Walk of Peace and Friendship 2014
filed in Event on 29 May 2014
Our 2014 interfaith walk takes place on Sunday 22nd June and will visit five places in Isleworth. St John the Baptist Church, Gumley House and Brentford and Isleworth Quaker Meeting House have been part of the Isleworth landscape for 160 years and more. The Walk will include all three and also visit the new Sikh free school in Wood Lane and the Hussaini Islamic Mission on Thornbury Road.
The route
The day starts at St John’s Church in St John’s Road at 11.30am, moves to the Hussaini Islamic Mission in Thornbury Road at 12.15, the Nishkam Sikh faith school in Wood Lane at 1.45, Gumley House Convent at 2.45 and reaches the last stop at Brentford and Isleworth Quaker Meeting House at 4pm. Lunch will be available at the Hussaini Mission in Thornbury Road around 12.15 and tea with Brentford and Isleworth Quakers at 4pm.
The walk is open to all, whether of a faith or not, but to help with catering please let us know you’re coming via the contact us tab or ring 07812 833635.
Some history
The land to build St John’s was donated in 1846 by the Duke of Northumberland along with a sum of £2000.
Gumley House was built even earlier, in 1700, by John Gumley, a successful cabinet maker as his family home. In 1795 it passed to Benjamin Angell, one of the founding members of the Quaker Meeting House, in Quakers Lane, Busch Corner and still in use today.
In 1841 Gumley House was sold to Madame d’Houët, foundress of the Faithful Companions of Jesus, who established two schools. These developed in the 20th century into St Mary’s primary and Gumley House secondary. The house itself is still the home of a community of Roman Catholic Sisters.
Changes and continuity
In recent years population changes in Isleworth and around have added other faiths to our community. The Hussaini Islamic Mission have for over 20 years used a former church building in Thornbury Road. Walkers will hear about Friday and other prayers, how festivals are marked and education is provided for the young people of the group. Continuing the theme of education, the new Nishkam Sikh multi-faith free school is currently based in Wood Lane. Half the places are available for families of non Sikhs who favour a faith school.
Role of Faith in Emergency Planning
filed in Community on 29 May 2014
Who takes the lead?
If a major incident takes place in the Borough of Hounslow in which there might be risk to life, property or public services, it is the Contingency Planning and Resilience Section of Hounslow Council which takes responsibility for coordinating a response by the emergency services and the local authority. The bodies involved, depending on the incident, include the police, fire service, ambulance service, Health authority, Hounslow Highways, Hounslow Homes and the Red Cross.
Faith communities, with their access to a large membership, buildings and a commitment to assist in times of need, can also help.
A practise exercise
An Emergency Planning Exercise held in March 2014 gave useful insight into how an incident develops, what help might be required and how the different agencies and voluntary groups need to be coordinated in order to offer help effectively. HFOF and representatives of several faith groups took part.
How faith groups can help
Faith communities can help in a number of ways such as
1. passing on information to their members of what has happened and what action they should take
2. passing on information to the coordinators of Emergency Planning of any members of their community who might be at risk, any particular cultural or religious needs that they might have and providing assistance with language if necessary.
3. providing actual services such as food and shelter
4. providing extra volunteers to assist the emergency services e.g. filling and distributing sand bags, handing out blankets.
Getting involved
For this help to be most useful to the Contingency Planning Department, it would be helpful to establish in advance a clear system of information sharing and to know which faith groups are likely to be able to help and in what way. Work is continuing to link up any faith group which may be able to help the Contingency Planning Unit.
If your place of worship can to help, please contact Twm Palmer, Head of Contingency Planning and Resilience, London Borough of Hounslow, W: 020-8583-5165, M: 0795 779 3813, E: Twm.Palmer@Hounslow.gov.uk
Asha in the slums of New Delhi
filed in Charity, Event, Uncategorized on 27 May 2014
On Friday 13 June St Paul’s Church Hounslow West are hosting Dr Kiran Martin, Padma Shri, who has been recognised by the President of India for her charity Asha and her outstanding contribution to the development and social improvement of the conditions of slum dwellers in New Delhi, especially children. Her achievements over the last 25 years have been astounding – she now serves over 450,000 people living in slums in this major city!
The evening is being hosted at St Paul’s Church, Bath Road, where members would love to welcome many friends, old and new from around the Hounslow community to hear about the work. Members of St Paul’s are hoping to visit Delhi soon to see some of the projects and make a link with Hounslow.
Musical Memories Invitation
filed in Charity, Community, Music on 27 May 2014
How can music help people with dementia from diverse communities?
A recent event put on by the Hounslow branch of the Alzheimer’s Society looked at this issue. For more information contact Caroline on 0300 555 1197/07753311143 (email: caroline.wairia@alzheimers.org.uk) or or Joanna on 020 8580 1057 (email: Joanna.Newton@alzheimers.org.uk).