Ealing Liberal Democrats have criticised Labour-run Ealing Council over plans to close and sell off the Michael Flanders Centre in Acton a community resource providing support to residents with dementia and complex needs the decision has drawn criticism from opposition councillors who claim it was made with little opportunity for public debate and scrutiny criticised what he described as an “opaque process” that excluded residents and councillors from key decisions He said: “Liberal Democrats are appalled that Ealing Labour have agreed to sell off the Michael Flanders Centre in Acton and in such a way to prevent any scrutiny or discussion of this decision Users with dementia often rely on familiarity of location and people as well as security of location to enhance their quality of life.” Councillor Steed warned that other sites – including the Cowgate Centre in Greenford and several children’s centres across the borough – could also be under threat highlighting growing concerns about service provision as demand continues to rise He said: “Ealing Liberal Democrats are standing up for users of important centres like these at a time when the demand for these services are increasing Ealing Labour are reducing them.” The Liberal Democrats have also questioned whether services from the Michael Flanders Centre may be transferred to privately run facilities such as Sycamore Lodge in Acton or Elm Lodge in Greenford both operated under Private Finance Initiative (PFI) arrangements an Ealing Council spokesperson said: “The decision to expand adult day centre services – including those at Michael Flanders and Cowgate Day Centre – into an improved four-site model was made following a council-led engagement process involving more than 200 residents whose feedback played a key role in shaping the proposals Staff working in adult day centres also participated in the engagement and have been involved throughout the process “The decision was guided by what participants said mattered most: shorter travel times and services tailored to individual needs and interests “The new offer will include longer opening hours – including weekends – providing greater flexibility and support for carers and families Service users will have more choice in selecting activities that match their needs with increased opportunities to engage in their local community “More information about the future of adult day centre services is available on the Around Ealing website “The Michael Flanders centre forms part of the Acton Gardens regeneration scheme The decision to assign this building to the regeneration scheme was taken in 2018 after a public consultation and details of the regeneration scheme can also be found on the Acton Gardens website The council will follow procedures and publish any decision made in line with the constitution.” SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE TO THE EALING.NEWS NEWSLETTER EALING.NEWS is the voice of our 7 towns which provides news sign up to our newsletter email us: news@ealing.news call us: 07488 352 974 Follow us on X: @_EalingNews © 2022 - 2025 EALING.NEWS All rights reserved | Part of Your Local News Network | Contact Us We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again More information about our Cookie Policy Home > Acton and VE Day When the original VE Day (Victory in Europe) was celebrated 80 years ago Borough archivist Dr Jonathan Oates looks at how it marked the big event Acton was dominated by heavy industry in Acton Vale and by many laundries rather than the tower blocks that came to replace them post-war for many years it was clear that the war in Europe could not last much longer with the Allied armies closing in on the heartland of Germany and Hitler having killed himself The town council of Acton and the local churches had already decided to hold a service and parade on the Sunday following the end of hostilities in Europe The plan was to meet at Acton Park for a thanksgiving service and then to parade up the High Street and Acton Hill Local organisations were to take part and the Salvation Army band would provide the music It is worth recalling that many people approached VE Day with mixed feelings he felt gratitude to the servicemen who had fought in the war and especially to those who had been killed He personally did not think there was a need to celebrate This was because the war was not over; only part of it because the Japanese enemy was still undefeated Many families had loved ones who were still serving in the Far East Another commentator observed that ‘we would like a holiday’ but wondered ‘who would do the work?’ He wrote: ‘They would like to fly their flags but there is no rope We would like all the lights to go on again Most of all we would like all our young men back again but that could not be so it would be a relief to see prisoners of war returning from Germany and to travel in buses without the netting on the windows.’ The audiences at the Savoy cinema in east Acton were happy to see the message flash on the cinema screen: ‘The Germans have surrendered’ The organist immediately played God save the King and Land of Hope and Glory and the audience began dancing in the aisles it was too soon – the deputy manager came up to the stage and persuaded the organist to cease because there had been a technical problem and that the message on the screen had not had the end of the message which was ‘in Italy’ When VE Day was announced on Monday 7 May 1945 flags started to appear in the High Street that morning Prams were seen with little union flags and children aged between 8 and 12 were seen ‘striding purposefully along with their larger flags’ ‘You could hardly go round a corner without meeting a man with a stepladder Shops were festooned with bunting and those on King Street had a ‘dignified row of the banners of the United Nations’ The dog at the Globe cinema wore a union flag bow tie Bunting also spread across the streets at Park Road North and Church Road Unofficial bonfires were lit that evening in Acton There was a blaze on Acton Vale that many children who had never yet experienced a bonfire night This was at the allotments site and continued until way past midnight wood from Bromyard Avenue playing field and chestnut palings Children ran home to find any bits of wood they could following a heavy thunderstorm in the night-time buying food and drink for the next two days when the shops would be closed the firemen who tried to hoist a flag on the church tower were unsuccessful the sound of singing could be heard by passers-by: ‘in the middle of the day you could walk along the High Street to hear waves if untuneful song first from oner an then from another.’ A group of young people behind a man pretending to play a cornet couples danced on the green outside the church and the singing continued There were fires seen on almost every street in South Acton Couples danced around each fire and sang to wireless music blaring from houses Pianos were brought out into the street for more musical accompaniment but one piano taken outside one pub was broken up to be used as bonfire firewood two men could be seen by a window calmly playing a game of cribbage There were also services of thanksgiving in all the churches that evening and they were well attended There was more bell ringing by visiting ringers the music was replayed by loudspeakers working from an amplifier as arranged by Fred Thomas from his front room and it continued next day as well with another large bonfire James Darbon was a child at the time and he later had the following recollection writing: ‘From early morning in that day the area was a hive of activity in preparation for the celebration An abandoned gypsy caravan been found in a local coach house and as a base for the focal point of the festivities had been wheeled to the junction of Park Road North and Osborne Road On the roof were Guys representing the three Axis powers: Adolf Hitler (Germany) Benito Mussolini (Italy) and Prime Minister (Japan) The day was spent filling the inside with combustible material and more was thrown on the outside ‘When darkness fell a large crowd witnessed the lighting of the fire There were no fireworks available: the making of explosives had been for other purposes The biggest cheer of the evening came when a local woman symbolically threw her black out curtains into the flames Late into the night it was agreed that it was the best bonfire there had ever been’ These were nothing new to adults and older children because there had been many in Acton in the 1935 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of George V and the coronation of his son in 1937 These were often in working class areas were people often worked in the same place and knew each other to an extent that later became less common These seem to have been held in many Action streets and there were newspaper reports of many of them Often several streets clubbed together so for example over a hundred children from Allison Road Mr and Mrs Elliott of 18 Allison Road organised it and over £14 was collected to pay for the food and drink which was a sacrifice because these were all rationed Tables and chairs from the houses in the street were brought out into the road One small child brought out a white mug with his name and address on it in case it got lost Many of the fathers also took as much a part as the children’ presumably the women were focused on preparing and serving the food and drinks Mrs Harker held a children’s party at 11 Lowfield Road in her back garden She and other mothers had decided on this on Monday and eventually they all went inside and had various party games there instead Some parties were held later; at Seymour Road and Wolsely Road it was on the Sunday 13 May The mayor and mayoress of Acton went to it after having been to the official celebrations The cake at this street party weighed 20 pounds and each child was given a slice and a rose the organisers of the event were all women Flags were flying in the street and as time went on floodlights were used and the event became a party for the adults The Acton newspaper editorial repeated Churchill’s words: ‘When shall the reputation and faith of this generation of English men and women fall where the bird of freedom chirps in human hearts they will look back to what we have done it was realised that the problems of the post-war world would be difficult to deal with after the sound of the bells and the singing disappeared the glow of the fires faded and the sight of the flags lost its fervour It would not be easy to rebuild the world and the country but the difficulties of that time had been overcome and were equally hard VE day was important because it meant the end of the fighting that had began in September 1939 and that a monstrous murderous tyranny had been vanquished forever Western Europe was no longer under the dangers of bombing rationing continued for years and in some way became worse there was still the war in the Far East and that continued for another 3 months The dismantling of the war effort and the transition to a peace economy was also hard and a local example was that just after VE Day there was an announcement that no longer need ed to make parts for military vehicles especially following VJ day in August 1945 The 6 years of war had resulted in many hardships Dr Oates is due to give a talk on this subject at Michael Flanders Resource Centre in Acton on 8 May It is simple to register to receive fortnightly email updates from Around Ealing Extra A to ZJobsDo it onlineContact council News & Features Local history Accessibility Leader’s Notes © Ealing Council 2021 | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy Police have confirmed that two arrests have been made after a teenage boy was stabbed in East Acton police were called to reports of a stabbing in Erconwald Street The incident took place near the junction with Du Cane Road and Old Oak Common Lane Met officers attended with the London Ambulance Service and found two teenage boys who had suffered stab injuries “Despite the efforts of paramedics and responding officers one of the teenagers had tragically died at the scene “He has since been named as 17-year-old Keiron Charles Keiron’s family are being supported by Met officers “The other teenager – aged 16 – was taken to hospital with stab injuries and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder His injuries were assessed as non-life-changing “A third teenager – aged 16 – had left the scene and an urgent investigation commenced to locate him He was arrested in the early hours of Sunday said: “This is an awful incident in which a teenager has lost his life The thoughts of everyone in the Met remain with Keiron’s family and loved ones as they begin to come to terms with their tragic loss “Detectives have worked around the clock to follow every possible available line of enquiry and I’m pleased that we have made two arrests as part of our early enquiries While we are working hard to understand the exact circumstances we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident at this stage “I’d like to appeal directly to anyone who was in the area between 1pm and 1.20pm on Saturday and witnessed the incident Our team are also keen to speak to anyone who might have any other information that might assist us Keiron had his whole life ahead of him and any information might prove vital in achieving justice on behalf of his family.”  