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We're going to be taking a short break in January which means we won't be around to produce a February issue of the Bugle. So we've made this issue a bit of a bumper one to cover both January and February news and listings. We hope you enjoy it.
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Adding injury to insult. Cruise boat crashes into Hammersmith Bridge
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At he Bugle we like to think of Hammersmith Bridge as a grand old lady fallen on hard times. We’ve become quite proprietorial of her, so, in an anthropomorphic way, we felt her pain when she was rammed by a boat load of West Ham supporters on the way to a Fulham match on Sunday December 10.
The Emerald of London had been hired to carry supporters down the Thames in advance of a 2pm match kick off as part of a time-honoured tradition where party boats bring fans from east to west.
Perhaps the fans had time to kill as Hammersmith Bridge is well upriver of Craven Cottage and the crash happened when the boat was approaching from the Richmond direction. It must have travelled under the bridge towards Richmond when the tide was advancing and then returned towards Craven Cottage when the tide had become too high for the boat to pass comfortably underneath.
The boat hit the bridge with a mighty clang and you can see the collision from the side of the river here in footage from the Twitter account @Mortlake Brewery and from video shot on the boat itself here (be prepared for fruity language!).
The boat escaped with minor damage, and although Hammersmith & Fulham Council hasn’t revealed exactly what damage was done to the bridge it doesn’t look as though the collision damaged the bridge’s structural integrity (such as it is...).
The Port of London Authority investigation into the incident is still ongoing so we are unaware as to what penalties, if any, the boat’s captain or operators will face.
However, the gods of footballing karma administered a swift retribution to the Hammers fans as their side went on to lose 5 nil to Fulham.
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What next for Hammersmith Bridge?
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Come April 2024 Hammersmith Bridge will have been closed to traffic for five years and it’s looking like this year will be crunch time for the 136-year-old-structure.
If you consult Hammersmith & Fulham council’s bridge web page you will see that they expect the next phase of ‘stabilisation’ of the bridge repair to be carried out in 2024. As part of this stage of stabilisation there will be some days this year when the bridge will be closed to pedestrians as the saddles of the bridge are jacked-up to allow for replacement of the bridge’s seized Victorian bearings.
If the specialist supports installed around the saddles in spring 2023 do their job properly the bearing replacement will leave the bridge safe for pedestrian traffic but still not strong enough to carry cars, buses and ambulances. But what will happen next? Local campaigners have many questions.
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Where’s the money for the final repair of the bridge going to come from?
After injecting £250m into TfL’s coffers in 2023 the government expects Transport for London to return to financial stability by March 2024. At this point, will the government’s commitment to cover TfL’s share of the bridge’s overall repair costs (up to £70million) expire?
How will the 2024 election affect the bridge?
Labour hasn’t yet put forward a detailed manifesto so its position on Hammersmith Bridge is unknown. However, it will be interesting to see whether it will change the current administration’s funding formula for the bridge’s repair which expects cash-strapped TfL and Hammersmith and Fulham Council to come up with £140million between them. If Labour a) wins the election as expected and b) commits the government to fund the bridge repair in full, then the need for a toll on the bridge (and the act of parliament required for that to happen) will disappear.
Alternatively, will Labour decide that the bridge should – as some climate activists currently advocate – never reopen to cars and public transport?
Will the Foster Cowi bridge-within-a-bridge solution ever be built?
Adding to the litany of ‘ifs’, is the uncertainty as to whether the existing structure is strong enough to support Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s preferred solution of a temporary bridge running over-and-within the current bridge. This approach will allow traffic to cross the river once more while major repairs to the existing bridge take place off site.
We will all have seen the drilling works taking place on the riverbed in autumn 2023 which have been part of the process of testing the feasibility of the Foster Cowi solution. However, the planning application for these explorations also included work on the bridge’s piers involving digging through the bridge’s tarmac. These investigations don’t seem to have been started and, for now, all engineering equipment has now been removed from the bridge. Where does that leave the engineers’ calculations for the installation of the Foster Cowi solution?
What will happen to Hammersmith Council Leader Stephen Cowan?
Although it seems Councillor Cowan has failed in his attempt to be selected as the Labour candidate for Kensington & Bayswater, he may pursue his ambition of becoming an MP in another constituency. Cowan has been steadfast in his support of a full repair of the bridge to traffic. Will there be any guarantee that any successor will be as pro-repair as Cowan has been?
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January is the cruellest month for a Bugle editor. Generally, not much has happened over Christmas and we face the blankest of pages when it comes to putting together the January issue.
However, there is one perennial story that we know will find a place in the first issue of the year: Rightmove’s annual happiness survey.
Every year when the survey is carried out, we discover that the residents of Richmond are a happy lot. Not as happy, mind you, as people living in St Ives or Hexham who have previously come out top of the pile. This year though, the happy news is that we’re now happier than anyone else in the UK. The ultimate level of happiness seems to have been creeping up on us steadily as Richmond has risen through the ranks over the past ten years.
But just why are we so happy? Has life got better for us in 2023? Or maybe it’s just got worse for people living in lovely towns elsewhere? It’s hard to tell.
The survey measures 13 ‘happiness factors’ which include things like the ‘club-together community spirit of a local area’, ‘having green space on the doorstep’, or the ‘sense of belonging in a local community’.
