Prepare for a weekend of music and fun

REVELLERS are gearing up for Europe’s biggest celebration of music, dance and cultural diversity at the Notting Hill Carnival this August Bank Holiday.
More than 1.5 million visitors are expected to attend the festival this year, which will see performances from thousands of musicians, dancers and masquerade bands.
Carnival festivities will begin this Saturday afternoon in Hyde Park with the National Panorama Championship, with ten of the country’s top steelbands competing for the title of ‘National Champions of Steel’.
Starting at 4pm near Speaker’s Corner, the competition features the popular Mangrove Steel Band, CSI Steelband Trust and Ebony Steel Orchestra, with the Antiguan Halcyon Steel Band making a special guest appearance.
Sunday morning kicks off at 9am with the Notting Hill Carnival Children’s day parade, which aims to encourage active participation from young people.
Children will get the chance to compete in the On the Road Junior Costume Competition, with categories including King, Queen and Best Band.
The adult’s costume competition follows the next day, with both days featuring Calypso and soca music, steel bands, static sound systems and masquerade bands – processions and decorated floats which are accompanied by mobile sound systems and dancers.
The ‘Soca on the move’ competition, supported by the Caribbean Music Association, also takes place on Sunday and Monday.
Notting Hill Carnival’s lead director Chris Boothman said: “No other event in the UK comes close to matching the artistic spectacle and wonder of the Notting Hill Carnival with its exotic mix of dance, music, food and street entertainment.
“Carnival is a free day out that gives revellers the chance to come together in a celebration of diversity and a kaleidoscope of colour, sound and aroma that envelops the streets of Notting Hill.”
As well as upholding the tradition of celebrating Caribbean culture, the carnival also supports the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust and encourages carnival visitors to register as a donor as part of their day’s rewarding activities.
London Mayor Boris Johnson said: “I’m delighted to be supporting the Notting Hill Carnival, which is woven into the fabric of London life.
“It’s a magnificent example of the energy and colour that make our city such an exciting place to live.”

Did you help our son? Sad parents’ plea after sudden tragedy

A FAMILY are appealing for the people who tried to resuscitate their dying young son to come forward.
Prashant Joshi, 22, of Willesden Lane, Kilburn, was on his way to play football in Grange Park when he suddenly collapsed at the junction of Buckley Road and Kilburn High Road on Saturday afternoon at around 1.30pm.
Bystanders administered CPR and called for an ambulance, but were unable to revive him. He was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.
His heartbroken parents Ashok and Arti would now like to make contact with those who tried to save him.
Mrs Joshi said: “Some people helped him and we would like the chance to be able to say thank you.”
A post mortem examination revealed that Prashant died of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscle is thickened, making it harder for the heart to pump blood around the body.
Many sufferers, particularly young athletes, show no symptoms of the condition.
Often the first sign of the condition is sudden collapse and death.
Mr Joshi said: “He was only 22, a promising young boy with his whole life ahead of him.
“We’re devastated and can’t believe it has happened.”
Friends and family are in shock at the loss of the young man, who had previously shown no signs of ill health, had a healthy diet and was a keen swimmer at Willesden Sports Centre and footballer at the local Grange Park.
They remember him as bright and happy-go-lucky. He had just graduated from Manchester University with a 2:1 degree in International Business and Economics and began working at the Treasury as a policy analyst.
Mrs Joshi said: “He had a lot more to give – he recently began working at the Treasury in order to help with the recent banking crisis.”
Prashant, who was a pupil of Christ Church Primary School, in Clarence Road, Kilburn and Hampstead Parochial School in Heath Street, Hampstead, will also be remembered for his tireless charity work.
He travelled to China, Morocco and Brazil to help out at local charities and his last trip was to Indonesia where he spent six months volunteering at an orphanage.
Younger brother Ashish, 21 said: “He was an energetic yet laid back guy, who always put everyone before him.
“He looked out for others and helped a lot of people.”
A funeral service and cremation is being held at Hendon Crematorium today. Well-wishers are asked to send donations to the Cardiac Risk in the Young, a charity that raises awareness of sudden cardiac death.

