VE Day Celebrations and Keeping Things Local
Chiswick Riversides councillor Gabriella Giles reports back
Cllr Gabriella Giles
May 10, 2025
While the eyes of the world have been focussed on a chimney in a certain city-state, the week of a councillor has been a tad more local and varied.
Saturday
The week started with councillor’s surgery at Chiswick Library - a weekly opportunity for members of the public to stop in and see one of the Conservative councillors face to face.
It’s an unpredictable affair, sometimes nobody comes, sometimes, much like last week, you’ll spend three hours supporting a resident with a complex case. On this occasion, to walk them through the online process for applying for certain benefits or support. As someone who has grown up in the digital age, these systems and requests can be frustrating as they aren’t always straightforward, so for those who aren’t so digitally connected, it can be a nightmare.
Therefore, to support someone through this process is never a chore, especially as I seem to have found myself in various tech support roles in my life. I’ve been a long-time advocate of the Digital Poverty Alliance, inviting them to the Chiswick Area Forum when I was Chairman back in 2024, and supporting local projects when possible. However their focus is on reducing the digital divide amongst school children, not those at the other end of the age spectrum, so in a world that is increasingly online, I’m happy to help those who need some coaching or support in finding what they need online.
Sunday
I was lucky enough to be invited by a friend to join him at the Brentford vs Manchester United game at the Gtech Stadium. It was a very exciting game, the home crowd was in fine voice, and the result was enough for many to warrant a celebratory pint. It was a Bank Holiday weekend after all, so surely it would have been rude not to?
Sitting alongside Strand on the Green, watching the sunshine over the water reminded me of SOGA’s next photography competition where the aim is to capture “Light on the Strand”. I’m thinking of entering myself, and looking at the below, do you think I’d have a chance?
Strand on the Green
Monday
It definitely felt a bit like a holiday, watching the VE-80 parade, and then venturing out onto the street to watch the RAF flypast. We’re very fortunate in West London that the route means that it’s only a matter of minutes between seeing the planes above Buckingham Palace and Chiswick. Although cloudy, residents in Grove Park were treated to an impressive sight, and many of us ventured to the street to take photos and videos of the aircraft.
Later in the day, we ventured up to St Michaels and All Angels in Bedford Park to join in the celebrations and sing-a-long co-hosted by Tabard on the Green.
Tuesday
A return to normal service, with the balancing act of work and council duties. In my last blog, I wrote about the new Project Board that Hounslow has put together with Hounslow Highways to manage repairs along the towpath and river wall at Strand on the Green. We now meet on the first Tuesday of the month, and I was pleased to see that we now have the outlines of a project plan, and there are a number of options under consideration. Much like anything concerning the river, there are a lot of moving parts and I hope to be able to report on this in full in due course.
The week before, I had chaired the licensing panel hearing for two markets in Chiswick - Antiques and Food - it had been a long evening, but necessary as part of the statutory requirements for these licenses to be renewed on a 6-monthly basis and subsequent consultation, which resulted in a LOT (200+) representations. Licensing is a tricky business, and it constantly surprises me how many applicants and holders of licences are unaware of the process and what’s required of them - especially when they are then found in breach of the conditions that are applied. As such, I spent Tuesday afternoon with the legal officer to ensure that our decision for both of these markets was published in-line with what we’d discussed in the meeting.
While there are many people who may not always be happy with decisions made, as a panel, we have a responsibility to ensure that we adhere to the licensing objectives and create consistency with the licences that are granted.
Wednesday
A pretty light day council-wise, replying to emails, following up on case work and preparing for future meetings.
Thursday
Yet another meeting to chair, this time of the Thames Landscape Strategy. It’s a packed two-hour meeting, coincidentally falling on the 99th birthday of one of our patrons, Sir David Attenborough, so we were all delighted to pass on our best wishes to him via our Project Coordinator.
The most part of the meeting was taken up with a report on the work done as part of the Joint Thames Strategy to look at flood defences along the Thames from Weybridge to the sea. The team have done an amazing job in such a short time identify a suitable approach to achieve what’s needed for each reach of the Thames, having undertaken Landscape Character Assessments for the whole of the area covered by the two strategies that concern Hounslow - both the Thames Landscape Strategy and the Thames Strategy: Kew to Chelsea. There will be more to come on this topic, so please watch this space!
