Image above: Rupa Huq opening London's first 'banking hub' earlier this year' As Chiswick faces a dearth of banking services, is a 'banking hub' like the one in Acton the answer? Two big banks have announced over the past couple of weeks that they are closing their branches in Chiswick High Road. Brentford and Isleworth MP Ruth Cadbury says she fears Chiswick could become a "bank-free town". “Physical banking services are vital," said the MP, "and these closures also continue to add to the strain on high streets. I have raised this wider issue with the Government and will make sure that the concerns of local residents are heard." First Lloyds and then NatWest announced the closure of their branches within da

Image above: Montage of the gang members; Met Police Thieves attempted to steal Declan Donnelly's car in Chiswick A gang responsible for a series of high-value car thefts in Chiswick and west London, as well as an attempted cash machine heist in Brentford, has been sentenced after a failed robbery led to their identification. The crew, believed to have stolen vehicles totalling £750,000, attempted to take TV star Declan Donnelly’s Range Rover in April 2021 from his Chiswick home. Four gang members, including 20-year-olds Alfie Chandler and Tommy Hutchinson, were convicted for this attempted theft. Chandler admitted guilt while Hutchinson pleaded not guilty. During the attempt at Mr. Donnelly's home, the gan

Image above: Works have been taking place on the road since the end of October. Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon Ealing Council says delay to work is unlikely as concerns for delays raised A scheduled road closure is set to have an impact on South Parade for at least two days this week, marking the culmination of a five-week long project to repair the kerbs. So far, the closure has only affected a single lane on the carriageway at any given time and contractors have removed temporary traffic lights during non-operational hours. Considerable delays are likely in the area when the road undergoes resurfacing. The closure is slated for Monday, December 4, and Tuesday, December 5, with the potential for exten

Sunday 3 December at 6pm There will be a service Christ Church, Turnham Green, at which people will be given space to share their grief for Jack Hollis, at 6pm on Sunday 3 December. Jack, who was 12 years old, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday 29 November. He had cancer, which the family only discovered in July. Christ Church says 'there will be space in this service for all ages to express sadness and to remember Jack and the whole family at this time.' The Hollis family are well known in Chiswick because of the tragedy they suffered in February 2010 when baby Tommy Hollis was killed by a falling lamppost. He was being pushed in his buggy by his nanny when the lamppost outside Chiswick Town Hall toppled over and baby Tommy suffered devastating head injuries.

Image above: Devonport Road; image Google Streetview Man in his 20s injuries not deemed to be life threatening A man was rushed to hospital after being shot in the face on Devonport Road, Shepherds Bush. His condition is not deemed life threatening. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday (29 November). Police officers and the London Ambulance service attended the scene after reports of the shooting at 2.32am and a man in his late 20s was found with a wound to his face. Forensics officers remained on the scene through the day and the road was closed. The residential street runs between Uxbridge Road and Goldhawk Road. Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar See also:

Image above: Strand-on-the-Green Consultation period open until Monday 11 December Hounslow Council have opened a consultation on plans to improve the pedestrian crossing facilities and the availability of cycle parking at Strand-on-the-Green. The plans and the main changes proposed are: Widening of the footways at the northern end of Strand-on-the-Green and the provision of a rain garden. Implementation of pedestrian crossing points and tactile paving on Strand-on-the-Green and Spring Grove. Vehicle access and drainage improvements to 2 Kew Road. Reposi

Image above: DKMS workers at a donation drive; Credit DKMS Chiswick-based charity celebrates 'significant milestone' DKMS, a blood cancer charity based in Chiswick, is celebrating a 'significant milestone' as one million donors have registered in the UK, including Chiswick residents, stepping up to save lives. The charity, which facilitates stem cell transplants globally, reports that since its launch in the UK a decade ago, stem cell donations have reached 42 countries, offering hope to those battling blood disorders. Among the one million registered donors is Ashley Walker, a 35-year-old from Connah’s Quay near Chester: "When I got an email about being a potential match, donating was a no-brainer. If it we

Image above: Chiswick School students at the Christmas lights switch-on on Monday (27 November) Chiswick lights switch-on goes off without a hitch Chiswick welcomed in the festive season on Monday (27 November) with the annual Christmas lights switch-on. It used to take place outside the George IV pub and in the past there has sometimes been a Christmas market and the Fuller's dray horses to admire. Last year the switch-on moved to the area around Hogarth's statue, which is where it took place again this year, with a group of students from Chiswick School leading the Christmas carol singing, under the guidance of Tommy Robinson, the school's creative arts coordinator. The festive ambiance was enhanced by mince

