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Read our Privacy notice A woman who denies having an illegal abortion said she was “very shocked” after learning she was pregnant took abortion medicine at home on November 6 2020 and brought the foetus to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in a backpack the next day She is charged with “unlawfully administering to herself a poison or other noxious thing” with the “intent to procure a miscarriage” Packer wept as she gave evidence at her trial at Isleworth Crown Court in south-west London on Thursday telling the jury she has never wanted children and that she believed the chances of getting pregnant in 2020 were “basically none” due to her age Asked why she did not believe she was pregnant during the Covid lockdown period, Packer told jurors that she showed “no signs” as her breasts were not sore, she did not feel sickness or fatigue and she only gained a small amount of weight. Her lawyer Fiona Horlick KC asked: “Was there anything to indicate to you that you were pregnant?” Ms Horlick also asked: “Did you feel any foetal movement?” She took a pregnancy test on November 2 after experiencing stomach aches, though she did not believe that she was pregnant, jurors heard. Asked how she felt when it came back positive, Packer said: “I was very shocked. “I didn’t think I was pregnant… I was very, very shocked that it said positive.” She added: “As I know I don’t want children I knew I would want a termination.” Asked if that was her immediate reaction, Packer replied: “Yes.” Packer, then 41 years old, took prescribed medications mifepristone and misoprostol when she was around 26 weeks pregnant, the court has heard. The legal limit for at-home abortions is 10 weeks. It is alleged that Packer knew she had been pregnant for more than 10 weeks, which she denies. The typical full gestation term is 40 weeks and the outer limit for abortions in the UK is 24 weeks. Passengers can now benefit from step free access to both platforms at Isleworth station following the completion of a multi-million pound upgrade of the station and the surrounding area funded by Network Rail and the London Borough of Hounslow The newly upgraded station was formally opened by Mayor of Hounslow South Western Railway (SWR) and London Borough of Hounslow Council The station now boasts two new lifts either side of the raised platforms thanks to a £1m investment from Hounslow Council and funding from the Department for Transport’s (DfT) ‘Access for All’ scheme (via Network Rail) accessible route from the station entrance to the platforms.  The Council has also carried out works to improve cycle access to the station from St John’s Road and is currently consulting with station-users about a range of upgrades that will further improve accessibility and safety following a feasibility study funded by the South Western Railway Customer and Communities Improvement Fund The proposed new measures include new street furniture wayfinding and planting to improve the surrounding public realm first opened in 1850 and in the past year saw 780,000 passengers started or ended their journey* The improvements at Isleworth station are part of a wider scheme of upgrades to a number of stations across Network Rail’s Southern region helping make the railway more accessible for all said: “We’re working constantly to remove barriers to make the railway easier to use for everyone so I’m delighted that all platforms now have direct step-free access as part of the Access for All scheme at Isleworth station “We welcome the continued investment from the DfT to support us in making even more stations fully accessible and we have a number of other stations across our Southern region that are currently being upgraded or about to benefit from accessibility improvements in the coming months We are also grateful for the support of Hounslow Council to improve access to the station and the enthusiasm in which they are supporting the railway “We would like to thank passengers and local residents for their patience and understanding while we carried out this work and we hope passengers enjoy this newly upgraded station and surrounding area." Customer and Commercial Director for South Western Railway said: “We’re very pleased to see these new lifts unveiled at Isleworth which in line with Hounslow London Borough Council’s ambition of making all of its stations step-free will make this station fully accessible for the very first time “This is the first of five new footbridges that are due to open across our network this year “We know just how big a difference these accessibility improvements make to customers and our local communities which is why they’re a key part of our accessibility strategy.” said: ‘‘I’m delighted that these new lifts will be open at Isleworth Train Station I know that it will make a huge difference to improving the accessibility of the station and ensuring that residents locally can make the most of the station It’s so important that we improve the accessibility of our train stations to ensure everyone feels safe and able to use our trains at all times of the day and no matter what sort of journey is being  made These improvements come after many years of campaigning by residents Hounslow Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate said: “We are thrilled to see the installation of accessible lifts at Isleworth Station This marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to make public transport more inclusive and accessible for all residents we have conducted accessibility audits at all national rail and TfL stations in the borough We are working with the operators on improvement plans “We are pleased to say Kew Bridge and Gunnersbury stations have been awarded Access for All funding for us to explore the possibility of step-free access These improvements will make travelling easier for individuals with disabilities ensuring that everyone can move around our community with greater ease and independence.” *According to Office of Rail and Road data for the 2022-2023 period to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years The TimesIsleworth crown court will shut the doors on five of its fourteen courts from March because of the cap on the number of “sitting days” that the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) will fund according to a note from the west London court’s resident judge While the backlog of crown court cases hit a record of more than 73,000 said that the court has already been sitting at a reduced capacity is also dealing with the “knock-on effect of the failure of heating to our cells” As a result Edmunds said he has directed that some long trials be vacated Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city Published on 30th July 2024 by ianVisits in Transport News Isleworth station in southwest London is the latest to receive step-free access after two new lifts were added The station now boasts two new lifts on either side of the raised platforms thanks to funding from the Department for Transport’s (DfT) ‘Access for All’ scheme (via Network Rail) plus £1m from Hounslow Council It has a main entrance on the London-bound side and a passageway underneath the tracks to the southbound platform What’s been installed is a lift next to the passageway for outbound traffic and another lift outside the station near the main entrance for London-bound traffic As the station doesn’t have ticket barriers having the lift outside the station isn’t an issue so people can walk in one side and out the other—avoiding the need to reverse back out if in a wheelchair The original plans for one of the lifts wouldn’t have included that but they were able to change the design later to accommodate it A notable feature of these lifts though is the colour — they’re very yellow The newly upgraded station was formally opened last week by Mayor of Hounslow The opening plaque says the lifts were opened in July This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" and the latest news published on ianVisits You can unsubscribe at any time from my weekly emails © ianVisits estimates the studio will create over 3,000 permanent jobs News | London A historic West London landmark is set to be refurbished to make way for new ‘state-of-the-art’ film studios The Gillette Factory in Isleworth will undergo major redevelopment after Hounslow Council’s Planning Committee gave the green light to the plans on Monday (March 17) Six new large sound stages will be built alongside several offices workshops and a café accessible to the public None of the listed components of the site will be demolished however other non-listed buildings will be knocked down the multi-storey car park and various smaller outbuildings and the south wing of the Campbell’s Building will be retained and refurbished Extensions will be added to some of these buildings to accommodate the modern film studio facilities A number of concerns were raised by Historic England, Sky Historic England flagged that one of the proposed sound stages will be visible behind the Gillette Factory which could potentially diminish the prominence of the iconic clock tower following design improvements the organisation accepted the plans Syon Lane is already a heavily congested junction which could be exacerbated by the development A number of road improvements are expected including restricting A4 access to emergency vehicles only to prioritise pedestrians and cyclists Public transport access to the site is also considered to be poor The development is expected to generate an additional 108 bus trips at morning peak time This is predicted to lead to overcrowding of bus routes for which TfL has requested £1.15 million to cope with the likely demand A new six-storey car park is also proposed This has raised concerns about car dependency and congestion as the site proposes 522 per cent more car parking spaces than the London Plan would permit It is estimated the development