Become a Brent councillor - event for prospective councillors January 27th 2025

 

The 2024 Wembley History Society Christmas Picture Quiz - the answers!

 Introduction to Christmas Quiz answers by local historian Philip Grant

Thank you to everyone who had a go at last weekend’s 2024 Wembley Christmas Picture Quiz. (If you haven’t done it yet, click on that “link” and have a go before you look at the answers!) 

 

I hope you’ve enjoyed the quiz, as part of the excellent and varied “Wembley Matters” content, which I’m sure that, like me, you are very grateful to Martin for providing. The answers document is below, at the foot of this guest post.

 

I wrote in a comment under the quiz, in relation to the photograph for question 4, that I’d been asked whether Wembley had its own band when the park, with its bandstand, was opened in 1914. The answer is “yes”, and only last week this photograph of the Wembley Town Band from c.1912 was shared with me by Richard, who wrote the letter about his Wembley airman / WW2 Prisoner of War father which Martin published last month.

 

Richard’s grandfather, Henry Hawkins (second from the left in the back row) was one of the organisers of the Wembley Town Band, when it was formed in 1910. A number of the band’s members were policemen or railway workers, and Richard’s great-grandfather, James Blackmore (seated just in front of Richard’s grandfather), the first Metropolitan Police officer to be stationed in Victorian Wembley, had played bass drum in the Met. Police band in the 1890s. The short gentleman standing next to the then bass drummer, and wearing a straw boater, is Titus Barham. He was the President of Wembley Town Band, and paid for the band’s uniforms, which were green with silver trimmings (another of his generous gifts to the people of his adopted town).

 

Hopefully, most of you knew, or guessed, that the intercity railway line through Wembley, in question 7, which opened in 1838, ran from London to Birmingham. It is interesting to compare it with the current High Speed 2 line. Robert Stephenson’s early Victorian trains had a top speed of 30 m.p.h., and at first the journey from Euston to Birmingham Curzon Street took 5½ hours. HS2 is predicted to cut that journey time to just 50 minutes. 

 

But construction of the original line took less than five years (November 1833 to September 1838), whereas HS2 began construction in 2017, and the phase from Euston to Birmingham Curzon Street is expected to be finished by 2033. So the first railway was quicker in one way!

There were probably a few of the questions that you didn’t know the answers to. If that’s the case, you have the chance over the Christmas / New Year break to discover more about some aspects of Wembley’s past. I’ve included “links” with some of the answers, which will take you to illustrated articles giving more information, if you want to take advantage of them.

 

If you were feeling competitive, and wrote down your answers, you can now see how many you got right. There are no prizes, but if you want to share your score out of twenty (just to let others know how well, or badly, you did), you are welcome to add a comment below!

 

With best wishes for the Christmas season, and a happy and healthy New Year,

 

Philip Grant,
for Wembley History Society.

Holiday closures and limited opening hours for Brent services - details

 

FURTHER INFORMATION ON BRENT COUNCIL SERVICES

Lest We Forget – looking for relatives of a WW2 Wembley airman

 Guest post by local historian Philip Grant in a personal capacity

Extract from a document produced by the Dutch Airwar Study Group 1939-1945.

 

The Second World War seems a long time ago, and we probably don’t think about it very often, unless we were personally affected by the loss of a family member. But there are some people who still give their time and effort to ensure that those who lost their lives in that awful conflict are remembered with respect. I was contacted recently by one of those, asking for help to try and find relatives, and hopefully a photograph of, an RAF airman from Wembley who died in 1943, and I’m writing this guest post to ask for any help that you can give, please.

 

Ronald Douglas Francis (no relation to the editor) was born in May 1921. By the age of 21, he was a Sargeant in the R.A.F., and the wireless operator / air gunner on a Lancaster bomber flying missions to bomb industrial sites in Germany. On the night of 3 April 1943, his aircraft was shot down by a German night fighter, and at around midnight it crashed in flames in a forest near Stevensbeek, in the south of The Netherlands. All seven members of the Lancaster’s crew were killed, and their graves are now in a war cemetery at Eindhoven.

