fulham residents journal december 2013

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Resident’s Journalfulham

D ECEM B ER 2013 • issue 16

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On behalf of the Fulham Residents’ Journal team, we would like to wish readers a very merry Christmas. We’ve headed to the streets this month to ask a few familiar faces what Christmas and the festive period means to them;

some play games by the fire, occasionally setting the dinner table ablaze, others spend time wrapping sugar cubes for precious ponies. Flick to page seven to get into the spirit. As the party invitations start to flood through letterboxes, we have rounded up some of our favourite events happening right on your doorstep on our calendar (p. 6), as well as highlighting how to avoid feeling frazzled this year, implementing expert psychotherapist Susan

Balfour’s tips and tricks to lower stress this December (p. 16). Lauren Romano also meets Ross Spurrier of Bishop’s Park Farmers’ & Fine Foods Market (p. 12), as well as Fulham Children’s Choir and Fulham Camerata

(p. 20). Please do not hesitate to get in contact with your news and updates, email [email protected]. We look forward to bringing you all of the latest local news and interesting features in 2014. Until next year…

Dear Resident,

Managing Editor Katie Randall

Assistant Editor Lauren Romano

Editorial AssistantJennifer Mason

Editorial Intern Maisy Molloy

Editor-in-Chief Lesley Ellwood

Managing Director Eren Ellwood

General Manager Fiona Fenwick

Senior Designer Lisa Wade

Production Hugo Wheatley

Alex Powell Oscar Viney

Publishing Director Giles Ellwood

Associate Publisher Sophie Roberts

Client RelationshipDirector

Felicity Morgan-Harvey

Communications Director

Loren Penney

Image / The Christmas tree from The Royal Ballet’s The NutcrackerPhotograph by John Persson (roh.org.uk) Read more on p. 6.

Members of the Professional Publishers Association

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FULHAM Residents’ JoURnAL

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LOCAL NEWSKeep your finger on the pulse with our round-up of local news

T he season of goodwill began early for ten year old Fulham resident

Martha Inglis. Battening down the hatches in her parent’s kitchen she single-handedly made and sold 1,015 chocolate truffles last month, and donated 100 per cent of the proceeds to breast cancer support centre The Haven. A seasoned charity fundraiser, last year Martha’s mince pies were a similar hit, and raised £1,010 for the local charity. This time around, the truffles have exceeded all expectations and, at the time of print, Martha has smashed her original fundraising target by 574 per cent and counting, making a staggering £5,805. Martha took off her apron to speak to the Fulham Residents’ Journal a couple of weeks before the truffle sale at her home in Fulham.

Why did you decide to raise money for The Haven?I decided to raise money for The Haven because it is a small, local charity. I also wanted to support them in memory of my grandmother, whom I never got to meet. She sadly died of breast cancer when she was only 48.

How long did you spend in the kitchen? I spent a month in the kitchen making truffles but I also had to do my homework. I already had the recipe from Mummy but my grandfather told me to add some more rum.

How do you feel when you think about how much money you

have raised for charity?It is very exciting knowing how much I have raised. I always come back from school and check my JustGiving page. Everyone is very generous, probably because they know someone with breast cancer.

MArThA, queen Of trufflesWhat do your friends say when you tell them about your fundraising?It is fun telling my friends about my fundraising. The teachers seem most impressed. I go to Fulham Prep School and they do lots of charity

work for children and babies with special needs.

What would you like to be when you grow up? A chef, perhaps?I was actually thinking about being a chef when I grow up or opening a restaurant which sells delicious cakes and coffee.

Will your baking become an annual event? Maybe. It depends on how much homework I get at my secondary school. I have my 11+ exams in January. Last year, Mummy and I sold 550 mince pies. I have three sisters so maybe we could all do something together.

What advice would you give to other people your age who would like to raise some money for charity but don’t know where to begin?Pick a small local charity and know that if you raise £100,000,000 or £1,000 it will still help them a lot.

Are you sick of chocolate now?!No, of course not! I have not eaten many truffles. I only ate a little bit when Mummy was busy washing up and not looking.

Anyone who would like to support Martha’s brilliant efforts by donating can do so via her JustGiving page: justgiving.com/Martha-Inglis

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The business The second Hammersmith & Fulham Brilliant Business Awards was met with gusto, with 2,300 votes cast in the search for the best local business. Shortlisted enterprises across the 10 categories assembled at Bush Hall last month to see who would receive trophies from Mayor, Cllr Frances Stainton. Fitrooms gym on North End Road won the My Favourite Business Award, much to the delight of owner Mario Pederzolli: ‘It’s testament to our loyal members and all of the hard work we’ve put into the business. It’s our tenth birthday this month and we always wanted to be a focal point for the community.’ Meanwhile, Vagabond Wines scooped the accolade of Best Fulham Business. Congratulations all round!

Rocking aRound The chRisTmas TReeResidents who find themselves at a loose end this Christmas Day can volunteer their time at the borough’s annual Christmas Day lunch for older residents who would otherwise spend the day alone. A 20-year-old tradition which is still going strong, 300 residents over the age of 60 will sit down for lunch at Hammersmith town hall. Cash donations and gifts for guests are also welcome if anyone wants to contribute but is unable to take time off from their own festivities.

Volunteers and potential guests should ring 020 8753 2135 or email [email protected] for more information

sugaR and spice and all Things niceGet your little one’s glad-rags on this festive season with a trip to the recently opened Pepa & Co concept store. The shop specialises in Spanish childrenswear brands not touted on the high street. From traditional wool coats to snug chunky knitwear and corduroy shorts to reindeer pattered pullovers, you’re sure to find something to make the youngest of festive revellers look smartly turned out for impending family gatherings.

Book an appointment to visit Monday to Friday between 10am and 2pm 16 Filmer Road, SW6 7BW020 7386 8991 (pepaandcompany.com)

Deck the halls Forget the boughs of holly, an imposing spruce will do the job and fill

your abode with the aromatic whiff of alpine woodland. St John’s Church Fulham will once again play host to a pop-up forest of trees, Pines and

Needles, which will stock everything from non-drop Nordman Firs to the traditional Norway Spruce. Once you’ve selected your festive topiary, you

can arrange a same-day delivery to the local area for £15.

Open from 9am-9pm until Christmas Eve or order online at pinesandneedles.comSt Johns Church, North End Road, SW6 1PB

Mayor Frances Stainton with award recipients from the Fulham & Chelsea Cake Company Image / courtesy of Hammersmith & Fulham Council

Image courtesy of Hammersmith & Fulham Council

All products available from Pepa & Co

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THE CALENDARDiary dates for residents looking for the best of the local area’s events

5 December

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHTEamonn Holmes will be playing host for the evening at the annual Kids for Kids Candlelit Christmas Concert held at All Saint’s church. A sprinkling of famous faces (Ruth Langsford, Richard Wilson, Ruth Rendell and Julie Etchingham) will be taking a pew and joining in with the carols as shadows flicker. The Choir of Danes Hill School, St Andrew’s Singers, Thames Brass Fanfare and award-winning violinist Ruth Palmer will also be in attendance. Arrive at 6.30pm to hear a peal of the church’s newly restored bells.

Concert begins at 7pm, minimum donations: adults £25; kids £15, Pryors Bank, SW6 3LA (kidsforkids.org.uk)

12 December

A SEASONALSENSATIONClassic Christmas ballet The Nutcracker returns to the Royal Opera House this festive season to wow audiences with the time-honoured tale of young Clara, whisked away by a magician on an enchanted Christmas Eve adventure to the Land of Sweets. Watch the toy soldiers come to life and the Sugar Plum Fairy sweep around the stage, all to Tchaikovsky’s rousing musical score. If you weren’t quick enough off the mark to get tickets for the perennially popular performance, fear not. Vue Fulham Broadway will be screening the production live on 12 December from 7.15pm.