will create 801 construction jobs and 3,404 net additional permanent jobs has outlined plans to ensure 1,430 of the permanent jobs will be taken by residents of the London Borough of Hounslow Leisure and Public Spaces at Hounslow Council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the area will play a ‘vital role’ in Hounslow’s future 'I'm from an era when people got naked' 'Outstanding' Rachel Zegler praised in first reactions to controversy-hit Snow White Past AXA Startup Angel winners share their tips He said: “The iconic Gillette Building on the Golden Mile is a vital part of Hounslow’s history and now the area will play a vital part in Hounslow’s future as a burgeoning hub for film production and the creative enterprises Hounslow Council is working on its new 10-year Culture Strategy that aims to turn the borough into a thriving destination for culture sitting within a Creative Enterprise Zone and one of our key focus areas for growth and jobs not just as a place where culture is consumed The development was unanimously approved by the Hounslow Planning Committee, subject to completion of Section 106 agreements and Stage 2 Greater London Authority approval 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 VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer UK tourists face major travel shake-up as Dubai airport set to close Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints Isleworth Man Jailed for Life for Murder of Reece Newcombe Brentford Tree Surgeon Jailed for Making Racist Chants Brentford Man Targeted Designer Watch Owners Brentford Drug Driver Jailed for Causing Head-on Collision A 25-year-old man from Isleworth has appeared at the Old Bailey charged with offences relating to the killing of a 24-year-old man in last month Hamid Hamdi of Summerwood Road is accused of causing the victim Dontae McLaren grievous bodily harm with intent Both were remanded in custody to appear at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday Dontae McLaren was killed in the early hours of Sunday 29 September after a large brawl involving around 20 participants some of whom were using knives broke out outside the Dirty Blonde night club on Wandsworth Road The police were called to the scene at 4:05am and paramedics attempted to save Mr McLaren’s life before pronouncing him dead at the scene Specialist officers continue to support his family has previously appeared in court charged with Mr McLaren’s murder after being arrested on 1 October He is next due to appear at the Old Bailey on 23 December Two other victims were taken to hospital where they were treated for injuries 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 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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 defendants in custody could not attend Isleworth Crown Court because the court’s cells were ‘too cold’ Issues with heating resulted in freezing conditions in the cells at Isleworth on two days last week causing significant delays in court proceedings as prisoners could not be produced to attend sentencing Failures to deliver prisoners cause disruptions in court proceedings as trials are postponed or adjourned to ensure that defendants have the right to attend court. These incidents exacerbate the ongoing backlog crisis in the criminal justice system courtrooms were left unused for significant periods on the 19 and 20 November Last year the Ministry of Justice reported that the daily cost of a Crown Court sitting day is £3,036 excluding the costs of corporate overheads and the spending by legal aid or the Crown Prosecution Service In December 2022, a similar incident occurred at Isleworth Crown Court. Idle Courts, an account that records the use of courts in England reported that ‘all [defendants] in custody were taken back to prison after lunch as the temperature had dropped below that permissible in the cells’ The temperature continues to be an interfering factor within the English and Welsh criminal justice system as courtrooms which are either too hot or too cold prevent trials from being heard adding to the ever-growing backlog of cases and leaving victims and defendants waiting years for justice 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 A 66-year-old woman has denied killing a five-year-old child by scalding her in a hot bath in 1978 Janice Nix was charged in February over the death of Andrea Bernard, who was taken to hospital after she suffered burns in Thornton Heath, south London, on June 6 1978, the Metropolitan Police said Andrea was treated at a hospital in Croydon before being transferred to a specialist burns unit in East Grinstead but died from her injuries on July 13 that year The defendant, of Rodenhurst Road, Clapham, south-west London, appeared at the Old Bailey on Wednesday where she denied one count of manslaughter She also denied another charge relating to alleged cruelty to Andrea’s brother Desmond Bernard between October 1 1975 and June 6 1978 Family's pain over murder of man whose remains were found by railway tracks Tanita Tikaram returns to London after almost a decade for a live performance Kids Company report has ‘chilling impact’ on charity sector Babolat x Lamborghini: One of the world’s most expensive Padel racket launches The defendant was aged between 16 and 19 at the time of the alleged incidents A previous hearing at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court heard that on June 6 1978 Andrea had been forced into a very hot bath which scalded 50% of her body The Metropolitan Police said the force launched an investigation into Andrea’s death in September 2022 The court heard the incident was reported to police at that time by Mr Bernard Nix was freed on bail with conditions including to surrender her passports and not to go to any international travel hubs She is due to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on March 27 where a trial date is expected to be set Published on 28th March 2025 by ianVisits in London News Heat from sewage being processed at the Mogden Sewage Works in Isleworth could heat local buildings as the local council has applied for funding to build a heat network for the area water from the sewage plant is pumped into the rivers but it is warm enough to be useful if the heat could be transferred from the wastewater to something useful To tap into this wasted heat source, Hounslow council has requested up to £11m of funding from the government’s Green Heat Network Fund the money will be used to develop detailed plans and subsidise a £53m project that could be ready as early as 2029 Once operational, the Hounslow Heat Network will extract the heat from the sewage outflows using a heat pump and transfer it to clean water which is pumped to buildings in buried insulated pipes which transfers heat from the heat network pipe to its own heating system it’s three isolated systems linked by heat exchangers the sewage-treated water is warmed to about 20 degrees celsius so isn’t generally hot enough to use on its own and some heat will be lost in the transfer process — but if you want hot water at the point of use starting with warm water still generates a significant saving there’s no risk of sewage water getting into homes (issues of sewage getting into the Thames are unrelated to his project) making it the third largest sewage works in the UK and has plenty of surplus heat to give away The energy supplied by the network will initially heat around 30 major buildings in Isleworth and Brentford including those at the West Middlesex Hospital public buildings and large residential blocks An added advantage to this process is that the final effluent discharged to the Thames is thus cooler than it would have been said it paved the way for more efficient heating in the borough She said: “Many buildings still rely on gas and we have seen very recently that can put us at the mercy of hugely expensive cost spikes in even before we take account of the cost to the environment This is certainly the lowest cost option for low carbon heating and there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t be doing it This is tried and tested technology used extensively in Scandinavian countries for decades it’s too early to say if implementation will mean cheaper bills but we believe it offers some protection against the wild fluctuations in energy prices that we’ve seen in the past few years we would like to consider rolling out the heat network to other areas of the borough.” Intetesting would like to be kept updated re progress what happened to the older posts link at the bottom of the articles I found them useful due to my erratic ‘batch mode’ article viewing catchups Evening Standard analysis of key seats in London for the July 4 General Election News | Politics Millions of voters across London went to the polls on July 4 to elect the new Government The Standard looked at key battleground seats in the capital and published an interactive map of the results BRENTFORD AND ISLEWORTH WINNER: RUTH CADBURY Top five candidates (in alphabetical order): Laura Blumenthal - Conservatives (10,183 votes) Ruth Cadbury - Labour (20,007 votes) Kuldev Singh Sehra - Liberal Democrats (3,863 votes) Freya Summersgill - Green Party (4,029 votes) Area: This constituency includes ten Hounslow wards of Brentford East I’m not sure if I’m in this constituency: Here’s how you can check New Plans To Be Submitted for Griffin Park Development Holland House at 6 Church Street is a self-contained four storey Georgian Grade II listed building with period features throughout including a feature staircase The date of construction is not known but the oldest parts of the house are believed to have been built around 1774 It is from a period in the development of Isleworth when many mansions and large houses for aristocrats and the well-off were established in the area Its name is understood to come from a Mr Holland who ran a school from the building including a half basement