Have you ever visited an NGS garden? We did, last Sunday in Finchley!

The publishers “The Yellow Book”, a guide to over 3,700 gardens, is the National Garden Scheme, or NGS as they are commonly known.

Every year NGS gardens across England and Wales welcome about 750,000 visitors. Most gardens which open for the NGS are privately owned and open just a few times each year. Some gardens open as part of a group with the whole community involved. The gardens give all the money raised directly to us (including from the sale of teas and plants); the only exceptions being in some cases they ask that a small proportion goes to a nominated local charity.

NGS Garden

Our tradition of opening gardens of quality, character and interest is supported by our Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales.

Did you know that we currently give away more than £2.5 million each year to nursing, caring and gardening charities and we have given them a total more than £25 million in the last 15 years. Our office and overheads are small and most of the work is done by volunteers in our county teams and so currently more than 80p in every £1 raised at garden openings goes directly to our beneficiaries.

NGS Garden

I attended one such garden last Sunday in Park Crescent – just behind Victoria Park. It was a beautiful well kept garden and the £2.50 collected saw a large chunk going to the North London Hospice and the balance going to the NGS. The owner and gardener was Rosie Daniels and one wonders where she finds the time, as after a full days work in central London, she spends a lot of time at home and at The Institute with her main hobby, with stained glass windows.

NGS Garden

The photographs in this article were all of her garden.

An evening of ‘trad’ at The Finchley Jazz Club – just a little East of Avenue House.

Live Jazz in Finchley
by Pam Taylor

At the Finchley Jazz Club

Even though it was pouring with rain, it didn’t deter about 40 people from virtually filling the Wilf Slack Cricket Ground Pavilion at 19 East End Road, N3.

We didn’t like to over-stay our “press pass” welcome so we left as soon as we took our photographs and notes, but what we did hear we thoroughly enjoyed and will certainly return soon. The atmosphere was very friendly and welcoming but then most people who love jazz are.

The Finchley Jazz Club was formed in 1999 and meets every other Monday in the Wilf Slack Cricket Pavilion in East End Road, N3 at 8.15pm. (Future dates: July 14, 18, August 1, 15, 29, September 12, 26, October 10 24, November 7, 21, December 5 and 19). The style is really mainstream/traditional jazz. The entry cost is only £7 per person for two and a half hours of professional jazz entertainment. There is no bar at the club but customers can bring their own alcohol and there are soft drinks and crisps for sale at the door. It really is one of the great jazz sessions in the area. Full dates and other information can be found on their website at finchleyjazz.co.uk

The regular rhythm section consists of Malcolm Harrison on guitar (Malcolm plays regularly at The Lamb and Flag pub in Covent Garden and is very popular) and John Bayne on double bass and bass sax. John runs the club, also plays with Bix ‘n’ Pieces as well as the Armstrong Oliver Band and plays all the saxes, clarinet, tuba and many others. He also plays the bagpipes but they don’t seem to fit in with the jazz somehow so our readers may relax!

A different front line each session gives a continuous fresh feel to the entertainment.

The June 20th front line consisted of Peter Rudeforth on trumpet (Peter is a lead trumpet player with the Big Chris Barber Band), John Crocker on clarinet and tenor sax (John was with Chris Barber for over 20 years) and Keith Nichols on keyboard (Keith is multi-talented, playing keyboard, trombone, reeds and accordion. He has played with many famous names such as Bing Crosby, Harry Gould, Pasadena Roof Orchestra and has a few bands of his own).

The July 4th session will be different from the norm, consisting of John Cherry on guitar and banjo because Malcolm is on holiday; Tony Blackburn on drums (bet that surprised you); Trevor Evans on double bass and a double act consisting of John Bayne and John Ellmer who will both be bringing all the saxes, clarinets and scrap metal they can fit in their cars!!

Each session consists of five musicians but occasionally there is a special evening. The next special one will be on July 18th when Bob Dwyer’s Bix ‘n’ Pieces seven-piece band will entertain. A truly exceptional event.

So why don’t you give it a try? We will!

