The Winchmore Hill Festival is back next Saturday with a Summer Exhibition on the Green and at the Kings Head.
The exhibition will include work by some of the area’s most interesting artists, photographers, sculptors, ceramicists and jewellers, some of it for sale.
There is also a chance to wet your whistle at the N21.net Get Together Bar.
The event runs from 10 to 6. Bag yourself a beautiful bargain …
Sixty years ago next year, in December 1954, rock and roll hit the UK charts for the first time. By Bill Haley and the Comets, Shake, Rattle and Roll was a cover of Big Joe Turner’s song, entering the Christmas charts to nestle alongside postwar jazz ballads by the likes of Frank Sinatra and the ragtime of Winifred Attwell’s Lets Have a Party (that year’s Christmas no 1).
Its successor Rock Around The Clock became one of the biggest selling single of the 1950s – and the film Blackboard Jungle in which it was featured became notorious despite cuts from the censors. In Elephant and Castle ‘teddy boys’ danced in the aisles and ripped up seats, a spectacle that would soon be repeated in cinemas all over the country, to the alarm of politicians and the media. Music, and what it meant to be a teenager in the UK, would never be the same again. Or, at least that’s what we are told.
We are looking for people in the area who remember the arrival of rock and roll for a new oral history project launching this summer, culminating in an exhibition, publication or website for the 60th anniversary next year.
Titled Rock and Roll Enfield, the project will be focusing in particular on what it was like to live in Palmers Green, Southgate, Winchmore Hill and Enfield in those days.
And now we need your help!
Do you remember the first days of rock and roll? How did it impact on you and your family? What did you wear and where did you go out to meet your friends? If you have memories to share, or would be interested in being interviewed, or have photographs or memorabilia from that era that you would be glad to share, we’d love to hear from you. Please email us at rocknrollmemories@btopenworld.com
The project is being run by Joe Studman of Jaywalks and Sue Beard of Palmers Green Jewel in the North, with the kind support of Southgate District Civic Trust.
There is a fascinating post by Matt Brown on the Londonist website today about how the London Boroughs got their names, including Enfield…You might also be interested in the Londonist’s amusing redrawing of the boroughs in an article written by Jonn Elledge last year – click on the map to go straight there…
A new film has been launched this week to promote Broomfield Park. Created, directed and produced by Christine Lalla, who grew up in Palmers Green, the intention is to support the efforts of local groups to restore the house, water garden and stable yard, by showing Broomfield’s unique history and heritage.
The film features historic clips and local people speaking about their memories and connections with the house and park including Kate Godfrey, Ralph Hutchings, and Janet Iorns, grandaughter of Broomfield’s first head gardener, William Ellis.
Music is by Graham Hine
[youtube]http://youtu.be/nTy9ZUcQ5iA[/youtube]
For more information about work to conserve and restore the house and park, visit http://www.friendsofbroomfieldpark.org/ and http://www.broomfieldhouse.org/
Palmers Greenery will have a pop up cafe tomorrow from 11-4 as part of Broomfield Park’s packed programme for Love Parks Week.
Love Parks week aims to raise awareness of the importance of parks and green spaces, showcasing the benefits they bring and highlighting the need for continual investment and engagement. It’s an urgent issue, as the organisers Keep Britain Tidy point out on its website “Sadly, as the nation comes to realise the benefits green spaces bring to our lives and communities, funding is being dramatically reduced.”
Also part of Broomfield’s Love Parks celebrations, the conservatory will also be open every day from 2.30-4.30, offering a children’s quiz and tree trail; Broomfield Community Orchard will be conducting an audit of wildflowers on Wednesday afternoon and there are also opportunities to try a new sport, including bowling and croquet. This years annual bandstand concerts also kick off this Sunday with an open mike session from 1pm, followed by an afternoon of acoustic blues from 2-5. There will then be music each Sunday throughout August.
See the Friends of Broomfield Park website for full details of all events.
Earlier this week I was standing at the bus stop on Green Lanes, when I was joined by a middle aged lady. As we gently sizzled in the sun my companion, with no sign of self-consciousness, began to dig deep and promptly issue a copious and foamy splat of spittle. I prayed I would remember where it was when I left my spot to get on the bus.
Now let’s be honest, there are some bad habits which you might be able to see the appeal of but I have never understood the need – in terms of giving comfort, medical relief or any other benefit – for spitting. I have lived an entirely spit free life, and anything which might have turned out less than 100% perfect cannot easily be attributed to my failure to honk my guts up and deposit it on the pavement.
But could spitting in Enfield be about to become a thing of the past? Following a campaign led by the Enfield Over 50s group, and a petition signed by over 4000 people, Enfield could be about to become the first borough in the country with a ban on spitting.
The borough has asked the Government to create a special by law covering Enfield which would make spitting an offence. Eric Pickles is understood to have given his approval in principle, and the law will be confirmed provided a month-long public consultation is in support of the move.
The new by law will mean that those caught spitting on the street without a ‘reasonable excuse’ will be issued with a fixed penalty notice and could be fined up to £5000.
But you will still be able to spit into a tissue or hanky if you really want to.