the brent magazine issue 99 february 2010

ISSUE NO.99 FREE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN BRENT FEBRUARY 2010

The futureat their

fingertipsPupils lead the digital revolution

Features

12 Teaching technologyInside further education college’s new building

15 IT learning Computer charity trains borough’s residents

16 Suburban wonderMuseum’s Trobridge exhibition to open

18 Technology championsBrent schools win IT awards

21 A hi-tech helpTechnology helps people live independently

23 Digital innovationGadgets help Brent Council’s services

25 Screen successSchoolboy’s winning animation

Regulars

4 Update

9 Brent people

11 All in a day’s work

26 Secret history

29 Competitions

30 Time out

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One Stop Service 020 8937 1200

www.brent.gov.uk

The Brent Magazine isavailable in large print and on audio tape. Please call 020 8937 1106Cover image: Children at Anson Primary Photographer ISABELLE PLASSCHAERT

ContentsWelcome to TheBrent MagazineThis month The Brent Magazine islooking at how technology istransforming our lives.

We are profiling some of the mostup-to-date facilities for technicaleducation at the College of NorthWest London. The college’s newtechnology building is ensuring thatyoungsters and people in work canget the very best in vocationaleducation.

Technology is also helping peoplethrough systems such as Telecare. Itis helping to make sure vulnerablepeople can live in their own homeindependently. Brent’s schools havealso adapted to new technologyand are winning IT awards for theirwork. For those who may feel leftout of the technological revolutiona charity in Alperton is helping totrain people.

Finally, Secret History shows thatat least one important developmentin computing began in Dollis Hill.

James DiamondEditorThe Brent Magazine

Issue No. 99 February 2010

The Brent Magazine contactsDistribution queries and editorial 020 8937 [email protected] Advertising 020 8937 1097 [email protected] by the London Borough of Brent, Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley Middlesex.

The London Borough of Brent does not accept responsibility for any goods or services offered by advertisers. Publication of an advertisement does not imply recommendation by the council of goods or services advertised.

Printed on 100 per cent recycled paper. Please use your local paper bank when disposing of this and other paper.

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Occupational therapy users to be surveyedResidents who receive occupational therapy equip-ment or a minor adaptationafter being assessed by BrentCouncil are being surveyed in February.

A random sample of peoplewho have received servicesbetween 1 September and 31December last year will besent a survey questionnaire byBrent Council. It must be sentback by the end of February,

and all replies will be treatedin the strictest confidence.

The survey is being carriedout by all councils that provide adult social services,and the Department ofHealth will be reviewing thefindings to assess the qualityof adult social services acrossEngland and Wales. Users’responses will not be dis-closed to any other body,except to the Department Of

Health but only in ananonymous format.

If you are a service userand receive your survey formand letter, please take the timeto complete the survey andreturn it in the reply paidenvelope by 28 February atthe latest. For more emailPaul Chennell at BrentCouncil on [email protected] call 020 8937 4143.

Queens Parks Rangers willget youngsters reading withspecial events at KingsburyLibrary Plus from 27 February.

Community coaches will beat the library in KingsburyRoad on Saturdays to deliverits Kick into Reading pro-gramme. The sessions willfeature reading activities inthe library followed by sportsin nearby Roe Green park,and are for children agedeight to 12.

Children who attend twosessions will get two ticketsfor a QPR home game; thosewho attend all five sessionswill get a one-week voucherfor the QPR soccer school inthe Easter holidays. TheSaturday sessions will be on27 February, and 6, 13, 20, 27March from 11-12noon, visitwww.brent.gov.uk/librariesor call 020 8937 3520.

Alperton’sgreen goddessA pupil’s vision of makingher school greener has wonher a prize at the London Student Awards.

Jothikka Amaralingamcame top in the science category for a proposal calling for more cycling,walking to school and theuse of motion-sensor lightbulbs at Alperton High.

She said: “I can’t believe I won. It’s such a greatachievement for me. It’sreally inspired me to continue achieving inlessons.” The competition was opento all London Year 9and 10 students andcovers art, music,drama, creativewriting, business andscience.

New hostel seeksvolunteersA hostel being built in Willesdenis seeking volunteers to run itsactivities for homeless people.

The hostel in Pound Lane,developed by charity St Mungo’sin partnership with BrentCouncil, is scheduled to openafter Easter this year. It needs volunteers to run benefits and jobadvice, cooking, citizenship andexercise classes, and health andwellbeing activities.The hostelwill also have a community caféfor service users and local people.

Jacqui Randle, St Mungo’sVolunteer Services Coordinator,said: “We need volunteers to support the community cafe,helping out in the reception areasand advice service.

“We would also love to hearfrom complementary healthpractitioners and local peopleinterested in supporting the various wellbeing activities andgroups the project will offer.”

Email St Mungo’s at [email protected] call 020 7902 7966/7965.

QPR setsyoungsters’reading goals

Brill evening celebrates Brent ChanukahFive hundred people enjoyed anevening of music, songs anddrama at Brent ChanukahFestival.

The event, held onChanukah’s sixth night inDecember at Brent Town Hall,was part of Brent Council’s cele-brations of the Jewish Festival ofLight. It included beat boxerDaniel Brill and friends giving amodern twist to the traditionalsong ‘Moats Tzur’, choralsinging by pupils at North WestLondon Jewish Day School ledby Ben Savory and directed byRabbi Ronen Broder, and a playby Michael Sobell Sinai Schoolpupils. A Menorah, designed bypupils from Preston Park

Primary School, was lit at sunsetand pupils from the school visited Wembley Synagogue inForty Avenue, during Chanukah.

The synagogue took part inBrent Chanukah by holding anopen day and has recentlyorganised visits from schools,colleges and Cub groups and iskeen to receive more.

“It was a wonderful festival forthe whole community and Ithank everyone who helpedmake Brent Chanukah such asuccess,” said Mayor of BrentCouncillor Jim O’Sullivan.

Contact Wembley Synagogueat [email protected] or call 020 8904 6565.

Children singing at the Brent Chanukah event

THE BRENT MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2010

Brent Council is pledging to cut its carbon dioxide emissionsby ten per cent by the end of2010 after signing up to the10:10 Campaign.

The campaign commitsorganisations to reduce emissionssignificantly in an attempt tocontrol climate change.

Brent Council Leader

Councillor Paul Lorber said:“It is important Brent Councilleads the way in taking action on climate change. Even smallactions will make a difference.”

A cake cutting marked the startof the commitment and it waslater given to CricklewoodHomeless Concern where it wasserved as dessert.

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5FEBRUARY 2010 THE BRENT MAGAZINE

Brent youngsters triumphed atthe New Year’s Day Parade2010 thanks to their display of colourful costumes made fromrecycled goods.

They beat 21 other boroughsto win the prestigious Let’sHelp London Challenge and a

prize of £7,500 will bedonated to the Mayor of

Brent’s charity appeal.Brent’s display wowed

the 500,000 paradespectators withcolourful birds, treesand flower costumes.Brent’s winning

entry was organised byBrent Youth Volunteersand was created bythe young peopleworking with

Harlesden-based carni-val company Mahogany, andwas funded by vinspired.They made the costumesfrom recycled items such asplastic cans, newspapers, cansand tin foil.

Thirty-three children fromAlperton School, Claremont

High, Preston Manor High,Lyon Park Primary andBarham Park Primary Schoolgot involved.

Mayor of Brent, CouncillorJim O’Sullivan, who attendedthe parade on 1 January, said:“What a fantastic way to start2010. The highest praise hasto go to the young people fortheir creativity, dedication andenthusiasm. Thank you toeveryone who took part.”

Top prize won by youngstersat annual parade

Pupils taking part in theparade with the Mayor andMayoress of Brent

Tributes paidto late councillor

Bye-bye birdieVeteran foster carer BirdieMcDonald has retired after33 years of looking after chil-dren in Brent.

She has cared for morethan 100 children andreceived an OBE in 2006. Tomark her retirement Birdiereceived an engraved vaseand flowers from staff atBrent Council.

“Many children recallhappy memories of the timethey spent living with Birdie;adults greatly value the lifeskills they gained from theirtime in her care. The esteemin which she is held is a tes-tament to her commitment,”said Placements OfficerDyelia Morgan. Visitwww.brent.gov.uk/fosteringor call 020 8937 4538 formore about Brent fostering.

A former councillor who represented BrondesburyPark and Barnhill wards haspassed away.

Bill Duffin was a councillorfrom 1987 until the late1990s when he stood down,but was re-elected in 2002for another term. He was agovernor of Kingsbury HighSchool and chaired the oldHousing Committee on Brent Council. Bill was anaccountant by professionand a keen cricket and football fan. Well-wishers areasked to donate to St Luke’sHospice Kenton, call 020 8382 8000.