and a dormer windowed attic The existing building has been remodelled several times with the current use being office although it is not clear when it stopped being used as a residence A two-storey stucco façade faces Isleworth Road and this was originally the front of the property Church Street is now the front entrance and has bay windows facing out towards the river The application (P/2024/3317) is to convert it into three two-bedroom flats and two studios The conversion would not require any work on the exterior of the building and the Heritage Statement submitted on behalf of Concept Bespoke Interiors Ltd states that the period features will remain untouched Permission has already been given in principle for conversion back to residential A marketing report concluded that it would be difficult to let out the offices which previously had been offered for £8,426 per month We’ve always done that and won’t be changing 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 PROPERTY Ashes Legend Coaches at Bolder Academy Exceptional GCSE Results for Brentford and Isleworth Students Outstanding Performances from Isleworth and Syon Sixth Formers There was a series of exceptional performances from local sixth formers in exams results published this Thursday morning (15 August) Gunnersbury School continued its record of success with 40% of grades at A’Level A*/A; and 68% A*-B grades 94% of BTEC students achieved Distinction/D* Students are now moving on to world-leading universities including Imperial College London They will be embarking upon a vast a range of subjects such as: Mechanical Engineering ‘We are immensely proud of all our Year 13 students for the continued hard work and effort that they have put into their studies allied to the wonderful support provided by their families and teachers We send to each and every one of our departing Year 13s our best wishes for their studies and lives ahead exciting experiences and successes in the future." Isleworth & Syon School Year 13 cohort’s top performer in A Levels was Mikaeel Shah who is heading to read mathematics at Trinity College He achieved a clean sweep of A* grades – four in total including both maths and further maths This was no surprise after Mikaeel represented the United Kingdom at the International Maths Olympiad this June He will be joined in Cambridge by Elliot Heath who achieved 2 A*s and an A to earn a place at Fitzwilliam College Elliot will read psychological and behavioural science and the school hopes he continues to complement his studies with his love and increasing success as a middle- and long-distance athlete Mikaeel’s maths classmate James Skinner will continue his study of the subject along with physics; he earned three A*s and one A As one of this year’s Deputy Head Students James is described as an exemplary member of the school community and a true role model for younger students is heading to the University of Manchester with an A* and two As – to study philosophy politics and economics (PPE) and pursue his dream of serving his country as an MP Will Hemmings has a similar vision for his future and will hope his history and politics degree at York can help him to achieve it Dalbir Gill is also heading to Manchester for an undergraduate engineering degree this September; his two A*s in maths and physics are ideal preparation for a potential aerospace engineering career scored identical grades and will continue their journey together by studying computer science in Southampton – the school says it is proud of their journey as they have displayed great progress in Sixth Form to achieve their success Two students head to Loughborough University but on different pathways – Elliot Heath pursuing psychology and Priyanshu Verma on a journey towards finance Results across the creative subjects at the school were strong particularly in fine art who will combine that with an A and a B to pursue his dream of becoming an architect at Cardiff the school also ran a successful music vocational course; one of its graduates has already begun an audio-visual apprenticeship at the Institution of Engineering & Technology the school’s first ever female Co-Head Student and a key member of the school’s ambassador programme a B and a C and heads to Imperial College London to read material science and engineering Ruby Balfe studied a blended A level and vocational pathway whilst in the Sixth Form – an ever-more popular choice for students She received a double Distinction* in her CTEC sport double award which the school says is richly deserved after her outstanding commitment to our embedded Sports Leadership programme in school a career pathway she hopes to pursue following a gap year Co-Headteachers Simon Fisher and Jo Higginbottom commented “Congratulations to all students for their results today – their commitment resilience and work ethic has been second-to-none as well as their families for supporting the school and their children we wish them well – they continue to inspire us every single day We are proud to have supported this latest cohort of Isleworthians through their journeys from young boys into men and we look forward to keeping in touch and hearing about their amazing achievements.” Gumley House Sixth Form is celebrating lots of individual and subject successes including Maths and Further Maths with 87% of students achieving A* - C grades and 83% of students studying a language receiving grades of A* - B Ruben who joined Gumley House Sixth Form from Tiffin School is excited to start his journey to becoming a political journalist following his 3 B’s in Psychology She’s now following her dream to study Medicine at the University of Leicester Lily is celebrating an A and 2 Bs in Psychology Geography and Politics and can’t wait to have more success during her time at Liverpool University where she will study Business Management “The Gumley community is unique” said Olivia following her results in Biology Olivia discussed the mentoring programmes which allowed her to track her progress and the encouraging environment in enabling her to secure her place at Exeter University to study neuroscience calm independent study opportunities at Sixth Form and advises younger students to have good time management She says was a key skill for her to secure her A level results (2 x A*s and 2 x As) in Physics Hoi Ying is looking forward to starting her degree in Electronic Engineering at UCL Ahmad wanted to thank the teachers who supported his journey to Southampton University to study Medicine with a view to becoming a surgeon Students results mark another year of excellent academic and personal excellence of our students and staff Our students have worked tirelessly to achieve their ambitious and I am sure that this is just the beginning of many more successes to come with students already carving out ambitious careers and pathways we are a close community with a powerful network of staff working together to ensure the best outcomes for all our young people This is evident in our overjoyed students now accepting places at their first-choice universities and embarking on exciting apprenticeships and successful careers The results attained today are a tribute to our students’ ambition dedication and the unrivalled support from our teachers and support staff who inspire students every day to achieve their potential Well done to the Class of 2024 – I wish you every success and hope to welcome you back as part of our alumni.” Executive Headteacher of The Green School Trust “We’re absolutely delighted and proud of our students for achieving their excellent A-Level and BTEC results These students are trailblazers - being the first cohort of Green School for Boys and the first Year 13 students to join with our Year 13 girls at The Green School Sixth Form judged as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted this year Their dedication and commitment to their studies and contribution to our school communities has been inspiring We would like to thank our staff and families for enabling our students to flourish and develop as caring young adults - epitomising our Trust motto of ‘Expanding Hearts and Minds’.” 73% of A Level results were awarded at grades A*- C with 6.2% at top grade A* 44 students passed the new advanced technical qualifications these programmes can support young people to progress to higher and degree- level apprenticeships joined students at The Green School for Girls in Isleworth and said "I am immensely proud of our students for their achievements I also want to thank the teachers who work tirelessly to support our young people in unleashing their potential especially those with special educational needs who often require additional assistance in both learning and wellbeing We are fortunate that all secondary schools in Hounslow are recognised by Ofsted as either ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ ensuring the best outcome for our young people.” Students who are still unsure about their next steps can access free information, advice and guidance from Hounslow Connexions by attending weekly drop-ins in Hounslow House on Tuesday between 3pm and 5pm and by calling 020 8583 5151. They can also visit Hounslow Council’s Youth Skills and Employment Guarantee (YSEG) website to find out more about career pathways available in the borough the proportion of A-level entries awarded top grades increased compared with 2023 and is now above that seen before the pandemic This current cohort was in Year 9 when schools were shut due to Covid-19 and was the first to sit GCSEs when they were reintroduced 27.8% of entries were awarded an A or A* grade up by 0.6 percentage points on last year and higher that the 25.4% seen in 2019 The proportion awarded the top A* grade this year has risen by 0.4 percentage points to 9.3% and it is higher than 2019 when it was 7.7% Excluding the pandemic years this is the highest proportion of the starred grade given out since it was first available