fulham Resident s Journal ’
NOVEMBER 201 4 • issue 24
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w w w. R e s i d e n t s J o u r n a l . c o . u k (020) 7987 4320
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Dear Resident, As golden leaves signal the change of the seasons, our thoughts turn to spending time indoors. With this in mind, the Journal asks Danish architect Christina Godiksen how to bring a touch of Nordic warmth into our homes this autumn (page 18). Anyone looking to spend the longer evenings mastering a new skill are in luck. Seamstress Arianna Cadwallader’s sewing school off Lots Road offers a range of classes open to everyone, even those who struggle to sew on a button, as Lauren Romano learns on page 14. With the centenary of World War I upon us, a new exhibition opens at Fulham Palace documenting its time as a war hospital. Flick through its fascinating archive of old photographs from page 11. Elsewhere, Martin Bisiker talks to Lauren about filming the memories of war veterans for a public archive (page 10). For the super-organised among you, we find the answer to all your Christmas shopping woes by talking to two Fulham-based companies offering alternatives to traditional stocking-fillers. Find out more about the presents-by-post service Not Another Bill (page seven) and film company Lemongrove Productions (page 22).
Image/Be the best gift-giver in town with a Not Another Bill subscription. Read more from page seven.
Managing Editor Francesca Lee Assistant Editor Lauren Romano Editorial Assistant Jennifer Mason Editorial Interns Tom Hagues, Tamir Davies Editor-in-Chief Lesley Ellwood
Managing Director Eren Ellwood General Manager Fiona Fenwick Production Hugo Wheatley Alex Powell Oscar Viney Amy Roberts Members of the Professional Publishers Association
Publishing Director Giles Ellwood Executive Director Sophie Roberts Client Relationship Director Felicity Morgan-Harvey Business Development Manager Nicola Bloomfield Senior Designer Lisa Wade
FULHAM Residents’ Journal
LOCAL NEWS Keep your finger on the pulse with our roundup of local news
Autumnal eats From Michelin-starred kitchens to a studio in a secret Fulham location, the creative chefs, food stylists and photographers at BANQUET have brought a seasonal twist to the collective’s monthly supper club. The menu is big on autumnal flavour combinations, from roast chestnut, celeriac and truffle, to spiced quince and pork belly, washed down with coconut and rum grog. The next event is a bring your own bottle affair and takes place on Saturday 22 November. £40, 8pm, full details will be revealed on booking. Visit banquetfooddesign.co.uk to secure a place at the table
Husband and wife team Tom Phillips and Mary Walker, who live off the North End Road, are leading the borough’s local poppy appeal from temporary headquarters at 181 King Street. Tom spent 14 years serving in the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm and was later involved in setting up the first land-based marina in Bahrain. Over the last month the couple has recruited an army of volunteers to distribute poppies and collect donations. ‘It’s really important that we get young people involved because they’re the ones who can take it forward to the next generation,’ Mary explains. Volunteers who can give two hours or more of their time between now and 9 November can call Mary on 07791 888 142 or email tomandmary33@gmail.com
A new shot Coffee purveyors Shot are branching out from caffeine to pizza and gelato. The team behind the espresso bar chain, which already boasts two Fulham premises, has acquired the old Perfect Catch fish and chip shop on Jerdan Place and is in the process of fitting out a new kitchen. Those looking for a low-key dining option should drop by to the licensed venture, which looks to set to open next month. (shotespresso.com)
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Left / Mary Walker, Cllr Alan De’Ath and Tom Phillips
A united front
Fulham remembers A festival of remembering World War I takes place at All Saints Church this month on Saturday 8 November at 6pm. The special service will include music, readings and wartime poetry. The lives of local residents who are listed on the All Saints War Memorial will also be commemorated. As part of the Fulham Names Project, a number of the church’s congregation has helped research the stories of the 86 individuals on the plaque. The names of these men will be read out during the ceremony, which all are welcome to attend. Pryors Bank, Bishops Park, Putney Bridge Approach, SW6 3LA (allsaints-fulham.org.uk)
Crash, bang, wallop
On the move FARA Kids has upped sticks and moved to its new home, just down the road at number 614. It’s business as usual at the charity shop this month, with maternitywear, nursery essentials, cots and pushchairs available alongside a varied selection of designer and high street childrens’ clothing. 614 Fulham Road, SW6 5RP, 020 7013 0744 (faracharityshops.org)
The celebration of gunpowder, treason and plot begins with a bang in Bishops Park on Friday 7 November, with a Blast from Outer Space themed show. Gates open at 6pm for those wanting to find the best spot to enjoy the children’s fireworks at 7.15pm. The main display springs to life from 8pm and will be choreographed to music. A funfair and food stalls complete the celebrations. Gates close at 7.45pm, advanced tickets £6 (available until 5.30pm on 6 November at 020 8741 6850 or from lyric.co.uk), on the day tickets £8, free entry for under fives. Fireworks, sparklers, alcohol and dogs are not allowed
Yogathon heats up The Hot Bikram Yoga studio on Heathmans Road will be taking part in its annual six class challenge to raise money for Children in Need. On 13 November a group of dedicated yogis will sweat it out in a bid to surpass last year’s fundraising efforts, when more than £17,000 was donated to good causes. This year, the studios will also be supporting children’s charity Share a Family, an organisation that provides short-term care for disabled children and young people living in Wandsworth. The deadline to take part has passed, but those who want to pledge their support can do so by making a donation at mydonate.bt.com. 25 Heathmans Road, SW6 4TJ, 020 7036 3855 (hotbikramyoga.co.uk) -5-
www.my-perfect-t.com
FULHAM Residents’ Journal
A gift f or…
Fulham
Resident s Jou ’ rnal
Keeping you
posted
Hannah Lemon finds the answer to all your Christmas shopping worries in Not Another Bill. With a little help from its founder Ned Corbett-Winder, you can be sure that the right person will always get the right present
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FULHAM Residents’ Journal
Colourful maps by the Folding Maps Company
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find Christmas shopping extremely daunting. I am not one of those organised people who collects relevant goodies for relatives throughout the year, nor can I frantically but expertly select last-minute gifts in the Christmas Eve rush. I just never know where to begin, but if I haven’t been told what to buy, how am I supposed to know? And what do you get friends and family who have everything?
dislikes in order to make sure the right present gets to them. The idea began when Ned was working in advertising as an art director for M&C Saatchi, where he accumulated an assortment of bits and pieces from innovative photographers and designers. Inspired by this interesting collection, Ned quit his job in 2011 to start Not Another Bill from home. ‘I just went about building a rough website, which was basically a moodboard of images,’ he explains. ‘I put it on Facebook and it gained so much momentum.’ With everything based online these days, he realised that people had a serious nostalgia for receiving things through the post. After starting the business, he recruited his friend Will, who sits quietly to my right, casually tapping on his laptop and occasionally chipping in with some anecdotes and jokes as Ned chatters through the interview. We are sitting at a large table in their bright office space, which is one big room and a small kitchen in a depot in Fulham. Their new recruit Lizzie is on another laptop, tapping away too. Ned crosses his legs and lounges back, sipping
Bored of receiving just gas bills and bank statements, Ned set up a subscription service that delivers presents through your postbox If you see yourself in a similar predicament, there is only one thing for it: Not Another Bill. Bored of receiving just gas bills and bank statements, Ned Corbett-Winder set up a subscription service that delivers presents through your postbox every month. Recipients can sign up for three, six or 12 months, or start a rolling contract and fill out a simple questionnaire to select their likes and
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operate this year. The light-heartedness and laid-back attitude to the brand makes me smile and I wonder how they manage to get through the more serious aspects of commerce. But Ned dons his business cap at intervals in our conversation and I can see that he has the ambition to make this succeed. He is looking to sell the concept to stores in Europe and Hong Kong and spread the word internationally. ‘We even ship to Timbuktu!’ exclaims Ned. ‘Funny story actually: we put [on the website] that we would ship for free to Timbuktu, because we didn’t think it actually existed, and this woman who lives near there asked if she could have free shipping. So she now gets free delivery!’ he laughs, then adds: ‘We also spelt Timbuktu wrong.’ I laugh with him, shaking my head in disbelief; I can’t help but love this brand. I ask if he has anything else to add before I go. He looks up cheekily. ‘Buy a subscription?’
