City Matters Edition 017

FORWARD THINKING
What will make the City tick in
years to come? Help the Museum
of London plot our future during
an immersive programme Page 2
COMING HOME TO ROOST
The Chinese Year of the Rooster
is coming to the Capital; find out
where to soak up the atmosphere as
the celebrations unfold Page 9
CITY MATTERS
25-31 January 2017 The City of London’s FREE hyperlocal newspaper Edition 017
Bad air day as kids
confined to class
SCHOOL KEEPS PUPILS INDOORS AS THE MAYOR ISSUES TOXICITY ALERT
A CITY primary school was forced to keep its
students indoors this week as London’s toxic air
levels hit the top ‘black’ alert for the first time this
year.
Sir John Cass’s Foundation Primary School in
Aldgate restricted outdoor activity for its younger
students on Monday as Mayor Sadiq Khan issued a
“very high” pollution alert under new measures to
monitor air quality in the Capital.
The school’s air pollution monitors recorded
the highest level readings for tiny particulate
pollution just before 6am, according to the Evening
Standard, prompting staff to keep students aged
under five indoors for most of the day.
Older pupils were advised to cut back on
strenuous exercise if they felt unwell.
Precautions
The Mayor warned that pollution levels were so
bad that everybody – from the vulnerable to the
physically fit – should take precautions “to protect
themselves from the filthy air”.
“The shameful state of London’s toxic air has
meant that I am forced to trigger the first ‘very high’
air pollution alert under my new comprehensive
alert system,” he said.
The elevated levels were caused by cold, calm
and settled weather, with very low wind speeds,
leading to a build-up of pollution over several
days. Domestic wood burning was also flagged as a
contributing factor.
A “very high” reading means that the
concentrations of PM10 – tiny airborne particles
Sir John Cass’s
Primary: Photo
by Mike Quinn
caused by the burning of fossil fuels – are more than
double the legal limit.
Last week the Mayor warned of a “public health
emergency” as air pollution levels hit a “high peak”
in central parts of the Capital, including the Square
Mile.
Sir John Cass’s headteacher Tim Wilson was
among more than 100 school heads across London
who earlier this week penned an open letter to the
Mayor applauding his commitment to clean up
London’s air.
The letter echoed Mayor Khan’s pledge to expand
the Ultra Low Emission Zone beyond central
London, and called for measures to tackle “dirty
diesel vehicles”, make walking and cycling to school
safer, and improve access to public transport for
families.
They wrote: “Almost a quarter of schoolchildren
in the Capital are exposed to levels of air pollution
that are so high they break legal limits.”
“We know that early age exposure to air pollution
can cause life long impacts, including reduced
lung function, harm to the heart, brain, hormone
and immune systems, and increased risk of lung
cancer.
“On behalf of our children, we are calling on you
to act on your promises and use all the powers you
have to ensure that our children breathe clean air.”
Sir John Cass’s is the City of London Corporation’s
only state-maintained primary school.
Pollution
A spokesperson for the Corporation said the
local authority was working towards improving air
quality around the school – as well as across the rest
of the Square Mile.
“We are fully supporting Sir John Cass’s
Primary by reducing the traffic flows around
the school and through the Mayor of London’s
Schools Clean Air Zones Project,” said a statement
released on Monday.
“The new public square in Aldgate has already
had a positive impact on reducing air pollution at
the school.
“We need to see a continued improvement in air
quality but this can only be done by supporting the
Mayor and the government in tackling the issue
across the City and wider London.”
Third Albanian
national jailed in
matter of weeks
after City bust PAGE 3
Battle to clean up
London’s air gets
six-figure cash
injection PAGE 5
Meet the former
Square Mile lawyer
who is Queen of
the Kindle PAGE 15

Page 2 | 25-31 January 2017
News Matters
On this week
down the years
27 January 1945: The
Red Army liberates
the Nazi’s biggest
concentration camp at
Auschwitz in southern
Poland.
29 January 1959: Dense
fog – the worst for seven
years – brings road, rail
and air transport in
many parts of England
and Wales to a virtual
standstill.
27 January 1967: Three
American astronauts
die when fire engulfs
the Apollo 1 capsule on
its launch pad at Cape
Kennedy.
tragic loss:
the Apollo 1 crew
Corrections &
clarifications
The editorial team
at City Matters
strives to ensure all
information printed
is true and correct
at the time of
publication.
If you notice a
story has been
printed with an
error or omission,
please contact
us through the
website and we will
be happy to amend
as appropriate.
Alternatively, to
speak to a member
of the news team,
please contact us
on the number
below.
rare find: the EnviroWaste team
now have a hunt on their hands
LIFE IN THE CITY TO GO UNDER MUSEUM SPOTLIGHT
The future is ours
A YEAR-long season of discovery – exploring
the challenges, initiatives and innovations
taking place within our cities – is coming to
the Square Mile.
Hosted by the Museum of London, City Now
City Future kicks off in May and represents a
major programme of exhibitions, creative
commissions, large-scale public events, talks
and debates, during which time visitors can
give feedback regarding how they think our
cities should be evolving.
