On The Hill Magazine - April 2017 by On The Hill Magazine

News and information for Primrose Hill people

ISSUE 26 | April 2017

www.onthehill.info

In this issue: Gurinder Chadha on her new film Viceroy’s House, Nick Crane on The Making of the British Landscape and Richard McLaughlin’s Life in Music.

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Editor’s Letter

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Recycling Primrose Hill Laughs A Poem by Susan Greenhill

FOR SALE

Perhaps the owner doesn’t care, one day she may turn up and say – I’m no longer into wearing wings, prefer sexy underwear and bling, and anyway – it was one of a pair I bought on holiday in Bombay. Too hot to wear wings now it’s spring, and the splay’s not fashionable today.

Photo by Sarah Louise Ramsay

I’d left it on purpose under the chair Thought wouldn’t “Since they live in a street that gets twice as many collections,itthey surelybe noticed there, I would have recycled the useless thing won’t mind if we pile our rubbish outside their house.” But into which bin do I fling an old wing?

FOR SALE

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12.72mm

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HELPING YOU MOVE IN 2017 the recipe for his asparagus soup with wild mushrooms, poached egg and lardo. Our understanding of the everchanging us to Music market lovers enables have another price your property accurately, chance to attend the Primso you can rely on Knight Frank Hillmoving. Opera Cabaret at torose get you

Cecil Sharpto House June. Call us today arrange in your free marketare appraisal: Tickets on sale now. KnightFrank.co.uk/belsizepark The Community Centre is belsizepark@knightfrank.com hoping to safeguard its use for 020 8022 6087

another 25 years and plans to buy the lease; read how you can help.

@KnightFrank You’ll find plenty KnightFrank.co.uk

of events this month, plus local news, tips on legacy writing, and the challenge of a Primrose Hill sudoku.

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An angel wing, a tiny thing I found beneath the chair, no bigger than a small bee sting, or wisp of dormouse hair.

Showing now at cinemas I’m always surprised by the is Viceroy’s House, the recurring themes which land latest film by local director in my inbox. Earlier this year FOR SALEGurinder Chadha. It it was predictably Donald tells the story of India’s Trump. This month it has independence from British been – not so predictably rule and the subsequent – silent movies with piano Partition and formation of accompaniment. Richard East and West Pakistan. McLaughlin, featured this Nick Crane takes us back month, spent time as a even further than the age pianist for silent movies of the silent movie, in a geosuch as Nosferatu. In March graphical journey through the Film Club ran a Silent time. The Making of the Movie evening and screened British Landscape tells the The Signal Tower from story of how humans and 1924, with piano and flute climate change forged the played by Stephen Horne. FOR SALEstructure of our island. In a world accustomed to With a good book and film surround sound, this makes under your belt, you’ll need for an altogether gentler way sustenance too. Will Gordon, of watching a film. head chef at Odette’s, gives

Enjoy the spring!

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Preview The Team:

Subeditors: Brenda Stones, Vicki Hillyard

Contacts:

Editor: Maggie Chambers

Photographer: Sarah Louise Ramsay

Editorial: editor@onthehill.info

Editorial Group: Dick Bird, Doro Marden,

www.slrphotography.co.uk

Advertising: ads@onthehill.info

Phil Cowan, Pam White, David Lennon,

Primrose Hill Eats: Vicki Hillyard

Twitter: @onthehillinfo

Mole on the Hill, Micael Johnstone,

Design: Luke Skinner

Website: www.onthehill.info

Andrew Black

Cartoonist: Bridget Grosvenor

PHCA website: www.phca.cc

What’s On Editor: Dick Bird

Advertising Sales: Phil Cowan

Social Media and Website Editor:

Founding Editor: Janet Reuben

Jason Pittock

With special thanks to all our contributors.

Poem Recycling by Susan Greenhill

21 Primrose Hill Passions Judy Rich on legacy writing

Editor’s Letter and Preview

FOR the SALE ‘Only Piano Player...’ Richard McLaughlin’s Life in Music

Viceroy’s House Gurinder Chadha’s film on the Partition of India

22 Primrose Hill Eats Asparagus soup with wild mushrooms, FOR SALE FOR SALE poached eggs and lardo from Odette’s

11 Silent Movies at the Film Show The Signal Tower

This publication is created by the community and for the community of Primrose Hill on behalf of your local charity, the Primrose Hill Community Association (PHCA). We hope you enjoy it.

12 Primrose Hill People Nick Crane on his book, The Making of the British Landscape

PHCA Trustees Maureen Betts (Chair), Colin St Johnston (Treasurer), Valerie St Johnston (Vice Chair), Pat Callaghan, Marcela Cuneo, Claire Daglish, Alice Gray, Susan Hadley, Doro Marden, Jason Pittock, Stephen Vieira, Phil Cowan (Co-opt), Marijke Good (Co-opt), Lazzaro Pietragnoli (Co-opt), Gabriela Patel This magazine is printed on FSC registered paper. The trees used are sourced in an environmentally friendly, socially responsibly and economically viable manner.

16 What’s On Spring events in our area FOR SALE

26 Glyndebourne in Primrose Hill Primrose Hill Opera Cabaret at Cecil Sharp House 27 Yoga for Children Well-being for the younger generation 28 Marketplace Your guide to the neighbourhood

15 Sudoku

Disclaimer: the views in the magazine are not necessarily the views of the PHCA.

24 Primrose Hill News & Views All the local happenings

FOR SALE

30 Primrose Hill Laughs

FOR SALE

18 An Update on Primrose Hill Community Centre Fundraising to buy the lease 30 2

ISSN 20-6175

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AESTHETICS LAB PRIMROSE BAKERY 128 Regent’s Park Road, 69 Gloucester Avenue, NW1 8XL NW1 8LD 020 7722 5872 020 7483 4222 info@aestheticslab.co.uk hello@primrose-bakery.co.uk Playing the piano professionally proved a passport to the Mon 09.00–18.00 Mon–Sat 08.30–18.00 worlds of theatre, film and dance for Richard McLaughlin. Tues–Thurs 09.00–19.00, Sun 09.30–18.00 Fri 09.00–18.00, Sat 10.00–18.00 www.primrose-bakery.co.uk Eventually a resident at Compton Lodge, on the far side Sun 10.00–16.00 of Primrose Hill, he spoke readily ofODETTE’S luck and chance in a www.aestheticslab.co.uk 130 Regent’s Park Road, musical NW1 8XL NUYUvocation. LONDON 9 Princess Road, 020 7586 8569 8JN first public performances info@odettesprimrosehill.com FromNW1his during the war, 020 3204 2020 Tues–Fri 12.00–14.30, 18.00–22.00 playing in Hull’s milk bars at the age of ten, Richard’s career info@nuyulondon.co.uk Sat 12.00–15.00, 18.00–22.30 Tues–Weds 10.00–19.00 Sun 12.00–15.00, 18.00–21.30 culminated fifty years later in a star performance for Thurs–Fri 10.00–20.00 www.odettesprimrosehill.com Rostropovich at the Maltings in Suffolk. Sat 09.30–19.00 GREENBERRY CAFÉ 101 Regent’s Park Road, GARY INGHAM HAIRDRESSING His 150 training began at London’s Royal Academy of Music Regent’s Park Road, NW1 8UR NW1 8XN This was after being conscripted 020 7483 3765 into the Air in the 1950s. 020 7483 1000 info@greenberrycafe.co.uk Forceinfo@garyingham.com and sent to Hanover, where he Tues–Sat managed to work as an 09.00–22.00 Mon–Tues 10.00-19.30 Suncontinued and Mon 09.00–16.00 accompanist on German radio. He then his musical Wed 09.00 –19.30 www.greenberrycafe.co.uk studies McGill University in Montreal. Thursat- Fri 09.00–20.30 THE LANSDOWNE Sat 09.00–18.30 Gloucester BackSunin11.00–18.00 London, Richard started90work asAvenue, a rehearsal NW1 8HX www.garyingham.com pianist with musicals like Oklahoma South 0207 483 0409 and info@thelansdownepub.co.uk Pacific, then being staged in the West End. He played a Mon–Sat 12.00–23.00 Sunon 12.00–22.30 variety of light music, dance and opera liners cruising the www.thelansdownepub.co.uk

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Marketplace ‘Only the Piano Player...’ Richard McLaughlin