The Emmanual Wind Quintet at a free concert at St Mary-at-Finchley last Saturday

Chamber Music Concert at St Mary-at-Finchley Parish Church by Pam Taylor

We spent an enjoyable early Saturday evening at a concert given by the very talented Emmanuel Wind Quintet. This was in aid of the church organ restoration fund which has now reached £123,500, but more needs to be raised to cover the VAT. Reliance was put on the honesty of the audience as there wasn’t an admission charge for the concert or the wine and other refreshments afterwards.

There were about 80 people in the audience and we enjoyed a very varied programme which started with five Jeux d’Enfants (Children’s Games) by Bizet. These were followed by Mozart’s Serenade No. 11 in Eb Major, three songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn by Mahler followed by the Quintent’s favourite : Kleine Kammermusic (Little Chamber Music) by Paul Hindemith (1895-1963) which consisted of 5 compositions.

At the end, after much enthusiastic applause, the Quintet surprised us by returning to play some good jazz entitled “The Roaring 20s” arranged by Paul Nagle which included Tootsie Tootsie Goodbye and Making Whoopee to name but two.

The evening closed with some drinks and nibbles which gave us a chance to socialise, meet people to talk about the wonderful concert and to network..

Alex Edmundsun, the horn player announced each set of pieces and there was a detailed programme supplied by Alison Smart, St Mary’s Director of Music who also introduced the quintet.

 In the order of the above photograph were

David Ruff is from Bournemouth and started playing the flute at the age of eight. He studied with a full scholarship at the Junior Royal Academy of Music and is now studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Ian Clark, as well as jazz flute and saxophone with Martin Hathaway. David is currently principal flautist in the National Jazz Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.

Aisling Maguire studied oboe from the age of 12 at the Junior Guildhall School and currently studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Gordon Hunt and Alison Teale. She has won various competitions as a soloist, including BBC Radio London’s Young Musician Competition, the North London Music Festival Recital Prize and Premier Challenge Cup

Alex Edmundson comes from a musical family in Lythan St Anns, Lancs. Having previously studied at Chethams School of Music with Richard Watkins, he is now continuing his studies at the Guildhall with Jeffrey Bryant. He is an experienced orchestral musician; engagements have included frequent work with the European Union Youth Orchestra, Sinfonia Cymru and a recent appointment as Principal Horn of the Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra. He was twice a Brass Section Finalist in the BBC Young Musician Competition.

Tom Corin is from St Ives in Cornwall and is studying bassoon at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. His interest in orchestral playing has led to work within the Guildhall School’s many ensembles and also outside with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, European Union Youth Orchestra, Sinfonia Cymru and the Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra.

Max Mausen was born in Luxembourg and took up the clarinet at the age of seven. He studied with Marcel Lallemang at the Conservatoire de Musique de Luxembourg and became a member of the Luxembourg Clarinet Choir, with whom he regularly performs as a soloist. He is currently studying with Julian Farrell at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

artsdepot invites submissions from both emerging and established artists and the deadline for submitting work is 16 June

This has arrived in my inbox and it is urgent.

artsdepot open 2011

artsdepot is passionate about art and artists and the annual artsdepot open, now in its seventh year, is a celebration of creativity. Submissions are encouraged from both emerging and established artists. The exhibition is a fantastic opportunity for gifted visual artists to have their work prominently displayed and promoted in artsdepot, and for audiences to experience and buy a diverse and vibrant range of art.

artsdepot invites submissions from both emerging and established artists and the deadline for submitting work is 16 June (extended from 6 June).Applicants are eligible to submit up to 3 works for consideration and the final selection will be made by a panel of experienced arts professionals.

 

Thanks to the generous support of the Milly Apthorp Charitable Trust Continuation Fund we are pleased to offer the Milly Apthorp Prize for artists in Barnet. A first prize of £750 and second prize of £250 will be awarded to the two most distinguished works submitted by an artist currently living, studying or working in the London Borough of Barnet.

 

An additional prize will be awarded to Young Artists. This prize is open to young people aged 13-19 years old. The prize will be awarded at the exhibition opening.

 

The exhibition will be shown at artsdepot from Wednesday 20 July to Sunday 4 September 2011.

 

Submission forms and full terms and conditions are available from www.artsdepot.co.uk, the Apthorp Gallery, or artsdepot’s Box Office on 020 8369 5454.