 

Some of the war graves at Eindhoven, and the gravestone of Sgt. R.D. Francis.
(Source: Commonwealth War Graves Commission website)

 

The Dutch Airwar Study Group 1939-1945 have been collecting information about this aircraft and its crew, and have sent me an excellent information sheet, prepared by one of their members, Rene, which I will ask Martin to attach at the end of this article. As you will see, they have yet to find a photograph of Ronald Francis, or of the plane’s pilot, 20-year old Pilot Officer W.H. Swire, and rear gunner Sgt. R.R. Feeley. They would very much like to have photographs of all the crew members, to include on a memorial it is hoped to erect near the crash site. A similar memorial was recently installed to remember the crew of a Wellington bomber, who also died in April 1943 when it crashed, just inside the Dutch border, after being damaged by “flak” (anti-aircraft gunfire) on a mission over Duisburg.

 

Memorial board to a Wellington bomber crew. (Courtesy of Leo Janssen)

 

As well as photographs, the Study Group would also like to contact any living relatives of Ronald Douglas Francis, and his fellow crew members, so that they can be invited to, or at least aware of, the steps being taken and events to commemorate the lost Lancaster bomber. Ronald’s parents, John Charles Francis and Winifred Edith Francis, lived at 19 Douglas Avenue, Wembley (a turning off of Ealing Road). Does anyone in the area still remember the family, including the names of any of Ronald’s brothers or sisters who might still be alive, and where they might be found now? If you have any information which might help, please send it to Leo Janssen at: leojanssen1954@ziggo.nl  (with a copy to Wembley Matters, if possible).

 

Wars are horrible things. They bring about terrible loss of life and injury, destruction and disruption of people’s lives. Bombing, especially the indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas, is one of its worst aspects. But it is not the men and women who volunteer, or are called-up, to serve in the armed forces of their countries, who cause the wars, or decide what acts of war are inflicted on “the enemy”. If they lose their lives (or suffer life changing injuries or trauma) in the course of their service, they deserve to be remembered with respect.

 

It is moving, and humbling, that there are groups of people in The Netherlands who are working to ensure that British and Commonwealth war dead are not forgotten. Another organisation, in the same North Brabant province as Stevensbeek, is the Overloon War Chronicles Foundation. They are collecting the photographs and stories of the Allied soldiers who fought and died in the Battle of Overloon, a crucial victory in the advance towards Germany in October 1944, and are among the 281 who are buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in the village.

 

A remembrance service at Overloon war graves cemetery. (Courtesy of Leo Janssen)

 

For the past few years, people the municipality of Land van Cuijk, which includes Overloon, have been holding a special remembrance event at their local war graves cemeteries each Christmas time. Any relatives of the dead, or others interested, are invited to join the local community for this. On Tuesday 24 December 2024 the tour of four cemeteries will end at Overloon, with a programme of music, speeches, poems and readings, starting at 4pm. And on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, candles will be lit on each of the graves, as part of the annual Lights on War Graves commemoration.

 

The annual commemoration and Lights on War Graves at Overloon cemetery.
(Courtesy of Leo Janssen)

 

Lest we forget!

Philip Grant.

 

The Amnesty Report on Israel's alleged Genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and the Westminster Hall debate

 

The Amnesty Report, 'You feel like you are subhuman': Israel's Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza, has not received the attention it deserves in the mainstrea, media so I am publish their introduction and a link to the full report here:

‘You Feel Like You Are Subhuman’: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza

"Our damning findings must serve as a wake-up call to the international community: this is genocide. It must stop now." - Agnès Callamard

 

Amnesty International has found sufficient basis to conclude that Israeli authorities committed, and continue to commit prohibited acts under the Genocide Convention.