Councillor calls for less testing of kids

CAMDEN’S education boss has called for the testing of children to be overhauled as schools celebrate top results.
Cllr Janet Grauberg, member for children and young people, Camden Council, questioned whether or not Key Stage 2 exams were a useful method of evaluating pupils’ progress.
Cllr Grauberg said: “There is widespread support for the view that children today are tested too much.
“I am pleased that Camden children’s results continue to improve, which is a testament to their hard work and to the schools. But I think there are questions over whether this testing is the right approach to a well-rounded appraisal of children’s abilities.
“The removal of the Key Stage 3 tests shows that the time is right for a wider review over whether this is the best approach.”
The call came as provisional figures showed an increase in the percentage of Camden’s 11-year-olds achieving ‘expected’ standards in English, maths and science.
As last year, the pupils’ results exceed the comparative national figures, with the gap extended to 3 per cent in each subject area.
Camden’s executive member for schools, Cllr Andrew Mennear, said: “It is fantastic news that our 11-year-olds are bucking the national trend and continuing to improve year-on-year.
Maths and science show the biggest improvement, with the percentage of Camden pupils achieving expected targets leaping from 80 to 82 per cent and 89 to 91 per cent respectively.
English and combined English and maths show more modest improvements – 82 to 83 per cent and 74 to 75 per cent respectively – while national performance in these subjects has declined by 1 per cent.
There is still plenty of cause for Camden schoolchildren to celebrate as the rise in standards in the borough over the last three years is also greater compared to the national rise.
Cllr Mennear added: “This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of their teachers and all the Camden schools staff and I would like to both thank and congratulate everyone on this significant achievement.
Finalised results will be published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families later this autumn.

Carnival gets an early start

NOTTING Hill Carnival will have an earlier start time this August Bank Holiday in order to avoid the riots and violence that have marred previous festivities.
Organisers London Notting Hill Carnival Trust, Kensington and Chelsea Council, Westminster City Council and the Metropolitan Police have agreed to kick off the festival at 9am on both days of the carnival to ensure that it will be able to close down by nightfall.
The last of the 138 floats will pass the ‘judging zone’ on Great Western Road at 6.30pm, with the close down time for sound systems and street trading following soon after.
Chris Boothman, lead director of the London Notting Hill Carnival Trust, said: “To ensure that the floats get round the route in good time we agreed with Kensington and Chelsea Council that this year’s event should start at 9am.
“We are committed to delivering a safe and enjoyable Carnival for everyone and an earlier start will help us to achieve this.”
Around 1.5 million visitors are expected to attend the event, which will follow the same three mile route around west London as last year, starting at Great Western Road, taking in Westbourne Grove and Kensal Road and then ending at Ladbroke Grove.
The colourful festival is an important date in London’s calendar, celebrating London’s multi-cultural diversity with costumed dancers, steel drum bands, calypso music and Caribbean food stalls, while contributing about £100 million for London’s economy.
However it has stirred up controversy over public safety in recent years, with gun and knife violence and mob rioting resulting in arrests and an ever-increasing police presence at the festival.
Strict security measures will be implemented this year, with police already gathering intelligence to identify would-be troublemakers, and using tactics like stop and search and screening wands to check for concealed weapons and to detect and prevent crime.
Metropolitan Police Service Chief Inspector Jo Edwards said: “Carnival is a wonderful unique vibrant event, which is of great importance to London. Our job is to make sure we do all we can to keep the thousands of people who go as safe as can be.
“Given the huge number of people who take part in Carnival crime rates are low, and our policing style last year made sure that less people were a victim of crime. We know that everyone who loves Carnival wants that success to continue this year.”

Hall of Fame

THE silver screen beckons for one lucky resident after he made it to the final of a top film competition.
Regan Hall, 32, of Cockspur Street, Westminster, beat around 2,000 entrants to join a shortlist of 12 finalists competing in the Virgin Media Shorts award.
The winner will take home £30,000 funding and the chance to work with Virgin Media and the UK Film Council on their next short film.
Mr Hall’s short film ‘Gunslingers’, a film noir depicting a young farmer fighting to save the woman he loves, was shot in less than a day in his home studio and will be viewed by movie buffs on cinema screens, on the Virgin 1 satellite channel and online.
He said: “It’s great for an independent film-maker to be picked up and put on stage. It’s good exposure and a fantastic experience!
“There were loads of creative, funny and dramatic films submitted this year, so I’m proud to be in the top 12.”
After four years of freelance film-making the exposure of the awards could be the ideal opportunity for him to firmly establish himself in the industry.
He said: “I’ve been connected to the industry for years now but I feel like I’m finally now breaking out on my own as a film director.
“Being short-listed for Virgin Media Shorts 2009 could give me a foot in the door to the UK film industry, plus my film will play in cinemas all over the country – brilliant!”
This year marks the second year of the competition, which will be judged by film industry experts as well as acting luminaries Kevin Spacey, Bond girl Gemma Arterton and BAFTA award winning actor Noel Clarke.
The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony next month.
Ashley Stockwell of Virgin Media said: “The calibre of entries to the Virgin Media Shorts awards has been outstanding and we’re delighted to have the support of Kevin Spacey, Gemma Arterton, Noel Clarke and the rest of the judging panel to take on the difficult task of picking a winner.
“Virgin Media is really proud, for the second year running, to be able to give up-and-coming film talent the opportunity to have their work showcased to millions of film fans across the UK, and we wish Regan the very best of luck.”
To view ‘Gunslingers’ and vote for Regan in the People’s Choice Award visit www.virginmediashorts.co.uk.

