WEMBLEY MATTERS News and views on local politics, the environment, climate change, culture and local history
Following the fatal incident at Brent Civic Centre last month where David Wynter lost his life the Metropolitan Police, Brent council and local partners have arranged a public meeting to provide an update and answer your questions about safety in Wembley Park area.
Thursday 17th September 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Boxpark, Olympic Way, Wembley Park
ALL WELCOME
From Metropolita Police
Police were called to reports of a stabbing at Brent Civic Centre on Engineers Way at around 14:30hrs on Tuesday, 25 August.
Officers attended alongside the London Ambulance Service and located a 17-year-old boy, David Wynter, with stab wounds. Despite the efforts of paramedics, he sadly died at the scene. His family continue to be supported by specialist officers.
On Friday, 28 August, officers arrested an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of murder and possession of an offensive weapon.
Jahquarn St Hillaire, 18 (01.03.2008), of Preston Road, Wembley and the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons but is from the Wembley area, were both charged on Saturday, 29 August with murder and possession of an offensive weapon.
They have been remanded to appear at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 31 August.
A 20-year-old man was also arrested on Friday, 28 August on suspicion of assisting an offender. Diego Farquharson, 20 (24.11.2005), of Birchen Grove, NW9, has since been charged with assisting an offender and will appear at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 31 August. He remains in police custody.
It comes after a 15-year-old boy was charged with murder on Thursday, 27 August. He was remanded in custody at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on the same date and will next appear at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 24 September.
Detective Chief Inspector Aytac Necati, who is leading the investigation, said:
“We are continuing to investigate David’s tragic death.
“I am aware that a number of individuals were in the area at the time of this incident. They may have video footage or information that could assist our investigation.
“While I would urge people not to share video footage of this incident online, we are aware that some clips may already be circulating on social media.
“I would urge anyone who sees such footage or who has information that could help officers to get in touch with us.”
Superintendent Chris Clarke, who leads emergency response policing in the area, added:
“My thoughts remain with David’s family and friends.
“We understand the concern that this incident has caused within the community.
“We have increased reassurance patrols in the local area. These will continue over the coming days and weeks.
“Residents can expect to see an increased police presence, and I would ask that anyone who has concerns speaks to officers.”
To report information to police, call 101 and quote CAD 4032/25AUG26. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or via their website.
From Metropolitan Police
A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murder following a stabbing in Wembley.
The boy, aged 15, was arrested on Tuesday, 25 August. He was taken into police custody, where he remains.
At around 14:30hrs on Tuesday, 25 August, officers attended Brent Civic Centre on Engineers Way, Wembley, following reports of a stabbing.
Officers attended with the London Ambulance Service.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics, a teenager was sadly pronounced dead at the scene, having suffered stab wounds. Formal identification has yet to take place, but the victim is believed to be David Wynter, 17. His next-of-kin are being supported by specially trained officers.
A Section 60 order has been authorised, granting officers enhanced powers to stop and search people and vehicles. This applies to the Wembley Park, Barnhill, Tokyngton, Stonebridge, Roundwood, Dollis Hill, Willesden and Welsh Harp ward areas of Brent.
The order runs from 15:00hrs on Wednesday, 26 August, to 03:30hrs on Thursday, 27 August,
Superintendent Chris Clarke, lead for emergency response policing in the area, said: “This was a tragic incident, and we are aware of the significant concern the stabbing has caused in the local community. A police presence remains in and around the crime scene.
“We would like to reiterate that officers do not believe there is any wider risk to the community.”
Police continue to make enquiries, and anybody with information is urged to call 101, quoting reference 4032/25AUG. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or via their website.
A Section 60 authorisation gives police the power to stop and search people without the usual requirement of reasonable suspicion. It can be used when officers believe serious violence may occur, has occurred, or when weapons are likely to be carried in a specific area.
Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council, said:
Today, Brent has been shaken by an appalling and deeply tragic incident at the Civic Centre, in which a person has lost their life.
Our thoughts are first and foremost with the victim, their family and loved ones, as well as the staff, residents and visitors who witnessed what happened.
The Civic Centre has been evacuated and will remain closed until further notice. I would urge people to avoid the area and allow the police and emergency services to carry out their work.
There is an active police investigation underway - please do not speculate or repeat any unverified claims online. We are working closely with the Metropolitan Police and will provide further updates as soon as we are able.