Greenhouse gas is sliced

New honoursfor Brent residentsBrent people have been honoured by The Queen in this year’s New Year’sHonours List.

They include former Mayorof Brent Ahmad Shahzadwho received an OBE for services to black and ethnicminority people. He repre-sented Willesden Green wardfor many years until 2006and was mayor from 2004-2005. Margaret Baxter fromKilburn also received an OBEfor her services to the volun-tary sector. Mary Turner, whois president of the GMBunion and is an officer forthe trade union in Brent,received an MBE as didStonebridge-born footballerJason Roberts for his charitywork in the UK andCaribbean.

Chief Excutive Gareth Daniel, Council Leader Paul Lorber and Directorof Environment and Culture Richard Saunders.

A delighted Magnol Innis wasone of many residents to receivemeals on wheels in the recenticy weather.

Staff overcame snow and iceto make sure everyone got theirregular meal and an extra 200people also received a meal fromthe service because they hadproblems getting to the shops or

day centres. Service driversbegan rounds early and workedlonger hours to complete deliveries. Some delivered onfoot because vans could not getthrough the snow. Council contractors deliver 160,000meals a year to residents whoqualify for the service, call 020 8937 1200.

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The NHS is consulting about aproposed reorganisation of chil-dren’s hospital services in Brent.

It has organised a public meeting on 11 February for residents to hear about the plans.The proposal is for two newconsultant-led paediatric assessment units at NorthwickPark and Central MiddlesexHospitals and the centralisationof overnight children’s care atNorthwick Park. Six beds atCentral Middlesex Hospitalwould close at night, meaningthree children a day might needto be transferred to NorthwickPark’s department.

The paediatric units will openfrom 10am-10pm, seven days aweek, allowing children to beseen by a senior doctor quickly.Central Middlesex wouldcontinue to provide outpatientand day care for children at theRainbow Centre.

Northwick Park and CentralMiddlesex would have urgentcare centres next to their A&Edepartments to treat childrenand adults with non-life threatening injuries and illnesses.

“We believe this proposal willprovide children with better carethan they receive at the moment,by ensuring that children receive

the right care at the right placeand time,” said Chief Executiveof NHS Brent Mark Easton.“This is the way children’s services are developing and weare pleased to be bringing bestpractice to our local community.”

The deadline for respondingto the consultation is 4 April2010; the public meeting willstart at 6pm on 11 February atPatidar House, 22 LondonRoad,Wembley.To view theconsulation document visitwww.brentharrowchildren.nhs.uk or for more informationemail [email protected] orcall 020 8869 3701.

Have your say on children’shospital services in Brent

A new project is giving young people the opportu-nity to get active andsocialise after school.

The Young People’s Drop-In has attracted more than135 school pupils since itstarted last year. It is onMonday evenings atKingsbury High School inPrinces Avenue, and wasset up by Brent Council’sKingsbury LocalityPartnership Board with

£10,000 from theNeighbourhood Working

Team. The drop-in for 13 to15 year olds runs food andfilm classes; and sportstaught by coaches such asroller skating, basketballand tennis.

“It has provided studentswith a safe place to meet,and is encouraging andnurturing an interest insport. Many of the youngpeople who attend wouldnormally shy away fromfootball and tennis,” said Kingsbury High

School assistant headteacherIta McNamara.

Holly Leathers and JasminMcCarthy-Jones roller skate

Leo’s cymbalof successLeo Isreal-Governdale wona drum kit in a prize drawafter getting a ticket on ahalf-term holiday pro-gramme at the Bridge ParkLeisure Centre in HarrowRoad, Stonebridge.

Leo with his mother MarieIsreal-Governdale, area manager CatherineFourcampe and CouncillorIrwin Van Colle.

Youngsters’ project is on a roll Meals are still mobile

A roller disco is boggieingdown to the Bridge ParkLeisure Centre on Fridays from12 February.

The discos, for youngstersaged 12 to 16, will be atcentre in Stonebridge from

6-9pm, costing £6 for children.Family events are on 26February and 19 March, costing £9 for adults, toattend download a form atwww.brent.gov.uk/sports orcall 020 8937 3707.

Roll up for disco in Stonebridge

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Make a date with green community festival

Creative workshops will bestarting up at ChalkhillCommunity Centre from 6February. Classes includeSufi drumming, and artsand crafts on Saturdays at11.30am, and storytellingfor mother-toddler groups.They will be led by textileartist Rezia Wahid, Sufimusician Khaled Hakimand performance artist Alia Alzougbi from artsorganisation Silk Roads. All workshops will be atthe centre in ChalkhillRoad, Wembley, visitwww.silkroads.co.uk orcall 07954 601 372.

An Environmental CommunityFestival is being held on 25February, featuring a speeddating-style event for groupsinvolved in green issues.

The event, organised by thecouncil’s Brent SustainabilityForum, is for communitygroups, colleges, individualsand businesses to let othersknow what environmental workthey are doing. At the speeddating-style event, stall holderswill get five minutes to promoteprojects and to request theforum’s support. Residents whoare interested in the environ-ment, but do not wish to run astall, are also invited to attend.

“The forum is a resource forresidents and the wider

community to gain help for all types of environmental projects. I urge anyone who isout there getting on with projects to get in touch; we’rehere to help out,” said InesCarvalho, Sustainability ForumCoordinator.

The festival will be from5pm-6.30pm in committeerooms 1-3 at Brent Town Hallon Thursday 25 February.After the festival the forumwill hold a project selectionsession from 6.30-8.30pm,also open to the public. Tobook a stall or attend the festival, email [email protected] call 020 8937 5326 before15 February.

FEBRUARY 2010 THE BRENT MAGAZINE

Stephanie Gray from Brent Friendsof the Earth and environment consultant Ian McCubin at an environmental event last year.

A climbing mound featuringa mosaic bird on its peak hasopened at Gladstone Park.

It was built under thePlaybuilder scheme whichgave money to GladstonePark Consultative Committee

in partnership with BrentCouncil to create the climbing area. A fitnesscourse and zip slide wereinstalled last year, and are allpopular with children.

NW10 residents concernedabout personal safety canattend free workshops toimprove their street safety on8 and 10 February.

The workshops includepractical advice on legalrights and what is recognisedin law as reasonable force,verbal responses to attackers,

avoiding dangerous situations,‘breakaway’ techniques andservices for victims. The StreetSafe classes will be led by atrained instructor from theNational Federation for Personal Safety. Theyhave been organised byRucklidge Avenue Residents’Association and funded

by Brent Council’sNeighbourhood WorkingTeam, and will last about onehour; classes will be heldin the day and evening at theSalvation Army Hall in Manor Park Road,Harlesden, email [email protected] or call 07733 995 589.

Park’s playground takes off Chalkhill getscreative

Free street safety classes for NW10 residents

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Musician playing Sufi drums

8 THE BRENT MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2010

Who will use the website?The website is for anyone aged up to 19 inBrent. It should be about making youngpeople aware of activities, events andopportunities going on in the borough.There should also be an interactive hub forgiving young people advice. I hope it will bea good resource for people to get in touchwith each other.They can also find outabout anything they are interested in suchas sports or a youth club in the borough.

Do you use new technology?Yes, a lot. I use the internet all the timebecause it’s really useful for my studies.At the moment I’m studying four A-levels:biology, chemistry, German and maths, andI want to study medicine at university. Ilisten to German radio stations onlinethrough the internet, and maths I usespecialist maths websites as well for mystudies. It is really good socially as well, Ilike going on YouTube and socialnetworking sites.

Arafa Salam won a competition to name

a website for young people to be set up

soon by Brent Council.

What is the website’s name?

The website is going to be called B myvoice.The name is clever and anexcellent play on words.The B standsfor Brent, but people can also read it as‘be’, meaning that it is for youngpeople to express their voice. I didn’tthink up the name, but I chose it outof quite a few different options andwon an iPod shuffle, which is great.

How did you get involved?I saw the competition on my school’s

website www.kingsburyhigh.org.ukwhich I read a lot. I am also a member ofBrent Youth Parliament, representing myschool, and the new website was discussedat a parliament meeting and at Brent YouthMatters 2 forum. Officers from BrentCouncil came in and showed theparliament members different designs andtalked about the names which had beenthought of.

FEBRUARY 2010 THE BRENT MAGAZINE 9

For more information on B my voice, visit www.brent.gov.uk/youthweb

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ALL IN Aday’s work

ContactPoint will helpprofessionals to work togetherfor the benefit of children and

in Brent its introduction isbeing overseen by BhavnaBilimoria.

It is a computer-based directorylisting the names, date-of-birth,address, parents or carers, GP, andschool of children aged up until theage of 18. ContactPoint is not just

being introduced in Brent, but allcouncils in England.