 

Charity Concert For Japan Earthquake appeal

By Ron Smith our cultural correspondent
Photos by Chris Hurwitz Bremner

Trinity Church (Nether Street – near Tally Ho) was the perfect venue for this final charity concert in aid of Diabetes UK, held on Saturday 28th May. Eighty Finchleans enjoyed a wonderful evening of superb music and song which was performed by truly gifted and accomplished young talent, too many to mention, who delighted us with their skilful performances on a variety of instruments

The programme included pieces of Classical music by ten of the Youngsters which included a very mature performance on the Cello by Anoushka Sharp, and a brilliant performance of Chopin  Etude No 4 in C sharp minor (piano) by Tiffany Cheng.

The Adults performed Classical and Pop including Japanese songs by Apparei with Hideaki Domon on guitar, and Norikazu Saruyama (vocal), whilst Kofi Karikari gave a powerful exhibition of Percussion instruments and wonderful rhythm.

The evening ended after three hours with all the performers and the audience singing “HEY JUDE” by the Beatles.

A vote of thanks was made to Chris Hurwitz Bremmner at Trinity Church for the use of it, and his great support and help in organising the events over the month.

Thanks were also given to Maki Asano who organised the show with help from Shino and many other helper. Entrance was only £5 and the event raised £400.

The donations will be sent to the children’s music group in Kesennuma in Miyagi, Japan to buy new instruments to replace the ones destroyed and lost in the Tsunami and Earthquake.

The recent recital at St-Mary-at-Finchley Parish Church

A RIGHT ROYAL RECITAL by Ron Smith

A marvellous evening of songs and arias, was performed at St- Mary-at-Finchley Parish Church, London N3 on Saturday 21 May 2011

 “Churches together in Finchley” are a gathering of more that a dozen churches embracing six denominations from every corner of Finchley. It has been around as an organisation under a variety if titles for about 40years, and Christian Aid is one of the many actions.

The songs were sung by Rachel Weston, and Carl Gombrich. The piano soloist, and accompanist was Yukiko Osedo,

The recital started at 6pm approx, after 180 people aged from one year old through to very senior persons, were treated to a delightful programme of songs from Rogers and Hammerstein , Sondheim, Verdi, Gilbert and Sullivan ,and a delightful rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody sung by Rachel and Carl .

Carls version of the Mikado was brilliant, and a thrilling performance of The White Cliffs of Dover by Rachel and Yuki, had most of the audience in full voice, which ended a superb evening.

 You can find out more about Rachel Weston at www.rachelwestonsinger.com she is married to Carl Gombrich who is the Director of the Arts and Sciences (BASc) undergraduate degree programme at the University College London (UCL)

Carl has sung in over 30 major operatic roles with various National Companies. He is also on the committee of Friends of Avenue House in Finchley.

The Finchley Art Society’s Spring Exhibition – a resounding success!

Hon President Henry McMillan introducing Mike Freer MP

On Saturday Mike Freer, MP (Finchley & Golders Green), opened the Finchley Art Society’s (FAS) Spring Exhibition at Trinity Church in Nether Street. As you can see from the photographs below, there was a huge turnout for this first day event. Mike Freer commented on the high standard of art at the exhibition and, whilst the potential buyers milled around enjoying the paintings, partaking of nibbles and drinks, against the very pleasant tinkling of ivories in the background, the team were constantly complimented at the large turnout and excellent paintings.

Viewers at the opening day of the Spring Exhibition

If you missed the opening day, which was announced in our events page, all is not lost – opening times are Monday to Thursday and Saturday 9am-10pm, Friday 9am-6pm and Sunday 2-6pm. The last viewing day of the exhibition is Sunday 29^th May so there is plenty of time.

Please look in our Events page as there are lots of other events going on at Trinity Church during the two weeks of the exhibition, including painting demonstrations on 14^th and 21^st May.

The FAS team, left to right: Danuta das Gupta, Loretta De Lange (Chairman), Mary Harper, Henry McMillan (Hon President), Pam Taylor, John Dornin, Colin Clark

Like most successful occasions, events only run as smoothly as clockwork when a lot of hard work has been put in behind the scenes, and the Society is no exception, so our team certainly deserve their photograph here.

