Film Festival Films Online

The inaugural Twickenham Alive Film Festival sparked a lot of interest and a lot of entries. The screening and awards ceremony took place on 26th April at Twickenham Stadium in front of the assembled glitterati from among the twickerati and beyond. Having been banned from attending after an incident at another local event involving a vicar, his pet python, a bottle of tequila and a well-known Richmond Councillor (see note 1 below) your humble correspondent had to report on the evening from a safe distance. Luckily the films are now online for the great viewing public – as well as us – to enjoy. You like? We do. There’s some real talent on display from a diverse mix of film makers.

You can see a selection of the best on the Twickenham Alive website. Of the ones we’ve seen so far, we especially like The Magick of Twickenham (Toby Alington), School Run Strut (Alban Low) and Garden of Reason (Ham Youth Centre). You’ll all have your own favourites, so take a look and let us know which ones warrant a BAFTA, a Twickenham TWAFTA or would get you buffing up a couple of Golden Globes in no time.

Why not add your reviews on here?

LINK:
www.twickenhamfilmfestival.com

Note 1: No such incident took place or is likely to take place.

Time for a Twickenham Indoor Market?

Twickenham. More spark needed. Apply within.

The concept of an indoor market in Twickenham sounds intriguing. When local resident Alan Winter wrote to the Richmond & Twickenham Times about his idea and also posted details about it on the ‘Your News’ section of twickerati it generated a good deal of interest. In fact, here at twickerati HQ we thought it warranted a place on the front page of the site. So, with plenty of lively debate on here and elsewhere about the state of our high streets, we hand over to Alan to explain his idea and how it could work. Oh, and he’d like your support too…

“An indoor community market. Could it happen in Twickenham? I think it could. Since floating the idea a month ago I have received messages of goodwill and support for the idea from many people. The positive response has encouraged me to pursue the vision as an active project. Here’s why and how it would work…

Heath Road now hosts an unacceptable number of empty retail and commercial properties. In the 50′s and 60′s this was a busy and varied shopping area with many specialist shops. It is now a sad looking entry route from the west into Twickenham, full of eateries that often don’t last very long or estate agents, barber shops and charity shops. The road is ripe for some serious thinking on a subject that was previously dropped when Poundland took over the then vacant Woolworth site.

So let’s consider the idea of a midweek and weekend indoor market. The idea here is a simple one. The empty shops that are all clustered around Rubens excellent bakery are empty for a reason. These are some of the smallest retail units in Heath Road. Traditionally they would have been taken on by budding entrepreneurs and start-up businesses but in today’s climate these units represent too much of a financial risk for a start-up. Business rates and rents are coming in at a minimum of £20,000 p.a. This is before shop fitting, stocking, insurance and utility costs.

So we need somewhere for the small retail business person to get a foot in the door. Hence Twickenham Indoor Market. Stallholders would be local resident entrepreneurs and craft persons who are unable to afford current retail rents and business rates but who would like somewhere to try out and sell their wares…

Twickenham High Street Update

Sir? Madam? Can we tempt you with a brief High street update? Indeed, we would be sincerely honoured if you were to peruse the following article. Err, like, now dudes.

closing down

York Street’s in a right old state of flux. Carpet House is closing down and the Rugby Store is moving on. From all the newspaper plastered over the windows recently it looks as if Hair Design (10 York Street) is no more. Work going on inside suggests a new shop will be opening there soon selling phone accessories, gadgets, mobile top-ups, sunglasses and the like [Update: It's called Khan Communication]. Din’s Grill – the intermittently open takeaway sans pareil - is getting a refurb and a new independently run takeaway will open in its place; something a little bit different we hear. And it does seem that we may finally see some movement in what was the old Shanghai Village restaurant with the long-awaited (by some, perhaps) arrival of the estate agents Foxtons at 20-24 York Street. A few steps along, the short-lived Bathrooms4All (now Bathrooms4None) store could be getting new occupiers soon…

Pic of the Week

Spring arrives at last and a paddle boarder enjoys trip up the River Thames. Well we say ‘enjoys’ but we couldn’t get a close up of his facial expression. We’d like to think he was enjoying the sights of Twickenham and Eel Pie Island from the river but he could well have been in an absolutely fuming rage for all we know. Late home for dinner perhaps? Still, a nice evening for it though.

Spring sprung?

Move Over Cannes, It’s the Twickenham Film Festival

Cannes

Film buffs among the twickerati might fancy a visit to Cannes, Venice or Sundance (is that even a real place?) but there’s a new kid on the block who’s going to give them a run for their money, whilst pushing the envelope and raising the bar. Do what? It’s only bloody well the first Twickenham Film Festival, isn’t it?

Organised by Twickenham Alive with support from El Brute, the R FU and the R&TT among others, the festival has seen a veritable deluge of entries. The theme for submissions of 10 minute shorts was “Where You Live” and films have been received, not just from around the local area, but from across the UK and even overseas. Among the local entries is The Magick of Twickenham, produced and directed by Toby Alington and set in Church Street and by the Naked Ladies, or ‘the Oceanides’ if you want to get all fussy about it. There are also films from The Teddington Society, students from Richmond College, Richmond Adult College and even regular, normal members of the public.

Did the team at twickerati submit an entry? Well, that really would be telling wouldn’t it. In other words, an unequivocal ‘no’.

