Becoming a Connoisseur of Hoover Bag Art

Brentford West councillor Guy Lambert reports back

Brentford West councillor Guy Lambert

September 5, 2024

As to the Heritage Harbour, turned out the email I thought I had set up had been torpedoed by Google. Why – they don’t say. I appealed. They allowed my appeal. When I tried to reactivate it they said I had tried too often (once). Doncha just love these tech giants. I have escaped from Twitter by deleting my account, having spent years building up to 1500 followers (yes, I know, anyone with charisma would get 10 million in a week) so those who want the undoubted benefit of my incisive opinions and hilarious jokes will have to start following me on Threads @eguylambert. I know Threads are Facebook which I dislike intensely also, but unlike Mr Musk they have not as far as I know advocated civil war in Britain. At least, not yet.

Anyway we are still working on Heritage Harbour but I need to get ruddy Google to provide an email account we can use rather than a banned one.

Friday was the start of the Creative Mile so I went down to the launch at the Musical Museum. Well. that was a blast. Lots of people there including our lovely Mayor, lots of pictures on the walls and a glass of bubbly and a speech from a famous local artist (not famous enough for a philistine like me to recognise him).

And of course the Mighty Wurlitzer

Next stop was the Steam and Water Museum. It is always fascinating there but I was too dozy to record the various artists and creatives who lurk in the workshops. I only got a couple of pictures of things hanging in the wall.

Hadn’t realised It had been bombed in WW1 (in fact I thought there was little bombing then, but I’m too young to remember 1918).

Another nice picture of a pumping works working in 1934 no doubt delivering water to thirsty Londoners.

And a period quotation from some famous bloke.

You have never seen me trying to climb a tree so you know nothing about my intelligence.

Last stop that evening was Lots Ait where there was again a lot of creatives and their outputs.

I was very taken by the allegorical sculptures in the back in this picture. I spent some time trying to decode the erudite meanings before I realised they are actually the Hoover bags relating to some industrial extraction kit that is there. Now you know a bit more about my intelligence. No trees needed.

It is always a special delight to go to Lots Ait which has an amazing selection of small businesses of different types, and some artists, many I think from Redlees in Isleworth.

Coming back across the usually closed bridge, a different angle on my local river which always pleases

Or two, if you’re greedy.

This picture shows what work at life was like in what I suppose was the 1960s on Lots Ait. I date on the basis that there are a number of mature gentlemen with proper shortish sides and back haircuts and a couple of younger long haired layabouts from my generation.

On Saturday my newish ward partner and I met for an update on what’s happening in Brentford. There’s been quite a lot going on and what with General Election and holidays etc taking up a lot of our time we haven’t spent as much time together as we would like to since the ward election back in May. So we had a long talk and then went out to do a bit of door knocking. I said we should do Great West Road because the section known as Adelaide Terrace is a particularly challenging place with the M4 enhancing the view as well as the A4 outside their front doors. One or two I know down there have horrendous housing problems, but most people were cheerful. Issues about parking (like everywhere round here!) and some complaints about flytipping, though I pointed out it is much better than it used to be and that was agreed. I don’t really look forward to door knocking but I generally enjoy it when I do it. I also learn something every time and most people appreciate us taking the trouble.

I missed Saturday on the Creative Mile but I was out and about on Sunday. First off I was up in Blondin Park for the misnamed Brentford Festival – it grates on me that it takes place in Ealing – but it is always a good do. Lots of conversations, including various residents, Greens and Friends of The Earth and finally a man from Hadley, who have bought the old GSK site and building. I encourage them (as I do ) that a creative use of that wonderful building would be good to see, particularly for community and artistic and artisan people who abound round here.

Then back for a bit of Creative Mile. The Armenian Church venue which had some nice artistic stuff, though I restricted myself to a nice bookmark for the princely sum of £3. It was quiet there, which was disappointing but as the Creative Mile builds its reputation (and ideally doesn’t clash with the ‘Brentford’ Festival) it will get an even better turnout. I spent some time at the places in the High Street and Johnsons Island and it all seemed nice and busy. Some kind soul bought me a drink in the Brewery Tap. He asked me about something and I told him he should read my blog for an update, but he told me it is TOO LONG. I will try and take that on board. It also takes a long time to write it!

That was my weekend done. Quiet Monday and Tuesday apart from a rare appearance at the Green drinks in the Watermans Arms. Wednesday I was off to The Guildhall which is a place I always seem to have difficulty finding – my Satnav is not good and the street signs are very confusing. Made it eventually and we had a meet about the London Road Safety Council. This used to be on The Melvinator’s territory but is poorly attended these days and has lost the funding it used to have from TfL. There were just half a dozen of us this time, and we agreed we should be working out what it’s for and whether it’s worth keeping it going. We think it is, but we need to get clear about the agenda, which we will do over the coming weeks.

So now it’s Thursday, not a good day for sunbathing so I’m getting through this earlier than usual and in any case I’m trying to KEEP IT SHORT. I hope I haven’t bored y’all too much.

Councillor Guy Lambert