We may be biased but we think that Barnes excels in all these areas. So perhaps Barnes is the happiest place in Richmond, and we Barnes residents are supremely happy. You never know…
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The train now arriving on platform 1, or is it platform 2?
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If you’re looking for a job that brings with it a sense of omnipotence, platform announcer must be up there. Where else do you get the opportunity to instil panic by announcing a platform change and to transform a crowd of people from everyday commuters into would-be Olympic sprinters?
That’s what seems to have been going on up to four times a day at Barnes Station over the past few months, as trains for Waterloo which usually depart from Platform One have been switched at late notice to Platform Two (or vice versa).
For anyone who’s fast on their feet this hasn’t been too much of a problem but now even the most fleet-of-foot have realised its best to stay near the stairs end of the platforms.
For those who are older or disabled or carrying small children in pushchairs, however, this development is very unwelcome indeed.
Our local MP Sarah Olney and the Barnes Community Association are both aware of the situation and have been liaising with South Western Railway.
The railway company say that these changes happen when points trip in response to congestion or disruption on the line. The automated tripping then sends trains down a ‘safer’ track by which to enter the station. When this happens the information is immediately fed into the platform announcement systems. However, often station staff find out about the late platform changes at the same time as passengers.
There should be staff in hi-vis jackets available to help in the situation of late platform changes but for now it doesn’t look as though the late platform change problem is abating.
Local campaigners are worried about the state of the stairs down to Platform One so are urging people to take care. They are also asking anyone who has experienced problems with late platform changes, or who has been injured as a result of slipping or tripping to email customerrelations@swrailway.com and sarah.olney.mp@parliament.uk.
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A cygnet who decided to have a bit of a wander over Barnes Railway Bridge in the week before Christmas could well have been responsible for one of the recent platform change sprints at Barnes. The presence of the cygnet caused the train to stop but not for long. According to the Barnes Pond Instagram account (unmissable reading for anyone interested in our local swans) Network Rail asked drivers to be aware of the cygnet but not stop for it. Luckily the cygnet was removed from the track by an incident response worker and restored to its family in the Small Profits Dock colony by swan rescuer Ann Davies.
You can see how the drama unfolded here.
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Meanwhile, talking of swans, here's our picture of the year. It was taken by the brilliant Andrew Wilson who has been documenting the ever-growing colony at Small Profits Dock, including the brood from our own Barnes Pond swans.
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The mighty wind that was Storm Henk didn't leave Barnes untouched last week. In fact we took quite a battering. The picture above shows the fire brigade attending to a fallen chimney on Lonsdale Road. A tree also came down by Barnes Pond and on Barnes High Street the Barnes Pharmacy lost their front window to a freak gust of wind. Luckily it seems no one was hurt.
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New OSO season is best yet
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One of the pleasures of writing the Bugle over the past ten years has been the chance to see local organisations grow and flourish. When we started there was no music festival, no food fair, no Bookfest, no Children's Literature Festival and no Olympic. And look at Barnes now. It's a cultural powerhouse.
At the heart of this is the OSO, our own arts centre. It began life as an old Post Office sorting office and through the work of a very dedicated board of trustees, enthusiastic volunteers, and a talented team led by General Manager Lisa Ross, it has become a thriving venue. Its bustle and busyness is a joy to see, the space is used throughout the day for classes and in the evening for performances and the café bar is always busy.
With this current season the OSO seems to have really hit its stride. There's a mix of serious drama with crowd-pleasing talks and cabaret shows. There's even a ceilidh and Burns Night Supper. The programme's not too worthy but not too lightweight either, and there are a few famous names on the bill this spring who are performing to help raise funds for the venue. Gyles Brandreth will be bringing his sellout Edinburgh Fringe Show, Can't Stop Talking to the venue on February 22 and Hilary & Michael Whitehall will be the hosts of The Big Barnes Quiz on Jan 27. If you would like to find out more you can see the full programme on the OSO website or go to our listings section below for our pick of the new season's shows.
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Castelnau, SW13 £8,500,000
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Book clubs can be many things. Intellectual endeavours. An excuse for a much needed glass of wine and a gossip. A hotbed of one-upmanship or simply a joyous exchange of ideas. We've heard of ones so rigorous that those attending have to submit a mini essay on the book in question in advance. There are others where the quality of wine is specified (no Aldi special offers!), and still more that have given up reading books altogether in favour of the regular gossip.
The reason (when they are not subverted by strict rules) that they are such a good idea is that books can spark wonderful conversations, interesting revelations and change your perspective.
That's why the launch of the OSO book club is such good news. It's going to meet once a month and it will be a chance to meet fellow book lovers from across Barnes. The club will meet on the last Friday of the month at 1 o'clock in the café at the OSO, and tickets cost £5 per session (there will also be free places for those on a low income). The club is being supported by The Barnes Bookshop who will offer a discount of 10% on the month's featured book and the first meeting will be discussing Monsieur Ka by Vesna Goldsworthy. You can see the list of books for the opening season and find out more here.
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Following on from the story about how happy we all are, at the Bugle we think we've found the epicentre of Barnes happiness. Well at least for one day. Just before Christmas our local Colombian coffee bar put on a special Christmas crafts market inside the shop and brought along some dancers in Colombian carnival costumes. Barnes High Street has never seen anything like it. We defy you not to crack a smile when you see the reel of the occasion on the Hermanos Coffee instagram account.
