance by The Portrait Players at the Friends’ Recital Hall, at Queen Elizabeth’s School, at 3pm on Sunday 28 June with music by Strozzi, Caccini, Leonarda, an Elton.

More details: https://www.hbcmf.co.uk/

Young mjusicians to the fore during a packed programme of summer concerts around High Barnet organised by music festivals.

The prelude concert promoting this summer’s music festival at Jack’s Lake – at the parish church on Saturday 11 April (doors open 6pm) – will include Vivaldi Four Seasons (Ilona Domnich, soprano; Charles Mutter, violinist; and Neil Varley, accordionist).

The summer concerts at Jack’s Lake are May 16 or 17; June 13 or 14; July 11 or 12; August 8 or 9.

The programme will include new arrangements for violin/viola, piano, accordion and voice, Habanera from Carmen, Piazzolla (Libertango and Oblivion), Hans Zimmer (Gladiator), as well as Grieg, Bellini, Gounod and Vivaldi (two Seasons, excerpts from Gloria and Tamerlano).

Jack’s Lake Summer Music Festival: https://ilonadomnich.com/projects/hadley-woods-festival-music-on-jacks-lake/

‘Prelude to Music by Jack’s Lake’ concert at St. John the Baptist Parish Church.

Saturday 11 April, 7pm Tickets £5 -£20 https://www.ticketsource.co.uk

North London’s concert band – Da Capo Concert Band – will be holding its summer concert at the Barnet parish church on Saturday 27 June.

Da Capo Concert Band: https://www.dacapoconcertband.co.uk

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Yellow line parking restrictions are excessive say residents who believe they have been treated with contempt by Barnet Council

Residents of two narrow streets of mainly small cottages and terraced homes claim they have been ignored and abandoned by Barnet Council which has imposed double yellow lines at the junction of Sebright and Calvert Roads without proper consultation.

They say ten-metre-long restrictions either side of the junction have reduced parking spaces and had the perverse effect of speeding up traffic round the corner, placing pedestrians and children at greater risk.

“The restrictions are disproportionate, unsupported by evidence and a waste of public funds.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

At the heart of their grievance is their anger at finding that changes to procedures for local consultation have made it virtually impossible for small groups of residents to challenge council decisions.

In a letter to Cath Shaw, the council’s chief executive, they accuse the council of failing to honour one of its core values, an undertaking given by councillors regarding their responsibilities to the public:

“We actively listen, respond, collaborate and share ideas, to achieve the best outcomes with residents, businesses and colleagues.”

The letter, highlighting the need for TLC for Barnet – for transparency, for listening and for consultation – sets out how they believe the council has been systematically reducing the opportunities for residents to influence decisions.

Face to face residents’ forums with councillors and council officers were abandoned in 2022 and the minimum number of signatures required to present a petition at a council or committee meeting has been raised from 25 to 500.

Their complaint mirrors anger in Underhill where residents’ groups have complained that despite overwhelming opposition council officers have gone ahead with an extension to the Barnet Hospital controlled parking zone and introduced parking charges outside the Mays Lane parade of shops.

Mrs Louise Cain (above, second from right), one of the organisers of the Sebright and Calvert Roads protest, said that once the council decided to impose yellow lines on each side of the road junction they immediately set about raising a petition.

“We easily got to 72 signatures, understanding that the minimum requirement was over 25, but then the council said our petition had been excluded because the minimum is now 500 signatures.”

Dr Chris Nightingale (above, far right) said the new minimum of 500 signatures effectively withdrew a democratic right from small groups of residents who had already lost the ability to challenge councillors and officers face-to-face at residents’ forums.

“Our community – bounded by Sebright, Puller, Alston and Calvert Roads – only has around 400 households at the most so we have lost our voice as a small community.

“Petitions with fewer than 500 signatures only require a written response and we have lost the democratic right as residents to present a case directly to councillors at a committee or council meeting.”

Dr Julia Gibbs (above, second from right) feared that the rights of residents had been eroded still further by the barriers they faced when seeking greater transparency when making Freedom of Information requests.

“A recent FOI request we made was refused on the grounds it would be too expensive for the council as it would require 15 officers to spend over 90 minutes each to produce the information.

“This was challenged and the council took over 50 working days, longer than the statutory reply time of 20 days, to send a reply.

“But even then, the council would not provide the requested information or give specific advice on how to obtain it.”

Events leading up to the painting of the yellow lines had proved to the protesters that the council had not been serious about conducting detailed consultation.

As far as they knew, there had been no complaints from ambulance or fire crews about difficulty in gaining access and apparently the only request for yellow lines had come from a refuse lorry driver.

