What have you missed since October 16th?

It’s WHL’s 300th newsletter! Wow. Being a smart lot, you’ll realise that’s more or less six years of reporting on the local news. We now reach more than 2,500 of you and it’s gratifying that we keep hearing how much people appreciate the newsletter.

Before we start with this week’s news here is our very first newsletter!

What did we cover? Well there was something on the Milliband brothers (remember them?), Camden were handing out 2,000 snow shovels – and it hasn’t really snowed since! Gym news as The Gym group was opening up, a Robert Webb tweet, Achillea Flowers got a mention (it also was opening that week), there was talk of a tube strike… and we asked if the Met police should be more visible? Oh and something on recycling. All sounds rather familiar…

It’s sad that this 300th edition coincides with a crime wave that once again is our lead story this week… on which note, let’s crack on.

Earlier in the week there were arrests of two teenagers on a moped in Broomsleigh Street – following an earlier mobile phone snatch on a moped and fatal stabbing in Little Venice.

Then on Thursday, there was an already planned Area Action Forum (public meeting) on moped-related crime, which was well attended and saw a frank presentation by the new Neighbourhood policing Inspector Richard Berns.

There have been further moped-enabled mobile snatches, across the area and from this guy, but good to hear that people rallied round to help him. This one on the weekend and these not, one but two on the night of the meeting. WATCH OUT.

Teenager being arrested after the stabbing incident last night. Picture: @leocodron

To coincide with our 300th newsletter we are having a Whampdinner this week – on the outer reaches of our ‘hood (and indeed a bit beyond) at the Clifton pub. Nice place though. If you want to join there are a few special anniversairy newsletter spaces! Please email They are great fun and it’s nice to meet fellow Whampers. Who knows, we might even crack open the Whampagne.

Mill Lane is closed in sections this coming week, but it is still open for business! It seems to be reopened at the end of each day once work is finished though.

Note that WEL is also closed on Saturday nights to Sunday mornings for crane works at the Overground station. Also note both these sets of work affect bus services.

Camden staged a ‘flytip’ PR stunt but as many pointed out there were enough real fly-tips around. Talking of the perennial problem of rubbish local group WHAT are holding a public meeting this week on the 25th in the Synagogue Hall. They have produced a sensible report with lots of suggestions. If you care about rubbish – and we know many of you do – this is your chance to question Camden.

The Boundary commission have decided to proceed with the proposed changes; so it will be Hampstead. Commissioners decide to drop Kilburn and add Child’s Hill and Hampstead Garden suburb after all. They are asking for further comment and who knows if it will actually happen.

Our historian Dick Weindling was interviewed on Dutch radio about the Beatles being turned down by Decca. You can ‘see’ the radio interview here.

Will there finally be action on parking pressures on Iverson Road?

More on Nazanin – David Cameron wrote on her behalf, which proves she is a spy! ? And there is a performance of the Edinburgh show about her (details below).

Places available at  Fordwych Nursery, which has been open since 1946! (but has just been refurbished) for 2 and 3 year olds.

There was a car crash on the Finchley Road, at the start of rush hour.

The back of 529A Finchley Road has applied to become another fitness studio (see more gym news).

Black Lion – it was all happening and they had a free beer festival (warning this tweet gets rapidly really annoying…).

Welcome to FoWHL new writer in residence and this week they have ‘An Evening with Graham Gouldman’ of 10cc etc fame (look him up kids) but sorry, it’s fully booked.

It’s Halloween coming up – Achillea flowers are getting in the mood… and there is a (chocolate) skull decorating workshop at the Sheriff Centre!

And finally – anyone seen the cats Titan? or Al?

Coming up this week

Mon 23rd – Final Good Ship comedy night.

23rd – Looking for Mummy. Edinbrugh show about Nazanin. Tickets (£10) here.

Tues 24th Fowhl – evening with Graham Gouldman (sorry it’s full booked)

Wed 25th – WHAT public meeting on rubbish (not sold out) at the Synagogue Hall 7:30pm

Thurs 26th – WHampdinner (details above)

Sat 28th – the Smyths at Good Ship (sold out, might be returns)

Sat 28th – CAWH quiz at Emmanuel church – a few places left.