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.

The Pasture’s 2nd Anniversary celebration

Yesterday (Sunday) evening saw the volunteers, councillors, Mike Freer our local MP and other friends of the Pastures celebrating the magnificent work the volunteers have put in. They have turned the Pastures into a wild horticultural haven, with special plants of interest to butterflies, lovely paths through the huge open space, up to a little enclosure at the far end with its own bee hive.

The volunteers, who only work during the weekends, have, in 200 days of work, really transformed this originally ugly patch to the beautiful haven of quiet and tranquillity that it is.

There is also a huge pond with fish and in season it is a hotbed of tadpoles and frogs. The fish have to be carefully chosen to be the types that don’t eat tadpoles. Alas, as you can see from the photograph, it was covered with algae but we were told by Ann Brown, who chairs the volunteers, that it was the wrong time to remove it as it would cause a lot of damage. We see the view of the pond over the view of the lovely food provided for this occasion!

It is open between 10am and 5pm, during weekends and public holidays, except after heavy rain. Also it is closed quite a bit during winter months. It really is worth a visit and, to get there is quite easy. If you go down Long Lane up to the North Circular flyover you will find the Finchley Fire Station on the N3 side of the bridge. Opposite the fire station is a little lane (you can’t park a car in it though). Walk up the lane for about 25 yards and you come to a gate in the railings on the right. You are there!

Dogs are not admitted as they could do damage to the delicate work the volunteers are carrying out. But you can get a full description and learn of all the work that is going on from their website.

Layout of the Pasture

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MP pays tribute to volunteers at drug and alcohol treatment charity’s North London branch.

Westminster Drug Project (WDP) provides the Catalyst and Re-Start drug and alcohol services in the Borough of Barnet. It celebrated National Volunteers’ Week at the Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley.

Finchley & Golders Green MP Mike Freer paid tribute to the passion and commitment of the volunteers who help people to recover from drug and alcohol dependency at the charity Westminster Drug Project.

He said, “Volunteers do a huge amount of good. Often they can win the confidence of people who need help, and inspire them to change, where others fail.

“Volunteering also breaks down prejudice by bringing people in and giving them insight to people’s lives and how they can be helped, whether the issue is addiction, or HIV, or disability.

“It’s a two way street. I’ve been a volunteer and you get a lot back from it. It can also be very important experience on your CV.”

The MP heard moving accounts from former service users who are now volunteers themselves. Jon (26) explained how he had started using drugs as a way of escape: “Eventually I ended up a dependant opiate user and was committing crimes to support my use. My life spiralled out of control and for a 16 month period I was basically homeless and in and out of prison.

“The reason I am mentioning this is because it was a turning point in my life: after a sustained period of abstinence from drug use and crime, I was offered the opportunity to attend a volunteers’ training course at Westminster Drug Project.

“I decided to go because throughout my using days I had some contact with drug services and was very surprised at how helpful, and friendly the staff were.” Jon described how he developed experience and received further training. “By early 2010 I feel I started to prove myself in my role: I was given more responsibility and I was given the chance to help develop our service. I feel that I was always listened to and supported by management and staff.”

Eventually Jon was encouraged to apply for jobs, and decided he wanted to work for WDP. Today he is a successful drug and alcohol practitioner.

Yasmin Batliwala, Chair of WDP, told the volunteers who had come from across WDP’s services in London and the South East of England, “Volunteers’ Week celebrates the fantastic contribution that volunteers make. Today we say thank you for all the amazing work you do. By giving your time, your skills and your leadership to WDP, you are significantly increasing the help and support we can give to our service users.

“Our mission is to support people to recover from drug and alcohol dependency and help people lead full and active lives in their families and communities. Volunteering is a key part of that cycle, of connecting people with the help they need so that they in turn become empowered and able to give back.”

Volunteers make up one in four of the workforce at WDP – about 100 volunteers and 300 staff. Over half the volunteers have recovered from drug and alcohol dependency themselves and are able to provide powerful role models to current service users.

If you are interested in volunteering with WDP, please visit the website www.wdp-drugs.org.uk and click on volunteering for more information and application form, or visit Re-start. If you want to talk to someone about a drug or alcohol problem, whether for yourself or someone you know, please contact Re-start at:

6-8 Alexandra Grove, North Finchley, N12 8NU – Telephone 020 8492 2525

 

Avenue House: Janett Durant’s replacement starts on the 15th August.

Avenue House appoints new General Manager

The Trustees of the Avenue House Estate Trust are pleased to announce the appointment of Lance Bourne to the role of General Manager of the Avenue House Estate Trust. Lance will take up the post on August 15th, following Janett Durrant’s retirement from the post of Chief Executive.

Lance has considerable experience in the management of corporate entertainment sites: he spent fifteen years at the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, rising to the post of Head of Marketing and Events , followed by three years as Business Manager of the Tower Bridge exhibition. Lance also has experience of working with volunteers and of fund-raising.

Andy Savage, Chairman of the Avenue House Estate Trust, says: ‘I am delighted that Lance has agreed to join us. His skill set is exactly what Avenue House needs at this time, and I am sure that he will be a worthy successor to Janett Durrant, who has managed the Estate since the Trust’s formation nine years ago. I am looking forward to working with Lance as we establish Avenue House in the centre of the Finchley community.’

Lance Bourne said ’I am looking forward to joining Avenue House, and working on the Estate. Apart from working in such wonderful surroundings, I am looking forwards to helping increase the use of the Estate, and to continuing the re-establishment of its financial success after the problems earlier this year.’

Avenue House sketch

The Big Society is Alive in Barnet – at the launch in the arts depot.

Paul Binks

By Paul Binks

The Launch of Barnet’s Big Society Innovation Bank .

‘Barnet will be one of the fastest growing areas in London over the coming years. With reductions in public spending to tackle the deficit mean that times will be tough for the next few years, for both those who depend on good public services and those who provide them.’ Councillor Robert Rams.

The Barnet Big Society Innovation Bank has been launched so that we in Barnet get the biggest bang for our buck. This works by ensuring that the public are primarily involved in the decision-making process of where our money is spent.

From the revenue budget allocated to the Borough of Barnet, the council has set aside £600K to be invested in community-minded projects proposed and delivered by the local populace over the next 3 years.

As the Government’s Big Society agenda gains momentum, local citizens and communities will have more opportunities to take the reins in addressing local issues. Cynics would say that this is just another example of how the Government are transferring costs to the voluntary sector and alleviating themselves of responsibility should anything go wrong. The Government argue that at a time of financial constraint in the public sector, ‘business as usual’ is not an option. Nationwide polls show that the people largely accept this sentiment and which is why we are seeing a great shift in the landscape of public services.