It appeared one resident had spoken to a council officer and another official who was challenged said the yellow lines were a parking and not a highways matter.

The group thought that yellow lines of the length painted at the junction would have been expected if there was heavy traffic.

Puller and Sebright Roads were a one-way system – with Calvert Road a short cul-de-sac – and the restrictions were excessive.

“The result is a monument to officers’ failure to listen and then not revealing how their final decision was made.

“The restrictions are disproportionate, unsupported by evidence and a waste of public funds.

“We are contemplating commissioning a blue plaque to this effect.”

The protestors hope their demand that the council should restore quarterly residents’ forums will become an issue at the forthcoming Barnet Council election on Thursday 7 May.

A priority for the new council elected in May should be to restore trust between residents and councillors and to improve decision-making by identifying problems early and locally.

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A vintage Routemaster climbs Barnet Hill to terminate at the parish church – a moment to be celebrated by bus enthusiasts 

A special 263 Sunday service to Barnet Church – in support of Comic Relief – provided bus passengers a chance to step back in time and hop on board an iconic Routemaster.

Vintage buses plied the route from East Finchley to Barnet when North London Transport Events organised one of its popular charity services held three times a year.

Instead of paying a fare, passengers were asked instead to think of making a donation collected by the bus conductor.

Routemasters, which were built between 1954 and 1968 by AEC Park Royal Vehicles, were finally withdrawn from regular service in December 2005.

Watching a vintage 263 Routemaster climb Barnet Hill, turn at the church and then head back to East Finchley was an unusual sight (currently the 263 terminates at Barnet Hospital) — and was captured on camera by Stephen Bigley.

He said when Routemasters take to the road in support of fund-raising events, the organisers are always rewarded by seeing how local people are delighted to have a chance to travel on one of these classic buses

The ease with which passengers on a Routemaster can hop on and off was a moment to celebrated by bus enthusiast Helen Lewis who describes herself at Londonroutemistress (see above).

“Riding a Routemaster is such a contrast to today’s electric buses with their aircon and phone charging ports and a bell at every seat,” said Helen.

“There is no way of alerting the driver in advance that you wanted to get off if you were upstairs on the top deck, but let’s not forget how easy it was in those days to hop on and off.”

Helen has set herself a personal mission to travel every bus route run by London Transport. She researches a new route every week and then sets off.

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Protective shutters installed by Star Pubs to allow for essential work before Black Horse re-opens in time for summer  

Star Pubs say Black Horse public house will re-open by early summer in time for FIFA world cup televised matches -- and protective shutters needed during essential work

Star Pubs say they hope that the Black Horse – now protected by metal grilles across doors and windows – will reopen by at least mid-June in time for the start of televised football matches in the FIFA World Cup.

Several potential tenants are being interviewed by Star’s management team.

Improvements and other essential work are to be carried out to the interior in preparation for the re-opening of a pub which is an historic Barnet landmark.

But the closure of the Black Horse since last September is another indication of the precarious trading prospects for the licensed trade.

In a move to safeguard the long-term future of the Black Horse, Barnet Council has accepted a request for it to be protected by an order declaring the building an asset of community value.

Securing protection for the Black Horse – allowing the community the right to enter a bid if the pub is sold for redevelopment – follows the declaration of similar ACVs 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.  

An application to safeguard the Black Horse was made in the name of the Barnet parish church of St John the Baptist and was backed by a petition launched by Olly Gough, who is to stand as a Labour candidate for High Barnet in the Barnet Council elections in May.

He said strong support for the petition proved that the Black Horse was much loved by the community and was especially popular with its customers, which was a reminder to Star Pubs that it had every chance of remaining a viable business.

High Barnet Councillor Emma Whysall, who supported the application when it was considered by Barnet Council, said she realised the depth of local concern about the future of the Black Horse should it cease trading once again in the future.

Councillor Whysall, who had been in contact with Star Pubs’ management, welcomed the company’s promise of swift action to ensure that the Black Horse is re-opened in time for the start of the World Cup in mid-June.

She said people should not be alarmed by the installation of grilles across the doors and windows. They were needed for added security and protection and were essential to secure the building while work was carried out.

Pubs have been granted extended opening hours for the month-long contest because of the late kick-offs – until 1am for national ties and until 2am should any of the home nations reach the knock-out stages.   

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Save Chipping Barnet Woodland campaigners delighted by planning refusal for new house in a protected wood close to Hadley Green

An application to build a six-bedroom house in a protected wood between Sunset View and Hadley Green has been rejected by Barnet Council on the grounds it would cause unacceptable harm to a woodland habitat.

Nearby residents mounted a highly publicised campaign to save what they argued was a significant wildlife corridor between the Green and Old Fold Manor golf course.

