Out & About Magazine, West London, August - September 2023

I’ve just been to Italy on holiday and can absolutely see why it became such a thing for Victorian gentlemen to go off and do the Grand Tour – especially artists. J.M.W. Turner, who lived in Brentford and painted the River Thames in west London many times, did not get to go on an extensive tour of Italy until he was 44 because of the Napoleonic wars, but when he did go, the experience changed his painting. A new exhibition of his Italian watercolours opened at his house in Twickenham in July. P 6-7

Boston Manor House, the Jacobean mansion in Brentford, has been opened to the public after extensive restoration. The Grade 1 listed building dates back to 1623 and, writes Lucinda MacPherson: ‘In its heyday it was inhabited by upwardly mobile owners, trying out all sorts of grand designs to impress.’ Grand designs which we can now go and appreciate for free. P 10 – 11

Brentford’s Creative Mile returns in September. Brentford has an extraordinary mix of old industrial, heritage properties, studios and galleries, which will all be hosting artists showing their work over the weekend of 1st – 3rd September: painters, printmakers, hatmakers, metalworkers, ceramicists and sculptors.

P 14 - 15

Chiswick Book Festival takes place in September, celebrating 15 years this year with a host of star names including journalist Clive Myrie, children’s author Dame Jacqueline Wilson, playwright and novelist Michael

Frayn, broadcaster and gardener Alan Titchmarsh and celebrity cook Nadiya Hussain. P 18 – 19

Chiswick In Film Festival follows three weeks later. This year it includes a young people’s film making competition. If you are under 18 with access to an iphone and fancy yourself a bit of a film director, spend your summer making a film (deadline for entry 1 September). It will be judged by two of the biggest names in British film and theatre: Colin Firth and Michael Attenborough, and the winners will be shown at the festival. P 12 – 13

The ever-popular Chiswick House Dog Show rounds off the month on Sunday 24 September. A dog show that doesn’t take itself too seriously, it has classes for every conceivable type of dog: Waggiest Tail, Prettiest Bitch, My Dog’s Got Talent, Best Groomed, Naughtiest Dog, Best Veteran and “Best in Show”. Good fun to watch, even if you don’t own a dog. P 26

Plus our regular features from Hen Corner P 20 and the September line-up for Jazz at George IV. P 24 - 25 Plenty to enjoy, some of it mercifully free, or at least cheap to go to. Have a good summer.

Bridget

Editor: Bridget Osborne

OUR FAMILY HELPING YOUR FAMILY

For over 240 years, eight generations of the Lodge Family have been privileged to help local families in their time of need. We provide all funerals, whether modern, traditional, green or alternative, with care and compassion.

“As soon as I spoke to Jacqueline I knew she was the right person to support me through the funeral. I went with my gut and never regretted it. Nothing was too much trouble. I felt totally supported and guided through the process and amazingly felt like it was a friend holding my hand.” - Ms J

Robert, Chris, Andrew & Michael Lodge

‘SEEING THE LIGHT’ EXHIBITION

In the summer of 1819, the landscape artist J.M.W. Turner set off on a journey to Italy that would have a profound impact on his life and work. Doing the ‘Grand Tour’ was very much a feature of a Victorian gentleman’s life, but the French Revolutionary (1792-99) and Napoleonic Wars (1800-15) had made such tourism too dangerous for Turner to go and study the classical sites and old masters of Italy as a young man. He had seen a bit of northern Italy but it was not until he was an established and experienced artist of 44 that he was able to spend six months travelling around the whole country.

Turner’s House in Twickenham has an exhibition of some of his watercolours from that trip, on loan from the Tate. Curator Dr Carly Collier says he was so thrilled to be there he filled 23 sketch books with drawings of people, buildings and countryside, some of which he made from his carriage en route, so keen was he not to miss anything. The exhibition also has the pocket-sized watercolour palette he used on his journey, on loan from a private collection.

Seeing the Light shows Turner’s evolving use of colour and light before and after 1819, as a result of visiting Italy, with paintings of Venice, Rome and Naples amongst other places he visited.

His house in Twickenham, which he designed himself and where he lived with his father, has been open to the public since 2017 and this is its third exhibition. As befits the intimate space, the curators have chosen small watercolours and drawings which

are less well known than the famous paintings which hang in the big museums.

Turner had a long association with west London. Born in Covent Garden, he was sent to stay with his uncle in Brentford when he was ten years old. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1790 when he was just 15 and he became an Associate of the Royal Academy at the age of 24, so as a young man he already had a busy and flourishing career. In 1805, when he was 30, he rented Syon Ferry House in rural Isleworth, close to Syon House looking across the river at Kew, and he produced many watercolours of the riverside scenery during this period. A year later he rented another riverside property on the Mall at Hammersmith, also still a rural area at this time. In May 1807 he took the first step to owning his own country retreat by buying two plots of land at Twickenham.