Nick Hurd MP

The Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner patroned the scheme with an appearance and furthered the Big Society notion stating “too much power has been taken away from local Government and centralised. The transference of power back to the community is a big weapon every MP knows about.” He continued to eulogise the principles of the Big Society before changing focus to the people within the room, “Seize the opportunity in the challenge to test the notion that local communities know best.” This statement seemed to underpin the scheme’s true value to us in Barnet. For time immemorial many have exalted their wisdom in criticising the ‘powers that be’ in the administration of taxes with countless schemes suggested as superior models to those implemented. Not because of intellectual superiority but of local knowledge.

Well this is our opportunity to prove this, one never given to our forefathers and like our recent vote on the Alternative Vote, one which may never see again for generations if at all.

Councillor Andrew Harper

The Interim Leader of the Council, Councillor Andrew Harper stated that the introduction of the bank was part of the ongoing realignment in the relationships between the Council and the people and Not-for-profit organisations and charities. He stated ‘the council is not the single depository of wisdom in the borough’ which requires no convincing on my part. He continued by saying ‘you are better at judging the effectiveness of grants and so it is your ideas not ours which will drive the scheme, ideas which will be properly supported by the Council and turned into practical solutions.’ In a similar vein to Nick Herd he challenged the audience by saying “go on, surprise me”.

Ultimately the new scheme is to galvanise creativity from all sectors of the borough so that local people can innovate and find new solutions for old problems. Ideas which have previously been overlooked are very much on the table should we have the aptitude and the conviction to push them forward.

To summarise how the scheme will work a key initiative outlined in the Big Society Innovation Bank Prospectus is SUSTAINABILITY. ‘We are using grants to kick-start community-led activities that can sustain themselves through new income streams such as charges to clients, trading income and corporate giving, as well as public sector and charitable income.’

The first theme is for new projects that strengthen the bonds within the community or reduce the need for public sector support or intervention.

The second theme is to enable groups or individuals to seize control of existing projects that currently rely on public sector support and run them in such a way they will no longer rely on that support.

The funds are allocated in the form of grants which are available to any individual or group. Unconstituted groups are eligible for grants from £500-£5K and constituted groups are eligible for grants ranging from £500-£50K. A project or scheme must be submitted to the council to be assessed and if successful the funds will appear in a one-off payment devoid of any conditions or external arrangements with the council. If a scheme fails in the application process it can be resubmitted to a later round of assessment.

“Have you ever got together with someone to make Barnet a better place?” Councillor Andrew Harper. If you have or haven’t but would like to, the opportunity is there for anyone to put forward the suggestions they believe will make this a stronger and more cohesive community.

Question from audience

For more information – http://www.barnet.gov.uk/highlights/highlights-big-society-innovation.htm

Wingate & Finchley Football Club Preseason Fixture and Charity presentation

Wingate & Finchley have announce their preseason fixture list for this coming summer. First up is a visit to the Great Britain Maccabiah side at the end of June, and the fixtures build up to testing matches against Uxbridge, Chesham Utd and Dulwich Hamlet. Hamlet were of course the beaten finalists in last season’s Ryman League Cup Final.

The full list is as follows:

Tues 28th June – v GB Maccabiah (at Rowley Lane), kick off TBA
Sat 9th July – v Cockfosters (at The Hive), kick off 3pm
Tues 19th July – v Cadicote (Away), kick off 8pm
Sat 23rd July (Game 1) – v Haringey Borough (Away) , kick off 3pm
Sat 23rd July (Game 2) – v Broxbourne Borough (Away), kick off 3pm
Tues 26th July – v Oxhey Jets (Away), kick off 7:30pm
Sat 30th July – v Berkhamsted (Away), kick off 3pm
Tues 2nd Aug – v Uxbridge (Home), kick off 7:45pm
Sat 6th Aug (Game 1) – v Chesham United (Away), kick off 3pm
Sat 6th Aug (Game 2) – v Leverstock Green (Away), kick off 3pm
Sat 13th Aug – v Dulwich Hamlet (Home), kick off 3pm
Sat 20th Aug – Ryman League Season Starts

Wingate & Finchley Club President Harvey Ackerman and Commercial Director Mike Bayly are pictured handing over a cheque to Hazel Kaye from Jewish Blind and Disabled. The club raised over £2300 for the charity as some of its supporters and staff embarked on a sponsored walk to Waltham Abbey FC’s ground earlier in the year.

An exciting new website called Streetbank

Streetbank’s Sam Stephens

I have recently come across a new community website called Streetbank run by four young people who have come up with an interesting concept.

This is a community website where people can offer to lend neighbours mundane items of equipment, such as a ladder, a lawn-mower and other garden tools, or even a fish kettle for those who want to cook a whole salmon for a garden party once or twice a year.

In addition, most of us have various objects around the home that we should throw out but feel they might be worth something to somebody – here’s a chance to offer them here.

The third, and up to now, the final idea is if you have a knowledge of something, an opportunity to share it with your neighbour, such as maths or science skills, repairing lawnmowers, or writing a complaint letter for someone.

You also have to select an area distance around your house, and that area is all you will ever see on the website. If you live in a city area or town centre, you may choose the 1 mile radius as I have done in Finchley, my local area. If you live in the country, you might choose the largest 10 mile radius and if you live in an urban sprawl, the middle choice of 5 mile radius might be your best bet.

This is an ingenious method as you don’t get inundated with “noise” or offers way too far for you to go and borrow, or too far for anyone to trust lending to you.

You can also send and receive messages without the other person knowing your email address to ensure privacy, although once you set up to deal with someone you can exchange phone numbers, addresses etc. For example, if someone wants to borrow one of my items, I will only deliver but never let them collect – so I know where they live.

If you run a club, society or just want to broadcast something there is a page you can go to just for that purpose.

The final good idea is, you can’t join until you offer someone something. So forget it if you don’t want to give, and only want to take. This is not for those people.

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.

 

Finchley Central Café takes over Avenue House Kiosk and will reopen during the next week

With all the weather forecasts indicating we are going to have a very warm June and July, this will be a blessing for most of us who like to visit the grounds.

  Jo & Al’s Café
65 Ballards Lane
London N3 1XP

Popular Café Jo & Al’s, is to take over the running of the Kiosk in the Grounds of Avenue House. The Kiosk, which has been shut since last Autumn, will reopen in the next week.