Amnesty’s report analyses the Israeli authorities’ policies and military actions in the occupied Gaza Strip (Gaza) in the context of the military offensive they launched in the wake of the attacks on Israel carried out by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on 7 October 2023. It assesses them within the framework of genocide under international law, finding that there is sufficient evidence to conclude that Israel’s conduct amounts to genocide. 

 

The Genocide Convention was the first international treaty to explicitly define and criminalise genocide. It was unanimously adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948. The definition of genocide is provided for in Article II of the Genocide Convention, which reads: “…genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:

 

(a) Killing members of the group; 

(b) Causing serious bodily harm or mental harm to members of the group; 

(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; 

(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; 

(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.” 

 

Through our research findings and legal analysis, we have found sufficient basis to conclude that Israel committed, during the nine months under review, prohibited acts under Article II (a), (b) and (c) of the Genocide Convention. We interviewed 212 people, including Palestinian victims and witnesses, local authorities in Gaza, and healthcare workers, conducted fieldwork and analysed an extensive range of visual and digital evidence, including satellite imagery. It also analysed statements by senior Israeli government and military. 

 

KEY CALLS 

 

Israel must urgently end the commission of genocidal acts against Palestinians in Gaza; agree to and uphold a sustained ceasefire; reverse all policies and actions that have resulted in the rapid deterioration of conditions of life in Gaza; and ensure that the humanitarian needs of Palestinians in Gaza are urgently and duly met. 

 

The UK must take urgent and meaningful steps to pressure Israel into ending its genocidal acts against Palestinians in Gaza. As a first step, they must ensure that Israel agrees to a sustained ceasefire, and fully implements all provisional measures ordered by the ICJ since 26 January 2024. 

 

The UK must immediately suspend arms transfers to Israel and the provision of training and other military and security assistance and services.

 

The UK must act to ensure justice and accountability for any alleged crimes under international law, including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, by exercising universal or other forms of extraterritorial criminal jurisdiction, pressuring Israel to allow entry into Gaza of members and staff of any international investigative or UN-mandated mechanism, and supporting the investigation of the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC into crimes allegedly committed in Israel and the OPT, including through executing any ICC arrest warrants.

 

The UK must oppose any attempts by Israel to establish a permanent Israeli military or civilian presence in Gaza, alter its borders and demographic makeup, or shrink its territory. Displaced Palestinians must be allowed to return to their homes and communities. 

 

The UK must urge the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC to urgently add the crime of genocide by Israeli officials since 7 October 2023 to its ongoing investigation into the situation in the State of Palestine. 

 

The UK must press the UN Security Council to impose a comprehensive arms embargo on all parties to the conflict, and targeted sanctions, such as asset freezes, against Israeli officials most implicated in crimes under international law, including those committed in the context of Israel’s ongoing offensive on Gaza.

THE FULL REPORT IS HERE

Unfortunately none of the Brent or Harrow MPs attended the recent Westminster Hall debate on citizens' petitions that called for the UK to recognise  the state of Palestine and for the end of UK arms  sales. This also received hardly any publicity.

I watched the debate (there is no vote) and was impressed by John McDonnell's moving ontribution:

John MacDonnell (Independent):

Every week of the last year, virtually, we have had a debate in this or the main Chamber: questions are asked and then we go home and watch on television the bodies of children being dug out of rubble—body parts, in some instances—with those white wrappings around their bodies. In every debate we seem to have got virtually nowhere because the arms are still being sold. We are still supplying essential parts for the F-35—the very vehicle that is dropping the bombs, firing the weapons and killing the children.

Carla Denyer (Green: 

Was the right hon. Member as shocked as I was to learn that, contrary to the notion that the UK’s trade in F-35 parts is untraceable, as we were told previously, not only is it traceable but the US Government are tracking it? The reason we do not have that information is that we have not even asked them.

John McDonnell

I will be careful with my language here, but one of the frustrations, in this debate as well, is getting the truth about what is happening and what is contributing to the murders that are taking place. Unless we can stop that and prevent the UK from participating, we will all be implicated. History will judge us all for not doing enough to stop it.