Balloon race to fight leukaemia

A TEACHER from Primrose Hill has launched a charity balloon race from Trafalgar Square’s empty fourth plinth to raise money for leukaemia sufferers.
Liz Mendes is one of thousands of people taking part in Antony Gormley’s fourth plinth art project this summer, and yesterday (August 19) she decided to use the opportunity to garner support for North London charity the Karen Morris Memorial Trust.
She hopes to raise £1,000 in balloon sales for the charity, printing each balloon with the name of a donor and releasing it from the plinth, with prizes awarded to those whose balloons travelled the furthest.
Ms Mendes, a French teacher from Fitzroy Road, said: “It is such a fabulous opportunity to go on the plinth – a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
“I thought it would be shame to waste it by just going up there and waving at people, so I decided to make it special and raise money for charity.
“I was inspired by Gormley’s vision of sharing the plinth with 2,400 people to think about how I could share my hour with others. I decided to say the name of the donor when releasing each balloon from the plinth so that everyone would get a second of my hour and share the plinth with me.”
Donations poured in from well-wishers, with several top prizes up for grabs. All funds raised from the balloon race and individual contributions will go to the Karen Morris Memorial Trust, a charity set up in memory of a 23-year-old fundraising student who died a year after being diagnosed with leukaemia.
Its main objective is to provide facilities and support for leukaemia patients and their families.
Dr Mendes said: “The charity really appealed to me as it has a kind, caring aspect to it and I’m really pleased to be involved in raising money for it.”
For more information on the Karen Morris Memorial Trust visit www.kmmt.org.uk or see Ms Mendes’ website www.ontheplinth.co.uk. To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/balloon-race.
Ms Mendes was due to take to the plinth at 8pm last night (August 19).

Young designer Otis is reaching for the stars

THERE may be a recession going on but one Swiss Cottage entrepreneur has shown it is possible to buck the trend and succeed in business even when times are tough.
Otis Batterbee, a 28 year old designer and businessman, specialises in luxury travel accessories which have been snapped up by fashion-conscious celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow and Mariah Carey.
The key to his success he says has been to source all his materials locally to support UK textile mills and manufacturers.
“It is very easy and cheap to use fabrics made in China, but I have always insisted on all my fabric being milled in the UK, and all my products manufactured in the UK,” he explains. “In my small way I am trying to support UK businesses, because if you don’t look after them it has a knock on effect in the form of job losses.”
A graduate of the famous St Martin’s College of Art and Design, the Hampstead born designer realised his dream of running his own business when he began trading last year – just in time for one of Belsize Park’s most famous residents, Gwyneth Paltrow, to order a pinstripe travel eye mask (pictured) as a Christmas gift for husband Chris Martin.
The business has flourished, selling accessories including luxury stripe and check handkerchiefs and grapefruit scented travel sprays online and through high end department stores like Mayfair-based Fortnum and Mason. The British Musuem will follow suit in September, selling a ‘quintessentially British’ collection including corduroy eye masks and Oxford tweed washbags in ‘public school’ colours.
Although the accessories are targeted at men they maintain a crossover unisex appeal, which could be why they caught the eye of another female transatlantic star.
“I know that one of my hot pink eye masks went into a gift basket from a television company for Mariah Carey,” laughs Mr Batterbee. “I like to think of her wearing it on a Lear Jet on her way to somewhere exotic!”
Men’s clothing is the next step with the launch of a knitwear collection of hats and scarves in time for Christmas, while plans are afoot to start selling to European stockists. However, as successful as he has been the entrepreneur says he will avoid moving too fast in the future.
“You could get into trouble if you expand too quickly, especially in this economic climate,” he explains. “Right now it is easier to stay in the UK and keep a close eye on my retailers, which is important because you have got to make people want to do business with you. I am grateful for every order!”
Otis Batterbee products can be purchased online at www.otisbatterbee.com