Grate your own rock salt kit by Rivsalt
a cup of tea and occasionally scruffs up his mop of blond hair. Presents, boxes and decorations hang around the room and the team lounge around like it’s a home from home, joking and cackling away. I am slightly surprised that they get any work done and, judging by the red and green marker-pen squiggles on the white board, my suspicions are confirmed. But Will catches me looking and laughs, explaining that the penspaghetti makes perfect sense to them. The subscription base has 1,500 people, gained through friends of friends originally, and then later through pop-up events and stalls. ‘It’s quite nice to have our regulars and I think Will pretty much knows them all off by heart,’ says Ned. I ask if a lot of his friends from the beginning are still on board and he explains: ‘I think it was that hard thing of not wanting to push it on all your friends, and at the outset everyone does it because they want to support you, but they’ve stuck with it. I don’t think they would have done it if they didn’t like the service.’ Then he adds, laughing: ‘Unless they just can’t bring themselves to say they want to cancel!’ Not Another Bill doesn’t only provide exciting goodies through your door, it also acts as a way to get to know new designers and artists. ‘Our whole [concept] is about working with brands we think are doing interesting things,’ explains Ned. ‘We are never going to send out a crap clock radio that has nothing special about it. It has to be about its design, story and aesthetic. We are only as good as our last present.’ Ned’s company still has the markings of a start-up, doing everything in-house, from selecting presents, wrapping them and sending them off by hand. This reached breaking point when Ned got married last Christmas and Will was left to man the fort during their busiest month, which Ned honestly reveals is not how they will
Prices from £19 per month (notanotherbill.com)
Handy Avund coin holders
His and hers wash bags by Chase and Wonder
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FULHAM Residents’ Journal
Leaving a legacy Fulham Residents’ Journal meets Martin Bisiker, trustee and founder of Legasee, a charity that captures personal recollections from veterans for a public archive
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he longer you can look back, the farther you can look forward,’ said Winston Churchill. The wartime Prime Minister’s words resonate at Legasee, a charity that films the memories of those who have fought in military conflicts from 1939 to the present day. The resulting recordings are stored in a digital archive for students, teachers and members of the public to access. So far, more than 300 hours of interviews have been collated to form an invaluable memory bank that might otherwise have been lost. This autumn, the filming will take place closer to home as local veterans’ charity Stoll has received funding from the Armed Forces Covenant to capture the individual stories of 30 ex-servicemen and women, which will be available to view online from next month. ‘I founded Legasee in 2012 after I started getting frustrated by the seemingly rapid escalation in the number of World War II veterans’ obituaries I was reading in the broadsheets,’ founder Martin Bisiker admits. ‘These were men and women who had done remarkable things and many had passed away with almost no trace. Having interviewed a number of veterans through my work as a freelance film and TV producer, I knew I had the necessary experience to record their reflections.’ Although World War II veterans sparked Martin’s inspiration, Legasee films exservicemen and women from all conflicts. ‘Stoll is a good case in point,’ Martin says. s gin George Hig ‘Many of the veterans we’re Stoll resident ht) (rig r ike with Martin Bis
interviewing have seen action in Northern Ireland and the Falklands.’ He believes that the short recordings resonate more with people than reading written accounts. ‘You see honesty, fear and humour in the eyes of someone when they are talking, and that is compelling,’ he adds. Although past conflicts have been welldocumented, Martin believes there is still much more to learn. ‘Almost every veteran I’ve interviewed has said something that shocked me or made me laugh. Nearly every interview has a brilliant moment.’ Of the stories that have stayed with him
More than 300 hours of interviews have been collated to form an invaluable memory bank over the years, he recalls an RAF pilot bailing out of his Spitfire over Kent and a young female captain who needed the British and American Air Forces to get her Land Rover out of a wadi (dry riverbed) in Afghanistan when she was under attack – a story that he says made his hair stand on end. ‘I’m also struck by the common experiences between veterans in different wars and how incredibly tight the bonds are between men and women who train, fight and die together. Every story makes an invaluable contribution to the archive, bringing us one step closer to securing an enduring legacy for the brave men and women who have given so much.’ All interviews are available to view free at: legasee.org.uk/the-archive. Veterans who would like to tell their story should call 020 7033 9773 or email info@legasee.org.uk
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Road to recovery To commemorate the centenary of the First World War, Fulham Palace tells the story behind its own involvement in the conflict
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hey say that a picture paints a thousand words, and gazing into the faces of patients recuperating at Freemasons War Hospital Number Two which was set up at Fulham Palace in the final year of the war, the saying certainly rings true. A fascinating collection of photographs that document the palace’s temporary transformation from ecclesiastical manor house into a series of medical wards ended up in the hands of the museum’s curator Miranda Poliakoff earlier this year. From this month entries from the humble autograph album belonging to Sister Mary Latchmore, who was a nurse at the hospital for recovering soldiers, forms the backbone of the museum’s latest exhibition: Fulham Palace Through the Great War. From April 1918 until its closure the following year, Fulham Palace was run as a subsidiary convalescent home to the main Freemasons Hospital on Fulham Road by the Red Cross. The fascinating images depict the Porteus Library and the drawing room lined with rows of beds that could accommodate an estimated 100 soldiers, all overseen under the watchful eye of matron Lady Fox-Symons. Amid the pallid figures propped up in bed or confined to wheelchairs, several of the poignant snapshots are littered with smiling faces, tennis racquets and croquet mallets that suggest that day-to-day life in the hospital was as much about looking forward and readjusting to life back home than it was about remembering the horrors of the battlefield. Prior to relinquishing his keys to the Red Cross, the palace’s wartime occupant was Bishop WinningtonIngram, whose well-documented role in the conflict is also dealt with in the exhibition. An enthusiastic recruiting sergeant, Winnington-Ingram boasted that he encouraged an extra 10,000 people to join the forces destined for the frontline. Before war broke out, he had been chaplain to the London Rifle Brigade and went on to spend two weeks on the Western Front, addressing troops at Ypres in 1915.
Back at home, after increasing pressure to release land from the palace meadow for food production, the Bishop eventually relinquished some of his green acreage for allotments. While his actions continue to divide opinion, the exhibition points out that he wasn’t the only cleric to make his mark during the conflict. Indeed, he shares the limelight with a number of other clergymen (and future Bishops of London) who served as army chaplains, among them William Wand and Henry Montgomery-Campbell who was awarded the Military Cross at Gallipoli. A home, a hospital and a horticultural legacy, Fulham Palace put up its own fight during the First World War. Pay a visit this month and let its fascinating archive of pictures do the talking. Fulham Palace through the Great War runs until 16 April. Free admission. Monday to Thursday from 12.30pm-3.30pm, Sunday from 12noon4pm. Bishop’s Avenue, SW6 6EA, 020 7736 3233 (fulhampalace.org)
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Mark the occasion Commemorate the centenary with some dates for your diary
Reflections on the Great War Featuring music, poetry and letters from the period, with readings led by journalist and newscaster Sophie Raworth, followed by a private view of the exhibition. 14 November, 11am, £15 (booking essential) The Belligerent Bishop: Winnington-Ingram and the Great War Curator Miranda Poliakoff reveals all about this controversial bishop. 1 December, 2pm, £8 (£5 concessions and £1 discount for Fulham Palace and Bishop’s Park volunteers) For more upcoming events, visit fulhampalace.org
FULHAM Residents’ Journal
The staff and patients of Freemasons War Hospital Number Two in April 1919
Patients from A and
Now a popular wedding venue, the Great Hall was once a canteen
Bishop Winnington-Ingram
It is believed that several of the patients might have clubbed together to get professional photos taken to give to Sister Mary Latchmore as a leaving gift
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B Wards in May 191
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Patients relax in the garden with the Bishop of Lond on (centre)
Nurse Cooper from B Ward
The nurses with matron Lady Fox-Symons (centre)
A newspaper cutting paying tribute to Lady Fox-Symons
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FULHAM Residents’ Journal
In stitches Lauren Romano meets milliner, maker, seamstress and founder of Saturday Sewing Session, Arianna Cadwallader
A
rianna Cadwallader is on a mission to make Fulham residents a dab hand with a needle and thread. A glance at her CV and it’s clear that this is a woman who knows her way around a Singer sewing machine − including the archaic, handcranked contraption that takes pride of place in her studio just off Lots Road. She’s also the seamstress that presenter Dawn O’Porter has on speed dial when she needs someone to revamp clothes for her Channel 4 programme This Old Thing: The Vintage Clothes Show. But more of that later. Off camera, Arianna is a stitcher in demand, whether it’s a hat, wedding dress or specialist alterations you’re after. ‘How did I get into making garments?’ she muses out loud, nursing a cup of steaming tea. ‘It was just one of those things. I’ve been sewing since I was little and, after I left school, I applied to the London College of Fashion because I was so desperate to get to London,’ she smiles. Having upped sticks from Cornwall, Arianna completed a foundation degree in fashion and costume before becoming a fashion assistant on publications such as Glamour and Harper’s Bazaar.
Our make-do-and-mend session is still one of the most popular It was a chance encounter in her local pub, The Chelsea Ram, with a costume designer who was working on Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason that caused her career to veer off in another direction. ‘I had a dilemma; I didn’t know whether to stay in the magazine industry that I loved or to take the leap into film, which is an exciting prospect for any 22-year-old,’ she recalls, adding, ‘especially when dressing the likes of Hugh Grant and Colin Firth is involved.’ Other films followed, including Harry Potter, and each subsequent job saw Arianna spending more and more time in the costume rooms. With her love of clothes making reinvigorated, Arianna took
pattern-cutting lessons and then a millinery course, before eventually enrolling for a degree in historical costume at the Wimbledon College of Art. ‘It was nerve-wracking returning to education in my mid-20s,’ she admits, ‘but I absolutely loved it. Although I had always made things, I was taught the techniques from scratch, which was brilliant. After graduating, I set up on my own and specialised in wedding dresses and hats. However, I soon learnt that wedding dresses can be stressful,’ she confides. ‘I’m actually taking a sabbatical from all that at the moment. It’s an amazing process but it is quite emotional.’ That brings us to the matter of Arianna’s sewing school – Saturday Sewing Session – which has been going strong for the past four years. Samples made from the array of classes (which cover everything from how to use a sewing machine to how to whip up a pair of knickers or a leather clutch bag) are strewn about her studio space like a proud teacher’s classroom display. ‘People kept asking me about how to sew, so I spoke to the manager at The Chelsea Ram to see if I could hire out the top room on Saturdays. I
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named the group Saturday Sewing Session because I didn’t really think it was going to go anywhere,’ she admits. Today, lessons are overseen by two fellow expert stitchers several evenings a week and every weekend plus private lessons are also on offer. ‘Back then I hired the machines from a place in Battersea so I had to lug them over here every weekend. It was really funny teaching during the football season; you’d be trying to explain how to do a fluffy trim on a cushion cover and all of a sudden there would be uproar from the spectators,’ she reminisces. The solitary nature of the sewing profession (‘you end up muttering to yourself with only Woman’s Hour for company’) led Arianna to put her other commitments on the back burner and concentrate on building the teaching side of her business. She soon found herself at Fairbank Studios’ doors and the cosy space she now calls home. As we chat, my eye is momentarily distracted by a vintage dress, draped over a mannequin. It’s an Oscar de la Renta − who recently died − one of many stunning finds scoured by the aforementioned Dawn O’Porter from around the world for her new fashion line BOB. After striking up a friendship on the set of This Old Thing, Dawn asked Arianna to do the alterations for her vintage collection. ‘It’s all about bringing clothes back to life,’ Arianna says, following my envious eyes. ‘The pieces are pretty fabulous, so we don’t want to tamper with them too much, we just return them to their former glory. I’ll sort out dropped hems or mend tears. When you buy secondhand garments online sometimes you have to take a gamble on the condition, but not
