Forum Topic

Brandlehow School

I wonder if the school has tried crowdfunding?For instance there is this group who are crowdfunding right now to raise enough money to keep on showing the film they have made of turning their street into a Power Station.  Their street is in Walthamstow and the film is now being shown not just all over London but in this country and abroad.  There have been several articles in the national press.Their current crowdfunder donations are being matched by Aviva and this particular crowdfunder runs out tonight or tomorrow - can't remember which.There are quite a few companies that do this.  With energy costs the way they are crowdfunding for solar panels etc should or could help them to bring their costs down.  Brandlehow is a Grade II listed property but there are churches which have installed solar panels to reduce their energy costs (including Salisbury Cathedral) so it can be possible on buildings where you just might not expect to find them...However there are also communities raising money for other projects.  Of course you'd need to check and know that you meet the guidelines.But maybe they don't need to do that and they have some past pupils or their parents who would love to help out?There is masses of infrastructure in this country that has not had as much TLC as it could have done with and should have had - including Hammersmith Bridge of course - and with climate change with the sudden heavier cloudbursts and high winds it brings there will be an even greater number of buildings that will need to pay more attention to their roofs - and gutters etc (ie making sure the gutters are big enough to take the extra water).  This is why you also see rain gardens and other methods nowadays of slowing rainwater down on its way to the drains.

Philippa Bond ● 9d11 Comments

Thanks for that Ivonne.  We walked past and looked at 2 Willow Road NW3 the Erno Goldfinger building in Hampstead this summer on a walk looking at architecture.  I hadn't realised that it was a National Trust property and open to the public (for a price) - but currently closed for the winter now until 5 March.I had read that the caretaker's cottage that was a part of Brandlehow school had a bit of history as it was illegally demolished about 20 years ago and was then ordered to be rebuilt...

Philippa Bond ● 1d

I also enjoyed the connection of Ian Fleming and the name James Bond.  It was a fun article to read.I mentioned it to my husband who was fascinated by the information.  He also mentioned there is one programme of the Hidden Treasures of the National Trust entitled Goldfinger.  If you are interested, here is the link:https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002cg6t/hidden-treasures-of-the-national-trust-series-3-5-goldfinger

Ivonne Holliday ● 4d

Thanks, Ivonne, about Footprints of London.  I had no idea how Ian Fleming chose the name James Bond, until I read this.  So he was reading a book on ornithology written by a twitcher called James Bond and he liked the strong, direct name.  Considering James Bond’s playboy image, it is fitting Fleming chose a birdwatcher’s name. I digress from the original topic but I like the Brandlehow connection to James Bond.

Martine Guy ● 4d

Thank you Martine and I enjoyed your post enormously!  I had no idea about the background. I Googled Erno Goldfinger and Ian Fleming and this is one of the articles that came up:https://footprintsoflondon.com/live/2015/11/fleming-vs-goldfinger-what-really-happened-when-the-architect-took-on-the-author/And this one that shows Brandlehow Schoolhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ern%C5%91_Goldfinger

Ivonne Holliday ● 4d

Brandlehow School was designed by Erno Goldfinger. My understanding is that Ian Fleming hated the design of Erno Goldfinger’s modernist house in Hampstead so much that Fleming named his famous villain after Goldfinger.

Martine Guy ● 4d

Yes, but all schools seem to have fundraisers of one kind or another for one thing or another.Here's something for those interested in architecture:https://themodernhouse.com/journal/brandlehow-school-raise-the-roof-campaign 

Philippa Bond ● 4d

"Many, many millions are on their way to state schools as a result of the addition of vat"Perhaps a few extra zeros have been added on to the figure.Just a reminder to the Left, that many secondary schools and a lot of Primary schools are run by private companies.

Ed Robinson ● 4d

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/great-british-energy-solar-panels-cut-bills-for-nhs-and-schoolshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgn4pewq4lohttps://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/climate-hub-wandsworth#

Philippa Bond ● 4d

There is a huge state schools rebuilding programme in process with over 200 just in England confirmed by last February to have concrete problems.  Some just need maintenance. It seems the Council has said they will pay the majority of Brandlehow's building costs but the school itself needs to find £20,000 of that - the amount they are trying to raise.

Philippa Bond ● 7d

Many, many millions are on their way to state schools as a result of the addition of vat on independent schools so presumably the maintenance issues will be remedied over half term.

John Geoffries ● 8d

https://www.putneysw15.com/default.asp?section=info&page=conschools030.htm

Philippa Bond ● 8d