Hampstead Theatre looks to local community for inspiration

COMMUNITY, modern technology and the loss of interaction are the themes at the heart of a special new play coming to Hampstead Theatre.
‘Us’, a new comedy by award-winning writer Jane Bodie, has been written with the community in mind and poses the following question: if advances in technology are making it easier than ever to stay in touch through Blackberries, e-mail and mobile phones, then why does it seem that we are communicating less with each other?
“We’ve all adapted to using technology but it seems like we’ve forgotten how to connect on a basic human level,” explains Ms Bodie. “The play looks at how people would cope if they were stripped of this technology.”
The play marks the 50th anniversary of the theatre, which wanted to pay tribute to the local community that has been instrumental to its success as well as being the target of its outreach, education and youth theatre programmes.
“We throw our doors open to the local community and produce theatre for the community, which is what makes our plays successful,” says Eric Dupin, Creative Learning Director at the Theatre, who directs the play.
“We have a big team of people working on several projects with schools, workshops and regional theatres. This theatre belongs to the community.”
Hampstead Theatre commissioned Ms Bodie to create a production that would weave together stories of the people of the local community, so she consulted several local groups, including elders (60+), schools, the Hampstead youth theatre, Heat + Light, local Somalis, ESOL students, and even a female Rabbi.
“When I was approached by the theatre and told that it was a community project, my first thought was ‘Oh’,” she says, indicating slight apprehension.
“But then I looked up all the meanings to ‘community’, and found one which defined it as ‘a common space with interaction between people’ which got me thinking.
“Every group I spoke to, whether they were elders, kids, the Somalis or the ESOL students, talked about technology and how they communicated with the world through things like the internet but talked also of a growing sense of isolation.
“For example, I was struck by a much older woman who said that she felt safe but isolated, and remembered that a younger person I had spoken to earlier said almost the exact same thing. It was illuminating.”
With a cast of professional actors and non-professionals selected through open auditions, the play sought to include characters from a variety of backgrounds, ages and races, with cast members ranging from 13 to 65 years old.
And at almost two hours running time it is a giant of a production, covering the substantial subject matter of how groups of society can reconnect with each other by putting technology aside and finding common ground, whilst seeking to render the various community groups faithfully.
“It’s one of the hardest plays I’ve ever written, a massive job,” admits Ms Bodie. “It needs to be both truthful and celebratory, and represent people respectfully and authentically, without poking fun at anyone.”
However a difficult a job that sounds, most of the cast and crew thinks she has pulled it off. Cast member Mike Roberts said: “When my agents rang up and told me it was a community project I was worried it might be a bit worthy, but it is a wonderful, rich and poetic script which is a joy to work with.
“What’s great about the play is that it celebrates everyone’s differences but shows they can still come together. It shows that being in different communities shouldn’t breathe exclusivity and that when people are thrown together, they realise not their differences but what they have in common.”
Jane Bodie is hopeful that the production will entertain audiences of all ages and backgrounds whilst giving them food for thought.
“When I go home after rehearsals I feel enlightened and hopeful. I think everyone can take different bits from the play as there are lots of positive things in it.
“In good plays, writers ask questions and I wanted to ask why we are losing interaction with each other. If there are any answers to that question, it is that we should try to regain true interaction with each other.
“The play doesn’t suggest that if we do that everyone will live happily ever after, but what’s the harm in trying?”
The play runs at Hampstead Theatre between July 28 – 31.

