At least 300 people (estimates ranged from this figure up to nearly 500) marched from Isleworth Library to Isleworth Public Hall in the rain to demonstrate their opposition to closures. When the front of the march reached the Public Hall marchers at the rear were still turning into South Street by the War Memorial.
This community-led activity was backed by the (Conservative) MP for Brentford & Isleworth, Mary Macleod, and by all three (Labour) ward councillors for Isleworth. We are grateful for their participation and support, and the sight of the four of them alongside ICG leader Ian Speed and Christine Diwell of The Isleworth Society (TIS) at the head of the march sends a potent message about the capacity our community has now developed to organise across political boundaries when the occasion demands.
The march finished at the Public Hall and we had quite deliberately adopted a "play it by ear" approach to what was to happen when we got there. In the event the numbers involved were so hugely beyond everybody's expectations that we could only squeeze people into the various rooms and refresh them with tea, coffee and biscuits as even the hall would have been nowhere near large enough to have staged any kind of meeting.
A big well done and thank you to everybody who supported this wonderful event, to those who helped by leafleting and spreading the message, and to the SNT PS Charles Ehikioya whom we know went the extra mile, along with his excellent team of officers, to make this work. Also to the St. John's Residents' Association and the Four Roads Residents' Association, to Delicacies, Jay at Londis and Camil at Joseph's Patisserie who all supplied provisions and refreshments, and to everybody else involved.
The message from Isleworth reverberated loud and clear today - Hands Off Our Community!!
3 comments:
The turnout on this march demonstrated that nothing has changed in Isleworth and People Power still rules the roost OK
Well, I had a whale of a time marching incognito in my 'Vanessa' mask.
Could've been embarrassing if the real one had turned up though - just think, TWO marchers with faces like smacked arses !
I notice that Brentford Library has just taken delivery of EIGHT brand new internet units.
Not earmarked for closure any time soon then, surely ?
Post a Comment