I want to express my sincere thanks to the police, paramedics and emergency services for their swift response, and to our staff for the professionalism, compassion and calm they have shown today in the most difficult of circumstances.
From the Metropolitan Police
At around 14:30hrs on Tuesday, 25 August, officers attended Brent Civic Centre on Engineers Way, Wembley, following reports of a stabbing.
Officers attended with the London Ambulance Service. On arrival they found the victim, believed to be a teenage boy or man in his early 20s, suffering from stab wounds.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics, the victim was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
No arrests have been made at this very early stage, and officers are making urgent enquiries to identify and trace those responsible.
Following the incident, a Section 60 order has been authorised, granting officers enhanced powers to stop and search people and vehicles. This applies to the Wembley Park, Barnhill, Tokyngton, Stonebridge, Roundwood, Dollis Hill, Willesden and Welsh Harp ward areas of Brent.
Superintendent Chris Clarke, lead for emergency response policing in the area, said:
This is an awful incident, in which someone has tragically lost their life. We are working to urgently identify the victim and inform his next-of-kin as soon as possible.
An investigation is underway to establish exactly what has taken place and trace those responsible. We recognise the concern this incident will cause within the local community and are committed to keeping residents informed as our enquiries progress.
In light of the incident, we have authorised additional stop and search powers to help prevent further violence, support our investigation, and keep people safe.
There will be an increased police presence in and around the area in the coming hours while our officers continue their investigation.
There is not believed to be a wider threat to the community, nor is this incident believed to be terror-related.
Anybody with information is urged to call 101, quoting reference 4032/25AUG
A Section 60 authorisation gives police the power to stop and search people without the usual requirement of reasonable suspicion. It can be used when officers believe serious violence may occur, has occurred, or when weapons are likely to be carried in a specific area. This will be imposed, until Tuesday, 25 August, at 03:30hrs
Statement regarding the fatal stabbing that took place today (25/08/2026) at Brent Civic Centre from Wembley Park ward councillors.
Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the parents, family and loved ones of the deceased following this deeply distressing incident at the Civic Centre in Wembley Park.
We cannot begin to imagine the pain and heartbreak the family are experiencing at this terrible time. Our thoughts are also with everyone affected by this tragic incident.
We will do our best to share information as we receive it, and we hope to engage with the wider local community after this tragic loss when appropriate in the coming hours and days. Please reach out if you have any information or are distressed by the events.
We are still awaiting further information from the police, and the Civic Centre remains a crime scene and has been cordoned off while the police investigation continues. We ask everyone to respect the cordons and allow the police to carry out their work.
Following the incident, a Section 60 order has been authorised, granting officers enhanced powers to stop and search people and vehicles. This applies to the Wembley Park, Barnhill, Tokyngton, Stonebridge, Roundwood, Dollis Hill, Willesden and Welsh Harp ward areas of Brent.
For more information please click the links below:
https://news.met.police.uk/news/fatal-stabbing-at-brent-civic-centre-wembley-512145
https://www.brent.gov.uk/news-in-brent/2026/august/council-statement-on-incident-in-brent-civic-centre
Councillor Iman Ahmadi Moghaddam
Councillor Najib Warsame
Cllr.Najib.Warsame@brent.gov.uk
Cllr.Iman.Ahmadi-Moghaddam@brent.gov.uk
Najib phone number:+447729227262
Iman Phone Number:
+447717695384
I am so sorry to bring you the sad news that London Now has reported that the young victim has died.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said:
We were called at 2:25pm today (25 August) to reports of a stabbing at Brent Civic Centre, Wembley, HA9.
We sent an ambulance crew, paramedics in fast response cars and an incident response officer. We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.
Sadly, despite the best efforts of our crews, a patient was pronounced dead at the scene.
Specialist medical helicopter lands nearby (Photo: Wembley Matters)
Outside the Civic Centre side entrance (Photo: Wembley Matters)
Police and medic vehicles outside the main entrance (Photo: Wembley Matters)
UPDATE THE AMBULANCE SERVICE HAS CONFIRMED THAT THE VICTIM HAS DIED
There has been a stabbing in the Civic Centre. The building is closed and everyone is being asked to stay away from the area. Staff have been evacuated.
An oberver said that the library was school holiday busy and mothers had to shelter their children's eyes from the upsetting scene.
Matthew Ames said on Twitter:
I was in the library on the mezzanine level when it happened, and from what I could see from the balcony was somebody on the floor and splatters of blood. I have no more information than that.
