A fascinating lady from history – with a local connection

Guest blog by Philip Grant

Almost everyone living in England 125 years ago would have heard of the Duchess of Sutherland. Anyone interested in social history, or who just likes a great story, should know more about her, and her times. You have the chance to do that, with an illustrated talk at Wembley History Society on Friday 20^th September.

Mary Michell was born in 1848, the daughter of an Oxford don, and grew into a striking woman (reputedly six feet tall). She could have married an Egyptian prince, but her first husband (of three – she was widowed twice), Arthur Blair, was a former army officer. He was shot with his own gun on a Scottish grouse moor – the inquest verdict was accidental death, but some doubted that.

She was the mistress of the 3^rd Duke of Sutherland (who was 20 years older!), and he married her in Florida not long after the original Duchess died. The relationship may have begun as “a bit of sport” on his part (like his close friend, the Prince of Wales, he had a long history of affairs), but it developed as a deep love on both sides, which only ended with his death in 1892.

The Duchess in her diamonds, probably
 at their London home c. 1890.
[Photo courtesy of Bruno Bubna-Kasteliz]

  
 Although the Duke’s will left his title and huge estates to his heir, he left all of his money to the Duchess! The will was, understandably, challenged by the 4^th Duke of Sutherland, and it was this case which led to the most famous, or notorious, time in the life of the Duchess, including being jailed for contempt of court. 

 

The court settlement left her a very wealthy Dowager Duchess, but in 1896 she married the M.P. for Islington South, Sir Albert Rollit. Mary may have been attracted by some of his ideas – although a Conservative, he had put forward a private member’s Bill in 1892 to give (limited) votes for women! Around the same time, while married to the Duke, she held “open house” at their London mansion for 600 shop girls from West End stores, to highlight their poor working conditions.

And her local connection? In 1898/99, she had a country house, in 10 acres of grounds, built in Kingsbury. It was named “The Cottage”, but is now called Kingsbury Manor, in Roe Green Park. Although the house is not open to the public, its award-winning community Walled Garden, with exhibits commemorating the Duchess, has an open day on Saturday 14^th September (11am to 4pm).

“The Cottage”, as drawn by the architect, W. West Neve, in 1899.
[Brent Archives online image 0386]

There is no evidence that the Duchess ever lived in Kingsbury, and she may have intended “The Cottage” as a potential home for her daughter, Irene. Ms Blair did live there, after her marriage to an Austrian Count, Johann Bubna, in 1901. They had two daughters, the youngest of whom, the Countess Ina Bubna, was the mother of the History Society’s guest speaker.

Irene Mary Blair, aged 18, in 1894.
[Photo courtesy of Bruno Bubna-Kasteliz]

When I first saw this photo of Irene, the name that sprang to my mind was Oscar Wilde! He was then writing successful comedy plays, satirising the English Upper Class, and some of his characters have stories which could be based on incidents from the Duchess of Sutherland’s life. Was she “a woman of no importance”? Decide for yourself, when you have enjoyed “a tale of Victorian values”!

Philip Grant

-->

Strathcona staff will strike on Monday as Brent Labour Cabinet meet to approve the school's closure

Extract from Cabinet Agenda LINK

From Brent National Education Union (NEU)

Roe Green Strathcona School will be closed by strike action on Monday 9^th September.  NEU members are on strike in an attempt to save their school from closure. Despite giving the go-ahead to several new free schools in the borough, Brent Council wish to close this successful local authority run school. 

Teachers and parents will protest outside Brent  Civic Centre from 3pm Monday and following this will lobby the Cabinet meeting which begins at 4pm in a bid to save the school. 

A handful of councillors support the action being taken by staff. Labour Councillor Jumbo Chan said today:

Under the current context of a decade-long assault on public education, Labour councils should be doing everything possible to retain and strengthen their local authority schools. It would be most unfortunate if the opposite approach were taken here in Brent. 

The council should listen to the 99.8% of teachers, parents and other members of the public who have formally expressed their opposition to the council’s proposals to abandon Roe Green Strathcona, and shelve their plans. A Labour Council should be supporting hardworking and loyal teachers, parents and students- including working with them properly to explore all alternatives- not casting them away. 

Mary Addosides, Chair of Brent Trades Council, representing the unions taking action, called on Brent Council to ‘Save Strathcona for the children of Brent; no job cuts or redundancies.’   

Wembley  Matters note:

In its report on the formal consultation Brent Council admit they received only one response that agreed with the closure proposal:

542 written responses were received by e-mail or post. The majority of respondents only indicated that they objected or disagreed with the proposals put forward by the council for the school organisation arrangements of Roe Green Infant School. One response indicated agreement with the proposals but gave no further comment. 

The Council’s response to those opposing the closure and to alternative proposals can be found HERE

'Don't Attack Iran' Public Meeting Monday 9th September Brent Trades Hall

Low paid migrant workers at Park Royal food manufacturer need your support in upcoming strike ballot

The Cumberland Avenue site

Following their rejection of two pay offers from Bakkavor, a major food manufacturer based in  Park Royal, workers are taking part in an indicative ballot for  future industrial action. It is the first time they have been asked to take strike action.

The mainly Gujerati, Sri Lankan and Goan work force, many of whom are women who have worked at the plants for many years, only earn around the minimum wage. 

Bakkovar is a major employer in the area working from three sites, plus a warehouse  and employ almost 4,000 workers. They make houmous and ready meals for the major supermarkets.