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Waterman's Arms: one of the year's best launches according to the FT
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The Financial Times has named the Waterman's Arms one of the best restaurant launches of 2023. The review praised a 'winning menu' offering a 'rotating specials board with market fish and meat' and a 'cracking Sunday lunch'. The reviewer recommended starting with a cocktail or a glass of blanc de blanc with oysters, while watching the sun setting over the Thames.
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There must be something in the water, or a mysterious musical aura. What could be the reason for so many wonderful composers choosing Barnes as their home? The most famous of them all must be George Frederick Handel, but Gustav Holst must come a close second. There's also the doyenne of Anglican Church music Herbert Howells and a whole host of modern composers too. The late Carl Davis was responsible for the score for The French Lieutenant's Woman and music for the 1995 TV version of Pride and Prejudice. Jim Parker was the BAFTA winner composer for series such as Midsomer Murders, House of Cards and Foyle's War and the tradition of great TV composing is being upheld by Howard Goodall who is the man behind the music for Blackadder, The Vicar of Dibley, Mr Bean and QI. He's also a distinguished composer of choral music. Finally, you can add in the extraordinarily talented Roxanna Panufnik who composed music for last year's Coronation.
It's no wonder, therefore, that someone has written a book about all of them and not a surprise that this year's Barnes Music Festival will be celebrating the music of local composers, not least that of Gustav Holst whose 150th anniversary it is this year.
The book has been written by BBC journalist Eleanor Oldroyd. She is perhaps best known for her cricket expertise but choral music is also one of her passions. She'll be talking about the book and interviewing some of the modern composers featured in it at a pre-launch event for this year's Barnes Music Festival. You can buy tickets for the event here.
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Classical stars to grace the Barnes Music Festival
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The Barnes Music Festival is fast becoming one of the UK's most prestigious and provides us with an extraordinary opportunity to see some of the country's most revered classical musicians in an intimate setting.
This year's stand-out performers include the pianist Dame Imogen Cooper, oboist Nicholas Daniel and the extraordinarily talented Kanneh-Mason trio. The festival programme, which has just been announced is full of musical gems and there are plenty of performances to look forward to from up and coming new musicians, including a visit from pupils at the Menuhin School.
You can find more details on the Festival website but you can also scroll below to our listings section to see the full programme of events which start on March 9.
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BESPOKE, EXCEPTIONAL TUITION
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Music lessons that are fun, challenging, fulfilling,
focused and well run
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Scales Music was set up by ex-Cambridge Choral Scholar Antoinette Scales with the aim of providing music lessons that are fun, challenging, fulfilling, focused and well run.
Over 20 years on we have an established track record and many students who have gained Music Scholarships. Very many have gone on to study music at Cambridge & Oxford as well as the London Music Colleges, winning prizes for their achievements, such as Barnes Young Musician of the Year. We have outstanding references, and offer a truly personal touch.
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We aim, quite simply, to be
the best Private Music School in London
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We have a very experienced team of excellent, highly educated and qualified teachers, all of whom are handpicked by Antoinette herself. Every single tutor is vibrant, talented, committed, personable and a lot of fun to be taught by.
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Learning for pleasure or studying for exams
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We provide tuition for those purely seeking to explore music for their own pleasure and also for those preferring to work their way through the well established and respected ABRSM examinations. We teach students from Beginner to Diploma and work closely with all the prestigious London Day and UK Boarding Schools. We are very experienced at preparing children for the 11+/13+ Music Scholarships, with many of our students gaining scholarship offers every year.
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We have some spaces arising for lessons in Barnes and surrounding areas, and now have a lower strings teacher (cello and double bass) who is available for lessons. There are also some vacancies for piano and singing students. We always do a trial period to check that children are ready for lessons and that the teacher/student match is a good one.
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Just desserts...and turkey too
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The brilliant volunteers and full time staff who man the RNLI lifeboat station at Chiswick responded to 273 emergency 999 calls this year and rescued 149 people from the Thames. They are very much deserving of everyone's thanks, so it's lovely to hear that those crew members who gave up their Christmas Day to man a shift on the lifeboat got to eat a fantastic Christmas lunch kindly donated by the team at The White Hart pub.
In terms of picking up a take-away, it beats wandering down the High Street, as the full Christmas dinner was handed over on the Thames embankment by the pub and the team took it back by boat along the river to enjoy in the comfort of their club room.
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HELPING BUSY PEOPLE GET FIT IN 2024
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We all want to be fit and healthy, but for many of us, life just gets in the way. We look at the sort of people who have personal trainers and think, maybe that's not me. I'm not super motivated, or super sporty, and I'm busy. However, Chris and his team from Zip Fit Club are expert trainers who understand how we all put up barriers. They successfully train all sorts of people who thought they never had the time.
Chris created Zip Fit Club after a chat with a working mum who spent most of her day sitting behind a desk, either dealing with work issues or family logistics. She felt pulled and pushed in all directions and had consequently neglected herself and her health. Chris has since been developing smart, effective and convenient strategies to help hardworking people make better lifestyle decisions and more importantly, put them into action.
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“My aim was to create services which would allow people to do something for themselves, away from the daily grind."
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What happens at the first one-to-one session?
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A chat about you and your goals |
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A movement analysis to identify your strengths and weaknesses |
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A mini and level-appropriate workout |
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An opportunity to get some friendly advice |
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Everything we do at Zip Fit is about making it easier for people to get fit by teaching them how to train the smart way.