Also on Twitter Arooj Tiwana said:
I was at the exact same place where the stabbing happened and had gone up to the first floor about ten minutes earlier, when a staff member walked into the meeting room and told us to evacuate because someone had been stabbed. What I witnessed on the way down was unreal.
From Disabled Services at Wembley
We
have been advised by Transport for London (TfL) that the accessible
lift connecting Wembley Park Station to ground level on Olympic Way is
currently undergoing replacement works and will be out of service until
September 2026.
Step-free access to the station remains available via the entrance and exit on Bridge Road.
I am sharing this early to give our poets in Brent a chance to write a poem, ot choose a favourite poem, to share alongside published poets at an Open Mic on Thursday 5th March.
From Poetry in Wembley: Roots
Join us for a festival of Poetry at Wembley Library with poets, Jane Clarke and Jessica Mookherjee followed by Open Mic.
Local poets bring and read your own poems or poems you love to share.
Irish poet Jane Clarke reads from her latest collection A Change in the Air which was shortlisted for both the T S Eliot Prize and the Forward Prize for Best Collection in 2023. Her moving poetry of people and place explores our kinship with each other and the natural world.
“Her verse attends so closely to the land and the people of her rural homeland that it makes us attend more closely to our own”. Ron Charles, Book Critic at the Washington Post.
Jessica Mookherjee is a British poet of Bengali heritage and grew up in Wales and London, now lives in Kent. She has been published in many print and online journals and anthologies and was twice highly commended for best single poem in the Forward Prize 2017 and 2021.
Author of 3 full collections from Nine Arches Press, her second collection , Tigress, was shortlisted for the Ledbury Prize in 202.
This event is funded by “Love Where You Live” Project and Star Books
Free: Tickets https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/poetry-in-wembley-roots-tickets-1979854864195
Booking recommended.
As an encouragement here is a video of poetry written by Brent children as part of the 2020 Borough of Culture. Covid put paid to plans for a huge poetry slam so some of the poems were shared on YouTube instead:
From Brent Council
Local residents are invited to a public meeting on Monday 27th January to discuss ongoing efforts to reduce drug and knife crime in Brent.
Chief Superintendent Sara Leach will speak about the steps the police in Brent are taking to cut crime and build trust within the community. She will outline how the police are working alongside the council, local partners, and the community to make Brent a safer place for everyone.
Brent’s commissioned support services will also explain how they help adults and young people who are worried about their own or someone else’s drug use.
The meeting will provide community members with the chance to share their views, voice their concerns and discuss ways everyone can work together to improve safety in the borough.
Attendees will also have an opportunity to meet and ask questions of local police sergeants, police officers, council officers, addiction recovery advocates, and support workers. These representatives will share their ongoing efforts to tackle drug and knife crime and invite feedback on how they can better connect with local communities.
This is an opportunity to hear what has already been done in Brent on these community safety priorities, find out how organisations and individuals can help reduce drug use and knife carrying, and suggest ways forward.
The public meeting is organised by the Brent Safer Neighbourhood Board (SNB) which is made up of community members and partners, including the council. Its role is to scrutinise the police and enable the community to engage with the police. Following the meeting, the SNB will work with the police to ensure action is taken on the issues raised by residents.
The meeting will take place on Monday 27 January, from 6.30-9pm at the Grand Hall in Brent Civic Centre. Refreshments will be provided, and there is no need to register in advance. The event will also be webcast online.
From Brent Council
Wembley Library, now home to a brand-new Resident Hub, has officially reopened, unveiling a transformed space designed to better serve the needs of residents and customers.
The upgraded facilities have created a space dedicated to fostering knowledge, learning, and community connections in the heart of Brent Civic Centre.
The improvements include a new accessible entrance on Exhibition Way, an expanded library with a larger collection, a new purpose-built children’s library, more study areas and quiet zones - all integrated into a more spacious and versatile library space.
The new Resident Hub on the ground floor features a dedicated customer service area with a digital zone to support residents in accessing online services. Brent Hubs are also located here, along with a range of private rooms for confidential conversations.
Councillor Fleur Donnelly-Jackson, Cabinet Member for Resident Support and Culture, said:
Our award-winning Civic Centre has served residents and the council well over the past decade but it’s essential for us to adapt and keep pace with the evolving needs of our community.
This exciting new space will enable us to better serve our residents, especially those with the most complex needs. With a brand-new customer service area and an upgraded library, we’ve created a more accessible, comfortable and confidential environment with enhanced facilities for everyone to enjoy.