I am pleased that the petition has taken place and pleased about the numbers; I congratulate the people who organised it. The petition represents the sense of frustration felt out there and the real depth of anger.

I have been on virtually every national demonstration. They have been peaceful, but there is a level of frustration that I do not think we can contain any more. We are alienating whole sections of our own community. It is not about the Labour party or other political parties, but democracy itself. People say, “You’re an MP. You go to Parliament. Why aren’t you stopping this? It’s no good just shouting on demonstrations. Why isn’t democracy being exercised to stop this?”

I want to make just one point about the lack of action by the Government. Yes, petitions are taking place, but other people are taking direct action and have been imprisoned. Those cases will be sub judice, so I will not mention them individually. But Palestine Action took direct action to close down an arms factory that was supplying goods and materials for the F-35 and the drones. Those people were arrested under counter-terrorism powers and detained. They are young people, a lot of them young women—some of them just starting out at university. They exercised their influence and power because we failed to exercise ours. Some have been in court; when they are in front of a jury, they usually win the case. A number of them are now on remand and will have been in prison since last March until next November, when their trial is listed.

 Chair: Order. I remind the right hon. Member that the case is sub judice and we should not talk about it.

John McDonnell

I am careful about not mentioning any names. I am raising the issue of the process itself, which is the use of counter-terrorism powers against direct action groups. The last Government even came forward with proposals and discussions about proscribing Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. I hope this Government are not going anywhere near that.

But why are the people in prison at the moment on remand? Why can they not be tagged before their trial comes up next November? A number of them, most probably, will be proven innocent, but they will have served nearly two years in prison—for what? For trying to do what we are failing to do: prevent this Government from supplying arms to a regime that kills children.

I say to the Government: it is now time to act. All arms licences need to be closed down. The Minister may say that it is a matter of defending Israel; if so, let us have a conversation with Israel itself about how to supervise that defence internationally, rather than using it as an excuse to kill children. I have had enough of coming back here every week—as you can tell, Mrs Harris. We need action from the Government now.

Mike Tapp (Labour, Dover and Deal) made a contribution that opposed both petition requests:

The petitions reflect the deep concern and passion of many in our society about the ongoing conflict and suffering in the middle east, and I respect the sentiment behind them. This Government are already working towards the same objectives that many of the signatories seek: an end to the violence in Gaza, the immediate release of all remaining hostages, an improved supply of humanitarian aid and, crucially, irreversible progress towards a lasting two-state solution. Peace in the middle east will come from negotiations, dialogue and the willingness of both sides to find common ground.

I turn first to the question of recognising the state of Palestine. Both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples have a legitimate right to self-determination. The foundation of a two-state solution is an independent, viable and democratic Palestine living alongside a safe and secure Israel. Since the Oslo accords, the principle has been clear: a two-state solution can be reached only through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. An action that undermines that principle, such as unilateral recognition of Palestine by the UK, only complicates that matter and makes peace more difficult. It creates the false impression that a Palestinian state can be imposed from the outside, without the necessary negotiations. Unilateral recognition, as seen with countries such as Spain, Norway and Ireland, has led to no real progress on the ground. It is a symbolic gesture, but it does not advance the cause of peace.

We must also approach the matter of arms exports with a clear-eyed view of the facts. Revoking UK arms export licences would once again be a largely symbolic gesture, with little practical impact on the situation in Gaza. It would also undermine our credibility as a security partner in the region and send the wrong messages to adversaries, including Iran.

Andy McDonald (Labour, Middlesborough and Thornby East)

Presumably, my hon. Friend will recognise that 15% of the F-35 construction parts come from the United Kingdom, and they are the choice of delivery of the 2,000 lb bombs that obliterate civilian populations in Gaza. Does he share my concern that continuing to participate in that programme leaves the United Kingdom at risk of being prosecuted under various conventions for complicity in those heinous acts?