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FITZROY’S FLOWERS 77 Regent’s Park Road, NW1 8UY 020 7722 1066 his way back to Canada, staying there Richard found SWEET PEA Mon–Sat 09.00–18.30 for sixteen years. He accompanied77 Gloucester singers Avenue, touring the Sun 10.00–17.00 NW1 8LD www.fitzroys-of-primrosehill.com country and taught the piano. He decided to audition for 020 7449 9292 PRIMROSE Grande HILL DENTAL Ballet, playing Montreal’s Schumann as his mail@sweetpeajewellery.com 61a Regent’s Park Road, Mon–Fri 10.00–18.00 audition piece, and then toured Texas, New Orleans and NW1 8XD Sat 10.30–17.00 020 7722 0860with / 07845them. 0088 240 “It was www.sweetpeajewellery.com Philadelphia tricky working with primrose.dent@gmail.com dancers,” he Frisays. “Like them I had to be on my toes Mon, Weds, 09.00–17.00 KETURAH BROWN Tues, time Thurs 09.00–20.00 85 Regent’s Park Road,Grande all the because every day is different.” The Sat 09.00–13.00 NW1 8UY Ballet had an interesting repertoire of020 early folksongs 7586French 0512 ROSE & NORTH FINANCIAL keturahbrownltd@gmail.com brought to Canada and newly discovered in the archives. They PLANNING & WEALTH Mon–Fri 10.30–18.00, MANAGEMENT put on a stage version of Carmina Burana, and Richard wrote 7 hurs 10.30–18.30, 142 Gloucester Avenue, Sat Theatre 10.00–18.00, Sun 13.00–18.00 a ballet Trial Flight for Montreal Ballet. NW1called 8JA 0203 627 6297 ZOE AND MORGAN hello@roseandnorth.com 48 Chalcot Road, a chance When touring with the Grande Ballet ended, Mon–Fri 10.0017.00 NW1 8LS to accompany Liberace came up. “I finished the www.roseandnorth.com 020 7586 7419 personalshopper@zoeandmorgan.com tour GALLERY and Liberace needed somebody for a week,” he 196 on Fri 11.00–18.00, (orange door) explains. “I played offstage, behindSata 11.00–17.00 curtain. He had full 196 Regent’s Park Road, www.zoeandmorgan.com houses in Las Vegas, but not London.” However, Liberace’s NW1 8XP 020 7722 0438 professional approach won Richard’s respect. “His offstage info@gallery196.com personality completely different from onstage. He was a Open everywas day 10.00–18.30 www.gallery196.com good employer and paid well.”

Returning to London again, Richard played the piano for ANNA PRIMROSE HILL SURGERY both OldPark Vic and the National 99Theatre in the 126the Regent’s Road, Regent’s Park Road,1970s, in NW1 8XL NW1 8UR the days of Laurence Olivier: “I was lucky enough to see 020 7483 0411 020 7722 0038 Olivier at work. In one play byMon-Wed Priestley the rain fell anna@shopatanna.com 09.00–18.00 Mon–Sat 10.00–18.00, Thu 09.00– 12.30 constantly outside the window. Sir Laurence looked after the Sun 12.00–18.00 Fri 09.00– 18.00 rain-making machine, because he wanted the rain to look just www.shopatanna.com PRIMROSE HILL COMMUNITY right. He SHIFFER was full of anecdotes. LaterLIBRARY on, the company played PAMELA 75 Regent’s Park Road, Sharpleslived Hall Street, at the Brighton Playhouse. Sir Laurence in a Georgian NW1 8UY NW1 8YN crescent with the whole 020 7483 4483Joan Plowright. They had 020 7419 6599 company to 10.00–18.00 tea.Mon–Sat We saw his museum of costumesMon and10.00–18.00 props from Henry V Thu 10.00–19.00 Wed 13.00–19.00 andSun Richard III. It was all wigs, crowns, swords and sceptres.” 12.00–18.00 Fri 10.00–18.00 www.shop@pamelashiffer.com

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Richard was invited to play incidental music for the Royal PRIMROSE HILL COMMUNITY POST OFFICE 91 Regent’s Road, CENTRE Shakespeare Company after he was heardPark improvising in 29 Hopkinson’s Place NW1 8UT a bar. “They were at the AldwychMon–Sun Theatre. They gave me Fitzroy Road, 06:00–22:00 NW1 8TN a bike because I was at both the NT and RSC, so I could If you would like your business to appear 020 7586 8327 on these pages please contact: cycle across the river. I did Chekhov, Turgenev and Gogol, ads@onthehill.info all the Russian plays. The music was composed by Carl Davis, who wrote for them a lot. They put on Travesties, one of Stoppard’s first pieces. There were all kinds of actors about: Judy Dench and Donald Sinden had a big hit with a play called 5 29

Glyndebourne in Primrose Hill

He formed an ensemble called Cine Chimera and went on to play at the Everyman, BFI, Ritzy and Electric cinemas. They performed at a number of foreign festivals, including several times at Pordenone’s Silent Film Festival near Venice. “Silent films need appropriate music to Do you like hearing high-class professional young singers express everything from the love story to horror,” Richard says. performing well-known arias, duets and quartets to a high “The music has to encompass so much.” standard? Do you enjoy opera but sometimes find it rather They played for you theenjoy European silent classics like too serious? Would a sociable, light-hearted but very Potemkin, Nosferatu andout Metropolis. “I played a few reasonablyCaligari, priced operatic evening in Primrose Hill itself? If Hollywood too,” Richard explains. best the answer issilents yes, the Primrose Hill Opera“Sunrise Cabaretwas is forthe YOU! known.” Music played to the films made in the 1920s or 1930s For the last two years, the Primrose Hill Opera Cabaret has necessarily reflected the musical upheavals of that era. At a Buster performed to great applause at Cecil Sharp House. It starts Keaton festival in Cambridge, the music captured the tongueand finishes early on a Sunday evening, with an interval in-cheek, surprising, ironic and funny qualities of the films. allowing everyone to have a drink and to enjoy a picnic. Unlike at During the 1980s there iswas a collaboration withcode British Glyndebourne, the picnic inside. There is no dress and, artist, illustrator and children’s author, Kathleen Hale. even better, you do not have to make the very considerable effort Richard the picturebook Orlando, thethe Marmalade of gettingset to Glyndebourne and of back. This year Primrose Cat to music to raise money for Moot Hall in Aldeburgh. Hill Opera Cabaret is on Sunday 18 June, at Cecil Sharp House, “Kathleen took partand andfinishing her illustrations were screened. We did the starting at 6 pm by 8 pm. performance several times and it was well-received.”

Each year the programme includes a different selection of operatic numbers, accompanied on the piano. There are also changes in the singing line-up, with the aim of encouraging the best young singers. The evening is hosted by the multi-talented and highly amusing Adey Grummet, who introduces the singers and the music. At the end of the evening, after a short communal rehearsal, everyone gets the opportunity to sing Va Pensiero, the ‘Slaves’ Chorus’ from Verdi’s Nabucco. The Opera Cabaret, which is a cross between opera and music hall, was invented in Stoke Newington and has been run there successfully for twenty years by Farquhar McKay. It works so well there that I managed to persuade him to clone it in Primrose Hill, acting as local agent. Non-profit-making and self-financing, tickets are £22, or £20 each for a table of ten. The last two years we have run a raffle on the night on behalf of the Primrose Hill Community Library and have both times raised £1,000, with prizes generously supplied by local shops and businesses. We are also extremely grateful to Hamish Gilfeather, at our local branch of John D Wood, for sponsoring the cost of the hire of Cecil Sharp House. Richard in his youth

quickly. This makes the Opera Cabaret seem exclusive, Richard’s favourite era of silent films are stillSeating being enjoyed: which is the exact opposite of our intention. is either Primrose Hill tables Community Library’s film tables for March was on tables (long for twenty and round for ten) or The Signal Tower 1924, accompaniment round the edge of from the hall. We with hope piano you will want to come, dedicated Richard’s but pleasetobook early memory. to avoid disappointment. Individual tickets can be bought at www.operacabaret.org. Richard McLaughlin sadly passed away at the end of January, midway through preparing this article.

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Improvisational work through the 1980s resulted from Richard’s indignation at the taped music being played over silent films in Portobello Road’s Electric Cinema. “What are you doing here?” Richard cried to the manager. The manager’s response was “Can you do any better?” “So I did,” says Richard.

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London Assurance. Others like Ian McKellen, Ian Richardson and John Hurt to name but a few were in various productions. I was terribly lucky to be there and see them at work. relished ByI Martin the eight years with the company, for the flow of creative energy. Everyone had ideas, there were suggestions from all sides. The actors were working out their characters to make it believable.”

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27 7

Viceroy’s House Primrose Hill News & Views

communal riots had been deadly, the scale and level of brutality was unprecedented.”