Over 2,000 people signed a petition against the application and there were multiple objections to the planning department.

Expressing delight at the result, Marianne Nix, one of the lead objectors, said their campaign to save the woodland would now refocus on efforts to ensure it is included in the Barnet Parks and Open Space strategy.  

In rejecting the application by Christchurchgrove Ltd, the council says building a house on a one-acre site in the woodland would damage the character and appearance of the Monken Hadley Conservation Area.

When the developers held a public consultation last year to unveil their plans for the proposed house – see above – Stuart Lees, of Alan Cox Architects, told residents steps would be taken to safeguard mature trees on the site, most of which are already covered by tree protection orders.

There would be other measures to enhance the biodiversity of the woodland and as the new house would be surrounded by trees, it would be hardly visible, which had been one of the aims in the design.

Planning permission was refused because the council considered it would result in the unjustified loss and deterioration of protected woodland and to a significant number of trees within a woodland tree protection order.

This would cause “unacceptable harm to the woodland habitat and to the character and appearance of the Monken Hadley Conservation Area.”

Site clearance and loss of vegetation would “irrevocably and harmfully” alter the woodland character, and the siting and size of the new house would appear to be “out of character and appearance” of the conservation area and general locality.

Christchurchgrove Ltd had failed to demonstrate that construction, access and essential services could be delivered in accordance with recognised industry guidance, including standards relating to underground service installation near trees.

“The development would further create substantial post development pressures for the removal and degradation of trees, deadwood, and ground flora, leading to the incremental erosion of the woodland’s ecological and landscape value.”

Application for house in wood close to Hadley Green has been rejected by Barnet Council because it would unacceptable harm to a woodland habitat.
Screenshot

If the new house had been approved the objectors feared that badgers, bats, mistle thrush and other protected species would be in danger of losing their habitat.

Marianne Nix, who lives next to the woodland, installed a trail camera in her garden when she moved to High Barnet three years ago.

As well as recording hedgehogs scuttling about, there have been shots of badgers – including the picture above, captured on her video camera last New Year’s Eve when fireworks were exploding near the woodland.

So far two of the veteran trees on the site have been verified by the Ancient Tree Register – which supplied the screen shot of Sunset View and the woodland.

Robin Bishop, Planning & Environment Lead for the Barnet Society, commented, “Although we’d worked with the developer and secured some important improvements, scrutiny of the submitted documents left us with many concerns. Ours was one of 279 objections lodged against the application, an impressive number for such an inconspicuous site.

“It’s timely that the Council’s refusal came a day after the Mayor of London published London’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Although the spinney isn’t on the LNRS Local Habitat Map, it adjoins Old Fold Manor Golf Course, which is. The LNRS and Barnet Couuncil’s refusal are milestones in growing public awareness of the inportance of nature in cities.”

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Barnet Council steps in with an exemption from council tax for residents who have a terminal diagnosis

Terminally ill householders in the London borough of Barnet will be removed from council tax if they qualify under a new relief scheme which takes effect in April.

Barnet, which has a higher proportion of the elderly than in much of the capital, will become one of the first London boroughs to ease financial pressures on residents with a terminal diagnosis.

Councillor Simon Radford, the council’s cabinet member for finance – see above – is anxious to promote the assistance which the council is offering when residents and their families face “the most difficult moments in their lives”.

If residents are already receiving council tax support – through discretionary relief or housing payment policies – they will not have to pay council tax if a clinician has confirmed a terminal diagnosis.

Charities have welcomed the move by Barnet – and other councils such as Manchester and Barnsley – which they say will help people cope with the emotional strain of end-of-life care by removing or reducing council tax from families who might be dealing with loss of income and increased care costs.

Barnet, which has the second largest population of any London borough, has over 22,000 residents aged over 80, including nearly 5,000 aged over 90.

High Barnet ward illustrates the significance of the age profile: over 2,000 residents are over 65 and 673 – roughly six per cent – are over 80.

Councillor Radford said the aim of the council and health authorities was to keep people in their own homes for as long as possible with care and support, so that they could maintain their independence.

There was more demand for adult social care in Barnet than in other London boroughs which underlined the need for the council to enhance its support for the terminally ill.

Marie Curie, the UK’s leading end-of-life charity hopes that more London boroughs – especially those in the north London care belt with numerous care homes – follow Barnet’s example in ensuring residents get clear and compassionate support.

Housing costs and council tax bills added to the financial pressures on those who are terminally ill and wished to continue living in their own homes.

Under the new criteria, Barnet residents may qualify for a council tax reduction if they receive council tax support and provide an SR1 medical form, completed by a clinician, confirming life expectancy is thought to be of 12 months or less.