The team behind the event will ask what
it means to live in a truly global city, how we
experience those things that make city life
both attractive and challenging, and imagine
how London could change in the future.
Lauren Parker, the senior commissioning
curator at the museum, said: “City Now City
Future is an extraordinary opportunity to
rethink the Museum of London’s place in
Londoners’ lives and to accurately reflect
life in the Capital. Working with artists,
thinkers, communities and young people, the
programme will explore the issues that matter
to Londoners today.
“As we look to move to West Smithfield
by 2022, we’re thinking hard about what a
museum for London should be, including
what the future could look like for residents,
and we’re inviting everyone to join the
conversation.”
Commissions
The City Now City Future season will
be split into four waves, namely ‘Launch’,
‘Playing the City’, ‘Doing it Ourselves’, and
‘London Visions’.
Launch (mid-May to mid-July) will begin
with a major public event and a new space for
digital commissions.
The first will be a new work from Blast
Theory, which has created a video about
London that will take visitors on a journey
CITYMATTERS.LONDON
Firm seeks to reunite medal with owner
AN environmental waste clearance company is
hoping to reunite an OBE medal with its owner
after discovering the coveted accolade during a
routine waste haul in London.
The medal was found in a black leather
presentation box with ‘OBE’ printed in gold
print on the lid, and also contains some of the
accompanying paperwork, including a “when to
wear” guide.
EnviroWaste.co.uk uses a multi-pick up
system, meaning its collectors visit several sites
during their hauls; it makes pinpointing the
exact location it was found almost impossible,
hence the appeal for public support. James
through a city which is both familiar but
strangely alien, posing questions about the
future.
Next comes Playing the City (mid-July
to end of August), and during the summer
months a family festival, walks, debates and
monthly salons will encourage people to
explore the city in a playful way.
Doing it Ourselves follows (September to
December), with the wave exploring London’s
alternative cultures.
Key activities will include an open weekend
and the launch of a young persons’ strand for
the season, including research clubs and a
young ambassador programme.
The programme concludes with London
Visions (January 2018 to April 2018). The final
phase will imagine the future of architecture,
politics and technologies in cities, and explore
what London could look like in 50 or 100
years’ time.
Rubin, owner of EnviroWaste, said: “You can
imagine our astonishment when we found the
OBE medal, it’s not something you often find
in waste hauls seeing as it’s one of the highest
accolades someone can receive.
“We come across some weird and wonderful
things on hauls but this really is something that
needs to find its way home.
“We’ve done everything we can to help
reunite the medal with its owner but haven’t
been successful, so now we need the public to
help us. If you have any information or know
of anybody who’s lost an OBE in the London
area please do not hesitate to get in touch.”
knowledge is power: take a look
forward to the future of our cities
OBE: the
lost medal
picked up
by waste
collectors
Chancellor says
services shift
would damage
all of Europe
PHILIP HAMMOND
has gone on the defensive
after suggestions the
country could be
punished for voting to
leave the EU.
The chancellor said
that business leaders
had to exercise caution
over interfering with
the City’s “complex
ecosystem that has
grown up over decades”.
It has been feared
in some quarters that
financial serves could
be lured away from the
Square Mile by more
attractive hubs elsewhere
in Europe.
Mr Hammond added
that such a situation
would “drag on the
economy of the entire
continent”.
Tube network
grows and grows
THE extension of the
Northern Line is to break
ground in March.
The £1.2billion project
will extend the Charing
Cross branch of the Tube
from Kennington to
Battersea, via Nine Elms.
Mark Wild, managing
director of London
Underground, said:
“The extension will
bring Battersea and
surrounding areas to
within 15 minutes of the
West End and City.
“It will also help us
to support jobs, homes
and growth in this
part of south London,
help keep pace with
the Capital’s rapidly
rising population, and
is creating jobs through
the supply chain across
the UK.”
CITY MATTERS
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Deputy Editor: Jo Davy
Publisher: Roy Court
editorial@citymatters.london
020 8766 0500
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carbon footprint –
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CITYMATTERS.LONDON 25-31 January 2017 | Page 3
News Matters
George Michael
sets benchmark
A PETITION has been
launched calling for
the Corporation to
honour the late George
Michael.
The Wham! star
passed away suddenly
on Christmas Day, and
fan Tony Antoniou
has since started a
campaign to have a
commemorative bench
installed at Hampstead
Heath.
The park is operated
by the City authority
and is reported to have
been one of the singer’s
favourite spots.
City tops poll of
biggest givers
THE Capital ranks as
the most generous region
of the most generous
country in Europe.
Figures from the
latest edition of the
World Giving Index
by the Charities Aid
Foundation put the UK
top of the charts when it
comes to digging deep
for good causes – with
London leading the way.
Over half (59%) of
Brits intend to give
money to cancer-related
charities in 2017, with an
average of £44 per person
donated across the year –
equating to £1.33billion
in donations.
The grass is not
always greener
THE rising cost of delays
could see plans for a
London Garden Bridge
wilt and die.
The Garden Bridge
Trust has so far raised
£69million in private
investment for the
ambitious project, with
another £60m pledged by
Transport for London.