(roh.org.uk)

Until 21 December

SEE THE LIGHT Witness the modest beauty of artist Alice Mumford’s oil paintings this month at Piers Feetham Gallery. The still-life painter is renowned for her avid understanding of the ordinary and her ability to maintain the definition of her subjects, while simultaneously making the edges of the object in question shimmer. A resident of Cornwall, Silver Light presents a rare chance to view Mumford’s work in London. The exhibition will include more than 30 oil paintings, from still lifes to interiors and landscapes.

Tuesday-Friday 10am-1pm and 2-6pmSaturdays 10am-1pm, 475 Fulham Road SW6 1HL (piersfeethamgallery.com)

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ChristmasThe Fulham Residents’ Journal ask the great and good of SW6

what this festive time of year means to them

It«s beginning to look a lot like

Illustrations / Mai Osawa

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My brother and mother still live in France so more often than not I make the trip back to my mum’s house in Paris. I love this time of year in Fulham because it is all about parties and coming together. I find people are happier and more considerate in general; the community spirit comes out.

It’s our job to transform people for all the glamorous social occasions Christmas brings with it. We will be offering mince pies with coffees to fuel the festive mood, as well as a few special promotions for our clients. We are open until 9pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays to cater for anyone who needs a late appointment, so I’m anticipating a few late nights ahead! Not that I mind; the best gift for me is to see somebody leave the salon happy – the feeling is priceless and the excitement is infectious.

Cyril Arekion, owner of Hair of the Bird (hairofthebird.com)

I always celebrate Christmas with the family in Fulham: my husband, daughter and cousins. Completing the line-up are, of course, our Norfolk terriers, Rufus and Heidi, who simply adore all the attention at Christmas. I make sure everyone gets a stocking, which is presented on Christmas morning, including the dogs.

I love Christmas; all the glitter, the table decorations, dressing up the house with a big Christmas tree covered in

twinkling lights, Christmas carols – the lot. I even enjoy the Christmas shopping. Most of the presents under my tree this year will be from my website PetsPyjamas.com, on which, there are gifts for everyone.Long-held Christmas family traditions are still going strong in our house and silly games are compulsory every year, including the one we call ‘the hat game’. You put famous names into a hat and everyone takes it in turns to pluck one out while the other team has to guess who you are. On two occasions the table has caught fire – I am not quite sure how – no one was hurt and so we kept playing. My favourite Christmas memories revolve around our traditional silly games, which used to make my mother cry with laughter. I really miss her.

Denise Elphick, co-founder of Pets Pyjamas (petspyjamas.com)

For me, Christmas is all about tradition and every year there are three things I always do.

Firstly, I make sure I go to the Christmas Eve carol service at St Paul’s Cathedral. If you haven’t been, I highly recommend it. The sound is mesmerising and it always gives me goose bumps. It definitely isn’t Christmas if I don’t do this. I get my food in order too and prepare healthy festive alternatives; I’ll make healthy eggnog, raw chocolate and coconut snacks, as well as plenty of tasty vegetable dishes. Christmas is, of course, the time of year for Brussels sprouts so these always feature. Since I was little my family and I would each open the smallest present under the tree on Christmas Eve. I have no idea how this started but I suspect it was down to my parents giving in to all the nagging.

Rosie Millen, founder of Miss Nutritionist (missnutritionist.com)

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My sister Maria-Louise and I are in London for the build up to Christmas, enjoying the Christmas markets, festive walks in Hyde Park and taking my daughters to the ice rink in Duke of York Square. On Christmas Day, we all go to my parents’ house in Herefordshire, which brings back fond memories as we’ve spent Christmas here since we were little girls. The day focuses on food, relaxation and, of course, the children. They spend the day ecstatic with their new toys, the chocolate and Christmas crackers. We have passed on a much-loved tradition to my daughters of using old wrapping

paper to wrap up carrots, apples and handfuls of sugar cubes. We then all rush to the stables to unwrap the packages as gifts for each of our ponies.

Danielle Featherstone-Price, co-founder of Strip Waxing Boutiques (stripwaxbar.com)

My family tradition dictates that the Christmas tree only goes up on 23 December – never before. As a child this was pure torture and I used to run up to the windows of other people’s houses to peer in at the glorious twinkling magic inside. However, when the 23 finally came, it was the most magical, happy moment of Christmas. My father, siblings and I would gather by the tree as Mum passed us a bauble and told us exactly which branch to put it on. This was a strict process as each year the tree was themed and only the appropriate colours could be included. Watching the plain, rather sad looking tree come to life slowly after weeks of anticipation is still, to this day, my favourite part of Christmas.

Tiff Bagnall, co-founder of AND LONDON (andlondonuk.com)

Christmas to me has always been about family, spent around the dinner table with a roaring fire, great food and topped off with one or two parties with close friends. Following our family tradition, we’ve always celebrated Christmas Day with a cocktail made from Champagne, a dash of brandy and a sugar cube served in an icing sugar-topped glass.

Ultimately, being with my family is the best thing in the world. It’s also an opportunity to wear my favourite tweed suit, which this year I will finish off with my original 1940s ‘pin up girl’ cufflinks and vintage tie slide. As a child, I looked forward to

visiting my grandparents’ house on Boxing Day. My grandfather was always immaculately dressed, from his sharp suit to his crisp shirt. His focus on dressing impeccably to suit the occasion was a huge inspiration to me.

Marc Wallace, founder of Marc Wallace (marcwallace.com)

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Left to right / Tiff Bagnall and business partner Sophie Gaze

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For me, a traditional family Christmas gathers everyone together and as well as close family, there is always the odd ‘hanger-on’ who turns up year after year but is, of course, always welcome. This is the true meaning of Christmas. Traditions in families stick from generation to generation and my family is no exception.

Christmas decorations are most important and my natural choice of adornment is holly placed above picture frames (often found several months later), greenery decorating staircases and bright colours of yellow mimosa and winter jasmine, picked from the garden.

Table decorations can make a big difference and I tend to go for either a large centre piece with candles in the middle or a high decoration. Also decorations around individual napkins can look wonderful. I have been known to wrap napkins with raffia and a sprig of lavender and rosemary and then write guests names in gold pencil on bay leaves.

I also enjoy the Christmas family church service; being able to sing a rousing and well-known carol puts even the faint-hearted church-goer in good spirits and this doesn’t involve taking too big of a gulp of the communion wine!

Caroline Fooks of Caroline Fooks Design (carolinefooksdesign.com)

As Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham, this Christmas will be filled with family tradition, both in an immediate sense and also with my borough family of some 300 pensioners who are all coming to the town hall on Christmas Day for a big turkey lunch, with festivities, presents and photos. Some of them tell me what they really want for Christmas, more than anything, is a hug, as that is what they miss. I catch up on their news, both good and bad, and we have a great time celebrating together.

As my family live in the country, this year I am spending Christmas with very dear friends, sharing their traditions. At home there is always holly over the paintings and mistletoe at the front door, with a chain of friends coming to exchange presents under the tree, which is made up of branches full of tiny green lights. The cats still want to swat the decorations and the children get very excited about everything – as usual.

My very best wishes for a merry Christmas to everyone.

Cllr Frances Stainton, Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham

There is a long run-up to Christmas in my house. It’s fair to say that my five-year-old twin girls start planning for the big day soon after their birthday in May. For me, it really feels like Christmas once the tree goes up. On Christmas Day itself, I love seeing the excitement on the girls’ faces as they open their presents and then it’s soon time to prepare lunch. It has been said that I can be a little bossy in the kitchen, so my wife wisely steers clear, while I prepare everything, with a seasonal drink in hand and the festive playlist on shuffle.

Steven Day, chief executive officer, Fulham Football Club Foundation (fulhamfc.com/foundation)

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I can divide Christmas in south west London into two distinct parts: pre-kids and post-kids.

