Forum Topic

Every community comes with a sense of responsibility and pride.Only a small bit of Brentfords population seems to have that.One has only to walk around council estates, house with gardens or flats to see just what kind of respect too many treat their funded homes.For those who do look after and treat their home and surroundings with pride & respect in these areas, it must be soul destroying.Having lived in both areas the difference in attitude is still 30 years later, rather sad.The "why should I ? It's for the council to do, I pay my rent and council tax"I still hear that from people who won't even mow their lawn or clean their windows.That's not true of all, some of the nicest and best people I know live on local estates but they do have an uphill battle with people with big mouths and bad attitudesSecondly there is the thorny ethnic issue. Some cultures simply do not have any awareness of the civility of this or other western countries. Litter, Queuing, spitting, coughing, even using a flush toilet are not instinctive in several cultures.It's bad enough sometimes in our native culture and that is why for at least 90 years we have had posters and slogans to educate and keep things to the fore.It's probably need as much now as then but public information posters and adverts have all but vanished.I'm sure most from other cultures would easily embrace things here if it were made clear. But it isn't and thus hard to blame them when they do not treat the place as we would like.

Raymond Havelock ● 4621d

In the field of "Local History" Brentford is fabulous.There's far more to Brentford than just the short High Street!Readers who have looking at this board over the past 8 years would have received an excellent education of how the area has evolved since say just the early 1800's. Brentford is teeming with historical stories and my own personal interest is unending...even though I'm from Chiswick (before the War)Whilst Chiswick is throbbing today with relative newbys...and local history there abounds..it's not a touch on TW8. Take Boston Manor Road for example. Starting at the charming and clean Boston Manor Station, one eases down to Boston Manor House, the Stables, the Park, the Cafe, and sight of the amazing structure of the M4 viaduct (with the GSK building as a backdrop). The Paragon Site with it's University campus...opposite the corner where the Macleans Factory used to be.Crossing the GWR one recalls where St James' Church used to be..whilst admiring the charms of the 60 year old and successful Boston Cafe.  Onwards past the Station and the site of the old marshalling yards..opposite the site of the old Cottage Hospital..then the historic Library and War Memorials come into view.  Plenty to be proud of there. The stories about the Swimming Baths and the plaques, and then the Inverness Club adjacent (Have you seen the ballroom ceiling or the plaques upstairs?)You've seen The Butts just across the road..and then the Brentford Forum stories about the Half Acre and the pubs and shops which once lined the road. And don't mention Charlotte's Cottage, or the Bug Hutch or the site of the old Post Office, or the old Council Chambers, or the cobbles behind The Beehive pub and the history of that site.As this is all in just one Brentford road!When you start to think about Gunnersbury Park (in Brentford Ward), the Kew Museums, Syon Park, let alone the fascinations south of the High Street.No wonder Celia Cotton has been able to develop such a wonderful BHS website chronicling Brentford's past families and traders etc.When I've been doing the Poppy Collections at Morrison Super store I've been so impressed by the pleasantness of Brentonians/ Brentfordians. Agreed there are some scalleywags around... but in a few words..Brentford is full of hidden away secrets and charms.One could write pages on the place..and the place has to be Brilliant to be able to do that!

Jim Lawes ● 4623d