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Bags of litter piled up after clean-up organised by Barnet Residents Association – and the town’s MP is urging more community action

Litters pickers from Barnet Residents Association fanned out across the town in one of the association’s regular clean ups – the kind of initiative which the Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson hopes will be encouraged by his new community action network.

Association co-chair Ken Rowland and committee member Emma Morgan – see above – cleared up litter in Bruce Road which backs on to the Waitrose car park and often gets overlooked in street cleaning.

However, they left Bruce Road feeling rather disappointed because they were not equipped to tackle a heap of builder’s rubbish which had been left by a recent fly-tipper.

Committee member Anna Watkins was on hand at the association’s stall in The Spires shopping centre ready to hand volunteers litter pickers and rubbish bags which had been supplied by Barnet Council.

The clean up was organised in partnership with the Chipping Barnet Town Team and was considered a great success – a heap of around 40 rubbish bags was left nearby at Chipping Barnet Library in Stapylton Road ready for collection by the council’s refuse service.

Among the volunteers were staff members from McDonald’s fast-food restaurant who also stage their own litter pick sessions.

Franchisee Hubs Backshi (above, second from left) said McDonald’s team members regularly did a litter sweep around the restaurant in the Barnet High Street and were keen to help whenever street clean-ups were organised.

Barnet Residents Association reports another successful litter picking clean up as Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson backs more community action

Litter picking was one of the targets discussed at a meeting organised by the Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson which went on to establish a community action network.

Over 200 people attended a discussion and workshop where an agenda was established for action next year.

Long-term projects include supporting East Barnet Festival and Community Energy Barnet.

Mr Tomlinson said he hoped the network could run a monthly community cation day.

“The focus of the network is making tangible differences to the local area through local action, whether that’s litter picking or organising a community festival,” said Mr Tomlinson.   

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New studio is under construction for Barnet Guild of Artists in a field that was once part of Whalebones farm and estate

Work has started on foundations for a new studio which is being built for the Barnet Guild of Artists as part of the housing development which is underway in the Whalebones fields and woodland off Wood Street, Barnet.

A new building for community use was included in the go-ahead for an estate of 112 homes which is under construction by Hill Residential.

The new artists’ studio will be in Wellhouse Lane, directly opposite Barnet Hospital car park and bus terminus.

It replaces a studio bequeathed for the guild’s use by the late Gwyneth Cowing, former owner of Whalebones House, who was granddaughter of the founder of the Barnet Press and who died in 1987.

Hill Residential completed purchase of the Whalebones woods and fields after planning approval was finally granted in late 2024 following a protracted campaign by objectors who included the Barnet Society and the former Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers.

They argued that the new housing estate would destroy a significant wildlife habitat and result in the loss of the last remaining farmland between Arkley and High Barnet.

Most of the new homes are to be built in the largest of the fields opposite the Arkley public house, between the Elmbank estate and the woods around the now privately owned Whalebones House.

The land falls away to Wellhouse Lane and in the lower part of the development there will be three six-storey blocks providing 70 flats.

In the upper part of the site, facing Wood Street, there will be 42 new houses.

Martyn Jelley, senior site manager, told a residents’ consultation meeting that the whole scheme is due to be completed in by the end of 2028. The first new homes could be ready to move in by the end of 2027.

He said Hill Residential had taken great care to save as much of the woodland as possible and there was only one additional tree to be felled and a decision on that was being left until the spring for the result of a survey to see if the tree is being used as a roost for bats.

Work has started on new studio for Barnet Guild of Artists on farmland at Whalebone as part of residential development to provide 112 new homes

Nearby residents were shown visualisations of houses on the new estate at a consultation meeting.

A start on the construction of the new artists’ studio in Wellhouse Lane was welcomed by Helen Leake, secretary and treasury of the guild of artists.

While waiting for the new building to be completed, guild members would continue to use the timber-framed studio which was built by Miss Cowing, and which will eventually be demolished to make way for new houses.

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Barnet’s rich history and literary connections brought to life in a new play which explores Charles Dickens’ associations with the town

Imagining how the great Victorian novelist Charles Dickens might have spent an evening in the bar at the Red Lion public house in Barnet is the highlight of a new production at The Bull Theatre.

Dickens was said to have gained inspiration for his writing from his visits to North London so the challenge for Barnet playwrights Sarah Munford and Claire Fisher was to visualise what happened when the famous author stayed overnight in the town.

Rehearsals are well under way for Between the Lines: Dickens Comes to Barnet which the Blue Door Theatre Company is to present at The Bull Theatre, High Street. Barnet, for three nights in late April.

Dickens is forced to spend the night at the Red Lion because the road back to London is snowed up and that creates the occasion for some fascinating interaction with an array of the town’s colourful characters – some of whom have a tale to tell.