everyone is confident about altering things. ‘Everyone has their era,’ Arianna affirms, letting the suggestion linger as I admit that I’m a sucker for a 60s shift dress. ‘Mine would be the 30s or the 40s – the style was so feminine. I was at a talk at the Fashion and Textile Museum the other week and the speaker, Justine Picardie [editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar], said everyone should find a style that suits them and roll with it and that way it will never look out of date. Don’t get her wrong, Arianna thinks the UK high street is great and she likes to mix and match wardrobe basics from there, but she is frequently frustrated with the finish. ‘Although you might be a certain dress size, everyone is a different shape and the high street doesn’t always account for that,’ she says. ‘Actually learning to taper a garment to suit you is a worthwhile skill.’ While working on the Channel 4 TV show, Arianna redesigned several items of clothes with sentimental value, and it’s an avenue she tells me that she is keen to pursue further. ‘Recently a client asked me to revamp her original wedding dress as she and her husband were renewing their vows after 10 years. It was such an enjoyable and rewarding job; using a few simple sewing skills, I transformed the outfit completely.’ When it comes to her students’ dexterity
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FULHAM Residents’ Journal
behind a sewing machine, Arianna tells me that several attendees swiftly progress from beginners to more advanced classes in pattern-cutting and dressmaking, which sounds a million miles out of my comfort zone. ‘Our make-do-and-mend session is still one of the most popular,’ she reassures me. ‘We teach a series of techniques, and students can bring in an item to alter.’ I like the sound of the Sewing Bootcamp, held on Sundays, which covers the basics before moving on to making a cushion cover and a make-up bag. ‘My students tell me that they want to hone simple
alterations because apparently it costs £10 to hem a pair of trousers; one woman actually spent £8 to have a single button sewn on. £8!’ she tells me, as I do my best aghast expression, while simultaneously trying to forget a coat of mine that shed all its buttons and was consequently relegated to the back of the wardrobe, the buttons gathering dust on my dressing table. Warm the teapot, Arianna, Bootcamp beckons. Studio 6, Fairbank Studios, 75-81 Burnaby Street, SW10 0NS, 020 7352 9020 (saturdaysewingsession.co.uk)
November 2014: Try a class for yourself
zip it up beginners comfy cushions 6.30pm-9.30pm, £50
Sewing Bootcamp Part 1 6.30pm-9pm, £85
Crafty Christmas Decorations 6.30pm-8.30pm, £35
Sewing Bootcamp Part 2 6.30pm-9pm, £85
Chic & Shifty Dressmaking Course 6.30pm-9.30pm, £95
Personalise your Pressies 6.30pm-8.30pm, £35
Naughty Knickers 6.30pm-9pm, £45
Fabulous FauxFur Dressmaking 4pm-6.30pm, £45
Mrs Claus’ Christmas Pinnies 2pm-5pm, £50
Dressmaking Essentials: Get to Grips with Buttons and Zips 6.30pm-9pm, £45
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Sunday Sewing Beginners Bootcamp 10am-3pm, £85
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1 5. WONDERFUL WOODWORK If you’re after extra storage, this large chest is perfect for keeping blankets in. £379, houseoffraser.co.uk
1. SWITCH IT ON If you’re looking to bring the outside in, do so with this woodland-inspired lamp, which has a timber base and a silk shade. £260, twogirlsandacontainer.com.au
2. FINE DESIGN Italy is known for its glasswork. Put a bit of Italian style into your home with this Murano vase. £390, natuzzi.co.uk
3. UNDER THE RUG Using wool that has been hand-spun in the mountainous region of Nepal, this rug is oh-so cosy. £1,169, kelaty.com
4. CEILING ART This chandelier, complete with 10 candles, really makes a statement. Hang in an entrance hall for visitors to admire. £2,660, flamant.com
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Autumn LEAVES Reflect the season with your choice of interior décor
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6. THROW IT ON Everyone needs a cashmere blanket, especially during the winter months. Snuggle up on the sofa with this design. £345, alisonathome.com
7. TO THE WOODS This artwork featuring trees with the sunlight peeping through makes a great piece to hang on any wall. £328, signarture.com
8. URBAN LIVING Complement industrial-chic interiors with this chest of drawers, which is part of Alexander & Pearl’s upcycled collection. £695, alexanderandpearl.co.uk
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FULHAM Residents’ Journal
Northern lights Christina Godiksen, founder of Fulham-based architecture and design practice CG Architecture Design, reveals the secrets to illuminating interiors with a touch of Nordic warmth this winter
A
ent atem a st Make old hues b with Dim the lights to set the scene
out of e chill Take th th sumptuous wi autumn hrows s and t cushion
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Spark ambiance with a cosy fire
Big shades create a softer glow
utumn is my favourite time of year. As the winds begin to bluster and whip up a wintry chill, there is nothing better than retreating indoors. But rather than battening down the hatches, I believe that the outdoors still has an important role to play in our indoor lives, whatever the weather. In London, we have a beautifully slow autumn; the season is marked with an eruption of colour and is much milder than this time of year in my native Denmark. Evident in all aspects of Nordic design is the concept of hyggeligt. Essentially hyggeligt involves an abundance of warmth and togetherness; as a concept, it is all about creating a certain atmosphere, one that ensures being alone is never lonely, or that being surrounded by the festive influx of friends and family doesn’t feel crowded. With a few careful touches, it is an easy effect to achieve. In Denmark, it is common for people to light up their windows so that beams shine out onto the street to make their abode welcoming before you even cross the threshold. Hyggeligt makes us look forward to coming home.
Create your own winter retreat, with Christina’s tips: Seeing red You don’t have to resort to paintbrushes to inject a splash of colour in your interiors. Embrace the changing hues of the season by planting a virginia creeper next to an evergreen just outside a window. As the weather changes, it will turn a bright, fiery red as a contrast with the other garden foliage. Eau natural Candles and oil burners are great at diffusing fragrance throughout your living space, but Mother Nature can also be relied upon for keeping things smelling sweetly. If it rains, move your sage or rosemary plant outside to the windowsill. When you bring it back indoors it will release a beautiful scent before you pick the leaves to add to a hearty stew. Night lights If you are throwing a party, dot some tealights or dimmable garden lamps around your garden and leave them flickering away. This warm glow offers a focal point and expands the indoor views as darkness descends. Wrap up You don’t have to relegate the garden table and chairs to the shed; why not make the most of milder evenings by snuggling up outdoors on a bench or under the pergola with an assortment of cushions, blankets and lanterns? For extra warmth, you could invest in a fire pit. Hot chocolate optional. A certain glow A combination of warm white articial light and candlelight are perfect for creating a cosy ambiance. Soften harsh rays with a big lampshade. Don’t forget the kids Scandinavian interior design pays great attention to functionality. I have recently collaborated with a company called Small Design on a range of children’s furniture that complements grown-up pieces to ensure that a space is welcoming to everyone, big or small. For inspiration or to find out more about Christina’s other projects, visit cg-architecture.com
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H I G H E S T
Q U A L I T Y
TRADITIONAL british
BUTCHERS
Parson’s Nose
FAMILY BUTCHERS
open
mon – fri 9 – 7pm sat 9 – 6pm sun 10 – 4pm
8 8 L o w e r R i c h m o n d R o a d , P u t n e y, L o n d o n S W 1 5 1 L L | 0 2 0 8 7 8 8 6 1 6 0 w w w . p a r s o n s n o s e . c o . u k
FULHAM Residents’ Journal
food & drink The latest from the local epicurean scene
It’s getting hot in here Got the winter blues? Head to Spiaggia, the new beach-themed Italian bar and restaurant where you can recreate summer holidays with sun loungers, vintage arcade games and kitsch cocktails. For a taste of the Riviera in not-so-picturesque SW6, kick back with an array of Mediterranean sharing plates. Monday-Saturday 12pm-12am, Sunday 12pm-10pm, 461-465 North End Road, SW6 1NZ, 020 7610 2278 (spiaggialondon.com)
A taste of Tuscany
Meals in minutes
Since opening earlier this year, Osteria 164’s rustic, homemade pasta dishes, carefully chosen wines − not to mention the best panna cotta in town − have made it a popular dining choice for locals. Now, those who don’t want to book a table for a sit down meal can still pop in to enjoy traditional Italian aperitivo at the bar.
Channelling your inner Jamie Oliver on a work night can be time-consuming to say the least. But help is now at hand in the kitchen department thanks to G’NOSH. Cooked up by Fulham resident Charlotte Knight, the range of gourmet dips, tapas bites and sauces can be whipped up into a meal in no time at all. King prawn and chorizo pinchos or fennel sausage ragu, anyone?
164 Wandsworth Bridge Road, SW6 2UQ, 020 7751 9961 (osteria164.co.uk)
Available at Whole Foods Market and Waitrose (gnosh.co.uk)
Seasonal celebrations If you’re struggling to organise a Christmas gathering, look no further than Eelbrook. The restaurant has a party menu for eight or more diners, which is available in addition to its à la carte menu. An inventive take on festive fare, dishes include chicken liver and foie gras parfait, and chocolate and chestnut pudding. Even the humble Brussels sprout is made more appealing by the addition of gorgonzola and hazelnuts. £35 per person, New King’s Road, SW6 4SE, 020 3417 0287 (eelbrook.com)
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FULHAM Residents’ Journal
FAMILY FORTUNES
Smile for the camera: Ed, Joe and Charlotte Danson Image / courtesy of Boggio Studios
Do you have boxes of old home-video tapes gathering dust in your attic? Fulham-based film company Lemongrove Productions can edit, digitise and even create a film from your recordings. Lauren Romano meets the team behind the camera
C
hristmas is a time of traditions. In the Romano household, once the festive jumpers have been donned, the turkey has been carved and the Christmas pudding set on fire, we collapse on the couch with a stash of home-video tapes. As we rifle through our back catalogue, indiscriminately fast-forwarding through numerous family occasions, braces and bad haircuts beam back from the TV screen.
Our home-video binge is essentially a game of Russian roulette, which although enjoyable does have its pitfalls. Will the unmarked tape be the one of me winning the egg-and-spoon race aged six, or the one of my sister trying to bump off Angel Number Three in the nativity play by subtly head-butting her with a tinsel-covered halo? Then there’s the fact that most of the tapes have seen better days and our ancient video player looks like it is about to give up the ghost at any moment. It was a timely coincidence then that as the countdown to the festive season - 22 -
approaches I discovered Lemongrove Productions, a company that specialises in editing home videos and creating bespoke films from family archives. Former broadcast cameraman and editor Ed Danson set up Lemongrove Productions in 2009 to document everyday life stories. ‘You don’t need to be famous to have a film made about you,’ he tells me. Joined by his wife Charlotte, the duo offers a wide range of film-based services, including transferring hours of footage from old tapes onto modern DVD or Blu-ray formats. ‘Cine film transfers are always popular,’ Charlotte says. ‘A lot of clients have inherited reels of cine film but no longer have the projector to view it.’ Anyone looking to add a personal touch to their gift-giving this year might like to consider organising a film portraiture shoot for their nearest and dearest. ‘We produce bespoke vouchers for all our services, but this package is our most popular present,’ Charlotte explains. ‘We come and film children, capturing their personality, voice and mannerisms on camera for posterity. If they are old enough we interview them about what the future holds. We make sure we get the whole family together on screen too, as so often Mum or Dad are just a voice from behind the camera. ‘The wonderful thing about film is that you get a fresh perspective of the past. You can revisit old holidays, re-live wedding days and even watch children grow up again,’ Charlotte enthuses. ‘Film captures every aspect of a subject’s personality, their expressions and thoughts in a way that nothing else can. When you look through family photo albums of your relatives, they give you a connection with your past and your family history. Now imagine if those photographs were films. What if you could see your grandfather playing in the park as a boy or hear him talk about his ambitions and dreams as a teenager?’
From cine film to episodes shot on smartphones, Lemongrove Productions has never come up against a format that it can’t work with. Charlotte reveals that often clients arrive with a box full of different types of film and the team painstakingly adapt each one to a digital version and create a hard drive containing their entire film archive, labelled in chronological order. Every film can also be burnt onto a DVD if required and sent as iPad, iPhone or online versions, something that my own archive would benefit from.