By Jim Mulligan

Neither the British nor the newly formed governments were equipped to deal with the ensuing migrations and the violence and slaughter that occurred on both sides of the borders. Estimates of the number of deaths vary, with low estimates at 200,000 and high estimates at 2,000,000. Gurinder tells her story by means of upstairs‒downstairs relationships in the Viceroy’s house. Upstairs the Raj is serenely continuing its racist, domineering way; downstairs is seething with rivalry and discontent. The wider political picture is shown by archive footage.

imposed. The result was disastrous and led to the creation of East and West Pakistan, three wars between India and Pakistan, including the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, and the festering situation in Kashmir. “I had a choice, either to make a very detailed film about the history, which would have been a documentary; or to give a voice to the people you never hear and get as many people as possible to watch the film.” She includes a compelling love story that encapsulates the religious divide and family loyalties and culminates in the

“Post WW2 the view was that Britain and America were taking the map of the world and were deciding how they were going to control everything. The result was new borders and the ordinary people becoming migrants and victims and being criminalised in the process,” she says. The film makes much of the drawing of boundaries. In the timescale they were given, the diplomats had an impossible task, and especially the civil servant Cyril Radcliffe who was chair of the boundary committee. And then it transpired that all the negotiations were a Martin Sheppard’s talk on ‘Twenty Extraordinary waste of time because Churchill himself had drawn the Building Projects for Primrose Hill’ detailed proposals never boundaries, entirely in Britain’s self-interest, and these were constructed, as well as one demolished by a V2 bomb.

Open House

14.63mm 0.718mm Talk Show To Thethe firstEveryman Talk Show Cinema, was launched Belsize at Jacqueline Park forHouse a screening on the of Oldfield Viceroy’s Estate Houseinfollowed February.byOrganised a Q&A with by Central Primrose & Cecil Hill resident, in collaboration the film’s with director NorthGurinder London Chadha Cares and OBE. Primrose Hill Neighbours Help, the Talk Show included residents “Bend It Like Beckham has been the bane of my life,” says John Swords and Mike O’Hara. Gurinder. “Everyone wanted me to make the same film over ChrisandRobinson over again,from but I Central wanted toHead make Office a big epic was filma that charming wouldfront wowman the and public his and wifealso Sandrine tell the wasstory the perfect of the little hostess. girl Rachael whose aunt Dinnage died offrom starvation Central and&who Cecil lived went to be outmy of grandmother.” her way to attract such a diverse and appreciative audience. Helpers served cocktails and canapés ‒ a Viceroy’s House tells the story of Lord Mountbatten, the sophisticated change from ‘nibbles and a glass of wine’. last Viceroy of India, and the subsequent Partition of the colonised It set the subcontinent tone for whatin proved 1947. to be an intelligent and stimulating evening. The large audience was engaged from Gurinder believes that seventy years on from Partition, the start and asked lively questions. A chat show set of bright people do not know the history of the British Empire, that it orange sofas for the four contributors and a chair for the host, is not taught in schools (a view confirmed by a thirty-year-old Andy Duke, created a TV studio atmosphere. A professional Londoner who told me he had never once heard the Empire sound system and four excellent speakers made the evening mentioned throughout his education), and that in India and a night to remember ‒ in all, a great success. Other Talk Pakistan also people are unware of the history of Partition. Shows are being planned. So here is one version of the history... Margaret Liebbrandt 24 8

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The By annual 1945 Britain Race forwas Lifeweakened event takesbyplace WW2 in Regent’s and forced Park on to 27acknowledge May. The 10 kmthat run (orIndian stroll) raises independence money for Cancer was Research inevitable.UK. Decades Womenofarepolitical invited to struggle sign up were for thepaying event off by visiting for India. raceforlife.org The leaders of opposition to imperial rule were Jawaharlal Nehru of the National Congress Party, Muhammad Ali Jinnah of the Muslim League and Mahatma Gandhi. They had all served terms in British jails. Nehru and Gandhi believed that in an independent India all religions could live together as citizens; Jinnah believed that Muslims would never be treated fairly in a united India and that they should have their own independent state. In the months prior to independence, civil unrest, riots and violence were increasing, and Lord Mountbatten panicked. No wonder. Historians Ian Talbot and Gurharpal Singh wrote in The Partition of India: “There are numerous eyewitness accounts of the maiming and mutilation of victims. The catalogue of horrors includes the disembowelling of pregnant women, the slamming of babies’ heads against brick walls, the cutting off of victims’ limbs and genitalia Bulbs have andbeen the display plantedofinheads Chalcot and corpses. Square.While Springprevious is here!

Bulb Planting

In 1848 the first gymnasium purpose-built for public use in Britain was to be located on the Hill. A national memorial to the victory of Waterloo and a 94-storeyed pyramid, complete with observatory, were among other Victorian plans. Both The War of the Worlds and The Invisible Man made use of the Hill. HG Wells had Martians land in Surrey and Primrose Hill, in The War of the Worlds, published in 1898. The Martians later retreat to the Hill and build a giant flying machine in order to conquer Earth. Jack Griffin, hero of The Invisible Man, spent a day on the Hill before he turned invisible.

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Accounts of the heritage and history of the area always draw a large crowd, and ‘Twenty Extraordinary Building Projects for Primrose Hill’ filled the hall. Tracey Mitchell

Police Raids

Help Needed

Police have carried out a series of raids in Primrose Hill in an attempt to target dealers who trade in heroin and crack cocaine. Battering rams were used by the police to gain entry to three houses on 24 February. A sniffer dog called Indie helped with the search, which uncovered over £5,000 of drugs. Complaints had been received about dealers operating in the area around Fitzroy Road. Six people were arrested.

Do you work in Marketing or PR? St Mary’s Youthwork needs your expertise: ideally this would be 2-4 hours to work on our Marketing Plan for this upcoming year. For further information, visit our website at www.stmaryscct.com or watch our video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy_0fs7Gfko For further information, please email maryjanerf@icloud.com

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A V2 landed on a tearoom causing minor casualties on Wednesday 21 March 1945. Eleven years later Claire Winston, a sculptor and neighbour of George Bernard Shaw, suggested Kerry Monteen Bend It Films / Pathe a work in tribute to the people who protected the Hill when aflame. “I was there when the bombs dropped and we saw the flames of London from the Hill,” she wrote.

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notorious massacre of all the Muslims on a train making its way to Pakistan.

been betrayed. English friends say Britain got off very lightly in the film, but they are determined to learn more about what happened.”

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“Immediately after editing Viceroy’s House I made a documentary on Partition which will be on BBC soon. It is obviously impossible to make a film like this without People in India don’t know this history. It is new to them. offending whole communities. But the film is what it is: an Photo byPakistani Sarah Louise Ramsay Young people come out of the film and sob. They attempt to entertain people, involve them, engage them and had not realised the sacrifices people made to achieve make them aware of their history so that they can go out Celebrateutopian Eastervision the Odette’s way, making freshest, Ingredients (serves 4) Jinnah’s of a secular society thatthe hadmost good of theand learn more for themselves. well-sourced ingredients and adapting to the seasons. • 6 bunches asparagus (reserve 2 relationships with everyone. They realise that visionThis has colourful starter Viceroy’s House is out now at cinemas maximises the delicacy of new-season asparagus and embraces the spirit of spears for garnish) Easter with its poached egg adornment. • 4 Burford Brown eggs • 1 white onion, finely chopped Burford Brown eggs are readily available and have particularly striking yolks. • 50 ml cider vinegar Ask your butcher or local deli to slice the lardo; if you can’t find lardo, thinly • 200 g butter sliced pancetta is a good alternative. • 1 litre cold water, plus a bowl of iced water • 250 g button mushrooms • 250 g wild mushrooms (girolles or chanterelles if possible) • 100 ml cream • 50 g panko breadcrumbs • 4 large, very thinly sliced pieces of lardo • Juice of 1 lemon • Vegetable oil • Salt and pepper to taste

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PASSIONATE ABOUT ART

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Kerry Monteen Bend It Films / Pathe