“The system will helpprofessionals to do their jobsbetter and will allow services towork together more closely tohelp children, young peopleand also their families,”explains Bhavna. “Previously,there was no immediate wayof finding out if other servicesare in contact with a child.ContactPoint will be quickerand easier for professionalsto communicate with eachother. So, for example, if achild moves from anotherborough into Brent,professionals will be able tofind out straight away by

looking at ContactPointwho has worked with

or supported thatchild in the past.”

Brent Council

must introduce ContactPoint by law,and Bhavna is leading a team in theChildren and Families Departmentwhich will make it fully operationalacross Brent by April. It has beendeveloped as a response to theLaming Enquiry into the tragic deathof Victoria Climbie in 2000, whichfound that different agencies whowork with children and young peoplehad not had sufficient communicationwith each other about Victoria.

In Brent professionals such aschildren’s social workers,headteachers, and health workers willbe able to use the system. It can taketime for a professional working with ayoung person to find out who elsemight be helping them. ContactPointwill speed up the process by givingprofessionals instant information onall the other services involved withthat child. However, only users whohave an enhanced Criminal RecordsBureau check, and are trained and setup with secure passwords can accessthe system. For extra security detailsof children at risk of significant harmcan also be shielded on ContactPoint.“Everyone who uses it must complywith the Data Protection Act,” saysBhavna. “There has to be a specificreason for looking at particular detailsof a child in the borough – they arenot allowed to simply start looking atrandom and will be monitored."

Parents can request to see theinformation held about a child bywriting to the ContactPoint team.

Technologyfor safety

Bhavna Bilimoria is overseeing the introduction ofContactPoint – a computer-based directory of contacts to help safeguard children in Brent.

For more information visitwww.brent.gov.uk/contactpoint or email [email protected] call 020 8937 4979/4971.


“The system will help professionals to do their

jobs better.”


The College of North West London is leading the way in technical training and education thanks to its state-of-the-art technology building.

Where technologytowers

“We are a progressive

college, embracing new

technology, and exceptional

in what we do.”

To step into the Telford Building is sometimeslike leaping a long way into the future.

The building, home to the College ofNorth West London’s Faculty of Technology,is one of the most advanced centres fortechnical training anywhere in the country.It opened last year at a cost of £13 million;today 3,000 students are trained in every-thing from bricklaying to engineering onthe most up-to-date equipment around.

“The building is the most exciting buildingwe have seen on the site for more than 70years,” says Pat Leavey the Head of theTechnology Faculty at the college. “It is afantastic state-of-the-art facility which willallow the integration of construction andengineering provision to meet current andfuture industry needs. The design of thebuilding is very pleasing, but what makes itunique is the interior; the way workshopsare set up and fitted out for a vocationalcurriculum is not replicated anywhere else inthe country in this sector. To have all these

facilities for construction and engineering inone building is, we believe, unique in thissector, and very exciting for the industry.”

Classrooms are designed for teachingconstruction and engineering crafts, includ-ing mobile gas rigs, interactive white-boards, automated teaching screens, micro-phone sound systems, focus cameras and ITscreens. The cameras enable the students inclassrooms to observe what is being taughtin the practical class areas. It has automechanical engineering on the groundfloor with modern garage workshopswhich are big enough to fit buses. Also onthe ground floor are ‘trowel trades’ whereplastering and bricklaying are taught. Theengineering rooms have up-to-date lathemachines. The second and third floors arefor teaching gas and refrigeration, plumb-ing and air conditioning courses. Despite itshi-tech environment it has been namedafter the 18th century civil engineerThomas Telford.

Tutors are developing new technology toteach the curriculum. Students on the gasheating and ventilation courses can practiseinstallation in a ‘virtual bungalow’ beforegoing into the workshops. One course iseven piloting Second Life – a virtual worldaccessible on the internet – to teach aplumbing qualification. “It has proved verypopular,” says Martin Biron, Head of theConstruction School. “The college has itsown Second Life ‘island’ where I meet upwith the students’ avatars. It is like any otherclassroom; we can even look inside a heatingsystem virtually and they find out how itworks. That is done outside of college and itsuits the students as it’s flexible.”

“Every year more and more students arecoming to us as more technologically savvy;as well as pens and books they will bringalong a mobile or Blackberry,” he added.

For courses at the Telford Building visitwww.cnwl.ac.uk email [email protected] call 020 8208 5050.


For free graffiti removal contact StreetCare on 020 8937 5050 and we will send one of our specialist graffiti removal teams to tackle the problem.

StreetCare offers a first time free graffiti removal service to all private and commercial property owners in the Brent area. Initial removal is free, subsequentremovals are available at a subsidised and reduced rate.



Technologychampion

The trustee of a charityoffering information technology and computertraining to residents hasbeen honoured for his voluntary service.

Visit www.mitec.org.uk, [email protected] or call 020 8900 0505; the community champions awards are at www.brent.gov.uk/communityawards or [email protected] or call 020 8937 3673 for further information.

Peter Nelke is here for anyone who mightthink a search engine is a slightly unusualmodel of railway train.

He is business secretary of MiddlesexITeC – an Alperton-based charity whichoffers computer training. Peter has been aboard trustee since 1991, and in 2009 wona Brent Community Champions Award forhis voluntary work.The awards, open fornominations until 3 March, honour peoplewho give up their time to assist others.

“We improve people’s life chances bytraining them in information technology,”he says. “Learners represent a spectrum ofneed such as children outside mainstreameducation, unemployed people or womenwanting to return to work. Others might beresidents who feel excluded from IT suchas older people or those with low literacy.“Without IT skills it’s very hard to start acareer or progress these days. Society haschanged: there are fewer manual jobs andemployers want to see evidence of skills.”

Peter, who is a retired physics teacherand former Brent councillor, helps toorganise courses and does some teaching.The charity, which has three full-time staff,mainly teaches Microsoft packages.Two

key courses are computer training for over55s – a six-week course for older learnerswhich includes using the internet andemail – and the second is a tailored programme for 16 to 25-year-olds livingin Brent. He estimates that last year 120Brent residents successfully completedcourses at Middlesex ITeC.

“Older people have a lot to offer,” addsPeter. “It is never too late to learn; I oncetaught an 85-year-old student. Olderpeople are taught here to use the internetand email, allowing them to send picturesand messages.They train in our special ITsuite, and get a boost from socialising andmeeting new people. It helps we have agood pupil-teacher ratio, often six studentsper teacher, which compares to Eton!”

The charity celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2008. Until 1983 it wasknown as Brent Information TechnologyExchange and was based in Stonebridge.

Peter joined in 1991 as a councillor representative, but stayed on after leavingthe local authority.

“I was very pleased to win the awardlast year,” adds Peter. “It’s very rewardingto see someone who was struggling cominghere and become so positive.We have hadseveral students who have left school withfew or no GCSEs, but blossomed at ourIT academy.They generally secured college places to study for qualifications;

one was recognisedby Microsoft UKwith Middlesex IteC also winning an award.”

“Learners represent a spectrumof need such as children outside

mainstream education.”

Peter Nelke byIsabelle Plasschaert

The thatched cottages in suburbanKingsbury could fit snugly into anyvillage in rural England.

They are well-known as the work ofErnest George Trobridge – a pioneer ofdomestic architecture in the 20th centurywho lived and worked for many years inKingsbury. In addition to the cottages,the area also has distinctive houses hedesigned with crenellated roofs, mockturrets,Tudor gates, and twistedchimneys.To mark this architecturallegacy unique to the borough, BrentMuseum is holding the exhibition ‘EGTrobridge:Visionary of the Suburbs’ torun from 18 February to 24 September.It features new designs by Trobridgewhich have recently come to light,photos, and recorded memories ofresidents and family members who havelived in his houses.

In addition, there will be familyworkshops including storytelling,drawing, and printing inspired byTrobridge’s architecture betweenFebruary and September, all at BrentMuseum. For adults there will be talks onTrobridge by academics such as GrahamPaul Smith on 25 March, and GavinStamp on 22 April. Local historian PhilipGrant is leading a walking tour of theKingsbury area on 15 and 19 May, and19 September.

Trobridge was born in Belfast in 1884.His father, George was a gifted painter

and the head of Belfast School of Design.Ernest moved to London aged 24, and in1915 moved to Haydon House, HayLane, Kingsbury, to flee the First WorldWar’s Zepplin raids.The exhibitionexplains how in the war he thought upthe idea for the timber-framed houses. “Itwas his solution to the post-war housingshortage,” explains Brent Museum’scurator Joe Carr. “The beauty of thesystem was using elm wood which wasplentiful and cheap. Chimneys,supporting columns and fireplaces werebuilt in brick and tile, and the thatchedroofs had a water sprinkler system in caseof fire.”

