Many thanks to those of you who got back to us to comment on the new design. In response to the comments we've increased the font size of the body text. However if you are still having issues with reading the Bugle on a mobile device, just click the 'view this email in your browser' option at the top of the masthead.
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Last month we asked Bugle readers for their thoughts on how the Covid crisis and lockdown in particular had affected them and some responses were salutary reading for anyone who has had an easy lockdown. For some, lockdown meant a mix of stress, worry and loneliness. However, in marked contrast, it seems others have been relishing the period of calm.
Combining working with home schooling has been putting huge pressure on some people. “Childcare, juggling work and two small children has been a nightmare” was a typical comment. Those living alone talked of isolation and lack of social contact. Separation from family members was a major theme with grandparents missing grandchildren and children of elderly parents being desperately worried about not being able to get to see them.
Money worries were also an issue, with some people anxious about losing jobs at the end of the furlough scheme.
Interestingly, 22% of the 237 people who responded said that they thought they had contracted the virus, although only 4% had been tested positive.
As for what we were all doing in lockdown, the results were very revealing. We asked if people had been drinking more, and although most people said their drinking habits hadn’t changed, the number of those drinking more (25%) was more than double the number of those who were drinking less (12%).
An increased sense of community was also apparent; 37% of those who responded said they had shopped for neighbours, 38% said they had participated in a street WhatsApp group, 22% had volunteered to help a charity, and 37% said that they had been getting deliveries from our local shops.
And it seems we aren’t immune from lockdown clichés in Barnes with the most popular activities being Zoom quizzes (36%), growing fruit and veg (24%) and Zoom drinks (20%). Just over 18% of us admitted to making banana bread and 8% even attempted to make their own sourdough. And although 34% of us said they had exercised more only 4% of people said they had been working out online or doing Joe Wicks' classes.
As for the end of lockdown, even those who said they had enjoyed it seem to have had enough, with 79% of respondents saying they were pleased to see the back of it, but that still leaves 21% concerned about getting out and about again. And when we asked how people viewed the future a great deal of caution was on show. Only 38% of people said they were comfortable to return to pubs and restaurants and most people thought that life will have been indelibly changed by the crisis. People talked of more home working, spending less on inessential items and paying much more attention to hygiene. Travelling into the centre of town was also not popular with some respondents saying they are now going to spend more time shopping and going out in Barnes.
We would like to be able to see how attitudes change over time and particularly how people are feeling now as the threat of a second wave appearing is in the headlines. We’ve produced a shorter version of our survey and if you could spare just a couple of minutes to complete it, we would be hugely grateful. It doesn't matter if you didn't complete the last one at all. As before, we are not asking for names or email addresses so all entries are anonymous.
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Planning paused on temporary Bridge
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When Boris Johnson announced his new funding deal for major infrastructure projects at the end of June hopes were raised that this could provide added impetus for the government to provide the necessary funding for Hammersmith Bridge. The specialist magazine New Civil Engineer reported that it was the top of the list of 'shovel ready' projects presented by London Mayor Sadiq Khan to government.
However, this week TfL announced that it was pausing plans to apply for planning permission for the proposed new temporary bridge.
It seems pursuing a temporary cycle and pedestrian bridge makes little sense as no funding has currently been announced for the next stage of repairs to the main bridge itself.
Even before Covid hit TfL did not have the money to fund either the temporary bridge or repairs to the main bridge and was looking to government to fund the major works.
This week’s statement from TfL said "Between TfL and the Greater London Authority (GLA), three funding bids have so far been submitted to Government for the repairs to Hammersmith Bridge. However, none have received funding from Government to date, and the ongoing impact of the pandemic means we now rely on Government support more than ever to run London’s transport services and deliver enhancements."
The statement from TfL was swiftly followed by one from Richmond Council urging the government to release funds saying that the project was "hanging in the balance" and accusing the government of "dither and delay" on the issue.
Delay to the temporary bridge was something that some local residents were looking for, and in June lawyers representing “concerned” residents living either side of Hammersmith Bridge submitted a formal request to Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick to order a screening direction under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations 2017, to assess the temporary structure. The request was denied in July paving the way for the bridge to be built (subject to planning) should funds become available.
So far the Bugle can find no signs of any announcements of projects that will form part of the government’s new deal so the current situation could possibly be a question of ‘no news’ rather than ‘bad news’. We also approached the Department for Transport for a response and were told "We recognise Hammersmith Bridge’s importance and understand the concern around the additional congestion caused by its closure. We’re currently considering TfL’s bid for funding and will respond in due course."