Method And to drink… Chop the asparagus into evenly sized to taste and set to one side (it needs Nicolas recommend the following By Colin Ludlow pieces. Cook in boiling salted water to keep warm). white wines. Both are notable for for 6 minutes, and then immediately their freshness and acidity, which Heat a frying pan to a high heat and transfer into iced water. complement the powerful green of After an unscheduled winter break while the floor therest library addofthe of the butter. When it the asparagus. Expect grassy, mineral was being there to resumed Melt half repaired, the butterthe in monthly a frying film pan showsstarts foam and turn brown add and lemony notes with a long finish in on 7soft March andtriumphant sweat the fashion onion until and with an the exhilarating panko breadcrumbs and stir and a hint of green peas. evening of early silent movies. A packed and enthusiastic transparent (it should not colour). constantly until the breadcrumbs are audience enjoyed excitements The Great Train Robbery, Pour in the cider the vinegar and boiloffor golden brown. Strain out the butter Sancerre Les Champs Clos (2015), was made in 1903, and a full-length action drama 1which minute. and set aside the breadcrumbs. 12.5%, £20 entitled The Signal Tower (1924). Add the cold water and cooked Fill a large pan with water and bring to Quincy Pierre Duret (2015), The programme was in selected introduced by the celebrated asparagus and blend a foodand processor a simmer. Add the vinegar and crack 13%, £16.60 film historian and restorer, Brownlow, whoeggs. usedSimmer to for roughly 5 minutes untilKevin it makes in the for 1½ minutes www.odettesprimrosehill.com hissmooth company, Photoplay from arun nice, soup. Season Productions, with salt untilpremises poached.in www.nicolas.co.uk Princess Road. KevinSet won an Honorary Academy Award and pepper to taste. aside in the Thinly slice the remaining 2 spears of (See Marketplace for more details.) in 2010quickly, for his role in film and fridge to preserve the cinema colour. history preservation, asparagus and dress in the lemon juice. and his passion for early cinema proved both captivating and Cut the button mushrooms into infectious. He provided a wealth of fascinating information Reheat the soup. To plate up, spoon a quarters and the wild mushrooms about both films. portion of the warm mushroom mix into even sizes. Heat the vegetable into each bowl, then place a poached The Great onebutton of the earliest film dramas oil in a hotTrain pan,Robbery then addis the egg on top. Drape sliced lardo over the ever made and accused its release of provoking a mushrooms andwas cook until on golden egg so that it melts, and pour some wave of copycat crimes. Although shot in black and white, brown. of the hot asparagus soup to the side. the remarkably high-quality print used for the screening Add the wild mushrooms and cook Finish with the crispy breadcrumbs featured wonderful hand-tinted sequences which literally for 2 mins. Add the cream, bring to and sliced raw asparagus. exploded into colour. the boil, season with salt and pepper This was no more than a curtain-raiser, however, for the main film of the evening, which demonstrated the huge advance in story-telling techniques during the intervening twenty years. The Signal Tower featured spectacular train The richness of the evening would not have been footage, intercutting narratives and an array of marvellous complete, however, without the superb piano (and flute) performances from the leading players. accompaniment of Stephen Horne. More used to performing at the Barbican cinema or film festivals around the world, Although made in Hollywood, it received its world premiere Stephen did not stint his efforts for our modest neighbourhood in London, and Kevin gave a compelling account of both venue. His varied and responsive improvisations provided a this and the extraordinary lengths to which he had to go heart-thumping sense of tension and drama throughout the in order to obtain (and preserve) the print of the film that film’s relentless 20-minute climax. Afterwards he commented he was showing. This was intriguingly tinted – black and that his fingers were a little stiff from the pounding he had yellow for daylit sequences, black and blue for night ones given them, but added that it was enormously gratifying to – and remarkably modern in the chilling, sexual threat of play to such a full and appreciative house. its dénouement, with Wallace Beery exuding a terrifying sense of menace that seemed to anticipate the antics of Jack The evening was the first time that the library screenings Nicholson in The Shining. The range of emotional tones and had featured a silent movie, but at the end of a fascinating mixture of action, humour and romance were deftly handled and immensely enjoyable evening people seemed to agree by the director Clarence Brown, who went on to become that it ought not to be the last. Greta Garbo’s favourite silent director.

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Asparagus soup with wild mushrooms, poached egg and lardo

Silent Movies at the Film Show

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Primrose Hill Eats

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64 Belsize Lane, London NW3 5BJ

Wed - Fri: 11am - 6.30pm, Sat: 10am - 6pm, Sun: 10am - 4pm (also by appointment)

Eduardo Paolozzi, Blueprint for a New Museum D320 (variation); lithograph with screenprinting, signed

t: 020 7443 5990 e: info@sylvesterfineart.co.uk www.sylvesterfineart.co.uk

Eduardo Paolozzi, Jazz; silkscreen, signed

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The Rump of Doggerland. Sandbanks, off the coast of North Norfolk

According to the Daily Mail, Nicholas Crane, co-presenter of Coast and prize-winning author, is a ‘national treasure’. He modestly assures me that they haven’t always been so complimentary towards him. I meet Nick to talk about his masterwork of a book: The Making of the British Landscape. It is the story of how humans have shaped our habitat and how it has shaped us in the course of twelve millennia. It is a story of immigration, global warming, destruction and rebuilding which we would do well to heed today.

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The morning we meet is white with frost and Nick was just back from the top of Primrose Hill, which is how he starts his day. “Standing there in

Nichols Crane

the frost it isn’t difficult to imagine going back 12 millennia. The view is topographically unchanged in terms of hill and valley. To see how it looked 12,000 years ago, replace the modern,

its banks and flooded the North By Doro Marden Nick moved to Primrose Hill in 1991, Nick what he thinks the future Atlantic with chilled water. but he already had a connection here. might hold for us in terms of global Temperatures in this part of In the 1880s and 1890s, his greatwarming. “Collectively, we’re believe Europe fell by 5°, sea“Ilevels rosewe andcasual writers enjoy the sheer pleasure of grandparents lived in Belsize burying our heads in the sand and creatively putting words on paper and telling our stories. ecosystems shut down. “A global Park. When she was a girl, Nick’s need to address climate change. Writing ofismiles also healing and writing our tragedies is as chilling aftershock thousands grandmother walked from Belsize It can be abrupt. We now have important as writing our pleasures. People seem to think that away had changed the shape and nature Avenue to St Paul’s Girls school warming oceans, melting ice, need to be a whole autobiography, but it doesn’t have of Britain in a matter memoirs of months.” in Hammersmith. Her route took rising sea-levels. Weather patterns are to be that way, episodic writing works fine. her over Primrose Hill where she’d One autumn day around 200 years later tending to become more extreme.” “Discovering the joy of writing Ied me to do a degree course, pass Percy Dearmer (the vicar a tremor in the earth’s crust released Landscapes, our human habitat, will Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes. I did my of St Mary’s who produced The a huge tract of seabed debris which be bound to change, too. Nick on legacy writing. Obviously, you can keep English Hymnal with Ralph caused a giant tsunamidissertation to cascade over believes we need to approach writingand to yourself, but I have reached the age when Vaughan Williams) tossing back Britain, starting in theyour Shetlands Photo by Sarah Louise Ramsay climate change in three ways: I think what I want to leave behind; what do I want his scarf in the wind. “There was a crashing on down through the about country. urgently reduce emissions, and think my descendants of homing instinct in People living by the coast in northern and friends to know about me? My pieces Icertain talked amount to long time Primrose Hill resident Judy Rich sitting about adaptive, resilient communities frommet the with past ten in her bayhere”. window looking over Chalcot Square. Judywould arrivedhave been moving Britain a years were scattered in notebooks and my and low-carbon economies. computer. I didn’t want them to be lost. in London in 1974 and founded, then ran, the fashion wall chainof water 20-metre which swept Nick first bought a house in Eglon Long Tall Sally for three decades. Since selling ten years awayupentire communities in its wake. “So I am sifting through my writing and bringing it together Mews, but after he married Annabel ago she has worked as a life coach. in aDoggerland, big yellow ring-binder I call my ‘legacy’ file, titled ‘Rich Huxley and had two of their three The ancient plain of Pickings’.to Stories “I’ve loved they beingmoved a life coach and helping to access their children, to Berkley Road. people which connected Britain the of my life are arranged chronologically ratherrising than bysea the dates when I wrote them. There are stories dreams.was It isa guy so rewarding to seejobs them “There who did odd in finding resta life of purpose Europe, faced my childhood, and fulfilment stage of life.had Primrose Hill atatevery the time who levels and its dwellersofmoved west to my teenage years, my parents, and reflective I call ‘turning points’ – for example, discovering a milk float, so I hired it for the day safety. The plain pieces had which become “But my other passion is writing. I discovered it when a friend my feminist self, meeting my husband, and having a and moved everything over.” When little more than a precarious bridge took me to a reading in Highgate, ten people presenting their cancer diagnosis. he’d finished the move, Nick realised connecting Britain to Europe. As own writing. I can still remember the thrill: everybody has a he’d probably never have the chance the temperatures continued to rise, “The dissertation required a more academic style, but now story, and everybody can tell their own story, I was hooked! to drive a milk float again, so he took the North Sea and the Channel I have returned to writing creatively and am enjoying I love writing in groups, being inspired by other people and it on a tour of Primrose Hill. finally met, the isthmus was ruptured, being in two life writing groups. I always say, ‘if I can do it, being in a safe, confidential space where everyone comes with Snowdonia National Park and Britain, for the first time in its anyone can!’” the same intention. The Making of the British Landscape is peppered with dramatic climate changes which sculpted the geography of our island. Britain was connected to mainland Europe 12,000 years ago. Around 9700 BC temperatures rose, the ice melted and the tundra transformed into woodland. People became ‘woodland dwellers’ making tools from stone and hunting deer and boar.

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Pop in for a free Hair Thickening Ritual, Free Consultation & a Free Relaxing Hand Massage!

Britain’s narrative and so is the challenge to provide affordable housing in the right places.