However, Westminster
Council has told the
charity that construction
cannot begin unless the
remaining £56m needed
to complete the build is
raised ahead of time.
Green plot
to combat
toxic chaos
A DRIVE to make London one of the greenest
cities in the world has been kickstarted by a
£750,000 grant.
Proposals to get 40,000 new trees into the
ground come at a time when the Capital’s
environmental credentials are taking a
hammering due to toxic air.
Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “I want London to
be one of the world’s greenest cities, which is
why I’ve prioritised this funding to kickstart the
delivery of thousands of new trees, and to protect
and enhance our much-loved green spaces.
“Trees improve our environment and help
THE search is on for an unidentified hero who
saved the life of a man who had fallen on to the
tracks at Bank Underground station.
The mystery champion hauled the vulnerable
victim to safety at around 12.15pm on Friday,
putting his own life on the line prior to leaving
the scene before he could be properly thanked
by emergency services personnel.
Passengers
No witnesses were able to speak to the man
either, so British Transport Police (BTP) officers
are now leading the campaign to help ID the
hero, and have issued a statement via their social
media outlets and website.
Inspector Stacey Piper-Harfield stressed that
all passengers should exercise the utmost care
‘Dreaming of a
white Christmas’
A DRUG dealer caught driving in the City
days before Christmas with 30 bags of
cocaine and false ID documents has been
jailed for more than two years.
Admir Palushi, 23, of no fixed abode,
was sentenced to 32 months in prison at
Inner London Crown Court after admitting
possession of a class A drug with intent to
supply.
The court heard how Palushi was stopped
on Friday 16 December shortly after 8pm
while driving a grey Audi A6 in the Aldgate
area.
Concealed
They spotted he was balancing an iPhone
on his leg and hiding another mobile phone
under his lap and subsequently searched the
car and Palushi under the Misuse of Drugs
Act.
Officers discovered 30 bags of cocaine
hidden in two socks and a large amount of
cash concealed in the car.
Despite originally claiming to be Greek, and
showing officers a Greek driving license in the
name of Andi Haroku, he soon admitted his
nationality was actually Albanian.
He was promptly arrested for drug offences,
as well as driving without insurance, thanks
to insurance documents and a logbook
found in the car which did not match his
clean up our toxic air so, despite inheriting no
budget from my predecessor, I have worked fast
to start a new planting programme and deliver
the first batch of more than 40,000 saplings this
winter.
“This is the first step in my plans for a major
tree-planting programme across London in
partnership with businesses and boroughs.
I remain fully committed to ensuring that
hundreds of thousands of new trees are planted
over the next four years.”
Over the next two months, a range of
organisations – including Trees for Cities
and Groundwork London – and thousands of
volunteers will plant trees in every borough.
The bidding process for grants began last
December and successful schemes were awarded
funding just this week.
Many of the trees are being allocated at the
request of residents to brighten streets, boost
air quality on busy main roads, and maintain
London’s parks.
£100,000 to tackle air crisis: Page 5
Hero saves man at Bank
when using the Underground network and
other public transport.
“This was an incredibly selfless act of bravery;
without a moment’s hesitation this man leaped
to the rescue,” she said as she hailed the decisive
action.
Dangerous
“He then walked away before officers could
say thank you. Do you know the unknown
Good Samaritan? Please get in touch.
“Whilst his actions undoubtedly saved this
man’s life, jumping on to the tracks is extremely
dangerous.”
Do you know the Underground hero? Get
in touch with BTP by texting 61016, quoting
reference 220 of 19/1.
jailed: Admir Palushi
identity. Palushi answered no comment to all
questions put to him in interview, while also
telling officers that he “could not remember”
where he lived.
Expert analysis of the ID documents handed
to police later proved them to be fraudulent,
while examination of the two phones found
a total of 18 messages containing post codes
and estimated times of arrival, a common
approach for people buying and selling
cocaine.
Along with his 32-month sentence Palushi
was also handed a concurrent eight-month
jail stint for holding false ID documents.
He also received six penalty points for
driving without insurance, while an order was
made for the forfeiture and destruction of the
drugs, with the car and cash also seized.
Detective Constable Vincent Baughan
from the City’s police force said: “I hope this
sentence acts as a warning to anyone engaged
in this sort of criminality that the City is a
hostile environment for them – it’s just not
worth the risk.
Immigration
“We have officers out on the streets to keep
the Square Mile a safe place to live, work and
visit.
“If you’re involved in this kind of offending,
we will find you, and we’ll do everything in
our power to bring you before the courts.”
Palushi is the second Albanian national
to be convicted of drug dealing operations
in the Square Mile in a matter of weeks after
Elton Qosja was sentenced to three years and
deportation just before Christmas.
An accomplice of Qosja, again of Albanian
heritage, was also placed in the custody of
immigration services following his arrest.
Favourite
The petition reads:
“It’s the least they
can do as this was his
favourite and local
park. I’m sure his
family will love it too.
“He would often go
there for some time to
himself.
“We need huge
numbers to get
the government to
notice our home grown
talent, who much
deserves it.”
At the time of
writing the petition
had 726 of the 1,000
signatures required to
have the case discussed
by the authority.