Until the end of last year the Avenue House Estate Trust operated the Kiosk itself. Trust Chairman Andy Savage explained that the Trust then decided to franchise out the operation of the café in order to keep its own resources focused on the running the House and the Estate. He said: ‘The Trust sought bids from several possible franchisees. The combination of the Trust’s well-publicised problems in the early spring, and the consequent loss of the first possible proprietor, meant that, regrettably, we were unable to see the Kiosk open for Easter. However, I think that we have been most fortunate to get Jo & Al’s as our new franchisee. Albert Bejerano has built a very popular business at Ballards Lane, with his excellent coffee and cakes, and we look forward to seeing him repeat this success at Avenue House.’

Albert Bejerano

Jo & Al’s proprietor Albert Bejerano said: ‘I had hoped to get to operate this Kiosk for some time. All the most successful parks have their own café, and I am sure that we will be able to repeat this success at Avenue House Estate. As well as the Kiosk itself, I will be opening the refurbished tea room in about a month’s time, and I will be offering an increasing range of products through the summer. I look forward to operating the Kiosk for a long period of time.’

Avenue House appoints present trustee Andy Savage to chairman of AHET

Andy Savage - AHET Chairman

The Trustees of the Avenue House Estate Trust are pleased to announce the appointment of Andy Savage, Executive Director of the Railway Heritage Trust, to the role of Chairman of the Avenue House Estate Trust, following the retirement of Bill Tyler in March this year.

Andy is a long-term Finchley resident, and member of the Trust. He brings to the Trust a lifelong experience of voluntary work in the heritage sector, particularly through his involvement with the Ffestiniog Railway. In his present post he is responsible for awarding grants to improve the condition of listed buildings on the national railway system. He has held a number of senior positions in the rail industry, and was, until the end of 2009, Deputy Chief of the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, part of the Department for Transport

Andy says: ‘I am honoured to be appointed to this post, and would like to pay tribute to the work of Bill Tyler, who has led the Trust for a decade, most recently through the crisis caused by the loss of tenants. Now that the Trust has got over the worst of these problems, I look forward to working with my fellow Trustees, the staff of the Estate, and the Friends of Avenue House to develop the Estate for the benefit of the people of Finchley. My prime aim is to rebuild the Trust’s business and reserves. I am sure that we can achieve this, and that the Estate has a bright future.

I would also like to particularly thank our Estate Manager, Janett Durrant, for her ongoing work for the Trust, especially in such a difficult time, and for agreeing to remain with the Trust until the end of September, despite her wish to retire. This has given us time to find a worthy successor to her, and we hope to announce an appointment shortly.’

Avenue House is a grade 2 listed building, and is set in grounds of some 10 acres in the centre of Finchley. The Estate was left to the former Finchley Urban District Council by Henry Stephens, the ink manufacturer, in 1918. It is now run by the Avenue House Estate Trust, on a 125 year lease from the London Borough of Barnet. The Trust maintains the Estate and operates it for the benefit of the people of Finchley, in line with Stephens’ wishes. It does this with virtually no revenue support, using the income from letting rooms in the house, and donations, to cover the maintenance and operating costs of both the house and the grounds. The Trust opens the grounds to the public free of charge during daylight hours every day of the year.

Lest we forget – Ishinomaki – Black Water

A short documentary film about Ishinomaki in Miyagi prefecture one of the hardest hit areas of the 11th March 2011 tsunami.

This documentary deals with the city, the people and relief efforts completed by individuals living in Tokyo to send relief supplies to a center for disabled people in Ishinomaki.

HADAS (Hendon and District Archaeological Society) wins prestigious London Archaeology award

HADAS has won the 2011 Ralph Merrifield Award for London Archaeology, presented by the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society (LAMAS).

This award was given for the work HADAS has undertaken in the field of post-excavation analysis.

A training programme was created in 2003 under the title “Post-excavation: Analysis of materials from the Ted Sammes archive” and resulted in the publication in 2006 of a book “The Last Hendon Farm: The archaeology and history of Church End Farm”.

This was followed by a series of related courses, all tutored by a co-recipient of the award, Jacqui Pearce BA, FSA, MlfA, of the Museum of London Archaeological Service (MOLAS).

HADAS is currently presenting the latest course in the series entitled “Looking at Finds: A practical course in post-excavation analysis”. This is also expected to result in a book about Church Terrace, Hendon, provisionally to be published later this year. The award was presented at the LAMAS Archaeology conference on Saturday 9th April 2011 by the new LAMAS President Professor Martin Biddle, OBE, FBA. HADAS is an amateur archaeological society based in the London Borough of Barnet and is a registered charity.

The Society was founded in 1961 by Themistocles Constantinides to investigate the Saxon origins of Hendon and since has grown to over 200 members covering the whole of the London Borough of Barnet, and addressing all archaeological periods. Its two declared objectives are to undertake archaeological and historical research, and education for the public benefit, with particular reference to the London Borough of Barnet.

The first excavation in 1961 was at the ruins of Church End Farm, near the parish church of Hendon St. Mary’s. Further excavations have included the West Heath Mesolithic camp site at Hampstead, Roman Hendon, medieval Chipping Barnet, and the probable Roman site of Sulloniacis at Brockley Hill.

In addition to undertaking archaeological investigations, HADAS also organises visits to sights of archaeological and historical interest across the UK, and a series of expert lectures throughout the year.

For further information contact: Don Cooper Chairman, HADAS Tel: 020 8440 4350 Email: chairman@hadas.org.uk

Nigerian woman runs for Grace House and other charities

 

Joy Okoye

 

Joy Okoye of Finchley has been a barrister in England and Wales since 1981 and also a Solicitor & Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria since 1982. She provides a specialist advocacy and advisory service based on her extensive experience of all aspects of family law and child protection Joy is running a marathon, supporting four charities, including Grace House in North Finchley.

We hope you will be generous in your donations and the following is a write-up on the charity donation website.

Grace House

Grace House

Grace House was and is the vision of Ann Gilbert. After so many years of working in care homes, Ann found herself becoming disillusioned by the care received by the elderly. She was so moved by their plight, that she set about campaigning for better care of the elderly, not just in residential homes but as outreach care.

 

Ann Gilbert

 

The news of Ann’s care spread and soon there were many who wanted to be cared for by her. As this was not possible given her limited resources, Ann approached a group of Christians at St Paul’s Church, Finchley, to set up a charity, for the purpose of caring for the elderly, both in a residential and community setting. Thus Christian Care Trust was registered as a Charity. Grace House, has now been going for 11 years. Although Grace House has a Christian ethos, it admits and cares for all religions and races.