We look forward to you experiencing the new facilities. Don’t forget to join us for a special event on Saturday 7 December to celebrate the grand opening.
From Brent Friends of the Earth
After the success of our Eco-Panto at two libraries in Brent (see report here), it's been agreed with Brent Council that we will perform the show again at the Civic Centre Atrium on 23rd October at 11:45am (during schools' half-term).
We hope to see you there.
Visitors to Brent Civic Cente and Wembley Library will have become used to seeing homeless families, often accompanied by children and suitcases, waiting to be seen by council officers. It is a sobering daily reminder to councillor officers, councillors and the public of the borough's homelessness crisis.
At present the Families Homelessness Service sees an average of 61 families a week.
Now Brent Council is considering moving the Families Homelessness Service to the New Millennium Centre in Robson Avenue (there is also an entrance on Harlesden Road), Willesden, at a cost of c£400,000 for fitting out the allocated spaces. The aim is co-location of the service with other services that would help families in need of support.
However, the proposal comes on top of the £1.96 million being spent on reshaping the Civic Centre to improve Customer Services which involves moving the library and the main entrance. Brent Liberal Democrats strongly criticised that proposal, arguing that the money could be better spent in the borough LINK.
At the same time there are at least 2 office floors at the Civic Centre that are empty and Brent Council has appointed Avison Young to market them to high status clients. LINK
As you view the marketing video you cannot but think that families surrounded by suitcases with children running around do not fit in with the glossy image Brent Council is promoting for the Civic Centre. The New Millennium Centre appears shabby by comparison.
The marketing video stresses the accessibility of the Brent Civic Centre to public transport including the Jubilee and Metropolitan lines. The paper going to Cabinet states that the New Millenium Centre is accessible by the 206 and 226 bus routes. Both are usually single deckers and not as frequent as other routes. The 206 is promoted as giving access from the Civic Centre. It is crowded at school start and finish times and is regularly curtailed at Bridge Park on Wembley Event Days. Taking your suitcases and children on the bus to Robson Avenue could be quite a headache.
Clearly there are advantages in co-location of services and the Council's proposal is set out below for fairness so that readers can make up their own minds. Will it be a case of 'out of sight, out of mind'?
Proposal
It is proposed the Families Homelessness Service relocates from the Brent Civic Centre to the New Millennium Centre, Roundwood. The proposed relocation offers several opportunities. The site is located in the south of the borough, with high levels of homelessness demand and is walking distance from the Single Homelessness Service at the Turning Point, The Design Works, Park Parade, Harlesden, NW10 4HT (10 minutes). It is also conveniently located a walking distance to the Crisis Skylight building (15 minutes) and Job Centre Plus Harlesden (15 minutes), both key partners in tackling the homelessness emergency.
The service would also benefit from co-location with other complementary services based at the New Millennium Centre. The site will be host to services designed to support vulnerable adults and families. This includes the Community Wellbeing Service which is targeted at families and as part of which a free, evening Community Kitchen meal service will be available to all (including non-members). Families accessing the families homelessness service may access elements of the food support, as well as potential be eligible to join the wider scheme. Brent Hubs will also be based on site, as well as Debt and Immigration advisors on a timetable basis.
The Brent Hubs already work directly with and alongside volunteer and charity organisations, such as Citizens Advice, Age UK, Brent Mind, and many others, enabling much clearer referral pathways and knowledge sharing.
Building works to prepare the site ahead of the service launch offer an opportunity to expand the scope of the works to include an area in the site for delivery of the Family Homeless Service, which would provide purpose-built facilities for the service.
The primary goal of the proposals in this report is to empower residents to become more independent, yet during times of unprecedented crisis support will be available to help with immediate responses to issues such as homelessness risk. Co-location with wider services including Brent Hubs, debt and food support is expected to help vulnerable families with wider challenges they may be facing. Proposals aim to prevent future rough sleeping, and to prevent future homelessness main duty acceptances through the intervention of support services.
The service is currently based in the Brent Civic Centre and is responsible for assessing homelessness applications from families with dependent children and pregnant women. The service has been experiencing high demand for the past 2 years, due to the national housing crisis and sees an average of 61 families per week. There has also been a recent influx of larger families, many of whom come directly to the Civic Centre at the point they become homeless.