In 1922 he exhibited a patent house atthe Ideal Home Exhibition, in Olympia.He later bought ten acres of land at thejunction of Kingsbury Road and SloughLane. Under a Ministry of Labour

scheme he employed ten men who hadbeen disabled serving in the war to buildthe houses.The Ferndene Estate wasfinished in 1922; its cottages cost £600which at the time were ‘about 20 per centcheaper than brick.’ He built more of thehouses in Stag Lane and Buck Lane.Many of these can still be seen inKingsbury, including Hayland inKingsbury Road that he lived in from1922-1942.

By the 1930s, when building materialswere more plentiful and housing subsidieswere no longer available,Trobridge’s stylechanged accordingly. He usedless timber-framing and hebuilt more flats thanhouses.The rising cost oftimber and the moreplentiful supply ofbricks influencedTrobridge’s newunorthodox design ideas.“The buildings areremarkable for the finequality of the brickwork of thechimneys and columns, suchas the flats in Old ChurchLane, Kingsbury,” saidJoe. “Others have turretsand battlements such asthose in Wakeman’s Hilland Buck Lane. Hisdesigns incorporatedhistorical types,illusion, humour andeven insecurelookingstructures.”

Brent Museum’s major new exhibition opening this monthcelebrates the life of architectural pioneer EG Trobridge.

“He was a man of strong

convictions who believed

that not only the rich but

ordinary people should have

a nice house to live in”

Visionary of

Trobridge and family outside Hayland

EG Trobridge


Brent Museum’s exhibition details hisdesigns for houses with fortified garageswhich he submitted for planningpermission in 1938.The designs werenever built. However, the designs showthe garages would provide protectionfrom 560lb bombs, gas attacks and firewith 80 seats and 12 seats in a gas-proofcompartment. In May 1938 he submittedanother application to add a fortifiedgarage to Hayland in Kingsbury.

The exhibition also explains howTrobridge was influenced by theSwedenborgian Church.The church istraced back to Emanuel Swedenborg(1688-1772), a Swedish scientist,philosopher and theologian. He wasconcerned with the idea of a universallanguage and the difficulty of describingpsychic events scientifically. Heproposed a system of ‘correspondence’so worldly, spiritual and divine ideascould be unified.

“It gave him an understanding of abalance between nature and architecture,”added Joe. “His houses reflectSwedenborgian symbolism such as asheltering roof, focal hearth, stylisedentrances and asymmetry.

“He was a man of strongconvictions who believed thatnot only the rich butordinary people should havea nice house to live in. Hisdesigns provided

good quality affordable housing for thepeople who needed it most.”

As a lifelong vegetarian he refused totake insulin which he needed for hisdiabetes as it was made from slaughteredcattle. Sadly, he died in 1942 from hiscondition.

‘EG Trobridge: Visionary of the

Suburbs’ is from 18 February to 24

September, for full listings of

family workshops, talks and walks

visit www.brent.gov.uk/museum

or call 020 8937 3600 for more

information.

17

the suburbsHighfort Court inWakeman’s Hill

Hayland in Kingsbury


18

Brent schools are enjoying spectacular successin using information technology and two inparticular can now be ranked as among the best anywhere in the country.

Recently, Preston Park Primary School wasvoted Primary School of the Year and a projectby Anson Primary School scooped the awardfor Most Innovative School Project at the xe-Learning Conference Home Access Awards.The awards are organised by the e-LearningFoundation, a charity which aims to bringtechnology to children.

Anson Primary’s scheme NW-2b-Friends is a social networking project and educational sitethat allows pupils to communicate withone another online whilst at the sametime teaching them all about internetsafety, appropriate and inappropriateonline behaviour and the issues involvedaround copyright. It wasdeveloped in-house at the schoolby the ICT team Simon Pile andBrooke Penrose.“We were thrilled to havereceived an award forNW2bFriends from the e-Learning Foundation,”says Brooke. It’s been a greatfew months for Anson andwe're looking forward tomeeting more ICT challenges for our pupils in 2010.”

It was the second award for theschool this year after previously

winning an excellence award from BECTA –the government agency which promotes the useof technology in learning. “At Anson we teachthe children the skills that will prepare them forthe technological changes which are inevitablein the 21st century, skills which give themconfidence, inspire them and keep them safe inan online world,” said Simon.

Preston Park Primary won its award forpioneering homes access through developingits Managed Learning Environment, a websitethat allows pupils to access informationabout lessons over the internet. It is alsorunning in nine other Wembley schools.“Preston Park is thrilled to have beenawarded the Home Access School of theYear in recognition of the achievements of our 21st Century Home Learning

Scheme. Our children take greatpride in having their own mini-notebooks and it is wonderful to

see the children using them toaccess these resources during

break times as well as inlessons,” says Preston ParkPrimary’s ICT co-ordinator,Daphne Anazodo. “What’smore, feedback shows that

children are also spending moretime with their parents andcarers sharing what they havelearned during the school dayand also helping their parents

develop their e-skills.”

Educationwith byteBrent schools are winning awards for their innovative projects topromote e-learning in the classroom.



Preston Park Primary pupils, left;Anson pupils and Brooke, right.

For further information on the HomeInnovation Awards, its categories andwinners, visit the e-learning foundation website at www.e-learningfoundation.com.

It is palm-sized technology, but a massive help to many olderand vulnerable people.

Telecare is a system using sensors and alarms installed inresidents’ homes to notify a carer, family member oremergency call centre if the person is having problems. Itssensors can detect an overflowing sink or a bath; gas ring leftturned on; fire; or even if a person has fallen and can’t getup. A Telecare pendant worn around the neck or wrist meansa person can alert an emergency call centre where a memberof staff will talk to the person in his/her home and check theyare OK, or quickly send out help.

So far 800 people in Brent are benefiting from Telecare,including Cecilia Sam who had it installed in 2006 after aserious illness which made her unsteady on her feet. “It givesyou the reassurance that you are not alone,” she says. “I usedto be so cautious about getting around, but I am so confidentnow that I have my little friend.” She was determined to stayin her home and keep up her busy social life despite theillness, so the system proved to be the perfect solution for theretired BT manager.

“Two years ago I fell down, I didn’t hurt myself, but I pressedmy pendant just in case,” she added. “Immediately, someone fromthe call centre spoke to me and checked I was OK, then theycalled my daughter to let her know of my fall and she washere – just like that.”

Telecare also includes medication dispensers to remindclients to take their tablets; epilepsy sensors placed inclients’ beds or property sensors which can detect ifa client has left their home or a door open, andtemperature monitoring in the home. Anyone canapply for Telecare in Brent but they must meetsubstantial or critical adult social care criteriaafter an assessment to receive it for free; if notthen they must pay for the system to be installed.

“If you want to carry on with your lifestylethen get Telecare; my little friend makes me veryhappy – it’s just a pity I can’t go out with it,”added Cecilia.


My hi-techfriend

Cecilia with her Telecare pendant. Picture by Emma Harpin

“It gives you the reassurance that you are not alone.”

New technology is allowing vulnerable andolder people to live independently in theirown homes. Words ORLA SEDZE

To apply for Telecare email Brent Council [email protected] or call 020 8937 4300, for more information on Telecare call 020 8937 4208.

Take it to Abbey Road (NW10)Brent reuse and recycling centre, Abbey Road, Park Royal NW10 7TJ

www.brent.gov.uk/recycling 020 8937 5050

Letting our voice be heard, say no to female genital mutilation.

It is estimated that over24,000 girls under the ageof 16 years old are at riskof female genital mutilationin England and Wales.Brent Council will bemarking InternationalWomen’s day onWednesday 10 March 2010with a conferencediscussing female genitalmutilation.

This free event will be held at:Brent Town Hall,Committee Rooms 1,2 and 3,Forty Lane, Wembley,Middlesex HA9 9HD 10-3pm,registration begins at 9.30am andis open to all Brent residents.Book early, as places are limited.Please email your full name andcontact number [email protected] or call 020 8937 1106to reserve your space.


Twitter is a micro blogging website that Brent Council uses to update residents on breaking news and localevents. Be the first to be in the know by following Brent Council on www.twitter.com/Brent_Council

Virtual tours allow users to have a 360°view of Brent Council sport facilitiessuch as Willesden Sports Centre andVale Farm.This means you can decidewhether you want to join a sports centrewithout having to visit it in person. Logonto www.brent.gov.uk/virtualtours

Self-service machineshave been installed inWillesden,Tokyngton,Neasden andKingsbury Libraries sofar and are due to be inall Brent libraries bythe end of the year.The new technologyenables residents tocarry out their owntransactions – borrow,return, renew andreserve books, CDs andDVDs.This reducesqueuing time and allowsfor increased customerand staff interaction.