in 2010 243,650 18-year-old applicants from the UK have been accepted at a university or college up 6% from last year Boys have pulled further ahead of girls at the top grade with 9.5% scoring an A* compared with 9.1% of girls reversing the position during the pandemic 49.4% of independent school candidates scored grade A or above in all subjects compared with 22.3% of those at comprehensive schools a wider gap that seen in previous years Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said in an interview on Times Radio “They’ve been through an awful lot in recent years and they’ve shown tremendous resilience and they’ve had fantastic support from the staff and teachers within their schools and colleges and it’s a big and exciting day for them.” St Mary’s Isleworth ran clay workshops over the summer half-term where young and old created air-drying clay sculptures The theme of the workshops was hope – we prompted the participants with a few questions like and “how do you share hope with others?” Each participant was given a block of clay some tools and with guidance and practical advice from local artists they set about creating something that represented or gave them hope Some of the older participants commented they had not created anything from clay since leaving school more than fifty years ago but after a hesitant start they loved the feeling of moulding and shaping the clay People loved being able to sit around tables with people they had never met before to share ideas and inspiration Hearing about what hope meant to each person and how it impacted their lives was a definite highlight of the workshops The creations were varied ranging from rainbows to a hippo Each participant was encouraged to write a small explanation of why this represented hope St Mary’s Isleworth is a local church on the border of Isleworth and Hounslow which serves a varied local community During the lockdowns a temporary outdoor art installation on the theme of hope attracted widespread local interest ‘Meditations on Hope’ sought to build on that interest and theme St Mary’s has been inspired by the Diocese of London’s vision for Creative Growth and have run a variety of new regular activities reaching the community including healing cafes outdoor services and a toddler group exploring biblical themes This creative approach has lead to sustained growth at the church particularly with families and young adults as well as those struggling with their mental health “No matter what your surroundings suggest or look like… there is always hope for growth” so too can you survive being chewed up by a monster” “A little light in dark moments can make the difference” “Hope keeps our head above the water” “The weight of expectation can make us lose our shapes but we somehow find a way to support one another” “The hard things come and go – hold onto hope” because without love no one has hope” ©2024 Diocese Of London | Manage Consent | Website Isleworth Man Convicted of Murder Outside Night Club Hundreds Turn Out for Anti-racism Protest in Brentford Police Prepare for Expected Disorder in Brentford Teenager Stabbed on Woodlands Road Jail for Colombian who Targeted Local Gay Community Brentford 'Gangster' Convicted of Murdering Rapper A 34-year-old man from Isleworth who killed Reece Newcombe by stabbing him with a piece of broken glass has received a life sentence Ross Hamilton of Wood Lane had been unanimously found guilty of murder by a jury at the Old Bailey in September and last Friday (11 October) the judge stipulated that he must serve a minimum of 19 years minus time served Prior to the murder he was described as ‘spoiling for a fight’ outside the Viva night club in Richmond in the early hours of 30 November 2022 An after party was taking place following the World Cup match between England and the USA Hamilton was not in the club but had been agitated and behaving aggressively outside He had already assaulted another person and had remained in the vicinity for around half an hour taunting security staff and those queueing for taxis decided to intervene and a fight ensued between him and Hamilton in which he was stabbed in the neck with the glass Hamilton had hidden on his person Onlookers came to his aid and emergency CPR was administered by police officers who arrived before paramedics and an Air Ambulance Reece was then taken to hospital but pronounced dead a few hours later An off-duty police officer followed Hamilton and was able to give a description of the car he was driven away in and the direction it went realising he was the subject of a major manhunt Hamilton handed himself in at Acton police station Hamilton attended Acton police station two days later and handed himself in knowing that he was the subject of an extensive police manhunt was the grandson of iconic boxer Harry Holland who opened his own boxing camp in Hogarth Youth Club in Chiswick in the 1970s is the owner of the West Side Gym in Hounslow and its sister club in Isleworth on the Ivybridge estate Following a stabbing on the Ivybridge in 2016 John played a major part in developing the boxing gym on the estate Detective Inspector Kevin Martin of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command said after the sentence was announced “Reece was simply out having a good night with friends He had recently become a father and had so much to look forward to yet his senseless violence took Reece’s life It is clear that Hamilton was ‘spoiling for a fight’ that night attempting to square up to a number of people in the run up to the murder Choosing to hide a broken piece of glass is an indication of the level of pre-meditation in his actions Striking Reece in the neck meant he stood no chance of defending himself and Hamilton would have known that aiming directly for that area was likely to have catastrophic consequences.” “Today brings an end to the proceedings in the Reece Newcombe murder – but Reece's family will continue to be affected by their tragic loss for many years to come “His death was senseless and needless and while nothing can bring him back to those who loved him I hope that knowing Hamilton is facing many years behind bars will bring them a measure of satisfaction A spokesperson for Reece Newcombe’s family said: “Nearly two years have passed since we lost our beautiful Reece “Reece in life was the shining light at the centre of our loving family That light was brutally snubbed out by the murderous moronic actions of Ross Hamilton “Many serious incidents involving Hamilton were recorded on CCTV as he bullied his way throughout the night “This resulted in him arming himself with a lethal weapon moments before deliberately striking our beloved Reece in the neck with a broken bottle “This culminated in the death of a 31-year-old loving father of two baby girls in the early hours of that fateful dreadful morning “Reece was only able to enjoy being a father to his baby daughter for five months His second daughter whom he would never get to see was born the following summer of 2023 “The outpouring of grief after Reece’s passing was unprecedented Four thousand people walked behind family members to lay wreaths at the spot where he was brutally murdered a week before “There is never a moment that goes by without us thinking of the beautiful soul that was our Reece are forced to navigate this cruel existence without him as we walk forward in life completely heartbroken “We are eternally grateful to the brave witnesses who came to court to the police and the family liaison officers also to the jury who weren’t intimidated or deceived by Hamilton as he lied his way through his testimony including the women he has previously attacked will sleep better at night in the knowledge that he will no longer be at liberty to harm maim or murder anybody else after his day of judgment Police have warned gym-goers not to use the same Pin code for their lockers and bank cards after a prolific thief targeted luxury health clubs secretly watched while a man entered his gym locker code and guessed it would be the same as his phone and bank card Pins before stealing £500 from his account He bought himself time to take the money by drenching the man’s phone to damage it do not have the same Pin code for your locker as your phone or bank card Pins Murphy was found to be using membership cards under false names to repeatedly access Third Space and Nuffield Health gyms Police said the technique has been used by other criminals and warned the public to always use different codes for lockers and bank cards Three men charged with murdering teenager in Bristol park in 2023 House of Commons Strangers’ Bar will close from Monday after spiking incident Missed chances to probe patient safety during Letby attack spree Apple pauses AI-generated news alerts over inaccuracy issues On Friday, Murphy, of Bromley, was jailed for two years and three months at Isleworth Crown Court having pleaded guilty to three counts of theft and 11 counts of fraud by false representation His Honour Judge Edward Connell described his offending as “pre-planned” and “well practised” who had only joined the gym after his wife died from cancer put his four-digit code into his locker at a Third Space luxury health club in the City of London and correctly guessed that the code would be the same as the man’s phone and bank card Pins His victim later discovered Murphy had phoned the bank pretending to be him and was given internet access to the bank accounts Murphy then drenched his victim’s phone in water to damage it stopping the man from accessing his banking app The man noticed a missed call from his bank but struggled to return the call because of the state of his phone unsuccessfully tried to buy £5,400 worth of items from an Apple store It seems (Murphy's) motivation has been financial having accumulated significant debts The court heard how the theft increased the “sense of loneliness” of his grieving victim and stole the cards to try and pay off what