CITYMATTERS.LONDON 25-31 January 2017 | Page 5
News Matters
Nepal for one &
one for Nepal!
THE Lord Mayor
has taken the City’s
business principles
abroad; ditching freezing
January temperatures for
the warmth of Nepal.
But Dr Andrew
Parmley has by no means
been taking it easy in
an air-conditioned
office while on
his international
LONDON’S air quality crisis has helped
smoggy lining: the City relationship-building
persuade the City Bridge Trust to hand a
shrouded in toxic air trip, instead he has been
six-figure sum to an organisation working to
Photo by David Holt trekking up into the
improve the Capital’s precarious situation.
highlands to see first
ClientEarth has been awarded £100,000
hand how the country
to fund a new educational project that aims
is using hydropower to
to work with leading firms to ensure they are
kickstart its economy.
informed about the effects of air pollution,
“Hydropower is a
and what can be done to tackle it.
huge opportunity for
London has some of the worst air quality
the people of Nepal,” he
in the UK, and in many parts of the region
tweeted during a visit to
legal limits designed to protect people’s health
the Mai-based facility.
are not being met. ClientEarth says there
“Jobs, trade,
is evidence to suggest that disadvantaged
development; UK
communities are particularly impacted by the
infrastructure expertise
poor air quality in the Capital.
can help.”
Dr Parmley was joined
on his trip by the British
Amabassador to Nepal,
Richard Morris.
Londoners are
better together
LONDON’S disconnected
communities could
be costing the local
economy as much as
£3.62billion every year.
That is the stark
conclusion of research
commissioned by Eden
Project initiative The Big
Lunch, which suggests
isolation and social
exclusion racks up health
service costs of £587m
and policing bills of
£38m.
Peter Stewart MVO,
Eden Project executive
director, said: “We
wanted to find out
more about the impact
of community-led
initiatives like The Big
Lunch – both the benefits
to individuals’ health
and wellbeing, and the
economic impact.
“There is a lot of
existing research
suggesting that people
feel happier, safer and
more content when
they live in connected
communities and know
their neighbours.
“However, this study
reveals that the financial
benefits to individuals
and wider society are
enormous too. There are
more reasons than ever
for communities to come
together.”
Sacrifice of the
war is on display
VISITORS to Guildhall Art Gallery’s new
exhibition will walk through an ‘artistic
response’ to a First World War trench to view
work by both youngsters from the Capital’s
schools and artist and set designer Jane
Churchill.
Echoes Across the Century (31 March to 16
July) will promote understanding about those
who experienced World War One from ‘behind
the scenes’ by telling stories that provide
glimpses of life through the trades, including
aircraft design, saddlery, communication, and
food.
Working with 17 of the City’s Livery
Companies, students aged between seven and
tribute: one of the paper
moths to go on display
Cash injection to
stem the air crisis
Economic
ClientEarth spokesperson Simon Alcock
said there is no time like the present to start
making a dent in this major concern and that
collaboration is key.
He added: “The solutions to solving our
clean air crisis should benefit business and
consumers.
“It will help protect the health of employees
and make London a more desirable place to
work and live. It will also create economic
opportunities for businesses that develop
the new products and services we will need
to clean up London’s air. We want to build
17 from 14 schools were led by Jane to create art
works for the immersive installation.
The exhibition, which benefited from £99,800
from the Heritage Lottery Fund, forms part of
continuing events to commemorate the 100th
anniversary of the First World War.
A sky-full of planes and cases of paper moths
act as a memorial to those who died at the Front,
while apothecaries’ cabinets, tobacco tins and
cooks’ matchboxes contain miniature worlds,
and collaborative collages depict scenes from
the trenches.
Jane’s own installation, Degrees of Separation,
exploring love, loss, memory and connection,
provides the starting point for the whole vision
of the exhibition, as well as for the artwork that
she helped the students create.
Katty Pearce, the Corporation’s curator at
Guildhall Art Gallery, said: “Echoes Across
the Century will be a poignant and moving
experience for visitors to the art gallery,
essentially, a tribute to those killed or seriously
injured in World War One, but also throwing
light on the work of tradespeople in a wide
range of often hidden or unusual jobs during
those years.”
Alison Truphet, project manager at Livery
Schools Link, the organisation that helped
conceive the exhibition, added: “I am thrilled
with the artwork that the students have created
and their enthusiasm for this project, which
immerses people in stories of the First World
War.
“Jane has brought magic to this ambitious
exhibition in her own work, as well as the work
that she has produced with the young people.”
Last laugh for Sir Ken
COMEDIAN Sir Ken Dodd has been
awarded the Freedom of the City of
London. The 89-year-old was recognised
at a ceremony at Mansion House earlier
this month.
business support for this shift and to help
make London a world leader in sustainable
urban transport and clean technologies.”
The Corporation, which manages the City
Bridge Trust, has been engaging with business
on air quality for several years through its
City Air Programme, and recently banned the
purchase of diesel vehicles for its own fleet of
300 vehicles.
Following that, the Corporation agreed
a deal with Addison Lee – London’s biggest
private hire taxi firm – to automatically
switch hybrid taxis to electric mode in key
areas of the City.