The approved model includes a ‘Community Wellbeing Service’ – an expanded version of the Community Wellbeing Project piloted at Bridge Park Leisure Centre which supported up to 400 families per year with access to food and household essentials, as well as providing wraparound support to improve their situations in the longer-term. The Community Wellbeing Service will operate five days per week at the New Millennium Centre, where it will be co-located with wider support provision such as Brent Hubs and specialist debt and immigration advice and will have capacity to support up to 1,000 families and residents per year. The New Millenium Centre site provides the space and core facilities required to deliver the expanded Kitchen, Café and Shop offer of the new Community Wellbeing Service, as well as make use of other on-site facilities including the garden.
Management responsibility for the New Millennium Centre will transfer from Adult Social Care (ASC) to Partnerships, Housing and Resident Services in-line with the 1st November 2024 phased launch of the new service. ASC client groups that currently access a day support offer from the site will continue to do so on a sessional basis under new arrangements. This client group will also be able to access and benefit from the new wider suite of services delivered from the site, with support where required.
The New Millennium Centre is accessible for residents including through 206 and 226 Bus Routes and is located in a deprived area with low food accessibility (based on e-food desert index EFDI) and high levels of RSF applications and Council Tax Arrears. It is also within walking distance of the Willesden Centre for Health and Care (2 minutes) and both Harlesden and Willesden High Roads (15 minutes).
The report will be presented at Cabinet on Monday by Muhammed Butt, lead member for housing as well as council leader.
Extract from Wilmott Dixon Design Statement
The redesign of Brent Civic Centre has met rising costs. The redesign 10 years on from the opening of the new £90m (£100m by some accounts) Civic Centre has been vigorously opposed by the Liberal Democrats who argued that the £2m could be better spent on more urgent issues affecting Brent residents. LINK
The cost has now gone up by £68,000 despite some efforts to find savings in the quality of fittings and fixtures.
The decision is made by council officers in consultation with the Cabinet Members who 'have been engaged throughout the project and are supportive.'
As such the decision is not subject to call-in.
The Decision
To approve the triggering of the second stage of the design and build contract with Willmott Dixon Construction Limited for the redesign and refurbishment works at Brent Civic Centre for a sum contract value of £2,087,744.93 (an uplift of £67,744.93).
Reasons for the decision:
The Council requires works to be undertaken to customer-facing spaces in Brent Civic Centre following completion RIBA Stages 3 and 4 of the project, including the detailed technical design by Wilmott Dixon Construction Ltd (WD), a single contractor appointed under Lot 2 of the Major Projects Framework established by the Procurement Hub. The commencement of the second stage of the contract by Wilmott Dixon Construction Ltd is recommended as it will enable the Council to manage any potential risks, and will provide efficient and consistent delivery of the works, as the redesign and associated services were undertaken by Wilmott Dixon. This will ensure that the anticipated improvement works are carried out to schedule, with completion by autumn 2024.
Alternative options considered:
Brent Council has worked with Willmott Dixon Construction Limited since 2022 to develop a feasibility study for the redesign works, followed by RIBA Stages 3 and 4 from 2023-24. Over the past two months, Brent Council has worked closely with WDI to amend the design plans in order to bring the costings in line with agreed budgets. Through a value engineering process, changes to fixtures and fittings have been agreed to minimise costs. Key internal stakeholders have suggested that further amendments to the design will compromise the benefits of the project to residents and customers. It is therefore considered that the increase in the contract value of around £67k is reasonable.
Brent Council outlined what they see as the necessity of a redesign in an earlier press release:
Work to revamp Brent Civic Centre and improve access for residents gets underway.
The transformation follows an extensive review into the evolving needs of residents and customers and aims to create a more accessible, welcoming and functional space for all visitors to the building.
The redesign will see changes to Wembley Library, the Community Hub, the Customer Services Centre and the Registration and Nationality space.
The benefits for residents include:
- Improved accessibility: A new welcoming main entrance on Exhibition Way (next to Sainsbury’s). The building will be more accessible for visitors with wheelchairs, pushchairs, and complex needs, ensuring inclusivity for all
- Dedicated customer area: The ground floor will have a brand-new customer area, including a digital hub for support with accessing online services
- Community hub: The Wembley Hub will have a new space on the ground floor equipped with meeting rooms for private and confidential conversations
- Enhanced library: A new purpose-built and enclosed children’s library, a repurposed mezzanine floor with flexible library spaces and increased study areas
- Registration and Nationality space: A new flexible space that customers can hire to Work is now underway with completion expected in autumn 2024. Throughout this period, all services will remain operational. A temporary library service will be available on the first floor of the civic centre. All library services will be available, but events will take place at other library locations.