Grace House as a result of its not for profit basis has often struggled financially, despite this Grace House has never stinted on the care delivered to the elderly. Grace House is in a wonderful house at 110 Nether Street, North Finchley and has grown from just a sole client to room for nine residents.

It is truly a home from home. Grace House boasts a team of highly skilled staff. Over the years Grace House has fast become a hub of the community, offering its residents various activities such as holistic therapies, exercises, concerts, garden parties, and the highlight of the year is usually the Quiz night, which is hugely enjoyed by all.

These activities keep the residents feeling very much as they belong to a caring community. There are regular services held for residents and staff. More recently Grace has had to put in a lift to improve the quality of life for its resident. This has put enormous pressure on their resources. Furthermore grace House hopes to be in apposition to provide subsidised care to at least two residents who may not be a position to pay for their care.

Grace House is passionately committed to ensuring a good quality of life for those that they care for and so important to give them the dignity and respect in their golden years.

Joy Okoye is running the Neolithic marathon on the 1st May 2011, and has chosen Grace House as one of her charities. Joy is also a trustee of Grace House. We hope you will support her efforts. It just goes to show that even in relative old age you can run a marathon!!!

To make your donation go to Charity Choice. Christian Care Trust have kindly agreed to split the monies paid into their account between Joy’s four charities.

If you prefer you may make a donation to her directly by cheque, made out to Christian Care Trust and she will distribute it between the charities.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Joy by email

Finally, your editor has known Ann for nearly two decades and she is everything mentioned in the above, and more.

Mayor of Barnet’s Charity Apeal raised £4,500

These are photographs from the recent Mayor of Barnet’s Charity Appeal event at the House of Commons.  The reception was hosted by Mike Freer, MP for Finchley & Golders Green on behalf of the Mayor of Barnet, Cllr Anthony Finn.

 

L to R – Mike Freer MP, Mayor of Richmond, Mayoress of Richmond, Mayor of Barnet

 

Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, Francis Maude, MP welcomed guests and dignitaries to the reception and spoke about the ‘Big Society’ and its importance in our communities and praised the work of the two charities supported by the Mayor of Barnet (Camp Simcha and Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice).

The event raised in excess of £4,500 for the Mayor’s Charity Appeal.

L to R - Mayor of Barnet, Francis Maude Mp, Gill Dodge CEO Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, Neville Goldschneider, CEO Camp Simcha

 

This is £500 more than the £4,000 the Friends of Avenue House raised the other afternoon but as a well known supermarket keeps telling us, every little helps!

Barnet Police Chief visiting Finchley’s Pardes Grammar School

 

Police Chief at Pardes Grammar School (photo by Shuli Smus)

(In playground) L-R  Mr A Wagner, Headmaster Rabbi D Dunner,  Chief Superintendant Neil Basu, Deputy Headmaster Rabbi Eli Segal, Mr. Gary Ost

Civic Awards ceremony recognises residents’ dedication to others

Barnet residents who have made a significant contribution to borough life have been honoured at the council’s annual Civic Awards Ceremony.

A total of 57 nominees were recognised at a special ceremony at Hendon Town Hall, in The Burroughs, on Wednesday 23 March. All of those nominated were presented with certificates by the Worshipful the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Anthony Finn.

Eight of the nominees (including Catherine Loveday – N12) were judged to have made an outstanding contribution and were presented with a framed vellum in recognition of their achievements.

The Mayor said: “Once again, the borough’s Civic Awards give us a glimpse of some of the tremendous contributions our residents continue to make to borough life. It also allows us an opportunity to give a little something back and recognise the hard work of those who give up their time selflessly for the good of others and for worthwhile causes. It is heartening to know that we can count on so many wonderful people.”

Computer Corner

No names, no pack drill!

Now and again I need to contact a charity or not-for-profit in Finchley as I am about to write something on their particular sector.

I recently got a document sent to me, not an actual press release, but something I could use about the terrific work they are doing. This is a shame as I fully support their effort and they operate right on the other side of Finchley, a thirty minute walk, so there and back is over an hour of my day by the time I speak to them and admire what they are doing. I just don’t have the time.

Why can’t I contact them? Because they only give an email address, and never give a phone number. I think they imagine they are going to be swamped with calls. I thought that when I started the Archer twenty years ago, and when I started the Arrow two years ago, but it rarely happens, and I get an average of two to three telephone calls a day, three to five days a week.

OK, I hear you say, “An email is OK”.

Yes, not in this case as everytime I write to the lady in question, I get an email back from her Internet Provider saying my email could not be delivered as their mailbox quota is full. The Finchley Arrow use Google and my email andrew.taylor@finchleyarrow.co.uk is never full as I could have three or four thouand messages in my mailbox and it would still not be full. So there is no need to have emails bouncing.

It is important, even if you are involved in a not-for-profit, to be contactable as you never know what opportunities you are missing.

I email those who ask, a week before our deadline for events, and have added this organisations email address, but if it is always full, they’ll never know to put their events on.

In any organisation, communications is a really important issue.

“Trees, Tours and Teas” – Open day at Avenue House

Finchley residents show support for Avenue House at Open Day

Mostly by David Baker with a small contribution by Andrew Taylor and photographs by Andrew Taylor

Rear of Avenue House from the gardens

Strolling through Avenue House gardens

The two children in the front are Angelina Sparksman and Chloe Reed (both from St Mary’s Primary School)
In the main row are Claire Sparksman (slightly to the rear), Sandra Rebak, Imelda Staunton, Jim Carter and Jack Ellis
We are awaiting confirmation of the people in the back row.

In a strong show of support, just over 400 people attended “Trees, Tours and Teas”, the Open Day at Avenue House on Sunday 20 March and raised over £4,000. This was the first event staged by the recently formed New Friends of Avenue House, a group of local residents working to help save the House and Grounds from the threat of closure.

Visitors to the Open Day took part in tours of the house, Bothy Gardens and main gardens, with its wonderful collection of rare trees. They also enjoyed tea and cakes provided by local supporters, (including Parkway Patisserie of Regents Park Road, who were especially generous). The Open Day was organized to raise awareness of the problems facing Avenue House, and during the afternoon many visitors signed up to support the work of the New Friends of Avenue House.