Police are appealing to anyone who may have information – no matter how big or small to come forward Anybody who witnessed the incident – or who has any information which can assist with the investigation – should contact the police officers on 0207 175 2206 Harrow Online is a company registered in England and Wales « All Events your Acton’s makers market is back again this year with even more dates A curated market to support local independent artisans and sustainable businesses Featuring over 40 exciting traders that produce quality handmade goods.Explore a truly unique range of delicious treats Road closures part of Churchfield Road will be closed from Burlington Gardens to Alfred Road Privacy Statement Cookie Policy info@thechiswickcalendar.co.uk About The Chiswick Calendar  Newsletter & Club Card by dwmultimedia We may 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for other cookies to get a better experience If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains You can check these in your browser security settings We also use different external services like Google Webfonts Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site Changes will take effect once you reload the page You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page Burglar from Acton Jailed for Three Years Perryn Road House Attacked by Sling Shot Hanaa Bennis Has Her Appeal Rejected Acton Beautician and Painter Guilty of Spying for Russia Nurse from Acton Caught in Police Sting on Grindr A porn actor is currently facing trial at the Old Bailey for the murder of two men including one who worked as a swimming coach at an Acton gym who was employed by the Mode Club on Bromyard Avenue at their Shepherd’s Bush flat at 9 Scotts Road on 8 July 2024 It is then alleged that he cut up their bodies before putting the parts in two suitcases and the attempting to dump them off the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol killed the two men in an attempt to gain access to their savings and get money by selling their home He had been staying at the flat and was in a paid sexual relationship with Mr Alfonso Although his long-term relationship with retired handyman Mr Longworth was described as ‘happy and loving’ Mr Alfonso had a predilection for extreme sex and posted videos of himself being dominated by other men to online porn sites He is believed to have encountered Mosquera through these activities and invited him to the UK to visit They remained in touch after Mosquera returned to Colombia and then Mr Alfonso and Mr Longworth travelled to South American where pictures posted online suggest they met with Mosquera Mosquera came to stay with the couple and Mr Alfonso got him guest membership of the Mode Club and signed him up to play five-a-side football in the area The prosecution alleges that Mosquera had already started to plan to kill the couple and that his search history showed he was looking at house prices and ways to poison people and dispose of bodies It is alleged that he bludgeoned 71-year-old Mr Longworth to death with a hammer and then hid the body The police believe this killing took place between 12:30pm and 1pm Shortly before this time Mosquera was observed closing the curtains in the flat they engaged in sex during which Mosquera cut the throat of 62-year-old Mr Alfonso with a knife with the act being caught on camera which was played to the jury at the trial shows Mosquera naked singing and dancing by the body of Mr Alfonso and then walking over to his computer to access his financial details Both victims were then decapitated before being dismembered and body parts placed in suitcases with the heads and hands left in a chest freezer Mosquera messaged Mr Alfonso’s manager at the Mode Club the morning after the killing from the victim’s phone to say that he travelling to Costa Rica due to a family emergency and wouldn’t be back for around eight weeks Two days later on 10 July Mosquera hired a ‘man with a van’ to drive him and the two suitcases to Bristol and then took them by taxi to the bridge he was unable to lift them over the side to throw them into the river below While he was wheeling them along passersby spotted blood leaking from them which he claimed was oil from car parts in the suit case When challenged he abandoned them both and ran away The police were called and they discovered the body parts as well as the Scotts Road address on the label of one of the suitcases Mosquera was arrested at Bristol Temple Meads train station a few days later wearing a t-shirt which analysis showed had Mr Alfonso’s blood on it This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets We've always done that and won't be changing the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area All payments are made through a secure web site One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute If you do support us in this way we'd be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor We recently caught up with Simone Asquith and the club committee at Acton Ealing Whistlers and their youth section to find out how they retained their Two Star status and their plans for the future What does being an England Football Accredited Club mean to your club Being an England Football Accredited Club is a badge of honour and quality assurance for us It shows that we're committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all our young people to play football It validates the hard work of our committee and it gives parents and players confidence that we're a well-run and reputable club Accreditation is more than just a status – it's a commitment to continuous improvement It helps us to ensure we're following best practices in everything we do from coaching and safeguarding to club administration It also opens opportunities for funding and support that can help us grow and develop even further How did you go about retaining your club's Two Star Accreditation status Retaining our Two Star Accreditation is a team effort We started by reviewing the accreditation criteria and identifying any areas where we could improve We then put together an action plan and worked together to implement it • Updating our policies and procedures  - Ensuring they were in line with the latest FA guidelines • Providing training for our coaches and volunteers: - Making sure all our coaches and volunteers have the necessary skills and knowledge with the help of our Head Coach providing in-situ visits.  • Gathering evidence to demonstrate our progress: - This included gathering feedback from players parents and guardians on an ongoing basis to ensure we provide the best most inclusive and safest environment for our players and wider community We also make sure we engage with our members throughout the process What support did you get from your County FA/The FA during this process Our County FA were incredibly helpful throughout the accreditation process They provided us with guidance and support and they were always available to answer our questions They also offered workshops and training sessions that were valuable for which we had a good take up.  We are ambitious for the future of our club with targeted growth in widening participation We want to continue to grow and provide opportunities for even more young people to play football Our recent successes over the past few years were the setting up of our girls' football and in the near future relaunch our open age women’s team so the girls have a full pathway.  We plan to restart our men’s open age team next season as we have two U18s teams for players to join which will also give them a continued pathway into the men’s game and would be the last piece in the jigsaw in hopefully achieving our 3-star goal.  More recently we have taken on Comets Disability Football Sessions which are up and running currently at Rectory Park on Wednesdays and these are going really well These are the things we as a Club are committed to and we will continue to build on these foundations.  