Communities - Brentford

Brentford's Magpie and Crown pub re-opens

2009-11-13T12:39:18Z

Popular pub the Magpie and Crown re-opened today as negotiations with the owners took a turn for the better.

Punters returned to the Brentford High Street boozer at lunchtime, only a few weeks after landlords announced they would be closing due to being unable to meet demands for a 15 per cent rent increase.

]]> Landlord Stephen Bolton said: "Hopefully we will be staying open for good.

"We are still negotiating with the owners and we think we have come up with an agreement."

Owners The Wellington Pub Company almost sent the business under after they asked for a rent increase at the same rate as trade was actually decreasing in the pub.

"We are really really pleased," said Stephen.

"The implication we've had is the deal which is much better than before, will probably go through.

"Although if it doesn't we will be back to square one."

Artists take over Brentford's Kew Bridge Steam Museum

2009-11-11T10:14:13Z

The Kew Bridge Steam Musuem on Brentford High Street will host an exhibition of resident artist and creators.

Titled "The Eye of the Beholder", the interior of the museum will be transformed with ironwork, ceramiccs, textiles, jewellery, miniatures and painting, with a preview reception being held on Thursday, November 19.

]]> A Spokeswoman for the museum said: "An overture performed by resident percussionist Dave Price promises to be a highlight of the preview and many of the artists are opening their studios to view on that evening only.
"All are welcome."

Each of the 12 professional artists and makers involved has a studio or workshop within the museum complex and their work will be displayed on the Museum's mezzanine gallery and Main steam hall.

The Steam Museum is a landmark site built in the 19th century to supply London with water and is recognised as the most important historic site of the water supply industry in Britain.

The display in the museum will continue until 29th November and free access to the Museum exhibition (until 22nd) can be obtained with a pass obtained on site from Robert Dawson (07812164395) or Shelley Thomas (07947032286).

There is a free car park and disabled access.

Much loved Gunnersbury Park bike trail under threat

2009-11-10T15:54:25Z

Tucked away in a quiet corner of a park lies a skilfully crafted and much loved bike trail and old and new users alike are urged to share their stories to unfold its history and preserve its future.

The Gunnersbury Park bike trail which lies along Lionel Road North, is thought to have been used for around 30 years but if a luxury housing development is permitted, BMX bikers would be forced out of the borough and the trail would be lost forever.

]]> Beth Hales, 42, whose son was ranked number eight during the 90s, said: "Some people may find the riders a nuisance, but in fact many are serious sportsman.

"The older riders inspire younger ones, they are keeping fit and taking part in a sport at a time when there is pressure to get kids active; surely this is a golden facility that should be preserved and not sold off for housing so more young people can sit in front of games consoles.

"The building of the jumps and paths are not only sheer hard work but take a degree of engineering and physics that requires a persistence which kids can't get at ready made skate parks.

"Once children are too old for the playground, there is so little for them to do in the park and these young people have shaped a small area into what they need with no Council backing, no funding and no youth worker, and yet what they have produced and the way they work together is an inspiration."

One of the riders, Ivan Adams, said "I have done some of the maintenance on the trails but whoever rides the trails also helps to keep them up and running.

"I really hope we can save the trails as I want to race downhill mountain biking for a living and that's the only bit of training ground I have close by.

"I can get there after work and train for a few hours and without Gunnersbury Park bike trail, I would have to travel for an hour on an overland train to Bracknell and that's just not possible to do that everyday."

To contact the campaign group and share your stories with 'Save Trees In Gunnersbury', STIG, call 07719 387 106 or visit http://www.stiglondon.co.uk

Brentford couple celebrate pub award and wedding

2009-11-06T16:07:29Z

A Landlord and Landlady are enjoying a double celebration this week as their Brentford pub wins an award only days after their wedding.

Ralph and Sue Clifton, lessees of The Griffin in Brook Road South, got married on Saturday and were presented with the Local Pub of the Year on Wednesday.

]]> The well known boozer, which is popular with football fans, was picked by Chiswick based Fuller, Smith & Turner to receive the award as part of the Griffin Trophy Competition.

Ralph, who has been running the pub with wife Sue for over 14 years said: "We are both so pleased to have won this award again.

"Having won it before in 2001, we know how hard it is and how you have to get better year after year.

"Our whole team concentrates on making sure customers are greeted with a welcoming face and enjoy the time they spend with us.

"I know that everyone at the pub will be delighted for us, and we can't wait to get back to give them the news.

