News, comment and features

Times are tight: Talkies is a volunteer-led, not for profit organisation, but we are finding funding from grants and sponsorships is in short supply.  Our audience is brilliant at supporting us, but subscribing as a  'Friend of Talkies'  would really help us to keep bringing great film events to your doorstep. Tricia - on behalf of the Talkies Team HOW WILL BECOMING A FRIEND HELP US IN 2018? We hope with your support we can continue to be.......

Transcript of evidence on cycling infrastructure given by Andrew Gilligan, former Cyclilng Commission to the previous Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to a meeting of the GLA Transport Committee on 6 December 2017. Keith Prince AM (Chairman): It now gives me great pleasure to welcome Andrew [Gilligan], a man I worked with a few years ago when he was the Cycling Czar. He is not any more. His title is ‘Cycling Czar emeritus’ or something, in the Latin. We are now going to do a section.......

The Trent Park Museum Trust has announced the death of Fritz Lustig, the last of the "secret listeners", who collected invaluable intelligence by listening in to bugged conversations between German prisoners of war during World War 2. This once top secret intelligence gathering was carried out at three large country houses that had been requisitioned, one being Trent Park.  Fritz Lustig, a refugee from Nazi Germany, did not himself work at Trent Park, but as one of only two surviving.......

"If we could reduce speed limits to 20mph in these built-up areas then anybody who's got children, anybody who works with children, anybody who sees what we see, would have to be supporting us." Words spoken by a surgeon at Birmingham Children's Hospital as part of a video telling a true story.  Along with a policeman, an ambulance driver, a parent and the young victim of a road traffic collision, she makes the unanswerable case for 20mph limits on urban roads........

Breakdown by ward of Brexit votes in Enfield

Earlier today the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness, chaired by Jo’s friends Seema Kennedy MP and Rachel Reeves MP, launched a report on its findings in Batley alongside Jo’s family. The report marks the culmination of the year-long commission that Jo started before she was killed. Amongst the report’s findings are that: 9 million adults are often or always lonely; Loneliness is as harmful to health as obesity or smoking 15 cigarettes a day; There is currently a gap in.......

Enfield Refugee Welcome brought their first Syrian refugee family to the borough earlier this year.  In their Christmas message to supporters, they report that the family are doing well.  They are now planning to settle a second family, but need various volunteers. To find out how families are selected and how the settlement process works, watch the fascinating interview with Tony Carroll at the bottom of this article. With the support of our amazing band of volunteer befrienders.......

A message from Defend Enfield NHS:  "The NHS is under immediate threat and everyone who appreciates its benefits and wants them to continue needs to consider helping pay for a court case against the Health Secretary." Exaggerated alarmist language from a bunch of amateurs? Well, it's true that the local NHS defence group can boast only one retired consultant among its members, but the court case that they are urging us to support was taken out by four leading experts on the NHS - Dr.......

The publisher of the Enfield Independent, Newsquest Media, will be one of the main beneficiaries of a scheme whereby the BBC will spend £8 million a year to improve the reporting capabilities of local newspapers throughout the UK. Among the 37 reporters allocated to Newsquest is one who will cover the boroughs of Enfield, Barnet and Haringey.

Friends of Alexandra Palace Theatre have been publishing videos about the restoration work.  There are three introductory films (the first is number 2 for some reason)... <?php//some text to stop all the films showing on the website home page - though it may not have any effect. ?> {youtube}QPiHDMapf4k{/youtube}  {youtube}M2R7f1BpdQI{/youtube} {youtube}9D6pJKIufrA{/youtube} ...and a new film showing progress to date. {youtube}kjH1uEKIBio{/youtube} Friends of the.......

Work on installing sprinklers in the 54 high rise tower blocks managed by Enfield Council will start in the new year. The project, expected to cost in the region of £8 million, or £3,000 per property, will be paid for by Enfield Council, but the authority is lobbying the government to fund the scheme which has been introduced in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire in Kensington and Chelsea, which claimed the lives of 71 people. Although Enfield Council managed blocks are.......

Following two exhibitions nearer to home, Palmers Green artist Patrick Samuel's work goes on show this week at a cinema and gallery in east London. Clash of the IconsAn exhibiition by Patrick Samuel12 December 2017 - 16 January 2017Genesis Cinema, 93-95 Mile End Rd, London E1 4UJ Exhibition Launch 12 December 2017 at 7pm Patrick will also be showing a short film about his creative journey since he started his daily art therapy in December 2016, as well as playing music he composes when.......