Forum Topic

Isleworth Remembrance Day parade the biggest for many years

This year's Rembembrance Day parade in Isleworth was by some considerable margin the largest parade which I have ever had the pleasure of attending.  Usually the stewards insist on lining people up into rows of three, a requirement which for whatever reason was relaxed this year.  Had they enforced this the march would have been even longer.The people of Isleworth are participating more and more in the life of our community and not leaving everything to others.  This is a development from which I and most other people will take heart.

Phil Andrews ● 7127d45 Comments

I quite agree.

Sarah Felstead ● 7019d

One of my neighbours kids has an Arsenal poster in his bedroom window. I strongly suspect that he doesn't have planning permission for it but the Council refused to take action over it and the parents threatened me with an injunction when I contacted them about it. There is a risk of an accident as drivers flick V signs at it as they go past and although you can't actually see it from the war memorial just think how offended a Chelsea pensioner would be if he happened to walk past it next memorial day. It's an outrage I say.

Andy Jones ● 7019d

Hmm, why use 100 words when 1 will do?

The Pseudometer ● 7019d

Great!

Sarah Felstead ● 7020d

!

Sarah Felstead ● 7020d

Sarah, I had up to now given you the benefit of the doubt on this thinking that the bee that you had in your particular bonnet about this was just a quirk and your long term obsession with the matter was harmless. However, I found your last response just plain irrational. Of course the British Legion are likely to be concerned with this matter. Either they support your point of view in which case I'm sure the school would act on any request from them or they are unconcerned about the banner in which case the matter is closed. With all the fly posting, advertising hoardings, leaflets pinned to trees, bogus estate agent boards and other detritus that plagues our streets you think that this banner is the only one that is 'disrespectful for the area' and dangerous to drivers and you have waged a two year campaign against the school to get them to take it down. I can't see any other conclusion that you have some other reason for animosity towards them and are using this as a stick to beat them with.

Dan Evans ● 7020d

Yes Sarah,you now have my support and I will indeed now wtite to the Head Teacher.

Paul Fisher ● 7020d

It is nothing to do with the British Legion.  It is simply an ill placed banner - which not only is disrespectful for the area - but down right dangerous if a driver decided to change lane at this late point to take up the parking option.  Do you really think it would pass planning?Temporary banners are allowable for all fetes and church events for something like a 28 day period - and this is just exploiting the fact that a blind eye will be turned because it is in a school.  There are ample spaces for the banner to go or to be moved away to for the month of November.I dared to ask that they take it down after the match on the Saturday - they must have somebody on site to look after the cars anyway - so why can't it be taken down and re-erected as and when appropriate - nobody is saying that they should not have one - just place it in a more appropriate place.If they don't have anyone on site to look after the cars how do they stop any vandalism and how do they stop faulty car horns sounding off for hours on end until the battery is flat?Anyhow, there is now the addition of the bazaar banner on the top of the rugby car parking banner.  How many Council employees and Councillors drive past this banner in the run up to the Remembrance events?  The Head teacher might not drive in that way and see it - but if she were involved with the events and saw it - I think she would be highly embarrassed.Anyone going to write to the school then or complain to the Council?  You have the photographs as evidence, which is the point of posting the photographs.

Sarah Felstead ● 7020d

I think this has been suggested before but you really should contact the British Legion before persisting with this crusade. They would probably value a good relationship with the school and might be concerned if objections to something were being made on their behalf that they didn't feel were justified. If they did happen to support you then the school would take their objections more seriously than your lone voice.Also I think you are in danger of opening a can of worms in objecting to a community fund-raising banner. Technically all such banners may require planning permission but this has never been enforced for the obvious reason that it is a waste of resources. If enforcement action was taken against a school, why not a Church or a local charity. Personally I would rather see the limited resources of the local planning department used to make sure that the development of the Brentford area proceeds in a way that doesn't blight the life of residents.

Dan Evans ● 7020d

I spoke to the School twice before asking the Council to intervene.  The outcome was something like they understood my point of view – but that wasn’t going to change theirs and they could do as they wished.

Sarah Felstead ● 7020d

This isn't turning out to be the best start to Lent for me, so could I suggest that as it's you that is offended, you may get a sympathetic response from direct correspondence with the school, rather than the sledgehammer solution of a council official?Only you seem to appreciate the offensiveness of this banner, so your words, softly spoken, may get the solution you desire.Good luck. Please let us know how you get on.