he owes “It seems your motivation has been financial having accumulated significant debts,” the judge said He also withdrew £1,750 of cash using three different bank cards stolen from a different gym and used a separate stolen card to try and withdraw £600 in cash The victims who lost money were eventually compensated by their banks Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Ives, of City of London Police, said: “People who visit gyms expect their belongings to be safe in their lockers and don’t tend to expect anyone to be looking over their shoulder and stealing their Pin we know this is a method is used by prolific criminals like Murphy do not have the same Pin code for your locker as your phone or bank card Pins.” Murphy was handed a criminal behaviour order banning him from visiting any Third Space or Nuffield Health gyms for six years A 34-year-old man from Isleworth has been found guilty of murder by a unanimous jury at the Old Bailey this Friday (20 September) Ross Hamilton of Wood Lane stabbed 31-year-old Reece Newcombe to death using a concealed piece of broken glass During the early hours of 26 November 2022 Hamilton was in an aggressive and agitated state outside Viva nightclub at an ‘after party’ following the World Cup match between England and the USA He had already assaulted another man and had remained at the scene provocatively taunting security staff and others waiting for taxis outside the venue Reece intervened and he and Hamilton got into a fight During this brief altercation between the two on Ormrod Road near Richmond Bridge Hamilton stabbed Reece in the neck with the glass Onlookers rushed to Reece’s aid and an off-duty police officer followed Hamilton and was able to describe the vehicle and direction of travel it left the scene in Officers quickly arrived and started administering emergency CPR until the arrival of paramedics and a London’s Air Ambulance helicopter Murder detectives immediately launched an investigation securing CCTV and interviewing numerous witnesses who had been in the vicinity of the incident It was the World Cup and a nearby ‘Fanzone’ had been showing the match Reece and Hamilton had attended the event before both headed to Viva nightclub although they had not interacted during the event Witness accounts and CCTV footage identified that Hamilton had spent much of his night being aggressive and unpredictable to random people at the event He was charged with Reece’s murder during the early hours of 30 November 2022 was a well-known boxing trainer and grandson of iconic boxer Harry Holland “Today is about Reece and his family My thoughts remain with them following this truly senseless tragedy but particularly so in light of this result but they have at least seen his killer held to account for his cowardly attack They have remained resolute despite the nearly two years since Reece was murdered A spokesperson for Reece Newcombe’s family said: “Nearly two years have passed since we lost our beautiful Reece “This resulted in him arming himself with a lethal weapon moments before deliberately striking our beloved Reece in the neck with a broken bottle His second daughter whom he would never get to see was born the following summer of 2023 our wish going forward is that he now faces the full weight of the law in its entirety “We will love you for eternity our beloved beautiful Reece.” Rail customers in west London are set to benefit from a fully accessible Isleworth station following confirmation of a £3m investment which will see new lifts and walkways installed amongst other upgrades Network Rail is working with South Western Railway and London Borough of Hounslow Council to install new lifts either side of the raised platforms Hounslow Council has contributed £1m to the scheme which will see the new lifts providing step free access to the central platforms making it easier for customers to navigate their way around the station Network Rail’s team of engineers started work at the beginning of April and are expecting the lifts to be completed and open to customers in early 2024 said: “We’re really pleased to see this project get underway It’s important that our stations are accessible so that all customers can navigate their way round them travel on the railway with ease and comfort “We’re working closely with our partners at South Western Railway Hounslow Council and the local community to ensure we minimise disruption to customers and local residents throughout the work.” deputy leader and cabinet member for climate environment and transport strategy of Hounslow Council said: “This work at Isleworth station is a fantastic step forward to improving access for all to public transport with all the benefits that public transport offers to making us a cleaner Not only will the work improve access to disabled travellers but it will also improve the customer experience for families with pushchairs and those with luggage The work builds on our commitment to improve accessibility at stations in the borough “The timing of this work also compliments the wider improvements to be delivered by the Council This will provide new cycle access from St John’s Road into the station car park to give cyclists improved access to the station as well providing a quiet and safer route between London Road and St John’s Road.”  said: ‘‘After many years of campaigning by people locally I was delighted that Isleworth station will be getting these much needed improvements to accessibility including new lifts to provide access to the platform "These new improvements will make a huge difference to people locally and will make it much easier for people who are commuting into work visiting London or simply trying to get out and about Accessibility improvements like these are a crucial part in making London a welcoming city for everyone South Western Railway and Network Rail for all the hard work that has gone into making these works a reality and I look forward to seeing the difference they make for people locally.’’ regional development manager for South Western Railway said: “The new lifts at Isleworth will be important for all of our customers including those with reduced mobility who require lifts to gain access to the platforms This is just one of the six multi-million-pound accessibility projects that will be completed at South Western Railway stations by 2024 which is thanks to both a significant investment by the Access for All team and funding and long periods of campaigning by our stakeholders.” The Access for All programme was launched in 2006 to address the issues faced by disabled passengers and passengers with mobility restraints (such as heavy luggage or pushchairs) when using railway stations in Great Britain The funding is used to create an obstacle free accessible route from the station entrance to the platforms This generally includes providing lifts or ramps as well as associated works and refurbishment along the route The best part about life in Charlene Ashong’s ‘quaint and quiet’ hometown Homes & Property | Where to live renting and decorating in London from our award-winning experts I grew up in Isleworth so moving back after a decade in Italy felt right which means I can disappear off-grid while still feeling closely connected to the city It’s easy to pop into central London for a culture fix before returning to the comforting hug of a place that’s so familiar to me so my go-to is Corto Italian Deli on Church Street in neighbouring Twickenham charcuterie and tasty tomato and anchovy bruschetta as you browse authentic Italian products on a different Church Street in Isleworth itself I go there for the romantic riverside vibe Ballucci on London Road is a popular coffee shop with modern Syon Lounge in the Hilton in Syon Park is the place to take friends It overlooks the park and serves Asian-inspired food I tend to go for plant-based dishes in restaurants so I like that it offers good vegan and veggie options My go-tos are the asparagus tempura and the dynamite cauliflower with fresh spring onion sauce I go to Virgin Active in Twickenham Stadium The facilities are modern and clean — including a gorgeous spa and Zumba class — and the views from the gym help you relax as you work out Why I live in Fitzrovia: onezone founder Natasha Zone on why she loves her ever-evolving London neighbourhood Why I live in Rectory Road: artist Rose England on the ‘idyllic’ corner of Hackney she calls home creative hubs and Ally Pally on the doorstep For picnics I go to Osterley Park as it’s easy to get lost in its vastness home to Syon House where period dramas are often filmed but I adore going to the Isabella Plantation It has a rainforest feel with super cool vegetation and lots of colourful azaleas But nearby Kew Gardens hosts wonderful exhibitions I went to one recently about food sustainability by the Ghanaian artist Serge Attukwei Clottey and another featuring botanical art of edible plants There’s a huge Tesco but the fruit and veg vendors in Hounslow High Street sell the freshest produce at very reasonable prices There’s a strong sense of community there and a real mish-mash of cultures I also pop into Waitrose on Twickenham High Street Whole Foods in Richmond and Aldi in Hounslow I drive so the beauty for me is the Great West Road and Osterley Tube is on the Piccadilly line Isleworth and Syon Lane stations offer access to Waterloo There’s a street in Osterley which has a beautiful view of the park I think the butler from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air lives there On London Road we have a golden postbox to celebrate Sir Mo Farah winning gold at the 2012 Olympics The planes on their way in and out of Heathrow Charlene Ashong is founder of healthy Mediterranean food brand, Fitaly ( fitalyfood.com; @charleneashong) The Blue School primary is rated outstanding by Ofsted while good local secondaries include Isleworth & Syon School for Boys Published on 16th May 2023 by ianVisits in Transport News Isleworth