Further photographs:

A small corner of the exhibition

The incredibly young violinist

Graffity Gerbal – a book review

By Pam Taylor

I was recently sent a copy of this book by Stockwell Book Publishers who thought we might be interested in doing a review as Angela lives in Barnet. This is the first time we have done a review and hope that it will be of interest to some Finchley parents.

It is a very engaging little book all about a gerbil who has a tummy ache after eating a whole grape (rather larger than a gerbil’s normal diet of seeds and nuts). This all leads to Graffiti going to hospital and what happens to him there. The moral for children reading this delightful book is that it is not as frightening visiting a hospital as children may imagine.

Angela Carter was born in London and, as a child, was both shy and friendly. As an adult she is gentle and learning life’s wonders all the time. She was inspired to write this book after working as a volunteer in a well known children’s hospital and seeing many children arriving in a frightened and confused state, and mostly leaving with a smile on their faces. This inspired her to write a book aimed at putting young children’s fears at bay when told they were having to go to the hospital.

This book is due to be published on 2nd March and will be priced at £2.50.

The charity dance of the year

We oldies often moan about the “yoof” of today, but every now and again something happens which makes us wonder.

The following video has so many London girls in it that surely one, at least, comes from Finchley. If there is, and you read this, contact the editor and he’ll bung a few quid in to your charity.

I have been told that these are girls from all the London Theatres who rehearsed in their own time to put on this extravaganza out in the cold, in London’s Piccadilly Circus at 9am on 20th of April 2009. A flash mob of 100 girls lose their coats and dance the morning blues away to a pleased crowd. Filmed by pure chance and in colour. The Beyoncé song they chose was excellent and really adds excitement to the whole show.

Enjoy!

Don’s Bird Quiz

It has been noted that some older screens don’t show his signature on the right hand side. Paul Brolan is the artist and is a member of the Finchley Arrow editorial team.

A g-g-g-g-reat f-f-f-f-f-ilm

By Andrew Taylor

I was dragged away from my keyboard this evening by my beloved wife as she wanted an escort to go with her to the cinema. “Wait for it to come on television” I moaned, but to deaf ears so 4:15pm saw me seated in the Phoenix Cinema in Finchley, one of the oldest in England, to see her beloved Colin Firth in “The King’s speech”.

I hope Pam doesn’t read this as I have to admit, I am really glad I went. It was an excellent film with Colin Firth portraying the Duke of York (before he became George V1) excellently and Helen Bonham Carter was gorgeous as Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother).

Geoffrey Rush, who played the speech therapist, an Australian, Lionel Logue, was excellent and quite humorous. Their relationship continued until the death of George V1 who made Logue a Member of the Victorian Order, and later a Commander of the Victorian Order. (Thanks to Wikipedia for general information on Lionel Logue.)

Firth is winning a lot of awards for his part in the film, and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he doesn’t win an Oscar for his performance. And isn’t Helen Bonham Carter in a lot of films lately – she is really blossoming out as an actress.

Finchley Artist exhibits locally

There is a nicely framed collection of prints of Finchley from Mari I’Anson’s book (which was recently published by The Finchley Society) on the walls of Finchley Central’s Bites cafe. These prints would make an affordable and acceptable gift for Christmas,  or one to keep for yourself!

‘Mari I’Anson’s Finchley Sketchbook‘ covers the whole of the Finchley area and depicts many interesting buildings and public places in the area. So, you can enjoy a coffee and snack whilst taking in this small exhibition. Your editor has a copy himself and callers are always picking it up and thumbing through.

Bites cafe is at 362 Regents Park Road, just around the corner of Station Road.

Contact Mari on 020 8346 7011 if you want to know more about the prints.

Home jewellery event next weekend

Our “proof-reader, leaflet manager and restaurant critic” David Lewis’s wife, Rosemary, is holding a summer extravaganza sale of her lovely jewellery. I say lovely as my wife is standing over me and has bought many items! But it’s not difficult to be positive about her creations, and I have no fear that my journalistic integrity is intact!

The dates and times are: Saturday 17th July and Sunday 18th July, 10:00am to 5:00pm.