Peggy, the Red Lion’s landlady played by Naomi Richards (above), has a back history worthy of a Dickens novel and her revelations about her previous connections with the author, played by Chris Browning, are a salutary reminder of his own chequered past.

Before taking on the Red Lion, Peggy was a prostitute, one of many who was said to have been taken off the streets of London with Dickens’ help, and for her guest, by now an old man walking with a stick, his night in Barnet becomes a trip down memory lane. 

The life and times of Dickens’ fellow travellers play out against a background of some of Barnet’s low life including the Barnet Belles, a group of prostitutes who are based across the road at the Bull public house.

Sarah Munford (right) said she hoped her play would encourage the audience to form their own view about Dickens and whether perhaps he had been misogynistic towards women.

“Perhaps questions should be asked about the way Dickens treated his wife, how he tried to get her committed to an asylum after giving birth to ten children, and about his long-term affair with Nelly Ternan.”

Claire Fisher (left) who collaborated with Sarah, said she had enjoyed writing the crowd scenes and she has her own role in the play as nurse Sally Swaddle, the local midwife.

The history of Barnet offers an array of script lines – including a meeting of the guardians at Barnet Workhouse, which was on the site of Barnet House in Wellhouse Lane.

A tense scene develops when a blacksmith’s widow from Finchley and her son face some tough questions about their future.

Another reminder of an earlier visit to Barnet when Dickens was said to have gained inspiration from the steps outside the former Victoria Bakery – steps which become the location in Oliver Twist where Oliver met the Artful Dodger.

That flashback is in the hands of Abel Able (Ross Wilson) who takes on the role of an Artful Dodger lookalike who again captures Dickens’ attention.

Once again props for the production are in the capable hands of sculptor and artist Cos Gerolemou, who has worked behind the scenes on so many of the company’s productions.

He came up with the idea of a sucking pig which has pride of place on the mantlepiece above the fire in the bar of the Red Lion.

For artistic director Siobhan Dunne (above left) – concentrating with Sarah Munford at an evening rehearsal – an annual challenge for the Blue Door Theatre Company is present an original play with a theme based around the history of Barnet and its literary connections.

Her success directing the company speaks for itself: last year’s production, Mary Livingstone, I Presume, based on events surrounding the year Dr David Livingstone lived on Hadley Green, was a sell-out.

Equally popular were original productions on the 1471 Battle of Barnet and the history of once celebrated Barnet Fair.

Barnet's Blue Door Theatre Company explores Charles Dickens' literary associations with Barnet in new production at The Bull Theatre

Between the Lines: Dickens Comes to Barnet features original live songs by composer Nick Godwin of The Silencerz.

There will be four productions, Thursday 23 April and Friday 24 April at 7.30pm; Saturday 25 April at 2pm and 7.30pm

Tickets £15 + booking fee via www.thebulltheare.com

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High Barnet Station – Mayor’s team set to decide own planning application                      

Since Barnet Council decided in December that it was minded to refuse Barratt London’s planning application, the Mayor of London has called it in for review. A public hearing seems likely directly after the local elections on 7 May 2026. The Barnet Society & Barnet Residents Association are greatly concerned that the Mayor’s decision won’t be impartial, and has sent the letter below to our MP, Barnet Councillors and its Greater London Assembly Member.

Readers are urged to make their feelings about the planning application known to Dan Tomlinson MP at dan.tomlinson.mp@parliament.uk and Assembly Member Anne Clarke at anne.clarke@london.gov.uk

We expect candidates seeking election to Barnet Council in May in wards in and around High Barnet will be asked by residents whether they are for or against the blocks of flats being proposed on the tube station car park. For some voters this will be a critical issue.

We are hoping for a clear indication of where candidates of all parties stand. The positions to be taken by our MP and GLA member are of particular interest ahead of polling day.

Dear Dan Tomlinson, Assembly Member Anne Clarke & selected Barnet Councillors

We write on behalf of the Barnet Society & Barnet Residents Association to ask if we can count on your support at the Mayor of London’s representation hearing on this planning application. As you will know, the Mayor called in the application following Barnet Council’s decision on 8 December 2025 that it was minded to refuse it.

The date for the hearing seems likely to be directly after the local elections on 7 May 2026.

Our principal concern at this point is the clear conflict of interest since the Mayor controls Transport for London, which not only owns the site and runs the tube and bus services connecting it to our neighbourhood, but has commissioned the project and stands to profit from its construction. That is setting, writing and marking your own homework.

Although the Mayor has delegated the decision to his Deputy, Jules Pipe, conflict of interest cannot be avoided since Jules Pipe has made statements in support of this and other TfL developments. He has also expressed regret at their refusal when they could not be called in. That is not an unbiased position from which to determine the future character of Chipping Barnet.