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Naturally beautiful hair is just around the corner...210.0 x 297.0mm

To highlight Hill how globally interhistory (but not the last), was cut adrift Primrose Passions connected we are, in around 6200 BC from the rest of Europe. a vast lake in North America burstWriting Judy Rich on Legacy All of this is scary stuff and I ask

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By Maggie Chambers

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Primrose Hill People Nick Crane

artificial landscape with tundra. By 10,000 years ago, it would have been a tree filled valley. By 5,000 years ago the woodland was mixed with clearings and spirals of wood smoke”. The hill itself is natural and with neighbouring Barrow Hill has been a vantage point for thousands of years. Although ‘barrow’ is normally taken as a reference to a burial mound, it’s also the Old English word for a place by a wood or grove. The people who first Park permanently 150 Regents Road, settled these hillslopes chose well. Primrose Hill, They are south-facing slopes, so warm, NW1 8SN sunny and a pleasant place to farm. 1000 Barrow Hill has 020 been 7483 decapitated by the reservoir and its slopes filled with blocks of flats. The battle between town and country is central to

Primrose Hill • Hampstead • St Johns Wood Book online at garyingham.com

Around 6700 BC a ‘little Ice Age’ hit Britain and bleak centuries of cold, stormy winters resulted. Trees died, sea levels flooded the rivers, the growing season was shortened and our landscape changed again. Today’s Primrose Hill

In the 1970s a campaign by Primrose Hill residents to stop the demolition of the Piano Factory in Fitzroy Road resulted in Camden Council buying the building and converting it into flats. The Council offered to renovate the old machine shop on the factory site if a group of local volunteers emerged to organise activities. In 1978 Given that Nick is an expert on Roman fort on Hardknott Pass, Lake community District the PHCA was formed, and in 1980 it moved into the Centre. Britain, having travelled to every Climate had gone part way to undesirables entering the park, Nash corner for his books and the Since then the Centre hasandbeen minimised in daily the use, creating the landscape of Britain, number of bridges over programmes Coast and Town, I ask providing space at all times of the the growing population followed suit.day and the evening, canal. for where he would most like to live in educational, children’s and byleisure Further immigrants arrived boat. activities, and for The development of Regent’s Park Britain. The answer: “Here in Primrose privatewere hire. The PHCA is built a registered charity. Its These the ‘house people’ who brought this part of London into Hill. Nowhere else comes remotely influence extends beyond the Centre, originally organising the rectangular houses and began to leave contact with Regent’s Street and the close. I’ve never lived in such a Fireworks on the Hill, the Summer Fair (this year will be the traces on the landscape. West End. Primrose Hill became warm community.” 40th!), a Lunch Club in the Oldfield Estate, the On The Hill When the Romans invaded Britain in more mapped and part of the magazine, and the successful 2012 campaign to save AD 43, Emperor Claudius brought with greater conurbation. Most significant the Library. him ‘an army of psychopathic builders’ for our neighbourhood was the For Britain most of the past24forty has of given a and developed majoryears towns.Camden coming the railway, which stamped grantNormans to PHCA, recognising that its the activities were Revolution on our The created another urban Industrial has all and financial support been withdrawn, but instead of benefit to local and were landscape. managed more boom, followed by residents another freeze, Tunnels,only bridges Camden is now imposing a rent for PHCA’s use of the appropriately, more than by the Council. The agewere built rains, faminesand and thecheaply, Black Death. embankments to overcome Centre building. This year’s rent is £22,000 and this is of austerity, andleft the dramatic reduction of local Villages were abandoned and in funding the ‘unhelpful undulations of Britain’s anticipated to rise to over £40,000 per annum following a government central government, meant that not farming was by neglected. Fast forward have landscape’. in time and canals, bridges and docks After the Second World War, 14 were constructed. million tons of debris had to be cleared. By 1800 London was the largest Much of it was used for rebuilding, city there had ever been in the but the unusable waste was taken to world. In the previous 60 years the dumps, including the northern part ancient hedgerows and field paths of Regent’s Park (where it appears in bordering Oxford Street had been dry summers) and the Cumberland developed. Between Primrose Hill and Basin on the canal, which is now the Kilburn was open country. South of zoo cark park. Primrose Hill was a valuable area of Nick finds it hard to walk round farmland, Marylebone Park. In 1811 London without being moved by the the lease for the farm ended and landscape. “It’s an unbelievably rich architect-turned-planner John Nash landscape, with the capacity to help won a competition for how best to you time travel to any period. It all develop the land. His scheme was to has stories to tell.” create a park with trees, a lake and Nicholas’ book ‘The Making of the grand terraces. The northern edge The reason why Nick wrote the book British Landscape’ is available now was to have a new canal. To prevent was to create a fresh narrative of

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Sudoku

Use the letters of Primrose Hill instead of the numbers 1-9. The name Primrose Hill contains nine different letters as three are repeated. Fill the grid so that each row, column and 3 × 3 box contains these nine different letters.

P R I M R O S E H L L M

H L

revaluation in five years. The new charge of rent threatens to put PHCA into a loss-making position each year. L

who has spent many hours redrafting clauses and negotiating Ha lease that the PHCA Trustees could I accept.” O

So, after several years of difficult negotiations, an offer has been made and the PHCA Management Committee has I welcomed this opportunity to buy out a 25-year lease as a way of ensuring a future for the Community Centre. PHCA’s O Honorary Treasurer, Colin St Johnston, who has been leading the negotiations with Camden for several years, has thanked Councillors Callaghan, Pietragnoli and Cotton, Council officers and others for the support so far.

This just leaves the small matter of a large sum to find before the end ofO2017. PHCA is now and S looking with imagination E ingenuity at ways to source the funding. Any residents with advice, experience or of course a spare quarter of a million P are asked to contact Colin St Johnston on 020 7722 5932 or Dick Bird on 020 7722 1649.

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“We are particularly indebted to local solicitor Francis Katz, who has been acting for the PHCA in a pro bono capacity, and

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The prize – of ensuring the continuation of the Centre, which has been the anchor of Primrose Hill’s neighbourly atmosphere for 40 years – is substantial, virtually determining the nature of what ‘community’ means in Primrose Hill in future years.

Primrose Hill Lectures 2017 If you’ve experienced back pain, the one thing you want is to never have it again! This Spring, Garry Trainer Clinic launches ‘The Back Maintenance Massage’. A massage specifically designed for optimum back health.

7 June

14 June

21 June

Democracy

in Daily Life

Politics of Flags

The Clinic is offering an introductory offer of 20% off your first Andrew Marr on Louise Chester Tim Marshall on treatment. Simply bring in your copy of On The Hill at the time of Reflections on on Mindfulness the Power and treatment to obtain your discount.

Lectures run from 7 to 8pm including Q&A. Bookselling follows. The bar opens at 6.30pm.

28 June John Mullan on What Matters in Jane Austen?

5 July Deborah Moggach on Adventures in the Screen Trade

Tickets and further information: www.stmarysprimrosehill.com Tickets £12 per event and £50 for the series. Proceeds go to St Mary’s outreach work to provide for our disadvantaged youth, the elderly and a cold weather shelter for the homeless. The centre of excellence in London for the treatment of back pain and injuries

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historical events, rather than geographical evolution. But that only goes back 2,000 years. You struggle to find any narrative which fills in the missing 10,000 years. The only story which makes any sense is the one which starts before humans came and then the influx of people from all parts. Cultural diversity is fascinating and part of living in one of the world’s most interesting islands.”

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and its habitat, one not told An Update on PrimroseBritain Hill through events of kings and queens and Community Centrebattles. “Modern politics is based on

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What’s On SATURDAY 1 Councillor’s Surgery PHCL. 11am. No appointments needed. Contact: 020 7419 6599 Imagine Concert by Primrose Hill Choirs: Community Choir, Children’s Choir and Singers. Musical Director: Matthew Watts. Folksongs from Great Britain, Macedonia and Israel, incl. Blackbird (Beatles), Imagine, The Rhythm of Life, We’ll Gather Lilacs and more. St Mary’s Church, NW3 3DJ. 6–7.30pm. Tickets on door: adults £10, concessions £8, under 13s free. primrosehillchoirs.com SUNDAY 2 Passion Sunday Sung Eucharist at St Mark’s Church, with Passion Play. 10.30am. Spring Yoga Workshop Stretch, strengthen and relax the body and calm the mind before enjoying yummy, healthy snacks. PHCC. 4–6pm. £26. Contact: carolineshawyoga@ gmail.com www.carolineshawyoga.com TUESDAY 4 Film Night at the Library Of Gods and Men (2011), Grand Prix Winner at Cannes 2010, directed by Xavier Beauvois, introduced by William Gulliford, Vicar of St Mark’s. PHCL. 7.30pm. £8 in cash, includes glass of wine. Tickets on door or in advance from PHCL.