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A personal trainer can come to your home |
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We can also train outdoors |
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Zipfit also has a licence to train clients at The Barn Elms Sports Trust |
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Zip Fit also offers private group sessions which are ideal for businesses wanting to offer something short, fun and healthy for their team. |
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As a special offer for Barnes Bugle readers Zip Fit are offering your first session with Chris for half price. If you decide to continue with sessions on an ongoing basis they will take 20% off your first 10 sessions.
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Get in touch
Just mention the Bugle to get your discount
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It 's back. The festival of cholesterol, the bees-knees of calories. Yes it's the Red Lion's Great Sausage Roll Off which will take place on Wednesday February 7. Chefs from across the country will descend on the Red Lion, each with the aim of showing that their sausage roll recipe deserves to be declared the best in the land. An esteemed panel of judges (there's usually the odd celebrity chef) will pass judgement on entries that range from the exotic to the classic, but members of the audience usually get the chance to enjoy some of the glorious confections that emerge from the white heat of the Red Lion's kitchens. That's because the event raises funds for charity and you might be given the chance to bid on a sausagey feast for your table or enter a sausage roll raffle. Who knew such wonders existed?
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Everyday I write the book
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After the success of its first Creative Writing Course the Barnes Literary Society is offering a second beginner's course exclusively for its members.
It will be open to those wishing to try out their ideas for the first time but will also suit existing writers looking to develop their skills.
The course will be taught by expert tutor Susanna Jones and will run from 3:15pm -5:15pm on Friday afternoons at the OSO. The start date is 19 January and the cost for the entire course of eight sessions is £85. This is 50% of the usual cost, the other half being subsidised by the BLS. There are ten places available and they will be allotted on a first come, first served basis.
Susanna Jones has over thirty years' teaching experience and was the main fiction tutor on the Creative Writing MA at Royal Holloway University of London from 2005 to 2018. She has also taught at the University of Exeter and has tutored courses for the Arvon Foundation. Many of her former students have gone on to publish novels and win awards. She has taught and mentored writers of all levels, from beginners to PhD students.
You can find out how to join the Barnes Literary Society here.
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When Hayley Steedman teaches children art, she loves the moment when something clicks and their creativity is unleashed. Sometimes the results, says Hayley, "take my breath away". With adults the barriers are often higher but the rewards are extraordinary. Taking someone away from the stresses of everyday life and getting them to revel in what they can create is a privilege she says.
Hayley is one half of the husband and wife team behind Wurkshop, a business that grew from their joint love of making beautiful things, and talking to her is an inspiration.
You might have heard about Wurkshop through their childrens' arts and craft lessons but they also offer tuition for adults, although for the past few years constraints of time and space have meant that these adult classes haven't been that frequent. All that is about to change, however, with the news that the Wurkshop team are doubling the size of their studio space.
The business is based just off Church Road in a mews that has become an enclave of artisans, from stained glass makers, to book binders, to seamstresses. New studio units there are like gold dust but luckily for the Wurkshop team, the studio next to their own has become available and now it's being transformed into a space where a wonderful array of adult classes are about to begin.
If you've been inspired by The Pottery Throwdown, Hayley's husband Toby will teach you how to build pottery structures. If your Instagram feed is full of reels showing wonderful visible mending and you want to try it yourself, the brilliant Gwen McCann will teach you how make moth holes disappear. If you want to create art there'll be classes on print making, life drawing skills and a regular weekly night where you can pursue your own projects with expert tuition on hand.
As well as Hayley and Toby the teachers are internationally renowned for their expertise and skill. The works of bookbinder and printer Mark Cockram are collected by connoisseurs across the world and the teacher of Wurkshop's new poetry course is none other than the brilliant Roger McGough.
"We want to help people embrace their creativity" says Hayley "Whether they want to resurrect rusty skills or start from scratch we want our classes to be nurturing and not the least bit intimidating. I'm really looking forward to seeing what our new students will create. It's always a wonderful revelation."
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INSPIRING ARTS AND CRAFTS COURSES FOR ADULTS
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Whether you are re-awakening old skills or learning from scratch Wurkshop has a course that will bring the joy of making to your life. That could be creating art, writing poetry or just acquiring the skills you need to repair much loved clothes. You'll learn from incredible, encouraging teachers in a dedicated space in the heart of Barnes. We supply equipment and expertise and you supply enthusiasm and the joy of learning. Above all it will be fun.
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Wurkshop club night
An art club for adults
Wednesdays 7-9pm from Wednesday 17th January
£45
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Figurework
Life drawing class
Thursdays 7-9pm from Thursday 18th January
£45
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Poetry Wurkshop
Roger McGough
£165
3 day course - Monday 19th Feb, 26th Feb, 4th March
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Printwurk
A print club with Mark Cockram
Tuesdays 7.30-9:30pm from 20th Feb
But a FREE OPEN EVENING on Tuesday 30th January
£45
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Visible Mending
with Gwen McCann
22nd January 7-9pm
And
5th February 7-9pm
£35
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Lino Landscape
With Hayley Steedman
Tuesday 23rd January
7.30-9.30pm
£45
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The Mews
46-52 Church Road
SW13 0DQ
07720 712983
hello@wurkshop.co.uk
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Funding available for practical schemes to tackle the effects of climate change
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Do you or a group you work with have an idea that you feel can help
combat the impacts of climate change and extreme weather, like flooding?
