June 2 Jubilee Fun Day

Find out more on the Jubilee Page

Bishopsgate Institute. Free Course Places

Bishopsgate Institute is offering bursaries to cover the costs of its courses programme. Classes include arts and culture; words and ideas; performing arts; and body and exercise. Details at www.bishopsgate.org.uk or call 020 7392 9200

Events

Book

Chamberlin, Powell and Bon

Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, the first book on the architects of the Golden Lane Estate and Barbican, written by Elain Harwood and published by RIBA Publications with English Heritage and the Twentieth Century Society, is to be published on 8 November. 

Based on new archival research and interviews with the architects’ families and surviving partners and their assistants, Chamberlin, Powell and Bon gives incisive accounts of the development of these two key post-war estates.  Together the estates illustrate the changing styles of post-war architecture in Britain and offer a model for modern urban living today.  The book also describes in detail CP&B’s other major commissions, beginning with Joe Chamberlin’s work at the Festival of Britain and including New Hall, Cambridge (now Murray Edwards College) and their major extensions to Leeds University, which show their interest in technical innovation as well as planning on a grand yet liveable scale. 

Chamberlin, Powell and Bon is beautifully illustrated with new photographs by James O. Davies and drawings from the architects’ newly revealed archive, most previously unpublished.

Elain Harwood is a historian with English Heritage and an authority on post-war architecture.

Cost £20

 

Using goldenlaneestate.org

goldenlaneestate.org is a social networking site open to anyone who lives or works on or in connection with Golden Lane Estate. Anyone who has a particular interest in the estate, for example, as a student, is also welcome to join.  Postings in the forum are ordered by category followed by date of discussion. Users of the site can set up new discussions within any category.

 

The Forums are moderated.  Any comments which appear to be abusive or potentially libellous or which contravene the terms of service under which this site is licensed to goldenlaneestate.org by our service provider Ning will be removed.

No more 'free swims' for over 60s

On leaving the Leisure Centre public meeting Bill thought to ask the Corporation chap about free swim status and was told that was not part of the brief to the people managing the Leisure Centre. So no announcement just a quiet end to something the city told people they would keep.

Camden offers it, Islington retained it but the Corporation, Europe's wealthiest local authority has ended it without letting people know. Very disappointed for the older people who liked to swim every morning. A big lump of a pension to keep that up on top of energy cost increases etc.

Also very short-sighted as older people keeping fit and well saves money in the long run in terms of health and social care. Plus of course its not free as the over 60s, 70s  have paid a lifetime in taxes

Tags: over60s, swim

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Permalink Reply by jacqui on October 4, 2011 at 18:41
I absolutly agree that is underhand and and shortsighted of them. Is there a way we can protest or tell the press? Any activists out there?
Permalink Reply by Christine Clifford on October 7, 2011 at 16:24
Sadly there is no changing their mind but we have asked them to make an announcement about the end of free swims and apologise for not making this clear when the subsidy was cut before the leisure centre closed!
Let's hope that the new Management can offer a good enough range of memberships, pay-as-you-go, concessions for residents etc. at the next public meeting to enable everyone who wants to access the facilities can.
jacqui said:
I absolutly agree that is underhand and and shortsighted of them. Is there a way we can protest or tell the press? Any activists out there?
Permalink Reply by Maria Elizabeth Prior on October 11, 2011 at 17:35
How mean spirited, but then I'm not surprised!  Typical City of London
Permalink Reply by Clementine Cecil on October 14, 2011 at 8:46
Oh no, that is terrible. Worth writing to the local papers about this perhaps?
Permalink Reply by nathan on December 1, 2011 at 11:33

Well the corporation need to generate more money in these hard times, and keep themselves in jobs, and who said the new management company was a charity, lol,  and how about the charges being levied for the storage sheds on the estate, these shed were designed for the use of residents due to limited space in flats, over £100 a year for a cupboard in the basement of hatfield house that is often flooded due to the high maintenance standards of the plumbing in the flats above, and in summer the smell would take your breath away due to the fact that members of the public use the entrances as open air toilets, I was told by a member of staff not to store anything valuable in these sheds as no comprehensible  record of who had or was given keys. I wonder what else they can come up with to extract more money from people.

Permalink Reply by Maria Elizabeth Prior on December 1, 2011 at 12:16


You are spot on there Nathan! 
nathan said:

Well the corporation need to generate more money in these hard times, and keep themselves in jobs, and who said the new management company was a charity, lol,  and how about the charges being levied for the storage sheds on the estate, these shed were designed for the use of residents due to limited space in flats, over £100 a year for a cupboard in the basement of hatfield house that is often flooded due to the high maintenance standards of the plumbing in the flats above, and in summer the smell would take your breath away due to the fact that members of the public use the entrances as open air toilets, I was told by a member of staff not to store anything valuable in these sheds as no comprehensible  record of who had or was given keys. I wonder what else they can come up with to extract more money from people.

Permalink Reply by Christine Clifford on December 1, 2011 at 12:29

Yes well said

The sad thing about so called free swims, bus passes etc for older people is that is is preventative. People get exercise that helps keep them fit and well longer. Being able to travel keeps people active, participating and happy. All saving a fortune in health & welfare.

Of course people of all ages want to feel safe and ok in their homes and local environment and that is what bean counter attitudes to management forget. Quality of life is sometimes about storage that is secure and dry and clean.

Permalink Reply by nathan on December 1, 2011 at 13:16

i agree with everything you have said, my mother lives at petticoat square, another corporation of london estate close to liverpool street and is an oap, where they have lots of activities for oap's, coach trips , meals, even yearly summer holidays, I know one oap who lives on GLE, and speaking to her i was surprised how little is available  for her, i tried ringing about her entitlement to a  4 yearly decorating allowance for oap's which she has never had, she has lived here since the place was built and is now 87, spoke to the lady at the corporation who is responsible who was adamant that her list of oap's was a complete and accurate list of all the people entitled to it, and she was indifferent to fact that my friends name was not on her list i gave up after ten minutes going round in circles with her. the leisure centre used to do concessions for disabled and unemployed people, but i am sure this has been ditched as well, suppose its easy as these people are in the  minority and and usually ill equipped and have little representation to argue with the corporation.

Permalink Reply by Christine Clifford on December 10, 2011 at 12:24

Young at Heart is a good scheme. It has been £15 a year and that offered some free swimming and a couple of gym sessions with supportive staff. This is for over 50s I think. It does limit to certain times of course but is an affordable option for older people on low incomes etc. Plus all over 60s and people of certain benefits can get heavily discounted discounts on adult Ed courses. Of course its been good while both GLE Leisure Centre has been closed at the same time as Ironmonger's. Islington offers an IZZ card to people on GLE as they consider Golden Lane part of Islington which is useful. I think they are still free for over 60s

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