23

Text messages are being used by many council services such asbuilding control, planning, schools,sports, transport and revenue and benefits to communicate withresidents more effectively. For example, texts are being used to give updates on applications and to inform parents of school closuresin adverse weather conditions.

The council has developed a series of gadgetsand widgets forits website that provides easy access tosome of its local information like finding your nearest library through apostcode search. Currently, we have twoavailable; one for iGoogle (compatiblewith any computer that has a webbrowser) and the other for Mac OS X.These have recently been improved to include data from NHS Choices sothat you can find your nearest doctor,dentist, hospital, optician or pharmacy.

For full details on how to download the gadgets, please visitwww.brent.gov.uk/gadgets


Brent Council is using new technology to improve services as SHARON DONOVAN discovers.

Brent Council’sdigital delivery

eLibrary service allows users to access a range of eBooks and eAudiofrom home. Brent Council in conjunction with the London LibrariesConsortium provides over 1,800 itemsfor users to access. Simply log ontollc.lib.overdrive.com and borrow

a maximum of five items in addition to normal borrowinglimits.Rememberto have yourlibrary cardnumber andpin handy.

Pay your 2010/2011 Brent Council Tax by Direct DebitDirect Debit is the simplest way to payyour Council Tax. It saves time, is moreconvenient and gives you greater controlover your money. Direct Debit is thepreferred payment method for over 50%of Brent council tax payers because itprovides so many advantages.

Spread the costPaying your council by Direct Debit allowsyou to spread the cost over an agreedperiod and allows you to choose apayment date, from one of four in amonth* that is most convenient to you.*(1st, 12th, 17th or 28th)

Gives you peace of mindPayments are made automatically ensuringbills are never forgotten. For those alreadypaying by Direct Debit, do not cancel yourcurrent mandate as it will remain activefor the 2010/2011 financial year.

Save timeDirect Debit takes the hassle out of billpayment. You don’t have to queue at yourbank or fill out a cheque each time.

Phone us now to set up yourCouncil Tax Direct Debits

Brent Council Direct Debit Hotline 020 8937 1790

CEROC is a fusion of Jive and Salsa.

Great fun, easy to learn and you don’t need to bring a partner.

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Also at West Drayton and Uxbridge

Tel: 020 8933 4350 or 07860 250961Email: [email protected]: www.clubceroc.com

Cut out this voucher for free life membership and free admission for the first week and free DVD.(New members only)

Freebeginners

dvd with thisvoucher

Call for a free quote Dom McGowan07931 550 242 • 020 8438 8827Email [email protected]

LOCAL BUILDERS established 25 years• loft conversions • extensions • roofing • bathrooms • refurbishments • plumbing boilers• power flushing • electrical rewires • locksmith • and much more

Health and Nutrition company requires full-time and parttime consultants to teach healthly living to the public.

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In partnership with :


An anti-bullying film inspired by the experiences of a boy from Brent has been honouredwith a top industry award.


Many children outside of Brent may be familiar with thevoice of a 12-year-old called Shyres Sutherland.

He is the voice which narrates a short film called ‘Marcus’Story’ about the subject of bullying.The film was one of aseries called ‘See Something, Say Something’ which wasrecently named Short Form winner at the British Academyof Film and Television Arts (Bafta) children’s awards, whichlooked at bullying through the eyes of young people.

The series was created for the children’s television broadcaster Nickelodeon, and has also been shown on theBBC2 current affairs programme ‘Newsnight’. Last year italso picked up an award from Unicef – the children’s body ofthe United Nations.

Shyres narrates his own experience of bullying in the animated film, which was made by media company BoldCreative.The film’s producers worked with the 12-year-oldand other youngsters who are part of Brent Council’s JuniorYouth Inclusion Programme.

‘Marcus’ Story’, which is told entirely from a youngperson’s perspective, sees the animated character Marcusencouraging young people who have been involved in bullying behaviour to think about the consequences and is arevealing insight into the social factors and pressures thatcan often lead to bullying.

“Being involved in an award-winning film might soundglamorous, but the Junior YIP young people who helped tomake ‘Marcus’ Story’ worked really hard. For more than amonth they met the film-makers after school to identify anddevelop anti-bullying ideas that could be used in the film.They showed great dedication and commitment and we arevery proud of all of them,” said principal young inclusionofficer James Salter.

“Shyres deserves all the credit he has received for creatingMarcus. He is a very gifted young man and his success says alot about the hidden talents of Brent young people.”

Involvement in the film was a part of a wider body of anti-bullying work that the programme is delivering, includingsessions on healthy relationships and learning activities.

For more on Bold Creative visit www.boldcreative.co.uk.

Above: Shyres SutherlandOpposite: stills from ‘Marcus’ Story’

Screen winner

25


A giant

among computers

The world’s first programmable computer was invented in Dollis Hill during the Second World War.

SECREThistory

The machine was the size of a small room,weighed more than one ton and operatedwith 1,500 separate valves. Not what manypeople today associate with a computer.

Colussus was invented in 1943 at a research centre in Dollis Hill and is recognised today by some experts as the world’s first programmable computer.However, the story of Colussus and why it was built there by inventor TommyFlowers were secrets for many years.

Thomas Harold Flowers was born in the East End and left school in 1922 towork for the Post Office as an engineer. He worked in its laboratories to develop an automatic telephone exchange; in those days the Post Office ran the post and telephones.

In 1933 the General Post Office ResearchStation was built in Dollis Hill and Tommywas stationed there, working on theproblem of long-distance dialling. Hecame up with the idea of using valves tohelp transmit the human voice over along distance.

In 1939 the Second World War broke out.Tommy worked on radar for the Royal AirForce for several years. However, in 1942 hecame to the attention of Bletchley Park inBuckinghamshire – then home of theGovernment Code and Cypher School. Itscode-breakers, led by mathematician AlanTuring, were helping the Allies’ war effort by deciphering codes employed by the

German military. They only had a slow andunreliable machine known as HeathRobinson to process the information.Archives at Bletchley Park, now a museum,describe how Turing enlisted Flowers to help.

Flowers warned the flaws in HeathRobinson could not be overcome – a different machine altogether was needed.He proposed replacing mechanical switchingunits with valves – exactly how he developeddialling technology at Dollis Hill in the 1930s.However, the top brass at Bletchley Parkwere sceptical, arguing it would take toolong to be developed and went on usingHeath Robinson. Flowers later described inan interview held in the Imperial WarMuseum’s archives how he overcame doubts.“It made it very difficult for me to guideBletchley Park because they had no processto guide them,” he said. His idea for amachine was not commissioned, but Flowersdid not give up. He worked in his own timewith a team of 50 others at Dollis Hill onmaking the components. They worked dayand night on the machine, using his idea ofvalves. By December 1943 a prototype wasready and demonstrated at Bletchley Park.The machine was named Colussus and eventhough it was not recognised as such at thetime, even by Flowers, it was the world’s firstprogrammable computer.

Colussus was a giant machine. Informationwas fed into it on a keyboard and 1,500valves helped it process 5,000 characters a

second – an incredible speed. Bosses atBletchley Park were impressed and orderedten to be made by 1 June 1944. Themachines played a role in D-Day – the Allies’invasion of mainland Western Europe – on 3June 1944 when they deciphered the Nazis’plans to deal with any invasion.

Flowers’s work was recognised at the time.He received an MBE and £1,000 for hisinvention. However, Colussus was a statesecret and Flowers had signed the OfficialSecrets Act. The ten machines were usedthroughout the rest of the war in Europe,but in 1945 Prime Minister Winston Churchillordered all ten machines be destroyed.

Tommy worked at Dollis Hill until 1965when he retired from the Post Office. He went back to work on the telephonetechnology, but could not talk aboutColussus. It was not until the 1970s thatinformation about it came out of archivesin the United States. His work wasreassessed by experts who said it was thefirst programmable computer. Flowersdied in 1998. At the old site of theresearch station, which is now housing, aroad is named Flowers Close in his honour.However, his machine still lives on. In 2007Colussus II was rebuilt at Bletchley Parkand functioned perfectly.


The Colussus IImachine rebuilt in2007 courtesy ofNational Museum ofComputing atBletchley Park.

27

Visit www.bletchleypark.org.uk, orwww.iwm.org.uk for more information

COMMUNITY HEALTH ACTION TRUSTRoom 10-11, Moran House, 449-451 High Rd, Willesden, London NW10 2JJTelephone: 020 8830 3392, Fax: 020 8451 0135

MONDAY - FRIDAY: 10am - 5pmSaturdays or out of hours by appointment only

Bus routes: 460, 260, 266, 297, 6, 52, 98, 206Nearest tube stations: Dollis Hill (Jubilee Line) Neasden (Jubilee Line)

MONKS PARK CLINICMonks Park, Wembley, Middlesex HA9 6JE Telephone: 020 8453 5900

TUESDAY: 10am - 5pm

Bus routes:18, 112, 226 & 440Nearest tube station: Stonebridge Park (Bakerloo Line)

For further information, visit www.knowyourstatus.com

FREE Rapid HIV Testing“Better to know than not to know!”