Contemporary travel writer Daniel Defoe wrote that in Twickenham there were ‘summerhouses where gentlemen or citizens retire from the hurries of business and from getting money to draw their breath in clean air.’

J.M.W Turner’s House, Twickenham

Turner made many sketches and paintings of the landscape along the Thames at Richmond and Twickenham, one of which is in this exhibition.

Museum Director, Matthew Morgan, says the house in Twickenham is the only place you can come to see where the artist lived and get a sense of how he lived, as other places he lived in no longer exist.

“I like to imagine Turner here at his country home in Twickenham excitedly pouring over guides, consulting friends and gathering together sketchbooks to document his feverishly anticipated journey,” says Dr Collier.

Opening the exhibition at the beginning of July, broadcaster Anneka Rice said the exhibition was “fantastic,” describing it as a “treasure trove.” She herself is an artist, though she said she was deeply embarrassed to have this mentioned in the same sentence as Turner’s name, but she has always had a particular soft spot for Turner, she said, as he had painted the riverside terrace in Barnes where she lived for many years.

The exhibition continues until Sunday 29 October. The house is open Wednesday – Sunday from 10am – 4pm. Prebooking via turnershouse.org.

Turner’s House is at Sandycombe Lodge, 40 Sandycoombe Road, St Margarets, Twickenham TW1 2LR.

Photos by Andre Pattenden

THE Heart OF DESIGN

New installations re-interpret the history and collections of Chiswick House through a diversity of voices and perspectives.

Through its ongoing Black Chiswick through History project, Chiswick House & Gardens Trust is working with Hounslow community groups, to shine a light on global influences visible inside the 18th century villa.

New displays by young people from Chiswick School, Hogarth Youth and Community Centre and Hounslow Action for Youth reveal fascinating stories about the many different cultures that have shaped the English Heritage property. Working with prize-winning poet Rachel Long, Hounslow Action for Youth developed Notes from a Paradise Garden, a collection of new written works taking inspiration from the Persian and Arabic floral designs found throughout the House.

Inspired by the carpets and iconic velvet wallpaper, students from Chiswick School have created a

digital visualisation Chiswick House and its Silks exploring the story of the global silk trade through to its impact on interior design.

Meanwhile, the group from Hogarth Youth and Community Centre worked with artist Ayesha Weekes to Put the Colour back into Chiswick House to produce a vibrant new artwork incorporating Egyptian, Asian and Middle Eastern designs that have inspired the House decor. Also on display in the House and Kitchen Garden, The Heart of Design explores how the exchange of ideas, art and traditions from across the globe have inspired the designs of Chiswick House & Gardens. Featuring installations by Leah Muwanga-Magoye, Tanvi Kant, Aysha Khan and Nadine Fletcher (Art Jar) plus work by local community groups HAAYA, working with artist Nava Ahmed, and Rivercourt Project working with Kite Studios.

See the Black Chiswick through History and The Heart of Design installations at Chiswick House, open Thursday-Sunday until 1 October.

Half price family tickets available on Fridays throughout August and September. Generously supported by English Heritage, Art Fund and the Linbury Trust.

Family Fridays

Includes entry to Chiswick House & the Kitchen Garden for up to two adults and three children. Valid on Fridays in August and September, 11am–4pm.

Audioguide for kids, narrated by Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

Half-price family tickets throughout August and September Scan

chiswickhouseandgardens.org.uk

Image: Andre Pattenden

BOSTON MANOR HOUSE

to the public

By Lucinda MacPherson

Boston Manor House, a Jacobean mansion in Brentford, opened to the public in July showing off its elaborate interiors, now restored to their blingy best after a sixyear, £6 million facelift.

The Grade 1 listed building set in 34 acres of parkland, dates back to 1623 when it was originally built for Lady Mary Reade, a young widow who later married Sir Edward Spencer, an ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales.

In its heyday it was inhabited by upwardly mobile owners, trying out all sorts of grand designs to impress, before coming under local authority ownership in

the 1920s, facing war damage, changes of use, gradual decline, dereliction then closure.

It was on the Heritage at Risk register, but thanks to support from, among others, Hounslow Council and the National Heritage Lottery Fund, visitors can now step back into a variety of times.

On the right of the entrance, a room orientates visitors by explaining the house’s 400year history, but after this I’d recommend tracing the interiors chronologically starting in the State Bedroom on the first floor. Many of the original Jacobean

features remain in the State rooms, so called as they were the most lavishly decorated to receive honoured guests.