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Extinction Rebellion occupy bridge
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Members of Extinction Rebellion Hammersmith & Fulham occupied Hammersmith Bridge on Saturday July 18 as part of their campaign for it to be reinvented as an ‘active travel’ bridge rather than repaired to take motor traffic.
They decorated the bridge with bunting, ribbons, chalk paintings and colourful signage and held a socially-distanced event which included music and children playing hopscotch.
The activists invited people using the bridge to imagine what it would be like in a car-free future with it perhaps becoming London’s first garden bridge. They held a poll of those passing asking what modes of transport the bridge should be open to and said that there were lots of constructive conversations with residents of Hammersmith and Barnes.
XR claim that "While many of the 20,000 vehicles that used to cross the bridge each day have been displaced elsewhere, many journeys have simply evaporated and that it should be returned to car free usage."
The ChiswickW4 news site reports that occupation ended when the police asked them to remove their poll information board and the bunting they had put up.
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More space to queue on High St
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When the BCA's Emma Robinson and Raphael Zachary Younger stepped in to help people queue more safely outside shops in Church Road by coning off parking spaces they were taking a risk. Normally measures like this need council permission first. However, ensuring the safety of shoppers and giving our local retailers a helping hand couldn’t wait and it turned out that the council was happy to help. So, the cones were replaced by water barriers (red and white plastic containers filled with water to give them extra heft).
The scheme in Church Road has been so popular with both shoppers and retailers that the council has allowed it to be extended to the High Street where, on Monday August 3, new water barriers will be installed outside Sainsbury’s and the Barnes Fruit and Veg Shop. M&S are also being allowed to repurpose some of their loading bay to allow extra queuing space. This is good news for everyone; shoppers will have more space to queue safely and queues for Sainsbury’s won’t be so much of a barrier for people wanting to access nearby shops like the bakery.
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Five arrested after Barnes
car break in
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Police were called to Church Road late at night on July 21 in response to reports of three balaclava-clad men being seen smashing their way into a parked car with a hammer. After stealing high value camera equipment, they cycled away.
Multiple police units responded to the call and fanned out into neighbouring streets to carry out an area search.
There was no sign of the thieves in the initial search but, unknown to the suspects, the stolen property was fitted with trackers. Data from the trackers led the police to an address in Hammersmith where bicycles matching the original description were seen dumped outside.
Officers gained entry, recovered the stolen property and arrested four men and one woman on suspicion of offences related to the incident.
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Tying your bike up in your porch may not be as safe as you think, as a video posted on Neighbourhood forum NextDoor Barnes has revealed.
The two-minute clip recorded on a Nest outdoor camera shows two young guys nonchalantly removing the bike’s front wheel which was attached via a chain in order to take away the rest of the bike.
People responding to the clip have claimed to have recognised one of the bike thieves (sporting a man bun and carrying a ukulele case over his shoulder) having previously seen him cycling or riding a moped through Barnes. Now that good video evidence of the thieves exists it is hopeful that the police could use it as proof in any future
prosecution. However, as the Daily Telegraph recently reported only one in fifty bike thefts are currently being solved as police focus on the battle against violent crime.
Nevertheless, any suspicious activity should be reported to the police who could be able to link people arrested for other offences with video evidence.
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Meanwhile elsewhere in Barnes (outside the Bugle’s own front door actually) a less serious crime has been committed on a regular basis with no hope whatsoever of the police bringing the culprits to justice. Our doorbell camera has revealed the reason for copies of our daily newspaper disappearing from the doormat – two young foxes have taken to swiping it. Despite searching close by, no fox-chewed copies of The Times have been seen in neighbouring front gardens, so they have been taking the paper to a secret destination, maybe in order to ‘devour the news’.
The Times is delivered in eco wrapping made from potato starch so perhaps there is a more prosaic explanation. However, if you have been finding slightly mangled copies of the paper somewhere near you, do get in touch. We’d love to know where the foxes have been taking them.
Click here to see the crime unfold.
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When Covid hit, our local arts centre could no longer host performances, rent out space for daytime classes or sell food at its café. However, realising that it had a building and a willing team of volunteers that could be put to use, it pivoted and started the OSO Crisis Kitchen.
Throughout lockdown the kitchen prepared and distributed over 10,000 free meals to those in need and became a collection centre for our local food bank enabling the Barnes Community to make four tonnes of food bank donations.