Pre-kids, I was working in the West End for a glossy magazine publisher and it seemed the festive whirl of parties and lunches started earlier every year. Weekends were a time to recover from weekday excess with long girly Christmas lunches. For New Year, we would really push the boat out and head to Chez Bruce without ever having to worry about a babysitter or a highchair.

Post kids, I still seem to spend the weekend recovering from excesses, but now it’s the two-legged variety, rather than the legless sort. Christmas shopping starts early and I love to make the most of the numerous Christmas fairs that take place. I think that we do this village shopping thing so well. We usually pick up our tree from my daughter’s school as they’ll be selling them to raise funds. The turkey will be

Christmas is one of the most exciting times of year to cook and for The Beef Kitchen (TBK) it is all about community. For the last seven years, TBK has organised and cooked a traditional Christmas Day lunch for residents living at Stoll.

Honey-glazed ham, slow-roasted turkey and perfect roast potatoes (the quality closely monitored by Beef Kitchen founder and roastie connoisseur Bob Barrett) are served in the community hall, with Christmas pudding and lashings of custard and brandy butter finishing things off. Meals are delivered to the flats of those residents unable to make it to the hall and proceedings conclude with a toast of sherry at the end of the meal.

Ed Sargent, head chef at The Beef Kitchen Twitter: @thebeefkitchen; Facebook: facebook.com/thebeefkitchen. Join the mailing list at:

thebeefkitchen.org

from Cleavers and most of the tasteful decorations I’ve found will be drowned in the tinsel that my children have bought from the Pound Shop. We’ll try and catch the panto in Wimbledon (Mr NappyValleyNet still talks about Pamela Anderson and her turn in Aladdin) and by the time the 25 actually arrives, I’ll be shattered after the string of school parties and nativity plays. I know the holiday is almost over when the ice skates come out. I seem to have spent the last few New Year’s Days sitting on my bottom in the middle of an ice rink whether it’s Kew Gardens, the Natural History Museum or Somerset House.

Susan Hanage (aka Annabel) founder of Nappy Valley Net (nappyvalleynet.com)

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Around the second week of December, something strange starts to happen. An alarm seems to go off in the most screwed-

on, level-headed of minds; the panic switch is flipped. Aisles in shops the length of the high street resemble an episode of Supermarket Sweep, although with the grinning Dale Winton nowhere to be seen.

People seem to be stockpiling less for a fortnight of gluttony (when cracking open the tin of Quality Streets before your Weetabix have even turned soggy becomes a totally normal breakfast routine) and more hauling in provisions to stave off a full scale apocalypse; you mark our words, Bruce Willis will be

touching down any day now. Stuffing oneself like a foie gras duck is

compulsory, but when arguments between complete strangers start to break out down the poultry aisle, it’s time to abandon trolley and give the supermarket a wide berth. Why not grab your tote bag, wrap up warm and hit Bishop’s Park instead. In the circular patch just off Bishop’s Avenue a number of top-notch artisanal food suppliers assemble on the first, third and fifth Sunday of every month, under the banner of the Bishop’s Park Farmers’ & Fine Foods Market.

I head over for the market’s third instalment on a particularly crisp Sunday morning, to meet the organiser and man responsible for it all, Ross Spurrier. The last

few weeks have been a baptism of fire for the Chiswick local, who has

been involved with the Chiswick Farmers’ Market since he was 11 years old. Rounding up some of his

cohorts – the likes of March House Farm

among others – Ross set about bringing a band of merry stallholders to

ShOppiNgtrimmingsBishop’s Park Farmers’ & Fine Foods Market has landed. Lauren Romano treats her larder to some local delicacies in time for Christmas

WiTh ALL ThE

Thanks to the very positive feedback we’ve had so far from the local

community, there is a real possibility that we will get the go ahead to run

the market on a weekly basis

March House FarmThe Belcher family have reared

traditional breeds of beef, lamb and pork on their Leicestershire farm since 1999 and orders are now being taken for the farm’s free range turkeys. The

on-farm butchery keeps food miles to a minimum and enables full farm-to-

fork traceability. Look out for the handmade sausages and

home-cured bacon

FOR THE TURKEY

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Ted’s VegAn ever-changing

array of seasonal fruit and vegetables, grown by the

man himself, Ted Dawson, in South Lincolnshire

Fulham. He gave himself an ambitious two-month deadline to obtain all the necessary permission from Hammersmith & Fulham Council and to take his delicious farm and locally-sourced produce to the residents of SW6. It is a dream which has quite literally kept him awake at night, dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s after his day job as a plumber.

‘Everyone has been incredibly positive and supportive and we’ve had a fabulous turn out at the market days held so far. The Council are very keen to promote community-wide activities in the park,’ Ross tells me. ‘Community support is absolutely necessary to build a strong farmers’ market and continued buy-in from residents and businesses will help the market genuinely contribute to the community.’

As we wander around, Ross talks me through his plans to ensure the local community is at the heart of the market. The circular space itself, bordered by the urban beach and children’s adventure playground, with kids zipping around on their bikes, is perfectly situated to deliver this aim. With a nod to the season, Ross has several fun, festive and (most refreshingly) free events planned. Glitter Pixies will roll up to the Christmas edition of the market with their facepaints in tow, ready to give shoppers a yuletide makeover. Carol singers will provide the feel-good shopping soundtrack and Santa

will be handing out goodies too. Waylaid with a dense dome of chewy

sourdough from Olivier’s Bakery that is hefty enough to sink a duck, I explore what the market has to offer. The artisanal backbone the scattering of stalls represents is just the skeleton of things to come. There’s every cut and chop of meat you could wish for at March House Farm; home-baked cupcakes drip with buttercream on the cake stands at Crumbs; wooden barrels of olives bejewel

their puddles of aromatically herbed oils at Thee Olive Tree; roly poly

squashes and tangles Hand Picked Shellfish Company

Expect fish of the plaice, turbot, pollock, John Dory, hake and cod

variety, fished from the waters around the Weymouth coast by Matt Baldwin and

Steve Hall, along with quality shellfish which the pair hand dive for. If you ask

nicely, they will fillet and scale your fish for you and may even have

a couple of cooking tips up their sleeves

ShOppiNgtrimmingsFOR THE FISH

FOR THE

SPROUTS

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of green beans await at Ted’s Veg and crates of charmingly misshapen Bramley, Kidd’s Orange and Egremont Russets fill crates like apple allsorts, over at the Ringden Farm stall.

‘We hope to increase the number of stalls over the next few months and welcome any feedback from customers – we’re here for them so if there’s any specific things people would like to see, please let us know,’ Ross appeals. ‘Thanks to the very positive feedback we’ve had so far from the local community, there is a real possibility that we will get the go ahead to run the market on a weekly basis too!’ Ross beams, looking rather chuffed. Here’s hoping his Christmas wish comes true.

The next markets will take place on Sunday 1 December and Sunday 15 December from 10am-2pm, with a special Christmas market on Sunday 22 December with free face painting and an appearance from Santa. The first market in 2014 will take place on Sunday 19 January

Search for RMS Markets on Facebook for updates and further information

The Chutney & Preserves Company

Spice up your dinner plate or cheese board with Catherine’s preserves,

including apple and cranberry jelly. The red cabbage and apple chutney was the

star of Catherine’s Christmas dinner condiments last year and she is

hoping it will be a similar hit with her relatives

this year too

We hope to increase the number of stalls over the next few months and welcome

any feedback from customers

Christmas puddings from Crumbs, handmade chocolate

truffles, cakes and pastries from The Two Shuks, apples and pears

from the orchards at Ringden Farm, teas and Christmas hampers from

The Kettle Shed and free range eggs and poultry from

Harvest Moon Free Range Eggs

FOR THE CRANBERRY SAUCE

THE BEST OF THE REST

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The Really Helpful Club (reallyhelpfulclub.com) is an infinitely useful resource for smart, sensible women. The members’ forum, for which it is free to register, enables you to reach out beyond your immediate network of friends to share great ideas and your best recommendations in a friendly, welcoming environment. More and more women are benefitting from the RHC, a trusted new best friend.

