72 years on – the Olympic marathon race at Wembley, 1948

Guest blog by Philip Grant

Two weeks ago, we celebrated the 1908 Olympic marathon race on its 112^th anniversary, with a video including newsreel film of the two leading runners, with a crowd in Wembley High Road watching them.

The Olympic marathon runners on a circuit of the track, before leaving Wembley Stadium, 7 August 1948.

When I wrote to Joe Neanor, who had made the video, he said that he had also recently run the 1948 Olympic Marathon race route – and he supplied a link to a colour film of the race, which took place 72 years ago today. That race started and finished in Wembley Stadium, and went out and back along Forty Lane, Fryent Way and Honeypot Lane to Stanmore, with a loop through the countryside of Hertfordshire. It was a tough course, with plenty of hills to climb!

 

The 1948 Olympic marathon course map and details. (Images from the internet)

If you watch the video below, it will take you back in time, and you will spot scenes you recognise, as they were in 1948, including Olympic Way and the Town Hall. As the runners head back towards Wembley, there are some key moments in the race, along Fryent Way with what are now the fields of Fryent Country Park in the background. And the finish in the stadium is almost as dramatic as that in the 1908 Olympic marathon!

As you can see the International Olympic Committee has banned live viewing of the video on Wembley Matters but you can view it on You Tube by clicking on the embedded link or use this LINK.

Daniel’s Den Snipathon Launch - Linda's epic haircut! They deserve a donation

From Daniel's Den

Daniel’s Den Snipathon is our major fundraising event of the year! 26 days of snipping activities all raising money for Daniel’s Den! It was launched on Sunday April 26th 2020 by Linda and her daughter Shauna! This is the video of Linda having 26 inches cut off her hair - it was an epic community event!

Lots of neighbours came to cheer her on (social distancing rules in place! Follow the link to donate! https://t.co/BexMnn9HNx

About Daniels Den Snipathon

The 2.6 Challenge has inspired us to run a 26-day fundraising campaign called Daniels Den Snipathon. Everyday someone or something will be snipped! 

It will kick off on Sunday April 26th 2020 (the day the London Marathon should have been run) when one of our volunteers Linda will cut off her hair all 26 inches of it!! 

Here is her story

'What I love about Daniels Den is that its not just a job or volunteering opportunity - its family. 

It is not just a session, set up, run, pack away and done its so much more. It reaches further - building links with other organisations, developing relationships with the children and families, with the other volunteers, with the people who run the venues where our sessions are held and the wider community. 

The staff and volunteers offer a non-judgemental ear and share suggestions and advice. Its a huge support network. 

I remember when my daughter started full time school and she asked me why I was still volunteering at Daniels Den as she wasnt there anymore. I said "if there were no volunteers when you started going to DD it would not have been such a good place would it? No one to do the craft, no one to make the juice and fruit, no one to do singing time etc". It took her a while to get her head around it, but finally did. 

I'm the volunteer fundraising events coordinator and this idea has been floating around in my head for a few months - but the time seems right now. People need to be part of something at this time, to give them something to be involved in as we cant meet them at the moment.' 

So everyday someone in Daniel's Den is going to do a snipping challenge. Photos and videos will be shared. Here are just some of the challenges taking place 

Cuthbert the Caterpillar is going to have his 'hair' trimmed

Titch and Roxy, Lindas dogs are going to have the hair in their toenails clipped

Danielle will snip baby Hallies fingernails

Our children will make a collage of their favourite things 

The money raised will help our fundraising targets for the year and enable us to reach more families. 

We have decided to donate 26% of what we raise to two charities close to our heart - St Luke's Hospice and our local women's refuge! And the hair that Linda snips will be donated to the Little Princess Trust to make wigs for children that have lost their hair due to cancer treatment. 

The motto of our charity is TEAM Together Everyone Achieves More and all donations are welcome. 

Thank you!

Half Marathon road closures on Sunday in Wembley and Kingsbury

These are the road closures in Wembley and Kingsbury on Sunday March 15th  for the half-marathon

Councillor Sam Stopp Appeals to Wembley Matters on Affairs of the Heart

Well, have to have a headline that will make you read this message from Councillor Sam Stopp! Putting aside political differences it is for a good cause.

You may have heard through the grapevine that I'm running the London Marathon for the British Heart Foundation, with the aim of raising £1500 for the charity.

You probably know that Wembley Central, and indeed Brent at large, has a very high rate of cardiovascular-related diseases. But the British Heart Foundation commissions life-saving research to fight this blight on our lives.

I would therefore be grateful if you could share this tongue-in-cheek video I've made promoting the charity. Would be delighted if you could mention it on your blog :)

 

The video is HERE

Cheers,

Sam

Cllr Sam Stopp

Run to the Beat - road closures, 15,000 runners, Live DJs & much more on Sunday in Wembley

Many roads will be closed in Wembley on Sunday Details but there will be much on offer for Wembley residents who enjoy music when Run to the Beat arrives in town:

Sure Run to the Beat is London’s most unique music running event and this year we’re hosting an epic 10k at Wembley Park.

After six years hosting London’s music half marathon and helping 96,000 runners to achieve their goal, we want to give 10k runners the chance to experience the unique music filled run.

Live DJ’s will be pumping out motivational tunes all around the route, leading you to the finish where our headline act will be waiting for you to join the party. The atmosphere on the day will be like nothing you have ever experienced at a running event before.

Taking place on the 14th September 2014, 15,000 runners will make their way around a brand new 10k course starting and finishing at Wembley Park, home to the legendary Wembley Stadium and arena, that now offers great food, great shopping and great events.

It may not be the best day to choose to take the kids to change their library books.