If approved, the application will have a most harmful impact on the town and its nearby green spaces, and set a benchmark for future development in the area. Visualisations in the application were cynically manipulated to downplay its deplorable visual impact.

We’d welcome well-designed homes at an appropriate scale of development. But this proposal grossly exceeds that.

Instead, it would

  • breach many policies in Barnet’s recently-adopted Local Plan, including its tall buildings assessment for this site endorsed by the Planning Inspectorate, and make incorrect use of the Hillingdon case to justify a tall building in this location;
  • create homes of unacceptably poor safety and quality in terms of layout, detailed design and amenity;
  • provide minimal improvements to accessibility and safety that would be negated by loss of the car park;
  • exacerbate existing congestion of the set-down and pick-up area, likely causing vehicles to back up onto the busy A1000;
  • irreparably harm the identity of the neighbourhood, nearby and from afar;
  • be unsustainable by many environmental standards, contrary to the developer’s claims; and
  • offer no compensating benefits of significance by way of transport connectivity or new/improved facilities to the existing community.

Our many pages of comments on the application detailed multiple breaches of Borough, London & National policy and guidance (some of them basic matters not revealed in earlier public consultations).

In sum, the site is unsuitable for 1,000 new residents. The resulting excessive height, density and design weaknesses – and the operational difficulties that would beset residents and travellers and the public, commercial and emergency services trying to serve them – risk repeating the mistakes of postwar housing estates. That would be to the lasting cost of our community and the identity and character of Chipping Barnet.

Regards

Robin Bishop

Planning & Environment Lead, the Barnet Society

Gordon Massey

Planning Consultant, Barnet Residents Association

The planning application can be viewed on Barnet Council’s planning portal (reference no. 25/2671/FUL). The Mayor of London’s case reference is 2025/0802/S2.

On our website you can read the Barnet Society’s objections to the scheme as well as coverage of the Council’s Planning Committee decision.

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For almost 60 years Barnet’s Puddenecks Club has been hosting events including a meal and entertainment for the town’s elderly residents

Entertaining groups of Barnet’s senior citizens to a monthly supper evening is one of the many activities organised by one of the town’s oldest charities, the Puddenecks Club.

The Puddenecks are volunteers whose mission is to hold events which help elderly residents overcome the loneliness of being home alone.

Guest evenings in the winter months are followed by barbeques in the summer and there is a chance to keep fit at a weekly exercise class.

Like so many other community groups the club is keen to recruit additional volunteers and helpers and especially car drivers who can assist with transporting elderly guests and with fundraising.

Committee member Victor Valloti – seen above with guest Lesley Keating – said the club realised that the popularity of a monthly evening meal demonstrated of the importance of not forgetting the elderly.

Volunteers collect each of those attending an event directly from their homes and then drive them back again at the end of the evening.

“So many of the elderly, especially widows and those living alone don’t like going out on their own in the evening and our aim is to take the edge off that loneliness,” said club secretary Roger Moore.

Club members and volunteers are maintaining a contribution to the community which started in 1958 when a group of Sunday lunchtime drinkers got together in the now demolished Swan and Two Necks public house in High Road, Whetstone.

They decided to meet once a month for a steak and kidney pudding and then hold a meeting to decide how best to help older people in Barnet – hence their name, Puddenecks.

“We pride ourselves on making sure that any elderly resident we invite out is picked up at their home and then returned safely,” said Mr Moore (right) seen above signing up a new volunteer driver Larry Williams at the club’s February night out which was an evening meal with a Spanish theme at the Old Fold Manor Golf Club.

“It is quite an exercise collecting 75 or so senior citizens from their homes and then getting them back again but we know how much our efforts are appreciated.

“Many of those we collect from their homes are widows or other elderly ladies living on their own and they are just so fearful of going out on dark winter evenings, so we feel what we do is a real contribution to the community.

“We follow our monthly evenings out in the winter months with a couple of summer barbecues at Totteridge Millhillians Cricket Club.” 

Another of the precautions taken by the club to ensure the safety of their elderly guests is to invite along two volunteers from the Barnet division of the St John Ambulance Brigade.

“We realise that at one of our events we might need some medical support one day and we are so grateful for the support of their brigade’s volunteers.”

For the guests the great attraction of a meal out with the Puddenecks is the chance to chat with friends said Jenny Windsor (above, second from left) with Tony Cardosi, Angela Casali, Sandra Gallardo and Terry Gleeson.

“It is so important for us all to get out of the house and have a real chinwag with our friends. What the Puddenecks do for Barnet’s elderly cannot be praised enough,” said Jenny.