And they most definitely impress, with the State Bedroom boasting an elaborate plaster ceiling, wall hanging, and four poster bed, complete with racy red silk drapes which remain tantalizingly closed.

It might seem perverse to entertain distinguished guests in your bedroom, but in the 17th century a set of state rooms usually included one, to which chairs would have been brought in, as needed. In Boston Manor

Opened

House, there is simply a bed, leaving you to imagine Lady Mary conducting flirtatious tete-a-tetes like a latter-day Paula Yates on Big Breakfast. And if all this puts you in mind to have a little lie down, that is, arguably, the best position to be in to appreciate the adjoining Drawing Room’s sumptuous ceiling, a spectacular confection of plasterwork.

The ornate design includes emblems depicting the Elements, the Five Senses, War and Peace, Tune, and Faith, Hope and Charity; and look out for Lady Mary’s initials and the date 1623, to commemorate the completion of the first stage of the house, included in a corner.

The winding Jacobean staircase is mostly original, with square carved oak newel posts supporting lions grandly displaying the heraldic shields of families connected to the house. The opposite side of the stairs are mirrored with rare examples of Trompe l’œil balustrade.

The original hallway and staircase wallpaper dated back to the 1750s, was one of the earliest examples in Britain. Being ahead of its time, this would have

been hugely expensive when installed to impress visitors with the wealth and power of the Clitherow family who had taken over the house in 1670.

The gilded downstairs dining room has walls painted the statement red they would have been in the 1850s and contains a display celebrating a royal dinner held there in June 1834 attended by King William IV, Queen Adelaide and his sister Princess Augusta.

Boston Manor House seeks to distinguish itself from other heritage sites in West London, by offering itself as a community amenity, which will evolve according to its local community wishes.

As well as its obvious potential for lavish events in the heritage reception rooms, there are spacious conference rooms upstairs on the third floor, and a designated exhibition space on the ground floor in what was the library.

The opening exhibition will track the house’s restoration, but there are plans to celebrate local communities who have been invited to curate their own displays next year.

Go visit, its nearby and its free! Opening times are Tuesday to Sunday, 12 noon to 5pm. Boston Manor House, Boston Manor Road, Brentford TW8 9JX.

CHISWICKinFilmFESTIVAL

& Young People’s Film Making Competition

Chiswick is holding a film festival – the second annual Chiswick In Film festival, from Friday 29 September to Sunday 1 October, created by The Chiswick Calendar and Chiswick Cinema with film editor Andrea Carnevali and script writer Rob Sprackling.

Chiswick has a rich film heritage, both in terms of the number of films with sequences shot here and the contribution made by people working in the industry who live locally.

From the 1960s – Goodbye Mr Chips, Help!, Darling, The Servant, Quatermass and the Pit – to the 2000s – Vanity Fair, Never Let me Go, Love Actually – film makers have chosen Chiswick locations.

For many years Chiswick was a dormitory area for the BBC’s Television Centre at Shepherd’s Bush, within easy striking range of central London and film studios at Ealing and Shepperton, so its population counts an

unusually high number of actors, writers, musicians and broadcasters among its number.

Building on last year’s festival

Last year’s programme saw a Downton Abbey Q&A with the executive producer Gareth Neame, Director Simon Curtis, and actor Phyllis Logan (Mrs Carson), who all live locally.

Film star Sarah Miles came to the screening of The Servant, which had scenes shot at Chiswick House. Chiswick locals, director Aisling Walsh talked about her award-winning film Maudie and creator Rebecca Frayn spoke about her film Misbehaviour.

Rob Sprackling introduced his children’s film Gnomeo and Juliet. He has worked with the Aardman team on the Wallace and Gromit series and this year will be introducing Shaun the Sheep with one of the Aardman team.

Young People’s Film Making competition

After last year’s success the Chiswick In Film Festival will be looking to repeat the mix of films shot in Chiswick and those made by people who live here and we are building on last year’s festival by introducing a Young People’s Film Making competition.

Two of the biggest names in British film and theatre have agreed to judge the competition – actor Colin Firth and theatre director Michael Attenborough. Both long term residents of Chsiwick, Colin is instantly recognisable from his many films and TV series (Pride and Prejudice, Shakespeare in Love, Bridget Jones ‘s Diary, Love Actually, Mamma Mia! and most recently Supernova and Empire of Light). Michael (son of Richard and nephew of David) is Director Emeritus of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, having been Artistic Director of the Almeida Theatre, Principal Associate Director and Executive Producer of the Royal Shakespeare Company and directed plays at a number of theatres around the country.