The authority also introduced a City-wide
20mph zone, and its new procurement rules
Old Street
Barbican
Goswell Rd
Long Lane
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have brought in tight restrictions on harmful
emissions from bulldozers and generators.
“Tackling London’s air quality problem
is a priority for both the City of London
Corporation and ClientEarth,” said chairman
of the City Bridge Trust committee, Alison
Gowman. City Bridge Trust is keen to help
ClientEarth work with the Capital’s businesses
to improve London’s air quality.
“We are committed to supporting Londoners
to make the Capital a healthier and fairer
place to work and live.
“We are delighted to have helped so many
projects through the fund that are opening
up incredible opportunities and enhancing
lives.”
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Something
to share?
Send your City of
London stories to
jo@citymatters.london

Page 6 | 25-31 January 2017
CITYMATTERS.LONDON
News Matters
Driving? Do not
Hitting out over
Museum edges
take that call
closer to move
A WEEK-long crackdown
THE Museum of
on drivers who use
London’s plans for a new
mobile phones while at
site in West Smithfield
the wheel will conclude
were this week given a
on Sunday.
‘Bank blackout’
major boost thanks to
Forces up and down
huge support from the
the country are running
Corporation and the
targeted operations and
Mayor of London, who
education campaigns
have pledged £110million
until the end of the
and £70m to the project
weekend, with City
respectively.
of London Police no
larger trade organisations failed to move on
It marks an important
exception.
the proposals, which he called “the beginning
next step for the
Inspector Sarah
of the end for the cab trade”.
proposed move, which
Smallwood said: “City
“First it’s Bank Junction, then it will
will aim to save one
Police’s Transport and
be Tottenham Court Road, then we’ll be
of the last remaining
Highways Operations
crammed into Soho – it’s severely damaging
derelict Victorian
Group will be supporting
our takings when we’re already on the down
buildings in central
this national initiative,
and outs,” said Mr Thomas, who also runs
London.
patrolling in both marked
industry blog Taxileaks.
and unmarked cars,
The Corporation proposed the restrictions
motorcycles and pedal
on vehicles as part of the 18-month Bank
cycles.
Evidence
“Locally there has
also been an increase in
reports of obscured vision
in vehicles due to mobile
devices being fixed to
the windscreen, a related
problem.
“There is evidence to
suggest that drivers with
multiple devices such as
phones or personal desk
assistants (PDAs) are
doing this.
“The legislation
covering these type of
offences will be policed
robustly.”
A GROUP of cab drivers that brought
Bank Junction to a standstill last week over
proposals to close the busy intersection to
cars will attempt peace talks with the City of
London Corporation next week.
The local authority agreed to meet with
the RMT London Taxis, after five days of
demonstration caused travel chaos in parts of
the Square Mile.
Drivers are protesting the Corporation’s
plan to ban all cars, taxis and lorries from the
junction between 7am and 7pm on weekdays
as part of a safety move. Bikes and buses
would be permitted under the proposals, set
to be introduced from April.
Thousands of cabbies descended on the
junction last Monday in a 90-minute protest,
followed by demonstrations in Old Street,
Parliament Square, London Wall and London
Bridge throughout the week.
The Independent Taxi Alliance, who
organised the campaign, said protests were
moved around to circumnavigate the police’s
attempt to serve a section 14, limiting the
demonstrations to 30 minutes.
The blockades followed a one-off protest
on 12 January by the United Cabbies Group,
which forced police to shut down parts of the
City during the evening peak.
ITA spokesperson Jim Thomas said the
driver-led group was prompted to act after
PUBLIC NOTICE
PUBLIC NOTICE
LICENSING APPLICATION
LICENSING ACT 2003
Take notice that on January 18th 2017, Bird & Bird LLP applied to the
City of London for a new premises licence in respect of 12 New Fetter
Lane, London, EC4A 1JP.
The application seeks to permit the following activities Monday to
Friday only, to support hospitality requirements:
The sale of alcohol by from 08.00 until 23.59
Late night refreshment from 23.00 until 23.59
The general public will not be admitted
The application can be viewed online at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk or
by appointment at the offices of the Licensing Authority, Walbrook
Wharf, 78-83 Upper Thames Street, EC4R 3TD.
Any person may make a representation in writing relating to this
application no later than February 15th 2017 addressed to the
Licensing Authority above.
It is an offence, liable on conviction to an unlimited fine, to knowingly
or recklessly make a false statement in connection with
this application.
on Safety scheme to reduce the number of
collisions in the junction. It will serve as an
interim scheme during the development of the
All Change At Bank project, which will see
major changes to Bank Underground Station
as well as improvements at surface level.
But Mr Thomas, who has driven cabs for 43
years, argued that “you have to go back four
years to find a serious incident involving a
taxi”. “Taxis should be included with buses
DSW Group
0844 736 1998
admin@dswgroup.co.uk
protests: Photo
by Gary Knight
and bikes; we are a transit service and we’ve
been given the opportunity to work on the
streets of London provided we’ve done [driver
test] The Knowledge, which is largely for
safety reasons.