Having supported the community over the last three months, the OSO now needs our help. The arts centre plans to reopen in September and is programming what sounds like a fabulous Autumn season. But having been closed as a performance space since March, with no income from ticket sales, bar takings or venue hire, the OSO is now looking to raise £25,000 to support the reopening.
We can all show our appreciation for their efforts and protect the long-term future of our community arts venue in three main ways:
Making a donation at the OSO pop-up café outside the arts centre, open Wednesday to Sunday throughout August. Donate £20 or more by card and receive a free 'thank-you' coffee, tea or non-alcoholic cold drink.
Visiting the OSO website and donate online at www.osoarts.org.uk
Sponsoring a performance this autumn, perhaps as a family or group of friends, a street WhatsApp group or a local business. Contact the OSO via info@osoarts.org.uk to discuss the possibilities.
Your support will help to fund a range of measures designed to ensure the venue can operate to the new guidelines, including:
• New tables and chairs which will be used to lay out the theatre cabaret style and so achieve the necessary distancing, as well as providing additional outdoor seating.
• Upgrading the toilet facilities.
• Remodelling of the café and purchase of new kitchen equipment to help speed and efficiency of service and create more internal space.
• Automating the main entrance doors to improve accessibility.
"The Crisis Kitchen underlines the value of the OSO as a community asset, where amazing things can happen when we bring people together", says the ever-passionate Simon Danciger, Chair of Trustees. "A couple years ago, it was the FiSH bus. Now, it’s our arts centre that needs our collective support. Please help".
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When will the Olympic start showing films again?
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Even though cinemas have been permitted to open since July 4 not all, including the Olympic, have done so. The reason? A lack of new releases. With many film’s release dates being tied up with the American market and the Covid situation in the US causing cinemas to shut, release dates of blockbusters like Christopher Nolan’s Tenet have been repeatedly delayed.
However, the Olympic has opened its very splendid Members' Screening Room for private hire at a reduced rate in August. For now, the number of guests allowed per screening is 10 people from a maximum of two households.
There is a large selection of archived films to choose from, and they are offering three start time options every day: 11am, 3pm and 7pm. The standard hire fee for a screen hire with film licence is £250 for non-members and £200 for members. Find out more here.
As for the reopening of the main screens the Olympic are working very hard behind the scenes to reopen the cinema in accordance with government guidelines and they are making some changes to create a safe experience. The distance between rows and seats is already very generous and by using staggered start times they can control the number of the people in the building, there are also introducing more frequent deep cleaning. You can read about their plans here.
The July 31 government announcement still allows cinemas to stay open but the new guidance is that cinema-goers must wear face coverings (advisory for now, compulsory from August 8). There goes the popcorn…
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How our new local private GP is responding to life during Covid.
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None of us can be certain how daily life will change post Covid-19. Will working from home mean the end of the office? Will staycations be the order of the day for the next few years?
There is no shortage of newsprint devoted to these issues but the predictions are mostly no more than educated guesswork. However, one thing does look certain – there’s likely to be a considerable change in the ways that GPs practice.
Local doctor Amun Kalia works both in the NHS and as a private GP. We caught up with him to find out why patients have found using a private GP so useful during the crisis and how he thinks things will change post Covid.
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How has Covid changed the way you practice?
I work two days a week in an NHS surgery in Surbiton and the difference between last January and now is huge. There are no waiting rooms full of patients, we’re using phone triage and most consultations are now done via video call. It has meant that we can see more patients and reduce wasted visits to the surgery, but in my opinion, nothing can be safer or replace a face-to-face consultation.
Everyone knows NHS GPs have been struggling for years with their workload so I view the changes – which are very likely to continue post Covid - as broadly positive but I’m extremely lucky to be able to mix my NHS work with private work where I can spend more time with patients.
What sort of patients use your private service?
It’s people from all walks of life really. The main thing they have in common is the desire to be seen quickly and conveniently, to have the option to be seen face-to-face (with video and telephone available if they prefer) and to spend a good amount of time in a consultation with me and ultimately not feel rushed. I can also offer incredibly quick referrals to the best specialists, medications delivered to your door and a six-hour turnaround on some blood tests including COVID antibody testing. Some of my patients use their private insurance to cover the costs but others choose to self-fund.
Do your patients tend to come as a one-off or do you have patients you see regularly?
