It's Your Colville

Colville Forum meetings The Colville Forum meeting planned for Tuesday July 4 has been cancelled in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire. The next forum meeting will now be on Tuesday September 19 from 6.30 to 8.30 pm at the Portobello Court Clubroom on Portobello Road between Lonsdale Road and Westbourne Grove.

The next Market Streets Action Group (MSAG) meeting will be on Tuesday July 11. This group brings together market traders, stall holders and shop keepers, council officers, the police, local councillors and Westway Trust staff, and is chaired by the Cabinet Member for the Public Realm; with the purpose of maintaining and sustaining the character and economic success of the market. Local residents are very welcome to attend as key stakeholders in Portobello and Golborne markets. Further details will be posted here.

On April 11 the Colville Community Forum hosted a joint meeting with Market council officers, traders and members of the Market Streets Action Group at the Portobello Court Clubroom. Portobello Market is the heart and lifeblood of Colville and as we all know the market is changing rapidly and all traders, small shops and stall holders are facing a seriously difficult time as tourism and footfall increases but spending decreases with a recent Council/Westway survey showing an increasing number of people visiting for the street food experience. Antique traders and traditional fruit and veg sellers are finding trading particularly challenging and the number of shops/stalls that local residents value are also decreasing.

Forum members agreed at the January meeting to focus on market issues from the viewpoint of residents and the issues we face and want discussed as regards the market: 

Two Potato: an oral history of children's play in North Kensington A new documentary film made by Colville Primary School pupils, which was launched at the Gate Cinema on December 9, can now be watched on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMcSag7ItZE

The film documents the history of children's play in North Kensington, featuring interviews with local people along with beautiful archive images of the area, capturing the joy and struggles of childhood in the area. The project explores aspects of play for pre-teen children including street play, playgrounds, singing games and rhymes and board games. In short, what people played, where they played and how they played.

The film, interviews and children's writing are available on the project website. For further information please visit www.onepotato.org.uk Digital Works City Living Local Life 

Standing at the Crossroads The Carnival 50th film 'Standing at the Crossroads', made by St Thomas' School pupils with Digital Works, is now available online via https://thekensingtoncreatives.wordpress.com/https://thekensingtoncreatives.wordpress.com/ 

Colville 1957/67/77 History Project The 2017 Colville history project 1977 slideshow talk will feature in the Exodus 40 Westway 23 festival at Acklam Village - rescheduled date to be announced soon. The festival commemorating the 40th anniversary of Bob Marley and the Wailers recording the Exodus album at Isand's Basing Street Studios was due to take place on June 23-25 but was postponed after the Grenfell Tower fire as the bays under the Westway were being used in the community relief effort. The 77 show will also hopefully be part of Leslie Palmer's Carnival Pionners festival at Portobello Green and Acklam Village on August 13. As well as Bob Marley and the Wailers on Basing Street, there was the Sex Pistols on Virgin in Vernon Yard, The Clash album, the original Rough Trade shop and the Acklam Hall punk and reggae venue.

The next history talk slideshow at North Kensington Library on Saturday September 30 3-4 pm will be on 1967, featuring Twink Mohamed Abdullah John Alder, of the Pretty Things and Pink Fairies, Tom Vague and Dave Hucker -.along with the 50th of the hippy summer of love - Oz, IT, the Head Shop at 202 Kensington Park Road and the Notting Hill People's Association. Places can be booked for this free event via Eventbrite or at any of the Kensington and Chelsea libraries. The history project also aims to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the 1957 Rent Act and its effect on Rachman, and Joe Meek recording on Arundel Gardens. Future talks planned are Better Badges and the Dread Broadcasting Corporation by Michael Williams and Lepke Rebel, and local Irish history by Patrick Joyce.

Bogus Plumbers There have been two reported incidents recently where a group of 2-3 men, claiming to be plumbers, have conned their way into the victim’s home and stolen money or other items. The suspects are described as white, aged between 20-30 years old, and wearing workmen’s clothing. If someone has knocked unexpectedly at your door claiming to be a plumber or other trader, and asking to be let in, the police would like to know.