Cllr Giles with TLS Patrons Kim Wilkie and Sir David Attenborough at Syon House
Friday
The afternoon called for a trip up to Hounslow to attend a service at Holy Trinity Church to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE day. All week, I’ve been listening to 1940s jazz, and I attempted to recreate a wartime look, however my attempt at victory rolls failed, so I was grateful that I had some victory red lipstick on hand. I always find the links of fashion to protest fascinating, especially with this particular shade of lipstick, how it was used as a proverbial two-fingers up to Hitler and a statement against fascism.
Cllr Gabriella Giles with Cllrs Jack Emsley and Peter Thompson at Hounslow’s 80th Anniversary VE Day Service at Holy Trinity Church, Hounslow.
The service was a short and sweet affair, with the vicar reminding us of the benefits of sincere love and the sacrifice that was given by so many to overcome tyranny. Given the current state of affairs worldwide, I’m thinking that my choice of lipstick was apt.
Coming Up
There’s a lot more to come - we’ve got the council’s AGM at the end of the month, and next weekend, St Paul’s Grove Park will be hosting a flower festival which will be free to all!
St. Paul's Church, Grove Park is holding a Flower Festival over the weekend of 17th and 18th May. This is a real community event and they will be welcoming contributors, including - St. Michael's Church, Sutton Court; Grove Park Group; Chiswick Horticulture and Allotment Society; Refugee Welcome Hounslow; Pot Pourri; Grove Park Road; Waldeck Road, Wilmington Avenue as well as Toddlers World and Strand on the Green School. Chiswick House and Gardens is kindly supplying some flowers and foliage from their gardens for a display and Chiswick Flower Market is supporting with a generous Raffle prize. There will be live music from local musicians in the Church and the Middlesex Yeomanry Band in the Garden on Sunday afternoon as well as refreshments all day and a raffle with some wonderful prizes.
The week after, I’ll be sitting on yet another Licensing Panel.
In the meantime, I wish you all a great week ahead and thank you for your attention.
Councillor Gabriella Giles
gabriella.giles@hounslow.gov.uk
07966 270823
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2025
Anyone can attend public meetings of the council at Hounslow House which is fully accessible. Most meetings take place on the 6th floor of Hounslow House which is at 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB.
Council Meetings - Borough Council
- 27 May 2025 7:30 pm - Annual Meeting of the Council
- 22 July 2025 7:30 pm
There is public access for these meetings via a direct lift from the ground floor to the Council Meeting Room
6th Floor, Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB
Council Meetings – Licensing Panel
20 May 2025: 7.30pm
6th Floor, Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB
Council Meetings – Audit and Governance Committee
- 15 July 2025 7.00pm
- 4 Nov 2025 7:00 pm
6th Floor, Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB
Important Current Local Issues
During weekends and regular Public Holidays, residents can still access council services on-line or via emergency numbers:
To inform the council of an emergency, please call 020 8583 2222
CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLOR SURGERIES
Chiswick: Every Saturday from 9.30am to 10.30am at Chiswick Library (the eight Conservative councillors take this surgery in turn).
Gunnersbury: First Saturday of the month from 10am to 11am at The Gunnersbury Triangle Club, Triangle Way, off The Ridgeway, W3 8LU (at least one of the Chiswick Gunnersbury ward councillors takes this surgery).
CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLORS and CONTACTS
Chiswick Gunnersbury ward
Cllr Joanna Biddolph joanna.biddolph@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 703446
Cllr Ranjit Gill ranjit.gill@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 702956
Cllr Ron Mushiso ron.mushiso@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 702887
Chiswick Homefields ward
Cllr Jack Emsley jack.emsley@hounslow.gov.uk 07977 396017
Cllr Gerald McGregor gerald.mcgregor@hounslow.gov.uk 07866 784821
Cllr John Todd john.todd@hounslow.gov.uk 07866 784651
Chiswick Riverside ward
Cllr Gabriella Giles gabriella.giles@hounslow.gov.uk 07966 270823
Cllr Peter Thompson peter.thompson@hounslow.gov.uk 07977 395810
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