The Pseudometer ● 7020d

I didn't think I was moaning - but I might accuse you of this - what have you done having seen these awful photos?It is only 9 months to go before the next remembrance period - so do you think another person asking about this situation might help?  Or are you just looking at the photos... a voyeur maybe? 

Sarah Felstead ● 7020d

Quality drive. Sorry we won't be hearing from you anymore.

The Pseudometer ● 7020d

When you contact the Council and leave a message you don't necessarily know which official calls you back.  I had several conversations with the man who sorted it out - for that year.  The next time it happened - if you look at the dates of my posting it was on top of the event.  If you wish to know then please ring the council up and ask them to tell you the name of the official on the file who made a visit and several calls to the School and relayed the information I have repeated here.  He managed to get the banner removed, at that time.  The rest of your message isn't worth reading let alone replying to and there is a quality drive afoot on this forum – so beware!

Sarah Felstead ● 7021d

Who can say, when you won't identify the "council official"?Look, you're obviously a busybody - why don't you just contact them yourself?With spades of your usual tact and discretion, this could be a huge personal victory for you. While you're at it, reflect on the suitability of The George overlooking the memorial too - or is just a particular agenda that you have?

The Pseudometer ● 7021d

Who do you think the quotes came back from, Jim?

Sarah Felstead ● 7021d

Sarah..Why not send the School Headmistress one of your missives and pictures by e-mail.They have a web-site...http://webserv.gumley.hounslow.sch.uk/index-3.html

Jim Lawes ● 7021d

Who was the council official? Being as you're active, why don't you approach them or a concillor to contact the school. That is, if you believe the "council official" bothered to contact them.

Colin Murphy ● 7021d

Shame isn't it, Paul.

Sarah Felstead ● 7022d

The official from the Council in 2003 said that the response from the school was that as it was on school property, they could do as they liked.  He had told them to take it down and that they would have to apply for planning permission to leave it up - and they had then said that they intended to seek planning permission.Hello SarahIf the above was or is the attitude of the people that run the School, what are the students going to turn out like?

Paul Allen ● 7022d

Well done, that man - Paul F!  So you know exactly what I mean!  Somebody gave permission for the pavement to be closed and the scaffolding and work to go ahead - and did not ensure it was finished and cleared or started after the Remembrance period (11/11 + the Sunday).  The wall has needed work on it for years – so it could have been timed more considerately.Paul A – yes it is Gumley House School in the photos.  Nice to speak to you again! ;-)

Sarah Felstead ● 7022d

Forgive my ignorance, but is that Gumley House School in the photos?

Paul Allen ● 7022d

The walls shown on Sarahs photo above were being sandblasted believe it or not on the morning of Remembrance Day until I had a word with the two guys doing it!!

Paul Fisher ● 7022d

Sorry - Whoa Sarah, call off the dogs of war!  I said you had a valid point, didn't I? :o)

Phil Andrews ● 7022d

Crumbs!  Phil - take a 'po-litical response' with a smile - I have learnt a great deal about such responses on here, but did not go for the jugular as often happens ...Of course you respect the Memorial and are probably as disappointed as everyone else who attended and found  that it was not shown in its best light for the occasion.  Thing is, as often, how to place measures into play which address a mistake and stop it from happening again? Against the file held on the Memorial should be bright ink saying - remember Sunday and November are periods of respect at the Memorial. Fancy going to Remembrance parade at the Memorial and finding the scaffolding wrapping; the general building site mess (has anyone ever cleaned the leaves and debris form under that wrought iron gate opposite the Memorial?  Oft I end up looking at it when stuck in a traffic jam) and those disgraceful banners.Colin - the official from the Council in 2003 said that the response from the school was that as it was on school property, they could do as they liked.  He had told them to take it down and that they would have to apply for planning permission to leave it up - and they had then said that they intended to seek planning permission.;-(

Sarah Felstead ● 7022d

Sarah,what was the reply from the school in the face of such spirited passion?

The Pseudometer ● 7022d

Whoa Sarah, call off the dogs of war!  I said you had a valid point, didn't I?

