A stitch in time? I write this in high summer - so of course I’m wearing a jumper and looking at the rain dance down the Rectory study window! But by the time this autumn Continue Reading Review & Reset I sincerely trust that everyone had a wonderful time at the upcoming summer celebration. As I pen this message, the event is only a few weeks away, and I'm hopeful Continue Reading Nothing ventured…… With additional rate tax now starting with earnings over £125,000, it’s more important than ever to maximise pension contributions as a way of reducing taxable income. However, once you have Continue Reading Hackney Foodbank Barbican residents supported the Hackney Foodbank at last year’s summer party and raised over £900.  Earlier this year, I went along to visit the hub of the Foodbank’s distribution network Continue Reading St Giles' Book Fair St Giles' Book Fair reconvenes this Friday and runs until Bank Holiday Monday 28 August. As ever, a wonderful array of books, CDs, DVDs, records and special editions. They'll be Continue Reading Property News Let's talk about something that's been making waves across the Barbican Estate: those pesky service charges that keep creeping up. I'm talking about those fees property owners have to pay Continue Reading Coronation Big Lunch *** The sun shone; Residents  came – what a relief! *** With  21 days to go until  the 7th May Coronation Big Lunch, a group of residents  many of whom had Continue Reading Sing Gospel with the LSO *** Sing Gospel with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican *** Join a chorus of 250 singers from our local community singing in concert on the Barbican stage on 5 Continue Reading Greenest Route In my last article for Barbican Life, I discussed how growing up in the Barbican pushed me away from city life and instead towards a greater appreciation for nature and Continue Reading Treats on the Elizabeth Line Now that we have finished marvelling at long escalators (let’s hope they never break down) and the ridiculously long platforms, it’s time to explore some newfound treasures along the route. Stations Continue Reading Coffee after Church, life after death I suppose that’s our equivalent of an ‘elevator pitch’?  It sort of says it all. Clever marketing is everywhere these days. Some of it obvious, some of it very subtle in its Continue Reading Summer Soirees! One in five London households (20 per cent) do not have access to a private or shared garden, according to the Office for National Statistics. This is the highest percentage Continue Reading Museum of London Update *** Sharon Ament updates us on what comes next for the Museum of London *** January has been a hive of activity at the museum following a jubilant and emotional closing Continue Reading St Giles' Book Fair 3-21 May Dear friends and neighbours, St Giles' Book Fair will open this Wednesday 3 May and run until 21 May. 11am-4pm, but until 6.30pm on Wednesdays, Thursday and Saturdays. From Thursday 18 May Continue Reading City Carers Community *** Navigating your way whilst supporting someone *** Our lives are busy. When asked “How are you?” in the lift or on the podium, the chances of an automatic response “I’m Continue Reading The Brutal Reality *** How growing up in the Barbican pushed me closer to nature, by Jacob Collett *** When architect trio Chamberlin, Powell and Bon began to draw up the first sketches of Continue Reading Dear Auntie Ann *** Kevin Kiernan presents a selection of letters received by Ann Drewes, Barbican’s own agony aunt *** Dear Auntie Ann  Lengthy waits at the GP or A+E can be a worry, but Continue Reading 'Blest is the man … whose bowels move and melt with pity to the poor'… is a marvellous hymn by the great Isaac Watts. It is obviously true - especially for any of us (man Continue Reading Life After London Wall Firstly, thank you to everyone who has been to one of our Lease Extension Information sessions.  We will continue these regularly to make sure that everyone has all the information Continue Reading It’s that time of year again! With the changes announced in the autumn budget, a thorough review of your financial arrangements is more important this tax year end than ever. Capital Gains Tax (CGT) allowances are Continue Reading St Giles' Book Fair  Tuesday 21 February to Friday 10 March   Open Daily 11am to 4pm and until 6pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays. If travelling far, call Jake on 07766 202 731 to check we aren't Continue Reading Interview with a Local *** Erin Summers interviews Emma Markiewicz, Director of the London Metropolitan Archives, London’s Largest Treasure Trove *** A short twenty-minute walk from the Barbican, you’ll find the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) Continue Reading INSIGHT Exhibition Review Janet Wells’ quarterly review of the Arts, Gallery and Museum scene. Tate Modern The EY Exhibition: Cezanne 5th Oct to 12 Mar 2023 Paul Cezanne (1839 -1906) It is always my plan to arrive at Continue Reading It’s a horse thing! Suzy Waite gives us some background on the City of London police horses and their welcome autumn trample through our Barbican Wildlife Garden. Horticultural Horses  “Clyde and Trug are outside!” Jo Rodgers Continue Reading Become a Trustee Age UK City of London is recruiting new Trustees and they are looking to target those who work or live in the City of London area. Age UK City of London Continue Reading Brutalist Britain : Buildings of the 1960s and 1970s by Elain Harwood. An illustrated guide to Britain’s finest examples of Brutalist architecture Brutalist architecture has a growing number of admirers who are finally Continue Reading Alternative Voices Fred Rodgers laments the 1 Golden Lane planning approval What is it about Barbican residents who are either Alderpersons or Common Councillors for Wards other than Aldersgate or Cripplegate? There are Continue Reading Kevin Kiernan's Afterthoughts *** Kevin has come across a manuscript in the London Library which is a previously unpublished story featuring Sherlock Holmes receiving an unexpected Xmas present *** The yellow fog swirled around Continue Reading Community Camaraderie In the winter issue of Barbcian Life, we have Summer Party photos galore for you, to recall the heady afternoon of community togetherness we all shared.  Not since the Barbican’s Continue Reading Where to invest? With volatile markets and geopolitical instability likely to remain in the coming months and years, and with inflation rising at a pace, our clients are increasingly questioning their investment strategy. Continue Reading
Barbican Life Online2023-05-02T10:41:36+00:00

Review & Reset

I sincerely trust that everyone had a wonderful time at the upcoming summer celebration. As I pen this message, the event is only a few weeks away, and I'm hopeful that we'll be blessed with sunny weather. My gratitude goes out to Miranda Quinney and an extensive roster of [...]

Nothing ventured……

With additional rate tax now starting with earnings over £125,000, it’s more important than ever to maximise pension contributions as a way of reducing taxable income. However, once you have used your recently increased annual contribution allowance of £60,000, and also maximised unused allowances from previous tax years, options [...]

Hackney Foodbank

Barbican residents supported the Hackney Foodbank at last year’s summer party and raised over £900.  Earlier this year, I went along to visit the hub of the Foodbank’s distribution network – the Warehouse in Cherbury Street, a 20 minute walk from the Barbican. Inside the work-worn 1960s building was [...]

St Giles’ Book Fair

St Giles' Book Fair reconvenes this Friday and runs until Bank Holiday Monday 28 August. As ever, a wonderful array of books, CDs, DVDs, records and special editions. They'll be open every day 11am-4pm except that: - they're closed 1.30-3.30pm on Monday 14th for a funeral, but then open [...]

Property News

Let's talk about something that's been making waves across the Barbican Estate: those pesky service charges that keep creeping up. I'm talking about those fees property owners have to pay for things like maintenance, repairs, and all the amenities on the estate. It's no secret that these charges have [...]

Greenest Route

In my last article for Barbican Life, I discussed how growing up in the Barbican pushed me away from city life and instead towards a greater appreciation for nature and the countryside. I explored my experiences of nature-disconnection growing up and how I discovered the world outside when I [...]

Summer Soirees!

One in five London households (20 per cent) do not have access to a private or shared garden, according to the Office for National Statistics. This is the highest percentage of any region in the UK, so whether it’s a quick catchup party or a big do, let’s take [...]

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