The competition is for anyone under the age of 18. The deadline for entries in 12pm on Friday 1 September. The top three films will be screened at the Chiswick In Film Festival.

ENTRY RULES

1. Films produced must be no more than five minutes in length.

2. Films must be shot in or feature in some way Chiswick and its surrounding areas. It is up to you how you interpret this rule.

3. Entries are welcome for those aged between 10 and 18 years old.

4. Final films must be eligible for a ‘U’ for Universal, ‘PG’ for Parent Guidance or ‘12A’ rating and be provided in landscape format.

5. Full release and waiver forms must be signed by a consenting adult (aged 18+) during the production of the film.

6. Films of any genre will be accepted (Advertising, Animation, Artists’ Film, Comedy, Dance, Documentary, Drama, Experimental, Fashion, Music Video, Thriller).

7. All films must be English language, dubbed into English or subtitled in English. But they can also be mute or just contain music.

8. The use or integration of any copyrighted material (either visual or audio: i.e. music, songs or famous paintings or film clips) will not be permitted. The applicants will be fully responsible for the clearance of all music or sound contained in their entry. The relevant section of the entry form must be completed to support this.

If you would like to enter, or if you represent a business which would like to sponsor one of the film screenings + Q&A, contact Chris at: info@chiswickcinema.co.uk

The Chiswick In Film Festival will be Friday 29 September – Sunday 1 October at Chsiwick Cinema, 94-96 Chiswick High Rd., London W4 1SH.

9. We will accept submissions of films screened elsewhere or produced for other purposes providing they meet the other rules.

10. The filmmaker will retain the copyrights for the finished short film.

Images from Creative Mile 2022

BRENTFORD’SCreative MILE

Brentford is holding it’s third ‘Creative Mile’ art trail this year from 1st – 3rd September. By Anna

There is an extraordinary mix of old industrial, heritage properties, studios and galleries, including an arts centre, two museums and a stately home in Brentford, providing space for artists of every sort: painters, printmakers, hatmakers, metalworkers, ceramicists and sculptors. More than 70 artists will be welcoming the public into their studios to show their work.

Listed here at www.creativemile.org.

Jones

“It’s great when local artists and makers exhibit in these unique venues. At Creative Mile, there’s a real buzz through Brentford, full of high energy and community spirit. A big thank you to artists and creatives for the work they’ve created and thanks to the sponsors, grant providers and our volunteers.” -

Mr Mr Pearce, Creative Director, Creative Mile.

Art Trail

Photo credits: Cristina Schek

Welcoming these venues joining Creative Mile 2023.

Marthe Armitage Prints moved to Brentford Lock last year: an artisanal design company producing hand-printed wallpapers and screen-printed fabrics from linocuts. You can see the cast iron 100-year-old hand-operated printing press in the studio. During Creative Mile, this press will be in action, come and help moving the print wheel in the live printing demonstrations.

Find the Great West Gallery at 10 Market Place. Recently opened, this gallery brings a fresh cultural energy to West London. Showcasing established and unseen artists, the gallery works with UK art schools and champions artists whose lived experience and unique perspectives reflect the issues of today. Travelling further along Brentford High Street is Digital Dock. A flexible working space in the heart of Brentford offering facilities to digital and creative industries. Digital Dock hosts fortnightly life drawing classes, Brentford Nudes - life drawing for the soul!

Walk down Half Acre and find a focal Brentford landmark, St Paul’s and Spire Café. A fantastic open space, St Paul’s welcomes everyone. Community art works will be exhibited and everyone can get involved, find out more on the Creative Mile website. Spire Café is a calm environment and a perfect place to take a break.

Boston Manor House and Park joins Creative Mile this year having recently reopened after extensive renovations. Built in 1623, this Jacobean manor house is on Boston Manor Road in a picturesque setting in Boston Manor Park. The opening exhibition features master craft workers involved in the renovation project. Plus, there is a display of water-themed artwork by children from Cranford Primary School. Adjoining Boston Manor House, the Jimmy Choo Academy will also be taking part for the first time.

Museums, studios and creative spaces joining Creative Mile for our third year.

On Catherine Wheel Road you will find a whole community of creatives in four venues. Visit the Duke of London studios, Lôft, Brentford Project event space and quirky studios at Johnson’s Island. Brentford is a changing town and some of these industrial buildings, such as the old soap factory, are due for redevelopment.

Waterman’s Arts Centre will feature a selection of digital films inspired by this year’s theme of water. There will also be live performances and artists exhibiting their work.

The Musical Museum will be hosting artists and their expert volunteers will be doing short demos of the amazing musical collections.