Tea and cakes at the Open Day

Among the many people who attended the event were some famous faces. Actors Imelda Staunton and Jim Carter tour joined the tours of the house and gardens. Ms Staunton, whose childhood family home was in Vines Avenue, Finchley, said the Avenue House Estate was a hugely important part of the area, and deserved everyone’s support. ‘The house and gardens are so wonderfully maintained, and are clearly enjoyed by so many people. It would be very sad indeed if they were not kept as a resource for local people.’ Actor Jack Ellis, who is a Finchley resident and an active member and supporter of the new Friends of Avenue House added, “This is an extraordinarily beautiful place, full of hidden treasures. It would be an absolute tragedy if people couldn’t continue to enjoy it in the way Henry Stephens intended when he left it to the people of Finchley.”

The small intimate museum for Stephens Inks was also open and attracted a lot of visits.It is housed in the conservatory of Avenue House and shows the aspects of Dr Charles Stephens (1796-1864) life – he was the inventor of the famous blue-black writing fluid. It also covers the life of his son and the development of the Stephens Ink Company and the story of writing materials from ancient times. Finally it shows the history of Avenue House from 1859 to the present day.

Teaching them young at the Stephens Museum

Sandra Rebak, chair of the Friends said, “The support that local people have shown has been wonderful. We are so grateful to the many people who came to find out more about the Avenue House Estate. We are especially pleased to see so many children here; we know that – thanks in part to the the children’s playground – Avenue House is every bit as important to children as it is to adults.

“Our committee was only re-formed two weeks ago, and this has been a great opportunity to launch the New Friends of Avenue House. We are delighted to make contact with so many people and to receive so many suggstions and offers of support for our fundraising work.’

“Although the main aim of the day was to increase awareness of the problems facing Avenue House, people attending the Open Day were extremely generous, and we also managed to raise over £4000 on the day, with further pledges of support. This is an important first step in our immediate objective of raising £25,000 by the end of April, to cover short-term needs and help ensure the Estate’s survival. The recession has reduced commercial bookings, especially over the past six to eight months. Also, Avenue House’s charity tenants have suffered cutbacks which mean they can no longer afford to rent offices. Because of this, we have to find a way to plug the gap.

“There is cause for optimism. Bookings for spring and summer are better, so if we can get through the short-term crisis, the situation should improve. In the longer term, we aim to to continue to support the financial sustainability of Avenue House through increased community support and involvement.”

The New Friends of Avenue House are working hard to keep people informed of developments. We are developing an improved website and a Facebook page, and will soon be announcing a number of events and initiatives. In the meantime, people can join us or find out more about our activities by emailing: info@friendsofavenuehouse.org

In a recent letter to the Editor, Stewart Wild came up with an idea for the council to move the public Library into Avenue House, the Council could then sell the library building in Hendon Lane. The council could then pay rent which would be cheaper than the upkeep of the old library building.

Note: The Avenue House Estate was left in perpetuity to the people of Finchley by “Inky Stephens”. In 2002 Barnet Council leased the Estate to the Avenue House Estate Trust, a registered charity which now administers and runs it. The Friends are aiming to raise at least £10,000 this month to help with the ongoing running of the Estate and about £3,000 to £4,000 a month afterwards when the savings which have been introduced cut in.

In the Bothy grounds of Avenue House

Group of friends in the Avenue House courtyard

People in the Avenue House courtyard booking a tour of the gardens.

Open Day at Avenue house this Sunday

By Ampers Taylor

This is the official one, run by the “Friends of Avenue House” committee.

It is the “Open Day” at Avenue House from 2pm to 5 p.m. on this coming Sunday (20 March).

If you come early,before 2:30pm when they will be leaving, you’ll have the opportunity of meeting  Jim Carter (Mr Carson from Downton Abbey) and also Imelda Staunton (who has Finchley connections) who will be saying a few words at the opening ceremony

The man in the audience with the brown leather hat (see picture above) will be your editor, do say hello to him, but he won’t pay for your tea!

Avenue House – unknown meeting

As mentioned yesterday, I received a leaflet handed out to one of our journalists in his local pub last evening.

For some reason my scanner is down, so I have typed in the leaflet exactly as it appears, errors as well.

============================================

STOP THE CLOSING,

OF AVENUE HOUSE

PARK

Avenue House & Grounds are destined to be shut

to the public, and handed over to a school from

St.Johns wood.

If you do not come to show your report, all will

be lost, please come a long on Sunday 20th march

2011 at 2pm for a protest and petition signing.

There will be Tea & Cakes at the park for

fundraising (cake donations after 10am)

Please spread the word to your neighbours as we

can only distribute one leaflet per five houses.

If you cannot make the protest, please send a

letter to your MP or ‘Brian Coleman (Barnet

councillor)’

ACT NOW!!

============================================

The newspaper has no knowledge of who is behind this and if anyone knows, would you please ask them to contact the editor so he may use the newspaper to publish this widely as we, at the Finchley Arrow, are fully behind the newly resurrected official group, The Friends of Avenue House.

Mayor Honours Pupils at Town Hall Robes Show

by Ayisha Khan

The Mayor of Barnet hosted a show at the Town Hall in honour of more than twenty schools in the borough who took part in a charity event.

Councillor Anthony Finn paid homage to 1,000 pupils from schools in Cockfosters, Mill Hill, Hendon, Barnet, Totteridge, Whetstone and Muswell Hill, who raised £10,000 for Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice and Camp Simcha.

The ‘Town Hall Robes Show’ was an opportunity for the children to meet the Mayor and be presented with certificates to thank them for their participation in a ‘dress down day’ held last month, whereby they wore non-uniform and donated £1 to the two charities.

Lorraine Felding of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice said, “[The ‘dress down day’] was an initiative on behalf of the Mayor to engage with the schools so that it would build awareness, and we felt it’s a very powerful message when children are helping other children.

“It was a fun way of doing it – one particular school dressed in an animal theme.” Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Barnet raised the money for a community fund that supports life-limited children and their families within the borough.

Neville Goldschneider of Camp Simcha said, “It was a very inclusive kind of thing to do – a ‘dress down day’ is quite a simple idea and it’s nice that all the children could take part in it very easily.

“Seeing that the funds have clearly come from children from all different backgrounds within the borough, we thought that that was a really nice way to use the money.” Camp Simcha has a project that sends balloons, clowns and toys to children in hospitals regardless of religion and background.

Cllr Anthony Finn added, “One’s got to be grateful for the kids taking part and to encourage [them] to do future activities not just in this charity but in other charities.”

Avenue House – The Stephens collection

The book launch

Left to right are Peter and Pat Marsh, Maureen Pierpoint and Stewart Wild, further details can be found under the next photograph.

