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“Waitrose - Seeking to Attain Perfection”
ISBN: 978-0-9552343-1-6 by Janet Appleyard-Hobbs
Acton History Group have been researching the different aspects of Acton’s history for many years. This booklet on Waitrose follows a very successful evening the Acton History Group organised in February 2005, featuring a talk by Janet Hobbs’s on ‘Mr Waite, Mr Rose and Mr Taylor in Acton’ and the unveiling of the plaque to mark the site of the first Waitrose shop. 'Seeking to Attain Perfection' was the motto or slogan used by the first Waitrose shop in its advertisements at Christmas 1908.
Shopping was an important part of life in Acton in 1904. It was a time of great change along the High Street. The Fire Station had not long been opened, the new Woodlands Park and Crown Street had recently been created and the group of buildings rising up Acton Hill, just opposite today’s police Station, had only just been built. So the new shop in this parade was all set to be an asset in this area of town. It was not long before more Waitrose outlets appeared in Acton, now Waitrose is a household name across the country.
Copies available by post at a cost of £6.00 from Acton History Group,11, Lynton Terrace, Acton, London, W3 9DU. Cheques payable to “Acton History Group” |
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“Tin Hats, doodle bugs and food rations”
ISBN: 978-0-9552343-0-9
Hot off the press – your chance to snaffle up a copy of this Acton History Group publication.
“Tin Hats, doodle bugs and food rations” tells the story of Acton and Acton people throughout World War 2. It’s packed full of photos, many never published before, and anecdotes, as well as well-researched historical facts. Covers the build up to war, through the blackout, bombing, evacuation, rationing, wartime production to the Victory celebrations in 1945.
Copies available by post at a cost of £6.40 from
Acton History Group, 6 Acacia Road, London, W3 6HF
Cheques payable to “Acton History Group” |
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“Acton Pump Cook Book”
A revised edition by Sheila Rees. Copies available by post at a cost of £5 + p&p
email to Acton History Group
Cheques payable to “Acton History Group” |
Acton cards
Local artist Colin Bays has created a set of four cards featuring various architectural highlights of Acton. Two of them show gems of Churchfield Road: the Almshouses and The Churchfield pub. Notes about the building's history are also included on each card. Further details: blank interior, A5 folded, envelopes included.
Each set costs £4.00, 40p of which will be donated to the Acton History Group.
If you would like to buy these cards, contact the David Bays, Acton History Group, on 020 8992 0287 or bayscolledge@talktalk.net

The Almshouses East Churchfield Road |

The Churchfield (now The Station House), Churchfield Road |

Old Acton Fire Station, Acton High Street |

Acton Library, Acton High Street |
actonhistory.co.uk has created a pair of large glossy postcards each featuring four Acton scenes in about 1905 and a similar view in 2012. Notes about the scenes are included on each card. Further details: blank back, A5 sized, envelopes included. Each set costs £1.50, and the profits will be donated to the Acton History Group.
If you would like to buy these cards, contact the David Bays, Acton History Group, on 020 8992 0287 or bayscolledge@talktalk.net

Acton 1905 |

Acton 2012 |
Ealing Libraries Local History Talks 2013
Information on talks arranged by Ealing Central Library, Green Room, Ealing Broadway Centre, Ealing, W5 5JY. Tickets £4 in advance only. Email bookings: reading@ealing.gov.uk; Phone bookings: 020 8825 9278.
John Christie of Rillington Place Jonathan Oates Thursday 30 May 6.15pm, Ealing Central Library
The background to the life of Christie, notorious murderer of the 1940s and early 50s in Notting Hill. An author talk by local history librarian Dr Oates about his recent book, subtitled The Biography of a Serial Killer, which draws on a wide range of historical records.
True Crime Casebook Thursday 6 June 6.15pm, Ealing Central Library
Murder or manslaughter? In 1936 Linford Derrick confessed to killing Arthur Wheeler of Ealing. He later insisted it was self-defence but the prosecution accused him of murder. Two speakers will give the case for and against and the audience will be the jury.
The History of Local Film Studios Paul Lang Thursday 27 June 6.15pm, Ealing Central Library
A repeat of last year’s oversubscribed talk on Ealing Film Studios and the lesser known Southall Film Studios, for those who missed it.
Down in the Dumps – the curse of the interwar rubbish tips in West Middlesex Peter Hounsell Thursday 11 July 6.15pm, Ealing Central Library
Ever wanted to know about the local waste tips of the 1930s? Based on the speaker’s new book on the history of rubbish, this talk focuses on Greenford, Northolt, Hayes and other parts of Hillingdon.
Ealing’s Architectural Gems Robert Gurd Thursday 12 September 6.15pm, Ealing Central Library
Did you know that the Borough boasts a number of nationally listed buildings of all ages? An illustrated talk by the chairman of Ealing Civic Society. Examples to include London Transport stations, Ealing Studios, art deco Ealing Village and houses in the garden suburb of Bedford Park.
Ealing in the 1960s - cultural ferment in local context Piotr Stolarski Thursday 19 September 6.15pm, Ealing Central Library
A “candy-floss, bunny-club and swinging society”? This comment was made in 1966 by the Ealing Council of Churches, who were disapproving. It sums up the cultural ferment of the time, which will be explored in this talk. The speaker will also set ‘typically 1960s’ phenomena in a wider and local context.
Lost Cinemas Paul Lang Thursday 26 September 6.15pm, Ealing Central Library
This talk will investigate the rise and eventual decline of local cinemas in Acton, Ealing, and other parts of the borough, taking a chronological approach.
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