One of Barnet's oldest charities the Puddenecks Club is appealing for more volunteers to help with its evening meals and entertaintment for elderly residents

Mr Moore arrived at the club’s February evening after collecting Gillian Collison from her home. She could not wait to join her friends.

He said the club was launching an appeal for new members – and especially car drivers – because they felt there was low public awareness within Barnet for what the Puddenecks did.

Anyone who is interested in joining is asked to make contact by emailing roger.moore@puddenecksclub.org.uk or visit their website for more details www.puddenecksclub.org.uk

Each year the club raises upwards of around £40,000 to finance its activities.

A golf day at the Old Fold Golf Club in September followed by a dinner and auction is one the main fund-raising events.

There is also an annual charity dinner with a guest speaker, and these are backed up with donations and raffles, including an annual Christmas raffle at Ye Olde Monken Holt public house in Barnet High Street.

Mr Moore said the value of the club’s support for the elderly was underlined during the covid emergency when the Puddenecks delivered 100 portions of fish and chips to 100 residents twice a month.

“For those who can’t get to our guest evenings we continue to deliver 20 or so portions of fish and chips every two or three months.

“We also have an exercise class for an hour every week in the Wesley Hall – and that attracts 40 or so people who are instructed by a professional tutor.”

Probably the most eagerly anticipated event is the Puddenecks’ Christmas dinner where volunteers at the Totteridge Millhillians Cricket Club cook two meals, for a sitting at 12 noon and then another at 5pm.

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“Love them or lose them” is the blunt message from the organisers of Barnet’s summer round of shows, fetes and festivals

Organisers of a busy programme of summer shows and festivals in and around High Barnet hope there will be maximum support this year because today’s tough times are forcing the postponement and even cancellation of some popular events.

Out in front once again is Barnet Classic Car Club’s annual show which is to be held on Sunday 17 May on the top floor of The Spires car park — see above last year’s display of Jaguar cars.

Four concerts – including a family concert – will be held between June 6-28 by the High Barnet Chamber Music Festival which is backed this year by Arts Council England.

Another highlight of the summer calendar will be the two-day Barnet Medieval Festival over the weekend of June 6-7, back for a second year at its new site in Galley Lane.

Fields around Fold Farm (Lewis of London Ice Cream) provided an ideal location last summer with record crowds for the re-enactments of the Battles of Barnet and St Albans and masses of space for a campsite, medieval traders and enthusiasts.

Publicity material is already out for the annual Arkley Village Fayre on Saturday 23 May and its highly popular all comers dog show – see above, last year’s winners.

Other events planned include Queen Elizabeth’s School’s founders’ day fete on Saturday 20 June; Jazz and More on Hadley Green on Sunday 5 July (12pm to 6pm); and Hadley Wood Association’s fireworks night on Sunday 1 November.

Financial challenges, a shortage of helpers, complex safety regulations and higher Barnet Council charges are all adding to the pressures facing the volunteer committees which work so hard behind the scenes.

Their plea to the residents of Barnet and further afield is to put dates in the diary and to help ensure the continued success of what promises to be an entertaining and engaging programme of events.

“Love them or lose them” is the blunt message.

Summer programme of shows, festivals and fetes in and around High Barnet and an extra strong plea this year for strong public support

Even the town’s biggest annual celebration, Barnet Christmas Fayre, is facing an unprecedented financial challenge.

For the first time it seems the organisers might have to raise the funds to meet the cost of road and bus-route diversions which are needed to keep the High Street clear of traffic.

If Barnet Council is unable to absorb the estimated cost of around £4,000, the fayre committee might have to launch an appeal and look for additional sponsors.

One popular event which has had to be cancelled this year is the Barnet Summer Soulstice soul music festival which has been held for the last 18 years at the Old Elizabethans playing fields in May Lane.

But the Spring into Soul Ball – also in aid of Cherry Lodge Cancer Care – is being held on Saturday 21 March at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel in Borehamwood.

Another of this year’s casualties is the East Barnet Festival which is planning on returning in 2027. Organisers have issued a plea for support for next year’s event which they say will help “keep the spirit of East Barnet alive”.

After missing out last year, Potters Bar Carnival is due to return on Sunday 14 June with live performances from show bands and dance troupes. Community support is vital to the carnival’s success.

East Finchley Festival is booked in for Sunday 21 June but again the organisers have issued a plea for support because of the mounting costs and challenges facing self-funded events.

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Queen Elizabeth’s School – a Barnet brand name that will soon be appearing on new international schools in India and Dubai

QE Boys, established by Queen Elizabeth in 1573 as a free grammar for the “boys and youth” of Barnet, is about to begin a new chapter in its history with the opening in August of the first two of three new international schools bearing the brand name “Queen Elizabeth’s School”.