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WEDNESDAY 5 Tech Teaparty ‘Recommend Me’ invite you to a Tech Teaparty to learn how to access local events, activities and services. PHCC. 2pm. Free. Annual Parochial Church Meeting For St Mark’s Church. 7pm. Evening Open House Talk by David Merron about being evacuated from the East End during WW2, from his book Goodbye East End: An Evacuee’s Story, followed by refreshments. PHCC. 7.15–9.15pm. Free. SATURDAY 8 Playday for amateur musicians Sinan Kadifachi coaches and conducts Schubert, Quartet in D Minor, ‘Death and the Maiden’. PHCC. 12 noon through to free concert at 5pm. £25 including lunch. Contact: sueandhercello@gmail.com

Easter Bingo for Over 60s Hosted by sixth-formers at Haverstock School, 24 Haverstock Hill. 2pm. 50p, or £3 for six games. Free refreshments and raffle. Contact Nikki: 020 7424 8366 SUNDAY 9 Palm Sunday Joint service, St Mark’s and St Mary’s, at St Mary’s at 10.30am, starting with procession from the Hill. For details, tel. 020 485 6340 MONDAY 10 Orphic Myth and Platonic Philosophy Informal talk and readings from Platonic writings; details from www.prometheustrust.co.uk. Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent’s Park Road, NW1 7AY. 7.30–9.15pm, and other Mondays. Free, but donations welcome. WEDNESDAY 12 Wrong Place, Wrong Time David Perimutter on turning true life experiences into a novel. PHCC. 2pm. Free. THURSDAY 13 Meditation Yoga Yoga with Ellen Emmet. PHCL. 6.30–8pm. Free. Contact: ellenemmet@outlook.com

FRIDAY 21 Councillor’s Surgery PHCC. 6.30–7.30pm. No appointments needed. WEDNESDAY 26 Charade The 1963 romantic comedy/mystery film, shot in Paris, and starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. PHCC. 2pm. Free. THURSDAY 27 Meditation Yoga Yoga with Ellen Emmet. PHCL. 6.30–8pm. Free. Contact: ellenemmet@outlook.com Library Book Club Details of this month’s book at www.phcl.org. PHCL. 6.45–8.30pm. Free. Contact: events@phcl.org MAY TUESDAY 2 Film Night at the Library Billy Liar (1963), starring Tom Courtenay and Julie Christie, directed by John Schlesinger. PHCL. 7.30pm. Tickets £8, include glass of wine, in cash, in advance at PHCL, or on the door.

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FRIDAY 14 Good Friday Services St Mark’s Church. 10am, for children; 12 noon, Stations of the Cross; 1.30pm, Solemn Liturgy of the Day. SUNDAY 16 Easter Day Service Sung Eucharist at St Mark’s Church, 10.30am. TUESDAY 18 Open Mic Perform or listen. PHCL. 7pm. Free. Contact: 020 7419 6599 WEDNESDAY 19 The Victorian Working Horse A talk by local resident Peter Darley of the Camden Railway Heritage Trust. PHCC. 2pm. Free. Wrong Place, Wrong Time Repeat of David Perimutter’s talk on turning true-life experience into a novel. PHCC. 7.15pm–9.15pm. Free. Details of this and subsequent Evening Open House events from PHCA office: 020 7586 8327

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Top of the Hill Quiz 2017 Its back! For a 14th successive year! The famous fun quiz evening with a mixture of taxing questions and silly ones. PHCC. 7pm for 7.30pm start. £10 includes a glass of wine. Recruit a table of up to eight neighbours, or just come yourself and join in with a team. Numbers are limited. Contact: 020 7586 8327 JUNE SATURDAY 10 Summer Fair 10th annual Summer Fair in Chalcot Square, organised by PHCA. Volunteers needed, please ring 020 7586 8327. 1.30–5pm.

REGULAR EVENTS FOR THE GROWING

THURSDAY

MONDAY Ready Steady Go ABC For babies and toddlers, 0–15 months. Exploratory play, music, singing, dance and stories. PHCC. 9.45–10.45am (0–6 months); 11.15am–12.15pm (6–15 months). Contact: 020 7586 5862 Circus Glory Trapeze for age 3–12 years. PHCC. 3–6.30pm. Contact: Genevieve gmonastesse@googlemail.com 0797 345 1603 Rhyme Time Rhyme Time for Under 5s. PHCL. 10.30–11.15am. Suggested £2 donation. Contact: 020 7419 6599 Homework Club Do your homework in the Library with a qualified teacher. PHCL. 4–6pm. Free. Contact 020 7419 6599 TUESDAY Monkey Music Music and play for under 5s. PHCC. 9.30–11.30am. Classes £11. Contact Alex: 020 8451 7626 Hartbeeps Baby Sensory PHCC. 1.30–5.15pm. Classes £8. Contact Clare: 0752 868 8734 Music and Rhyme Time for the Under 4s Drop-in sessions. PHCC. 4.30–5pm. £1. Contact PHCC office: 020 7586 8327

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WEDNESDAY Circus Glory Trapeze for ages 3–12. PHCC. 2.30–6.30pm. Contact: Genevieve gmonastesse@googlemail.com 0797 345 1603 Homework Club Do your homework in the Library with a qualified teacher. PHCL. 4–6pm. Free. Contact 020 7419 6599 Primrose Hill Children’s Choir Fun songs and games, for ages 4–11. St Mary’s Church, NW3. 4–5pm. First time free, then £8 per week. Info at www.primrosehillchoirs.com All-ages Chess Club Join us for a game of chess. PHCL. 6.30pm. Free. Contact a.bruce@pardesgrammar.co.uk 07830 107 477

Mini Mozart Musical story time for children. PHCL. 9.30am. Contact hello@minimozart.com Ready Steady Go ABC For toddlers, 12–18 months. Exploratory play, music, singing, dance and stories. PHCC. 9.45–10.45am. Contact: 020 7586 5862 Mini Mozart for Babies Musical story time for children. PHCL. 10.15am. Contact hello@minimozart.com Pilates Pilates for mothers and babies. PHCL. 11am. Contact pilateswithpaulette@gmail.com Drop-in for Under 4s Drop in and take part in a variety of activities. PHCC. 11.15am–1pm. £2.50 to include snack, tea and coffee for mums. Contact PHCC office: 020 7586 8327 Baby Yoga Nourishing, relaxing yoga classes for babies aged 3 months to crawling. PHCL. 1.45–2.45pm. £8 drop in, £35 for 5 classes. Contact info@tarasabiyoga.com Catherine’s Ballet, Chalk Farm School of Dance for Under 5s Ballet classes at PHCC. 4–5pm. www.chalkfarmschoolofdance.co.uk info@chalkfarmschoolofdance.co.uk First Class Learning English and Maths tuition. PHCL. 3.30– 6.30pm. Contact: primrosehill@firstclasslearning.co.uk. Music and Rhyme Time for Under 4s Drop-in at PHCC. 4.30–5pm. £1. Contact PHCC office: 020 7586 8327 FRIDAY Mothers’ Mornings Meet other mothers while your children play. PHCL. 10.30–11.30am. Free. Contact: 020 7419 6599. Circus Glory Trapeze for ages 3–12. PHCC. 2.30–6.30pm. Contact: Genevieve gmonastesse@googlemail.com 0797 345 1603 Funky Dance Classes Ages 4–16. PHCC. 4–6.45pm. Contact: Juliet 0797 191 6174 www.pittapattadance.co.uk Juliet@pittapattadance.co.uk SUNDAY Perform Drama, dance and singing for ages 4–7. PHCC. 9.30am–1pm. Contact: 020 7209 3805

REGULAR EVENTS FOR THE GROWN MONDAY ACOL Bridge Club PHCC. 1.45–3.45pm. £3. Contact Maureen Betts: 0791 944 4187 Circus Glory: Trapeze for Adults All levels welcome. PHCC. 1.30–2.45pm. Contact: Genevieve gmonastesse@googlemail.com 0797 345 1603 Neighbourhood Information Centre Drop-in advice centre. PHCL. 2–4pm. Free. Contact: 020 7419 6599 Chilled Strings Small amateur string chamber orchestra, guided by professional tutor Kwesi Edman. PHCC. 6.30–8.45pm. £10 for each evening. Contact: sueandhercello@gmail.com Bridge Class Join us for a game of bridge. PHCL. 6.30pm. Contact: jojarrold@gmail.com Primrose Hill Community Choir Love to sing? Try us out! All welcome. PHCC. 7.30–9.30pm. £5. Hear us and details: Contact Matthew: 0781 723 4925 www.primrosehillchoirs.com TUESDAY