The glittering awards ceremony is certain to be an interesting evening, so if you fancy getting along to hear the winners announced and see a selection of the best entries then you’ll need to leave your superyacht at home and get over to Twickenham Stadium on 26th April. The event runs from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. It’s free but you will need to register in advance.

“All right Mr. De Mille, I’m ready for my close-up.”

LINK:
* Twickenham Film Festival

EXPO A GO GO
And if that’s not enough for you, on the same day in the very same place the Richmond Business Expo takes place. It will feature over 80 local businesses gathered in one spot to network, talk to potential customers, suppliers and even to regular punters about what they can offer. Expect a right old mix from web designers to solicitors to fitness experts to the Council. It’s also free to attend and might be worth a look especially if you want to ‘shop local’ for your business services. The Expo runs from 10.30am to 6.30pm at Twickenham Stadium.

LINK:
* Richmond Business Expo 2013

Event Reminder: Holi

A date for your diary that you might be interested in. And who knows we might even add some more interesting dates over the next week or two to create one of our great twickerati What’s On non-spectaculars. And, FYI, that was a ‘might’ not a ‘will’. But whaveski, we just wanted to mention Holi. It’s the Hindu Festival of Colour, a lively, vibrant and 100% colourful spring festival. To welcome the arrival of spring (and to be honest it feels as if we’re still waiting) on Saturday 23rd March there will be entertainment starting off in Church Street at midday and running throughout the afternoon and also a whole bunch of stuff happening at Orleans House Gallery. Like what? Well, like music, dancing, excellent south Asian food, a little bit of craziness and a whole lot of powdered paint being thrown around from 1.00pm to 4.00pm. It looked a bit like this last year. It’s well worth a visit, just make sure you don’t wear your brand new white suit.

Holi celebrations, Twickenham

LINKS:
* More LBRuT Holi info
* Photos and a video of Holi in Twickenham in 2012

And here are some photos of a cold, sleety and very muddy Holi 2013. The weather didn’t stop these people enjoying themselves. Spring? Who needs spring?

The 2012 Twickenham Festive 5s. Let’s Hear Yours

Blimey! It’s nearly Christmas. Are you trembling with excitement at the prospect safe in the knowledge that the cake is baked, the presents beautifully wrapped and the cards all written just waiting to be popped into the postbox? And not just any postbox, thank you very much, but a bright red pillar box with VR on the front and a robin perched atop. Wearing a tiny knitted scarf. And boots. Hang on a minute, the little fellow is chirruping away at you. How cute, he’s actually saying something! What’s that little robin? Oh. He wants to know if you’ve still got the receipt for the boots. He doesn’t like the colour. The ungrateful swine! Yes, why oh why can’t Christmas be like it used to be with a piece of coal for a present, a single orange instead of a turkey and just the one day off work. Why indeed?

Green to Become White?

Although mentioning Christmas events too early should be an offence punishable by death, followed by ten years in prison and a £50 fine, we thought it worth the briefest of references to two dates for your diary. As you already know from our quest to find the most appropriate person to turn on the lights, the big Twickenham switch on is Friday November 30th. We’re talking Church Street, a tree, a local celeb, a Christmas market, food and drink, a marching band etc. It’s always a good do.

But if you’re not done with that, then on Sunday 16th December there will be a community event on Twickenham Green. Mulled wine, misteltoe, chestnuts, carols, Cliff Richard, the Sally Army band, kids rides and, wait for it, maybe, just maybe, snow! Don’t knock it, it could happen. Well, forget about Cliff and all of those things might very well happen, including the white stuff. We’ll do more soon on local festive activities coming up but we don’t want to face the indignity of the whole execution, prison, fine business. It’s simply not the twickerati way.

A Twickfest Litfest

UPDATE: Have you been to any Lit Fest events yet? The festival is about half way through and there’s plenty still to come whether it’s part of the main event or at the Literary Salon. And there’s even a special twickerati 2 for 1 offer for this Friday’s spoken word double bill with Martin Figura and Byron Vincent. See below for more details.

Ice Rink Approved

It’s 20 years since Richmond ice rink in East Twickenham was demolished to make way for flats but ice skating is set to return to Twickenham this winter. Last week’s LBRuT planning committee gave the go ahead for a temporary rink in the grounds of York House. Good news for local skaters and for Richmond councillors and council workers looking to burn off some energy after a hard day’s graft at El Brute Enterprises.

The plans, put forward by Twickenham Alive, will see the rink located on top of the tennis courts in the grounds of the house, next to Sion Road. There’s been plenty of support for the idea from those who think it will give Twickenham something a little bit extra this winter. But there’s also been quite a lot of opposition, mainly on the grounds of disruption, noise, smells (from hot food outlets, not the skaters), lack of parking. And traffic. Basically from people who just don’t want it there.

Already you’re thinking, “York House is not quite Hampton Court Palace or Somerset House but if they can do it, then why the hell can’t Twickenham?” OK, perhaps the comparisons aren’t totally fair, it’ll be an interesting experiment and it could be a very decent evening’s entertainment sipping mulled wine, watching Lord True perfect his triple salchows in the blue corner while Vince Cable practises his double toe-loops over in the yellow one. Who’s in?

LINKS:
* Twickenham Alive
* Planning committee webcast – decision at c1hr 20mins
* Planning application