As with many changes in Brent, members of the public talking to Wembley Matters on a recent visit appear to have been taken by surprise by the changes. Often the first they knew was when they visited the Civic Centre to change their library books and found the library had been moved from the ground floor to temporary accommodation alongside the Wembley Hub on the first floor. The temporary library has only a few shelving units and no electronic return and borrowing machines.
Jaws dropped when they were told the new main entrance would be situation between the pasty shop and Sainsbury's: 'But wasn't the current entrance designed to lead to the impressive atrium and wide wooden staircase?'
Some questioned how a modern purpose-built building could have proved inadequate for purpose 10 years on but that doesn't take into account the huge increased resident demand for face to face meetings with council officers as a result of austerity, the pandemic and rising homelessness. Now most of the ground floor will be given over to customer services.
The ground floor Wembley Library at the Brent Civic Centre is closed at present as the redesign of the Civic Centre goes ahead. The library will eventually me on the mezzanine floor but will be temporarily housed on the first floor for several months.
I opened the door on to a huge hubbub when I visited today. The small room is shared with the Civic Centre Hub, also moved from downstairs. There were crowds of people waiting to be seen by Brent staff and use the computer terminals for advice and support. Not a room where anyone could study.
The are no terminals for returning or borrowing books, just one customer counter. There is a much diminished range of book available for borrowing.
Staff are doing their best but I would recommend library users go to Ealing Road Library or Willesden Green Library for Brent library books. Alternatively to borrow books, use IT or study in a peaceful environment Preston Community Library is available on Wednesday's (3.30pm-5.30pm) and Saturday (11am-3pm).
Supporters of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza will gather in front of Brent Civic Centre this evening between 5pm and 6pm to give local people a chance to come together to demonstrate what an urgent and important issue this is for Brent’s diverse citizens.
Brent councillors arriving at the Civic Centre for the 6pm Council meeting will be invited to join the gathering in solidarity with their community.
The gathering will be followed by a candlelit vigil nearby to remember the Israeli and Palestinian children who have been killed in the current conflict. Their names and ages will be read out so that they are remembered as real human beings, robbed of their future - not just another number added to the mounting casualty list. The naming will be interspersed with poetry readings and will finish with a minute’s reflection.
There will be a Rally to support the workers at the St Mungo's homelessness charity on Friday June 16th outside Brent Civic Centre at noon.
The main speakers at the Rally, organised by Brent Trades Council, will be local MPs Dawn Butler and Barry Gardiner.
Take along your union banners and placards so that that we make a big declaration of solidarity with workers struggling for a decent wage when executives earn tens of thousands.
Nearest tube Wembley Park but also accessible from Wembley Central station and multiple bus routes.
The rally will be preceeded by a short picket outside St Mungo's facility in Pound Lane, Willesden, opposite the bus garage at 9am.
Guest post by local historian Philip Grant
Back in November 2018, I wrote a short post about a blue plaque which had been unveiled in Ealing Road, to commemorate Sir Henry Cooper. The greengrocers business that he ran there, for three years in the 1960s, was called “Henry Cooper of Wembley”, and that is the name of a free illustrated talk which I will be giving at Brent Civic Centre on the morning of Saturday 17 June. I’m writing this article, so that as many local people as possible, who might wish to come along to my talk, are aware of it.
The talk has been arranged for that weekend, and that venue, because it will be the 60th anniversary of Henry Cooper’s famous boxing match at Wembley Stadium (a final eliminator, with the winner fighting for the Heavyweight Championship of the World) against Cassius Clay, aka Muhammad Ali.
The talk is not just about boxing, but also about Henry Cooper the man, who lived in Wembley with his family for fifteen years, at the height of his career. Although it is advertised as being at the Civic Centre's Wembley Library, the talk will actually take place in Boardrooms 4&5 as students will be revising for exams in the library itself. Because of this, if you are coming to the talk, please arrive between 10.15 and 10.25am, at the library entrance in the main Civic Centre atrium, so that a member of staff can take you up to the third floor in the lift.
Although this is a free talk, you need to book online, at the Brent Culture Service Eventbrite website, to reserve your place. To see more details, and to do that, please click HERE. I look forward to sharing Henry’s story with you, in words and pictures!
Philip Grant