Mike Tapp

We must bear in mind that 95% of weapons come from the US and Germany, and on the legal side of things, the Prime Minister and the Government have been clear that they have consulted legal advice, which of course will continue—I expect that there will be more from the Minister on that.

That is not to say that we ignore the suffering or the rights of Palestinians—far from it—but revoking arms sales to Israel, particularly when the country is engaged in a seven-front conflict against Iran and its proxies, would undermine our national security interests in the middle east. The UK has a long-standing defence and security relationship with Israel, which played a key role in defending Israel against an unprecedented Iranian ballistic attack earlier this year.

We have real-world experience in peacebuilding through initiatives such as the International Fund for Ireland, which invested in cross-community projects in Northern Ireland long before the Good Friday agreement was signed. Over time, these projects help to change attitudes and foster the conditions for political leaders to negotiate and compromise. The UK can and must apply thos

lessons to the middle east. By supporting peacebuilding civil society organisations in both Israel and Palestine, we can build the foundations for lasting peace. That approach has already received backing from the G7, and was reinforced by the Prime Minister's recent announcement on supporting civil society peacebuilding.

I urge us all to focus on actions that have a tangible long-term impact. Unilateral recognition of Palestine or the withdrawal of arms exports to Israel may offer a moment of symbolic protest, but will not move us closer to a genuine and lasting peace. The real path to peace lies in dialogue, supporting peacebuilding initiatives and encouraging both Israelis and Palestinians to come to the table. The UK can play a meaningful role by investing in projects that build trust and create the conditions necessary for a sustainable two-state solution.

 

THE FULL HANSARD REPORT IS HERE (INCLUDING THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE)

Public meeting following Gifford Road shooting

 

BREAKING: Application for 3 day Korean Pop Music Festival in Northwick Park summer 2025

MIK22 Festival in Southwark Park

Hot on the heels of the Fryent Country Park application for a summer festival, which was withdrawn, another application been received for Northwick Park.

The MIK (made in Korea) 2025 with an attendance of up to 15,000 would be held in summer 2025 with a 'to be confirmed' date of June 7th-8th (although the application details Friday-Sunday). A section of the park would be required for 10 days prior to the Festival and 5 days following for preparation and dismantling. It would be surrounded by metal fencing.

 

The licence would cover 11am-10.30pm for plays, films, live music, record music. dance and workshops. Friday to Sunday. A licence to sell alcohol would run from 11am - 10pm Friday to Sunday.

MUSIC FROM LIVE BANDS WILL BE AMPLIFIED ON ALL STAGES WHICH COULD INCLUDE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR STAGESNon-standard Times

SOUND CHECKING MAY TAKE PLACE BETWEEN 09:00 - 18:00 MONDAY TO SUNDAY.

The organisers describe the event:

MIK 2025 is the second year (the first was 2022 in Southwark Park) of Magic Sound’s outdoor festival experience, showcasing international talent born out of the Korean Pop movement (K-Pop), now a globally recognised music genre.

 

The intention is for MIK to take place over a weekend (2 days). Whilst dates are pending at the time of writing, the speculative dates will be the 7 – 8 June 2025, with approximately 10 days prior for construction and 5 days following for derig.

 

Entertainment will consist of a single concert stage showcasing Korean Pop and Chinese Pop acts of international recognition, with amplified loud and recorded music. There will also be sale of alcohol as well as amenities such as food concessions and merchandise at the event. The event site will be fully enclosed in steel shield fencing to ensure access is controlled to ticket holders only via a single public entrance. A further production entrance will be identified for authorised, accredited personnel.

 

The London Borough of Brent (LBB), and specifically Northwick Park, have been chosen by the organisers due to the borough’s diverse population and access to public transport, walking and cycling facilities. MIK 2025 will provide a youth-led boost to Brent’s local economy.

 

The promoters and curators are Magic Sound (MS), who have produced a number of shows at indoor institutions such as the O2 and Wembley Arena, as well as MIK 2022 in Southwark.