station in southwest London is the latest to get an upgrade to step-free access as Network Rail outlines plans to add two lifts to the station Isleworth station is raised up on an embankment with two platforms on either side of the railway tracks Access to the platforms is via stairs up from a subway that runs under the railway tracks the lift to the London bound platform will be outside the station away from the ticket office whereas the outbound platform life will be next to the subway tunnel Network Rail is working with South Western Railway and London Borough of Hounslow Council to install the lifts with Hounslow Council contributing £1 million to the £3 million scheme In line with Network Rail standards both lifts will be full size 16 person lifts which can therefore handle large wheelchairs They are also fitted with double sided doors and go straight out the other without needing to reverse or turn said: ‘‘After many years of campaigning by people locally I was delighted that Isleworth station will be getting these much needed improvements to accessibility including new lifts to provide access to the platform.” “These new improvements will make a huge difference to people locally and will make it much easier for people who are commuting into work Accessibility improvements like these are a crucial part in making London a welcoming city for everyone.” The subway will be kept open during the construction works There will be a community drop in event on Thursday 23rd March 2023 Some argue this painting depicts the artist’s subject in her younger years and is the first version of his iconic work Now there is potentially an even more sellable Leonardo doing the rounds with similarly questionable claims being made as it goes on public view in Turin it’s hard not to believe that the private owners aren’t sorely tempted Is this painting’s exhibition in Italy the start of a campaign that will end in Leonardo beating his own world record Salvator Mundi became known as “the male Mona Lisa”, lending it the glamour of Leonardo’s most well-known work. But the Mona Lisa Foundation in Zurich which is championing the painting showing in Turin on behalf of its anonymous owners is suggesting that it is the original Mona Lisa It argues that it’s the first version of the famous painting depicting a younger Lisa than the one Leonardo worked on all his life and had with him at the chateau of Amboise where he spent his last years and which now attracts an unending selfie-snatching crowd in the Louvre The fascination of the Mona Lisa is as impossible to deny as it is difficult to explain Some date its magnetic fame from its theft in 1911 People were already obsessing about the artwork in the 19th century when the critic Walter Pater raved that Lisa in her green misty setting is some kind of sexy underwater “vampire” And the painting was renowned across Europe centuries before that when the 16th-century writer Giorgio Vasari enthused that the Mona Lisa seemed to have a pulse Scepticism … Salvator Mundi which holds the record for the most expensive painting ever sold at auction Photograph: Kirsty Wigglesworth/APSo have the Mona Lisa fans been adoring the wrong painting for the last five centuries Should they really be worshipping the “Isleworth Mona Lisa” because it was previously owned by an art dealer there (And does the Swiss foundation know Isleworth is a London suburb and not a fairytale castle?) there isn’t a chance in hell that this is a Leonardo The claims being made for the Isleworth Mona Lisa seem implausible It seems inconceivable to me that the most subtle observant and relentlessly patient of artists would have produced such a lousy Leonardo did great portraits of women before he even started the Mona Lisa and in each one he created a haunting inner presence: the pale melancholy of Ginevra de’ Benci; the self-possessed energy of Cecilia Gallerani unlike the true Mona Lisa’s deeply studied smile which reflects Leonardo’s anatomical dissections of human facial muscles Even the shape of this Mona Lisa’s face seems wrong – not just because it differs from the Louvre painting but because it doesn’t have the classical proportions or fleshy reality that Renaissance artists aimed for though presumably it is a copy done sometime between the 1500s and the 1700s when it is said to have reached Britain Unending crowds … people gather around Leonardo’s painting in the Louvre Photograph: Jon Lovette/AlamyThe difference in facial appearance is that the Isleworth Mona Lisa depicts its subject when she was young It claims to have proof that Leonardo did two versions of his masterpiece and this is the first The history it is presenting to “prove” this is questionable The Mona Lisa is a very well-documented painting and those documents don’t point to the existence of two paintings; just one Vasari said Leonardo started it in Florence and the subject is Lisa del Giocondo the wife of the Florentine merchant Francesco del Giocondo a note was found in a book in Heidelberg University’s library that proves him right: a Florentine government employee wrote in 1503 that Leonardo was working on a portrait of Lisa del Giocondo Was this the Isleworth Mona Lisa or the Louvre one The evidence points to it being the boring old version that’s in the Louvre For the Mona Lisa Foundation’s argument omits something crucial about this source It specifically emphasises that Leonardo’s portrait of Lisa is unfinished – and doesn’t look like being finished any time soon This account of Leonardo making a start and leaving it on his easel while he worked on his inventions matches the creation of the Louvre’s Mona Lisa which X-rays and other scientific imaging show was built up in a complex slow way: when Leonardo first painted Lisa A copy of the Isleworth Mona Lisa Photograph: AlamyThe painting’s promoters also contend that a drawing of a woman between two pillars by Raphael is a copy of the Isleworth Mona Lisa when Leonardo started his portrait in 1503 Raphael saw it in Leonardo’s workshop and immediately started drawing and painting his own variations on it This is a drawing for one of those versions in which he portrays a woman in the fashionable Mona Lisa pose It is magical that an artist who died in 1519 can generate this much fuss I very much doubt the owners will end up selling what looks like a poor copy as an authentic Leonardo But even if it does become recognised as the young Mona Lisa out of some chaotic mixture of hype His paintings are portals into his astonishing mental universe This was a human being who understood fossils and geological time who dissected and drew our inner landscapes and saw that our very natures would one day be remade by technology As for the Mona Lisa – Leonardo himself started the fictions that swirl around his masterpiece When a group of ecclesiastical travellers visited him at Amboise near the end of his life they were told a cock-and-bull story about the woman on his easel Leonardo claimed the Mona Lisa was commissioned by Giuliano de’ Medici – the son of Lorenzo the Magnificent – as a portrait of his mistress combining the snob appeal of the Medici name plus a sexy aura of secret love Certainly better than simply saying she was a respectable middle-class Florentine That’s how he ended up living in a free chateau with his friends at the expense of the king of France he would probably lend his support to the dubious Isleworth Mona Lisa – for a cut of the auction price Earthly Delights: A History of the Renaissance by Jonathan Jones is published by Thames and Hudson, £30. To order a copy for £26.40, go to guardianbookshop.com One of the surprising things about Leonardo da Vinci is that despite his colossal reputation as an artist he didn’t actually produce many paintings Over the course of a long career lasting almost half a century he began probably no more than 20 pictures Only 15 have survived that scholars agree are wholly his So the discovery of a new painting by Leonardo would be a very big deal indeed a picture by the 19th Century French artist Paul Gauguin has been sold privately for a record-breaking $300 million (£197 million) Imagine how much an authentic Leonardo could make if one ever came to the market attributing artworks to Leonardo is notoriously difficult One painting currently touring cities across Asia exemplifies what I mean It used to be known as the “Isleworth Mona Lisa” but its current owners have rebranded it the “Earlier Mona Lisa” because they believe that Leonardo himself painted parts of it a decade or so before beginning arguably the most famous picture in the world: the Mona Lisa in the Louvre the Isleworth painting went on show to the public in an exhibition at the Arts House at the Old Parliament building in Singapore it will travel to Hong Kong before arriving in China and then visiting other destinations in Asia it is remarkably similar to the Louvre’s Mona Lisa A woman with dark hair and an enigmatic smile sits at a slight angle to the viewer on a loggia opening onto a panoramic landscape Except this woman is obviously much younger than the subject of the Louvre painting If Mona Lisa had been painted a decade earlier a Swiss non-profit organisation leading research into the painting on behalf of the anonymous international consortium that owns it the foundation convened a press conference in Geneva at which they presented “the results of 35 years of research and convincing arguments” suggesting that the painting was in fact an earlier portrait of Mona Lisa The event sparked headlines around the world emeritus professor of art history at the University of Oxford published a blog post rubbishing the foundation’s claims and explaining in detail why he considered them to be erroneous Perhaps the idea of a second Mona Lisa was too good to be true art historians had known about the Isleworth Mona Lisa for some time the maverick English connoisseur Hugh Blaker spotted it in an old manor house in Somerset having been bought in Italy as an