What’s Happening

An Evening With Janet Street-Porter

Urban Village LDN caught up with Janet Street-Porter CBE before she makes her return to Fulham where she grew up. “An evening with Janet Street-Porter” takes place at the Sands End Arts & Community Centre (SEACC) on Wednesday 5 February (7 - 8.30pm).

Rambler, Loose Woman, former Fulham girl guide and Lady Margaret School pupil Janet Street-Porter CBE will talk about her Fulham days, from trying to blow up the toilets at Peterborough Primary school, attending Brownies and then the Girl Guides, and joining a youth club where two kids ended up as Britain’s Eurovision entry.

Janet is bringing some souvenirs along and will take questions from the audience about life in Fulham and what happened next when she went on to become a journalist and broadcaster.

A taste of what’s to come

How long has it been since you were last in SW6?

Several years - ITV made a film about all the houses I've lived in... my childhood home off Parsons Green Lane seemed so small!

What are some of your abiding memories of growing up in the area?

You'll have to come along to my talk at Sands End on the 5th for the full trip down memory lane.. but I remember playing rounders on Parsons Green and using my new cardigan (knitted by my Auntie Vi) as a base. It got dog poo on it and in spite of my Mum washing it I really hated wearing it after that.

Can you remember any of the Fulham girl guide promises or badges you achieved?

Map reading, cooking.... I was a patrol leader.

You're an ex Lady Margaret School (LMS) pupil did you enjoy your time there?

Yes, it was very strict and I was told off a lot for breaking rules but I enjoyed sport - I played tennis and and was in the netball and rounders teams

What was your favourite subject?

Art and English

Who was your favourite teacher?

Miss Boundy the art teacher who really encouraged me to study architecture at university

Any shenanigans that you'd like to confess to?

Setting the fire bells off, chucking my horrible school beret off Putney Bridge.

Have you been back to LMS since you left?

Yes, I gave a speech a few years ago

You're heading back to Fulham, the Sands End Arts & Community Centre on 5 Feb, round the corner from your old primary school on Clancarty Road (now The Fulham Bilingual) to talk about life in SW6. What can locals attending the event expect?

To be entertained I hope!

Are you looking forward to being back in the neighbourhood?

Yes I loved growing up in Fulham

We’re looking forward to what should be a fun night, with Fulham tales from Janet about life growing up in SW6 and beyond. This Loose Woman is not one for mincing her words so we are in no doubt that the audience will be entertained. Tickets cost £15 per person either at reception or via Eventbrite (where a booking fee applies) book on line / find out more on the link below.

Thirty for 30k

Mind recently launched their tri-borough wide campaign “Thirty for 30K” aimed at driving thirty thousand conversations around mental health. The campaign focuses heavily on storytelling, signposting and activation with the help and support of local businesses and community groups. Urban Village LDN spoke to Nicholas Smith before National Mind’s Time to talk day on 6 Feb to find out more. “We’re thrilled with the pace at which we’re onboarding partners for this campaign. We look well on track to hit 30 businesses in each borough and thirty thousand conversations over 300 days. The breath and range of businesses joining is phenomenal, from small independent businesses to big corporates”.

Throughout the campaign HFEH Mind will be exploring all mental health related topics starting with mental health in general, then exploring children and young people, men, women, LGBTQI+, mental health in the workplace and every other aspect affecting the lives of local residents. If you are a local business, community group or individual and wish to join or support the campaign, then simply visit HFEH Mind’s website (link below) to register and download the tool kit. Here are some ways local businesses can get involved: nominate or rename a drink/dish or meal, host a dedicated day with mental health professionals, host a Mind donation card reader in your venue and more.

Residents did you know? There is a Safe Space at 309 Lillie Road for anyone who is nearing or at crisis point. Find out more here https://www.hfehmind.org.uk/get-support/hammersmith-fulham-safe-space/ this space is also used for workshops. A Creative Writing workshop takes place every Wednesday (1-2.30pm) where participants can find out what creative writing can do? Perhaps it will help get some distance from a situation, enabling a pathway to move through it or to express thoughts and emotions. The Navigating Anxiety workshop is designed to give practical techniques to understand and navigate day to day life anxiety, every Sunday (1pm - 2.30pm).