it's definitely something we are working very hard on achieving in the future We believe it's important to always strive for improvement and we're confident that we have the potential to reach that level our focus is on consolidating our current achievements and continuing to provide a high-quality football experience for all our members If your club would like to find out how they can progress through the Accreditation Star levels or develop, please contact development@middlesexfa.com for further information.  member of the House of Lords and Housing Committee for The London Assembly visited Barratt London’s Royal Gateway to see progress at its new North Acton housing development two and three-bedroom apartments comprising private affordable rent and shared ownership homes supporting the regeneration masterplan for North Acton Lord Bailey visited the former brownfield four-acre site to see construction underway and to understand future plans for the development Around £26billion has been earmarked for the wider 1,600-acre regeneration masterplan of the area Lord Bailey said: “Off the back of my London Housing Conference at City Hall last month in attendance by Barratt London and other stakeholders I have been very grateful for the opportunity to visit the Royal Gateway Development in North Acton today to see first-hand how Barratt London is helping with the regeneration of the area In the midst of a housing crisis in our capital developments like this that seek to increase the available stock of housing for Londoners will be vital to helping to get people on the housing ladder.” sales and marketing director at Barratt West London said: “North Acton is a prime location that is already benefitting from investment and regeneration as new developments restaurants and cultural centres open their doors for an influx of residents moving west We are proud to be delivering a diverse range of new homes at Royal Gateway that cater for the needs of London homeowners residents’ lounge and panoramic views across the skyline.” “It was fantastic to show Lord Bailey the progress being made towards completion and our ambitions in supporting the wider regeneration of this thriving London neighbourhood.” Architects Allies and Morrison have designed the apartments with all courtyard facing homes surrounded by green open spaces the development is set to include more than 500 secure ground floor bike parking spaces Copyright © 2025 Show House We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns A trio of London influencers are set to descend on Acton this Bank Holiday Monday as part of a collaboration with one of the capital’s fastest-rising cafes The Diary Room — made up of Aisha Duaa and Muna — will be meeting fans and launching a new drink at Atom Coffee on The Vale Known for their fast-growing YouTube channel and podcast the group have built up a following of over 1.3 million across social media Their appearance marks the debut of “Dream Matcha” a flavour they’ve developed with Atom Coffee which has quickly gone viral since opening in February due to its speciality brews and photogenic desserts which stays open until 11pm from Thursday to Sunday has become a favourite for matcha fans and late-night dessert hunters pistachio cake and a pastel-coloured “cat cake” that’s lit up Instagram One customer will also walk away with free matcha for life — the prize in a giveaway that runs via the cafe’s and Diary Room’s Instagram pages The winner will be announced after the event PROPERTY May 2025 is shaping up to be another special month at ActOne Cinema From award-winning films and live talks to the Royal Ballet there’s never been a better time to swing by our little corner of Acton Stand-up talents take the stage; expect laughs a prize for one lucky audience member and a great vibe Tall Tales: Thom Yorke & Mark Pritchard – Fri 9 May Ocean with David Attenborough + Eco-Artivism Talk – Sun 11 May Watch David Attenborough’s breathtaking new documentary then join artist Francesca Busca for a thought-provoking exhibition and talk on environmental creativity Sound & Vision: Short Film Open Mic Night – Wed 14 May Enjoy an evening of film community creativity Short films of all genres followed by a meet & greet and networking Royal Opera Live: Die Walküre – Wed 14 May Wagner’s timeless masterpiece broadcast live from the Royal Opera House—opera lovers Test your film knowledge in a film quiz – different theme every month The Last Musician of Auschwitz + live talk with Jacqueline Luck – Sat 17 May In collaboration with Generation 2 Generation we are proud to host a live talk and Q&A after the screening with Jacqueline Luck who will present the story of her grandmother The Last Musician of Auschwitz tells the extraordinary story of cellist Anita Lasker-Wallfisch along with other victims of the camp – Jews Poles and Roma – who played and created music amidst the terrors of the Holocaust Ealing Repair Café Mend & Natter – Tue 20 May Ealing Repair café encourages clothes and textiles mending to move away from fast Exhibition On Screen: Michelangelo – Love & Death – Tue 20 May stunning visuals and Michelangelo’s works this new stunning film takes a fresh look at a master artist whose life and genius are celebrated in every mark he made Royal Ballet Live: Ballet To Broadway: Wheeldon Works – Thu 22 May Sensuous contemporary ballet meets the energy of musical theatre in four distinctive short works – broadcast live from the Royal Opera House for one night only Jazz Night with Trent Pieterse Quartet – Sat 24 May powerful crime drama art film and our Classic Matinee – £5 tickets for seniors and free tea coffee and biscuits for a post-screening chat We aim to cultivate an atmosphere of energy so whether you wish to perform or sit back and be entertained Acton Arts Annual General Meeting – Fri 30 May and friends are warmly invited to the Acton Arts CIC AGM A 35-year-old man from Acton has been jailed for his role in a string of highly organised burglaries across Surrey and Kent despite having no ties to the areas targeted were sentenced at Guildford Crown Court on 17 April 2025 to three years and nine months in prison each after pleading guilty to nine offences including seven residential burglaries and two attempted burglaries committed between December 2023 and March 2024 The pair were found to have travelled significant distances to carry out their crimes breaking into 13 homes and stealing thousands of pounds worth of jewellery and other valuables Investigators were able to track their movements using a combination of DNA evidence mobile phone data and distinctive clothing A snood recovered from a vehicle provided the breakthrough when it returned a DNA match allowing police to link Merkohitoj to the burglaries a picture of systematic and calculated offending emerged The men typically approached properties from the rear attempting entry via upper floors before forcing access at ground level—often smashing windows Police analysis revealed a clear and repeated pattern in their approach and one of them was seen wearing the same distinctive black and red trainers during several of the break-ins Investigating officer PC Jordan said: “This was a highly organised series of offences carried out by individuals who deliberately travelled to commit burglaries in areas they had no local connection to Their approach was systematic and consistent key patterns emerged throughout the investigation and those details along with forensic evidence and digital tracking allowed us to build a compelling case against them.” “The sentencing handed down reflects the scale and seriousness of the offending.” St Hugh’s College has announced that Michele Acton the Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) She will adopt the role in September of this year.  