First things first and we’d like to celebrate a truly remarkable neighbour: Charles Miggleton, who has just reached the incredible milestone of his 100th birthday. To mark the occasion, the City of London branch of the Royal British Legion formed a guard of honour at Tower Bridge, before Charles went on to enjoy a well-deserved celebratory lunch at The Ivy.
Charles’ story is truly remarkable – he served in a landing craft on D-Day and has been part of our Barbican community since the early 1970s.
A very warm and heartfelt belated happy birthday to you, Charles!
I can confidently say we’ve now perfected the art of the Summer Party. Even though we had a strategic relocation to St Giles’ due to the threat of downpour, the day was everything we hoped for—and more. Neighbours of all ages came together to enjoy music, laughter, and each other’s company. Mrs H and the Sing-along Band brought such joy to the afternoon, filling the church with tunes that had toes tapping and smiles all around. The charity cake stall was brimming with delicious creations, the welcome drinks sparked friendly conversations, and the lively presence of our local groups, Councillors, some of the BEO team—and even the Lord Mayor himself—made the day feel truly special.
A heartfelt thank-you goes to our amazing volunteers. From setting up tables to serving cakes, decorating the space, welcoming guests, and tidying up afterwards, your energy and dedication created a warm and welcoming atmosphere for everyone. We are equally grateful to our brilliant bakers, whose cakes and bakes delighted all attendees while helping raise vital funds to support our community.
This Summer Party was a true celebration of what makes our neighbourhood so special: kindness, connection, and community spirit. Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed in both big and small ways—you helped turn a summer’s day into memories we’ll all treasure.
We also extend our thanks to the Culture Mile BID for their generous funding. For many of us, this event is the one day each year when we get to meet so many neighbours from our estate, Golden Lane and Tudor Rose Court. It’s a healthy and precious habit we are nurturing, and we look forward to more moments like this that strengthen our sense of community. I hope the photos have captured even a fraction of the joy we shared!
And if we’re not meeting at the annual party, many of us are now connecting online in the Barbican Bazaar WhatsApp Group, the brilliant idea of Nicolas Franck Pauly, which has quickly become the easiest and most fun way for locals to buy and sell.
Here’s wishing you golden leaves, warm cups, and good company this autumn!
The Barbican Life Team
