Ealing North
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Steve Pound MP Ealing North |
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Summer festivities and the heat is already on June 2004 If May is the time when the football fan finds that his wife left him the previous August then June can only be the month of school summer fairs and the Hanwell Carnival. This year I rashly accepted an invitation from Scott Campbell at McDonalds on the Westway Cross Shopping Centre to their annual “litter pick”. I never seem to learn and only remembered after accepting the invite that I had spent the previous litter pick day wearing day-glo jacket and wielding a shovel and broom in what I modestly feel was a rather professional manner. The fact that numerous friends and family members – including Nikki Drury, who should know better - swept past me without a flicker of recognition still rankles but you don’t say no to Scotty so I pitched up in the expectation of more ritual humiliation. Imagine my delight when I found out that Graham Bartlett had dragooned Larkspur Rovers to turn up in strength, Carol Bartlett and Marcella Collins had brought the Brownies and Guides and even Gary the Explorer Scout was on parade. Under the circumstances I felt that it would only be a distraction if I rolled up my sleeves and did some honest work so I wished ‘em all well and headed for Hanwell. A word of advice to those who harbour political ambitions. Never, ever agree to judge anything. For each delighted winner there will be far more furious losers and you will be cursed to your grave. Glamorous Granny competitions are especially high risk but judging the Hanwell Carnival floats is up there in the danger category. Even though I was blessed by the company of Deputy Mayor Mike Elliott and our former Mayor, now Deputy Mayoress, Julie Clements-Elliott I managed to make a horlicks of the judging. Let me explain. One float featured a 60’s theme with much wearing of caftans and flashing of peace signs. I know that I was around in the 60’s but, frankly, I can’t remember a thing. Maybe the scent of patchouli oil addled what remains of my brains but I entirely failed to notice that there were two adjacent floats featuring the same theme. Mike and Julie handed over the award with the grace and aplomb that they are so admired for and we set off for the glorious climb up Cuckoo Hill and gentle descent into the heart of Hanwell and on to Elthorne Park. As I popped into the Church Hall of St.Thomas’ the Apostle I noticed that I was getting a few old-fashioned looks from some of the St.Thomas’ congregation. It was then pointed out to me in no uncertain terms that there were two totally separate but 60’s related floats and I had blithely assumed that they were part of the same display! People have been hounded out of public office for less and I had no alternative but to get on the blower sharpish to Rob Holland at Northolt Sports and Trophies to order up a special cup to be awarded to the float that I missed. Fortunately the rest of the day was as wonderful as only the Hanwell Carnival can be and I rounded off the first part of the day with a visit to the Summer Fair at St.Raphael’s in Northolt where I had been a few days earlier to celebrate the opening of the brand-new and long overdue nursery. Apart from an unfortunate incident in which I was shamed into taking my place in the stocks for young hooligans – possibly even Chelsea supporters – to throw wet sponges at me it was a brilliant occasion and the school looked a treat. Nothing lifts my heart more than seeing a community come together for fun and in a good cause. Thank you Ann O’Sullivan and St.Raphael’s and thanks to the Hanwell Carnival committee and supporters. I’ll even thank Scotty Campbell if he’ll let me off the road-sweeping next year. |
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| Disclaimer | Copyright | Designed by Bassam Mahfouz. Promoted by Julian Bell, The Labour Party, Ruskin Hall, 16 Church Road, W3 8PP on behalf of Steve Pound MP |