Michele Acton commented: “I am delighted and honoured to have been elected as the next principal of St Hugh’s College and to join a community that combines academic excellence with such a friendly Reducing the barriers to an Oxford education was the principle upon which the college was founded and it is one I will work hard to uphold.” Acton began her career in investment banking after studying PPE at Trinity College She has been Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Medicine since 2019 prior to which she worked as Chief Executive of Fight for Sight – a charity leading research nationally into eye health – for twelve years Acton’s work at Fight for Sight oversaw the bringing together of two charities – Fight for Sight and the British Eye Research Foundation – together to form one national charity focused on addressing sight loss Fight for Sight had an £8 million research commitment to scientists and healthcare professionals at over 40 universities and hospitals.  Acton guided the implementation of the RSM’s new strategy for 2021-2026 a response to the intensified pressure placed on healthcare professionals by the pandemic which set out to transform every aspect of RSM’s work and membership The strategy aimed to widen access to healthcare education resources using easily accessible online collections.  St Hugh’s’ Senior Fellow and chair of the election process Professor Adrian Moore FBA commented: “We are thrilled to have elected Michele Acton as our next Principal and her combination of warmth and strategic vision are exactly the qualities St Hugh’s needs as it looks towards the 150th anniversary of its foundation in 2036.”  Current Principal Lady Elish Angioloni KC described Acton as “an outstanding leader in the charity and academic sector” strategic and fundraising experience to St Hugh’s” Professor More commented “Elish has made friends wherever she has gone: we look forward to maintaining our own friendship with her Sign in Join now, it's FREE! host of the CBC show Still Standing, has deemed it worth the drive to Acton for a taping of his show.  He will be joined by a small camera crew on May 23 as he gets to know local businesses talks to residents and takes in the sights and sounds of the town the Acton Business Improvement Area (BIA) is fast tracking its annual beautification projects to get the downtown camera ready “I really want the downtown to pop,” BIA coordinator Matt Galliford said "It's an excuse to push a little harder for certain things that we want to do." The premise of Still Standing is fairly simple: Each episode features a small town its strengths and challenges, but in the end is still standing The host learns everything he can about the municipality This can include exploring the town’s history he presents his findings to a local audience in a free stand-up routine. Acton District School will be the setting for this on May 23 at 7 p.m “Acton District School is so excited to host the show at our school,” said principal Kelli Pfeiffer “This is a wonderful opportunity to highlight our beautiful school and community We send a warm Acton Bearcat welcome to the staff and crew!” CBC Producer Adrian Callendar says the concept for the shoot is still in development and he wasn't able to say where filming will occur in town.  Acton's story will lead the episode. On the agenda is retelling Acton’s storied heyday as 'Leather Town,' a moniker bestowed upon it thanks to the Beardmore Tannery – once considered the largest producer in the British Empire The first segment of the episode is planned to be about that and the Olde Hide House “Our episodes start off with the story of how the town fell on hard times but that accounts for only a small part of the show,” Callendar also said “Still Standing is a celebration of small-town Canada and the many strengths of the cultures and people who live there.” “Viewers will get a little backstory about Acton before we dive into the other side of Acton's story about how the town is still on its feet and as strong as the leather it used to make,” Callendar noted Jonny Harris will gladly talk to any curious locals who want to chat the producers ask bystanders not to follow the crew around as this may impede their production schedule this shoot represents an exciting opportunity — one he hopes will result in a tourism boost for Acton.  “It's going to remind people that Acton is still here It's going to be nice to get the national exposure of the whole coast-to-coast broadcast,” Galliford said Join The Upper Room at St Peter’s Church on Thursday 13 March for a truly unmissable event: the world-famous actor David Tennant writer and podcaster Deborah Frances-White Chiswick’s greatest acting name is to give a talk for The Upper Room to raise money to help them provide support for people who are homeless David has been a constant presence on screen and stage ever since he burst on to the scene as the tenth Doctor Who in 2005 In addition to creating unforgettable characters in iconic TV shows such as Broadchurch he has appeared in numerous films and stage plays winning plaudits recently for his lead role in Macbeth His packed schedule for 2025 includes hosting the BAFTAs in February appearing in the new ITV mini-series The Hack filming The Thursday Murder Club and fronting The Genius Deborah Frances-White is an award-winning comedian and screenwriter as well as the host of The Guilty Feminist podcast Her 2018 book of the same name was a Sunday Times bestseller Originally this event was to be at St Albans Church but due to the popularity of the event it has been moved to St Peter’s Church workshop for people with Dementia; Ealing Council Day services for people with dementia will no longer be provided at the Michael Flanders Centre in Acton the provision of day activities will be moved to Elm Lodge in Greenford and Sycamore Lodge in Acton both Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schemes run privately by third parties “Users will have to get transport to travel much further,” Cllr Gary Malcolm Leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition group on the Council Ealing Council’s Cabinet Member for Healthy Equal Lives The decision was taken by Ealing Council’s Cabinet Member for Healthy Equal Lives as part of the ‘Better Days’ programme ‘Improving Day Opportunities for people with Dementia The relocation of services will rationalise provision offering ‘a greater level of community activities for people attending services,’ says Cllr Knewstub increasing the overall number of sites where day activities will be offered to four subject to agreement with the PFI providers an ‘individual Cabinet Member decision,’ rather than one discussed and agreed by the whole Cabinet or Council is in line with the Cabinet approved ‘Future Ealing: Property Assets and Neighbourhood Offer Programme’ approved in July 2018 paving the way for the Council to sell of the land for redevelopment The paper recommended the Council make better use of assets it owned ‘to improve community outcomes deliver more affordable homes and generate income and savings.’ By characterising this as a decision which is not considered ‘key’ the Council is effectively preventing scrutiny The Liberal Democrats are “appalled that Ealing Labour are evading accountability and transparency in their decision making … and hiding their decisions behind a bureaucratic wall.” “Ealing Labour announced that they will be selling off this prime development land in Acton on 18 April 2025 This follows on from Liberal Democrat Councillor Andrew Steed directly asking Ealing Labour Portfolio holder in December 2024 whether they expect to close the Centre “Ealing Labour cannot be honest and truthful (they have had plans to close the centre since 2018) but were not open when Liberal Democrats asked questions obfuscate and blow smoke in that faces of the residents and opposition by deliberately avoiding scrutiny Ealing Labour have done this by scheming and defining this decision as one which cannot be scrutinised!” The Liberal Democrat spokesman on Adults’ Services (Social Care “Users with dementia often rely on familiarity of location and people as well as security of location to enhance their quality of life “Ealing Labour are introducing uncertainty and increasing the likelihood of more sell offs including the Cowgate Centre (Greenford) and some Children’s centres (across the borough) which are also being reduced impacting the service delivery.” ‘The proposed recommendations have been developed through extensive stakeholder engagement Cabinet agreed recommendations regarding the South Acton regeneration programme and the revised Masterplan This included phased plans for the redevelopment of Acton Gardens including the space occupied by the Michael Flanders Resource Centre.’ Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar See also: Chiswick School shortlisted for prestigious national teaching award See also: London railway robbery rates drop by 18% Looking for something fun to do during the Easter break the Easter Bunny Trail has gained a lot of attention and is always an anticipated event from the community and businesses There will be 25 wooden bunnies hidden around town inside brilliant BID businesses throughout retail areas they will also hide five giant eggs in the Town Centre for extra points… make sure you find them all Market Place and The Vale for businesses displaying the Easter Trail poster and head inside to find out the name of the bunny that lives there Write down the bunny’s name in the boxes given write down the amount you located in its dedicated location zone Then fill out your contact details and hand this form to the collection point for a chance to win Find ten bunnies to win a chocolate (while stocks last and find all 25 bunnies to be entered into a draw to win an Easter hamper full of treats The winners of the draw will be announced on the week of 24 April snap a photo of you doing the trail and post it to social media tagging @YourActonBID and #ActonBunnyTrail A long-awaited pedestrian crossing is finally coming to Southfield Road in Acton after more than a decade of pressure from residents and local Liberal Democrats The decision was confirmed in a report presented at an Ealing Council cabinet meeting on Wednesday (16 April 2025) where Labour-run Ealing Council included the road among several in the borough set to receive pedestrian safety upgrades and other improvements Campaigners have long raised concerns to Ealing Council over speeding and safety on Southfield Road and highlighted their concerns Over the years this has included community speed checks with local police and lobbying the council Southfield Councillor and leader of Ealing Liberal Democrats Gary Malcolm said: “There are lots of children who cross Southfield Road to get to the Southfield Rec and then to their school Liberal Democrats hope the council can consult residents and install it as soon as possible to reduce the number of road safety injuries in the future.” The team behind the annual Acton Carnival are seeking to raise £15,000 to make sure this year’s event can go ahead as planned Community arts group ARTification has launched a GoFundMe fundraiser which it says is needed due to a financial shortfall that threatens the future of the popular Ealing borough event To support the fundraiser, click here EALING.NEWS caught up with Dr Mufarrah Sikandar from ARTification to find out more we remain committed to delivering the Carnival and have submitted multiple funding applications and voluntary contributions while continuing to seek financial backing to ensure the Carnival’s full potential can be realised.” ” ‘Y/OUR Story’ highlights unity through creativity — whether it’s the intergenerational knowledge passed down in our Mas Camps the bold self-expression through street fashion and costume It’s about recognising our differences while celebrating the arts that bind us This theme will be co-shaped by the community through public visioning sessions and performances — truly making it a Carnival of A West London secondary school is set to receive 30 specialist places for children with special educational needs. It is expected that the Specialist Resource Provision (SRP) will open in the next academic year at Ark Acton Academy, in Gunnersbury Lane, Acton following approval by Ealing Council’s cabinet The Ark Acton Academy SRP will primarily be for students with speech This may overlap and support students with autism or physical needs An SRP aims to help students who would struggle to make progress in a mainstream setting without specialist support The idea of having an SRP inside a mainstream school means students who require additional help are able to integrate into mainstream education School Principal Sarah Donachy told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the SRP will help all pupils at the school She said: “There is an ensuing crisis happening across the board at the moment – it’s difficult for everyone in education “We are happy to play an important role for Ealing Council in supporting students with SEN needs… we want our SEN students to thrive like all students and lead a fruitful life “What I’m really excited about is making sure inclusivity is at the heart of everybody’s education We are visiting schools across London… schools where they have a successful SRP and we are on track to meet our September 2025 deadline.” Council documents outline repurposing and remodelling of accommodation at existing schools as key in gripping the continuing increasing demand for SEN places An SRP for 30 places typically accommodates three class bases The estimated cost for the works is £750,000 Ealing Council’s Cabinet Member for a Fairer Start told the LDRS: “Ealing borough’s population is continuing to grow and has more children with more complex needs