“If they don’t agree we’ll go back to Bank
Junction and we’ll escalate the action – the
drivers are adamant that they will see this
through.”
RMT branch secretary Lewis Norton
confirmed the taxi union would be meeting
the Corporation early next week.
“The union hopes for the City of London
to apply common sense and permit access for
licensed taxis,” he said. “Under the proposals
it will be the public that suffers as journey
times would increase and fare costs rise.”
However, hopes of getting the decision
overturned appear slim.
A Corporation spokesperson said: “We
have been meeting with a wide variety of taxi
representative groups and are due to meet
with the RMT later this month.
“The purpose of this meeting will be to
explain the rationale and facts supporting the
experimental safety scheme.
“This decision to limit vehicle journeys
through Bank Junction was made following
careful consideration and we have been clear
from the beginning that it will be launched in
April.”
£1.5m windfall
for charities from
City Bridge Trust
BIPOLAR UK and London Youth are among
17 charities to share in more than £1.5million
of grants from the City Bridge Trust this month
to fight inequality and disadvantage across the
Capital.
The Corporation’s charitable funder has
allocated £200,000 to Bipolar UK towards the
cost of developing an eCommunity for those
affected by bipolar, as well as a £150,000 grant
to fund the continuation of the London Youth
Quality Mark Awards.
Another major recipient was the Soldiers,
Sailors, Airmen and Families Association
(SSAFA), which was awarded £102,000
Investment
The support from
Sadiq Khan represents
the largest cultural
investment made by
any Mayor of London,
and together with
the Corporation’s
unprecedented
investment, provides a
£180m package towards
approximate costs of
£250m.
Museum director
Sharon Ament said:
“Working with our
design team we can
now move forward
confidently with detailed
plans and remain firmly
on target to open the new
museum in 2022.”
towards providing a refuge for women whose
relationship with someone in the military has
broken down.
Ex-offenders charity The Upper Room also
received over £100,000 towards its UR4Driving
Project, which helps those with a criminal past
improve their employment chances.
Michael Buraimoh, operations director
at Upper Room, said the organisation was
“delighted” with the three-year grant, which
will part-fund salary and running costs of the
project.
“UR4Driving improves the employability of
ex-offenders by giving them the motivation and
practical skills necessary to find employment
and thus break the cycle of re-offending and
long-term unemployment,” he said.
“Apart from helping us provide ex-offenders
with the opportunity to turn their lives around,
the City Bridge Trust grant will also help us to
deliver indirect social outcomes to the wider
society through fewer victims of crime.”
Brutes of the road face ban
CITY Hall has waged war on “outdated
juggernaut” heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) in a
bid to eliminate fatalities caused by lorries.
Recent data shows that HGVs were involved
in 22.5% of pedestrian fatalities and 58% of
cyclist deaths on London’s roads in 2014 and
2015, despite only making up 4% of all miles
driven in the Capital.
The findings have been published as
Transport for London (TfL) launches a 12-week
consultation (until 18 April) into the use of
its world-first ‘zero to five star’ Direct Vision
Standard for HGVs.
Under plans form Sadiq Khan, the most
dangerous HGVs will be banned from London’s
streets entirely by January 2020. These HGVs,
often ‘off-road’ lorries, would be ‘zero-star rated’
by the Direct Vision Standard – determined by
the level of vision the driver has directly from
the cab.
Councillor Julian Bell, chair of London
Councils’ transport and environment committee,
explained: “It is taking far too long for lorry
manufacturers to realise that their outdated
juggernaut-style vehicles are not suitable for our
city street environments.
“More needs to be done to improve lorry
safety standards at a national and international
level but, in the meantime, I welcome this
intervention from TfL to set a safer standard for
London.
“We need to encourage as many people as
possible to cycle and walk when they can, to
better improve our chances of tackling key
priorities such as congestion, air quality, and
improving the health of Londoners.”

CITYMATTERS.LONDON 25-31 January 2017 | Page 7
Business Matters
Lord moves into
the SEUK hotseat
LORD Victor Adebowale has been unveiled as
the new chairman of Social Enterprise UK.
The CBE is currently chief executive of
Turning Point, a social enterprise providing
specialist and integrated services which focus
on improving lives and communities across
mental health, learning disability, substance
misuse, primary care, the criminal justice
system, and employment.
A cross-bench peer, he is also on the boards
of NHS England and the Co-operative Group,
and, until recently, the chair of the London
Fairness Commission, which was set up to look
at the growing inequalities within the Capital.
Prior to joining Turning Point, Lord
Adebowale was at the helm of youth
homelessness charity Centrepoint.
Redefine
He was awarded a CBE in 2000 for services to
the New Deal, the unemployed, and homeless
young people. In 2001, he was appointed a cross
bench member of the House of Lords.
“As someone who leads a social enterprise
I am committed to the movement,” he said
after taking the reins of the governing body for
social ventures.
“We have an opportunity to redefine an
economy based on business that matters to
society and not just shareholder interests.
“Recent domestic and world events mean
that the social enterprise model of doing
business has never been more needed if we are
to create the ‘inclusive economy’.”