The Community Bluescapes fund can award grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 to support residents, community groups, and local businesses to adapt to a changing climate. It also has a pot of £100,000 to spend on projects that local people propose that reduce flood risk, and increase the ability of local people and the area to adapt to climate change. The projects it supports must be local.
You can find out more and apply on the Community Bluescapes website and the Bluescapes scheme will also be hosting drop-in application support sessions throughout the application period. See details below:
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Tues 9 Jan
10-11.30am and 1-3pm
Vine Road Rec. Pavilion
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Fri 12 Jan
2-4pm
Danebury Road drop-in/Roehampton Library
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Sat 13 Jan
10.30am-12.30pm
Roehampton Library
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Mon 15 Jan
6-7.30pm
Castelnau Community Centre
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Tues 16 Jan
10-11.30am
Castelnau Community Centre
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Weds 17 Jan
5-7pm
East Sheen Library
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Sat 20 Jan
10am-12pm
Castelnau Library
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Sat 20 Jan
1.30-3.30pm
East Sheen Library
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Weds 24 Jan
10-11.30am and 1-3pm
Vine Road Rec. Pavilion
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HIGH-END RESIDENTIAL REFURBISHMENTS . BASEMENTS . EXTENSIONS
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Design 2 Finish are a design orientated construction company, specialising in high-end residential full house refurbishments, basement excavations and extensions in London. We work closely with clients and architects to realise beautiful, well considered homes, which bring together quality, aesthetics and craftsmanship.
We manage all aspects of the building project and have a loyal and hardworking workforce, many of whom, have worked with us since we began over 17 years ago. As a family run company, we dedicate a personal approach to all projects, and we pride ourselves on our attention to detail.
We tend to only take on up to 6 projects at any one time to retain this tailored service. This is reflected in the fact, that almost all our work comes from recommendations either from past clients, their friends or close relationships with architects. If you are looking to carry out a building project on 2024 please do get in touch.
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Padel is the fastest growing sport in the world and according to The Times the trendiest thing to put in your garden is a Padel court. If you've never heard of it or you haven't got space for your own court, never fear, we're about to get four new Padel courts at the Barn Elms Sports Trust.
A hybrid of tennis and squash, padel is played in doubles formation on an enclosed court about the third of the size of a tennis court. It's said to be brilliant fun and a fantastic workout to boot. Celebrity players apparently include David Beckham, Lionel Messi and Serena Williams, although we're not sure any of them are going to be found on our playing fields any time soon.
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In winter you can truly appreciate the majesty of the trees on Barnes Common and also see the part they play in the habitats of plants and fungi.
On Saturday January 20, the team at Barnes Common are organising a 2.5km walk to explore the spaces and species that contribute to the Common's beauty and to much needed biodiversity.
If you're interested in taking part you can find out more here.
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The team behind this summer's Big Barnes Ponder 2.0 are holding a report-back event on Monday January 15. It will be held between 6.30pm and 8.00pm at the Barnes Green Centre.
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From puberty to menopause
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Understanding the Unique Needs of Women's Health: Trust Barnes Osteopaths Providing proper treatment for women's health concerns requires a deep understanding of the female body. At Barnes Osteopaths, we specialise in women's health and offer solutions for various issues across all age groups. We can help you manage period discomfort, bloating, and pain, as well as assist with pregnancy, post-partum, and menopause. Schedule an appointment with us today, and don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
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Christmas tree collections
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Just a reminder that Christmas tree collections will run from Monday 8 to Friday 19 January 2024, on the garden waste collection day for your street. This service is free and you do not require a garden waste contract to have your tree collected and recycled. Find out more here.
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Acupuncture for Menopause
Gentle and relaxing treatment to restore balance and vitality during this challenging transition.
Call me for a chat or check my website for more information.
Sophie Bevan
07502403175
sophiebevan.com
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Wellbeing and Mindfulness Coach
Would you like to feel less overwhelmed, cope better with daily stressors, or gain tools to quieten a busy mind? Perhaps you have a particular goal in relation to your physical or emotional health which you are struggling to stick with. I offer 1:1 coaching and group courses for both individuals and businesses.
Find out more at beingforwellbeing.com
Contact natalie@beingforwellbeing.com
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Meditation Mondays. 7.30 to 8.30 pm
Satsangs Fridays 7.30 to 8.30 pm
1 St. Ann's Passage,
Off 36 Westfields Ave,
Barnes SW 13 0AX
With Patricia Gillies
Free (Donations welcome)
Please arrive 10 minutes early as the door will be shut at 7.30.
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FiSH is looking for an office assistant
For more information and to apply click here.
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Advertise your service for only £25
The Bugle has well over 4,500 subscribers and where else can you reach that many people in Barnes for such a small cost? £25 gets you up to 100 words to publicise your service. That’s more than enough space to say what you do and provide your contact details. To advertise in the Classified section just email us here at admin@barnesvillage.com. If you are looking for a display ad further up the page prices start at £100 and you can find out more here.
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What's on in January & February?
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Check out our guide to What's On in Barnes over the next two months, and remember to double check dates on venues' own websites. We check information to the best of our ability but sometimes dates and other details are subject to change.
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Thank goodness, there are some excellent films to look forward to at The Olympic this month. Let's face it, January is grim and the only antidote is to build in small treats. Short but bracing walks on the Common should be followed by visits to warm pubs and friendly restaurants, and evenings or weekend matinees at the Olympic should be compulsory.