The London Museum of Water and Steam. As well as housing the world’s largest collection of stationary steam pumping engines, the museum is also home to a narrow-gauge steam locomotive and Waterworks Gallery tracing the development of London’s clean water supply. In the museum grounds, you will find a row of studios. These artists offer a range of practices and, some offer short courses should you fancy learning new creative skills.

Collaborating with Totally Thames festival. Creative Mile is collaborating with the Totally Thames festival 2023. It is the first time this festival is coming to Brentford. Totally Thames celebrates the capital’s river with a month of exciting events at innovative festival hubs across London. Starting in Brentford, there will be special events and performances at Waterman’s Art Centre and Syon Park, find out more #totallythames.

It’s a big weekend in Brentford!

Creative Mile is a free event. Everyone is welcome. Save the dates 1-3 September and subscribe at www. creativemile.org for updates. Creative Mile is a notfor-profit Community Interest Company. Creative Mile receives generous support from The Brentford Project, Fairview New Homes, Quilliam and with grants from Hounslow Council, Creative Enterprise West, Heathrow Community Trust and Inspire Hounslow.

HEAD

Gardener’s

NOTES

Andy Eddy, Head Gardener at Osterley Park & House, writes

“One of the chief delights of gardening is trying out new plants and one that I have been experimenting with and trialling at Osterley is gladiolus. These are glorious late summer flowering bulbs (corms to be more accurate) which come in a range of bright colours to suit every taste. They have tall spikes – up to a metre and a half with open flowers arranged along their length. Some are rather too insipid with bi-coloured pastel shaded blooms that aren’t easy to use when colour scheming, but there are some new varieties with sharp, bright single coloured flowers that look spectacular when teamed with kale, cabbage and other brassicas in our Ornamental Vegetable Garden.

We buy our bulbs each autumn and spring from Farmer

Gracy – a very good online supplier – with a lovely range of colours such as ‘Espresso’ which as its name suggests is a warm chocolate brown/crimson shade; ‘Purple Flora’ a glorious mauve/purple and ‘Roma’ a sharp, deep scarlet. I try to buy single coloured flowering

varieties as these are easier to use and mix with other flowers – they are particularly good with zinnias which are also late summer/autumn flowering annual plants.

One thing that is useful to remember when planting your gladiolus corms is to plant them as deeply as possible, usually far deeper than other bulbs, as they like this depth but it also stops them toppling over when in heavy flower and no staking will be needed.

Of course these stunning plants not only look good in the garden but also are wonderful flower for picking, lasting a long time in water and adding useful height and weight to any arrangement.”

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/osterley-park-and-house

CHISWICKBookFESTIVAL

When we launched the Chiswick Book Festival 15 years ago, my instinct was to start slowly, and grow over time. My fellow organisers - Jacks Thomas and her husband Malcolm Edwards – had other ideas.

Extremely well-connected, their idea of starting slowly was to invite Lady Antonia Fraser, Anthony Horowitz, Jacqueline Wilson and Michael Frayn to take part. All duly spoke at St Michael & All Angels, with other writers such as the Windrush poet James Berry, and we were on our way.

Since then, the Festival has gone from strength to strength, bringing together top writers and their audiences in aid of reading charities. I’m delighted that Dame Jacqueline Wilson and Michael Frayn (in his 90th birthday week) are returning to mark our 15th Festival, along with a host of other well-known names, including Alan Titchmarsh, Clive Myrie, Nadiya Hussain, AN Wilson, Daisy Goodwin, Gavin Esler, Peter Frankopan, David Baddiel, Shaparak Khorsandi, Tim Marshall, Rory Cellan-Jones, Jane Garvey, Phyllis Logan, Janet Ellis, Marcus Brigstocke and Jess Phillips MP.

Each year we offer sessions on fiction, history, politics, crime, biography and memoir, health and wellbeing, food and drink, and children’s books – and this year we also have great sessions on gardening and rock music and several local history walks.

With Jo James, our programme director, I also try to pair authors and interviewers creatively, to stimulate lively sessions. Among our ‘perfect pairings’ this year are these:

• Garden writer and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh will speak with Rosie Fyles, head of gardens at Chiswick House, about his new book on Chatsworth, sister estate to Chiswick; both were owned by the sixth Duke of Devonshire, who persuaded Joseph Paxton to leave Chiswick to create his new garden at Chatsworth.

Thursday September 7th at Chiswick House

• Festival favourite AN Wilson, our most frequent speaker over the years, will talk to his friend Daisy Goodwin, about his memoirs Confessions: A Life of Failed Promises. Their sparkling conversation about ITV’s Victoria at Chiswick House was a highlight of the 2016 Chiswick Book Festival.

