The Guardian is calling for insider info on the delights of Bounds Green for it’s ‘Let’s Move To…’ feature in Weekend magazine.
You will have to move fast though. The deadline is today (and be careful what you say or you may never get a table in the Ranelagh again…). Email lets.move@guardian.co.uk.
PG next?
The Christmas lights are on and the festivities are drawing near with unstoppable inevitability. Why not ease yourself into the festivities with a a lovely day out on Sunday at the Open Studios Autumn art and craft fair at St Monica’s Parish Centre?
30 designers will be selling their wares directly to the public from 10-6. Forget Christmas gifts, I am going to buy something for myself!
And if you cant wait til tomorrow, you can get a sneak preview of artists work by popping into Anthony Webb estate agents this afternoon.
Do you remember the Black and White Café? Have afternoon tea in Evans and Davies? Buy your undies in Grout’s, or your butter hewn from a big slab in Sainsbury’s?
Those were some of the memories and stories shared by local residents at a special event hosted by the Ruth Winston Centre in conjunction with Talkies Community Cinema a couple of weeks ago as part of the Palmers Green Festival celebrations.
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The aim was to look at what Palmers Green was like 50 years or more ago, and the way in which Palmers Green, and our feelings about it, have changed. Once with a reputation for being rather snobby and high falutin’, Palmers Green is now busier than many of its neighbours, excitingly multicultural, and, in the words of Ralph Hutchings, one of the introductory speakers, ‘definitely on the up’ – a far cry from the 60s when ‘you couldn’t get a decent kebab!’.
The event has now given birth to a new oral history project.
“We have yet to agree a title, but the emphasis will be firmly on ‘now’ as well as ‘then’”, says former Hazelwood teacher Jenny Bourke who is coordinating the project team, which includes Palmers Green Jewel in the North. “The aim is to talk to as wide a range of people as possible, of all ages and from all parts of the community”.
Here are just a few of the many topics the team would love to know more about
“If you took part in the event, the team will be back in touch soon, “says Jenny. “But we’ll also be asking for more people to come forward with their local memories later in the year – we hope as many people as possible will want to be involved.”
But you don’t have to wait until then. If you are a Palmers Greener, old or new, we would love to hear your stories about Palmers Green, whether it be from of 1963 or something that happened just last week.
“We are keen to hear from everyone, but as we are looking in particular at the last 50 years, it would be great to hear from some people who were actually born in 1963!”
A website will be set up in the New Year, but in the meantime you can contact the project group by emailing palmersgreenn13@btinternet.com.
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Palmers Green Jewel in the North were there with a joint stall with local history compadre Joe Studman’s Jaywalks, as well as a display of fascinating old views of the area and publications from Southgate District Civic Trust.
Thank you to everyone who came to say
hello – it was great to meet so many wonderful people – and thank you in particular to the Palmers Green Festival team for all the hard work which went into such a brilliant event (I am sure we don’t know the half of it!).
If you signed up for information about Jaywalks, the oral history project Rock n Roll Enfield, or to receive our articles about Palmers Green, we will be back in touch very soon.
The sun is shining, the forecast is good, and tomorrow is the Palmers Green Festival. The big day runs from 12 til 7, and there will be food, a fun and entertainment. and nearly 100 stands.
Palmers Green Jewel in the North and Joe Studman of Jaywalks have a stand in the community area. We will be talking about Palmers Green history and people, Joe’s new local history course – the first to be run in the area for more than 30 years – and the new Rock n Roll Enfield oral history project.
But you dont have to talk to us about any of those. We’re just looking forward to meeting you all. Why not pop along and say hello, and pick up one of our Palmers Green Jewel in the North bookmarks?
For more information about the festival programme, visit the festival website
The Palmers Green festival kicks off on Sunday with the first in a string of events leading up to our Festival Day in Broomfield Park on Sunday 1 September.
Opening the festivities Sunday lunchtime are the Chicago and Memphis Electric Blues Band, playing from 1-5 at the bandstand in Broomfield Park. At 5.30 there is another opportunity to join Joe Studman on a fascinating walk through the history of Palmers Green. Booking is through Jaywalks.co.uk.
On Monday there is a BBQ and live music at the Inn on the Green, and more live music at the Bookafe (Bookafe also have live music on Tuesday). Talkies at the Fox hosts Red Minies on Tuesday evening, featuring short films from students at Middlesex University.
On Wednesday, Baskervilles hosts a summer tea concert with live cellist at 12 and 2, and the Ruth Winston Centre has a pop up cafe and live music from 11.30 to 2.30.
Palmers Green residents are encouraged to share their memories of the area over the last 50 years with Talkies and friends (including Palmers Green Jewel in the North, Jaywalks and the Southgate Photographic Society) on Thursday at the Ruth Winston Centre, and Thursday evening sees wine and cheese tasting also at Ruth Winston.
On Friday you can try line dancing at Ruth Winston from 11-1.30, or hear some classics at The Vintage, St Harmonica’s Blues Club on Friday evening. Skinners Court hosts a garden party on Saturday, and there will be flashmob song and dance courtesy of Centre Stage Performing Arts at Morrisons at 1. Festival Eve sees Talkies hosting singalonga (and optional dressy-uppy) Wizard of Oz at Burford United Reformed Church.
And of course, Sunday is festival day itself, with music, food, games and over 80 stalls descending on Broomfield Park for an afternoon of neighbourly fun.
For full details of the festival programme, visit http://www.palmersgreenfestival.org.uk/palmersgreenfestival.org.uk/home.html. The festival team still need people to help manage and steward the day, so if you have a few hours and can help, please get in touch via the website.
See you there!
