WEMBLEY MATTERS News and views on local politics, the environment, climate change, culture and local history
Below are the slides of the presentation at Brent Healthwatch's Winter Community Event. They were correct on December 16th but remember our area moved into Tier 4 on December 20th. There is much useful information in the presentations. Click bottom right for full page version.
Covid Vaccination Details HERE
Tier 4 restrictions details HERE
Arranging a FREE Covid 19 tests in Brent HERE
A great opportunity for 'higher-level ESOL*' learners to:
Enrolment form HERE
*ESOL = English for Speakers of Other Languages
Only for people resident in Brent. Funded by Brent Council.
A guest post by local historian Philip Grant
Ernest Trobridge (as depicted on a 1990s pub sign!)
Back in February, I was hoping that many people would be able to enjoy a small exhibition at Kingsbury Library, which I had put together with Brent Museum: Ernest Trobridge – Kingsbury’s Extraordinary Architect.
The Ernest Trobridge display at Kingsbury Library, February 2020.
Unfortunately, with all of the Covid-19 restrictions this year, and the library closed for around four months, then only open on a very limited basis, access to the exhibition was often not possible. Even though Brent Museum kept the display in place until earlier this month, local people, and the visitors we hoped to attract through London Borough of Culture 2020, will not have had the opportunity to discover this architect’s remarkable work, and the ideas behind it.
Although disappointed that many people will have missed the actual display, we have now put all of the information, illustrations and exhibits from it together in a documentary record of the exhibition, which you can read at your leisure by “clicking” on the link. Here are a couple of the images from it, reflecting the story behind Trobridge’s first estate of thatched timber homes, built on a field at the corner of Kingsbury Road and Slough Lane 100 years ago.
A leaflet Trobridge wrote for his show house at the 1920 Ideal Home Exhibition.
Model of a Trobridge thatched timber cottage built in Kingsbury.
I still hope to give the illustrated talk, which was planned to take place at Kingsbury Library in June 2020, in conjunction with the exhibition, at some time during 2021. Illustrated colour versions of the four Trobridge self-guided walk leaflets produced for the exhibition, and other published material about Ernest Trobridge, can be found in the “Buildings and Architecture” section of the online Brent Archives local history documents collection.
The amazing and beautifully designed homes that Ernest Trobridge produced in Kingsbury, and beyond, in the 1920s and 1930s, have been a source of joy and inspiration for me over the years, which is why I try to share my enthusiasm for them with others. I hope that you will take the chance to enjoy them too.
Philip Grant.
Philip Grant provides the answers to last Saturday's 'Who's Who?' in Wembley Quiz LINK
Philip writes: I hope that everyone who had a go at this quiz enjoyed it. Here are the answers, and a bit more information about the ten people you were invited to identify.
Although there are no prizes, you will find that even people who lived in Wembley 100 years ago or more have had an influence on the area as we know it now, such as where that road, school or park got its name from. Local history gives us the background stories which show us what an interesting place we live in. Those stories belong to all of us who live in Wembley and Brent, and I look forward to sharing more of them with you in future.
Well this government is certainly good at uniting people - against them.
“It is extremely regrettable that the government has given the public the impression that a mass Covid testing programme will begin in secondary schools and colleges from the start of the spring term.
“This is not the case. The plans that have been outlined by the government are not deliverable in that timescale and it is irresponsible of the government to have created the perception that this could be done with so little preparation, resources and notice. The government has put schools and colleges in an intolerable position, and misled parents and pupils.
“Schools and colleges very much want staff and students to be able to access rapid Covid testing as soon as possible, but the plan has to be feasible or otherwise it is meaningless.”
“Large scale testing is clearly an important priority but the lateness of this announcement and the huge degree of pressure that this places on school leaders as a result is unacceptable and irresponsible. The expectation for schools to assemble a workforce and roll this out in the next few working days is both unreasonable and unviable.”
“Colleges and schools have done everything they can to protect students and staff whilst keeping learning happening, and they will continue to do so. This is not about whether or not testing is the right thing to do – it is about doing it properly. The announcement on Thursday simply puts unfair pressure on leaders and staff who have already had to endure so much over the last nine months because having mass testing in place by 4th January is an impossible target for most. College and school leaders are being set up to fail and that’s not right. I know they will do what is achievable and they have shown throughout the pandemic that they will always deliver on urgent priorities, but sadly, this proposal is not realistic and nor is it currently backed up with the resources, guidance and support necessary to achieve it.”
“We all want pupils and school staff to be as safe as possible in school but an unplanned, uncoordinated and unworkable approach to mass testing without the provision of adequate resources and additional trained personnel risks undermining, rather than enhancing Covid safety.“The Government must work with schools and colleges on a sensible timescale for the roll out of testing which is backed with the necessary practical and financial support to ensure safety and support the continued fight against Covid-19.”Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:"The rising infection rates amongst secondary pupils has been alarming and mass testing has been necessary for many months. The Government’s last minute and ill thought through plans for schools and colleges to administer these tests is unacceptable and could jeopardise something that is so essential to bring down Covid rates in schools, colleges, and society. Government needs to get around the table with education unions to discuss how we salvage this situation and get a testing system that is operable and effective.”
“The government have handed schools a confused and chaotic mess at the 11th hour. By dropping this on schools minutes before the end of term, leaders are left with no time to implement government’s instructions. Covid testing should be administered and organised by those with the relevant expertise and experience, schools and colleges simply do not have the capacity to staff and run Covid testing sites themselves, whilst also providing education and vital pastoral support. Once again, an announcement that, if properly planned and executed could have been positive, is poised to fail.”
“Schools and colleges have made herculean efforts to play their part in protecting and teaching young people throughout the last year. They should not feel rushed into a testing programme for which there has been insufficient time and opportunity to prepare.”
Purple is the highest rate (arrow on Chalkhill/Forty Lane). For your local rate go to the search box and type in your post code.
From Brent Council
Everyone in Brent aged 12 and over can now get free and regular coronavirus tests, even if they haven’t got symptoms.
These include the new ‘rapid tests’, which provide results within 40 minutes.
It’s important that everyone gets tested even if they feel well, as 1 in 3 people who have COVID-19 show no symptoms but could be sharing the virus with loved ones and around the community without knowing.
Rapid COVID-19 testing is available at the following sites Monday to Sunday, from 9am-6pm (all sites will be closed on bank holidays):
The sites at Brent Civic Centre and The Library at Willesden Green are now open. The remaining sites will be open from Monday 21 December 2020.
The rollout of rapid community COVID-19 testing for people without symptoms is being run by Brent Council and the Department for Health and Social Care, and will be available until the end of January when it will be reviewed.
Dr Melanie Smith, Director of Public Health at Brent Council said:
It’s crucial that everyone gets tested regularly, so they can know if they have the virus and this will help to keep their friends and families safe. Testing is free, quick and easy and could save lives, so I want to encourage everyone to book a test today.
I also want everyone to think about the choices they make over the coming days and weeks as we enter the Christmas period. Simply hugging your nanny and grandad or your boyfriend or girlfriend, if they don’t live with you, could spread the virus and put vulnerable people at risk of serious infection and even death.
So please make sensible choices, take extra care and then we can all look forward to a brighter 2021 together as the vaccine is rolled out.
To find out more and book a free COVID-19 test, visit www.brent.gov.uk/covidtesting or call 020 8937 4440.