‘Perfect pairings’ at the 15th annual festival - Torin Douglas

Friday September 8th in St Michael & All Angels Church

• Comedian Marcus Brigstocke and MP Jess Phillips enjoy challenging the system - and each other. Join them for an entertaining hour of books, badinage and banter.

Friday September 8th in the Andrew Lloyd Webber Theatre at ArtsEd

• Catherine Ashton was the EU’s first representative for Foreign Affairs and Security. Simon McDonald rose to be Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office after a life in diplomacy. Both are now life peers and have written new books about modern diplomacy and foreign affairs.

Saturday September 9th in the Boston Room, George IV

• Baddiel and the Bishop: In The God Desire, comedian and author David Baddiel argues that our intense desire for God to exist proves that he doesn’t. He joins Emma Iveson, Bishop of Kensington, whose new book is Failure: What Jesus said about Sin, Mistakes and Messing Stuff Up. They are chaired by Fr Kevin Morris, Vicar of St Michael & All Angels.

Sunday September 9th in St Michael & All Angels Church

• Essie Fox’s latest Gothic novel The Fascination has scenes set in Linden House, home of

the ‘Chiswick Poisoner’ (now demolished, but remembered in Linden Gardens) and reached the Sunday Times hardback fiction top ten. She is paired with Kate Griffin, whose Gothic novel Fyneshade is a Sunday Times Historical Fiction Book of 2023.

Sunday September 9th in Chiswick Cinema, Screen 2

• David Hepworth and Mark Ellen have been talking and writing about music together for 40 years, in magazines like Smash Hits, Mojo and The Word and on radio and TV programmes like Rock On and The Old Grey Whistle Test. They’ll talk about David’s new book Abbey Road: The World’s Most Famous Recording Studio.

Sunday September 10th in St Michael & All Angels Church

As usual, we will feature lots of local authors and local history sessions, boosted this year by the new edition of our Chiswick Writers Trail, featuring 36 notable dramatists, novelists and poets. We’ll celebrate WB Yeats, in the centenary year of his Novel Prize for Literature, and it is also the centenary of Warwick Draper’s history of Chiswick, so we’ll discuss Chiswick people and stories with Val Bott and James Wisdom of the Brentford & Chiswick Local History Society.

Torin Douglas is the Director of the Chiswick Book Festival.

The 15th Chiswick Book Festival will take place from September 6th to 13th 2023 in a variety of Chiswick venues. Tickets are on sale via the Festival website: www.chiswickbookfestival.net.

Hen CORNER

I think that school summer holidays were not initially planned around long days of sunshine, it’s much more likely that academic terms were scheduled to fit in with farming cycles and the need for all hands, be they big or small, to be available as harvests are gathered in their prime.

Whilst we’ve been collecting eggs all year and the asparagus has been and gone, we’ve had great success with honey this year, and whilst I usually take it off the hives in August, I’ve already extracted a substantial haul back in June.

As I write, I’m almost on track with the ingredients for this year’s award-winning piccalilli, let’s hope we get just the right ratio of sun and rain to ensure a bountiful crop of veg. The apples are looking as reliable as ever and I hope to be picking my first ever quinces down on the allotment soon.

Throughout the year, I’m regularly heard saying ‘Make hay while the sun shines’ and that phrase really comes into its own as we squeeze out every last ray, working in the garden during the day and enjoying warm evenings outside with friends. Though we don’t make hay here at Hen Corner, we’ll soon be pressing apples for cider and boiling up chutneys and jellies to store for colder months, using as much of our home grown produce as possible.

During the school holidays, we have a whole range of courses for families, ranging from Bee Keeping to Pasta Making and for adults that want to brush down their aprons, we are teaching a variety of kitchen skills over the coming weeks.

Chiswick Book Festival is coming up and I’m very excited to have been invited to present my book, Living the Good Life in the City,

at the Local Authors event on Wednesday 6th September, we then invite guests to see the book come to life, here at Hen Corner, on Sunday 10th September (book for tickets online).

West London is certainly an exciting place to be, and we hope to see you soon.