We've already seen the very moving One Life with Anthony Hopkins (bring tissues) and we're very much looking forward to Yorgos Lanthimos' Poor Things which sounds just as wonderfully, creatively, bonkers as his previous films - The Lobster and The Favourite. Also not to be missed are Sofia Coppola's Priscilla and the technicolour joyousness that is Wonka. Coming in February there's All of Us Strangers a British film based on a Japanese novel. Its magical realism tinged plot has its central protagonist arriving as an adult man at the doorstep of his childhood home to meet the parents he lost in a car crash when he was twelve. The house and the parents are just the same as when he left them in the 1980s. Reviews from festival screenings earlier this year describe the film as profoundly moving and say the performances at its heart make the central premise feel intensely believable.
If all that intensity feels too much then perhaps The Holdovers is for you; a 1970s set comedy drama from Alexander Payne (Sideways, The Descendants) starring the wonderful Paul Giametti. It too has had reviewers raving about the ensemble cast.
Great theatrical performances also abound with Ian McKellen in Hamlet, Andrew Scott in Vanya and Joseph Fiennes in Dear England.
See, there's no excuse not to go to the cinema this month!
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A whole new season at The OSO
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We've already given a flavour of the joys of the OSO's new season above, with headline appearances from Michael and Hillary Whitehall and Gyles Brandreth. However, there's so much more to enjoy. Pianohood is an evening in which acclaimed pianist and raconteur Will Pickvance interweaves stories and music. True Stories is a talk by conspiracy theory expert Andy Thomas. He's not a hardened sceptic (unlike us at the Bugle who possess a heart of stone). He's interested in the origin of the theories, how the internet has turbocharged their spread, and how the noise generated by a worldwide forum of nutters (QAnon anyone?) is making it harder for genuine dissenting voices to be heard.
The new show from Barnes Community Players, Ladies Day, sounds like fun. It follows the adventures of four fish factory workers who decide to take a day off and head for the Ladies Day at Royal Ascot. Their version of Ladies Day might be very different from the Cecil Beaton version seen in My Fair Lady but that too is celebrated in a new show - Cecil Beaton's Diaries. The great photographer and designer's diaries form the backbone of a show in which Beaton is brought to life by his words read by actor Richard Stirling - expect name dropping galore from Elizabeth Taylor to Winston Churchill. Finally, there's a provocative new play, Draining the Swamp which draws parallels between the rise of Oswald Mosley in the 1930s and contemporary events.
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Here's our pick of what's on at The Wetlands.
FOR KIDS
Friday Froglets - Fridays in January from Jan 12
It’s time to weatherproof your kids! Play in nature, learn new songs and share stories, make nature crafts and finish with quiet time around a fire! Fun for children and adults alike.
More info here.
The Big Hide Out - Half term week February 10-18
A whole raft of half time activities are on offer including Family Birdwatching and Nest Making
More info here.
FOR ADULTS
Photography in Nature: Back to Basics - Wednesday, January 24
Start the year with a back-to-basics boost to your photography at a practical and hands-on workshop which covers the foundations in photography and how to create the perfect exposure. Learn about controls and settings for wildlife photography and in particular how to select an appropriate shutter speed, aperture and ISO setting for the ideal exposure.
More info here.
Batik Workshop - Saturday, January 27
Spend a day learning the art of batik, where you’ll apply wax onto fabric and paint with dyes. You can use your own designs or be guided by our workshop team. You will learn how dyes work and will leave with enough knowledge to continue your batik adventures at home.
More info here.
Stained Glass Workshop - Sunday, February 11
Come and learn how to make your own stained glass piece. You will have a choice of designs to work from, including taking inspiration from insects and stars as well as more abstract designs.
More info here.
Smartphone Photography: Thursday, February 29
Smartphones can take amazing pictures you just need to know how. This course covers camera settings and functions, shooting modes and filters. It also explores how to edit images beautifully and effectively using a smartphone.
More info here.
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Here's our pick of this month's gigs:
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Thursday January 11
Alan Price
Still going strong at 81 and back for his monthly residency, the unmissable Alan Price is ready to welcome in 2024 with a mix of old favourites and new covers.
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Friday January 26
Pete Rees & The Connection
Featuring vocalist Paul Cox, one of Britain's finest blues/soul singers, The Connection is a collaboration of some of the UK's best blues artists.
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Wednesday January 31
Matti Klein Soul Trio
From Berlin to Barnes is quite a journey, but that's the one being made this month by 'Groove God' Matti Klein. Expect a rock-out jazz vibe and excellent musicianship.
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Tuesday, January 30 & Tuesday February 27, 8pm, St Mary's
Barnes Literary Society Talks
Janice Hallett is one of the most original crime writers around and the subject of her latest novel - suspicious historical suicides related to a bizarre cult - sounds intriguing. She'll be talking at the January Literary Society in event.
In February the talk is a must for music lovers and a good prelude to the imminent Barnes Music Festival. The Observer's Music Critic Fiona Maddocks has written an immensely readable book on Rachmaninoff's life in exile.
Find out more here.
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Thursday, January 18, 8pm
St Mary's Barnes
Barnes & Mortlake History Society: The Richmond Murderess
The murder of Julia Thomas, dubbed the "Barnes Mystery" or the "Richmond Murder" was one of the most notorious crimes of the Victorian era.