"We've had a fantastic week with it being a double celebration, perhaps we'll use our holiday prize to make our honeymoon extra special!"

As winners of the Town/Local category, Ralph and Sue receive a holiday to the value of £1,000, £200 to share with the pub staff and a commemorative plaque for the pub.

Michael Turner, Fuller's chairman said: "The Griffin is a fantastic Brentford landmark that serves a perfect pint of beer and freshly-prepared traditional pub dishes.

"The pub has a great relationship with the local community, particularly Brentford FC and their supporters, and the couple should also be commended for their fund-raising efforts for many local charities."

Gunnersbury Park consultation results soon to be announced

2009-11-04T14:33:24Z

Results from the recent public consultation about the future of Gunnersbury Park are soon to be announced.

Ealing and Hounslow councils have decided the next meeting of the Gunnersbury Park Joint Advisory Panel will take place on Monday November 30, where the consultation results will be presented to the panel.

]]> Hounslow's Executive Member for Leisure, Councillor Rebecca Stewart said: "Both Ealing and ourselves were keen to get this meeting fixed as soon as possible.

"Full results from the public consultation are keenly awaited by all councillors on the panel and will be key to their discussions about what can be done to ensure a bright future for this important park and green space."

Local organisations with a keen interest in the park, such as STIG, have now agreed December 5 for their next stakeholder group meeting, where results of the consultation will be presented and discussed by the public.

Local musicians perform in Brentford inter faith concert

2009-11-01T21:37:20Z

Musicians from places of worship in the borough will be taking part in an exciting and unusual concert in Brentford on Saturday 21 November. The groups, from different places of worship in Chiswick, Isleworth and Hounslow are presenting music as heard in worship in 'Music from the Faiths'. Contributions will include Anglican and Russian Orthodox Church Choirs, Hindu, Jewish and Sikh music, plus the Muslim call to prayer and Quaker silence.

]]> The event is being organised by Hounslow Friends of Faith as part of Inter Faith Week. Secretary of the group Bessie White said 'Music plays an important part in many faiths. Although not a religious service it will be really interesting to experience what you might hear in a place of worship across a wide range of cultures. We have been able to provide this opportunity with all but one presentation coming from within the local borough.'

The concert takes place at Watermans Arts Centre in Brentford and starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £4 and are available by ringing 020 8560 5887 or from info@hounslowfriendsoffaith.org.

Celebs open new cosmetic surgery clinic in Brentford

2009-10-30T11:15:31Z

Makeover expert Nicky Hambleton-Jones has launched Brentford's first cosmetic surgery hospital and clinic.

The 10-Years-Younger TV star, joined other celebs, including Chanelle Hayes and Marcus Akin on Thursday, to celebrate the launch of Transform Cosmetic Surgery Group's brand new state of the art Abbey Riverside clinic in Brentford.

]]> Ms Hambleton-Jones took centre stage at the new development at Brentside Executive park in Great West Road, Brentford, to talk on all things style and beauty related.

One lucky prize draw winner, Martina Maran from Feltham, was thrilled to win a personal consultation with Nicky as well as a £500 voucher towards treatments at the clinic.

Transform Cosmetic Surgery Group is Britain's largest and most popular cosmetic surgery group network with 35 years experience and 22 clinics across the UK.

To contact the clinic call: 0208 232 6300.

Gunnersbury Park Campaigner honoured at Downing Street

2009-10-29T11:42:35Z

A campaigner who has spent the last 20 years fighting to save Gunnersbury Park was honoured at a Downing Street reception.

Bela Cunha was invited to meet Mr and Mrs Brown at last Thursday's 'Heroes of the Community' event after being nominated by MP Anne Keen.

]]> "It was really wonderful, I feel so honoured," said Ms Cunha from Lionel Road South, Brentford.

"I was thrilled to bits to get some recognition for all the work I've done and to get a chance to mention Gunnersbury Park in high places."

Ms Cunha's dogged persistence in saving the struggling park saw her persuade Hounslow and Ealing Councils to open up their previously private meetings of the Gunnersbury Park regeneration Board to the public.

She also used the Freedom of Information Act to get hold of minutes of the meetings where ideas for the future of the park, including selling off part of the land, were discussed.

Green Party to discuss Gunnersbury's future with Boris

2009-10-14T11:05:34Z

The Green Party say they will be meeting with the Mayor of London later this month to discuss their objections to proposals to sell off part of Gunnersbury Park.