The place is: 37, The Grove, N3 1QT

The cost of each of these one-of-a-kind pieces of handmade items are: Necklaces are either £25 or £35, Bracelets up to £12.50 and Earrings are £7.50.

If you have any broken pieces of jewellery hiding at the back of a drawer, bring them along and see if you qualify for a free repair.

RSVP jewels@sewspecial.co.uk or telephone Rosemary on 020 8349 0404

Scoring at work

BOOK REVIEW

By David Lewis

The Beautiful Mind Game

by Renato Fantoni

www.bookshaker.com, £15.00, pp. 183

ISBN 9781905430727

This book, by Finchley businessman Renato Fantoni, approaches the self-improvement market from the unique angle of the football aficionado. You may be currently absorbed by the twists and turns of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but pay attention: Fantoni’s ambitious aim is to show you how you can use football to improve your life and your work.

Italian by origin, Renato Fantoni is in every sense a Renaissance Man. There’s Fantoni the Finchleyite, raised in East Finchley and educated at Finchley County Grammar School. In the 1970s he was a member of a rock band called The Funky 5 from Finchley. He’s run both his businesses – HPS World of Hotels and Fantoni Coaching Assessing and Training – from offices in North Finchley since 1990.

Fantoni the Finchleyite is also Fantoni the footballer. He once took – and failed – a football trial for the Finchley Azzurri. His greatest football moment was winning a friendly match in Victoria Park.

Then there’s Fantoni the fan. He doesn’t say in his book which club team he supports, perhaps not wishing to alienate potential customers who might be rival fans. So I shall not reveal this secret, except to say that he supports the same team I do.

I happen to know all this about Renato because he’s part of my business network. What I didn’t know until I happened to spot his book in the North Finchley Waterstone’s is that all this time Fantoni the footballer, fan and business coach has been thinking deeply about the nature of the game and trying to figure out how its lessons can be applied in life and the workplace.

We must all have noticed the close relationship between life and games. It seems that games develop in imitation of some aspect of life: often war, as with chess, draughts, and team sports such as football and rugby.

This is interesting, but then an even more interesting thing happens. The game, which developed in simulation of life, now returns the compliment and provides lessons on how to succeed in life. I believe this happens because the game is a simplification of life, with stricter rules, which creates a discipline in which principles of success become more readily apparent.

Fantoni recognises the dangers of taking such analogies too far, writing: “Sport is like war; it is based on winners and losers, but the world of work and business can be different because win-win situations are always possible.”

Early in his book, Fantoni sets the scene for later chapters by outlining the ten laws on teamwork of Marcello Lippi, who coached the Italy football team which won the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Together these laws form a theoretical and practical basis for promoting successful teamwork in the workplace.

The book goes on to cover other topics which unite the world of football and the world of work (and life): the role of emotion and passion; the individual and the group; the comfort zone. Fantoni proposes a simple, football-influenced decision-making model, called Top Team, for the running of one-to-one coaching sessions and other meetings. Other themes include winning from behind, contentment and dissatisfaction at work, time management, and competitive rivalry. He shares various philosophical reflections with readers. He approaches each idea rigorously by reference to the football experience, but rarely allows the analogy to override reality.

Do you need to be a football fan to get the best out of this book? Fantoni implies you don’t; I’m not so sure. I think you will get more from The Beautiful Mind Game if you understand something about football. I also think you will get more from it if you are in the market for training in management, coaching and self-improvement.

I would even suggest that if your knowledge of football – like mine – is less than encyclopaedic, you could learn quite a lot from the glossary of football expressions which concludes the book, and which Fantoni (perhaps having over-exposed himself to punning headlines on the back pages of the tabloids) titles “VocaBALLary”.

Renato Fantoni has produced an interesting and at times amusing work which successfully marries football lore and culture to the demands of modern business managers and coaches. Va bene.