A bit of both. Some people come to me for one specific problem – perhaps a COVID swab test/travel certificate, an antibody test, an acute medical issue or a second opinion– and others come to see me regularly. I find that many of my patients like having the continuity of having someone who knows them and their medical needs. It’s general practice as it used to be many years ago where you were able to see the same doctor each time and this allows me to build up a real rapport with my patients. My patients appreciate my honesty and friendliness and I always look to put them first.
Why are you based in Barnes?
I live in Barnes and went to school here (St Paul’s), I even did my GP training at Glebe Road. I have been working combining my NHS GP work with private visits for the past year but now I’ve really put down roots by basing myself in a consulting room at The White Hart Clinic. My new set up has been established for a month now and it’s going really well.
Describe a typical day?
There’s no such thing, it’s one of the best things about my job. Apart from when I’m working in the NHS, I’m based in The White Hart Clinic in Barnes. I’m dual-trained in Occupational Medicine and carry out work for corporate clients as well as working for a health insurance company. I still continue to carry out my home visits which I very much enjoy! Despite this, I’m always available for face to face appointments often on the day or with only a day’s notice at a convenient time including Saturdays.
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KEY FACTS
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Dr Amun Kalia’s private practice is CQC registered. He is certified with the GMC and is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners. |
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Appointments last 30 minutes and cost £120 including prescriptions and referrals. |
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He offers COVID Swab tests and travel certificates (£189) with results back within 48 hours. |
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Covid antibody tests cost £99 on a drawn blood sample- the most accurate way of testing compared to finger-prick testing- results within 6-8hrs. |
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Vaccinations including travel as well as a full complement of primary care services such as sexual health screening, women’s, men’s and paediatric care also available. |
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Overseas patients and those not registered with the NHS are also cared for as well as specialist treatments offered such as chicken pox and HPV vaccinations as well testosterone replacement and hayfever injections. |
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Home visits and video consultations also continue to be available. |
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Everyone's Eating Out to Help Out
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Barnes has really embraced the Eat Out to Help Out scheme and some of our best restaurants, including Church Road and Rick Stein have decided to take part.
At Church Road you can get 50% off up to a value of £10 per person if you are eating at dinner on Wednesdays throughout August and Rick Stein, which is open earlier in the week, is offering the saving on meals from Monday to Wednesday.
Church Road co-owners Rebecca Mascarenhas and Phil Howard say that they are hugely grateful for the support of the Chancellor and they are also offering Eat Out to Help Out savings at their two other Michelin-starred restaurants Elystan Street in Chelsea (Monday to Wednesday lunch and dinner) and Kitchen W8 in Kensington (Wednesday dinner).
Other restaurants taking part in the scheme in Barnes include the Alma Café, The Bridge Pub, The Coach and Horses, Dolce Crema, The Olympic Café, Oka, Orange Pekoe, The Red Lion, The White Hart and The Waterman’s Arms. Please check their websites or social media feeds for details of the timings of their offers.
For a full list of participating restaurants near you click here.
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Plans for new sports hall at the Harrodian spark controversy
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The proposed construction of a sports & cultural centre in the grounds of the Harrodian school is causing much local controversy with those objecting to the proposal having concerns about the height of the building, the excavations involved and its impact on local traffic and parking.
It is a major project involving excavation and a significant addition to the Harrodian site. You can see an impression of what the finished building will look like above.
Those supporting it say that the building will be open for community use for cultural events and is therefore of overall benefit to Barnes. So far the objections to the development on Richmond Council’s planning portal outweigh supporting comments by two to one.
After examining the plans in detail the development is being backed by the BCA, to the disappointment of some of the objectors. In answer to some of their questions as to why the BCA isn't opposing the new building they have produced a detailed response which you can find here.
You can see details of the planning proposal and comment on it here on Richmond Council’s planning portal.
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It’s been hot, very hot, and parts of Barnes Common are tinder dry. The fire brigade has had to be called out on a couple of occasions to put out fires, probably caused by discarded cigarettes, and you can see the resulting devastation to our precious local natural habitat in the picture above.
The Friends of Barnes Common are urging people to be very careful over the next few days of hot weather and also want to repeat their appeal to those enjoying the common in hot weather not to leave their litter behind.
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Oh the changes that Covid has brought about… Suddenly face masks are a fashion statement. Only this week the Duchess of Cornwall was pictured wearing a bespoke Liberty print mask that apparently cost £75.
With the latest government announcement requiring the increased use of face coverings it’s worthwhile knowing that a local seamstress is producing a range of wonderfully colourful masks and can also make masks in a print of your choice to order.