The Really Helpful Club (RHC) is an indispensable online resource for smart, sensible women to share great ideas and helpful tips in a world where inspired solutions can be hard to find. Recently founded by Sarah Austin, The Really Helpful Club enables women to extend their network beyond their usual circle of friends and family for invaluable advice and recommendations. It is fast-becoming a bookmarked favourite on iPads and smart phones across the capital and beyond; Sarah explains that the site has become an important part of women’s lives, developing in ways she would never have imagined initially. ‘This is what is really fantastic about the club,’ she says. ‘The site is becoming increasingly influential and accomplishing everything it set out to do and more. Women of all ages are drawn together by the common thread of sharing tips and recommendations to ensure they get the very best out of life for themselves and their families.’

The power and reach‘The RHC network is strong, with new bonds being formed every day,’ Sarah tells us. One such success story speaks volumes, when a member posted the following comment: ‘A couple of months ago, I asked if anyone could recommend a private chef/caterer who could cook in our home for a special dinner party that we were hosting. Thanks to this post, I came across the perfect chef. She was absolutely amazing and provided us with the most delicious three-course meal, plus canapés. She then went on to recommend a waiter who looked after us incredibly well throughout

the evening and even cleaned up the kitchen before silently slipping out the door. It was quite literally effortless entertaining – restaurant quality food,

but in the comfort of our own home. The most perfect evening!’ Sarah

astutely identifies a key factor of contemporary society: ‘I noticed that sometimes you have to go

above and beyond your own network to a wider audience.

One person simply cannot have the answers to everything. Equally,

you don’t want to go around every single friend

you have asking them the same question.’ The Residents’ Journal heartily agrees.

Personal developmentInterestingly, a new area is growing whereby members are posting threads about networking events, career development and opportunities. Recently, a member was looking for part-time assistance in her Fulham-based search business. This topic rapidly generated significant interest, being viewed by more than 400 members in a very short period of time. The employer hired not just one but two Really Helpful Club members to fulfill her need. It has quickly become obvious to Sarah that the next development she should focus on is to create a separate area on the site to allow likeminded, well-educated and talented women access to exciting opportunites. They might be looking for a career change, a voluntary role or a way of rediscovering the workplace, perhaps after children have flown the nest, or if younger children have started school, freeing up extra time – the RHC is a unique way of connecting women with each other.

Valued opinions and exclusive benefitsThe site is buzzing with original and innovative gift ideas for the festive period, with women sharing tailored and thoughtful inspiration that is not being talked about in magazines and on department store comment sites. The attraction of the RHC being that the ideas proffered are from other women just like you, whose opinion you value and trust. Businesses are also choosing to support The Really Helpful Club, offering its members exclusive opportunities and bespoke incentives to reward their valued loyalty. Whether you are looking for inspiration for presents, holidays, or perhaps a book recommendation for that tricky to please family member, the RHC is a rich resource offering a wealth of insight. Sarah hopes to see you posting soon. n

FULHAM Residents’ JoURnAL | Promotion

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‘My phone’s just as much of a dinosaur as yours,’

chuckles Susan Balfour as I toss my prehistoric brick of a Motorola Pebl, circa 2006, next to me on the sofa in her Parsons Green living room. It doesn’t do emails, or Twitter; not even Facebook is within its technically-challenged, keypad-operated (remember those?) clutches. ‘I don’t like being held to ransom by my inbox,’ I protest, as she nods in agreement.

Psychotherapist and author Susan is something of an authority on the subject, as it happens. Having dedicated much of her life to the study of the stress syndrome, she believes that, while technology is helpful, it’s also stressing us out because we are forgetting to engage with the real world. ‘Many of us are suffering because we are permanently in touch with each other, resulting in an inability to switch off,’ she tells me gravely. She dedicates a whole chapter of her latest book (her fourth), Stress Control: Stress-Busting Strategies for the 21st Century, to the topic, writing: ‘When we would prefer to spend time with friends on Facebook […] rather than with friends in real time; when we spend our leisure time sitting still looking at our computer screens, having spent the working week doing just that. Well, isn’t something wrong?’ Well, isn’t there?

‘I’m hopeful that there will come a time when we wake up to this madness that we’re allowing to happen to us,’ Susan says, sounding far from optimistic. ‘I’ve got children coming to me for consultations who are getting repetitive strain injury for constantly keying in texts. I even heard of a four year old who was addicted to her parents’ iPhone; it’s frightening.’

After a glamorous modelling career in the early 60s and 70s and time working for Harper’s Bazaar magazine, Susan decided to enrol on a stress management course. She attributes her

stress to a difficult period in her life. In swift succession her mother died, her dog was run over and killed, she suffered a miscarriage and the break-up of her marriage; her world as she knew it came tumbling down around her. Her personal tragedy prompted her career change and Susan went on to train as a psychotherapist.

‘People just don’t know how to relax their body,’ she acknowledges. ‘I recall a time I was out walking and I had espadrilles on. When I got home, I took them off and the laces had literally been cutting into my leg. I didn’t realise as I was so tense.’ My hunched shoulders, whose natural stance seems to be up around my ears, Quasimodo-style, is a form of static tension – the worst kind. On Susan’s prompting, I drop my shoulders and exhale. ‘Just flop and focus on the now,’ she

intones. Susan advises that, if we could close our eyes and reflect on the moment even for five minutes a number of times a day, we will find unwinding and gaining a sense of perspective easier. ‘When you’re walking down the street on your way home, look at what’s around you, don’t tap into your phone. It’s about being, not doing,’ she adds.

Susan believes that we are too preoccupied with recording life rather than simply enjoying it. We have become our own archivists, documenting every

moment, carefully curating our lives with our legion of Facebook ‘friends’ in mind. As this new ego-centric era dawns, where insecurities and keeping up with the Joneses and their perfect lives (according to Instagram) runs rife, there is at least a changing of attitude on the horizon; internet addiction disorder is about to be recognised by the NHS as a legitimate health concern.

SEizE controlAre we becoming more stressed? Local author Susan Balfour thinks so. Lauren Romano meets the psychotherapist to learn how to take charge of stress in time for the festive countdown

People who are at the top of their profession generally look after themselves,

they don’t burn themselves out

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The prospect of spending time in our own company appears to be more daunting too. ‘A lot of people are frightened of being with themselves but actually we have the most amazing things inside us,’ Susan enthuses. ‘All the stuff that we love: music, films, fiction, where has it come from if not from the creative mind?’

So what is the solution? ‘Balance your life if you can,’ Susan advises. ‘Winston Churchill used to paint. Richard Branson goes hot air ballooning or does other physically challenging things, but he doesn’t sit at an office desk all day. People who are at the top of their profession generally look after themselves; they don’t burn themselves out.

‘The reason my book is called Stress Control is because people need to ensure

that they don’t let stress control them; you need to do a life audit and take charge of how much stress you have to deal with.’ An advocate of the occasional little white lie, Susan also insists in parting, ‘If you need a break from it all, say that you are away for the weekend and that you won’t have any internet connection.’ Suddenly my low-tech phone doesn’t seem as ridiculous as it looks.

For help with your own life audit, pick up a copy of Stress Control: Stress-Busting Strategies for the 21st Century, £10.99, available locally from Health Foods and Nomad Books and on amazon.co.uk. Susan is available for one-to-one counselling and stress management consultations at her home email [email protected]

Christmas: The mother of all stress-outs

If it’s not billboards tugging at our purse strings, screaming the latest must-have gift ten feet high and making us feel suitably Scrooge-like if we fail to comply, then it’s Nigella

telling us we simply must bathe our turkey the night before in a tub of star anise … Here’s Susan’s tips on how to keep

your cool at Christmas

Delegate‘Men are better at doing

this than women. Get your kids to make decorations and decorate the tree or get them peeling vegetables. It’s a lovely family event, not a chore, so involve your guests and don’t

feel like you have to do everything yourself.’