It is fairly common knowledge that there is a small museum of the Stephens collection (Henry Stephens of Stephen Inks fame) in Avenue House. Recently the Finchley Society not only put together an excellent 24 minute video on Stephens Ink, with local people as actors – and jolly good they were- but published the history of Henry Stephens and two other students, John Keats and George Wilson Mackereth who all studied medicine together, printed by our local East Finchley printer, JG Bryson.The book was called “The unparallel lives of three medical students” and retails now at £6.00.

Two nights ago, on Wednesday 9^th, a book launch was held at Waterstones in The Spires, Barnet but unfortunately the author, William Pierpoint, was recovering from a post op infection. However the launch went ahead and the wine flowed freely.

From left to right in the above photograph are Stewart Wild, the Finchley Arrow’s historian, The author’s wife, Maureen Pierpoint, Nicola, their granddaughter, Peter Marsh, the chairman of the trustees, Pat Marsh, another Stephen’s trustee and Eileen Kenning JP, a committee member.

Missing from the photograph, but very much present, was Alicia, the Pierpoint’s daughter-in-law, myself as I was the photographer and of course the bookstore manager and staff and purchasers!

If there is anyone reading this who has the knowledge to change the DVD files to something that YouTube can accept, please will they let the editor know?

Letters to the editor

Dear Editor,

Regarding the predicament of Avenue House, I can clearly hear the sound of chickens coming home to roost.

In its latest newsletter, the Finchley Society reminisces on Shakespeare’s plays beautifully performed in the Bothy Garden, which is set in Avenue House gardens. Memories fade quickly. It was only 3 or 4 years ago that Finchley Arts Centre Trust, (FACT), which put on the plays, and, against all the odds, was attempting to renovate the Bothy building (with the help of a generous philanthropist), was evicted at a few hours notice by none other than Avenue House Estate Trust (AHET). And what did the Finchley Society do? Precisely nothing.

Subsequent inspection of the Bothy building commissioned by AHET labelled workmanship as ‘poor standard’ when it was unfinished due to the speedy eviction. With the destruction of FACT, and the ill will this generated, AHET sewed the seeds of its own demise. Too many local people have been affected.

Perhaps it would not be such a bad thing to let Avenue House revert back to the local council, who managed it until 2002, with house and gardens open to the public. They may not be as worryingly secretive as the current administration.

Yours truly,

name and address supplied

If you would like to have your say, we will be happy to print more in the same vein, or some which praises AHET. The editor is completely neutral and would like to see more letters to the editor anyway!

St Mary-at-Finchley Parish Church History Day

by Pam Taylor

(Photos by Andrew Taylor)

Finchley 6 March: There were many tables and stands for outside organisations, such as the Finchley Society with pictures of the church 100 years ago; the Stephens Collection where there were various books available; some beautiful tapestry hassocks with diagrams and explanations of the various symbols.

Finchley Society stand

An old £5 reward notice for information on the damage done to the sun dial of for the capture of the “evil“ person concerned took our fancy; there were many wedding photographs from 1930s through to the 1990s and also many photographs of the interior and exterior of the church including views from the tower.

An interesting woman spent some time telling us all about how the beautiful framed Millenium Tapestry was created by lots of people which we found fascinating.

Vestments used at St Marys

There was a lovely water colour painting of the church by the artist HB Wimbush dated 1896. Joanna Yates, a retired curate, explained when the various vestments on show were worn – for instance, the pink one is used on Mothering Sunday, the gold for Christmas and a red and gold one depicts the Holy Spirit.

I spent a very interesting ten minutes watching “The Way We Were” between 1950 and 1980 which showed a maypole dance, confirmation service in 1981, a Youth Fellowship hike and the opening ceremony of the Parish Hall in 1960.

St Marys bellringer showing us the ropes

A corner of the "free" refreshment stand

After a delicious cream tea type scone and cup of tea we were well fortified to climb the 33 narrow steps up to the bell tower. When we visited the ringing chamber we learnt that there are 8 bells, of which the tenor bell weighs just over 8 cwt and one of the bell ringers gave us a demonstration whilst a man using a miniature wooden mockup explained exactly how the system worked.

Alison Fisher, the church music director, showed us various RSCM song books (they will be taking part in the RSCM London Area Festival Easter celebration in St Pauls on 14^th May.) There were medals which were used and also pin badges which are currently used instead. She also pointed out the organ console which was dedicated in 1948 as a war memorial.

Our final tour was run by a landscape artist who told us that the first expansion of the church was in 1872 along the south front, then 60 years later it was extended again along the south front and the vestry rooms. There are 7 listed tombs (one of which is in memory of John Cartright) and inside the family tomb there are at least 8 coffins. The church yard was closed for burials in 1859, although people who were close relatives could be buried together up to 1912. Our guide also pointed out a very unusual tomb with a reclining woman (Elizabeth Morris) and showed us a watercolour by Turner of the church in 1793 which has since been sold in auction to a private collector. The guide also showed a photograph in Victorian times of the church with a holly hedge, ivy growing up the walls and 4 lime trees which were all removed in the 1980s. A photograph of the Queen’s Head Pub in 1853 which then became a school and was demolised in the early 20^th century was also shown to us.

The exhibition was extremely popular and over the course of the afternoon, total visitors numbered in three figures.

The people started flocking in

The Avenue house friends rise, like the phoenix, out of the ashes

By Andrew & Pam Taylor

Tuesday 1^st March: A meeting was called by concerned residents of Finchley to resurrect the “Friends of Avenue House”.

Around 7:30pm, Sandra Rebak chaired a meeting of over forty residents to set up a reformed Friends of Avenue House and raise funds for AHET. (the Avenue House Estate Trust.)

The start of the meeting of friends

For the first hour there was an open question and answer time where members asked questions, and other members in the know answered them. Janett Durant and one or two other members of AHET were there to answer more complex questions. One member decided to leave as he wasn’t happy with the secretive nature of AHET and decided he didn’t want to be involved. In fact “secrecy” was mentioned by several people, several times.

After the question and answer session, it was time to appoint the Friends committee as, naturally, a smaller group was needed to drive the new body of friends forward.

Sandra Rebak chairing the meeting

The following people volunteered and were subsequently elected: Christine Kavanagh, Sandra Rebak, Cyril Rebak, David Fleisig, David Wightwick, Hilary Jarvis and Carl Gomerich.

We were also informed that it costs £60,000-80,000 to keep Avenue House and the grounds good order. And that the trust does not receive any grants for this purpose.