Darren Johnson, Green Party Assembly Member, visited the park last month to see the threatened trees and backed the campaign to protect the area and the listed buildings.

]]> Mr Johnson, who is also Chair of the London Assembly, will meet with Boris Johnson at the end of October to discuss options away from selling more than five acres of land to build luxury housing.

Sarah Edwards, parliamentary candidate for Ealing and Acton, said: "The Green Party has made its position crystal clear - we will not accept any proposal which involves sacrificing any part of the park.

"We have stressed that we not only reject the idea of felling of over 400 trees, but oppose the loss of any green space in the park.

"We recognise that major investment is needed to restore the buildings, after decades of neglect by both Ealing and Hounslow Councils.

"But no serious attempt has been made to find other options.

"We believe that money can and must be found for essential restoration work, while a more modest longer-term strategy is devised."

The Green Party is also opposing the building of a sports centre in the park, with more access roads and parking and say the current neglected sports centres should be restored or rebuilt on the current site with money sought from sports grants.

For more information visit http://ealing.greenparty.org.uk or contact Save Trees In Gunnersbury (STIG) by visiting stig.savetreesingunnersbury.blogsport.com

Waging Peace

2009-09-29T11:53:25Z

Wouldn't it be great if there were alternatives to war? There are! Quaker peace workers will be talking about Peace Child International and other projects which attempt to prevent conflict before it happens. These are part of the Quaker run peaceworker scheme to boost organisations working for peace.

]]> Peace Child International works with young people's groups in over 180 countries through peace education initiatives such as musical productions. These encourage action in support of sustainable development and human rights. Quakers, a historic peace church, believe in supporting such groups to show there are ways of reducing tension in the world.

Brentford and Isleworth Quakers are organising the event on Sunday 4th October at 12 noon. It takes place at the Quaker Meeting House, Quakers Lane, London Road, Isleworth TW7 5AZ. Lunch is provided. Tours of the Meeting House, built 1785, and burial ground are available. The event is part of National Quaker Week, a series of open events at Quaker Meeting Houses nationally.

For more information ring 020 8560 5887 or go to www.brentfordandisleworthquakers.org.uk

Brentford bar man's cocktail competition success

2009-09-25T13:43:50Z

The head cocktail mixologist at a Brentford bar has proved he knows his Singapore Slings from his Sangrias after winning two prestigious competitions.

Within the past two months, Rod Eslamieh, 32, who works at The Old Fire Station Bar and Grill in Brentford High Street, has won the London heat of the international Jack Daniels Cocktail competition and the Pepsi RAW National Cocktail Competition.

]]> Rod won the JD sponsored contest with his cocktail called "Baritone Flip" which was inspired by Frank Sinatra- a loyal JD drinker, and will be flying to Tennessee, USA, in October to represent the city in the grand final.

The drink consisted of one whole raw egg, Jack Daniels, vanilla syrup, blackberry liqueur and a dash of red wine, served in a champagne flute and sprinkled with cinnamon on top.

"I have been a cocktail mixologist for six years and am constantly experimenting with different flavours and tastes to create perfect cocktails," said Rod from Dee Road in Richmond.

This was Rod's second taste of success as he also recently won the Pepsi RAW National Cocktail Competition, with his creation Jessica Raw-Bit. A tempting mix of Amaretto, cherry brandy, topped with Pepsi, a few drops of bitters and a squeeze of lime.

"It was great to win just one of the competitions but to win both was fantastic," said Rod.
A total of 400 hopefuls entered the competition and Rod was one of the final four who were judged at the Taste of London Event in Regent's Park.

Acoustic night for Brentford parish

2009-09-15T14:57:44Z

Make your way to an acoustic night to help support a Brentford parish.

The event on Friday, September 25, sees Roy Hill take to the stage as well as Phil Martin and The Brentford Belles, all in aid of St Paul's Parish Open House Cafe.

]]> Doors open at 7pm and tickets are £10 in advance and £12 on the door.

Buy tickets from St Pal's Parish Centre, 020 8568 7442 or www.wegottickets.com

More mysterious UFOs in Brentford's skies

2009-09-03T16:29:11Z

Calls have continued to flood into Chronicle towers regarding strange sightings in Brentford's skies.

Following last week's revelations that a bright orb was spotted above Brentford high street it seems many have found the confidence to announce that they too have seen what can only be described as UFOs.