Don’t think that your guests are out

to criticise you ‘People are not against

you. Harness the good will of Christmas in yourself so that

you are nicer to everyone and then people will (hopefully) be nicer

to you.’

Keep things in perspective

‘Christmas is supposed to be about happiness and love, not

just chores and arrangements. I often suggest that people write a list of what they have to do and a list of what they’d like to do: The ‘musts’

and the ‘wants’. Make time for enough of the ‘wants’.’

Drop the perfectionist act

‘It isn’t the end of the world if your table doesn’t look

immaculate. Society is setting us up somehow to compete with

celebrities and film stars but they have hundreds of people

helping them.’

Images / Susan modelling in the 60s

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ThE fESTiVE pLAYgrOUNDA special round-up of fun family news and activities this Christmas

ThrEE Of ThE bEST … fAMiLY CArOL

CONCErTS

Fulham Palace Family Christmas Carol

A big dose of Christmas spirit coming right up courtesy of the

Fulham Children’s Choir, who will be leading the way in traditional

favourites in the atmospheric Victorian Chapel at Fulham Palace

£12 adults, £6 children 15 December at 4.30pm, book

tickets at lyric.co.uk. Fulham Palace Bishops Avenue, SW6 6EA

The Daisy Trust Family Carol Concert

School children from across the borough will be coming together to perform at St Dionis Church in a carol service to raise money for local organisation The Daisy

Trust. The congregation can lend some vocal power for a

specially adapted rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas.

£10 adults, £5 children, 7 December at 5pm; email carolsdaisytrust@

gmail.com to book tickets up until 5pm on 3 December. St Dionis

Church, SW6 4UH

Community Carols at All Saints Church

Local shopkeepers and BBC newsreader Sophie

Raworth join members of the community for readings and

music. Other festive highlights include a special family

Christmas Eve crib service10 December at 7pm; All Saints Fulham, Pryors Bank, SW6 3LA

oh no he didn’T … It’s pantomime time again at the Lyric and this year

it’s the turn of Jack and the Beanstalk. Following the original storyline of magic beans, a beanstalk climbing up to a magical castle in the sky and a bloodthirsty

giant, the performance ticks all the boxes for a festive family treat. Will Jack be able to escape and chop down the beanstalk before the giant catches

him? Oh yes he will! It is panto season, after all.

Until 4 January, £12.50-£35 (All tickets £15 on performances up to 6 December), book tickets from lyric.co.uk. Lyric Square

King Street, W6 0QL

say hello To The man in RedSanta Claus will be taking to his sleigh and touching down at his favourite city bolthole, Fulham Palace, on 1,7 and 8 December. Just in case St Nick has an attack of amnesia, little will be able to send their Christmas wish-lists off to his trusty side-kick elves at the North Pole via the Christmas post box, specially installed at the palace.

£10 per child including a festive gift, booking essential. Visit lyric.co.uk to secure a spot. Fulham Palace, Bishops Avenue, SW6 6EA

Snow

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Catherine Muller Flower School and Flower Boutique is now open on 53 Elizabeth Street and is ready to welcome you.

For more information on courses, events, subscriptions and deliveries please call us on +44 (0) 20 72 59 01 96 or visit catherinemuller.com

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Christopher Wray is the man that launched a thousand (well, two) choirs. At the flick of his conductor’s baton, Fulham

Children’s Choir and the Fulham Camerata have sprung into song. Completing the tuneful trinity, he is also incidentally musical director of the Fulham & Hammersmith Choral Society – an old-timer club on the SW6 music scene, established back in 1951. The newest chip on the local choral block, the Fulham Children’s Choir, was set up by Christopher last year. Directed by himself and Hermione Ruck Keene, it is open to children from the ages of six to 13, to sing, perform and enjoy music.

The choir gives an invaluable grounding in musical training. Vocal development is enhanced with lessons on technique, breathing, and sight reading every fortnight or so when kids are plucked out from rehearsals in small groups of five or six.

ThE SOUND Of

It’s not Christmas without a carol or two here and a tinkle of percussion there. The Fulham Residents’ Journal meets the musicians adding a little melodic accompaniment to Fulham’s festivities

ChristmasIllustration / Mai Osawa

Most importantly, however, the Fulham Children’s Choir is on a mission to make music fun. ‘A one-to-one piano lesson where you sit bashing out scales isn’t always riveting,’ Christopher says sagely, no doubt a vat of memories from his many years as a music teacher bubbling to the surface.

‘I was working as the singing leader on outreach sessions for Sing Up at the London Oratory,’ he recalls. ‘The scheme was funded for two years but then the money dried up and the Saturday choir came to an abrupt end. I soon realised how disappointed the children were and that they needed a creative outlet. So I did the rounds of local primary schools to canvas support at assemblies and the Fulham Children’s Choir was the result,’ he beams.

You don’t have to be an Aled Jones or a Charlotte Church (the pre-teen years) to join the choir, nor should young singers be fearful of an audition panel, for there


Fulham Children’s Choir and Fulham Camerata

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means a small chamber group. Initially, we only had eight members,’ Christopher reminisces.

From said octet, surfing from living room to living room, the Camerata now has a core of 40 singers whose passion and dedication resonates in the calibre of music within its vocal grasp. ‘The level of performance we achieve with amateurs is exceptional,’ Christopher tells me with pride. The Fulham Camerata is divided into two ensembles: 35 amateur singers, who rehearse every Tuesday evening, and a number of talented professional and semi-professional singers who join the amateurs in concert, often providing solos.

‘The professional singers are in no way saving the day; the choir is a cohesive partnership,’ he insists. Singing lessons, training in musicianship and reading music are just part of the package lined up for those learning to find their voice and use it to its full potential. The choir’s composer in residence, Alexander Campkin, keeps things forward thinking too. His compositions are taught at a workshop where the singers can voice their opinions and suggest adaptations; ‘they feel like they own the piece,’ Christopher tells me.

The Fulham Camerata is a choir for Fulham in every respect, Christopher is keen to stress. ‘We recruit from the local community and beyond into west London and we support local charities in fundraising concerts, such as Fulham Good Neighbours and Maggie’s Cancer Care.’ Together with Fulham Opera, the Fulham Brass Band and the Fulham & Hammersmith Choral Society, Fulham Camerata is a member of Music at the Heart of Fulham, a collaborative project to promote live music in the locale, proving that SW6 cuts the classical mustard. Not a bad achievement for a group that started life as a band of living room singers.

(fulhamchildrenschoir.com; fulhamcamerata.com)

ThE SOUND OfChristmas

Creating an all-inclusive community of children from all backgrounds singing as one has always been Christopher’s

intention for the group

is none. All that is asked of members is an unwavering enthusiasm and commitment to the Tuesday choir practice – a mixture of pop songs, classical music and folk ditties – which takes place between 5.15-6pm at St Peter’s Church, Fulham.

Creating an all-inclusive music community of children (42 at present) from all backgrounds singing as one has always been Christopher’s intention for the group. This is reflected in the low fees (no re-mortgaging of homes to pay for hobbies here), which are currently set at £25 per term, with subsidised places available for children who receive free school meals.

Rehearsals have been all abuzz this month as the singers warm up for a hat-trick of festive performances. The choir will join 1,000 other young people at the Royal Albert Hall on 1 December for a performance of Handel’s Messiah, followed on 6 December by a family festival at Merchant Taylor’s Hall in the City. The choir then touches down at Fulham Palace for a local festive finale with the Family Christmas Carol Concert on 15 December at 4.30pm. For the budding singers among you younger readers, the first rehearsal back after Christmas might be a good place to start; make yourself heard on 7 January.