Enrolment started in November at one the new schools opening in August – Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City (see artist’s impression above).

Some leading independent schools have already established international branches.

QE Barnet, is the first UK state-maintained school to open affiliated schools overseas, starting in the United Arab Emirates and India.

Queen Elizabeth's School Barnet about to become an international brand with new Queen Elizabeth schools in India and Dubai

Queen Elizabeth’s School, at Gurugram, near Delhi – see artist’s impression above – is the second of the two schools opening in August.

It is in the northern Indian state of Haryana, and it will be followed by another in India at Gift City, another new financial and technology hub in Gujarat province.

Any revenues received from a partnership with Global Education Holdings Ltd will be invested in furthering educational opportunities at QE in Barnet, says the school’s website.

The location of these new international fee-paying schools for boys and girls under the Queen Elizabeth brand reflects the high number of children of Indian heritage who are being educated at QE Boys.

A report in The Times (9.2.2026) into why white British pupils are falling behind in the race for a grammar school place singled out QE Barnet.

Requests by the newspaper under the Freedom of Information Act had revealed that in the last academic year (2024-25) only two boys from an intake of 192 at QE Barnet were identified as white British, down from nine in 2019-20.

The number of boys admitted to QE who were from Indian heritage had increased from 103 in 2019-20 to 120 in 2024-25.

Queen Elizabeth’s School attracted 3,300 applications for the 192 places which were available that year – a level of demand which reflects its ranking in the Sunday Times 2026 school guide as state secondary school of the year.

Since it reverted from being a comprehensive to grammar school status in 1994, and reintroduced an entrance examination, QE Boys has become heavily oversubscribed.

Its high intake of boys from Indian families who pass the entrance exam is a result of what The Times described as the emphasis which Indian heritage families place on tutoring children, often starting at the age of six.

Former QE pupils from Barnet who now live in Dubai – where 90 per cent of the population are expatriates – have been lending their support for the opening of the Queen Elizabeth’s School at Dubai Sports City.

In a video presentation describing how the new school would draw on QE Boys “incredible heritage”, the founding principal Dan Clark said he had hosted an event in Dubai for Old Elizabethans.

He said that these former pupils had “an exceptional sense of pride” about having been educated at QE in Barnet and they were “desperate to get involved” in a project which would allow children in Dubai to benefit from the experience of the “most academically successful state-maintained school in the UK”.

“I have been wondering whether Queen Elizabeth thought that a school she founded in Barnet would go on to be one of the UK’s – and the world’s – most successful academic institutions.”

Mr Clark expressed his personal delight at being able to bring the “incredible heritage” of QE to Dubai, one of the “world’s most exciting cities and one of the world’s top ten destination cities for education”.

QE headmaster Neil Enright said that he and his staff in Barnet would “play a key role in shaping and guiding the new schools, ensuring that they are worthy of bearing the proud name of Queen Elizabeth’s School”.

Management of the commercial relationship with Global Education will be in the hands of a new subsidiary, Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s International Enterprises Ltd which would ensure that the charity and the school benefited from the income generated by the new international schools.

Global Education is a UK registered education business with 60,000 students in a portfolio of establishments across 12 different countries operating as “successful education brands”.

“The new Queen Elizabeth’s Schools in India and other markets will bear the QE name and branding and will draw upon QE Barnet’s ethos and educational methodology, taking inspiration from and aspiring to its record of academic excellence and achievement.”

QE Barnet is described as being “a perfect partner” for Global Education as it seeks to offer first-class British-style schooling in international settings.

In welcoming the new partnership, Mr Enright says QE Barnet looks forward to working with Global Education to “open and grow QE branded schools internationally, and to the opportunities that students will enjoy as a result.”

In its report investigating the way white British pupils are failing to get grammar school places, The Times said that its Freedom of Information requests indicated that the girls’ grammar school Henrietta Barnet in Hampstead Garden Suburb took one white British pupil and 62 of Indian heritage in the academic year 2024-25 when there were 3,000 applications for 104 places.

Unlike QE Boys Barnet, Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School, Barnet, which was established in 1888, has remained a non-selective comprehensive school and continues to offer places within a wide catchment area around High Barnet.

By contrast QE Boys attracts pupils from across north and west London, Hertfordshire and further afield and administers its own selection process.

There has been discussion among education experts as to whether there should be reform of a system which allows applicants to apply to successful grammar schools regardless of where they lived.

Mark Fenton, chief executive of the Grammar School Heads Association, told The Times that schools were obliged to assess all applicants regardless of where they lived and this was a regulation which some grammar school leaders would like to see reformed.