The wonderful thing about film is that you get a fresh perspective of the past Ed and Charlotte have lived in Fulham for nearly 10 years. They bought their first flat in Sands End in 2009, got married on Stephendale Road and had their reception at Fulham Palace. ‘In our 20s we took full advantage of the fantastic bars and restaurants on offer here, but since having our son Joseph we have discovered how well-suited Fulham is for family life. Our social life now pales in comparison with our son’s!’ Charlotte laughs. Having founded the company here, many of their clients are local and have been involved since the beginning. ‘Each year they give us all the footage that they have shot over the last 12 months so we can edit a bespoke family film. We have seen their children grow from birth through to starting primary school. It is an incredible journey that we feel privileged to be involved with.’ Both Ed and Charlotte agree that the most rewarding part of the job is watching clients view footage that they haven’t seen in years, if ever. They hope that in 100 years’ time families will still be enjoying their films and connecting with the past in a way that has never before been possible. I know what’s top of my list to Father Christmas this year. To enquire about your own films, call 020 7371 8315 or email info@lemongroveproductions.com (lemongroveproductions.com)
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FULHAM Residents’ Journal
Greenspi Amanda Lloyd-Harris, chair of the Friends of Bishops Park, reveals all about the group that works to preserve our local park life
T
he Friends of Bishops Park was set up in 2001. Modelled on the Friends of Holland Park, its mission to provide a unified voice and vision to help maintain and enhance the appeal of Bishops Park for the community has not faulted in that time. I am one of the original ‘Friends’ and was first elected to the position of chairman in September 2007. As the former local Palace Riverside Ward councillor, I have long been aware of the needs of our park users. My role involves championing support from
extend the opening hours of the Bishops Park Farmers’ Market. A successful joint Heritage Lottery bid with Fulham Palace in 2010 for £3.6m, together with funding from Hammersmith & Fulham Council, made the overhaul of the park and its facilities possible. The work has been many years in the making and there is still a way to go to ensure that the entire space is of the same standard as the recently refurbished beach and pond areas. The funding pot has been generously topped up by the Western Riverside
19,000 signatures in total were added to the petition in three weeks; it was a great example of the community coming together and demonstrating how passionate locals are about protecting Bishops Park members and the wider community, meeting with the council to discuss events that may or may not be appropriate for the park and ensuring that maintenance issues are reported and dealt with in a timely manner. The organisation is now a respected voice in the community and works closely with the council and Fulham Palace. We ensure that residents’ voices are heard through consultations which cover everything from the various planning applications for Fulham Football Club to the proposal to - 24 -
Environmental Fund which donated £25,000 in 2012 to produce the water feature; and last year £17,000 was added by recycling company Viridor for the removal of the toe boards along the River Walk. The railings are also due to be painted and we are currently working with the council to replace the tarmac along the River Walk, but this is an extremely costly exercise. There are several stand-out moments in the group’s history. Winning the battle in conjunction with local residents over
ration the proposal to astro-turf over Fielders Meadow, which was to be used by Fulham Football Club, is one. The major campaign run by locals galvanised so much support. 19,000 signatures in total were added to the petition in three weeks; it was a great example of the community coming together and demonstrating how passionate locals are about protecting Bishops Park. I also felt privileged to be involved in the commissioning of A History of Bishops Park by Sally Miller, which is the only book to be written about the park. There are approximately 80 friends, but we are always looking to increase our members, who can join for £10 via our website. Individuals, families or corporate recruits are welcome as long as they have the best interests of the park in mind. Being involved is what you make of it and we are always open to new ideas and ways of funding those suggestions. Nothing should be ruled out without discussion, just because it hasn’t worked in the past; we want people to feel that they can be open and tell us what their vision is so that together we might be able to produce it. I have been working very closely with local residents in the fight with The Prince’s Trust over the issue of a suitable business to replace the Fulham Palace Garden Centre. The proposed Pets at Home was not considered appropriate for the area or site, given that it is covered by the same covenant grant by the Church Commissioners to Bishops Park. This means that the plot can
only be used as a garden centre or similar, with a view to train staff in horticulture. Thanks to the strength of local support, a Friends of Fulham Palace Garden Centre has been set up and the inaugural meeting on 12 September formed a steering committee to investigate a possible community bid. The Prince’s Trust is an important charity; it does a valuable job of training young people and we fully endorse its work. The proposal we are hoping to submit will be one that is supported by the local community. The Friends are also concerned about the planning application granted to Fulham Football Club, in particular the impact to sailing if the river is encroached upon. There is the suggestion that a bigger stadium could reduce wind speed, which in turn could hamper a range of water sports. This is an on-going issue but, thankfully, we have a very positive working relationship with the club which is consulting us every step of the way. Finally, the committee and I are always looking at funding opportunities to ensure that the ‘wish list’ we have for the park becomes a reality. The Friends of Bishops Park will continue as long as there are passionate people in the area interested in maintaining and improving facilities for everyone to enjoy. We cannot survive without the community and its passion and drive. To find out more or to join, visit friendsofbishopspark.com - 25 -
FULHAM Residents’ Journal
7
1983
pm – the time the park closes in the winter months
− the year when Bishops Park was officially opened by Sir John Hutton, chairman of the London County Council
1
urban beach – bucket and spade to the ready
4
− the number of years it took to complete the river wall protecting the park from flooding
£3.6m Bishops Park − the successful Heritage Lottery bid was put towards the estimated total refurbishment costs, which stand at £7million
135
− the age of Fulham Football Club, which sits adjacent to the park. The team reportedly used to practice at Hurlingham Park and Eel Brook Common before establishing its permanent home at Craven Cottage
by numbers 16th
The Journal shines a spotlight on the numbers surrounding our popular green space
2
large-scale events take place in Bishops Park each year – the fireworks display in November and the BNP Mellon Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge in April
century green-fingered Bishop Compton made the grounds of Fulham Palace one of the most significant botanical gardens in London, obtaining national and international significance
1,000,000+ people visit Bishops Park each year
2014 - 26 -
− the year Bishops Park, in conjunction with Fulham Palace, was awarded a Green Flag Award
OUR NEW CHRISTMAS PARTY MENU has arrived. in addition, our full seasonal a la carte menu is also available during this period.
PARTY MENU (FOR MINIMUM OF 8 0R MORE PEOPLE) £35 per person
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FULHAM Residents’ Journal
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT The Journal decodes the latest plans for the Crossrail 2 project
Image courtesy of TFL
THE ROUTE The proposed Crossrail 2 route links Wimbledon in the south-west to Alexandra Palace in the north, with stops at key locations across the city, such as Clapham Junction, Victoria, Euston and Seven Sisters. The current consultation has discussed the various options for a stop in Chelsea, which would alleviate the pressure on the District Line and join previously illconnected parts of the area to the rest of London. HOW IT WILL IMPROVE YOUR COMMUTE In terms of journey times, passengers travelling between Wimbledon and other potential south-west regional stops, to and from Chelsea and across the city towards the north-east will benefit most from the new scheme. Current journey times from Wimbledon to
Chelsea are more than 40 minutes (according to TfL Journey Planner) but TfL and Network Rail claim that the new Crossrail 2 line will cut this to only nine minutes. Similarly, commuters travelling between Clapham Junction and Chelsea will have their current 30-minute journey reduced to just three minutes by the proposed route. Consequently, residents, or those travelling through the Clapham Junction hub, will also benefit from shorter journey times into central London via Victoria or Euston stations. Another aim of the project is to reduce the stress on alreadyovercrowded commuter trains in and out of the city during rush hours, a problem that will only worsen over the next 15 years as experts predict a population growth in London and surrounding areas of around 10 million by 2030. WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN For the next two years, TfL and Network Rail are in the development and analysis stages of the project, with finalisation
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due to take place sometime between 2016 and 2019. The 2020-2030 decade will be taken up with construction and testing, with Crossrail 2 designated to open to the public in the early 2030s. A POSSIBLE SOUTH-WEST EXTENSION Although still in the very early stages, plans are afoot to extend the Crossrail 2 route out into the south and south-west commuter belt, with Twickenham, Kingston, Surbiton and Epsom featuring as potential station options. Crossrail and TfL are not currently consulting on this extension, but will be gathering opinions on the project as and when plans become more concrete, so keep a lookout on its website or in future Journals for details on how you can make your thoughts known. WHAT THE EXPERTS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT Mayor of London Boris Johnson maintains that the benefits to the city
OPINION CORNER We asked local residents to tell us what they think about the proposal: ‘Shortening journey times between south-west and central London can only be a good thing.’ Annabel Jones, Wimbledon, via Twitter
‘Anything that makes a commute into the city easier gets my vote, but I dread to think of the chaos awaiting us during construction.’ Joshua Lent, East Putney, via email
‘It would be great to see an extended line out to Twickenham; it would really help to reduce crowds during rugby matches.’ Ben Long, Fulham, via Facebook
‘I’ll not argue with the need for more space on our commuter trains during rush hour, but how will such a large construction project affect local life? I’m concerned that a new rail link will impact on our community.’ Gloria Dewilter, Fulham, via email
Plans are afoot to extend the Crossrail 2 route out into the south and south-west commuter belt are multifaceted. ‘If London and its economy are to keep moving, then it’s essential that we crack on and get Crossrail 2 delivered,’ he says. ‘It’s a vital project not just for the capital, but also for the regions from which hordes of commuters struggle into work on packed carriages each day. As we’ve seen with Crossrail 1, major transport developments like this have an enormous role to play not only in boosting capacity, but also in galvanising economic development and unlocking the potential for jobs
and homes.’ Opinions from the transport network have also focused on the problems facing London’s commuters and the benefits Crossrail 2 would offer, with Network Rail’s group strategy director Paul Plummer pointing out that ‘London’s railways are already the busiest and most congested in the country, with many main lines operating at, or close to, capacity.’ (crossrail2.co.uk) - 29 -
‘A new rail system will keep London on-track with other cities around the world.’ Gareth Lands, Parsons Green, via email
FULHAM Residents’ Journal
RESIDENTS’ CULTURE A forum for residents’ concerns and activities
Behind
the lens
which is important’. Angelika’s workspace is at the Wimbledon Art Studios, where she has been based for eight years. With A member of the thriving arts community in Fulham, more than two hundred artists under photographer Angelika Spranger talks to Emma Thompson one roof, she says it’s a great place to work. ‘I love the typical cultural mix about her work and upcoming joint exhibition of London influences, the constant orn in Austria, Angelika again and become more aware’. exchange of ideas between artistic Spranger moved from The images on show in Angelika’s groups, as well as its size and diversity’. Vienna to London in 1997 studio capture the light and Having appeared at the Kensington and now calls Fulham home. movement of water. ‘Water is never & Fulham Open Studios last month, As well as studying at Kensington still. I’m interested in reflections and Angelika is preparing for a second and Chelsea College of Art, she has how they distort reality and create a exhibition with her fellow artist a BA in Art for Public Space from new fantasy,’ she says. Her latest series neighbours. Twice a year they hold the Roehampton University and has of abstract and colourful images Open Studios Art Show to showcase worked as a professional photographer ‘Playing with Light’ are all taken and sell their work and the next one for almost 20 years. outdoors and have an element of will be held from 13-16 November. Nature is Angelika’s To promote the inspiration. Much of her Open Studios event, Her latest series of abstract and work is water-themed Angelika and a small colourful images ‘Playing with Light’ are and, refreshingly, team of fellow artists in this era of digital are organising Art50, a all taken outdoors and have an element enhancement and pop-up show in Fulham. of mystery about them Photoshop, she does The aim is to raise the not manipulate her profile of Wimbledon images, as she explains, ‘You get what I mystery about them. She photographs Art Studios and encourage more see through my lens. I’m fascinated by trees, leaves and landscapes from her visitors from over the river. ‘It’s a nature. Living in a city that is really fastunique perspective and focuses on wonderful space in Wimbledon, paced means you need to stop, look ‘the space in between the objects, but you wouldn’t stumble upon it by chance. You have to want to find us.’ The pop-up show at the Loud & Western Building in Sands End will feature paintings, ceramics, photography, sculptures and glass from more than 50 artists. ‘It will be a fantastic taster for the main art show in Wimbledon,’ Angelika explains. ‘If you can’t come to see us, then we’ll come and visit you!’