Although early intervention and inclusion in mainstream education aims to reduce future demand additional places in the borough’s special schools are required to meet this increasing need “Pupils in years 7 to 11 who have speech language and communication needs and/or autism will be offered targeted support to allow them to learn in an environment that meets their needs and we are delighted up to 30 additional places will be made available at Ark Acton Academy helping ensure we are well placed to respond to the increased demand for SEN places and ensure a quality education for all secondary school learners.” The Ealing Council Planning Committee has approved a significant mixed-use development at Brook House This project involves the demolition of the existing building at 65 Stirling Road and the construction of a new industrial-led development The new structure will feature approximately 657 square metres of commercial space on the ground and first floors alongside 49 residential units on the upper floors The development is part of a broader initiative to create a mixed-use area aligning with Policy E7 of the London Plan This policy supports the co-location of industrial and residential uses in designated areas The proposal includes a 24 per cent increase in industrial space offering modern facilities with flexible configurations to suit various occupants the scheme promises a 35 per cent provision of affordable housing by habitable room with a tenure split favouring London Affordable Rent Although slightly below the Reg19 Draft Ealing Local Plan’s objectives The development will also provide five two-bedroom homes under the London Affordable Rent scheme enhancing low-cost housing options for families in the borough This project is consistent with the South Acton Masterplan focusing on quality industrial space and public realm improvements DE VERE partners are the developers and HTA the architects © London West (powered by ukpropertyforums.com) Sign up to receive our weekly free journal, The Forum here and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" UK Property Forums enable forums and events in the property sector which help to create business development opportunities Office Address:UK Property Forums Ltd is located in Reading 0203 478 7340info@ukpropertyforums.com The teenagers were rushed to hospital on Tuesday evening after they were attacked with a knife in west London News | Crime Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice The Metropolitan Police is urging witnesses to come forward after two teenagers were stabbed close to busy Acton High Street were rushed to hospital on Tuesday evening after they were attacked with a knife around Churchfield Road One of the boys received stab wounds to his leg and was taken to a major trauma centre the two teenagers’ wounds are being treated as non-life threatening at this time Investigating officers confirmed on Wednesday that no arrests have yet been made and any witnesses that may have information are being urged to come forward Just Stop Oil protesters charged over allegedly disrupting Sigourney Weaver play Two men arrested after teenager stabbed in east London high street David Tennant and Toby Jones to star in ITV drama about phone hacking scandal Local inquiry into grooming gangs needed in London – former mayoral candidate A police spokesperson said: “On Tuesday, January 28, at 5.30pm, London Ambulance Service called officers to an address on Acton High Street following a reported stabbing were treated at the scene and taken to hospital where their injuries were confirmed to be non-life-threatening.” witnesses are urged to share any information via 101 According to the Ben Kinsella Trust an organisation set up following the stabbing of 17-year-old Ben Kinsella in 2008 there has been an 80% increase in knife-enabled crime in England and Wales over the last decade police recorded 50,973 knife-related offences across England and Wales ONS data reveals that the number of serious knife crime offences recorded in London between the summer of 2023 and 2024 totalled 15,859 The stabbing in Acton came just one day before the release of a new BBC documentary fronted by actor and activist Idris Elba that confronted the reality of the UK’s knife crime crisis In the show families of victims and local authorities to look into what’s causing the rise in knife crime and how it can be tackled safely the UK introduced a ban on zombie knives and machetes but many bladed weapons still remain on UK streets London has witnessed a number of deadly knife crimes over the last few months suggesting that more needs to be done to reduce the amount of weapons in public Kelyan Bokassa was just 14 years old when he was tragically stabbed and killed on a London bus earlier this month, leading to the arrest of two teenagers This month, an 18-year-old man was also found guilty of murder in a separate case after stabbing to death schoolgirl Elianne Andam over an altercation about a teddy bear VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from her hospital bed after surgery Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from hospital David Beckham extends olive branch to son Brooklyn amid 'family feud' A group of six Bulgarians based in the UK including two men who were living in Acton and Greenford have been convicted of spying for Russia 33 of Greenford pleaded guilty before the trial to spying while Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev 39 of Acton was found guilty of conspiracy to spy after a three-month trial at the Old Bailey head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said: “These convictions have been achieved as the result of an extremely complex investigation into a group that was carrying out sophisticated surveillance operations in the UK “This case is a clear example of the increasing amount of state threat casework we are dealing with in the UK – particularly linked to Russia It also highlights a relatively new phenomenon whereby espionage is being ‘outsourced’ by certain states “While the outsourcing of espionage activity might suggest that recent efforts by the UK to thwart direct Russian activity have been effective it means that we also have to guard against this new kind of emerging threat “But regardless of the form the threat takes this investigation shows that we will take action to identify and disrupt any such activity that puts UK national security and the safety of the public at risk.” The court heard that detectives from the Met’s Counter terrorism Command sifted through more than 200,000 messages and seized hundreds of items after a co-ordinated series of raids and arrests were carried out on 8 February 2023 a 33-room former hotel belonging to Orlin Roussev was found to contain items including sophisticated spying equipment such as listening devices concealed cameras and a fake ID card printer was in direct contact with Jan Marsalek – an Austrian national who was identified as working with the Russian intelligence services The investigation team identified six core spying ‘plots’ the group were involved in This included activity that targeted two investigative journalists who were seen as