Marija who is based in the mews behind Arte Chef in Church Road usually makes a living by making beautiful curtains, blinds and soft furnishings. She’s been able to keep her business going by sewing facemasks but also through a stroke of luck. A relative working for a train company recommended her to produce special fabric overlays for seats to show that they were being taken out of service to preserve social distancing. Her workshop suddenly became a sea of yellow and black chevrons and she had a contract that would help keep her afloat.
If you are interested in buying one of Marija’s masks, or want to contact her about making you a bespoke mask, email us at admin@barnesvillage.com and we will pass on your details.
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Get prepared with Mock Tests
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Torchlight has dates available in September, October, November and December for their tried and tested Mock Tests for the 7, 8, 10 and 11 plus exams.
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The exams typically last three hours and cover maths, English (creative writing and comprehension) and reasoning. They write their exams in house and are able to prepare papers for effective practice for specific schools. Their exams have extensive annotations, notes and tips, as well as coming with model answers. They have benchmark scores for success at various tiered school levels and work closely with existing tutors to provide programmes for ongoing study. The mocks take place at their office in Barnes and there are four sittings each weekend, Saturday or Sunday morning (9:30am to 12:30pm) and Saturday or Sunday afternoon (2pm to 5pm).
Autumn dates are September 12th/13th, October 10th/11th, November 7th/8th and December 5th/6th
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You will receive a 10% discount on any of these courses if you use the code BUGLEMOCK when checking out.
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As Barnes is taking its tentative steps towards resuming normality our retailers are busy trying to adapt to a new world of social distancing and doing everything they can to keep their businesses alive. Local video producer Kate Levy has used her time in lockdown utilising her skills in a voluntary project which aims to help local businesses.
The Barnes Bounce Back campaign in which local businesses are offering special discounts for August is her brainchild. For each participating business she has produced a video that they can use on social media for self-promotion. Some of the businesses are offering special discounts so do check out the videos here as well as Kate’s own video talking about the project
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Far from the Madding Crowd
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The idyllic rural scene above looks like something from Thomas Hardy but it’s actually the annual hay gathering carried out by the ever-busy Friends of Barnes Common. The bucolic scenes have been captured on video by Kate Levy (see story above) as part of her Barnes Bounces Back video project. You can see the full video by clicking here.
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Nominate a Covid Hero for a portrait session
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D uring the Covid crisis people all across Barnes have gone the extra mile to help those struggling with isolation and financial issues. Through writing the Bugle we have come across so many people who have given up their time and money to help others. From the shopkeepers who have started delivery services, to FiSH volunteers who have delivered meals to isolated individuals, to the team at the Castelnau Community Centre, to the OSO who set up the community kitchen, so many people have stepped up to the mark. We also know that these people have been joined by many others who have quietly and modestly made a difference at a time when it mattered most.
To celebrate their contribution, the Bugle would like to spend the next three months celebrating our Barnes Covid Heroes. We’ve teamed up with local portrait photographer Natalie Muallem to help put together a photo archive of the fabulous members of our community who have volunteered to help out.
Natalie specialises in family portraiture so the resulting images will hopefully be a beautiful lasting memento of the very strange times we are living through.
If you would like to nominate someone who you think has made a difference do contact us by emailing admin@barnesvillage.com. We know people are very modest but we’re looking for everyone who has made a difference, however small. Sometimes just the smallest things have a huge impact on people.
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T wo new books out this month feature Barnes in very different guises and both are available to buy or order from the Barnes Bookshop.
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T he first is a really charming sounding picture book by Karen Inglis inspired by a majestic plane tree on Barnes Green.
Children’s book writer Karen had been walking past the tree for years but one day noticed the shape of a face and nose in its trunk and, from that, inspiration came for a book in which children come to visit a wise and friendly tree.
You can read more about the book and the inspiration behind it on her blog.
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T he second, a page-turning thriller, couldn’t be more topical, as it starts with the aftermath of a collision between American and Chinese warships in the South China Sea. Somehow all of this is linked to the strange death of a London hedge fund manager.
At the heart of the investigation is DI Anne Perry, a detective living in Barnes.
The Pale Tiger is the first novel by Mike Harrison whose work in finance has taken him around the world allowing him to write with authenticity about boardrooms and bars from Hong Kong to New York. Excitingly the novel has been optioned and, if film production ever gets back up-and-running, you could be seeing the movie next year.
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Serendipity - the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way - is a beautiful word. The other day we came across a serendipitous joy when we discovered this podcast while googling for the Barnes Bookshop.