Still in its infancy, Fulham Children’s Choir is the choral offspring of the Fulham Camerata, established by Christopher and Hermione in 2007. ‘I was the conductor of the Lady Margaret’s parents and staff choir, which would meet up now and again. One night in the pub, we decided to make proceedings a bit more official and to sing under the name Fulham Camerata, which


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Illustration / Mai Osawa

Fulham Brass Band

Fulham Brass Band has been making music ever since the local Bricklayers’ Union

formed the group in 1895. With swathes of SW6 a building site of bricks and

mortar at the time, the band provided a worthwhile leisure opportunity for the hardworking men of the building industry, 2nd cornet Lucy Jackson

informs me. Over the years, the band has ridden the sonic waves of Fulham and beyond, competing in traditional brass band contests at home and abroad and making a string of high-profile TV appearances, picking up accolades for

the trophy cabinet along

the way in national, local and international competitions.

The local community has shaped the very essence of the band. ‘One of our objectives this year was to introduce a community concert series and we did shows in April, July, and October and will have another one in December. The point of the series is to give us more concert opportunities while reaching out to the local community so they can see that brass bands are not only for northerners!’ Lucy laughs.

It’s all a bit like the football leagues, I learn and the local group are in the brass band equivalent of the second division: the Second Section. ‘Fulham was a Fourth Section band for many years, but in the last 10 years, has climbed the ranks to become a good Second Section band. Above us, there is a First and Championship Section and we are pushing to get to the First within the next year,’ Lucy says, crossing her fingers.

Currently, Fulham Brass Band has 28 full-time members, rehearsing every Monday evening from 7.30-10pm under the baton of recently appointed musical director Chris Augustine. The musicians are a mixed bunch, but apart from Michael Dawson (solo euphonium) who plays professionally for the Irish Guards, the others have all manner of day jobs from law to IT.

Michael has been playing with Fulham Brass Band for 17 years, pipped to the post by Guy Dawes, whose 29 years of devotion as bass trombonist make him the longest standing member. ‘I have been a member for two and a half years,’ Lucy says, ‘but I feel like I have known everyone for a lot longer. For me the friendliness of the band [who like to toast a successful rehearsal or concert with a drink at The Malt House or The Broadway Bar and Grill] has always been the highlight. I like to think that anybody coming to a Fulham rehearsal or concert always leaves with a smile on their face.’

Catch the Fulham Camerata on…

7.30pm, 8 December performing carols at St Thomas of Canterbury

Church, Rylston Road

7pm, 15 December The Fulham Palace Christmas Carol Concert

18 December singing live from Trafalgar Square

4.30pm, 15 December Fulham Children’s Choir will be giving the grown-ups a run for their money at the Family Christmas Carol Concert

at Fulham Palace

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The Fulham Brass Band

The variety of the Fulham Brass Band’s musical persuasion (with rumours of a Gangnam style arrangement) takes full advantage of the beauty of the brass band repertoire, which is of the ‘anything goes’ genre. ‘We can do orchestrations of orchestral pieces, popular songs, jazz pieces and world music. Unlike an orchestra, where brass musicians spend most of the symphony and piece counting bars rest and are usually only used for impact at the end, a brass band demands a lot more, so playing a two hour concert takes a lot of rehearsal to maintain the ‘lip’ and stamina of the players,’ Lucy continues.

As a competing band, Fulham Brass Band take to the stage for four contests each year, including the Butlins Mineworkers Festival which takes place in Skegness in January, and the Regional Contest in March. The groaning award shelf is testament to its well-deserved winning streak, from the London and Southern Counties Regional Brass Band

Competition in 2010, to the more recent victory at The French Open Contest in June.

When the band is not dashing around the country, its claim to fame is evident in the plethora of TV performances it has taken in its stride. Residents may have seen them on the box at Comic Relief, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Ant & Dec’s Push the Button, and Britain’s Got Talent. The band is very vocal about its proudest and most memorable achievements. ‘Personally, it would have to be appearing at the Hammersmith Apollo performing in Britain’s Got Talent. This was the biggest audience (around 3,000) that I’ve ever played to and it was a mixture of absolute fear and exhilaration. Although we have played many TV shows to bigger audiences, playing live in front of that many people was a real highlight,’ says 2nd Horn Steve Carney.

‘I enjoy playing at the local fêtes are my favourite when young kids

hear tunes they recognise and you can see their faces light up. But my all-time favourite performance has to be the beer festival when a couple of thousand real ale drinkers started head banging to Bohemian Rhapsody played by us,’ pipes in Michael Dawson.

As for what the future holds, Lucy talks of ambitious plans afoot. ‘We would like to go back to keep hold of our title at the French Open in 2015 and would love to produce a CD and keep up the community concerts.’ It’s clear that the camaraderie between the members of the brass band runs deep: ‘it’s like a strange kind of musical family,’ solo cornet Matt Pitt tells me. ‘We do so much together and spend so much time with each other, we might as well be related!’

‘Everyone has made really close friends through the band and I met my wonderful fiancé, who I’m marrying next year, so I consider the band like a family,’ Clare Jenneson, the band’s principal

cornet laughs. Move over the von Trapps, there’s a new musical brood in town.

The festive season begins for the band with a Christmas Carol Concert at 6pm on 8 December at St John’s Church, North End Road, SW6 1PB (fulhambrassband.co.uk)

The band has ridden the sonic waves of Fulham and beyond, competing in traditional brass band

contests at home and abroad

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LOCAL fOCUS A platform for the voices of our local residents

When it comes to identifying the most show-stopping of buildings in the

borough, I’m sure many would agree that it’s a close call between the Hurlingham Club and Fulham Palace, whose colourful generations of residents have left a legacy as lasting as the wondrous architecture.

During my mayoral year, I met Wing Commander Mike Dudgeon, the Vice Lord Lieutenant for London, whose family lived at what is now the Hurlingham Club and he shared his fascinating family tree with me.

Delving four generations into the past, Mike’s great grandfather John

Horsley Palmer (who was always called Horsley, not John, I learn) bought Hurlingham House in 1835. Governor of the Bank of England from 1830-33, and Master of The Mercer’s in 1826, his arrival introduced a certain prestige to the neighbourhood. He entered into partnership with his elder brother George as East India merchants and ship owners, and even managed to find time to found both the British Gas Light Company in 1824 and the Imperial Continental Gas Association. As a director of the Bank of England from 1811-57, he was considered among the greatest authorities of his day on currency and finance.

His wife, Elizabeth Belli, pushed for Fulham as the location to settle down with her growing brood. Her sister was married to the Bishop of London, Bishop Howley, and she wanted to live near her abode in Fulham Palace. Elizabeth had eight children: Edward, George, John, Elizabeth, Sophia, Louisa, Frances and Richard. It was not all happily ever after, however; Scarlet fever tragically gripped the house and claimed the

A pOTTED hiSTOrY

Belinda Donovan meets Wing Commander Mike Dudgeon OBE DL Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, whose family once called the beautiful Hurlingham Club home

lives of Elizabeth (the mother) and her daughter Sophia. After their deaths, Horsley married Elizabeth’s cousin Jane and Bishop Howley, by now Archbishop of Canterbury, married them in Lambeth Palace. Jane left a legacy of her own, giving large amounts of money to All Saints Church, much of which is believed to have paid for the organ.

Mike tells me that Elizabeth and Horsley’s eldest son, Edward Howley Palmer, was similarly high-flying. He was also Governor of the Bank of England (1877-9) as well as a Mercer, appointed as the Master of the Mercers in 1857, 1888 and 1890. The list continues: he was City of London Merchant of the firm of Dent Palmer & Co, Director of Car Trust Investment Co Ltd, Chairman of Railway Investment Co Ltd and Lieutenant of the City of London. He was married at All Saints Church, where at least one of his children was baptised, the records reveal.

