OCTOBER 2024
4 October to 5 January 2025: Heath Robinson Museum – The Art of Sidney H. Sime, Master of Fantasy. Sidney Sime was a painter, illustrator and caricaturist. He was born in 1865 in Manchester. He worked in the coal mines as a boy, then for a linen draper and a baker, before taking up sign writing and entering Liverpool school of art. He moved to London to work for Pick-Me-Up and other magazines, making both theatrical caricatures and sinisterly humorous drawings. His work, although influenced by Aubrey Beardsley and Japanese prints, was truly original. In 1898 he inherited a house and money from his uncle, an Edinburgh solicitor. He moved to Scotland to occupy his new property and to paint. However, he soon felt isolated, sold the house in Scotland and moved to Crown Cottage in Worplesdon, Surrey. In 1904 Sime first met Lord Dunsany, who both enjoyed the company of this eccentric artist and greatly admired his work. Dunsany chose Sime to illustrate his first book, The Gods of Pegana, a poetic fantasy. Their collaboration continued until the 1930s. After the Great War Sime devoted much of his time to rendering his fantasies in large oil paintings, a number of which are shown here. William Heath Robinson acknowledged him as an influence in My Line of Life. The Museum is open 1am-4pm, Thursday-Sunday. Tickets – adults, £6; over 65s, £5; student (25+ /people with disabilities), £4; child (18 and under), free; student (24 and under), free.

19 October: Harrow Choral Society: Autumn Concert: Draw on Sweet Night – works by Elgar, Wilbye, Brahms and Dvorak. The concert will take place at St Alban’s Church, North Harrow, HA2 7PF at 5.30pm-6.30pm. Tickets are £15, under 18 are £2 from boxoffice@harrowchoral.org.uk or by phoning 07794 253463 or from www.harrowchoral.org.uk.

22 October: Hatch End Horticultural Society: visit to Batsford Arboretum and Garden Centre & Bourton House and Garden. Coach leaves Morrisons at 9am for this all-day visit. Cost TBC. To book or for more info, contact John Barton at j.notrab70@gmail.com or 8428 5756 or Dick Wootten on wootten897@btinternet.com or 07710 367548.

30 October: London Youth Choirs at Harrow Arts Centre, 10.30-12.00. For children aged 6-11 and their parents/carers (younger siblings also welcome) to sing together in a relaxed and fun workshop. Free. Free refreshments will be available during the break. For more information and to book, visit www.londonyouthchoirs.com.

NOVEMBER 2024

7 November: Hatch End Horticultural Society: Talk, 2.30pm, Afternoon talk at the Baptist Church, Rowlands Avenue, Hatch End. Kerrie Lloyd-Dawson on “Late Season Colour”.

16 November: Hatch End Horticultural Society: Quiz Supper, Harrow Arts Centre, Hatch End at 6.45pm for 7pm start. Cost £18 (non-members £20). To book or for more info, contact Sheila Reid on sheila_reid16@hotmail.com or Lesley Morgan on 8421 4044.

DECEMBER 2024
5 December: Hatch End Association: Christmas tree light up at 4pm for 4.30pm. Light up by the Mayor of Harrow at 4.30pm. Carols with the Harrow Apollo Male Choir at 4pm. All are welcome.

7 December: Harrow Harmony Choir: Festive concert at 5.30pm at Pinner Methodist Church, Love Lane, HA5 3EE. New members of all voice parts are very welcome to join – no auditions are needed. So why not come along to a Friday evening rehearsal in South Harrow Methodist Church, Walton Avenue, HA2 8QU at 7.45-9.45pm to find out more. For more information on the choir and concert, email membership@harrowharmony.org.uk, or visit harrowharmony.org.uk.

LOCAL EVENTS FOR 2025

JANUARY 2025

FEBRUARY 2025

6 February: Hatch End Horticultural Society: Talk, 2.30pm, at the Baptist Church, Rowlands Avenue, Hatch End. TBC

MARCH 2025

6 March: Hatch End Horticultural Society: 7.45pm, AGM and talk at the Baptist Church, Rowlands Avenue, Hatch End: Matthew Biggs on “Perfect Plants For Problem Places”.

APRIL 2025

3 April: 7.45pm, talk at the Baptist Church, Rowlands Avenue, Hatch End: Carol Guber on “Little Brook Fuchias”

MAY 2025

1 May: 7.45pm, talk at the Baptist Church, Rowlands Avenue, Hatch End: Timothy Walker on “How To Be A 21st Century Gardener”

If you would like your organisation’s event published please contact us via this website or at editor@hatchend.org.