'Roll Out The Barrel' Sung By A Mexican Mariachi Quintet
Cllr Gabriella Giles takes time out to celebrate a family wedding
It’s been a couple of very busy months since my last blog, during which I have personally been busy with visiting family from the US, Ireland, Germany and various parts of the UK to celebrate my sister’s wedding. Being of Irish and Salvadorean parentage, family means a lot to me especially as we live all over the world. I have found it absolutely wonderful for us to spend time together. For example, it’s been 20 years since my aunts were in London at the same time.
Despite the miles between us, we’re a close family, and certainly know how to throw a party. And what a party! The surprises for the guests were pulled off with flair. There were two old Routemaster buses to take us from the ceremony at Fulham Library to the reception at Dukes Meadows; a last minute addition of a gospel choir by the groom to serenade his bride for the first dance; and rounding out the formal part of the day with a resounding rendition of Roll Out The Barrel by a mariachi quintet (yes, I know they are Mexican, but we Latins love a good song and dance); and an extremely impromptu rendition of Hava Nagila. It was a great weekend spent celebrating our families, our cultures and shared loves.
Old Stationhouse update
Even with the interruption of the wedding, this didn’t mean that my council responsibilities went unheeded. Following on from my last blog, we held a public meeting, at St Paul’s Church, on the future of the Old Stationhouse pub. Fittingly, this was held after the first walk-in sessions on the Livable Neighbourhood consultation (which closed on Friday) so we were able to take advantage of a captive audience which, for the most part, voiced their support to keep the pub as it is. Since then, Cllr Sam Hearn and I have met the council’s planning department to discuss the application. As there are still some reports due, no decision has been made. If there is proof that the pub is used as a public community asset this will be taken into consideration as part of the planning application.
Gabriella at the wedding
Recent meetings
I have also attended meetings of the Thames Landscape Strategy, where I am on the management committee on behalf of the council. We have been looking at what its strategy should focus on over the next 25 years; how to generate more funds for the projects that are underway; and how we can promote the river as a way to combat climate change.
Other meetings include Hounslow’s cabinet question time at St Michael’s Elmwood Road; two borough council meetings, one of which was raised in Cllr Gerald McGregor’s blog last week; and Cllr Hearn and I attended a wardabout (in effect, an inspection) with Hounslow Highways along the towpath at Strand-on-the-Green. We wanted to highlight the overgrowth, loose paving stones, and request clearer signs on the path to deter cycling along the path, as it would appear that not everyone is aware of the Highway Code and recognises that this sign means “Riding of pedal cycles is prohibited”. This is worrying considering that a cyclist fell in the river here last year and, with the wetter colder weather coming on, we wouldn’t want to see a repeat especially as the path can be slippery after a high tide.
Street sweeping
Talking of the wetter, colder weather, we are not the only ward to have had complaints of the lack of street cleaning and how the leaves on our streets, which are beautiful in cold crisp weather, can be treacherous when damp. Each ward is swept fortnightly with priority given to certain roads which means that not every street is swept every time. Chiswick Homefields ward is swept every other Friday; Chiswick Riverside ward is swept every other Thursday; Turnham Green ward is also swept every other Friday. During extensive leaf fall, as now, Hounslow Highways sweeps some roads more often. See the chart for the schedule for Chiswick Riverside ward. The council’s road-by-road additional leaf fall street sweeping schedule is here; some of you will find it depressing.
Will Hounslow be Borough of Culture 2021?
I have often joked that, as much as I try to get away from Chiswick, like a boomerang I keep on coming back. With that in mind, I jumped at the opportunity to put together the response from the Chiswick councillors in support of Hounslow’s bid to be Borough of Culture 2021. A rather extensive report, built with information from my fellow councillors and others, we were all surprised at the extent of the cultural impact of Chiswick on Hounslow. For example of the 10 English Heritage blue plaques in Hounslow, all but one (for Freddie Mercury) are in Chiswick. The full report will be available online soon, and I welcome comments, especially if you think I have overlooked anything.
Remembrance and Freedom of the Borough
While I was putting together the culture compendium, I was reminded of the impact of both war and the armed forces on our leafy patch of west London. This week marks 377 years since the battle of Turnham Green; Private Frederick Hitch, a recipient of the Victoria Cross at Rorke’s Drift, is one of those represented by a blue plaque; the first V-2 of the Second World War landed in Staveley Road; and this week we commemorated 100 years since the first observation of remembrance. I was honoured to join the parade and service in Chiswick which was extremely well attended. At this time of year, I am always reminded of my family who served during both World Wars in various regiments and the roles of the British and Commonwealth forces. On Sunday, the Sea Cadets were in attendance and in great form, having spent many hours practising to get their drills and marching just right.
On Tuesday night, the Sea Cadets were on show again, this time at a special Borough Council meeting where a motion proposed by Cllr Sam Hearn was passed unanimously to award Pat Davies the Freedom of the Borough.
It was not your average Borough Council meeting. For one, it was held in Chiswick Town Hall. Secondly, it was a celebration of the fascinating work Pat undertook as a Chief Petty Officer in the Women’s Royal Navy Service. As an 18 year old, she joined the Wrens and, after ticking the box stating she could speak and write German, went on to undertake training to become a Bletchley Girl and had a vital role in intercepting and transcribing messages coming from the German forces. I have known Pat for several years but never knew of her illustrious career. I found her story fascinating. It was a sharp reminder to me that, as children and young people, we don’t always take the time to ask those around us what they have done. The constant reminder that Pat’s work was top secret and couldn’t be shared, not even with close family, was a stark contrast to the lives we live today where we feel we constantly have to share every detail of our daily lives. And yes, I recognise the irony that I am stating this in a blog about my activities.
Young people in Chiswick
Thursday night was spent at an open evening hosted by the Hogarth Youth and Community Trust, just one of the many youth organisations in the borough. Championed by Cllr John Todd, the centre has an impressive track record of supporting young people from all 20 wards in Hounslow, not just Chiswick. The open evening was a call for help, in the form of time and money, to ensure it can continue to deliver services to some of our most vulnerable young people. It was a great reminder of the years I spent at Hounslow Youth Centre while completing my Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The youth workers, there and at the Hogarth Centre, are absolutely amazing and have the skill of seeing young people in a way that their teachers and parents may not. If you are interested in volunteering your time or services, please contact Denny Anthony on denny.anthony@hogarthtrust.org.uk. Specifically, they are looking for help with their website and legal services, but would welcome other support, too.
DATES FOR DIARIES
Chiswick Area Forum: Tuesday, 19th November at 7.00pm at Chiswick Town Hall
Borough Council: Tuesday, 26th November at 7.30pm at Hounslow House
The future of policing in Chiswick public meeting: date to be announced soon
SURGERIES
Chiswick: Every Saturday from 9.30am to 10.30am at Chiswick library, upstairs in the private room.
Gunnersbury: First Saturday of the month from 10am to 11am at The Triangle Club, The Ridgeway, W3 8LN, usually a group discussion but privacy can be ar
November 20, 2019