Lord Adebowale succeeds Claire Dove OBE
who has served two terms as chair, originally
taking up the role in 2008. The new man has
agreed to take the hotseat for an initial threeyear
period.
Rates set to top
rents from April
NEW business rates could see a third
of companies paying more in the
charge than in rent.
A study for the London Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (LCCI) also
discovered that two in five firms were
concerned about the revised rates that
were announced in October and will
be introduced in April.
Chief executive of LCCI, Colin
Stanbridge, said that the revaluation of
business rates has been laboured and
complicated from start to finish.
Investing
He added: “We saw businesses
concerned about the revaluations
even before they were announced in
October.
“We said after the announcements
that the revaluation of apparent 40%
plus hikes were a huge blow to London,
with our primary concern being that
businesses may decide to hold back
on training, recruiting or investing in
other areas.
“These concerns are born out in this
survey with only 18% of businesses
asked saying that the revaluation is
CEO’s dreaming
of a ‘Social City’
40% OF FIRMS CONCERNED ABOUT HIKES
fair.” When the rates were announced,
the LCCI was among an alliance of
business leaders and politicians who
called the new rates “crippling” and
called for a “fundamental review” of the
system to prevent London being hit so
hard in the future.
And that stance was reinforced by
this latest survey which showed that
a third (33%) of interviewees will be
paying more in business rates than rent
worries: City firms
can’t avoid the hikes
from April. Mr Stanbridge described
the findings as “astonishing” and said
the hike will “inevitably lead to cut
backs or relocation”.
He added: “In order to prevent these
hikes we would like to see London’s
business rates ‘de-coupled’ from the
national valuation system, whereby an
increase in London’s rateable values
would not inevitably lead to significant
increases in business rates.”
Cherry picks
ideal course
THE Federation for
Small Businesses
(FSB) has pledged
to make the voices
of its partners heard
as Britain moves
towards a “clean”
Brexit.
Speaking in
response to PM
Theresa May’s
12-point plan for
life outside of the
European Union, FSB
national chairman
Mike Cherry
explained that a
pro-business Brexit
must be founded
on trade, talent and
transition.
He sees access to
the single market as
fundamental to this
stance, but conceded
a free trade agreement
with Europe could
unlock equally
opportunity.
“[Some] 93% of
our members export
directly to the
single market,” he
explained.
“We will push
the government to
guarantee whatever
transition process is
put in place ensures
there is no cliff edge
or gap in trade.”
AMBITIOUS plans for a ‘Social City’ are in
motion after £45,000 was freed up by the City
Bridge Trust to finance a feasibility study that
will ultimately assess the long-term future of
the representative body for social enterprises.
The Corporation’s charitable arm released
the funds to Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) to
allow the organisation to explore potential
sites for a hub of liked-minded companies and
community-focussed businesses.
Key to the proposed Social City and
fundamental to SEUK’s new business model
in the face of ever tightening
government belts is the acquisition
of a site within Zones 1 or 2 that
could cost up to £10million.
Revenue
Figures released at SEUK’s
annual AGM, hosted at PwC’s
HQ just south of the river last
Thursday, showed that the
organisation is being forced
to establish alternative
revenue streams as grants
continue to dry up.
Last year SEUK posted
losses of £200,000 but chief
executive Peter Holbrook is
confident that the purchase
of a facility in which to house
his organisation alongside
other social enterprises will
yield enough revenue to see
off any financial threat. Mr Holbrook (inset) said:
“These plans were first articulated in 2010; I’d
been in the role for five months and there were
changes being made to how we operated.
“The last five years have seen us adapting to a
changing environment – the clouds are passing
now and we can move on with confident and
ambitious plans for the future.”
No formal proposals have been drawn up but
Mr Holbrook envisions a diverse community
with space allowing for everything from
catering firms to companies who speciliase in
light industrial production.
Remarkable
He called on the sector to help him “do
something remarkable”.
Speaking about potential sites, he added:
“We are agnostic about where we end up but
it needs to be somewhere
that addresses our business
needs.
“This is a project which
has to wash its face, the
benefits of co-location
are being looked at
and we want social
enterprises to come
forward with their
own ideas to help
us shape the plan.
“This is a chance
to do something
remarkable.”
Vacancy: Sales and marketing apprentice
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of London & Docklands Times. We are seeking an apprentice salesperson to
join our team.
Apprentice sales staff will work closely with the Sales Director to help drive City
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Page 8 | 25-31 January 2017
Community Matters
What’s on when &
where in the City
FESTIVAL / Craft Beer Rising London 2017
The beer, music and street food festival returns
to The Old Truman Brewery on London’s Brick
Lane for a fifth year.
It is the place for beer fans to head for the latest
product launches, new recipes and innovations
in the brewing world. All that, and the rare
chance to meet the faces behind the brands in
what has now become one of Europe’s largest
and most influential beer festivals.
There will be approximately 170 breweries
and producers represented at the show, and
customers, of which there is estimated to be
around 2,000, will have the option of taking
their favourite beers home, thanks to a take-out
license and personalised growlers.
Tickets are priced from £15 and an early bird
option is available now.