B
The Art50 pop-up show is at The Loud & Western Building, 59 Broughton Road, SW6 2LE until 6 November. Meet the artists and enjoy food, wine and live music from 5pm-9.30pm on 6 November. Open Studios Art Show is on 13-16 November at Holman and Williams House, 10 Riverside Yard, SW17 0BB (angelikaspranger.com)
Aquarius by Angelika Spranger
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LOCAL AUTHOR
Iron Man
Fulham resident and new author Angus Watson published his first book Age of Iron last month. The frontrunner in a fantasy trilogy, the novel rewrites how the ancient Britons defeated Roman general Julius Caesar’s seemingly unstoppable legions. A lazy warrior, a beautiful, revengeful archer, a mystical child and others unite to defeat the evil forces of southern Britain’s tyrant king. When Angus is not swept up by battlefields and druid magic, he enjoys Thames-side strolls with his baby son Charlie and the peace and quiet of Fulham, where he has lived for 14 years. Age of Iron is published by Orbit and is available online and in all good bookshops. Paperback, £7.19; ebook from £3.59. To find out more, visit guswatson.com
A new
chapter
Belinda Donovan catches up with former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis to talk about her latest volunteering venture
L
ike many people, I remember watching Janet Ellis on Blue Peter in the 80s. Since then, she is now also known as the mother of singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor – one of the best musical talents to come out of the borough. I met Janet through two charities that we both support: the Lyric Hammersmith and Maggie’s cancer centre at Charing Cross Hospital. Janet is also a volunteer at The Doorstep Library Network, a local charity that helps children with their reading, which she is passionate about. ‘Reading is a fundamental life skill as it helps youngsters to reach their full potential,’ she explains, adding that doorstep libraries ensure that all children have the opportunity to experience the joys of reading outside the classroom in their own homes. ‘The organisation recruits and trains home-reading volunteers to help those living on selected estates in the typically poorer areas, and we are always looking for new volunteers,’ she enthuses. Janet is juggling her work with the library network with other commitments. Recently, she has voiced and collaborated on projects for Disney, including Furry Friends, which features children and their pets and is currently airing on the Disney Junior channel. She’s also a regular panellist
on Channel 5’s The Wright Stuff and is writing her first novel. ‘I always wanted to be an actress,’ she confides. ‘I attended the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and worked at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond as an assistant stage manager. After my training, I returned there as an actress.’ Janet’s stage career has seen her treading the boards at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and the Royal Exchange, as well as TV appearances on Doctor Who and The Sweeney, followed by three series starring in the children’s TV show Jigsaw. It was while working there that a colleague suggested TV presenting. The rest, as they say, is history as Janet went on to don the Blue Peter badge from 1983 to 1987. She tells me that back then the programme was transmitted live without an autocue, so her stage training came in handy. Janet left the show to have her second child, Jackson, who is now the drummer for John Newman. She’s also mother to Martha who, having left Oxford with a first-class degree last summer, is working at Christie’s. ‘I think I’m allowed to - 31 -
boast sometimes,’ she laughs. ‘And don’t get me started on my beautiful grandchildren…’ (Sophie has three boys: Sonny, Kit and Ray). Both Sophie and Martha attended the Godolphin & Latymer School, where early indications of Sophie’s talent were revealed at a school concert. Janet recalls that among her violin and piano performances, Sophie sung Precious by Annie Lennox and her voice stunned the audience. ‘Of course, I cried,’ Janet tells me. ‘I always do when my children perform. And it’s no secret after Sophie appeared on Strictly Come Dancing last year – the whole nation saw me weep!’ Janet has lived in the area for 24 years and loved every minute of it. ‘Everything is in walking distance,’ she says. ‘And the older I get, the more I walk. The area has changed over the time we’ve been here, but only for the better. There’s a real sense of community, too. Plus we are so close to the river. I take a walk along the Thames nearly every day and never get sick of it.’
Image © Featureflash
To get involved with The Doorstep Library Network, visit doorsteplibrary.org.uk
FULHAM Residents’ Journal
Image ©Andrey Yurlov
The
beautiful
game Giles Lucas meets David ‘Diddy’ Hamilton, Fulham’s long-standing match day compère as he retires after 18 years
W
alking through the club to current owner Shahid Khan, Fulham turnstiles on made a mammoth impact. ‘I was match days, fans are so pleased that he’d come because unsure of the result but Fulham had had many years of certain of the mellifluous voice set being very poor, and now all of a to resound around Craven Cottage. sudden a white knight came along David Ham ilton (left Fulham’s ) The anticipation before kick-off follows who promised to spend money match da alongside Ivan Be y compè re. (Photo rry, his successor a similar pattern: a frenzy of excitement on the club. Of course he was as courtesy of fulham fc.com) with rousing music roaring and as good as his word. He made vast supporters rushing to find their seats – improvements to the stadium, bought got stuck! I thought but not before one iconic announcer the new training ground at Motspur I wouldn’t get down! I was very sets the scene. ‘It’s show time!’ The Park and said “I’ll have the team in welcome initially, [but] when they voice blaring from the tannoy is of the Premier League in five years”, and thought they weren’t going to be able course that of David ‘Diddy’ Hamilton, in the end he did it in four!’ to see the game because I was blocking the much-loved broadcaster, who Hamilton got to know Al Fayed their view, they told me to go forth and recently retired as Fulham’s match day well. ‘He was a showman. I’d multiply! Or words to that effect.’ compère after 18 years. introduce him to the crowd and he’d Among all the happy memories His distinctive style is etched in fans’ come out waving his scarf before the Hamilton has of his time at Fulham, Al minds and Hamilton looks back fondly match and then he would always head Fayed’s ownership stands out, especially at his tenure, to when it the special guest he invited all began with a request by to the team’s win against Al Fayed was a showman. I’d one of Fulham’s greatest Wigan in 1999. introduce him to the crowd and he’d come figures. ‘It was just before ‘I’d got the word to Christmas 1996,’ he recalls. “stand by and get ready out waving his scarf before the match ‘The chap who had been to announce Michael doing the half-time entertainment had over and have a chat with me.’ Jackson”. It was a boiling hot summer’s left and chairman Jimmy Hill asked me Fulham stayed in the top flight day and I introduced him: “Ladies and if I would like to do it.’ for a remarkable 13 years under gentlemen, please welcome the one Just five months in to his role Al Fayed’s stewardship. The club’s and only Michael Jackson”. Out he and Fulham won promotion under most memorable spell came under came, with a black and white umbrella manager Micky Adams, sparking manager Roy Hodgson, who helped over his head, he looked about six celebration at the Cottage. ‘I was out rescue it from relegation in 2008 stone, as though a puff of wind would there at the end of the match MC-ing before guiding the team to the Europa blow him into the river. He got halfway all the celebrations. What a start!’ he League final against Atletico Madrid round the ground to what I can only enthuses. ‘Jimmy Hill was the chairman in Hamburg in 2010. describe as polite applause then, and then the next summer Mohamed ‘Europe was a terrific adventure,’ after a while, the penny dropped and Al Fayed took over,’ he explains. ‘In the says Hamilton. ‘They got me on a people realised it was the Michael summer I was asked if I would do the crane behind the goal to warm up Jackson, not a lookalike. And the announcing as well. So I said yes.’ the Fulham supporters before the polite applause turned into a standing Al Fayed, who has since sold the match [in Hamburg], and the crane ovation. I’ll never forget that day.’ - 32 -
HEALTH & FITNESS Sports news to get the blood pumping
Saturday NIGHT fever
Jennifer Mason puts on her flares and channels her inner John Travolta to learn a popular ‘70s dance that deserves to come back into fashion
W
hen it comes to all things dance-related, local resident Fritha Fallon certainly knows what she’s talking about. With diplomas in both teaching and analysing body movement, her students have the benefit of an instructor who is more than qualified to show them the steps – all in the comfort and privacy of their own homes. Fritha has learnt from, and danced with, some of the best performers and choreographers in the world. Spending time in the company of experts in America she discovered her love for
the Hustle, a salsa-esque step danced in the Latin clubs of 1970s New York. Now growing again in popularity in the States and well-known as the Discofox in many European countries, the dance had yet to find many fans in the UK – until now. Fritha’s company, Dance Diversion, is offering south-west London students the chance to develop their dance repertoire by learning the Cha-Cha, Mambo and Hustle as well as nurturing the social side of these dances, thereby reinvigorating the tired ‘dance class’ genre. Right, enough theory. It’s time to put
on my dancing shoes (quite literally) and hit the floor with Fritha to learn the basic steps. As Daft Punk’s Get Lucky drifts out from the speakers, I can almost imagine myself in the centre of a light-up dance floor with a mirrored disco ball twirling patterns around my head… it’s Fulham’s version of Saturday Night Fever. Private lessons, couples and small groups, from £52-£75 per hour. For more information, call 07968 961 154, email fritha@dance-diversion.com or visit dance-diversion.com
How to dance the HUSTLE/discofox
The dance has a three-step beat, but most disco music has a four-beat rhythm, so the most important thing to remember is to count your steps: one…two…three. Tap…step…step.
Begin by tapping your right foot behind your left heel, then stepping it out to the right. The ball of your foot should hit the floor first, before you bring your heel to the floor, pushing down your right hip. Next, step on your left foot and let your left hip to sink down. Those are your three ‘beats’.
Once you’ve got into the rhythm, it’s time to start rotating. By changing the direction of your right and left steps, slowly move your body around in a circle, keeping to the three-beat tempo.
Now it’s time to move from a side-to-side movement to a forward-and-back one. Tap your right foot behind your left heel as before, but this time step forward on your right foot (always using the ball of your foot first, followed by the heel), then back on your left. Keep moving those hips, too.