Phil Andrews ● 7022d

Are you dismissing what I am saying Phil?  The lack of respect (using a definition of the word in action) is appalling.  Has that point passed you by?How dare the memorial, at the Rememberance parade have this scaffolding around it - and the banner?  Banners are there to be used for a 28 day period and then removed - this one is up with the addition of the bazaar, every year and for most of the year.  Is this not a conservation area?  Why was it important to have the memorial in the first place?  Why was it important to restore it?  What example is it to other people when it is undermined by horrific scaffolding and banners?If somebody does not see this then after a period of time they can keep the banner up and complaints will be of no use then.  Next step, as the advert then is allowable, might be selling the space – what sort of advertising hoarding do you think might be up there in a few years time?I was not at the Remembrance Day parade as I go with family to Richmond and this year Guildford.  For the Guildford one they clear the streets of parked cars – look what happened to this one –

Sarah Felstead ● 7022d

SarahOn the plus side the 2005 parade was by some considerable distance the largest and most well-supported in many years.  The collections from local businesses, schools, churches and at supermarkets raised a record amount of money, thanks to several new volunteers.  Your points are very valid, but it isn't all doom and gloom.

Phil Andrews ● 7022d

Whoever gave permission for this work to be carried out, and the closure of the footpath, must have forgotten the significance of November?By now (February) the Rugby parking banner has usually rotted and collapsed - then it is placed back up when the 'parking season' starts.  I haven’t looked recently but they don’t appear to take it down.I take it that none of the schools representatives attended the memorial service?

Sarah Felstead ● 7022d

Good man, Jim.  We must never forget.

Ann S. Allridge ● 7023d

This TOPIC saved from falling off the end of Page 10.and perhaps we should endeavour to do so always.

Jim Lawes ● 7023d

Actually it's fifth from left if you include the one which has fallen down.

Phil Andrews ● 7119d

The wreath taking pride of place at the centre of the Memorial (fourth from left, top picture) was laid on behalf of the community of Isleworth.

Phil Andrews ● 7119d

Thanks for those pictures Jim. Well kept memorial.

Audrey Walton ● 7120d

Very good turn out at Brentford once again as in years past.

Kevin Farnan ● 7120d

Those floodlights are splendid and do much justice to the setting. The wreaths and poppies are still there.The area is called Memorial Square,Isleworth.

Jim Lawes ● 7120d

There were sellers in Ealing during the week and the Farmers market in West Ealing had a seller there for two weeks. I saw the sellers at Tesco but in all cases people just walking by - just think it is shameful. Watched the second half of the The Last Tommy last night - even wearing a poppy seems inadequate after that!

Linda F Wright ● 7125d

Many people at Tesco in Osterley, where I was selling, commented to me that they had seen nobody selling in certain other areas such as Ealing.The sale is organised by the British Legion and its effectiveness is, I would presume, determined by how effective the local branch happens to be.  Isleworth has had its problems in the recent past but it seems to be thriving now, and this appears to have been evidenced both by the large number of volunteers selling poppies and by the size of the parade on Sunday.  The latter really was magnificent and came as a very welcome surprise to me.

Phil Andrews ● 7126d

There was indeed a lack of volunteers from the British Legion for handing out the tins(according to my butcher in Sth. Ealing)

Keith Iddon ● 7126d

How strange that you saw so few poppys as in the Isleworth and Twickenham area they seemed to be worn by most people.Perhaps it was down to the local British Legions and maybe a lack of volanteers in the places you mention?I think that if it did not cost too much extra though that poppys could have a small velcro strip as perhaps some people do not like pinning them to their clothes.Do any readers of this forum know how Brentford or Chiswick fared this year in their turn out on Sunday?

Paul Fisher ● 7126d

I am very pleased that there was a good turn out. However I was appalled that on the days leading up to Remembrance Sunday and on the day itself how few people were wearing poppies. I was out and about in Hanwell Ealing and Richmond and the poppy was a rare species!

Linda F Wright ● 7126d

God Bless Them All..                               

Hugh Telford ● 7127d

Phil,This is good news indeed.When I came to Ireland 30 odd years ago, the mention of WW1 was taboo for many, but nowadays Remembrance services do occur, and there are dozens of groups and associations dedicated to remembering the men and women who fell in both world wars.It would be an unbelievable act of betrayal for  "remembering"  to fall away even slightly in Britain.

Ann S. Allridge ● 7127d

I was very proud to have been there yesterday and well done to all concerned at the Legion for organising it.So many children were on the march as well with their parents this year which was also great to see.

Paul Fisher ● 7127d