Thomas, a widow, was killed in March 1879 by her maid who then boiled the flesh of the dismembered body and disposed of the remains in the Thames. The press had a field day and Madame Tussauds even created an effigy of the murderess.
Find out more here.
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Tuesday, January 9 & Tuesday February 20, 7.30pm
The OSO. Philosophy and AI
Our lives are already being transformed by AI and that rate of transformation is only going to grow. Reliance of non-human intelligence poses so many philosophical questions that the Barnes Philosophy club is devoting a season to the topic. The first talk this year covers aesthetics and authenticity and asks whether the differences between human and AI art matter. The second talk is a more nuts-and-bolts approach (or maybe that should be chips and bits) which will discuss AI technologies and the brain-computer interface.
Find out more here.
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Monday, February 12, 8pm
Dryburgh Hall Putney
The Arts Society Lecture: London Bridged, 3,500 Years of Crossing the Thames
People were bridging the Thames in the Bronze Age, 1,500 years before London Bridge was constructed by the Romans. In the 1,700 year wait for the next bridge, other crossings relied on watermen and horse ferries as traffic jammed the original one. The last 200 years have seen more than 50 new crossings over, and under, the river. The lecture explores the way we have connected across the Thames and what it says about the culture of the capital through time.
Find out more here.
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Barnes Music Society Concert
Hugo Ticciati and Friends
Tuesday January 16, 7.30pm, St Mary's Church
Internationally acclaimed virtuoso violinist and conductor Hugo Ticciati makes a much-anticipated visit to his home territory in Barnes on Tuesday 16 January 2024 performing a wide-ranging programme of chamber music by Bach, Brahms, Bartók, Berio, Handel and Purcell along with his string ensemble... Find out more here.
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Come and Sing Mozart's Requiem with The Barnes Choir at All Saints Church East Sheen
Saturday January 20, 9.30am to 5.000pm
THE BARNES CHOIR, conducted by Julian Collings, invites you to Come and Sing Mozart’s Requiem. If you love singing this wonderful piece you could join the choir for the Easter term and perform it at the Barnes Musical Festival on March 16. The Choir rehearses on Tuesdays evenings at All Saints and its term starts on January 9 with an open rehearsal at which you would be very welcome. Please contact Membership Secretary membership@barneschoir.org.uk to let us know you’d like to come. Or just turn up. www.barneschoir.org.uk
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Barnes Music Society Concert
Seeking Utopia, Pianist Viv McClean, Violist Shiry Rahskovsky and Narrator Jessica Duchen
Thursday February 22, 7.00pm, St Mary's Church
Jessica Duchen’s novel Seeking Utopia tells the story of the friendship between Vaughan Williams and the violist Lionel Tertis, son of a poor Jewish East End cantor. Their musical connection transcended religious and cultural borders, bringing together two very different worlds. Featuring music by Holst, Delius, Korngold, Bloch and Vaughan Williams, this narrated concert makes an impassioned plea for unity and transcendence in our own time.
Find out more here.
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Tickets for this year's Barnes Music Festival go on sale on January 15 and there are over 30 concerts to choose from. There are stellar names: The Kanneh-Mason Trio, pianist Dame Imogen Cooper and oboist Nicholas Daniel. There are up-and-coming new stars - look out for Pavel Kolesnikov who is a stunning piano virtuoso - and there's a major celebration of the work of Barnes' own Gustav Holst. Elsewhere on the schedule, there's really innovative programming with concerts for children, family sing alongs and the wonderful Music in the Dark concerts at The Olympic. You can see the full array of concerts below and get the full details on the festival website.
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7.30pm
Book launch with music by Handel, Holst, Howells, Dodgson, Davis, Parker, Goodall and Panufnik.
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7.30pm
Artistic Director, James Day and the Barnes Festival Orchestra present a celebratory programme containing two Magnificats composed 250 years apart.
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12 noon
Nicholas Daniel OBE, one of the world’s most distinguished oboists, becomes the latest addition to Barnes’ lineup of esteemed adjudicators.
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3.00pm
The Barnes Concert Band brings together over 40 wind, brass and percussion players to perform music from shows and films and a selection of classics.
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5.00pm
One of the finest interpreters of the Classical and Romantic keyboard repertoire, Dame Imogen is internationally renowned for her virtuosity.
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5.45pm
This audio-illustrated talk is a light-hearted whizz through some great examples of just how far Holst’s masterwork has spread and influenced.
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8.00pm
Hailed as “spellbinding and supremely musical” by BBC Music Magazine, the Holst Singers make a triumphant return to the Festival under the direction of Stephen Layton.
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7.30pm
Hailed as a dream team in the chamber music realm, Nicholas Daniel and the other principal members guarantee a performance of exceptional prowess. There will also be a matinée at 2pm for young people
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1.00pm
Celebrated violinist Yehudi Menuhin founded his school to develop students’ talents to the highest degree. This recital showcases some of the finest young talents from across the globe.
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7.30pm
To mark All Saints’ 150th anniversary, the Sacconi Quartet present timeless compositions by Mozart and Beethoven, as well as the work of contemporary composer, Roxanna Panufnik.
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1.00pm
The Mikeleiz-Zucchi Duo bring their compelling combination of saxophone and accordion, to the concert hall, exploring the relationship between these instruments and dance music.