Ex Libris, a podcast that champions and celebrates libraries and independent bookshops, visited the Barnes Bookshop in March just before lockdown. Owner Venetia Vyvyan was interviewed along with one of her most celebrated literary customers the author Gyles Brandreth. The result is a very diverting hour of conversation covering favourite books and literary anecdotes galore. We couldn’t recommend it more.
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Pop over to the Vine Road pop up
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As the dog days of summer approach and the need for social distancing stays much as it ever was, venues with outside space are at a premium. The OSO café on the Green is a romantic spot to while away a socially distanced encounter and pub gardens at the Coach, The Sun, The Red Lion and the White Hart are offering much-needed outdoor space. From August 2oth, Vine Road will be joining the list of al fresco venues with the launch of a pop-up kiosk run by the Friends of Barnes Common.
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As soon as tennis became one of the sports allowed in the lockdown easing measures, courts around Barnes were immediately booked out leaving a lot of players disappointed. However this week there’s great news for tennis lovers with the re-opening of the very swish astroturf courts at St Paul’s School for members of the Thameside Tennis Club. Anyone can join the club and those interested can visit any weekend for a tour of the club’s facilities and enjoy a casual hit or play some games with club members.
To arrange a visit you will need to email the club 24 hours beforehand as they need to gather some basic information from guest players to comply with Covid-19 safety standards.
As the courts are in use by the school during the week the club is only open at the weekends.
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Could you be a BCA trustee?
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If you have financial or social media skills and you would like to give something back to Barnes how about becoming a trustee at the BCA? Your expertise would be hugely valuable to them and you could be instrumental in keeping Barnes beautiful and thriving for the years to come.
If you would like an application pack or wish to discuss what is involved with an existing Trustee, please contact their chairman Nicki Urquhart at Nicki@barnes-ca.org. and look at their website for details . The deadline for making an application will be 11 September.
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If you have been missing your culture fix, local theatre company Shadow Road are coming to the rescue by performing three new productions in private garden venues across Barnes. Find out more on their website here.
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Virtual open gardens raise £5k
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The lovely Barnes Open Gardens online project has now raised over £5,000 – slightly more than the live event raised when it was last held in 2018. The team at FiSH are thrilled and the funds will be used to help older and more vulnerable members of the community in Barnes and East Sheen. A lot of clinically extremely vulnerable people still need help with shopping so FiSH still needs volunteers who can help. See our Barnes Cares section below for more info.
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The Barnes Atelier will be reopening their studio for courses beginning this September. Since closing, they have been concentrating heavily on remote distance learning programme, and have really enjoyed the format and feedback they have received from students. They say "It has been a pleasure to be able to work with so many artists remotely, who cannot make it to London to study with us in person."
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Grant helps ADHD group make new start
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Parents of children diagnosed with ADHD are often desperate to find help and support and talk to people in a similar situation. ADHD Richmond and Kingston was founded by Barnes resident Annette Wilson in 2002 and has helped innumerable families.
Like many support groups they have relied heavily on volunteer help which can be hard to sustain. Now as a result of setting up as a charity they have received their first grant funding. This month they have received an award from The Barnes Fund which together with the support of Richmond Parish Land has enabled them to hire their first part-time employee. Find out more here.
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If you have little ones who need entertaining in August it's worthwhile knowing that Butterfly Ballet are holding some pay as you go classes this August, just for two weeks
They do not need to be a pupil of Butterfly Ballet and there is no further commitment required.
Thursday 13th August and Thursday 20th August at Kitson Hall
3.30 - 4pm - Ballet for children age 2.5 - 4 yrs - (£10)
4.15 - 5pm - Ballet class for children age 4 - 6 yrs - (11.50)
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Found in translation - friendship and great results at our local English School
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Last year three middle-aged Swedish women turned up at the BCA’s offices out of the blue wanting to ‘see the pink house again’.
While Rose House is lovely it is not necessarily Barnes’ top tourist destination. However, it is the site of an English School where nearly 30 years ago the Swedish visitors had learned English while working as au pairs in Barnes.
And to this day, au pairs working locally and students from across the world come to the ‘pink house’ to learn English at the BCA English School.
It has taught students from over 20 countries and impressively its CELTA trained teachers have helped students achieve a 97% pass rate in the Cambridge English exams.
Its classes are arranged to fit around an au pair’s lifestyle and as well as teaching English it brings its students (who may be in a strange country for the first time) together through social activities including trips out.