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Remember to keep your arms bent, held up with your hands in front of your chest. This will a) give others the impression you know what you’re doing and b) ensure you are in the correct position when you begin dancing with a partner.
If you’re comfortable with the basic ‘tap, step, step’ you’re ready to move up a gear. This time, instead of simply tapping your right foot behind, incorporate a ball change – a quick one-two step. Your new rhythm should count off like this: andone…two…three. Ball change...step...step.
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A UNIQUE LEARNING EXPERIENCE Cranbrook nursery allows children to thrive, develop and achieve their full potential through a stimulating, age appropriate but challenging environment with a home from home feel. We would love you to come and visit. Please call Marie today to view the nursery on 020 7381 9523 344-346 Fulham Palace Road, Fulham, SW6 6HT T: 020 7381 9523 E: palace@cranbrooknursery.co.uk
18th No 9:30 – 1 vember 1:30
FULHAM Residents’ Journal
MUST-HAVES Don’t miss out on the most sought-after products and services from around the area
A COSY RETREAT It’s the time of year for snuggling up and going into winter hibernation under a blanket, in front of the television or with a good book. Thoughts of enjoying the garden have long since passed – except for clients of Crown Pavilions, who, even during the frosty November weather, are still making the most of the great outdoors from the comfort of their toasty garden rooms. The arrival of winter doesn’t mean saying goodbye to a space you’ve enjoyed all summer, if you have a hideaway for all seasons. £POA, 6B Lys Mill Farm, Watlington, Oxfordshire, OX49 5EP, 01491 612 820, enquiries@crownpavilions.com (crownpavilions.com)
FIRST-CLASS SERVICE It’s the season for holiday bookings, reservations at the finest restaurants and nights out at the theatre; a time when we begin to think about perfect gifts for our loved ones. Concierge company Golden Ivory prides itself on offering a personal and highly efficient service. Charming and elegant, yet professional and thorough, every detail counts and every client matters, because ‘life is for living’. Let Golden Ivory help you live it... 25 North Row, W1K 6DJ, 020 7030 3813, enquiries@goldenivory.com (goldenivory.com)
ON THE BIGGEST SCREEN Home technology specialist Finite Solutions has won a major international award for an £80,000 high-tech home cinema installation at a property in Chelsea. The project won the top accolade from the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA), a worldwide governing body for the design of electronic systems for the home. ‘This award backs up our position as London’s leading specialist in the market,’ Phil Cotton, the company’s director, commented. To date, the firm has picked up 15 industry awards. Unit 8, Talina Centre, 23A Bagleys Lane, SW6 2BW, 020 7371 8761 (finitesolutions.co.uk) - 35 -
FULHAM Residents’ Journal
the directory Whether whim or wish, all of the essentials are taken care of in our round up for harmonious living
ESTATE AGENTS Douglas & Gordon 656 Fulham Road 020 7731 4391
Savills 191 New King’s Road 020 7731 9400 and 423 Fulham Palace Road 020 7578 9050
Goss & Co. 666 Fulham Road 020 7751 8326
Marsh & Parsons 105 Moore Park Road 020 7736 9822 and 333 Fulham Palace Road 020 7993 9888
Breteuil 280 Fulham Road 020 7351 6308
Martin & Co 94 Wandsworth Bridge Road 020 7731 2756
Knight Frank 203 New King’s Road 020 7751 2400
Strutt & Parker 701 Fulham Road 020 7731 7100
Winkworths Fulham and Parsons Green 40 New King’s Road 020 7731 3388 Chesterton Humberts ‘Three offices – one great postcode’ 78 New Kings Road 020 7731 4448
PROPERTY SEARCH AGENT Penn Holmes London Ltd ‘SW6 ladies Katie and Francesca specialise in buying properties for their clients here in Fulham.’ 55 Langthorne Street 07884 180480 07989 746499
FASHION Essam Guenedy 267 New King’s Road 020 7371 8010
Marc Wallace 261 New King’s Road 020 7736 6795
Katie & Jo 253 New King’s Road 020 7736 5304
Iceblu 24a New King’s Road 020 7371 9292
Claudia Sebire 136 Fulham Road 020 7835 1327
Mania Mia 307 New King’s Road 020 3441 1003
spa
HEALTH & BEAUTY BEAUTY
Space NK 205 New Kings Road 020 7736 6728
hair salon
pharmacy
boutique
guest house
Gina Conway 612 Fulham Road 020 7731 7633
Natasha Coote 173 New King’s Road 020 7371 7526
Palace Pharmacy 331 Fulham Palace Road 020 7736 3034
Mermaid Maternity Retreat 234a Kings Road 020 7199 3220 (mermaid.co.uk)
hotels b&b
Fulham Thames Walk B&B 91 Langthorne Street 020 7381 0198
La Reserve Hotel 422-428 Fulham Road 020 7385 8561
Fulham Guest House 55 Wandsworth Bridge Road 020 7731 1662 - 36 -
luxury
Millennium & Copthorne Stamford Bridge, Fulham Road 020 7565 1400
HOME ANTIQUES A&L Antiques 284 Lillie Road 020 7610 2694
ARCHITECTS
Hogarth Architects Ltd 186 Dawes Road 020 7381 3409
INTERIOR DESIGN
tiling
WOOD FLOORING
Alice Leigh Design
Porcelanosa
12 Parkville Road 07801 823953 (aliceleigh.co.uk)
Wandsworth Bridge Road 08444 818952 (porcelanosa.com)
Bembé UK Ltd ‘German craft since 1780.’ 315-317 New King’s Road 020 7371 9090
schools & nurseries Chelsea Independent College 517-523 Fulham Road 020 7610 1114
Godolphin and Latymer School Iffley Road 020 8741 1936
Latymer Upper School 237 King Street 0845 638 5800
Eridge House Preparatory School 1 Fulham Park Road 020 7371 9009
Hurlingham and Chelsea School Peterborough Road 020 7731 2581
L’Ecole des Petits 2 Hazlebury Road 020 7371 8350
Fulham Cross Girls’ School Munster Road 020 7381 0861
Kensington Prep School 596 Fulham Road 020 7731 9300
Millie’s House Nursery & Pre-School 163 New King’s Road 020 7731 0440
Fulham Prep School 200 Greyhound Road 020 7371 9911
Lady Margaret School Parsons Green 020 7736 7138
Parayhouse School New King’s Road 020 7751 0914
essentials builder William Gaze Ltd. Basement, Loft and Extension Specialist 28 Imperial Square 020 7078 8874 (williamgazeltd.com)
childcare
Fulham Nannies 69 Stephendale Road 020 7736 8289
post office
Fulham Road Post Office 815 Fulham Road
plumber
The London Oratory School Seagrave Road 020 7385 0102
Cranbrook Nursery 344-346 Fulham Palace Road 020 7381 9523 (cranbrooknursery.co.uk)
luxury services EVENTS
Sweetapple Heating & Plumbing ‘Local Gas Safe registered plumbing and heating engineers, offering a 24 hour service’ 130 Stephendale Road 020 7371 0409 07889 184146 (sweetappleplumbing.co.uk)
Sinclair House School 159 Munster Road 020 7736 9182
Addoastra ‘A boutique event management company based in London but operating throughout the country’ 20 Reporton Road 020 3689 4585 (addoastra.com)
florist
Town and County Flowers 131 Wandsworth Bridge 020 7736 4683 - 37 -
printing
Paramount Press Ltd 129 Munster Road 020 7731 0900
stationer
Perry’s 777 Fulham Road 020 7736 7225
travel
The Ultimate Travel Co. 25-27 Vanston Place 020 7386 4646
savills.co.uk
1 ELEGANT HOUSE WITH 46FT WESTERLY FACING GARDEN elthiron road, sw6 Double reception room ø kitchen/breakfast/family room ø playroom/sitting room ø utility room/kitchenette ø 6 bedrooms ø 4 bathrooms ø 2 cloakrooms ø garden ø 268 sq m (2,885 sq ft) ø EPC=C Guide £3 million Freehold
Savills Fulham Rosalind Watson rwatson@savills.com
020 7731 9420
savills.co.uk
1 STUNNING NEWLY REFURBISHED CENTRAL PARSONS GREEN HOUSE molesford road, sw6 Double reception room ø kitchen/dining room ø media room ø 6 bedrooms ø 4 bathrooms ø 2 cloakrooms ø utility room ø garden ø 274 sq m (2,951 sq ft) ø EPC=C Guide £3.6 million Freehold
Hamptons Fulham
Savills Fulham
Robert Stewart fulham@hamptons-int.com
Sebastian Hipwood shipwood@savills.com
020 7384 1001
020 7731 9420
savills.co.uk
1 SUPERBLY FINISHED HOUSE CLOSE TO BISHOPS PARK lalor street, sw6 Open plan reception/dining room ø kitchen/breakfast room ø further double reception room ø 5 bedrooms ø 3 bathrooms ø cloakroom ø patio garden ø 244 sq m (2,633 sq ft) ø EPC=C Guide £2.75 million Freehold
Savills Fulham Alex Richards arichards@savills.com
020 7731 9420
savills.co.uk
1 STUNNING, CONTEMPORARY FAMILY HOME WITH 58FT GARDEN lysia street, sw6 Double reception room ø kitchen/dining room ø 5 bedrooms ø 3 bathrooms ø cloakroom ø garden ø 168 sq m (1,808 sq ft) ø EPC=D
Savills Fulham Edwina Drake edrake@savills.com
020 7731 9420 Guide £1.795 million Freehold
savills.co.uk
1 A HIGHLY DESIRABLE PARSONS GREEN HOME foskett road, sw6 Double reception room ø kitchen/dining room ø 4 bedrooms ø 3 bathrooms ø garden ø 141 sq m (1,518 sq ft) ø EPC=D
Savills Fulham Alfie Baldwin abaldwin@savills.com
020 7731 9420 Guide £1.75 million Freehold
savills.co.uk
1 EXCEPTIONALLY BRIGHT END OF TERRACE HOUSE WITH A GARAGE harbord street, sw6 Double reception room ø kitchen ø dining area ø 5 bedrooms ø 3 bathrooms ø utility room ø cloakroom ø double garden ø garage ø 274 sq m (2,951 sq ft) ø EPC=E
Savills Fulham Alex Richards arichards@savills.com
020 7731 9420 Guide £2.5 million Freehold
savills.co.uk
1 WONDERFUL APARTMENT OVERLOOKING BISHOPS PARK TENNIS CLUB bishops mansions, sw6 Reception room ø dining room ø kitchen ø 2 bedrooms ø bathroom ø balcony ø communal gardens ø 79 sq m (850 sq ft) ø EPC=E
Savills Fulham Edwina Drake edrake@savills.com
020 7731 9420 Guide £785,000 Share of Freehold
savills.co.uk
1 FANTASTIC MEWS HOUSE SET IN A PRIVATE GATED DEVELOPMENT walham yard, sw6 Open plan kitchen/dining/reception room ø 3 bedrooms ø 2 bath/shower rooms ø dressing room ø utility room ø 108 sq m (1,165 sq ft) ø EPC=C
Savills Fulham Sarah Lloyd sjlloyd@savills.com
020 7731 9420 Guide £1.3 million Freehold
savills.co.uk
LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY
1
WELL PRESENTED APARTMENT OFF THE MUNSTER ROAD colehill lane, sw6 2 bedrooms ø bathroom ø reception room ø kitchen ø split level apartment ø 78 sq m (838 sq ft) ø Council Tax=E ø EPC=D
Savills Fulham Kate Rotheram krotheram@savills.com
020 7578 9051
Furnished £485 per week + £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* *£36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee – charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details, visit www.savills.co.uk/fees.
savills.co.uk
LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY
1
UNIQUE LOFT STYLE APARTMENT LOCATED IN A COBBLED MEWS epirus mews, sw6 2 double bedrooms ø reception room ø fitted kitchen ø attic storage ø 96 sq m (1,025 sq ft) ø Council Tax=D ø EPC=F
Savills Fulham Sophie Curtis scurtis@savills.com
020 7731 2692 Unfurnished £495 per week + £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* *£36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee – charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details, visit www.savills.co.uk/fees.