Janett Durant

Janett, who was there as an observer, and in sombre mood, told us that business is fast declining. Also that they have formed a partnership with the North London Hospice.

At present the Estate is running on a shortfall of £10,000 per month. With cuts in the salary bill over the next month, the shortfall should then reduce to around £6,000 per month.

The Estate now only has one gardener who is finding it impossible to cope and the friends suggested that this was one area where they could ask the public for help.

There were lots of suggestions voiced, such as links with the Woodland Trust; links to local business (Janett has already tried contacting local businesses without success), contacting schools, the festival of trees, asking for guest lecturers from Kew Gardens, tree tours and even organised picnics in the estate grounds.

It was suggested that emphasis should be given to let everyone know how a small monthly payment by bankers order would be a great start to fund raising. It could be £10 a month or as low as £2. A suggestion was made for people to arrive at the figure by taking the amount of two hours of their salary as the monthly payment.

One gentleman suggested that four working groups be set up: Campaigns & advocacy; Fundraising – Individual, corporate, partnerships; Finance & legal and Public relations, press contacts.

After the appointment of the committee the meeting developed into a business meeting and your reporters left.

Two policemen to run the toughest race on earth – 151 miles across the Sahara

Marathon Des Sables Challenge.

Two officers from the Metropolitan Police Service will embark on the challenge of a lifetime next month to raise money for charity.

Between 3 – 9 April the officers will raise money for ‘Jack’, a charity started by a couple from Barnet Police, Yvonne and Dick Brown, whose son died from neuroblastoma in 2009 to support children suffering from a rare form of cancer ‘Neuroblastoma’, a cancer that attacks nerve cells.

Detective Constable Mark Harber from the Flying Squad (SCD7) and Camden’s Detective Inspector Gary Randall, 46, will be undertaking the Marathon Des Sables, a 151 mile race across the Sahara desert. The race is run over six or seven days and is the equivalent to five and a half regular marathons.

All of the competitors have to carry all of the necessary equipment needed for the trip on their backs, all that is supplied is rationed water and a rug to sleep on under a cloth tent. The race has been described as the toughest foot race on earth.

The officers will be taking part to raise funds for ‘Jack’, which was set up by Detective Sergeants Yvonne Brown and Dick Brown. They set up the charity to raise funds so that their son Jack, who had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer neuroblastoma in 2005, could receive treatment at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Center in New York. This hospital is the only place in the world that provides an antibody treatment for neuroblastoma, which would provide Jack with the best chance at beating the disease.

Tragically Jack died in 2009, but Yvonne and Dick continued their work for the charity, which now raises money to help other children also suffering with neuroblastoma travel to New York for treatment.

The money raised by DC Harber and DI Randall will help to raise funds for Felix, a six year old boy suffering from neuroblastoma who is being supported by the ‘Jack’ charity. He has been fighting the disease for two years and urgently needs treatment in the USA. The officers hope the money they raise will help to send him to New York for treatment.

Assistant Commissioner John Yates said: “The ‘Jack’ charity helps those suffering from neuroblastoma enabling them to undertake potentially life saving treatment. This is a fantastic cause and I have supported the charity for many years. I would urge people to lend their support by sponsoring DC Harber and DI Randall as they take on this gruelling challenge.”

The charity has many events planned for the future, including a sponsored fancy dress 13 mile run in Central Park and eight officers will attempt to pull a plane in a competition in New York.

If you would like to get involved with the charity or any of their future events please visit The Jack Brown Appeal website http://www.jackbrownappeal.org/index.asp

If you would like to support DC Mark Harber and DI Gary Randall with their race across the Sahara please visit their justgiving page, www.Justgiving.com/JACK

For more information about the Marathon Des Sables please visit http://www.darbaroud.com/index_uk.php
Assistant Commissioner John Yates (centre) with DC Mark Harber (right) and DI Gary Randall (left)

Avenue House to close down?

You heard it here first!

We are in the possession of a document from Avenue house which quite clearly states:

“We have been told by Barnet Council that the Mansion could then be boarded up, with minimal ground maintenance, or the whole Estate even disposed of as a private school.”

Apologies for the superfluous capitals but we wanted to publish it eactly as it is in the document.

The link above refers to our News Flash on the 8th February.

Charities – pouring good money after bad

One of the benefits of Governments and Councils no longer subsidising charities, is that good money may cease to follow bad management.

Like most people, I give to charity. But I have always refrained from giving money to charities that look like big business, have a poor management record, or are over secretive about their work.

I know that, nowadays, we are bombarded by requests for our money but the following should be born in mind.

• Unless you starve charities who pay large salaries and start supporting smaller charities in the same field, large salaries will continue to be paid. One of my charities helps black aids sufferers and other poor blacks in Johannesburg – and the charity is run by twenty well off middle class white women who all work for no salary and pay their own expenses. They do a lot of good work.
• Unless you examine how well the charity management is performing, and refuse them money until they improve, they will never improve. The trouble is, once the rot of bad management has set in it is almost impossible for that charity to be turned around and it is doomed to failure.
• Unless a charity is open to the public on issues of whether it is political, whether it pays large salaries, or doesn’t involve their contributors in any way, you will never know how efficient they are, whether they are doing a good job, or whether they are secretly political – to your opposition party!

Charities have either become “big business” with corporate mentalities, or they are full of people supporting their king-size egos.

If you start being a little picky about who you support you will improve this trend.

A quick email stating you are a potential doner but you would like the following questions answered.

1. What is the total salary bill of all the directors?
2. Are your charity meeting minutes published?
3. Do you support, or are you supported by, any political party.

might help you decide whether that charity is worth supporting. It doesn’t matter how much you might support the charities aims, unless you get them onto the straight and narrow, your hard earned money will continue to be wasted.

And, you need further information than just the salary. For example from Oxfam’s online report we learn their CEO gets £90,000+, at first glance this seems high but you have to take into consideration that Oxfam is a £300M company running in 80 countries. To me that seems fair, but I don’t support them for other reasons which I won’t go into here.

It’s a bit like politics really. If you don’t take an interest you get the sort of government that comes from a lack of interest. With charities, if you don’t take an interest, you can’t complain if you get a badly managed charity and your money disappears in an ever-increasing bucket.

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!

Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice thanks its volunteers for their exceptional support

Last Thursday (27 January) Noah’s Ark held its annual Volunteer Thank You evening at Avenue House, East End Road, Finchley.