Extra events in June

Unfortunately the newspaper had “gone to bed” by the time the editor had realised that quite a few events didn’t make the “Out ‘n’ about” page for which he has eaten ashes and worn sackcloth. Well, actually it was a 16 oz fillet steak, and his Jaeger suit…

Room in the Sky
Date: 6 Jun 2010
Time: 12:00 pm
Contact: artsdepot Box Office, info@artsdepot.co.uk, 020 8369 5454
Location: artsdepot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, N12 0GA
Cost: £7.00
An interactive early years show, where two clowns play with all the sky things. Ages 3-6

Hai La Drum
Date: 6 Jun 2010
Time: 1:00 pm
Contact: artsdepot Box Office, info@artsdepot.co.uk, 020 8369 5454
Location: artsdepot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, N12 0GA
Cost: Free
Everything from Romanian tunes to Russian classics and Django-style gypsy swings. Free event in the artsdepot Level 2 foyer

Meet the Artist: Michael Craig-Martin
Date: 10 Jun 2010
Time: 7:00 pm
Contact: artsdepot Box Office, info@artsdepot.co.uk, 020 8369 5454
Location: artsdepot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, N12 0GA
Cost: £4.00
An opportunity to join Michael Craig-Martin as he discusses his work. Viewing from 6.30pm

Jaleo Flamenco
Date: 11 Jun 2010
Time: 8:00 pm
Contact: artsdepot Box Office, info@artsdepot.co.uk, 020 8369 5454
Location: artsdepot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, N12 0GA
Cost: £15.00
Explosive dance and singing from some of flamenco\’s finest award-winning artists. £13 conc

Whatever Next!
Date: 13 Jun 2010
Time: 12:00 pm
Contact: artsdepot Box Office, info@artsdepot.co.uk, 020 8369 5454
Location: artsdepot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, N12 0GA
Cost: £7.00
Baby Bear finds a rocket, packs a picnic and visits the moon! Shows at 12pm & 3pm. Ages 3-7

Pamper Yourself
Date: 16 Jun 2010
Time: 6:30 pm
Ends: 10:00 pm
Contact: Caroline Glasner caroline@jcore.org.uk 07956 351633
Location: St Pauls Church Annexe, 50 Long Lane Finchley N3 2PU
Cost: £10.00
A gorgeous evening of beauty treatments & retail therapy in aid of a great cause, for more information and to book please visit http://www.jcore.org.pamper.php

Folk in the Foyer: Spootiskerry
Date: 18 Jun 2010
Time: 8:00 pm
Contact: artsdepot Box Office, info@artsdepot.co.uk, 020 8369 5454
Location: artsdepot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, N12 0GA
Cost: Free
Traditional dance music from Spootiskerry. Free event in the artsdepot Level 2 foyer

Finding Leaves For Soup
Date: 20 Jun 2010
Time: 12:00 pm
Contact: artsdepot Box Office, info@artsdepot.co.uk, 020 8369 5454
Location: artsdepot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, N12 0GA
Cost: £7.00
A tale of adventures in a forest, making mucky soup, sleeping in a scratchy tree. Shows at 12pm & 3pm. Ages 5 and under

Charlie & Lola\’s Best Bestest Play
Date: 26 Jun 2010
Time: 11:00 am
Ends: 27 Jun 2010
Contact: artsdepot Box Office, info@artsdepot.co.uk, 020 8369 5454
Location: artsdepot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, N12 0GA
Cost: £10.00
Back by popular demand, Charlie & Lola return with their everso wonderful show! Ages 3+. 11.30am, 1.30pm & 4pm daily

Useful London guide

This guide is full of information of places of interest in London.

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/e843c0bd#/e843c0bd/44

Bite’s Sandwich and coffee bar

I recently popped in to a small sandwich bar called Bites, in Regents Park Road, near the station.

I had picked up a leaflet at the Finchley Art Society and saw they had a small exhibition of drawings of a proposed holocaust memorial. Unfortunately, the exhibition closed on the 21st May, but the drawings were extremely good, as was the coffee. I spoke to Jo and his father Brian who own Bites and learned that they may have further exhibitions in the shop.

Appearances were deceptive as, right at the back of the shop is a pleasant area with quite a few tables and many of them full.

The exhibition was arranged by Gabrielle Bey and Tzu Wai So, of Arc7 Design, a small Architects near the Two Brothers Restaurant.