Opening doors in London since 1856 From the moment you walk through one of our doors, you’ll only deal with someone who lives and breathes your local property market. Someone who knows exactly which buttons to press to sell or let your home. And someone who understands that determination and integrity will open more doors for you than any other approach. So why not visit one of our 22 London offices? As we’ve been saying since 1856, our door’s always open...
marshandparsons.co.uk
Local know-how. Better results. Askew Road
Bishops Park
Clapham
Hammersmith
Marylebone & Mayfair
Richmond
Balham
Brook Green
Earls Court
Holland Park
North Kensington
South Kensington
Barnes
Camden
East Sheen
Kensington
Notting Hill
Battersea
Chelsea
Fulham
Little Venice
Pimlico & Westminster
Walham Grove SW6 £2,750,000 This rarely available mid-terrace house is positioned on one of Fulham’s most desirable residential streets and benefits from a superb south facing garden. The accommodation provides a raised ground floor double reception room leading out to a large south facing roof terrace, a further reception room, a dining room and kitchen arranged over the natural lower ground floor. The upper two floors include a superb master bedroom, two further double bedrooms and a family bathroom. Freehold. EPC=E. Sole Agents.
FULHAM: 020 7736 9822 sales.ful@marshandparsons.co.uk
Follow us on Twitter: @marshandparsons
Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/marshandparsons
Visit our YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/marshandparsons
SALES
See all of our properties online: marshandparsons.co.uk
Gastein Road W6 £1,295,000 Having undergone a meticulous refurbishment by the current owner, this four-bedroom family home is presented in stunning condition throughout. The ground floor is home to an elegant double reception room and an incredible kitchen which leads out to a stunning private garden. The upper floors boast a wonderful master bedroom, three further double bedrooms, superb family bathroom and a beautiful shower room. Freehold. EPC=E. Joint Sole Agent.
BISHOPS PARK: 020 7993 9888 sales.bis@marshandparsons.co.uk
The Negotiator Awards 2013 (for the 2nd year running!)
Sunday Times Estate Agency of the Year 2013 - Gold (for the 2nd year running!)
Community Champion of the Year
Best London Estate Agency
The Negotiator Awards 2013 - Silver
Sunday Times Estate Agency of the Year 2013 (Medium) - Gold (for the 4th year running!)
Regency House SW6 £1,750 per week This exceptional three-bedroom penthouse apartment is positioned on the eight-floor of this award winning riverside development in Imperial Wharf. Arranged over two floors this incredible apartment benefits from a glorious reception room, a contemporary kitchen/dining area leading onto a private roof terrace, three double bedrooms (one en suite), a guest cloakroom and an additional shower room. The property benefits further from 24-hour security, on-site gym and communal parklands. EPC=D
FULHAM: 020 7736 9822 lets.ful@marshandparsons.co.uk
Follow us on Twitter: @marshandparsons
Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/marshandparsons
Visit our YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/marshandparsons
LETTINGS
See all of our properties online: marshandparsons.co.uk
Langthorne Street SW6 ÂŁ900 per week This stunning and sizeable family home is set in the heart of Bishops Park on the leafy alphabet streets of Fulham. The house comprises four double bedrooms, two modern bathrooms (one en suite), an open double reception room and an extended eat-in kitchen leading out to a large garden, ideal for entertaining. Langthorne Street is a beautiful tree lined street just moments from the open green space of Bishops Park and a short walk from Hammersmith Broadway. EPC=D
BISHOPS PARK: 020 7993 9888 lets.bis@marshandparsons.co.uk Tenant fees apply, see www.marshandparsons.co.uk/services/lettings/tenant-fees for more information.
KnightFrank.co.uk
Lysia Street, Fulham SW6
A four bedroom house with exceptional entertaining space A superb end of terrace family house located in this popular area known as the Alphabet Streets, close to Bishops Park. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, summer house, garden. EPC rating D. Approximately 192.02 sq m (2,067 sq ft) Available furnished/unfurnished Guide price: ÂŁ1,300 per week (FLQ185163)
All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of ÂŁ276 will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges
KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings fulhamlettings@knightfrank.com 020 7751 2410
KnightFrank.co.uk
Langthorne Street, Fulham SW6 A well-presented four bedroom family home
A fantastic opportunity to rent this recently refurbished family home in the heart of Bishops Park on the alphabet streets in Fulham. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, kitchen/dining room, garden. EPC rating D. Approximately 175.01 sq m (1,884 sq ft) Available unfurnished Guide price: ÂŁ900 per week (FLQ206878)
All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of ÂŁ276 will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges
KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings fulhamlettings@knightfrank.com 020 7751 2410
KnightFrank.co.uk Chipstead Street, Fulham SW6 Five bedroom house in Parsons Green
A ‘long-back’ Nichols Lion house with westfacing garden, potential to further extend (subject to pp) and the added bonus of a garage. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, 4 further bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, kitchen, dining room, study, conservatory, utility room, guest WC, garage, garden. EPC rating D. Approximately 263.7 sq m (2,838 sq ft) Freehold Guide price: £3,250,000
KnightFrank.co.uk/fulham fulham@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6475 (FLH140144)
Fulham Road, Fulham SW6
Two bedroom maisonette close to Parsons Green An immaculately presented two bedroom maisonette with a south facing terrace, which has been completely refurbished by the current owner. Master bedroom with en suite shower room, 2nd bedroom, bathroom, reception room with open plan kitchen, terrace. EPC rating D. Approximately 95.6 sq m (1,029 sq ft) Leasehold Guide price: £999,995
KnightFrank.co.uk/fulham fulham@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6475 (FLH130207)
KnightFrank.co.uk Coniger Road, Fulham SW6
Five bedroom family home An exemplary illustration of a Nichols Lion House that has been elegantly renovated by the current owners to produce a beautiful family home. Planning consent has been granted for further extension. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, 4 further bedrooms, bathroom, shower room, double reception room, kitchen/dining room, utility room, garden. EPC rating C. Approximately 206.2 sq m (2,220 sq ft) Freehold Guide price: ÂŁ2,650,000
KnightFrank.co.uk/fulham fulham@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6475 (FLH130004)
Rivermead Court, Fulham SW6
Three bedroom apartment in Rivermead Court A stunning three bedroom, sixth floor apartment which has just been refurbished to a high standard with wood flooring, modern bathrooms, excellent joinery and located in this prestigious portered block close to the Hurlingham Club. 3 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen/breakfast room, reception room, communal gardens, porter, off street parking. EPC rating D. Approximately 114.3sq m (1,230 sq ft) Share of Freehold Guide price: ÂŁ1,350,000
KnightFrank.co.uk/fulham fulham@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6475 (FLH130273)
KnightFrank.co.uk
Westover Road, Wandsworth SW18 Imposing double fronted house with parking
A rare opportunity to acquire a beautifully presented detached family house in one of Wandsworth’s most attractive roads. 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (1 en suite), 3 reception rooms, study, kitchen, utility room, downstairs cloakroom, 73 x 45ft garden, off street parking. Approximately 383 sq m (4,123 sq ft) Freehold
(WND140021)
KnightFrank.co.uk/wandsworth wandsworth@knightfrank.com 020 3597 7680
KnightFrank.co.uk
Albion Riverside, Battersea Park SW11 One bedroom flat in Albion Riverside
An elegant, unusually large one bedroom flat located on the 5th floor of the iconic Albion Riverside. This property is beautifully finished throughout with great refinement and benefits from far-reaching south-facing views. This property benefits from 24 hour security and concierge and leisure facilities. Master bedroom, kitchen/dining/reception room, bathroom, utility room. EPC Rating B. Approximately 78 sq m (840 sq ft) Leasehold Guide price: ÂŁ965,000 (RVR140034)
KnightFrank.co.uk/battersea battersea@knightfrank.com 020 3597 7670
Wandsworth Bridge Road SW6 ÂŁ1,750,000 Freehold Fulham Sales 020 7731 4391 | fulhamsales@dng.co.uk
North
Chelsea
Fulham
This spacious Victorian terrace house offers bright and modern accommodation and is presented in excellent condition throughout with stylish features and a lovely garden.
Hammersmith & Shepherd’s Bush
Kensington
Kensington Gate
5 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 en-suite), Double reception room, Kitchen/breakfast room, Garden, EPC: F.
South Kensington
Notting Hill
Pimlico & Westminster
douglasandgordon.com
Kings Court Mansions SW6 ÂŁ750,000 Leasehold Fulham Sales 020 7731 4391 | fulhamsales@dng.co.uk
South
Balham
Battersea
Battersea Park
A delightful three bedroom top floor 3 double bedrooms, Shower room, mansion flat located in the heart of Reception room, Kitchen/dining room, Parsons Green. This charming, bright Cloakroom, EPC: D. and spacious flat offers a wonderful balance of living and entertaining space.
Clapham
East Putney
Southfields & Earlsfield
West Putney
Burnfoot Avenue SW6 ÂŁ1,000 per week Fees apply Unfurnished Fulham Lettings 020 7731 4791 | fulhamlets@dng.co.uk
North
Chelsea
Fulham
A well located spacious house in good condition throughout. The property boasts a large double reception room and kitchen, with doors leading out to a private garden.
Hammersmith & Shepherd’s Bush
Kensington
Kensington Gate
4 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Double reception room, Kitchen/ breakfast room, Patio garden, EPC: E.
South Kensington
Notting Hill
Pimlico & Westminster
HELP US CREATE A HAPPY CHRISTMAS This year the Douglas & Gordon and Kids Company partnership gets real with three D&G teams restoring three properties you simply wouldn’t believe could be home to children. It’s practical and we’d love you to help us help them. Kids Company has set up a housing intervention programme that aids families by creating a healthier and happier environment for these children by completely redecorating parts of their homes.