Laban Movement Workshop For those interested in practising and exploring Rudolf Laban’s Scales and Efforts. PHCC.12noon–1pm. £10. Contact: jennyfrankel.laban@gmail.com 07970 536 643 WEDNESDAY Circus Glory: Trapeze for Adults All levels welcome. PHCC. 1.15–2.15pm. Contact: Genevieve gmonastesse@googlemail.com 0797 345 1603 Feldenkrais Gentle movement using the Feldenkrais method. PHCC. 6–7pm. Free. Contact PHCC office: 020 7586 8327 Open House A regular activity (film, talk, performance) followed by tea, cake and chat. PHCC. 2pm. Free. Contact PHCC office: 020 7586 8327

Circus Glory: Trapeze for Adults All levels welcome. PHCC. 1.30–2.45pm. Contact: Genevieve gmonastesse@googlemail.com 0797 345 1603 Thunderclap – varied dance themes PHCC. 7.30–9.30pm. Free, just drop in. Contact PHCC office: 020 7586 8327 SATURDAY Primrose Hill Market St Paul’s School playground, Elsworthy Road, NW3. 10am–3pm. Contact: www. primrosehillmarket.com. SUNDAY Hopkinson’s Bar Meet for a drink with your neighbours. All welcome. PHCC. 12 noon–2pm. Contact PHCC office: 020 7586 8327

All-ages Chess Club Join us for a game of chess. PHCL. 6.30pm. Free. Contact a.bruce@pardesgrammar.co.uk 07830 107 477 THURSDAY Gentle Pilates Gentle but effective pilates class. PHCL. 12.30–1.30pm. £10 per session. Contact: annie@mactherapy.org

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Dynamic Pilates Pilates class. PHCL. 9am and 10.15am. £12 per class, £100 for 10 classes. Contact: lizacawthorn@gmail.com Gentle Pilates Pilates class. PHCL. 11.30am. £12 per class, £100 for 10 classes. Contact: lizacawthorn@gmail.com ESOL Class Learn English. PHCL. 12noon–1.30pm. Free. Contact: mclairebennett@gmail.com Keep Fit for the Over 60s PHCC. 3–4pm. Free. Contact PHCC office: 020 7586 8327 Hatha Yoga PHCC. 1.30–2.30pm. Drop-in £11; 5 classes £50; 10 classes £90. Contact: emma.lecoeur@gmail.com 0780 855 3599 General Yoga PHCC. 6.30–8pm. Contact Catriona: cat.b1@blueyonder.co.uk 020 7267 5675

Narcotics Anonymous. PHCC. 1.30–3.45pm. Free. Primrose Hill Yoga Strengthen, stretch, relax and reenergise. PHCC. 5.30–6.30pm. £11 drop-in; £40 for series; student and unemployed discount available. Contact: carolineshawyoga@gmail.com Yoga for Seniors PHCC. 7–8pm. Free. Contact PHCC office: 020 7586 8327 Life-Drawing Beginners to professionals, just drop in! PHCC. 7–9.20pm. £8 or £6 concession. www.meetup.com/Primrose-Hill-LifeDrawing-London Instagram: @lifedrawingph phlifedrawing@gmail.com or contact PHCC office: 020 7586 8327 FRIDAY Aerial Pilates PHCC, 9.45–11.15am. Contact: circusbodies@gmail.com Mothers’ Mornings Meet other mothers while your children play. PHCL. 10.30–11.30am. Free. Contact: 020 7419 6599

CONTACT DETAILS PHCC Primrose Hill Community Centre 29 Hopkinsons Place (off Fitzroy Road), NW1 8TN Contact: info@phca.cc 020 7586 8327 PHCL Primrose Hill Community Library Sharpleshall Street, NW1 8YN Contact: events@phcl.org 020 7419 6599 Please submit entries for our May issue by Friday 7 April onthehillwhatson@phca.cc

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APRIL

Dates for your April diary

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An Update on Primrose Hill Community Centre

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The Primrose Hill Community Association has been given an option by Camden Council to buy a 25-year lease on its home, the Community Centre at 29 Hopkinsons Place, for an upfront payment of £250,000. In the 1970s a campaign by Primrose Hill residents to stop the demolition of the Piano Factory in Fitzroy Road resulted in Camden Council buying the building and converting it into flats. The Council offered to renovate the old machine shop on the factory site if a group of local volunteers emerged to organise community activities. In 1978 the PHCA was formed, and in 1980 it moved into the Centre.

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Since then the Centre has been in daily use, providing space at all times of the day and evening, for educational, children’s and leisure activities, and for private hire. The PHCA is a registered charity. Its influence extends beyond the Centre, originally organising the Fireworks on the Hill, the Summer Fair (this year will be the 40th!), a Lunch Club in the Oldfield Estate, the On The Hill magazine, and the successful 2012 campaign to save the Library.

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For most of the past forty years Camden has given a grant to PHCA, recognising that its activities were of benefit to local residents and were managed more appropriately, and more cheaply, than by the Council. The age of austerity, and the dramatic reduction in funding of local government by central government, have meant that not

revaluation in five years. The new charge of rent threatens to put PHCA into a loss-making position each year.

who has spent many hours redrafting clauses and negotiating a lease that the PHCA Trustees could accept.”

So, after several years of difficult negotiations, an offer has been made and the PHCA Management Committee has welcomed this opportunity to buy out a 25-year lease as a way of ensuring a future for the Community Centre. PHCA’s Honorary Treasurer, Colin St Johnston, who has been leading the negotiations with Camden for several years, has thanked Councillors Callaghan, Pietragnoli and Cotton, Council officers and others for the support so far.

This just leaves the small matter of a large sum to find before the end of 2017. PHCA is now looking with imagination and ingenuity at ways to source the funding. Any residents with advice, experience or of course a spare quarter of a million are asked to contact Colin St Johnston on 020 7722 5932 or Dick Bird on 020 7722 1649.

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3.35mm only has all financial support been withdrawn, but instead Camden is now imposing a rent for PHCA’s use of the Centre building. This year’s rent is £22,000 and this is anticipated to rise to over £40,000 per annum following a

“We are particularly indebted to local solicitor Francis Katz, who has been acting for the PHCA in a pro bono capacity, and

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Primrose Hill Lectures 2017

14 June Louise Chester on Mindfulness in Daily Life

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Lectures run from 7 to 8pm including Q&A. Bookselling follows. The bar opens at 6.30pm.

21 June Tim Marshall on the Power and Politics of Flags

28 June John Mullan on What Matters in Jane Austen?

5 July Deborah Moggach on Adventures in the Screen Trade

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7 June Andrew Marr on Reflections on Democracy

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Primrose Hill Passions Judy Rich on Legacy Writing

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By Doro Marden

Naturally beautiful hair is just around the corner...210.0 x 297.0mm

“I believe we casual writers enjoy the sheer pleasure of creatively putting words on paper and telling our stories. Writing is also healing and writing our tragedies is as important as writing our pleasures. People seem to think that memoirs need to be a whole autobiography, but it doesn’t have to be that way, episodic writing works fine.

I talked to long time Primrose Hill resident Judy Rich sitting in her bay window looking over Chalcot Square. Judy arrived in London in 1974 and founded, then ran, the fashion chain Long Tall Sally for three decades. Since selling up ten years ago she has worked as a life coach.

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“I’ve loved being a life coach and helping people to access their dreams. It is so rewarding to see them finding a life purpose and fulfilment at every stage of life.

“So I am sifting through my writing and bringing it together in a big yellow ring-binder I call my ‘legacy’ file, titled ‘Rich Pickings’. Stories of my life are arranged chronologically rather than by the dates when I wrote them. There are stories of my childhood, my teenage years, my parents, and reflective pieces which I call ‘turning points’ – for example, discovering my feminist self, meeting my husband, and having a cancer diagnosis.

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Photo by Sarah Louise Ramsay

“Discovering the joy of writing Ied me to do a degree course, Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes. I did my dissertation on legacy writing. Obviously, you can keep your writing to yourself, but I have reached the age when I think about what I want to leave behind; what do I want my descendants and friends to know about me? My pieces from the past ten years were scattered in notebooks and my computer. I didn’t want them to be lost.

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“But my other passion is writing. I discovered it when a friend took me to a reading in Highgate, ten people presenting their own writing. I can still remember the thrill: everybody has a story, and everybody can tell their own story, I was hooked! I love writing in groups, being inspired by other people and being in a safe, confidential space where everyone comes with the same intention.

Pop in for a free Hair Thickening Ritual, Free Consultation & a Free Relaxing Hand Massage!

150 Regents Park Road, Primrose Hill, NW1 8SN 020 7483 1000

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Primrose Hill • Hampstead • St Johns Wood Book online at garyingham.com

“The dissertation required a more academic style, but now I have returned to writing creatively and am enjoying being in two life writing groups. I always say, ‘if I can do it, anyone can!’”

Melt half the butter in a frying pan and sweat the onion until soft and transparent (it should not colour). Pour in the cider vinegar and boil for 1 minute. Add the cold water and cooked asparagus and blend in a food processor for roughly 5 minutes until it makes a nice, smooth soup. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside in the fridge quickly, to preserve the colour.