Image above: EM Forster's personal correspondence with Bob Buckingham; Chiswick Auctions Personal correspondence with Bob Buckingham, with whom the author had a long relationship Personal correspondence that marks the deep relationship between author EM Forster and policeman Bob Buckingham and his family are being auctioned at Chiswick Auctions tomorrow (Wednesday 29 November). The author of A Passage to India and Journey's End lived in Chiswick and had a long relationship with Bob Buckingham. As well as the cache of more than a dozen letters, the Buckingham family is now selling more than 160 books and a couple of pieces of furniture that were Forster's. Edward Morgan Forster (1879-1970) had a relationship with Bob Buckingham (1902-1975) for

Image above: Pub In the Park in 2022 Tom Kerridge salvages his festivals from collapse of Brand Events Chiswick House Gardens will host the Pub in the Park event next year, despite the collapse of the organising company, Brand Events Limited. Brand Events Limited faced administration earlier this year due to significant losses during the pandemic. Formed in 2017 through a partnership between Brand Events Holdings Ltd and Reach plc, the company organised big open-air events, including the Pub in the Park festivals featuring food stalls from top chefs and live music which have been a feature of the Chiswick House programme of events for the past three years. McFly were the headline act at this year's weekend event in Septe

Image above: Food Street Market - photograph by Andrea Carnevali Feedback encouraged for new application The Food Street market, which made its debut last month on Chiswick High Road, is eyeing expansion plans for the coming year. Richard Johnson, the creator of the British Street Food Awards and a local resident of Bedford Park, was only granted a three month trial initially for the street food market on the fourth Sunday of the month. His third market will be on Christmas Eve. Richard has now resubmitted the original plan, proposing markets which are more than twice the size those he has been allowed so far. The extended setup would extend beyond the car park at Old Market Place, continuing on the pavement alon

Image above: Mohammad speaking in the House of Commons Students speak in Parliament as part of the UK Youth Parliament A pupil from Chiswick School has spoken in the House of Commons, as part of the UK Youth Parliament. On Friday 17 November, the UK Youth Parliament debated universal free school meals and food security for young people as part of their campaign, ‘Food for Learning’. More than 200 Members of Youth Parliament from across the UK participated in the House of Commons debate. The UK Youth Parliament is a youth organisation consisting of democratically elected members aged between 11 and 18. Formed in 2000, the parliament has 369 members, who are elected to represent the views of young people in

Image above: Heathrow Hotel Funding shortcomings laid bare in new report Hounslow Council's public health team have presented a comprehensive report highlighting the challenges posed by the increasing number of asylum seekers housed within the borough. Over the past years, the Home Office has opted to accommodate those awaiting asylum decisions in local hotels, primarily many in proximity to Heathrow Airport. As of March 2023, there were 2,302 asylum seekers within the borough, a notable surge from 454 in 2020, albeit a slight decrease f

Image above: The Park House on Bedford Corner Public comments on application close on 12 December The café at 6 Bedford Corner, The Park House, (previously the Trinity Café), is applying for permission to sell alcohol. Brackenbury Brews Limited, a Hammersmith-based hospitality management company, is behind the application. The company already manages two venues in Euston Station: The Square Tavern and Faim. Petar Ivanisevic, the director and owner of Brackenbury Brews Limited, has 18 years of management experience, including time with the Metropolitan Pub Company. He previously ran a coffee brand called Pitch.coffee with his wife, which closed during lockdown. Ivanisevic's plan for The Park House includes tu

Image above: David Tennant at the annual Evening Standard Theatre Awards (2023); via Twitter TV star and Chiswick resident chats about his Doctor Who return, his successor, and playing Macbeth at Donmar Warehouse  TV and theatre star, and Chiswick resident, David Tennant has said his daughter was "bewildered" seeing him reprise his role as The Doctor in Doctor Who. Thanks to a Children In Need special, David returned to his Time Lord role on Friday (13 November). Speaking at the Evening Standard theatre awards on Sunday night (19 November), he said: “I watched it with my eight-year-old, who didn’t really know what was coming and didn’t really understand what she was watching!” He