original masterpiece by Leonardo Sensing something special beyond the covering of dirt and varnish Blaker acquired it and brought it to his studio in Isleworth in west London (hence the painting’s moniker) his stepfather John R Eyre published a monograph proposing that Leonardo had worked on two versions of his portrait of Mona Lisa and that the Isleworth picture was the first one The painting was subsequently bought by the American collector Henry F Pulitzer who in turn published a self-serving book arguing that the Isleworth picture was in fact Leonardo’s only real portrait of Mona (short for Madonna) Lisa Gherardini wife of the Florentine merchant Francesco del Giocondo (Pulitzer concluded that the Louvre painting was an idealised portrait of someone else.) the idea that the Isleworth Mona Lisa was actually by Leonardo never gained traction with important scholars the picture disappeared inside a Swiss bank vault when it was acquired by the consortium that now owns it the Mona Lisa Foundation was established to investigate the question of the picture’s attribution to Leonardo the foundation “does not have any stake in the painting” and endeavours “to examine facts in the most objective light possible” he would not comment directly when asked if there was any overlap between the owners of the painting and the foundation’s board And to the question of whether the consortium’s ultimate goal was to sell the painting as a real Leonardo he replied: “I cannot disclose any information relating to the consortium.” the current owners of the Isleworth painting are convinced that it is in part by Leonardo they are struggling to convince leading scholars other respected Leonardo experts including the German art historian Frank Zollner deny that there is any substance to their claims The foundation interprets historical evidence including written sources as well as the fact that Leonardo sometimes created multiple versions of the same picture to contend that he painted two portraits of Mona Lisa: one that was commissioned around 1503 by Lisa’s husband Francesco; the other a decade later by the artist’s patron Giuliano de’ Medici This would account for the younger appearance of the woman in the Isleworth painting who made a sketch probably from memory around 1505 after seeing the painting in progress Similar columns are visible in the Isleworth picture but only their bases appear in the painting in the Louvre it is awkward that the support of the Isleworth picture is canvas But the foundation points to the fact that the artist did occasionally paint on canvas – witness his tempera study of drapery on linen canvas in the Louvre an exception to the general rule: Leonardo’s mature oil paintings the foundation has collaborated with scientists to help build its case Feldman says that research physicist John Asmus of the University of California has run “a series of peer-reviewed scientific tests” determining “with 99 per cent scientific certainty that the same artist painted at least the face of both the Isleworth and Louvre Mona Lisas if one denies that the Isleworth is by Da Vinci [sic] The foundation therefore concludes that Leonardo was responsible for the face and hands of the woman in the Isleworth picture while an inferior artist must have painted the clumsy landscape in the background the ‘two Mona Lisas’ theory remains moot – and that’s before the particular merits of the Isleworth picture are evaluated Kemp believes that Leonardo only ever began one painting of Mona Lisa which he then worked on intermittently until his death While the foundation interprets revisions in “under-drawings” discovered during infrared analysis of the Isleworth painting as a sign that it must be an original work Kemp argues that they “do not reveal any of the characteristics of Leonardo’s preparatory methods” Kemp reaffirmed his belief that the Isleworth picture is a later Although Kemp has closely scrutinised (and questioned) the evidence provided by the foundation he has never actually studied the painting firsthand Kemp “refused” to examine the canvas before the foundation announced its findings in 2012 I decided not to [because] I only go to see works (at my expense and never for remuneration) if the evidence I have – documentation digital images and scientific examination – convinces me that it is worth the time travel and expense.” In the case of the Isleworth painting he saw “nothing to convince me that seeing it in the flesh is of high priority I am sent many non-Leonardos – as many as one a week – and have to make choices If I travelled to see every hopeful ‘Leonardo’ I would be impoverished.” He adds: “If they want to bring the painting to me I invited the British scholar and leading Leonardo expert Luke Syson to comment on it who now works at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York oversaw the blockbuster exhibition Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan The climax of the show was the introduction to the public of an oil-on-walnut picture of Christ as Salvator Mundi art historians now agree that Leonardo painted it – making it the first “new” Leonardo for a century which was previously thought to be a copy after a picture by one of Leonardo’s pupils has been known since the start of the 20th Century.) Syson knows a thing or two about attributing paintings to Leonardo He is one of a handful of international scholars with well-established reputations as authorities on Leonardo whose backing the foundation would ideally like to secure Syson has not seen the Isleworth picture in reality – though “I have never been asked to view [it] – and that fact may in itself be revealing A serious campaign to introduce a new work by a great artist would ensure it was shown to all the principal experts.” But on the basis of published photographs of the picture he has “never taken these claims seriously one doesn’t in this instance need to see the work in the flesh to judge this Mona Lisa a rather poor one of dozens that were made of this famous picture in the centuries that followed its creation.” Syson says that “lots of the details are misunderstood” and points out that the canvas support “would be very off the mark for Leonardo But most important it’s simply not good enough to be by Leonardo himself This is just the most recent of many attempts made by optimistic owners to prove their copies of Leonardo’s pictures are by him Syson does not accept that scientific evidence can conclusively settle debates over the authenticity of pictures such as the Isleworth Mona Lisa “The bringing in of science – sometimes pseudo-science – is increasingly a feature of such claims,” he continues it can never prove an attribution (though it can sometimes disprove it); it’s only ever one of several factors we’d use to assess the authenticity and authorship of a work of art The picture needs also to be of the right quality and to contain the characteristic thought and ‘hand-writing’ of the artist.” Syson notes that Leonardo’s workshop did produce copies of his paintings sometimes imitating his every change as he executed the original to judge from available photos and the fact it was painted on a canvas support especially for anyone visiting the display who is hoping to see a masterpiece by Leonardo.” “We at the foundation find it hard to accept that there can be valid points of view against something which is now proven scientifically,” says Feldman who also cites “public feedback” in Singapore that the Isleworth picture must be by Leonardo advances in art history are determined not by public vote but by consensus among experts And in the case of the Isleworth Mona Lisa the foundation still has much to do in order to win more support among people whose opinions really count Alastair Sooke is art critic of The Daily Telegraph If you would like to comment on this story or anything else you have seen on BBC Culture, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter. 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Laura Blumenthal has been announced as the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for the Brentford and Isleworth constituency The constituency currently covers Chiswick but at the next General Election that part of Chiswick will become part of the new constituency of Hammersmith and Chiswick while Ruth Cadbury will be attempting to win a fourth election in a row in Brentford and Isleworth Ruth saw off C0nservative rival Seena Shah with a commanding 10,514 seat majority “Excited to have been chosen as the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Brentford and Isleworth!” Laura is currently a councillor in Wokingham She is Jewish; her grandfather escaped Nazi Germany in the 1930s and moved to Reading Laura has been speaking 0ut about the ongoing conflict in Gaza Who will stand up against the racist murder of babies and the grandmothers for being Jews?’ Oh right…” In a response to an image of a poster on a pro-Palestinian march asking: ‘How can you inflict the same torture that your own people suffered?’ she wrote: ‘Hitler didn’t defend Germans against the Jews Jews didn’t murder 1200 Germans and build a terror state Why do Jews not commit terrorism in Germany in revenge for the Holocaust Because they know moving forward in peace is better Israel and Germany being allies gives us hope.’ She has also posted about the renaming of London Overground line It’s all very ‘Well done girlies Sorry about the rocketing violence against women in London She is also supporting Chiswick councillor Ron Mushiso for election to the Greater London Assembly in May The General Election is expected to take place later on this year See also: Chiswick’s local MPs vote for “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza after chaotic scenes in Parliament See also: Hammersmith Bridge reopens to cyclists Privacy Statement Cookie Policy info@thechiswickcalendar.co.uk About The Chiswick Calendar  Newsletter & Club Card by dwmultimedia We may request cookies to be set on your device We use cookies to 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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 reliable and value-for-money PVC-U building products which is located in Isleworth and will open on Thursday 8th October The branch is situated on the Clock Tower Industrial Estate and will offer local tradespeople and DIY-ers a one-stop-shop for more than 10,000 building products and PVC-U windows from the Eurocell range Eurocell offers customers the choice of buying in-store to take away as well as online click-and-collect ordering and delivery direct to site guttering and many other PVC-U building supplies to Isleworth and the larger Hounslow area the branch also features displays of some of Eurocell’s most popular Made to Order ranges from window and doors through to Skypods and the Equinox roofing system which has created local employment opportunities in the Isleworth area has been created to support Eurocell’s existing local network with trade counters already located in Hayes and Greenford commented: “I’m excited to announce the opening of our latest branch in Isleworth building on our already strong presence in and around London we’re committed to supporting installers nationwide with high quality PVC-U building products that provide value for money and are supported by our fantastic staff in local areas across the country.  “Right from the moment you step inside you’ll notice the work that we’ve put in to make sure that we’re stocking everything that local tradespeople need in the right quantities to make sure that they’re always able to get the products they’re after We also have fantastic displays of some of our leading ranges such as Equinox and our Composite and Bi-Fold doors creating the ideal environment for any tradesperson or DIY-er to get the products they need.  “We look forward to working closely with tradespeople and DIY-ers in the local area and showing them what Eurocell has to offer.” TW7 6GF and is open Monday – Friday 7:30am – 4pm and Saturday 8am – 12pm Contact the branch team by phone on 020 8560 3431 or by email at isleworth@eurocell.co.uk For all the very latest news and intelligence on the UK's largest home improvement and garden retailers, sign up for the Insight DIY weekly newsletter. Insight DIY is the only source of market information that I need and they always have the latest news before anyone else A prison officer has appeared in court charged with misconduct after allegedly having sex with an inmate in a cell Linda De Sousa Abreu, 30, of Fulham, south-west London was charged after a video of the alleged activity was shared on social media Appearing in the glass-fronted dock at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court wearing all grey A police investigation was launched on Friday after officers were made aware of a video said to have been filmed inside HMP Wandsworth in south London Nationwide to complete £2.9bn Virgin Money takeover next month Average UK house price hits two-year high amid ‘positive summer’ for market Thunderstorms hit London as southern England braces for second day of heavy rain Justice against those responsible for Grenfell fire ‘may be delayed until 2030’ An arrest was made later that day and De Sousa Abreu was charged with misconduct in public office on Saturday The charge states that De Sousa Abreu “wilfully and without reasonable excuse or justification misconducted yourself in a way which amounted to an abuse of the public’s trust in the office holder by engaging in a sexual act with a prisoner in a prison cell” It is alleged to have happened at Wandsworth between June 26-28 The mother was arrested at Heathrow Airport, the court heard, and was due to catch a flight to Madrid having notified the prison of her travel plans De Sousa Abreu, who holds a Portuguese passport, was granted conditional bail, and will appear at Isleworth Crown Court on July 29 More Low Traffic Neighbourhoods Planned for Brentford & Isleworth Five additional schemes set to be implemented before the end of the year Night Time Road Closures Planned Near Kew Bridge Green Dragon Lane Access Restrictions Set To Begin Parking in Brentford Reduced Due To Extended Bus Lane Operation Mixed Reaction to Proposed Closure of Brentford Road Hounslow Council have indicated that they are intending to significantly increase the number of traffic schemes in residential areas across Brentford and Isleworth They say the plans are based on feedback received from residents in the borough’s Streetspace consultation in April and June Areas where it is to introduce Low Traffic Neighbourhood Schemes (LTNs) in North Isleworth The North Brentford scheme will introduce restrictions around Whitestile Road The Councils says these residential roads form key ‘rat runs’ between Windmill Road (B452) and South Ealing Road (B455) Through trips will therefore be restricted in this area via the use of trial road closures and access restrictions which are expected to be implemented in the near future A scheme to prevent traffic turning into North Street in Isleworth from Twickenham Road is being planned The Council says this will allow for the widening of the footway adjacent to Silverhall Park which forms a key access route into this local green space Gas works are anticipated in this area over the summer the trial change will take place after these have finished in the Autumn A road closure at North Street is set to be introduced Details of the other schemes in the area have yet to be released Closures and restrictions have already been implemented around Green Dragon Lane Occupation Lane in Brentford and access restrictions are in place in Amhurst Gardens Lionel Road South is to be closed on a permanent basis on completion of the new football stadium and associated residential development The Council says that further details of these schemes will be provided to residents before works commence as information on how you can provide feedback Cabinet Member for Transport at Hounslow Council said being introduced as part of our Streetspace programme build on those already announced and aim to make Hounslow a safer place for pedestrians and cyclists to enable people to socially distance while out and about to support a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle for our residents and to have real alternatives to driving Sky opened a Digital Hub at The BridgeLink Community Centre close to its group headquarters in Isleworth the community centre provides critical services to more than 3,000 residents Sky is enhancing these services by providing free wi-fi access to digital devices and digital skills training Sky is empowering individuals through greater connectivity and access to vital digital skills training Based on recent surveys of the local community residents of Ivybridge rely on the services provided by the BridgeLink Centre Sky’s new Digital Hub will enhance the centre’s programmes and training activities by providing over 50 technology devices Sky staff will also work with IvybridgeLink and local partners to run masterclass skills sessions for young people and help those people over the age of 65 learn essential digital skills to help with important daily tasks Rob Kemp: “IvybridgeLink's partnership with Sky Up is a fantastic opportunity to further develop our centre's offer to the local community The Digital Hub facilities and support Sky is providing will help us to continue to meet the needs of BridgeLink Centre users - enabling more local people to access digital media learn new digital skills and build their confidence in using the internet We're really excited about the benefits of being a hub will bring to people of all ages on the Ivybridge Estate and the wider Isleworth community.” Ruth Cadbury MP: “I was delighted to open the Sky Up Digital Hub at the BridgeLink Community Centre today IvybridgeLink provides support and critical services to residents locally including homework clubs a community Pantry and skills training programmes These also provide fantastic support networks that make a life-changing difference to local families the services will be enhanced through greater connectivity and more digital devices I look forward to working with Sky and IvybridgeLink as we continue to support the local community.” Sky launched its ambition to tackle digital inequality with a three-part initiative providing support to a quarter of a million digitally excluded people through a dedicated £10m fund The programme was created to ensure that groups who are most at risk of digital exclusion - under 25s in under-served communities and over 65s - are provided with the skills they need to succeed Sky Up aims at delivering 100 new Digital Hubs around the UK & Ireland with the goal to offer digital resources to support the most vulnerable communities Contact: rebecca.zintout@sky.uk Sky is one of Europe’s leading media and entertainment companies and is part of Comcast Corporation a global media and technology company that connects people to moments and experiences that matter We offer streaming services NOW and WOW; the world’s smartest TV easy way to get the Sky Glass experience on any TV; and the best aggregation platform We provide connectivity you can count on in mobile reliable residential and business broadband and we provide free access to news and the arts We believe that we can have a positive impact on society by supporting and creating tens of thousands of jobs Sky launched its ambition to address digital exclusion in April 2022 with a three-part initiative designed to tackle digital inequality and provide support to a quarter of a million digitally excluded people through a new dedicated £10m fund supports people to succeed in a digital age ensuring that those who are most at risk of being digitally excluded are given access to the right skills About IvybridgeLink CharityThe IvybridgeLink Charity was set up in 2000 with the aims to:   Further information about IvybridgeLink