Unlike most English schools in London it’s a charity and this means its tuition fees are incredibly good value. The level of rent it pays the BCA helps to subsidise its running costs.
Over forty years ago, when the school began, Barnes was going through a great period of uncertainty.
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Developers were threatening to build high rise Thameside flats by the Leg O’Mutton reservoir, and there were plans afoot to put a supermarket on the site where Rose House stands. The people of Barnes came together to fight off these challenges and the BCA was born as a hub for the campaigners and as a service for the people of Barnes.
One of the BCA’s founders was at the same time running an informal English School for local au pairs from her own house. When the supermarket’s plans were thwarted by the campaigners raising the funds to buy Rose House it made sense for the English School to move to the building.
Now it still teaches au pairs but also gap year students and the occasional expat partner who has moved into Barnes as a part of their spouse’s relocation.
And although the school hasn’t been able to operate as usual throughout the Covid crisis it has been working remotely via Zoom and will start face to face classes again in September.
If you know anyone who needs a great English School you can find out more about what the BCA English school offers by clicking below.
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The English School provides much needed funds that help the BCA to do its very valuable work so if you do recommend it to a potential student you will be passing on details of a great school and helping Barnes at the same time. It's a win win.
However, you can help even more by becoming a member.
With the cancellation of Barnes Fair it has lost a major fundraising opportunity and membership revenue has never been so important. Joining the BCA now is your investment in the future of Barnes.
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By supporting the BCA you are contributing to an organisation that can pull the community together at a time of crisis |
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The BCA funds a Green Keeper to look after Barnes Green and the Pond |
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The BCA is there to fight Barnes' corner by lobbying the council, TfL and other bodies over issues from traffic, to planning, to public transport to the closure of Hammersmith Bridge |
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The BCA funds a Town Centre manager to support our local shops |
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Without the BCA there would be no Barnes Fair or Food Fair |
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Members get Prospect Plus a regular email keeping them up to date with the BCA's work and also what's going on in Barnes. |
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The BCA wouldn't be able to do what it does without raising money from membership.
Joining the BCA costs from £18 per year and by joining you will be making a real difference to Barnes. Just click below to join.
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Shops still offering delivery and collection
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THE BARNES COMMUNITY SHOP
This brilliant local service gives you access to delivery of food from The Barnes Fish Shop, Londis, I Love Local and the Barnes Fruit and Vegetable Shop. Click here for website.
LONDIS
Send your shopping list via email to londisbarnes@gmail.com one day in advance of delivery. Include your phone number and address and pay by contactless card on delivery.
TWO PEAS IN A POD
Two Peas is now open daily between noon and 4pm but also still offering its delivery service. Email twopeasdelivery@outlook.com with your list, phone number and address, and either arrange to collect or set up a time for delivery.
SIPS & BITES
Sips and Bites are now on holiday for August but are likely to resume their service in September.
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Restaurants offering delivery
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ALMA CAFÉ
Delivering salads and burgers via Uber Eats and Deliveroo.
ARTE CHEF
Barnes' best pizzas for take-away or delivery, plus their fantastic new gelato stall.
AWESOME THAI
Now open to diners but also still incredibly popular for take-away. Minimum order is £15, take away & delivery is available everyday from 4:30pm until 9:30pm. They also have their own drivers for delivery. Delivery to SW13, SW14 and SW15 only. To order call 020 8563 7027 or visit the restaurant in person.
CAMILE
A brand new Thai restaurant in White Hart Lane currently only offering delivery. Opening hours Sunday to Thursday noon to 10pm and Friday to Saturday noon to 11pm. Order online for collection or delivery.
CHURCH ROAD
Now open from Wednesday to Saturday but also offering a three course set menu (different menus each day) for delivery on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The menu is created by Michelin starred chef Phil Howard making it a very superior take-away indeed.
See more information on their website. New menus released every Monday.
OKA
Pan-Asian favourite Oka has reopened but is still offering food for pick up or delivery. Minimum order £18 and delivery to Barnes, Mortlake, Sheen, Putney, Twickenham and Fulham. See website for more info.
RICK STEIN
You can now eat out at Rick Stein but they are keeping up with their take away service. We hear great things about their Fish & Chips.
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You can access food from our local foodbank at the Castelnau Community Centre but you will need a referral and a food voucher in order to use it.
This can be provided by health visitors, social workers and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. Find out more by emailing the Castelnau Community Centre at info@castelnaucentreproject.co.uk
The Foodbank at the Castelnau Community Centre is open on Fridays between 9.15 am and 11.15 am.