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Burford Brown eggs are readily available and have particularly striking yolks. Ask your butcher or local deli to slice the lardo; if you can’t find lardo, thinly sliced pancetta is a good alternative.

Add the wild mushrooms and cook for 2 mins. Add the cream, bring to the boil, season with salt and pepper

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Photo by Sarah Louise Ramsay

Celebrate Easter the Odette’s way, making the most of the freshest, well-sourced ingredients and adapting to the seasons. This colourful starter maximises the delicacy of new-season asparagus and embraces the spirit of Easter with its poached egg adornment.

Cut the button mushrooms into quarters and the wild mushrooms into even sizes. Heat the vegetable oil in a hot pan, then add the button mushrooms and cook until golden brown.

Ingredients (serves 4) • 6 bunches asparagus (reserve 2 spears for garnish) • 4 Burford Brown eggs • 1 white onion, finely chopped • 50 ml cider vinegar • 200 g butter • 1 litre cold water, plus a bowl of iced water • 250 g button mushrooms • 250 g wild mushrooms (girolles or chanterelles if possible) • 100 ml cream • 50 g panko breadcrumbs • 4 large, very thinly sliced pieces of lardo • Juice of 1 lemon • Vegetable oil • Salt and pepper to taste

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Asparagus soup with wild mushrooms, poached egg and lardo

to taste and set to one side (it needs to keep warm). Heat a frying pan to a high heat and add the rest of the butter. When it starts to foam and turn brown add the panko breadcrumbs and stir constantly until the breadcrumbs are golden brown. Strain out the butter and set aside the breadcrumbs. Fill a large pan with water and bring to a simmer. Add the vinegar and crack in the eggs. Simmer for 1½ minutes until poached. Thinly slice the remaining 2 spears of asparagus and dress in the lemon juice. Reheat the soup. To plate up, spoon a portion of the warm mushroom mix into each bowl, then place a poached egg on top. Drape sliced lardo over the egg so that it melts, and pour some of the hot asparagus soup to the side. Finish with the crispy breadcrumbs and sliced raw asparagus.

And to drink… Nicolas recommend the following white wines. Both are notable for their freshness and acidity, which complement the powerful green of the asparagus. Expect grassy, mineral and lemony notes with a long finish and a hint of green peas.

Sancerre Les Champs Clos (2015), 12.5%, £20 Quincy Pierre Duret (2015), 13%, £16.60 www.odettesprimrosehill.com www.nicolas.co.uk (See Marketplace for more details.)

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Method Chop the asparagus into evenly sized pieces. Cook in boiling salted water for 6 minutes, and then immediately transfer into iced water.

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Primrose Hill Eats

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Primrose Hill News & Views

Open House Martin Sheppard’s talk on ‘Twenty Extraordinary Building Projects for Primrose Hill’ detailed proposals never constructed, as well as one demolished by a V2 bomb.

14.63mm 0.718mm Talk Show The first Talk Show was launched at Jacqueline House on the Oldfield Estate in February. Organised by Central & Cecil in collaboration with North London Cares and Primrose Hill Neighbours Help, the Talk Show included residents John Swords and Mike O’Hara.

Race For Life

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The annual Race for Life event takes place in Regent’s Park on 27 May. The 10 km run (or stroll) raises money for Cancer Research UK. Women are invited to sign up for the event by visiting raceforlife.org

Chris Robinson from Central Head Office was a charming front man and his wife Sandrine was the perfect hostess. Rachael Dinnage from Central & Cecil went out of her way to attract such a diverse and appreciative audience. Helpers served cocktails and canapés ‒ a sophisticated change from ‘nibbles and a glass of wine’.

It set the tone for what proved to be an intelligent and stimulating evening. The large audience was engaged from the start and asked lively questions. A chat show set of bright orange sofas for the four contributors and a chair for the host, Andy Duke, created a TV studio atmosphere. A professional sound system and four excellent speakers made the evening a night to remember ‒ in all, a great success. Other Talk Shows are being planned.

Bulb Planting

Margaret Liebbrandt

Bulbs have been planted in Chalcot Square. Spring is here!

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Accounts of the heritage and history of the area always draw a large crowd, and ‘Twenty Extraordinary Building Projects for Primrose Hill’ filled the hall. Tracey Mitchell

Police Raids

Help Needed

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A V2 landed on a tearoom causing minor casualties on Wednesday 21 March 1945. Eleven years later Claire Winston, a sculptor and neighbour of George Bernard Shaw, suggested a work in tribute to the people who protected the Hill when aflame. “I was there when the bombs dropped and we saw the flames of London from the Hill,” she wrote.

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Glyndebourne in Primrose Hill

Yoga for Children By Harriet Broadway

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By Martin Sheppard Each year the programme includes a different selection of operatic numbers, accompanied on the piano. There are also changes in the singing line-up, with the aim of encouraging the best young singers. The evening is hosted by the multi-talented and highly amusing Adey Grummet, who introduces the singers and the music. At the end of the evening, after a short communal rehearsal, everyone gets the opportunity to sing Va Pensiero, the ‘Slaves’ Chorus’ from Verdi’s Nabucco.

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For the last two years, the Primrose Hill Opera Cabaret has performed to great applause at Cecil Sharp House. It starts and finishes early on a Sunday evening, with an interval allowing everyone to have a drink and to enjoy a picnic. Unlike at Glyndebourne, the picnic is inside. There is no dress code and, even better, you do not have to make the very considerable effort of getting to Glyndebourne and back. This year the Primrose Hill Opera Cabaret is on Sunday 18 June, at Cecil Sharp House, starting at 6 pm and finishing by 8 pm.

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Do you like hearing high-class professional young singers performing well-known arias, duets and quartets to a high standard? Do you enjoy opera but sometimes find it rather too serious? Would you enjoy a sociable, light-hearted but very reasonably priced operatic evening out in Primrose Hill itself? If the answer is yes, the Primrose Hill Opera Cabaret is for YOU!

The Opera Cabaret, which is a cross between opera and music hall, was invented in Stoke Newington and has been run there successfully for twenty years by Farquhar McKay. It works so well there that I managed to persuade him to clone it in Primrose Hill, acting as local agent. Non-profit-making and self-financing, tickets are £22, or £20 each for a table of ten. The last two years we have run a raffle on the night on behalf of the Primrose Hill Community Library and have both times raised £1,000, with prizes generously supplied by local shops and businesses. We are also extremely grateful to Hamish Gilfeather, at our local branch of John D Wood, for sponsoring the cost of the hire of Cecil Sharp House.

210.0 x 297.0mm The only problem we have is that tickets sell out very

quickly. This makes the Opera Cabaret seem exclusive, which is the exact opposite of our intention. Seating is either on tables (long tables for twenty and round tables for ten) or round the edge of the hall. We hope you will want to come, but please book early to avoid disappointment. Individual tickets can be bought at www.operacabaret.org.

Have you ever wondered how to have a calm and engaged child? St Paul’s School achieved that dream, for one day at least, when every year group took part in a 45-minute yoga session. The event was organised and partly run by Molly Hallam, a mum at the school. Molly practised yoga for fifteen years then did a teacher training course in Jivamukti yoga. She engaged Dan Gelblum, a yoga teacher with a Feldenkrais background, to co-run the classes. This method is thought to improve the movement of the body and create a sense of well-being. The aim of the day was to get the children to have a greater awareness of their bodies. They began by lying on the floor and imagining what kind of picture they would make. They were encouraged to use their imaginations and make shapes with various combinations of hands and feet on the floor. Next up was a tip to keep you being young. Let me share it with you. Stand up, raise your arms, bring your right hand down to your left foot and keep on turning until you can sit down. No more groaning when you flop down on the sofa. This is a twist to give you super powers.

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The end of the session followed the usual relaxation phase of a yoga class. The children were shown a large jar of green glitter which was shaken up and allowed to slowly settle. They were encouraged to see the glitter as an analogy of their own mind calming.

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So did it work? Reports from staff say the children were uncannily calm and focused for the rest of the day!

Luxury Vintage Fashion Juno Says Hello has an amazing selection of vintage cocktail dresses and evening gowns suitable for weddings and special occasions. Browse our bridal range online

or make an appointment to visit our Primrose Hill showroom.

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020 7284 5938 info@junosayshello.com

instagram twitter @JunoSaysHello Juno Says Hello 26The Vineyards, 36 Gloucester Avenue, London NW1 7BB www.junosayshello.com

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Sudoku Answers

SHAMPOO HAIRDRESSERS 63 Regent’s Park Road, NW1 8XD 020 7722 9594 alinashala@hotmail.co.uk Tues–Sat 09.00–18.00 Sun 10.00–16.00 PRIVATO HAIR BEAUTY & FASHION

Beauty & Wellbeing