After his father died, Edward did not live at Hurlingham House as he thought it too far to ride to the Bank of England on horseback, Mike tells me. However, when he was in the neighbourhood, one can only imagine the guests that he, and his father before him, must have entertained at the house. The conversation round their dinner table over the years must have been rather high-brow, to put it mildly.

HurlinghamOf ThE

Image / Mrs Horsley Palmer

All images courtesy of Mike

Dudgeon

Image / The young Greville Horsley Palmer

Image / Family portraits hang in the dining room

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planning & developmentStructural changes in the area

Bridge over untrouBled water

Hammersmith & Fulham Council has approved plans for a footbridge linking the borough with Wandsworth. The new £22 million foot and cycle river crossing, named the Diamond Jubilee Bridge, will be the capital’s first bridge built in a decade. Designed by architect Chris Medland, the proposed 170m-long pathway across the water will connect Imperial Wharf and Chelsea Harbour (marking the spot where the Queen boarded the royal barge during the Diamond Jubilee flotilla) to Battersea. Original plans proposed connecting the new structure to the existing Grade II-listed Battersea Railway Bridge, however, after objections from English Heritage, the blueprint has been adapted to include two new river piers so that the Jubilee bridge will run adjacent to the railway bridge. Cllr Nicholas Botterill voiced his support for the new bridge: ‘We look forward to seeing this exciting idea becoming reality and with 1.2 million trips expected across the new bridge a year, this will be beneficial for local residents as well as commuters and visitors who come through the borough.’

Planned roadworks and closures in and around December

Old Brompton Road

Installation of telecoms chamber and ducts (two-way traffic to be maintained)

Until 15 December

Zayo Group UK Ltd 020 7220 3800

Stephendale Road Laying 10m of gas pipes Until 2 December National Grid Gas plc 0845 605 6677

Querrin Street Gas works Until 9 December National Grid Gas plc

Stevenage Road Gas works and connections at Bishops Mansions Until 28 March National Grid Gas plc

Fulham Road CCTV camera service Until 2 December Hammersmith & Fulham 020 8748 3020

STREET PLANNED WORK DATES WORKS OWNER

Planning applications

DATE REGISTERED: 21 NovemberADDRESS: Dymock StreetPROPOSAL: Erection of a rear roof extension and installation of two rooflights in the front roofslope

DATE REGISTERED: 20 NovemberADDRESS: Bishop’s RoadPROPOSAL: Erection of single-storey rear extension; excavation of the front and rear garden to form lightwells in connection with the enlargement of the existing basement

DATE REGISTERED: 20 NovemberADDRESS: Molesford RoadPROPOSAL: Erection of front extensions to properties in the terrace, including the formation of hip-to-gable end roofs for the two properties at the end of the terrace

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Words / Anna Castaldi

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ThE DirECTOrYWhether whim or wish, all of the essentials are taken

care of in our round up for harmonious living

esTaTe agenTsJohn D Wood & Co287 New King’s Road020 7731 4223

Knight Frank 203 New King’s Road 020 7751 2400

Marsh & Parsons 105 Moore Park Road 020 7736 9822

Savills191 New King’s Road020 7731 9400

Chesterton Humberts‘Three offices – one great postcode’78 New Kings Road020 7731 4448

Strutt & Parker701 Fulham Road020 7731 7100

Belvoir!632 Fulham Road020 7736 2786

Essam Guenedy267 New King’s Road020 7371 8010

Iceblu24a New King’s Road020 7371 9292

Marc Wallace261 New King’s Road020 7736 6795

Claudia Sebire136 Fulham Road 020 7835 1327

Zaeem Jamal‘Luxury, hand-embroidered evening gowns decorated with radiant gem stones.’

309 King’s Road020 7100 2072

BEAUTYSpace NK205 New Kings Road020 7736 6728

healTh & beauTyHAIR SAlONGina Conway612 Fulham Road 020 7731 7633

pRopeRTy seaRch agenT

Penn Holmes London Ltd‘SW6 ladies Katie and Francesca specialise in buying properties for their clients here in Fulham.’

55 Langthorne Street07884 18048007989 746499

Katie & Jo253 New King’s Road020 7736 5304

Mania Mia307 New King’s Road020 3441 1003

SPAAmara Spa 18-20 Fulham High Street 020 7384 9111

Fashion

PHARmACYPalace Pharmacy331 Fulham Palace Road020 7736 3034

hoTelsB&BFulham Thames Walk B&B91 Langthorne Street020 7381 0198

BOUTIqUELa Reserve Hotel 422-428 Fulham Road 020 7385 8561

gUEST HOUSEFulham Guest House55 Wandsworth Bridge Rd 020 7731 1662

lUxURYMillennium & Copthorne Stamford Bridge, Fulham Rd 020 7565 1400

WinkworthsFulham and Parsons Green40 New King’s Road020 7731 [email protected]

Haus Properties99 Wandsworth Bridge Road020 7751 0400

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homeANTIqUESA&L Antiques 284 Lillie Road 020 7610 2694

ARCHITECTSHogarth Architects Ltd 186 Dawes Road020 7381 3409

Caroline Fooks Design

Unit 13Sulivan Enterprise CentreSulivan Road020 7386 5772(carolinefooksdesign.com)

Alice Leigh Design

12 Parkville Road07801 823953 (aliceleigh.co.uk)

schools & nuRseRiesChelsea Independent College 517-523 Fulham Road020 7610 1114

Eridge House Preparatory School1 Fulham Park Road 020 7371 9009

Fulham Cross Girls’ School Munster Road020 7381 0861

Fulham Prep School 200 Greyhound Road 020 7371 9911

Godolphin and Latymer SchoolIffley Road020 8741 1936

Hurlingham and Chelsea SchoolPeterborough Road 020 7731 2581

Kensington Prep School596 Fulham Road020 7731 9300

Lady Margaret School Parsons Green020 7736 7138

Latymer Upper School 237 King Street0845 638 5800

L’Ecole des Petits2 Hazlebury Road020 7371 8350

Millie’s House Nursery & Pre-School163 New King’s Road020 7731 0440

Parayhouse School New King’s Road 020 7751 0914

Sinclair House School159 Munster Road 020 7736 9182

The London Oratory SchoolSeagrave Road020 7385 0102

The Moat School Bishop’s Avenue 020 7610 9018

Thomas’s FulhamHugon Road020 7751 8200

INTERIOR DESIgN WOOD FlOORINg

essenTials luxuRy seRvices

CHIlDCARE Fulham Nannies69 Stephendale Road020 7736 8289

ClEANERVanston Dry Cleaning/Laundry1 Vanston Place020 7381 3609

lIBRARYFulham Library598 Fulham Road020 8753 3879

mOTORINg Triangle Garage2 Bishops Road020 7385 1193

NEWSAgENT Filmer Newsagents14 Filmer Road020 7385 2953

POST OFFICEFulham Road Post Office815 Fulham Road0845 722 3344

Addoastra‘A boutique event management company based in London but operating throughout the country’

20 Reporton Road020 3689 4585(addoastra.com)

EVENTS

FlORISTTown and County Flowers 131 Wandsworth Bridge 020 7736 4683

PRINTINg Paramount Press Ltd129 Munster Road020 7731 0900

STATIONERPerry’s777 Fulham Road020 7736 7225

TRAVElThe Ultimate Travel Co. 25-27 Vanston Place020 7386 4646

Bembé UK Ltd ‘German craft since 1780.’

315-317 New King’s Road020 7371 9090

Christmas. It’s the little details that make a big difference. Just like when it comes to property.

savills.co.uk

More than you’re looking for.