The Castelnau Community Centre
7 Stillingfleet Road, Barnes, SW13 9AQ
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Donating to the Food Bank
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The OSO is now no longer collecting items for delivery to the Food Bank. However you can still drop off food directly at the Castelnau Community Centre between 10am and noon from Monday to Thursday.
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Activities for young people with disabilities
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The brilliant team at Activity Station can't run their programme of live events for now but they are offering weekly online sessions.
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The Barnes Fund exists to support the community of Barnes; especially people with the greatest need. They provide financial grants both directly to individuals, and to organisations and charities which provide services to Barnes residents.
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The Castelnau Community Centre
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This hub based in North Barnes has been busy for years helping out those in our community who need help most, the elderly, those on low incomes, people with mental health issues, recent immigrants and asylum seekers. It runs a community café, it's where people go to access Citizen's Advice, it holds crafts and gardening classes as well as yoga, football and much else besides. It's also the home of our local food bank.
Its doors can't be open - apart from its once weekly food bank session, but its volunteers are hard at work supporting the most vulnerable people in Barnes.
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Local churches are now open for quiet prayer. Church ministry teams can also offer pastoral support, see individual church websites for details.
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It's very likely that post COVID-19 general practice will never go back to how it was. Currently you can expect to be assessed over the phone and then may be offered a video appointment if necessary. Only if it's absolutely necessary will you be asked to come in for a face-to-face appointment and masks should be worn by both you and the GP. Waiting rooms will also be empty and expect to queue outside the surgery if you arrive early for your appointment. Some of these changes - particularly more online consultations are likely to continue once the COVID threat has passed.
For those who want to guarantee a safe face-to-face appointment at a convenient time local private GP Dr Amun Kalia has set up a surgery at the White Hart Clinic. For more information see his website: www.doctorkalia.com
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All three of Physio on the River, The White Hart Clinic and Barnes Chiropractic are available for face-to-face consultations.
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Focal Point Opticians are able to see people with sore, red, painful, irritated eyes, or symptoms such as flashes and floaters and can refer people who need to visit the borough's hospitals.
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Medivet's Church Road and White Hart Lane practices are still open to deal with sick pets. However all routine consultations like annual checkups have been stopped.
If possible the vets would prefer to carry out consultations via phone or video link but they will see pets in person if the need is urgent.
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FiSH supports older and isolated people around Barnes Sheen and Mortlake.
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FiSH is looking for volunteers.
Director Micky Forster says. "Our activities continue to be limited but we are now doing weekly cream tea deliveries and are trialling a few socially-distanced activities like afternoon teas and shopping trips. As restrictions lift many older people are continuing to shield and we are still undertaking lots of shopping, along with keeping in touch with people regularly by phone.
Some of our recently recruited volunteers are returning to work and others are taking a break. We are welcoming back some of our long-standing volunteers (over 70s who were not part of our emergency task force) but we would like to recruit more people to help through the pandemic and beyond. An application form can be downloaded from www.fishhelp.org.uk"
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The Children's Centre is continuing to operate remotely and their sessions have moved to an online format. Sessions can be accessed via their Facebook page.
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Home Start supports families in their homes and in the community in the critical early years of childhood.
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Face-to-face advice isn't available but staff and volunteers (mostly working at home) are advising by phone and email. Initial contact is by phone 0300 330 2114 (Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), or by email via the website. They advise and support on a wide range of issues, including benefits, debt, employment, and housing, and are, as you would expect, helping clients affected by the current Coronavirus situation. They can provide food bank vouchers for those in hardship, and make referrals to local and national charities for grants. They can also give information about other organisations that might help.
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A new helpline for residents, particularly those elderly and/or vulnerable without support networks who need help to access medical/care services and food supplies.
If you or someone you know needs this support, please contact:
020 8871 6555
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About the Barnes Village Bugle
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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.
We can't guarantee that we'll run it, but if we think it's going to be interesting to our readers then we'll publish your information.
If on the other hand you want to publicise a commercial venture then it's easy to advertise with us. Our mailing list has close to 4,000 subscribers so you'll reach lots of people in Barnes very inexpensively.
The Bugle is a labour of love, not a profit-making venture. We pay to send it out and our mailing costs are covered by the fantastic support we get from Winkworth who advertise with us every month. We'd love to get more advertising as that would at least go some way into covering the costs of our time, so if you advertise with us you'll not only be reaching a large audience you'll be keeping a local resource going.
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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