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. KNOW YOUR STATUS. RESULTS WITHIN 1 HOUR

We are here to help you with any council enquiry. If you need a council service, information or you want tocomplain or make a suggestion, phone or email us first:

One Stop onlinewww.brent.gov.uk/oss [email protected]

One Stop telephones

020 8937 1200*General customer service enquiries

020 8937 4300Adult and Children Social Services

020 8937 1234Switchboard and Emergency Out of Hours

020 8937 5050*StreetCare

020 8937 1790*Council Tax

020 8937 5252*Environmental Health

020 8937 1800*Housing and Council Tax Benefit

020 8937 1993*For people with a hearing impairment

• Town Hall • Brent House • Harlesden • Willesden

One Stop local offices

*Telephone us Monday to Friday

from 8am-8pm andSaturdays 9am-1pm

Calls may be monitored and we may telephone you to help us improve services.

Brent Council One Stop Customer Services

Photos: www.JohnBirdsall.co.uk


COMPETITIONS

An escorted tour of Wembley Stadium makes an exciting day out for the whole family. Stroll into the player's dressing room and walk through thetunnel towards the hallowed turf, then climb 107 steps, standing triumphantly in front of the royal box and see the FA Cup. For Brent residents, we have four pairs of tickets for the WembleyStadium tour. For a chance to win, send in the correct answer to the following question:

What sport is being played at Wembley Stadium on 28 August?

Send or email your answers to Wembley Stadium competition at the address below. For information onevent times visit: www.wembleystadium.com/events

Competition Terms and Conditions• Only one entry per person allowed • Prizes/tours must be redeemed within 12 months of receiving confirmation • Children under 16 must be accompanied on the Stadium Tour by an adult and have consent of their parent/guardian • No cash alternatives for any prize will be offered• Employees of Wembley Stadium and their families are not eligible toenter. Prize winners must adhere to Wembley Stadium Tour’s terms andconditions, available at www.wembleystadium.com/tours • Allprizes/tours are subject to availability and pre-booking is required.

Win your 90 minutes at Wembley Stadium

This events calendar is correct at the time of going to print and is subject to changeand updates. More events are expected to be booked for 2010 – these will be addedto the calendar as and when confirmed. Please visitwww.wembleystadium.com/events for the very latest information.


Send your entries on a postcard with your name, address and daytime telephone number to: The Brent Magazine, Room 9, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley HA9 9HD or email [email protected] (add name of competition to subject line). The deadline for competitions is Friday, 15 February.

Stadium competition winners: Helen Winders, Kevin Browne, S Culpan, Julie Sinclair

Masters Snooker competition winners: Peter Dew

Win tickets to the X Factor Tour at Wembley ArenaWith more than 16 million people tuning in each week, The XFactor was bigger and better than ever last year. Every show waspacked with tuneful talent, crazy characters and superb songs.Now’s your chance to witness the action live as the finalists go ontour around the UK and arrives at Wembley Arena on 20 February.

The artists taking part and getting ready to rock crowds across thenation are Lucie Jones, Stacey Solomon, Joe McElderry, Lloyd Daniels,Jamie Archer, Olly Murs, Danyl Johnson and the infamous John andEdward. The Brent Magazine has one pair of tickets to give away forthe evening performance at Wembley Arena on 20 February, to be inwith a chance of winning, please answer this question:

Who won last year’s X-Factor?

Wembley Stadium Event Calendar Event starts

13 Feb 2010 Saracens v Worcester Warriors 3pm28 Feb 2010 Carling Cup Final 3pm3 Mar 2010 England Friendly 8pm28 Mar 2010 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy TBC10 and 11 Apr 2010 FA Cup Semi Finals TBC17 April Saracens v Harlequins 3pm8 or 9 May 2010 FA Trophy / Vase TBC15 May 2010 FA Cup Final 3pm16 May 2010 Conference Play Off TBC22 May 2010 Championship Play Off TBC29 May 2010 League 1 Play Off TBC30 May 2010 League 2 Play Off TBC19 June Green Day TBCDate tbc The FA Community Shield TBC28 August 2010 Rugby League Challange Cup Final TBC4 September Potential England Euro 2012 qualifier TBC8 September Potential England Euro 2012 qualifier TBC10 and 11 Sept Muse TBC9 October Potential England Euro 2012 qualifier TBC13 October Potential England Euro 2012 qualifier TBC31 October NFL - Broncos vs 49ers 3pm

CHILDRENAIR CADETSMon and Thurs 7pm 406 Squadron Willesden 020 8451 0406

ALPERTON CHILDRENCENTREMons 9.30-12noon citizens’ advice, 10-12noon childminding;Tues 10-12noon familysupport, 10-1pm jobadvice (appointment only),1-3pm pop in and play;Weds 10-12noon musicspeech therapy, 1.30-2pmstory speech therapy;Thurs 9.30-12.30pm baby health clinic(appointment only),12.30-2pm cooking;Friday 9.30-12noon citizens’ advice, EalingRoad, Alperton 020 8937 3860

ARTALIKESats 10am term-time; Sats10-noon ARTTEEN 7-14£5, Kensal Rise call Wildaon 07946 755 847

ART CLASSES Mini Picassos for childrenaged 4-6 yrs and 7-11yrs;toddler Picassos 15months-3 yrs, GracelandsCafe, 118 College RoadKensal Green,07903638817

CHURCH LANE CHILDREN’SCENTREMons 9.30-11.30am twinsclub, 2-4pm baby club;Tues 1.30-3pm cooking9.30-noon citizens’ adviceby appointment; Weds9.15-10.45am and 11-12.30pm stay and play,dietician; Thurs 9.30-11.30am family workshopwith crèche; Friday 9.30-10.30am rhyme time andspeech therapy byappointment, 9.30-nooncitizens’ advice byappointment, FryentPrimary School, ChurchLane, Kingsbury 020 8937 3890

FAWOOD CHILDREN’SCENTREMons, Tues & Fris 9.30-11.30am under 5s pop inand play, Weds 9.30-11.30am childminder’snetwork, Fawood AvenueNW10 020 8965 9334

DANIEL’S DENMons 1-3pm, Thurs 9.30-11am, 11.30-1pm, Tues10-noon St MIchael andAll Angels Church,Hillside, StonebrIdge, Fris9.30-11am, 11.30-1pm StMichael’s Church Hall, StMichael’s Ave, TokyngtonTues, 1-3pm, GladstonePark Primary School, Dollis Hill www.danielsden.org.uk

DRAMA WORKSHOPSSats 7-16 yrs DuddenhillCentre, NW10 07958 653 725

GIRLS’ BRIGADEWeds 5.15-8.30pm forfive-year-olds andupwards, QueensburyMethodist Church,Beverley Drive 07961 321 237

GOALKEEPING SCHOOLMons 6-7pm 7-11 yrs,7.15-8.15pm 12-18yrsJFS, The Mall, Kenton£5.75 07931 359 323

HATHA YOGA Mons 5-8yrs 5pm, 12weeks £42, WillesdenGreen Library07764 159 318

LITTLE BEEPS MUSIC ANDMOVEMENTMons 10.30am WillesdenCommunity Hospital,Weds 10.30am SalvationArmy Harlesden, Fris10.30am dad-led sessionat Willesden CommunityHospital 07976 379 520

MINI-SOCCERSuns Year 3 9.45-10.45am Year 4-Year 610.45-12noon UxendonManor School, Vista Way,Kenton, 6 weeks £30, callGeorge Lappas 07957 229 518

MUM AND TODDLERThurs 10-noon, PrestonMall Community Centre,Kenton £2 020 8204 1148

PARENT AND CARER TODDLER GROUPThurs 9-10.30am 50pBarham Primary,Danethorpe Road,Wembley 020 8902 3706

PARENT AND BABY WALKTues, 10.30amRoundwood Park, NW1007958 292 524

PIONEER EXPLORERSCOUTSWeds 8-10pm for 14-18years, Stember Hall,Leighton Gardens, NW1001582 703121

SEA TRAINING CORPSThurs 7.15-9.15pm SeaPirates 7-9 yrs; Thurs7.15-9.15pm juniors;Mons and Fris 7.15-9.30pm Sea Cadets; Mons and Fris 7.15-9.30pm Marine Cadets;youth group for boys andgirls, Cool Oak Lane, NW9 020 8205 4492www.seacadet.org