The event, attended by over 90 volunteers and supporters, was an opportunity for Noah’s Ark to publicly reward and recognise their commitment and enthusiasm.

Over the past few years the number and diversity of volunteers has been steadily growing. Currently Noah’s Ark has over 100 active volunteers including teenagers, families and pensioners.

Founded in 1999, Noah’s Ark helps life-limited children and their families living in the communities of Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Islington and Camden through the provision of its community outreach services.

Gill Dodge, Chief Executive said: “Most people think a hospice service is about death and dying, but in fact it’s about life and living. Many of our families have many years together and our job is to help them make the most of that. That’s where these volunteers are so wonderful as they really make a difference to people in their own communities. They are exceptional”.

Ark Volunteere

In 2010 a total of 7,000 hours of time was given by fundraising, administrative and family support volunteers saving the charity an estimated £60,000. One volunteer was recognised for giving up 550 hours of her time, the equivalent of 70 days worth of a full-time member of staff. [Ed: As most readers know, it is information like this which really warms my heart!]

She added: “We are putting a lot into developing our volunteers as we recognise how important they are to the charity. We now have a Volunteer Development Manager and funding to expand the volunteer programme”.

Chris Clark, from Enfield, has been volunteering for Noah’s Ark for almost 4 years. She became involved with the charity during her time as Chairman of her local Rotary Club. She said: “We were lucky enough to have four healthy children and when someone from the charity came to speak to our club about the hospice I knew I had to help out.

“You’re not expected to do lots and lots, just as much as you would like. I’m amazed I did 40 hours last year – I’ll be looking to do even more this year!”

John Robinson, from Potters Bar, also gave 40 hours of his time last year as a Family Day volunteer. John became involved with the charity through his love for Barnet FC who are long-standing supporters of Noah’s Ark.

During her presentation Gill Dodge announced that the charity had raised a staggering £1.2m in 2010, double the amount raised in 2009.

Ms Dodge stressed that 2011 ‘starts from zero’ again. The launch of an organisation appeal (to include funding to build a hospice on the site in Byng Road, Barnet) presents the next major challenge.

A little light humour

Humour me please. Everyone who is reading this to take the last two digits of your birth year (mine is 39) and the age you will be on this year’s birthday (mine is 72) and add these two figures together and they will come to 111. In my case, 39 and 72 equals 111. If yours doesn’t, it is time to buy a new calculator and if you do, please help the Arrow by using Easy Fundraising.

Talking about EasyFundraising, our latest convert told me she doesn’t really buy anything on the Internet. Then she mentioned she bought her travel tickets. Her whole family fly to the US a few times a year (business), and she drives many times a year to Europe by Ferry (also business). She checked EasyFundraising and all the companies she uses are in the scheme, including the car parks at the airports where she leaves her car. Result is we’ll gain over £25 a year from one family.

Are you helping the Arrow grow? We need the funding as we hope to start a one-stop community website in June so people can find out about every shop, club, society, charity, self help (a paragraph for each with a link to their website or telephone number, and lots, lots more). This can only come to pass if you help. We have 1,500 readers each month but only eleven (including our own team) are using this easy method to help us raise funds. It is a little disheartening to say the least. Please look at 8 Funding above for more information.

Help for Heroes

by Don Pepper

The Tally Ho, a Weatherspoon’s pub in North Finchley, held a charity weekend for ‘Help for Heroes’ on 11th December. A live jazz band, ‘The Squadronaires’, a quintet of Royal Air Force musicians from Northolt, provided the music playing a selection of 40’s style jazz. They were fantastic, and in my opinion deserved a much larger turn out than they got.

 

The Squadronaires RAF Northold band

 

Help for Heroes is a registered charity that includes helping armed service personnel wounded or maimed on duty or suffering from combat stress. When an event is held to raise money for the charity, they will normally send a representative to sell merchandise on a stall. The money raised by selling merchandise pays for the overheads for the charity, paying wages etc. Any other money raised goes directly to the charity’s good causes. In the last three years, Help for Heroes has raised more than £80 million.

Soldiers relaxing in Afghanistan

NPC Promotions of Potters Bar held an auction of football and celebrity framed posters, many of which were autographed. The auction appeared to be a bit disastrous with no-one bidding, but to compensate a silent raffle was held which was much more successful.

 

Auction items at the Tally Ho Help for Heroes night.

On the following Sunday, the Tally Ho held Christmas carols, which had a very good turn out. [Ed: well done – the Tally Ho.]

 

EasyFundraising – our statement of account

by Andrew Taylor

I have been looking at our statement and am heartened by the fact that we have now raised £24.58. Not a lot by any means but we have been going for only three months and the amounts coming in are growing. £22.12 has come in from people buying goods through the EasyFundraising link, and £2.20 via the special EasySearch link (this is just for roaming the Internet using the EasySearch search engine).

Those with a mathematical bent will notice a discrepancy of 26p. We have signed up three other charities, and we get 20% of what they make, so they are beginning to do something which accpunts for the missing 26p and, in the long run this will be good for the Finchley Arrow.

On a more negative note, only nine of our readers use this system to make their Internet purchases. All this means is that the large companies get to keep the percentage they might have given us to help our community newspaper.

Think of this, if we can make £24.59 with only nine of our readers, think how we can grow and help the community if a thousand of you bought via EasyFundraising! All excess funds we make goes to the Finchley Community. Look at 8 Funding above for easy instructions on how to help at no cost to yourself.

Wine Tasting event raises £930

The Finchley branch of Majestic Wine was the setting for a recent fundraising event in aid of the Mayor of Barnet’s Charity Appeal.

Event organiser, Cllr John Marshall said “I was delighted to be asked to organise a fundraising event for the Mayor’s Appeal which is supporting Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice and Camp Simcha, both of these local charities do excellent work in our community. The event was enjoyable and a great success, raising £930 for the Appeal. Thank you to Ian Whiscombe and his staff at Majestic for their help on the night”.

For further details about future fundraising events, information about both charities and how to get involved with the Mayor of Barnet’s Charity Appeal 2010-2011, please visit www.mayorbarnet.webs.com or telephone Joan Lipkin-Edwards on 020 8455-0029.

From left to right: Rosie Daniels; Cllr John Marshall; Ian Whiscombe (Manager, Majestic Wine, Finchley); Deputy Mayoress of Kingston; Deputy Mayor of Barnet (Cllr Lisa Rutter); Mayor of Barnet (Cllr Anthony Finn); Deputy Mayor of Kingston (Cllr Ken Smith JP) and Mayor of Haringey (Cllr Eddie Griffith)