]]> Ex Chauffeur Anthony Beckwith, from Pevensey Close, Isleworth, was watching for meteor showers in his back garden on August 2, when he saw something unexpected fly across the sky.

"I'm quite interested in astronomy and every August we get a shower of meteors, so I was watching the sky when this strange black triangle flew across the sky," said Anthony, 62.

"It had a circular red light on each corner, and the night was so clear I got a really good look at it.

"It moved in an arch from the North to the South, there was no noise at all and it moved at an astronomical speed, there's nothing to my knowledge that fast on this Earth.

"It's a bit creepy, I didn't believe UFOs existed before, but I do now, there's definitely something going on up there."

Miles Johnston, an engineer from Wellington Road, Hounslow, has been interested in the paranormal his whole life and was passed some video footage that his friend took of of some strange lights on August 24.

"My friend was at the petrol station at Gillette corner when he saw two bright orange orb like lights hovering over the new Sky building, then they just shot off, he was quite shaken up about it.

"There seems to be a whole lot of these orb like lights being seen all over the place lately.

"I think the MOD are involved, they know what is going on but they just don't tell us.
"I think people should get informed."

A 20-year-old from Grove Road, Hounslow, captured video footage of a UFO in has back garden last week that matches the description given by Mr Johnston.

"I was just having a cigarette with my friend when we spotted this bright orange thing that looked like a sun.

"It was really on top of us and was quite scary as it was so low, it was as low as the planes that come in to land at Heathrow.

"It was moving quite fast in different directions then it just disappeared."

Have you seen anything strange in Hounslow's skies? Contact Jessica Thomas on 07795 645 288 or email on jessicathomas@trinitysouth.co.uk

Big Brother Marcus speaks to the Chronicle

2009-09-02T11:34:51Z

Groupies, stalkers, hordes of screaming fans and a rock star's welcome at his favourite nightspot - life is looking good for Big Brother star Marcus Akin.

The 35-year-old former window fitter emerged from the famous reality TV house on Friday after surviving a creditable 13 weeks on the show, and stepped into a new life in the limelight.

]]> He was hailed by host Davina McCall and pundit Grace Dent (not to mention around 3,000 fans on the internet) as possibly the greatest housemate in the show's 10 year history.

Marcus, who has a tattoo of a number 13 on his neck and once set fire to his face, lived up to his wild appearance on the show by constantly swearing, speaking his mind, and challenging BB bosses with escape attempts, dismantling fixtures, and sussing out the show's twists.

But he was finally evicted by viewers, at the eighth attempt, last week - just seven days before the show's final where the last standing housemate will claim prize money of up to £100,000.

The Chronicle caught up with TV's 'Irrepressible Dark Horse' - a name he thought up while a pupil at Hounslow Manor School in the 1980s - at his home on the Haverfield Estate in Brentford on Tuesday.

Speaking about his whirlwind few days outside the house, Marcus said: "It's been mad.

"I've been awake for about 67 hours since I came out - I've had about nine hours sleep since Friday. After I'd done the eviction interviews and the Big Brother's Big Mouth I was taken straight to a hotel in Elstree with two good friends of mine, Phil Cattemull and Helen Green.

"There was a wedding there and I upstaged the bride because people wanted to hang out with me.

"On Saturday I went to my friend's club, The Pit in Hounslow (based at the Duke of Cambridge pub in Kingsley Road) and it was just f****** brilliant. Even people who don't usually speak to me were coming up to say hello."

Marcus reckons he's posed for well over 1,000 photographs for fans of the show since his exit on Friday, and switched his home computer on at the weekend to find some 7,000 emails and 3,000 people wanting him to add them as friends on the social networking site Facebook.

He's even got his own would-be stalker, an internet user by the name of Raven Rockchick, who asked him a question while he was on spin-off show Big Brother's Little Brother, and has since been leaving messages with Marcus' brother.

Marcus added: "I expected the response from the public to be half good, half bad. I even thought I might end up in a few fights if people didn't like me. But - apart from a couple of people - there's been no negative human contact. Every single person has been brilliant."

Marcus revealed he's had a few offers from girls but is on the lookout for someone special.

He said: "As I said on Big Brother I am the hundred per cent man, and its got to be right. I'm looking for someone who's genuinely nice. I met a girl in Hounslow on Saturday who could be the one. She seems really nice and educated in rock music."

Marcus feels he was well-prepared for the Big Brother experience after auditioning twice before and spending a week in the house last year as a part of a guinnea pig team, allowing producers to test out the house and tasks before filming.