SING AND SIGN CLASSESMon-Fri, for babies 6-18months. Willesden Green& Kensal Rise 07790 955 576

SOCCER SCHOOLSats 10am-12pm, ages 5-14. Newfield Primary School,Longstone Ave, Harlesden, £28 for 5weeks. 07863 165 737

WELCOME CHILDREN’SCENTREMons 10-12noon stay andplay (over 18 months),1.30-2.30pm Music 4Babies, 1.30-3.30pm wellbaby clinic (appointmentonly); Tues 10-12noonspecial needs group, 1.30-3.30pm first timeparents’ group, 2-3pm citizen’s advice (appointment only); Weds 10-12noon parenting, 10-12noon childminder’s network,1.30-3.30pm stay andplay (under 18 monthsonly), 5.45-6.45pm lightfitness class (bookingonly); Thursday 10-12noon stay and play (booking only), 10-12noon baby weaningand cooking fortnightly(booking only); Friday 9.30-11.30pm baby clinic(appointment only), 10-12noon cook and eat(booking only), 10.30-11.30am citizen’s advice(appointment only); Satsstay and play fathers’group (2nd and 4thSaturday of the month),116 Chaplin Road,Wembley 020 8903 9541

SOCCER TRAININGFris, 6-8pm, for children,first session free CapitalCity Academy NW10 [email protected]

TREE TOPS CHILDREN’SCENTREMons 10-noon childmin-ders’ network, 2- 4pmstay and play; Tues 10-noon healthy eaters, citizens’ advice (appoint-ment only) 1.30-4.30pm,under ones’ club 2-4pm;Weds 10-noon, 2-4pmstay and play, 3 and 17Feb 10-12.30pm stay andplay for special needs;Thurs 10-noon, stay andplay with speech therapist, noon-12.30pmone-to-one with speechtherapist, 2-3 pm musicand movement, 3-4pmstay and play; Fris 9.30-12.30 citizens’ advice(appointment only), 10-noon and 2-4pm stayand play, 10-noon meetthe dietician, KingsEdward’s Park, DoyleGardens NW10 020 8838 3901

WILLESDEN SURE STARTCHILDREN’S CENTRE

Mons 1.30-3.30pm drop-in nutrition, Mons 1.30-3.30pm Tues 10-noon and1.30-3pm stay, play andlearn, Weds 10.30-noonBaa Baa Babies, Thurs andFris 9.30-12.30am citi-zens’ advice bureau(appointment only) Fris10-noon parents’ talk.Willesden Centre forHealth and Care SureStart Children’s Centre,Robson Avenue NW100208 459 7256

COMMUNITY

ACE CAFÉ7 Feb 10-5pm 59 ClubDay, 21 Feb 10-5pmOverland Adventure TourBike Day (bikes) 13 Feb11-4pm Fiesta meet, 20 Feb 11-4pm Land andRange Rover Meet27 Feb4-8pm All AmericanCruise-In (cars) www.ace-cafelondon.com

BRENT PENSIONERSFORUM3 Feb 10-12noon BrentTown Hall 020 8998 0564

BRAHMA KUMARIS4 Feb 7-8.30pm‘Facing Change’,11 Feb ‘Fall in Lovewith Yourself’ 7-8.30pm, 18 Feb

‘SpiritualGenealogy’ 7-8.30pm, 25 Feb ‘TheYoung Ones’

7-8.30pm (all free) 65-69Pound Lane, NW10 020 8727 [email protected]

BRENT AND HARROWNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONOF WIDOWS9 Feb 8pm talk byWiltshire Farm Foods, 23 Feb 8pm talk about charity Cancer Togethercall Rhona, 76Marlborough Hill, Harrow 020 8969 3198

CHALKHILL COMMUNITYCENTREMons women’s keep fit10-11am £3, toddlergroup 11-2pm, over 50skeep fit 2-3pm £1.50,karate 6-7pm £1.50, genesis 5-7pm; TuesSomali group 10-1pm,toddler group 10-2pm,taekwondo 4.30-6.30pm,groundworks 5.30-7.30pm; Weds 50s keepfit 10-11 £1.50, playgroup11-1pm, salsa 6.30-7.30pm £3; Thurswomen’s keep fit 10-11am £3, pensioners’group 1-3pm, table tennis5-7pm, keep fit 7-8pm£1.50; Fris Muslim womencoffee morning 9.30-11am, archery 5-6pm, linedancing 6.15-7.15pm £3,WICC church 7.15-9.15pm;Sats taekwondo 9-11am,Somali group 10-2pm,WICC learning club 10-2pm; Suns Somaligroup 10-2pm, WICCchurch and learning club10-2pm, 113 ChalkhillRoad, Wembley, 0208385 [email protected]

GALLERY IN THE PARKMon-Fri, 9-3pm café andtraining for people withlearning disabilities,Wembley, 07833 374 696

DANIEL’S DEN TABLE TOPSALE6 Feb noon-4pm StMichael’s Church Hall, St Michael’s Ave,Wembley 50p/20p entrytables selling toys, clothes,household goods, book atable for £10 in advance,call Linda 07983 130 434www.danielsden.org.uk

MIDDLESEX ITECFree computer training forover 55s if on recognisedbenefit, plus training foryoung people, unem-ployed; Alperton House,Bridgewater Road,Alperton 020 8900 [email protected]

MOSAICWeds, for lesbian, gay,bisexual and transgenderyoung people aged under19 07931 33668

NORTH WEST LONDONLESBIAN AND GAY GROUPMons 8.30pm, TenterdenSports Centre, PrestonRoad, Wembley 07941 707884

OVER 50S DISCUSSIONGROUPTues 11-12.30pm TheGallery, Willesden GreenLibrary 020 8452 8739

ST LUKE’S HOSPICEFeb 6 from 7pm SpringQuiz Night St Gregory’sHigh School tickets£12.50 call Mita 020 8382 [email protected] 13 Feb charity abseil downNorthwick Park Hospitalhospice supporters willdrop 100ft for charity 020 8382 8023

WOMEN’S INSTITUTENORTH WEST LONDON4 Feb 7.30pm upstairsNorth London Tavern, 375Kilburn High Road [email protected]

CRAFTFLOWER ARRANGINGWeds, 8pm KingsburyHorticultural Association,The Pavilion, Old KentonLane Allotments 020 8205 3457

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30 THE BRENT MAGAZINE JANUARY 2010

What’s going on…The essential guide to music, drama, sport, workshops and much more. Find out what’s going on in Brent during February 2010. To get your event listed [email protected] or telephone 020 8937 1068. Chinese Kickboxing.

See: Sport

TIMEout

BRENT MUSEUM BRENT MUSEUMHigh Road, NW10020 8937 3600THE BRENT ARCHIVESIst Floor, Willesden Green Library Centre, NW10020 8937 3541 [email protected] THE PAUL DAISLEY HALLForty Lane, Wembley, Middx HA9Box Office 020 8937 6206/6203THE STABLES GALLERY ARTS CENTREGladstone Park, Dollis Hill Lane, London NW2 020 8452 8655Thursday – Sunday 11am-6pm TRICYCLE THEATRE CINEMA AND GALLERY269 Kilburn High Road,London NW6Theatre Box Office 020 7328 1000Cinema Box Office 020 7328 1900Disabled access to auditorium andcafe induction loop in auditorium Minicom 020 7625 5105WEMBLEY ARENABox Office 0870 060 0870www.livenation.co.uk/wembley

Barham Park Library Harrow Road, Sudbury, Middx 020 8937 [email protected] Library152 Olive Road NW2 020 8937 [email protected] Road Library Ealing Road, Wembley, Middx 020 8937 [email protected] LibraryCraven Park Road, Harlesden,London NW10 020 8937 [email protected] Rise Library Bathurst Gardens, NW10 020 8937 [email protected] LibrarySalusbury Road, London NW6 020 8937 [email protected] Library PlusKingsbury Road, Kingsbury,London NW9 020 8937 [email protected] Library 277 Neasden Lane, London NW1020 8937 [email protected] Road Library Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, Middx 020 8937 [email protected] Library Monks Park, Wembley, Middx 020 8937 [email protected] Hall LibraryBrent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, Middx 020 8937 [email protected] Green LibraryHigh Road, Willesden, London NW10 020 8937 [email protected]

VENUES

LIBRARIES

31

WEMBLEY QUILTERS2nd and 4th Fris, 7.30 -9.30pm, PerivaleCommunity Centre,Horsenden Lane020 8902 9934

DANCEADULT BEGINNERS BALLETCOURSEWeds evenings 3 Feb - 31Mar 2010 The CorribRest, 76-80 Salusbury Rd,NW6 6PA 07956 260108www.balletforyou.co.uk