Introduction to Making Cheese

Wednesday 16th August

Introduction to Pickles & Preserves

Wednesday 30th August

Introduction to Making Bread

Friday 8th September

Full Day Making Sourdough

Saturday 9th September

Full details of Chiswick Book Festival can be found at ChiswickBookFestival.net

All courses, virtual & face to face, can be found at HenCorner.com

Summer Harvest, Sara Ward

COFFEE BREAK

WORD SEARCH

Across

1 Very small (4)

3 Rich (8)

9 Hermit (7)

10 Adder (5)

11 Categories (5)

12 Young cattle (6)

14 Servile follower (6)

16 A type of puzzle (6)

19 Tumult, pandemonium (6)

21 Rope fibre (5)

24 Sandy common (5)

25 Young goose (7)

26 Competitions (8)

27 Retained (4)

Down

1 Song-thrush (8)

2 More pleasant (5)

4 European language (6)

5 Even (5)

6 Female ruler (7)

7 Mountain lake (4)

8 Struggle (6)

13 Dusk (8)

15 Skipper (7)

17 Be adamant (6)

18 Intelligent (6)

20 Pigment made from clay and iron oxide (5)

22 Pig (5)

23 Elegantly stylish (4)

SUMMER QUIZ

1. Which season immediately precedes summer?

2. What is the official start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere?

3. What is the traditional birthstone for the month of June?

4. Which fruit is often associated with summer and is known for its juicy, refreshing taste?

5. What popular outdoor activity involves digging holes and building structures in the sand?

6. Which famous beach is located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil?

7. What is the largest coral reef system in the world, located in Australia?

8. In the United States, which national holiday is celebrated on the 4th of July?

9. Which summer sport involves players hitting a ball over a net using a racket?

10. What is the traditional symbol of summer in Japanese culture?

SUMMER FRUITS AND Chocolate TARTLETS

Makes 12

INGREDIENTS

• 200 g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids)

• 400 ml double cream

• 2 egg yolks

• Strawberries and blueberries, hulled and sliced

• 2 tbsp. sugar

• Few fresh mint leaves to serve

• For the sweet pastry:

• 175 g plain flour plus extra for dusting

• 75 g cold butter, diced

• 25 g icing sugar

• 1 egg, lightly beaten

METHOD

You will need 12 x round tartlet tins about 10cm/ 31/2 inch, some baking parchment and baking beans.

1. Preheat the oven to gas 6/200C (180C in a fan oven) First make the pastry: add the flour to a large bowl with the cold butter and rub them together with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the icing sugar and trickle in the egg pulling the mixture together to form a dough. Turn it out onto a lightly floured board and flatten into a disk. Cover with cling film and put in the fridge to chill for 20 minutes.

2. Remove the pastry from fridge and roll it out on a lightly floured board. Cut out rounds large enough to fill tart tins with overlap, tuck pastry neatly into the edges of the tin then roll the rolling pin over the top to cut the pastry. Sit the tart cases back in the fridge for 15 minutes. When ready to bake, fill each one with baking parchment and beans and put in the oven for about 10-15 mins or until just turning pale golden around the edges. Remove, leave to cool then remove the beans and paper and put pastry cases to one side. Reduce the oven to gas 4/180C (160C in a fan oven).

3. To make the filling, add the cream to a heated pan. When hot, remove from the heat add the chocolate until melted then stir in the egg yolks. Pour the mixture into each tart case so level with the top. Bake for about 10 mins in the oven or until just set and the pastry is golden. Once out and cooled, arrange the strawberries and blueberries neatly on top of each tartlet. Add the sugar to a small pan with about 2 tbsp water and heat until the sugar dissolves, then carefully brush it over each one. Leave to cool, then decorate with a mint leaf.

JazzAT GEORGE IV

Jazz at George IV in Chiswick closes down for August, as so many people are away on holiday, but we start back in September with a fabulous line-up of very popular bands.

Thursday 7th SeptemberThe Blues Engineers

Another great showcase of the very best in jazz-tinged Urban and Country blues from the brilliant Blues Engineers who have played with and supported some of the best in the business, including BB King, Peter Green, Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings, Roger Chapman, ex-Rolling Stone Mick Taylor and Jools Holland.

Guitarist & vocalist John O’Reilly is internationally acclaimed for his exciting slide and steel guitar playing having worked extensively in Europe on the festival circuit with the band featuring at many prestigious events including the British Press Awards, West End Live and the Chiswick Park Festival.

Together with the multi-instrumentalist Nick Payn, on saxophone, flute, harmonica and backing vocals, their highly atmospheric repertoire covers an impressive range of funky blues classics as well their own highly distinctive material.

7.30pm Tickets £14 (£12 for Chiswick Calendar Club Card holders) plus Eventbrite booking fee.

Thursday 8th June –

Thursday 21st September – The Fallen Heroes

Expect to hear an interesting mix of originals plus some hot rhythm & blues, swinging jazz & a dash of ska, including numbers from Ray Charles, Fats Domino and Chuck Berry, all influenced by the jazz and blues of New Orleans where band leaders Ben and Emile Martyn grew up.