He said he plans to stay in touch with housemates Freddy Fisher and Bea Hammil, but isn't sure if he will rekindle his friendship with Irish temptress Noirin Kelly, who he insists he knew he hadn't a chance of dating on the outside world but pursued her to beat the boredom.

Marcus predicts Brazilian student Rodrigo Lopes, 23, will win this year's Big Brother, but says he would have liked it to be Lisa as she would have "done the most with the money".

But he added: "I was never in it to win the money. I assumed there would be a prize fund but I didn't remember anyone saying there would be anything. If I had won I would have used the money to do my house up and pay my friend, Phil's rent."

Asked what he missed about Brentford while in the house, he said: "Apart from my friends obviously it wasn't really a Brentford thing. I missed driving and my spaghetti westerns, there were films on the cinema that I wanted to see like Terminator Salvation.

"If someone said to me how long have you been in there I'd have said three weeks, not 13. It's like being in The Matrix because everything looks real but its not, its scripted."

Marcus has yet to venture to his local Tesco or set foot in Brentford by day but did drive over to Toys R Us in Hayes on Tuesday where he used some of his Big Brother wages to purchase a £35 Terminator Salvation action figure and a Transformer. He stopped to pose for photos with some BB fans who spotted him in the car park.

As for the future, Marcus says he intends to reply to all the fan emails he's received (even though it will take a while) and would be interested in trying his hand at TV presenting.

He said: "There's been talk that I could do Robot Wars or a martial arts program. I might go back to the window fitting eventually but it depends what happens. I've got no expectations but if someone puts something in front of me I'll consider it."

Have you got a message for Marcus? Post it below.

Brentford's Marcus evicted from Big Brother

2009-08-29T10:37:24Z

Brentford's Marcus Akin was evicted from Channel4 reality TV show Big Brother on Friday - just a week before the final.

The 35-year-old window fitter and self-proclaimed 'Irrepresible Dark Horse', had survived a creditable 13 weeks but he luck finally ran out on Friday when he was shown the door with 64% of the public vote.

]]> Marcus, who lost out to flamboyant rival Siavash, seemed genuinely delighted exclaiming "thank f*** for that" on when host Davina McCall announced that he would be going home.

The Wolverine lookalike, who had earlier refused to have his ponytail cut off to earn back £15,000 for the show's prizefund, emerged from the house to a mixture of boos and cheers and, as McCall observed, milked the reception as though he had won the show.

In the post-eviction interview he told Davina and panelists Grace Dent and Andi Peters: "I've never been defeated. I wanted to go three weeks ago, people only kept me in to torture me. If I say something, I do actually mean it. I don't just flap my gums for the sake of it."

Marcus then appeared in the E4 show Big Brother's Big Mouth where he allowed an audience member to cut off a piece of his famous long hair.

He said: "If loads of people wrote to me and said, 'Give me a bit of your hair', I would cut every bit of hair off," but he said he refused to part with his locks for money because he didn't appreciate show boses "pulling the rug from under [housemates]" by cancelling the £100,000 prize fund and ordering contestants to earn it back.

Later Marcus responded to viewer's questions on the Big Brother website, including one questioner who asked the Londoner if he 'speaks to all women with the same disrespect' as he'd shown some female housemates?

Turning on the charm, Marcus offered "massive apologies" and insisted it was "100% jokes".

He added: "I've got two really gorgeous friends who I hang around with all the time. We've got the same sense of humour and it is kind of crude.

"I always try to shock them and say such rude and disrespectful things to make their jaws drop and I can never ever do it. So I always try to do the next most outrageous thing and forget that everyone else in the world doesn't realise how high that level of crassness and disrespect has gone."

He said: "I've never raised my voice to a woman before. I've never cheated. I've never done anything at all nastily. I'm like the perfect boyfriend stroke husband material. That's just a sense of humour thing that didn't translate well to the Big Brother house."

Fans posting on the official Big Brother site said they would be sorry to see Marcus go.

Marzy1 posted: "BB died last night!!!! Post Mortem will reveal major characters, ie Freddie, Marcus and Bea were removed prematurely. Time to switch off, the thought of watching what's left bores me to tears!!"

Colbert Rules added: "Marcus will never be forgotten. The house will be so boring without him. In my opinion he is the unofficial winner of Big Brother 10. I wish him well for the future. Thanks for the entertainment IDH!"