Domestic violence crisis centre relaunched in Haringey

A DOMESTIC violence support centre in Haringey has been re-launched following extensive refurbishment works.
Hearthstone, Haringey’s Domestic Violence Advice and Support Centre, was officially re-opened for business last Thursday by MP Alan Campbell, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Crime Reduction.
Cllr Nilgun Canver, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Safer Communities, attended the launch.
She said: “We are delighted to have Alan Campbell MP along to this event as it signifies the establishment’s refusal to tolerate domestic violence anywhere and anytime.
“I am really delighted that we have managed to put tackling domestic violence at the top of the agenda and I am really grateful for the dedication of everyone who works in Hearthstone.”
The centre has a holistic approach to tackling domestic violence, with independent partnerships working together to provide a gateway for victims of domestic violence to access, including counselling, legal services and police support.
Cynthia Greer, a senior practitioner at the centre, said: “Hearthstone was borne out of a best value review [of domestic violence services], which found that most women who suffer domestic violence needed to go to lots of different places for help. From Hearthstone they can access all these services – housing support, counselling, advice on health issues, and so on.”
Cllr Nilgun Canver, who was responsible for leading the best value review at Haringey Council, added: “A close partnership with police, the voluntary sector and counselling services working in this field has resulted in a truly effective team taking on the challenge of ridding Haringey of the scourge of domestic violence.
Hearthstone was initially set up in 2003 on a part-time basis with a small team tending to about 70 victims each month, but it soon expanded to a full-time operation.
Re-launched in 2004 by Cherie Booth, the centre continued to be successful, prompting Haringey council to spend £250,000 on expanding its premises to include extra rooms for interviews, counselling and group therapy. It is currently used by over 2,000 people each year.
Centre Manager Penny Rutter said: “It’s got even better, which just shows how much the centre is needed.
“I think the re-launch is fantastic, it is a reward for all our hard work. We have a very dedicated team and we’re all pleased to be able to celebrate.”
Although support and advice for victims of domestic violence has been greatly improved in Haringey, the current court system is perceived by some as being unhelpful, with victims in some cases afraid to come forward as they are not automatically guaranteed anonymity like victims of sexual violence.
Ms Rutter said: “There will be a dedicated domestic violence course managed by the council and domestic violence co-ordinators, where magistrates and prosecutors will receive training on domestic violence issues. It will look into how the court system can be improved.
“We need to promote good practice and see an increase in prosecutions, as right now we only see small numbers of domestic violence cases that reach the courts.”

Boris Johnson gives the seal of approval to innovative King’s Cross construction project

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson at the Great Northern Hotel meeting one of the apprentices

A CONSTRUCTION project in King’s Cross has been praised for creating new employment opportunities and on-site training for local people.
The King’s Cross Central project, an 8 million sq ft development of office, shopping and leisure space, housing, new streets and historic building restoration, is an ambitious scheme aiming to generate over 26,000 jobs over the next 15 years.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson attended an event on site last week to sign a construction employment charter and meet with apprentices.
Mr Johnson said: “It will be the most fantastic project and deliver huge quantities of new affordable housing over the next 10 to 15 years, while generating 26,000 jobs in a pretty rough economic climate.
“The construction sector is not only vital to helping London through the current downturn, it will also play a major role in its future economic prosperity, delivering the critical infrastructure improvements that will ensure the capital remains competitive.
“I applaud these contractors who are working together to set new standards in the delivery of skills and training, as well as ensuring that local people are benefiting too from the many opportunities that are being created.”
Outline planning permission has been granted for the creation of an estimated 2,000 homes, 20 streets, 5 million sq ft of office space and 10 new major public spaces, and the University of the Arts London, including Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, will relocate to the site by 2011.
Historic buildings and structures will be refurbished, including the Grade II listed Great Northern Hotel which is set to re-open as a boutique hotel in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.
The project is the largest city centre regeneration scheme in Europe and is supported by the National Skills Academy, a partnership between employers, training providers and ConstructionSkills, the sector skills council for construction.
The Academy and the developers, King’s Cross Central Partnership, have set up a construction skills centre at the site, which will provide training, professional qualifications and employment opportunities to local people.
ConstructionSkills’ Director of Skills Strategy, Steve Geary, said: “The National Skills Academy for Construction project here will help ensure relevant, timely and top quality training is delivered for the lifetime of the project.
“We are working with the local authority, other government agencies and the Mayor’s office to make sure that we put programmes in place to allow access for local people to training and employment opportunities, and that’s a similar approach that’s been adopted in other major projects like the Olympics.”
The construction phase will ensure the local community benefits from job opportunities, with contractors encouraged to use local companies as suppliers and identify jobs that can be filled by suitably experienced local unemployed people.
Camden Council leader Keith Moffitt said: “Camden is leading the way in London for training and skilling-up the local workforce.
“The regeneration project at King’s Cross Central is already bringing a huge variety of benefits to the local area and will continue to do so over the lifetime of the project.”
Mr Johnson added: “I do congratulate Camden and the developers on their enterprising, they’ve shown a great deal of initiative and confidence in pushing this project forward at a time of uncertainty.”