In the tradition of the Grunwick strikers this is an important struggle for  migrant and female workers. The workers are unsure of their next steps and will be encouraged to vote for industrial action if  local trade unionists and activists boost their confidence, telling them,  'You can do this!' Please support them if you can.  

Their union, the GMB say:

A fight here would send an important signal to all the 

low-waged migrant workers in London! 

Enough of poverty wages!

Show your support and solidarity at these events:

FRIDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER, 2019 3.15pm - 5.15pm (shift leaves 3.30pm and 5pm)
BAKKAVOR, 40 CUMBERLAND AVENUE, NW10 7RQ

MONDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER, 2019 2.15pm-5pm
BAKKAVOR, 304-306 ELVEDEN PLACE, NW10 7SY 

WEDNESDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER, 2019 4.15pm-5.15pm 
BAKKAVOR 269 ABBEYDALE ROAD, HA0 1T

'Green Jobs for Now and Tomorrow' with John McDonnell MP September 11th Bridge Park

Wednesday September 11th 7.30pm

Bridge Park Complex

Harrow Road, NW10 ORG

(close to junction with North Circular Road)

Stonebridge Park Station Bakerloo & London Overground  

- cross the North Circular via Harrow Road, buses 18, 404, 112

Creating a sustainable, prosperous and
green economy that benefits us all

Speakers:
• John McDonnell MP, Shadow Chancellor
• Aaron Kiely, Friends of the Earth
• Sarah Woolley, Bakers Union (Greener Futures)
• Cat Cray, RMT Union
• Roxanne Mashari, Brent Councillor
• and contributions from the floor

ALL WELCOME

Doors open 7pm

REGISTER HERE Admission free with collection at end of meeting.

 
NOTE:

In the event of a snap General Election the format of this meeting may change to conform with electoral law.

James Corbett, 450 mile walker for the NHS, talks to Wembley Matters as he sets out for the last 10 miles to Westminster

Orson Nava Retrospective - Free Screening Friday 13th September at The Yellow Wembley Park

On 13th September, Other Cinemas are delighted to be hosting a retrospective of Orson Nava’s work. Orson will join us for a discussion and Q&A.

Orson Nava is a graduate of the Northern Media School and The National Film and Television School and has a background directing dramas and documentaries for the BBC, C4 and ITV and music videos for record labels including Polydor, EMI and Island Records.

Recent directing credits include the short political thriller ‘A Viable Candidate’ starring (Steve Toussaint), ‘Everyday Borders’, a one hour documentary exploring the impact of the hostile environment on migrant communities in the UK, music videos for chart topping urban/pop music artists Aggro Santos and Mumzy Stranger (nominated for best video at the UKAsian Music Awards), and ‘Hearts & Minds’, a fifty minute drama dealing with the radicalisation of a young Muslim boy produced for Khayaal theatre company.

Orson is currently completing a full time funded PhD at the University of East London focussing on Race, Innovation and the Creative Industries lead regeneration of East London, and is a visiting fellow at the Centre For Research On Migration, Refugees and Belonging.

FREE TICKETS  HERE

See James off from Brent Civic Centre tomorrow 10am on the last leg of his Save the NHS Walk to Parliament

James Corbett

 From Save the NHS Walk to Parliament Facebook

James Corbett is walking from Glasgow to London to protest against the potential full privatisation of the NHS. He has reached Brent and tomorrow at 10am will be starting on the last leg to Westminster - setting off from Brent Civic Centre. It would be great if people from Brent could go and see him off - or even better join him for some of his walk.

In 2012 the Health and Social Care act saw the removal of a clause (put there at its conception in 1946 ) which stated that the government had a legal responsibility to safeguard the NHS as free at point of use.

The removal of this clause leaves our Health Service somewhat vulnerable to the greed of profit led companies - and open to full privatisation. We simply cannot allow ourselves to slide into the adoption of the terrifying American system of health insurance. 

Quite simply all UK parties need to recommit to ensuring that our NHS stays ‘our’ NHS (free for those who need it) - and to ensure that it’s not put on the table as a sweetener to ANY other country during trade deal talks - They must do this by reinstating this clause and then putting their money where their mouths are ..

Please sign this petition   LINK- like the page - and follow James’ mad but inspirational trek (in dodgy trainers - he wouldn’t listen) lfrom Glasgow to London . Let’s face it It’s a seriously long way....

On the surface - it’s an insane and possibly futile enterprise - but you have to admire a person who has decided to get off the sofa to do something pretty challenging and at least try and change things. Sometimes it can just take just one (inappropriately shod) bloke to make a difference. And putting one foot in front of another for the greater good is never pointless . The NHS is for the greater good of all - irrespective of what political leaning you are - or where you stand on the brexit debate - so pleade do sign . If we get ‘enough ‘ signatures we WILL get a response from parliament . 🙏🤞🎉 Onwards and forwards .

THE PETITION
 
The Save the NHS petition to Parliament

"We, the undersigned, demand that ALL parties support a return to the provisions of the 1946 Act and return to the Minister of Health the legal responsibility to secure the provision of the NHS free at the point of use, and restrict access to the NHS for private service providers who are, effectively, profiteering from the suffering of British taxpayers."

The Original Act

"It shall be the duty of the Minister of Health to promote the establishment of a comprehensive health service designed to secure improvement in the physical and mental health of the people, and the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness.

The services so provided shall be free of charge"
.......................................................................................................................................................................

There is an excellent article about this great one man effort on Huffington Post HERE