ADULT AFRICAN DANCEWeds 7.30-8.30pm £5Willesden Sports Centre020 8955 1120

ADULT STREET DANCETues, 7.30-8.30pm, £5.15 New Bridge ParkComplex 020 8937 3730

ARGENTINEAN TANGO Thurs, 7.30-9pm,beginners, 9-11pm TheCricklewood Pub, NW2www.corrientessocialclub.co.uk

BELLY DANCE Tues 8.30-10pm NYPilates Studio, Lonsdale RdNW6 020 7372 3490Mons 7.30-8.30pm,Fitness First Wembley, £8drop and £40 for 6 weeks 07855 362 849www.hayaam.com

CLUB CEROCTues 8-11pm Brent TownHall, Wembleywww.clubceroc.com

LINE DANCINGFris 6.15-7.15pm, free,beginners, ChalkhillCommunity Centre, 113Chalkhill Road, Wembley020 8976 1099

MAMBO CITYMons, 7.30-8.30pmCuban Salsa £6 StJoseph’s Social Club,Empire Way, [email protected]

SALSAFris 7.30-8.30pmWillesden Sports CentreThurs 8.15-9.30pm £4.50,Vale Farm Sports Centre07961 281 989

SALSA AND KAZOMBAThurs, 8pm class, 9pm-midnight dancing £5 ClubCasa Nossa, NW1007723 696 318

SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCINGMons 8-10pm, £2 YouthCentre, Church of theAscension, Wembley 020 3078 0018

SELF EXPRESSIVE DANCETues 8-9.30pm, £7.50,Holy Innocents ChurchHall, Bacon Lane 020 8205 6751

TEA DANCEMons & Weds, 1.30-4.30pm, £3, Brent Town Hall, Wembley020 8937 6206

DRAMACHAMELEONS Mons and Thurs 8pm, amateur dramatics NeasdenMethodist Church, NW1007968 965 038

DRAMA WORKHOUSETues & Weds 8-10pm,adult workshops, DuddenHill Centre, NW10 07958 653 725

EAST LANE THEATRE CLUB 11-13, 17-20 Feb 7.45pm‘Out of Order’ by RayCooney tickets £9 (inadvance) box office07762 622 215

MADHATTERSWeds 8pm amateur dramatics, Stables ArtsCentre, Gladstone Park,Dollis Hill Lane. 020 8452 5239

ENVIRONMENTBARN HILL CONSERVATIONGROUP7 Feb 10am tree plantingand hedgerow manage-ment, meet at lay-by nearValley Drive and Fryent Wayjunction; 14 Feb 10amBeane Hill hedgerow andpath maintenance, meet atFryent Country Parkentrance; 21 Feb 10am treeplanting and hedgerows,meet at country parkentrance near SalmonStreet roundabout; 28 Feb10am frog spawn surveyand hedgelaying, meet atBush Farm 020 8206 0589

BRENT FRIENDS OF THE EARTH2 Feb 7.30pm, Labourand Trades Hall, 375 High Road, NW10 07793 244 408

FARMERS’ MARKETSuns, 10-2pm, SalusburyRoad, School, QueensPark www.lfm.org.uk

KENSAL RISE MARKET Sats, 10-5pm, outsideMinkie’s Deli,Chamberlayne Road,NW10 07807 057 808

KINGSBURY WALKERSWeds 1.55pm, Meet BushFarm, Slough Lane andSalmon Street junction.020 8907 2836

ROE GREEN WALLEDGARDENTues, Thurs, Sats 10-2.30pm gardening andwildlife work in thegarden, organised by BarnHill Conservation Group020 8206 0589

WELSH HARP CONSERVATION GROUP10 Jan 10am winter birdswalk, starts Cool OakLane Bridge 020 8447 1810

EXHIBITIONSBRENT ARTISTS RESOURCEUntil 4 Feb daily 2-6pm,preview 21 Jan 6-9pm,‘Minimalism Massimo’minimalist works by CarlAndre, John Baldessari,James Ireland 020 8459 1421www.brentartistsresource.org.uk

STABLES GALLERY4-28 Feb Ruma Nowaz’sabstract painting, collage,and photography,Gladstone Park, Dollis HillLane 020 8452 8655

LOCAL HISTORYWEMBLEY HISTORY SOCIETY19 Feb 7.30pm ‘The History of Neasden’by Len Snow, St Andrew’sChurch Hall, Church Lane,Kingsbury 020 8205 3263

WILLESDEN HISTORY SOCIETY17 Feb 7.30pm ‘WillesdenImages’ by Jean LinwoodScout House, Strode RoadNW10 020 8965 [email protected]

KINGSBURY LIBRARY PLUSOVER 50S CLUB23 Feb 10.30-noon‘Ernest Trobridge:Kingsbury’s ExtraordinaryArchitect’ by Philip Grant,Kingsbury Library Plus,Kingsbury Road 020 8937 3520

MUSICACE CAFÉ6 Feb 7-11pm Joe MeekSociety with The Triumphs,Bobby Rio, Robb Shenton,13 Feb 9-2am GeneVincent Tribute NightwithThe 56 Sessions andDJs Bill Guntrip & Big BeatKris Entry £10 over 18s,14 Feb 7pm Valentinedinner and party with DJBill Guntrip www.ace-café-london.com

GUITAR LESSONSMon-Thurs, Kensal Risecontact Udi 07528 016 583www.udiguitar.com

JAZZSuns 8-10pm, Hugo’s,Lonsdale Road, Queen’sPark www.jazz7.co.uk020 7372 1232

PIANO LESSONSMon-Sun, all grades frombeginner to advanced,£20 per hour,Cricklewood, call EdgardoPlasencia 020 8450 1067

WEMBLEY ARENA2-3 Feb 7.30pm StrictlyCome Dancing, 4 Feb7.30pm, Rammstein 20-21 2.30pm/7.30pm XFactor Live Arena Square,Engineers Way, Wembleywww.livenation.co.uk

SPORTS & LEISUREAEROBICSWeds, 8-9pm, £4 FatherO’Callaghan Centre, Hay Lane, Kingsbury 07861 377 214

ATLANTIS SWIMMINGCLUBWeds, Wykeham PrimarySchool, Thurs, Grove ParkSchool, adults & children07958 422 660

BRENT DOLPHINSTues, Weds, Fris, Suns,Willesden Sports Centre,Mons, Thurs, Suns, ValeFarm Sports Centre, children’s swimming club07805 611 [email protected]

BRENT PARK WALKSGroup walks around parksto keep fit, call SportsService 020 8937 3707

BRONDESBURY BOWLING CLUBEvenings and daytimeincluding free tuition,Chatsworth Road 0208 438 0302

BROTHERS PEARSE CAMOGIE CLUB

Ladies hurling club, beginners and experienced players welcome, contact MaryCahill 07904 685 276www.brospearsecamogielondon.com

CHINESE KICKBOXINGSats, 3-5pm, WillesdenSports Centre,Donnington Road, 07835 244 398www.wushukwan.com

BRIDGEFris pm Dennis JacksonCentre, London Road 020 8902 5331

WOMEN’S FUN FITNESS CLASSTues 8-9pm KingsburyBaptist Church hall,Slough Lane, NW9 £407944 523 260

CENTURY BOWLS CLUBDaily indoor and outdoorbowls, new members welcome free coachingavailable, all-weathergreen, social actitivities,Logan Road, Wembley020 8904 3261

GEMINI SWIMMING CLUBFor adults and childrenwith disabilities. GeminiPool, Kingsbury. Call Jeanon 020 8452 6912.

KEEP FIT WHILE U SITMons 1.30-3.30pm.Improve joint mobility,muscle strength and flexibility, £4, first visitfree. QueensburyMethodist Church,Beverley Drive. 020 8537 0229

PRESTON PARK BOWLS CLUBNew members welcome,free coaching and loan ofbowls Preston ParkRecreation Ground,Carlton Avenue East 020 8933 9358 020 8427 1590

QUEENS PARK HARRIERSTues & Thurs 7-8pm,Willesden Sport Centrewww.queensparkharriers.org.uk

SUDBURY COURT BADMINTON CLUBThurs 8-10pm, The Mall,Kingsbury 020 8904 6698

TAEKWONDOTues 6-9pm, Thurs 6-7.30pm, Ealing RoadMethodist Church 07832 447 763

TAG RUGBYSuns 11am, training for 7-11yrs, boys & girls,Gladstone Park, KendalRoad entrance KilburnCosmos RFC 07971 475 240

TAI CHITues, 6.30-9pm beginners8-9.30pm advanced,Islamia School, SalusburyRoad, NW6 07939 043 580 Weds 1.30-2.30pm, 55 yrs and over, beginners£2, Fitness First, Kingsbury 07957 185 367


Minimalism Massimo

Rammstein. See: Music

the brent magazine issue 99 february 2010

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