The Martyn Brothers’ musical history includes playing with the likes of Dr John, James Cotton, KT Tunstall and Ronnie Wood. Their band draws on the musical energy of the American South but with a twist, writing original compositions in a funky New Orleans manner but in a more contemporary London style.

With Ben Martyn on vocals & bass, Emile Martyn on drums and backing vocals and Dean Ross on keys, the line-up is completed by John O’Neil (ex - Madness) on saxophone and Rob Pearce on trombone.

7.30pm. Tickets £15 (£13 for Chiswick Club Card holders) plus Eventbrite booking fee.

Thursday 28th September –

Bourbon & Blues

‘Blues & Soul Autumn Special’

This highly accessible mix of swing jazz, blues & Motown features two of the most exciting performers of these genres in the celebrated Italian guitarist Giulio Romano (Trio Manouche) and top Canadian vocalist Dom Durner (Gypsy Dynamite).

Bourbon & Blues showcases the pair’s favourite blues, soul and Motown numbers ranging from the ‘50s right up to the present day.

7.30pm Tickets £14 (£12 for Chiswick Calendar Club Card holders) plus Eventbrite booking fee.

Jazz at George IV takes place in the Boston Room at the back of the pub at 185 Chiswick High Rd, London W4 2DR. Buy tickets from Eventbrite to reserve a seat. Search for Jazz at George IV. Or take your chances and pay on the door on the night.

THE CHISWICK Calendar

The Chiswick Calendar is a local website which tells you what’s going on in our area on a day to day basis. Beautiful photographs by local photographers - Page per day listings of what’s on, constantly updated - Interesting videos - Our own events. Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and get a free club card, giving you access to deals and discounts from quality local businesses.

Go to www.thechiswickcalendar.co.uk

CHISWICK HOUSE Dog Show

Jan Preece

The annual Chiswick House Dog Show is taking place on the 24 September.

This year’s theme is a celebration of 60 years of “Dogtor Who” and those entering the Fancy Dress class (there are separate ones for children and adults –and their dogs) should be able to let their imagination run free.

Entry to the show is free. It’s a fun day out for all the family - and you don’t have to be a dog owner to come along!

The show is run by a committee of local volunteers for the enjoyment of the whole community. Monies raised from the show are donated to Chiswick House and Gardens Trust to maintain and improve the grounds.

The 18 competition classes range from Waggiest Tail to Prettiest Bitch, from My Dog’s Got Talent to Best Groomed, and from Naughtiest Dog to Best Veteran, all culminating in “Best in Show,” where the winners of each class go head-to-head.

To enter your dog into one (or more) of the classes (£5), go to the Dog Show’s website (www. chiswickhousedogshow.org.uk) and register on-line.

All are welcome - big, small, pedigree, miniature, cross-breed, rescue, naughty – there’s a class for every dog!

The usual raft of surprise celebrity judges will be there (top secret and only revealed on the day!)

The Dogs Trust will be running their ever-popular “Doggy Dash” for all those trying to be the fastest in their size group, and this year there will be a special “DogBola,” with some amazing prizes donated by the stallholders and local West London businesses.

There will be an even wider-than-usual variety of food stalls, and the Dog Show Committee will have its own Wine and Beer bar. Another 50 stalls provide a very varied range - pet portraits, canine charities, local artists, dog treats, RNLI, and every form of dog accessory imaginable! And, of course, the everpopular Chiswick House & Gardens Trust’s produce cart, with fruit, flowers and vegetables from the Kitchen Garden.

It takes more than 170 volunteers to run the Dog Show, so if you would like to volunteer to help by giving up a couple of hours of your time on the day, please email volunteer@chiswickhousedogshow.org.uk

To find out more, visit the website at www.chiswickhousedogshow.org.uk Sunday 24th September, 11 am to 4.30 pm, Cricket Pitch (by the Staveley Road entrance), Chiswick House and Gardens.

OSTERLEY BOOKSHOP

SEPTEMBER REVAMP & RENEWAL SALE

All September absolutely ALL books under £8

HALF PRICE!!

Out-of-print, secondhand, classics, 1st editions - in fact everything you need to cosy up for the winter! If you don’t know our stock you’ll be surprised by the quirkiness of our taste. A bookshop for those who don’t want to read only what the big publishers are hyping and the newspapers are reviewing. Surprise yourself with a book you didn’t know existed!

COFFEE BREAK ANSWERS

1. Spring.

2. The summer solstice, which usually occurs around June 21st.

3. Pearl or Alexandrite.

4. Watermelon.

5. Building sandcastles.

6. Copacabana Beach.

7. The Great Barrier Reef.

8. Independence Day.

9. Tennis.

10. The sunflower.