Ampers

Finchley WI:

Less Jam, more networking

By Sue Walder

Set up in May 2009 by a group of local women, Finchley WI is one of the newest additions to the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) – the largest voluntary organisation for women in the UK.

It’s one of a growing number of urban-based WIs that have ditched the old stereotype of church fetes and cream teas and instead are focusing on helping women pursue new interests as well as providing networking opportunities.

As President Sara Hitner explained, with 25 active members and up to 40 regular guests, Finchley WI is still very much a fledgling organisation.

“What began as an idea discussed over a cup of coffee with a neighbour has grown largely through word of mouth,” she said.

“We welcome women of all backgrounds and ages to join us and help shape it into something that really reflects our local community.  We’re at the stage where we it can become whatever we want it to be.”

So far, the WI has had an interesting range of guest speakers including a local burlesque dancer.

As well as the regular knitting, sewing and theatre clubs, this month’s guest speakers include: Lydia Sellgett, of specialist publisher Persephone Books and Henrietta Lovett of the Rare Tea Company.

Finchley WI meets on the second Wednesday of each month at St Mary-at-Finchley Parish Church Hall, Hendon Lane between 8 and 10 pm.  However, from next month the group will be meeting at a new venue – Avenue House.

If you’re female, over 18 and would like to join the WI or find out more about future activities, please go to: http://wifinchley.webs.com. 

This is an article from our March 2010 issue.

artsdepot has been nominated once again for Best Neighbourhood Theatre in the Love London Awards 2010! They won the award last year, so it would be good to win again this year.

They provide a varied programme of theatre, music, dance, comedy and visual arts for over 60,000 visitors, and 5,000 participants from all walks of life take part in their courses, classes and education and outreach projects. You may have seen In the Limelight, the theatre project for older people with dementia, on BBC News or in The Times recently. As the only professional arts venue in the borough, they’re an excellent resource for Barnet and beyond.

Every vote counts if they are going to stand a chance against very stiff competition and note, voting closes Friday 11th April.

You can place your vote here: http://www.smoothradiolondon.co.uk/station/vote-in-the-love-london-awaards/gf8fdsa9/

Andrew Taylor – editor

Spike Milligan show

A really wonderful event, without risking the congestion charge or parking problems  brought to you by the Spike Milligan Statue Fund

An evening of Song and Laughter.

April 18th at the Middlesex University  Campus, The Burroughs, Hendon, NW4 4BT

The programme will include performances from Maureen Lipman; Victoria Wood; The Angels of Kaos Choir……a local choir who have already supported us at the very successful open air event at Avenue House in June 1996; Jesse Buckley; Jane Milligan (Spike’s daughter), a professional singer to be accompanied by Ben Goddard (currently playing the lead in “The Mousetrap” no we do not know who dunnit); Ian Cameron on trumpet and Barry Booth on piano.

There will be an auction of books by Bill Wyman and Sir Ranulph Fiennes who, together with Maureen Lipman and Jane Milligan, are patrons of The Spike Milligan Statue Fund.

Start: 7.30pm
Tickets £15 from David Smith 8883 4154 or Barbara Warren 8346 5258. You can also buy on-line using PayPal see the “add to cart” button on our website. Price includes interval juice and wine drinks,

See web site for details of statue etc. http://www.spikemilliganstatuefund.org.uk/events.

artsdepot needs your support

Last year, public votes helped North Finchley’s artsdepot win Best Neighbourhood Theatre at the Love London Awards, beating out a number of other big-name venues! Nominations are now open for the Love London Awards 2010, and artsdepot is seeking public support once again to defend their title.
artsdepot, located in the heart of Tally Ho Corner, is a truly unique resource for residents of Barnet and surrounding boroughs. Along with a vibrant and varied arts programme featuring performers as diverse as Ricky Gervais and the Balletboyz, artsdepot also runs numerous education and outreach projects in the local community. A recent theatre project for older people with dementia, In the Limelight, has been featured in The Times. There are also regular courses and classes in dance, music, art and writing, which over 1,700 people take part in every year.
The nomination round closes this Friday 19 Mar, and the top ten nominees will then be shortlisted for public voting. artsdepot needs your support to make it through the first round. You can nominate artsdepot here: the-love-london-awards