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6.15pm
The Schools Concert is the culmination of a creative project with local primary schools during which the children learn a piece that they perform during the Festival.
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1.00pm
Daniel Moult, renowned concert organist, recording artist and film presenter, is known as one of the finest organists of our time. Famed for his virtuosic, engaging performances.
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7.30pm
To mark the 60th anniversary of the death of the Grande Dame of 20th century English poetry, Dame Edith Sitwell, Art Sung presents a celebration of her fascinating life.
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8.00pm & 10.00pm
When the lights are turned off, your hearing is heightened and the music is more intense. Experience this intensity in the Screening Room at Olympic Studios with their legendary Dolby Atmos surround sound system.
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6.00pm
This concert sees three of the seven young, gifted siblings performing a trio of trios, including the symphonic Piano Trio in G by Beethoven and Rachmaninoff’s Trio Élegiaque.
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9.00pm
Indulge in an enchanting night of late-evening jazz, where the intimate ambiance of the dimly lit St. Mary’s sets the stage for a mesmerizing experience.
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4.00pm
Join charismatic choral leader Ben Parry, a live band, and a backing choir with singers from local schools for an afternoon rehearsing and performing Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
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7.30pm
Join Julian Collins and the Barnes Choir as they bring to life Mozart’s iconic Requiem alongside Borodin’s vibrant Polovtsian Dances.
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10.00am
Ibstock Place School's talented choir Schola Cantorum, conducted by Harry Castle, returns to St Michael & All Angels Church to lead the music in the weekly Parish Mass.
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4.00pm
In 2012 pianist Pavel Kolesnikov became a sensation at the Honens International Piano Competition when he took home the world’s largest piano prize.
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7.30pm
Purcell’s King Arthur stands at the pinnacle, and culmination, of the “dramatik opera”. Purcell’s treatment of this Restoration-era genre remains strikingly contemporary, even by today’s standards.
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1.00pm
Described by Gendai Guitar Magazine as a “poet and a painter, colouring sounds out of the guitar as if his imagination and the guitar were one”, Jack Hancher is a rising star of the classical guitar.
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7.00pm
Holst was appointed as the St Paul's Girls' School first director of music in 1905 . In his 150th birthday year, the school's musicians present a programme of well-known pieces (St Paul’s Suite, a piano duet version of The Planets) to the more obscure.
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1.00pm
Soprano Helena Moore joins international baroque soloists Simone Pirri and Jacob Garside in a recital celebrating Handel’s heroines through instrumental and operatic music.
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7.30pm
Violinist Madeleine Mitchell returns to the Barnes Music Festivalwith the sumptuous Légende by Delius, Vaughan Williams’ ever popular Lark Ascending and the exciting third Sonata by Grieg.
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1.00pm
Director of Music St Michael’s Church, Laurence Williams and organist, Jeremy Cole, present Sir Charles Villiers Stanford’s “Bible Songs” (Op. 113), interspersed with organ music composed by his students.
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7.30pm
The ever-popular Henry Chandler and John Paul Ekins return to the Barnes Music Festival, this year with cellist Tim Lowe.
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10.00am
Children’s Musical Adventures and their director Patrick King are returning this year to create another musical world for us exploring exciting rhythms and melodies.
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7.30pm
The Choir is sharing the Community Evening with Sofia Kirwan Baez. Expect an eclectic programme with songs composed bymusic legends interspersed with Sophia performing pop, cabaret and opera.
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6.00pm
I, Clara tells the extraordinary life story of Clara Schumann in her own words. The narrative, is interspersed with live performances of her works, and those of Robert Schumann, Brahms, Liszt, Felix Mendelssohn, Fanny Mendelssohn and Chopin.
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8.30pm
Two giant musical voices of the late twentieth century meet in this relaxed concert. The Solem Quartet perform Steve Reich’s Different Trains, and are joined by vocalist Alice Zawadzki for songs by Kate Bush, newly arranged for string quartet and voice.
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7.30pm
This concert brings together works from many composers who have lived in Barnes. Music will include The Planets, Dodgson’s Trumpet Concerto and Carl Davis's score for Pride & Prejudice. Plus pieces by Howard Goodall and Roxanna Panufnik.
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9.30am
Multi-award winning director Tony Palmer presents his film about Gustav Holst to mark the 150th anniversary this year of his birth.
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6.00pm
Join us for the final celebratory event of the Barnes Music Festival – Choral Evensong sung by the combined choirs of St Mary’s Barnes and St Michael’s Barnes.
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Saturday 9 to Sunday 24 March, 2024
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About the Bugle
The Barnes Village Bugle is an independent publication. People often think it's produced by the Barnes Community Association, but no, they have their own excellent email Prospect Plus.
At the Bugle we endeavour to simply report what's going on in Barnes in as comprehensive and entertaining a way as possible. We have no agenda apart from spreading the word about the huge number of genuinely interesting things happening in and around Barnes and sharing information about local campaigns and news events.
If you have a story you would like to see featured in the Bugle do email us by clicking here.
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At the Bugle we endeavour to check information for accuracy to the best of our abilities. However we are reliant on information provided to us by third parties. On occasion, dates and times of events may be subject to change and we would urge Bugle readers wishing to attend events, or use a service mentioned to verify information in advance. Where possible we provide links to websites to allow readers to double check the most recent information available, as details can be subject to change.
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