Savills Fulham Parsons Green 191 New Kings Road London SW6 4SW 020 7731 9400

Savills Fulham Bishops Park 423 Fulham Palace Road London SW6 6SX020 7578 9050

SA71946 Fulham Residents Journal Xmas DPS.indd 1 11/11/2013 10:19

Just a few of the properties where we have made a big difference for our clients.

RingMeR Avenue, SW6 guide £1.925 Million

sold

ConigeR RoAd, SW6 guide £2,000 peR Week

let

QuARRendon StReet, SW6 guide £4.395 Million

sold

FulhAM pARk RoAd, SW6 guide £1,200 peR Week

let

pARSonS gReen, SW6 guide £650,000

sold

puRSeRS CRoSS RoAd, SW6 guide £1,200 peR Week

let

nApieR Avenue, SW6 guide £3.5 Million

sold

pARtheniA RoAd, SW6 guide £725 peR Week

let

niton StReet, SW6 guide £800,000

sold

BiSCAy RoAd, W6 guide £900 peR Week

let

neW kingS RoAd, SW6 guide £2.35 Million

sold

Colehill gARdenS, SW6 guide £400 peR Week

let

let us be the big difference to your property success in 2014.

SA71946 Fulham Residents Journal Xmas DPS.indd 2 11/11/2013 10:20

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savills.co.uk

Savills FulhamEmma [email protected]

020 7731 9420

Guide £5.5 million Freehold

2 reception rooms ø kitchen/dining room ø 6 bedrooms ø 5 bathroomsø 2 cloakrooms ø utility room ø garden ø off-street parkingø 438 sq m (4,715 sq ft) ø EPC=C

FABULOUS SEMI-DETACHED HOUSE NEAR BISHOPS PARKellerby street, sw6

LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY

1

savills.co.uk

*£36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee – charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details, visit www.savills.co.uk/fees.

Savills FulhamLucy [email protected]

020 7731 2692

3 bedrooms ø reception room with wood floors ø kitchen / dining room ø 2 bathroomsø patio garden ø 177 sq m (1,905 sq ft) ø Council Tax= G ø EPC= E

STUNNING, ELEGANT FAMILY HOUSE FACING HURLINGHAM PARKhurlingham road, sw6

Unfurnished£1,250 per week + £276 inc VAT admin fee and other charges may apply*

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Fulham Road SW6 £2,950,000

FULHAM: 020 7736 9822 [email protected]

This superb fi ve-bedroom, mid terrace family house is offered in excellent condition and conveniently located on the border of Fulham & Chelsea. This stunning period property is beautifully presented throughout, with elegant accommodation arranged over four fl oors. fi nished in a contemporary style, the house includes two impressive raised ground fl oor reception rooms, complete with beautiful wooden fl ooring, fi replaces and access out to a south facing balcony. Freehold. EPC=C. Sole Agents.

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Moore Park Road SW6 £2,350,000


This superb house offers fl exible accommodation arranged over fi ve fl oors as well as off street parking and a garage. The ground fl oor provides a bright reception room and conservatory leading out to a private walled garden, while the fi rst fl oor comprises an impressive drawing room with a roof terrace and an attractive family kitchen. The upper fl oors provide a stunning master suite, four further double bedrooms, a family bathroom, wet room and a studio leading out to a sunny south facing terrace. Freehold. EPC=D. Sole Agent.

Moore Park Road SW6 £1,999,950Located just off Eel Brook Common, this outstanding end-of-terrace, six-bedroom house has recently been extended to provide wider than average accommodation arranged over three fl oors. Offering an abundance of natural light, the house comprises a beautiful double reception room, kitchen, fi ve double bedrooms, a further bedroom/study, two bathrooms, two shower rooms and a ground fl oor cloakroom. The house also benefi ts from a delightful west facing garden. Share of Freehold. EPC=E. Sole Agents.


The Negotiator Awards 2013(for the 2nd year running!)

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Cranbury Road SW6 £575 per week


This incredible property has undergone extensive refurbishment to create a beautiful and unique home. The spacious split-level accommodation comprises a fully equipped kitchen, bright open plan dining/reception spaces two bedrooms, a contemporary bathroom with under fl oor heating and a patio garden. Cranbury Road is a pretty residential street, conveniently located for Wandsworth Bridge Road. EPC=D.

Clapham Common Northside, SW4Beautiful green viewsAn impressive Victorian house beautifully presented situated in a highly sought after residential area facing Clapham Common. 5/6 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, double reception room, upstairs sitting room/bedroom 6, kitchen/dining room, cinema room, wine store, utility room, garden. EPC rating D. Approximately 280 sq m (3,014 sq ft)Freehold Asking price: £2,250,000

(WND130320)

KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/wandsworth [email protected] 020 7768 0993

York Mansions, Battersea SW11Four bedroom park facing apartmentLocated on the 1st floor, it is one of the largest park facing units on Prince of Wales Drive and offers excellent lateral living space. 4 bedrooms, 1 to 2 reception rooms, kitchen, 2 refurbished bathrooms, balcony. EPC rating D. Approximately 183 sq m (1,970 sq ft) Share of freehold Guide price: £2,750,000

(RVR130114)

KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/battersea [email protected] 3597 7670

KnightFrank.co.uk/battersea [email protected] 3597 7670

PROPERTY DIVERSITYThe intelligent solution to buying property

Coming [email protected]

632 Fulham Road | London | SW6 5RT020 7736 2786 | [email protected]

www.belvoirlettings.com/fulham

LandLords andProPerty Investors

WInter’s here…

For an expert view on this season’s ever-changing lettings market, please call Belvoir! and speak to our specialists.

Our professional advice is provided

confidentially, free and without obligation.

We look forward to assisting you soon.

5880 Belvoir Converting Winter Window Display Card into an Advert v5.indd 1 27/11/2012 17:48

Your reward for all the lonely dinners at your desk.

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Barclay Road, SW6 £525 per week* Unfurnished

An extremely well presented and recently refurbished, two double bedroom garden flat on this quiet street.

727sq ft (67.54 sq m) EPC Rating EReception room | Kitchen | Master bedroom | Second double bedroom | Bathroom | Garden

Fulham Lettings 020 7731 7100 [email protected]

*The following Tennant charges may apply prior to tennancy commencement: Tenancy Agreement

£210 (inc VAT) Credit References per application £54 (inc VAT). All advertised prices are excluded and other associated services.

Dolphin House, SW6 £2,950,000 Leasehold

Arguably one of the most prime riverside apartments to come to the market within this impressive development.

1,873 sq ft (174 sq m) EPC Rating BKitchen/dining room | Drawing room | Three bedrooms | Three bathrooms | Two balconies | Gardens | Concierge and security | Underground Parking

Fulham 020 7731 7100 [email protected]

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Broomhouse Road, SW6 £2,300,000 Freehold

An immaculately presented four bedroom house on this attractive road in Parsons Green, moments from Hurlingham Park.

2,153 sq ft (200 sq m) EPC Rating CDrawing room | Kitchen/dining room | Master bedroom suite | Three further bedrooms | Family bathroom | Utility room | Study | Garden

Fulham 020 7731 [email protected]

At Strutt & Parker, we’ve always gone to great lengths to bring the right buyer to your door, using our knowledge, contacts and total commitment to achieve the sale you want. But now we go further than ever. As members in the Christie’s International Real Estate network, we can reach quality buyers in 41 countries via 920 offices and a website visited 135,600 times a month.

There’s no better way to open your door to the world.

701 Fulham RoadLondon, SW6 5ULTel: +44 (0)20 7731 [email protected]

struttandparker.com/christies

Where will we find your perfect buyer?

P RIS

CD3126_S&P_Christies_Fulham Residents Association_Paris_edit.indd 1 03/04/2013 16:45

FulhamResident’s Journal

www.Res id e n tsJouRnal.co.uk0 2 0 7987 4320

fulham residents journal december 2013

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