 

MS have appointed TEU to produce MIK, overseeing operational planning and delivery of the event in the advance, live and postmortem phases of the event. TEU is staffed and managed by a team of experienced and qualified professionals with a proven track record of running safe events. Carefully selected contractors and individuals will be charged with running various aspects of the event on each day and will be answerable to a single Event Manager. The Event Manager, Site Manager, Security Manager and nominated Safety Manager will work as the Event Operations Team (EOT), consulting each other on various aspects of the show and liaising with heads of department, emergency service and LBB

 

The proposed premises sits within Northwick Park, a large public greenspace situated between Harrow and Kenton, with Watford Road to the west and Norval Road to the south. Northwick Park Hospital sits to the west of the site alongside the University of Westminster, Harrow campus. Train lines run north and east. The park is laid to grass with sports pitches and an access road leads to a car park at the centre with a foot path leading on to Northwick Park station. This road and footpath is known as the Capital Ring. The proposed licensable area is centred at approximately: OS Grid Ref: TQ 17029 87551 Latitude: 51u00b034'29"N Longitude: 0u00b018'45"W

 

The MIK 2022 in Southwark Park went ahead despite protests but a repeat in 2023 was cancelled after the organisers failed to sell enough tickets in the face of rising costs. See LINK

 

The full application with supporting documents can be seen on the Brent website and comments can be made with a deadline of January 14th 2025. SEE LINK 

 

The grounds on which comments can be made are fairly narrow. This is from the Brent website:

 Comment on applications

When a premises first applies for a licence, or if they apply to vary their licence, or if the licence is reviewed, you can comment on the application to support or oppose it.

 

How to comment

 

If you want to comment on an application, you must do it in writing by the advertised date. This is usually 28 days after the application was made.

 

Representations (comments) will usually be expected to relate to at least one of the licensing objectives.

 

The objectives are:

• preventing crime and disorder
• public safety
• preventing public nuisance
• protecting children from harm.

 

View the online register and comment on applications

Police appeal for information about the car used in Gifford Road fatal shooting

 

Michelle Sadio

From Metropolitan Police

Detectives investigating the murder of Michelle Sadio in Brent are appealing for information about a car used in the shooting.

The vehicle, a black Kia with distinctive alloys, was being driven by the suspects who then fired a number of shots in Gifford Road, NW10 on Saturday, 14 December.

Michelle was one of three people injured and she sadly died at the scene.

Following the shooting, the car was driven from Gifford Road to Barnhill Road where it was then abandoned and set alight.

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Clarke, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, who is leading the investigation, said: 

 “While we are making significant progress in our investigation, we continue to appeal for anyone who witnessed this incident and particularly anyone who has information about the black Kia to please get in touch.

“The black Kia Niro was distinctive as it was a hybrid electric vehicle with unique alloys. Did you see it that night at any point, or in the days before the shooting? 

 

 

“Thank you to those who have already come forward. What you know, however insignificant it may seem now, could hold the key to this investigation.

“My team is working tirelessly to piece together the events that took place on Saturday evening, and to provide Michelle’s family with the answers they need.”

At approximately 21:15hrs on Saturday police were called to reports of the shooting, which happened as Michelle and others were standing outside the church following a wake. Officers and London Ambulance Service paramedics attended the scene.

Michelle, aged 44, was found suffering serious injuries – despite the efforts of the emergency services she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Michelle’s family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. Michelle’s family have requested that media respect their privacy during this difficult time.

Two men, both aged in their 30s, also suffered injuries. One remains in hospital in a critical condition; the other man’s injuries are not life threatening.

There have been no arrests at this stage and enquiries into the circumstances continue.

The public can expect to see an increased police presence in the area as officers investigate and conduct door to door enquiries as well as carrying out extra patrols. While some cordons have now been lifted, others will remain in place for the time being to provide detectives with the best chance to secure important evidence.

Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call 101 or message @MetCC on X giving the reference CAD 7137/14DEC. You can also provide information, or upload images and footage, through the online portal here or by scanning the attached QR code.

Information can also be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.