To find out more, please pop into your local Douglas & Gordon office or visit our website:
www.douglasandgordon.com/kidsco2014
FULHAM Residents’ Journal
property watch Experts shine a light on local property news
Fulham’s
looking up
A cut above the rest with rising property values and future investment, sales manager of the Douglas & Gordon’s Fulham office Alexander Leschallas explains why SW6 stands its ground as a prime location Fulham Park Gardens, guide price, £2,000,000
W
e have all seen and heard that London’s property market is booming and has been for some time. However, when we delve a little deeper, the reality of home ownership in parts of the capital doesn’t seem quite so black and white. Here at Douglas & Gordon, we’re constantly assessing what’s happening in the market and why and our latest findings are revealing. Looking at homes across south-west London, our Investor View report found that prices began to cool during the second quarter of the year and came to a complete standstill in some of the capital’s most sought-after postcodes. It’s good news for residents in the leafy suburb of Fulham though, with properties across SW6 bucking the London-wide trend. While values here have fallen slightly this year, residents
can take satisfaction in knowing that growth is still above average at 4.45 per cent, compared with just 2.28 per cent across the rest of south-west London. Despite this, the constant articles on interest rate rises, capital gains, the proposed mansion tax and the effects of the mortgage market review have understandably raised concerns among Londoners. Like the majority of Fulham residents, it’s likely that you now find yourself in a position where you will wait and see how the market changes in the coming months. In fact, we’re seeing that many locals who would normally consider selling are waiting until they achieve the price they want. Although growth across the capital has slowed, properties in this part of London are now almost double the value they were when the market bottomed in 2009. While this growth is no surprise in prime areas like - 64 -
Chelsea, neighbouring boroughs have also been cashing in. Fulham is proof of this. Since 2009, the value of homes has increased by more than 57 per cent, with fourbedroom houses rising by a massive 170 per cent. As residents, you know only too well that Fulham’s popularity is unlikely to slow any time soon. Developments along the river and the cafés and bars on the New King’s Road and Fulham Road are making the borough ever more attractive to newcomers. At the same time, the growing number of shops continues to draw people in. The recent investment announcement from Hammersmith and Fulham Council and Westfield London is set to make the area even more of a go-to destination. It’s not just about shopping and socialising though. The great schools, transport links and open spaces are what attract many of us to the area. In fact, it was only recently that Prime Minister David Cameron announced he was considering sending his daughter to local academy Lady Margaret School. It’s undeniable that Fulham is highly desirable. With this increasing popularity, the recent slowdown is unlikely to hit values across this borough. Both existing and potential homeowners can be excited about the future of the market here. 656 Fulham Road, SW6 5RX, 020 7731 4391 (douglasandgordon.com)
French connections
Arsene Colarossi of Breteuil estate agency reflects on gaining a foothold in the Fulham lettings market
I
t’s been a successful first year for and students to families. design are similarly sought-after. Breteuil. As the estate agency As things stand, the team is working With the Champagne on ice ready gets set to celebrate 12 months hard to make its presence felt locally. to toast Breteuil’s upcoming birthday, in the capital, the lettings team ‘Our longstanding reputation, built Arsene is optimistic about the year continues to go from strength to up over a period of many years in ahead and communicates his plans strength. ‘We are confident in the France, is filtering through to the for the office with energy. ‘We want level of service we offer, especially to London office,’ Arsene says. ‘Several to continue to grow our lettings our European clients, and how that of our most recent properties have department and develop our presence differentiates us in the competitive been let to people who were familiar in Fulham in particular,’ he concludes rental market,’ director Arsene begins with the Breteuil name from when sagely. ‘Then we will focus on the sales confidently in his mellifluous French they lived or worked in Paris.’ Keen side of things and take it from there.’ accent. He was responsible With characteristic French poise, for bringing a branch of the charm and a dedication to the Several of our most recent established French company – task in hand, we wager that there properties have been let to people will be even more to celebrate by which boasts 10 successful offices in Paris – to the Fulham Road and who were familiar with the Breteuil this time next year. he is justifiably pleased with how name from when they lived or the relocation has gone. 280 Fulham Road, SW10 9EW, worked in Paris As catchment areas go, 020 7351 6308 (breteuil.co.uk) Breteuil’s enviable position enables Arsene and his team of four to to strengthen these links across the reach out to tenants across the Chelsea Channel further, the south-west and Fulham postcodes and beyond. London office will be increasing its ‘There are no longer isolated pockets advertising presence in the French of French residents,’ he notes. ‘We are media, both here and in France. receiving more Fulham instructions, ‘We are a proactive agency; there as people shift from South Kensington is never a quiet moment,’ Arsene and Chelsea into SW6. Some tenants assures. ‘At the moment we are are attracted to the more affordable canvassing with leaflets, which we rents; others tell us that they prefer deliver by hand to nearby homes.’ the quieter, greener, family-friendly Breteuil’s Gallic connections and atmosphere of Fulham and the broad expertise means that it understands spectrum of properties available there.’ what European tenants are looking Currently the demand for one and for, in particular in terms of décor. two-bedroom flats forms the core ‘The biggest interior turn-off is carpet of Breteuil’s business, but Arsene – they hate it!’ Arsene smiles. ‘Wooden believes that as the agency grows it floors are an essential for the majority will attract people looking for larger of our clients, especially in the main homes. Ultimately he aims to appeal living space.’ Properties with tonedto everyone, from young professionals down finishes and simple, neutral - 65 -
We’re no butler but we know what service is.
3
2 £ 1,150 pw
2
2 £ 975 pw
IfIeld Road SW10, chelsea
CoRnWall GaRdenS SW7 gloucester road
Stunning split level apartment, situated on a quiet tree lined street, benefiting period features and south west facing roof terrace, a large eat in kitchen and a double 27’ reception room.
Vast two bedroom flat located on a communal garden. Comprising a large 21’ reception, separate kitchen/diner, benefits from high ceilings and is flooded with natural light.
1
1 £ 575 pw
3
2 £ 1,500 pw
BRamham GaRdenS SW5 earls court
WetheRBy GaRdenS SW5 gloucester road
Set within a period portered building on a tree lined square, this immaculate one double bedroom flat benefits from a west facing terrace, a study or single bedroom and access to a communal garden.
Set within a quiet communal Garden in the heart of Kensington, this three bedroom duplex benefits from high ceilings and period features throughout.
280 fulham Road, SW10 9eW - tel. 020 7351 6308 - breteuil.co.uk
Nous parlons Français (We speak French).
Lilyville Road Six Bedroom House
•
Steeple Close Four Bedroom House
•
£1,850pw
£975pw
Clonmel Road Five Bedroom House
•
Armadale Road Three Bedroom Maisonette
•
£1,250pw
£850pw
Racton Road Five Bedroom House
£2,000,000 Freehold
Waterford Road Three Bedroom House
Marville Road Three Bedroom House
£1,635,000 Freehold
Dungannon House Two Bedroom Apartment
•
•
•
•
£1,390,000 Freehold
£795,000 Leasehold
94 Wandsworth Bridge Road Fulham London SW6 2TF t: 020 773 12 756 e: fulham@martinco.com www.martincofulham.co.uk
Bishops Road, SW6
for sale
A four bedroom family home located on the borders of Parsons Green and presented in beautiful condition. Comprising double reception room, kitchen/breakfast room with French doors to a patio garden, ground floor WC, master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, three double bedrooms and a family bathroom. The fourth bedroom has an en suite WC which could easily be converted to a shower/wet room.
Price: £1,690,000
EPC Rating D Freehold
Barclay Road, SW6
To Let
We are delighted to offer this stunning two bedroom, two bathroom split level Victorian maisonette. With a large open plan reception area and courtyard garden, this property is ideal for entertaining. The fantastic location is only moments to Fulham Broadway Station making it perfect for professionals.
Price: £395 per week
EPC Rating D
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020 7751 8326 • mg@gossandco.com • Goss & Co. 666 Fulham Road, Fulham, London, SW6 5RX
New Release FA U L K NER
H O USE
The new collection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and penthouses at London’s most prestigious riverside location, Fulham Reach. Each apartment features a private balcony or terrace, elegant interiors and residents will also benefit from an exclusive private members’ club featuring a beautiful spa, gymnasium, swimming pool, wine cellar, virtual golf and a cinema screening room.
Apartments and Penthouses available from £769,950 - £3,799,950* Fulham Reach Riverside Show Apartments and Marketing Suite, Distillery Road, London W6 9RU +44 (0) 207 870 9500 | enquiries@fulhamreach.co.uk
www.fulhamreach.co.uk Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of Companies
Computer generated images for illustrative purposes only. *Prices and details correct at time of going to press.
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Clonmel Road, SW6
An immaculately presented three storey Victorian terraced family house close to Parsons Green.
ÂŁ1,750,000 Freehold
1,572sq ft (146sq mt) EPC Rating D Drawing room | Kitchen | Master bedroom with ensuite bathroom | Two further bedrooms | Bathrooms | Study | Cellar | Garden
Fulham Sales 020 7731 7100 fulham@struttandparker.com
Whittingstall Road, SW6
A well-presented, five bedroom house occupying approximately 2,777 sq ft, on this prime road moments from Parsons Green.
ÂŁ3,000,000 Freehold
2,777sq ft (258sq mt) EPC Rating D Drawing room | Kitchen | Dining room | Family room | Master bedroom with en suite bathroom | Further bedrooms with en suite bathroom | Three further bedrooms | Two further bathroom | Cloakroom | Garden
Fulham Sales 020 7730 7100 fulham@struttandparker.com
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Clonmel Road, SW6
A charming five bedroom family house occupying approximately 2,141 sq ft on this sought after street in Prime Parsons Green.
£1,250 per week Unfurnished
2,141sq ft (198sq mt) EPC rating F Double drawing room | Kitchen/dining room | Master bedroom with en suite bathroom | Four further bedrooms | Family bathroom | Shower room | Cellar | Paved garden
Fulham Lettings 020 7731 7100 fulham@struttandparker.com
*The following Tenant charges may apply prior to tenancy commencement: Tenancy Agreement £210 (inc VAT) Credit References per application £54 (inc VAT). All advertised prices are excluded and other associated services.
fulham Resident s Journal
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Where will we find your perfect buyer? At Strutt & Parker, we’ve always gone to great lengths to bring the right buyer to your door, using our knowledge, contacts and total commitment to achieve the sale you want. But now we go further than ever. As members in the Christie’s International Real Estate network, we can reach quality buyers in 41 countries via 920 offices and a website visited 135,600 times a month. There’s no better way to open your door to the world. We highly value your feedback: fulham@residentsjournal.co.uk or 020 7987 4320
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Fulham Resident’s Journal www. Re sI dent sJ ouRnA l . co. uk 02 0 79 87 43 20
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