reporting stories contrary to the interests of the Russian state A former senior Kazakh politician who lived in the UK was also targeted and the group planned to stage protests at the Kazakhstan embassy in London Both operations were part of an elaborate plan to help the Russia state gain favour with Kazakhstan The group also carried out surveillance at a US military site in Germany where they believed Ukrainian soldiers were being trained Another man who was designated as a ‘foreign agent’ by Russia was also targeted by the group during surveillance operations in Montenegro Officers found that Roussev was directing the group’s activity and was receiving tasks through his contact with Marsalak Dzambaszov was effectively the second in command The other four were all found to be involved in the execution of various espionage and surveillance activities across the UK and Europe in relation to the six plots identified by detectives Gaberova and Ivanchev were all found guilty of conspiracy to spy contrary to Section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 after a three-month trial at the Old Bailey Roussev and Dzhambazov pleaded guilty before the trial started to conspiracy to spy contrary to Section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 Stoyanov pleaded guilty before the trial to spying contrary to section 1(1)(c) of the Official Secrets Act 1911 The group will be sentenced at the Old Bailey in May A 61-year-old mum from Acton who lost her leg last year after battling cancer will be joining her 25-year-old daughter by taking part in next month’s London Marathon to raise money for the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH). will walk 10% of the marathon – 2.62 miles – while her daughter Georgia will be running the full 26.2-mile race on 27 April 2025 The duo are raising funds to support ongoing cancer treatment and rehabilitation services at RNOH through RNOH Charity Jeanette was first diagnosed with muscular sarcoma in 2000 after discovering a lump in her right leg and completed surgery and radiotherapy at the Royal Marsden Hospital meaning she needed an operation at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) to straighten her ankle and toes so she could walk normally Jeanette found a small lump behind her knee which following a scan was revealed as aggressive osteosarcoma Doctors at RNOH said the best course of action was an above-knee amputation and surgery took place in February 2024 just days before Georgia moved to New Zealand for work I was glad to have the surgery because I was in so much pain The staff at RNOH Stanmore did an amazing job to get me home the day after my birthday and so I could be home for the weekend before Georgia moved to New Zealand.” which was made even tougher by reduced cardiac function from previous treatments she was given a life-changing opportunity – a place in a trial for a prosthetic leg with an adjustable socket meaning she didn’t have to wait until after chemo to start learning to walk again Georgia said: “I’m really looking forward to the event The support and atmosphere in London are supposed to be some of the best in the world I get to combine it with a trip back home to see friends and family it will be a great achievement for my mum to walk 2.62 miles less than a year after her last setback and her determination to walk again.” Donations can be made by clicking here. Home > Breaking ground on more homes in South Acton The regeneration of a South Acton estate hit a new milestone last week Ealing Council leader Peter Mason broke the first ground on the site at Acton Gardens during a special ceremony on Wednesday 4 December During this new phase of the work at the estate including 67 genuinely affordable homes to let to local people on lower incomes The regeneration of the estate is one of the largest projects of this kind in the borough Work started on the 20-year masterplan first began in 2012 with approximately 40% to be let at genuinely affordable rents to people on the council’s housing waiting list Councillor Mason said: “This is another step on the path to delivering more desperately needed genuinely affordable homes-to-let at Acton Gardens we are breathing new life into the South Acton area “By also adding to vibrant new shared spaces like the Bollo Brook Youth Centre the transformative regeneration of the South Acton estate is creating a better connected more inclusive neighbourhood where people can access work and essential services on their doorsteps.” As well as the genuinely affordable homes to let this new phase of development will also include 24 flats for shared ownership – a scheme to help people get on the property ladder by buying a share of a home A further 116 homes will be sold on the open market the first new homes are expected to be completed in late 2025 All former secure tenants of the old estate have been given the option to move into one of the new homes The council is working closely on the regeneration of the estate with Vistry Group through its Countryside Partnerships brand This phase has been designed by Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects said: “This is a significant moment that we are proud to mark with our partners at L&Q and Ealing Council Through the delivery of the 1,000th affordable home these phases demonstrate how our 50% affordable housing commitment is making a difference high-quality new homes helping to address the urgent housing need in Ealing growth director at L&Q added: “We are delighted to mark this huge milestone together with our partners At L&Q our mission is to deliver homes and neighbourhoods that everyone can be proud of – and not only are we proud of the work we’ve been doing for the past 10 years but we are very excited about these future phases.” as well as the significant number of social housing already built on site reaffirms our commitment to tackling the housing crisis.” Housebuilding giant Barratt London is offering 10 three-bedroom penthouse apartments priced from £1.25m to £1.5m at its new Royal Gateway development located in Acton and just off the A40 sales and marketing Director at Barratt West London said: “London isn’t short on penthouses penthouses with concierge services are few and far between.” Mr Antoniazzi added: “It’s not just the views that future residents and investors will benefit from As one of London’s best-connected areas Acton boasts fast transport links that will only improve with the arrival of Old Oak Common Royal Gateway will add to the area’s vibrant community offering diverse housing options for first-time buyers With strong capital growth potential and high rental demand these penthouses mark an exciting milestone for the development and Acton.” the six building development of up to 16 storeys will consist of 300 one two and three-bedroom apartments and which will be available as private sale Each property will feature a balcony or terrace Prices start from £450,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and from £600,000 for a two-bedroom apartment Among the features and facilities Royal Gateway will offer include concierge This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.