23-25 February
The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane
E1 6QL
lighting the way: Winter Lights at
Canary Wharf ends this coming Friday
WORKSHOP / Gamelan Group
Gather your friends together to have a go at
playing an unusual collection of instruments
you won’t have seen around the City before
– the beautiful Javanese gamelan percussion
orchestra.
The remarkable gift from the government
of the Republic of Indonesia to the people of
the UK as a gesture of friendship arrived on
British shores in 1987, and now resides at the
Southbank.
As is the case with many important gamelan
ensembles, Southbank’s was proudly named
‘Kyai Lebdha Jiwa’ or ‘The Venerable Spirit of
Perfection’.
No previous musical experience is necessary
to try a role in the gamelan and enjoy its
wonderful sounds; it is a rewarding musical and
social activity, so play on!
Until 23 March
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road SE1 8XX
CONCERT / Guildhall String Ensemble
Tigran Mansurian’s spiritual Violin Concerto
– composed in 2006 for Levon Chilingirian
– provides the centrepiece to this concert,
bookended by Janacek’s charming Suite
for String Orchestra and Beethoven’s String
Quartet No14, Op131. Tickets cost £15 or £5 for
concessions from gsmd.ac.uk.
26 January
Milton Court Concert Hall, 1 Milton Street
EC2Y 9BH
CONCERT / Britten Sinfonia/Mahan
Esfahani
The Iranian-American harpsichordist Mahan
Esfahani is in town to direct Britten Sinfonia
in a programme peppered with Mediterranean
influences.
No one has done more to enhance the image
of the harpsichord in recent years than virtuoso
Esfahani, who has captivated audiences with his
fiery and engaging performances.
Early next month he lays on works by Italian
and Spanish composers, including a world
premiere by Francisco Coll.
3 February
Milton Court Concert Hall, 1 Milton Street
EC2Y 9BH
FAMILY / Morgan and West Parlour Tricks
After a hugely successful debut run at Wilton’s
Music Hall in 2016, Morgan and West return
with their marvellous magic show.
The time travelling duo present an evening
chock full of jaw-dropping, brain-bursting,
gasp-eliciting feats of magic.
The dashing chaps offer up a plateful of
illusion and impossibility, all served with wit,
charm and no small amount of panache. Be sure
to wear a hat – Morgan and West might just
blow your mind.
26&27 January
Wilton’s Music Hall, 1 Graces Alley E1 8JB
EXHIBITION / Winter Lights at Canary
Wharf
Thirty sculptures, structures and installations
are the creations of some of the most innovative
artists and designers around today, presenting
work in different forms of light technology.
Together, the creative group represents four
continents across the world with displays that
are visual spectacles to be admired.
Appealing to art lovers, families, young and
the old, there is something for everyone from
dusk every day – and all for free. Best seen after
CITYMATTERS.LONDON
history lesson:
at the Museum
of London
4pm, all the installations come alive during the
evening until 9pm, so get your skates on and
experience a wealth of inventive and spectacular
light effects before the displays come down at
the end of the week.
Until 27 January
Various locations across Canary Wharf
EXHIBITION / Religion, myth and
superstition in London’s history
Embark on a voyage of discovery and unearth
secrets of ancient and modern myths, beliefs
and religions.
Come face to face with remarkable objects,
from prehistoric swords to London Stone, from
a pomander used at the time of the plague
to a Muslim Londoner’s dress, and hear the
incredible stories attached to them.
This exclusive tour of the museum’s galleries
will help you discover the role that religion,
myth and superstition have played in the lives
of everyday Londoners from pre-history right
through to modern times.
From 28 January until 23 April
Museum of London, 150 London Wall
EC2Y 5HN
TOUR / Great Fire of London family walk
Was the baker of Pudding Lane to blame?
What did Samuel Pepys bury in his garden?
How did they put out the fire? Discover all on a
45-minute interactive family walk and visit the
sights affected by the fire. Suitable for all ages.
From 21 January until 17 April
Museum of London, 150 London Wall
EC2Y 5HN
www.citymatters.london
Find Our Collection Points:
Coffee Stall
In front of St Mary Abchurch,
Abchurch Lane, London EC4N 7BA
EL Vino Wine Merchant
6 Martin Lane, Cannon St, London EC4R 0DP
James Shoe Care
59 Moorgate, London EC2R 6BH
Jeeves Dry Cleaners
131 Fleet St, London EC4A 2BH
J Rogers & Sons - Shoe repair shop
28 Liverpool St, London EC2M 7PD
Guildhall Library
Aldermanbury, London EC2V 7HH
Merchant House Pub London
13 Well Court, London EC4M 9DN
Middle Library
Middle Temple Ln, London EC4Y 9BT
Pod Good Food
75 King William Street, London EC4N 7BE
Protestant Truth Society Inc - Book Shop
184 Fleet St, London EC4A 2HJ
Scott’s Shoe repair & Dry Cleaners
City Thameslink Station, Holborn, Concourse
London EC4M 7RA
Scott’s Shoe repair & Dry Cleaners
City Thameslink Station, 65 Ludgate Hill
London EC4M 7JH
Sweetings Restaurant
39 Queen Victoria St, London EC4N 4SF
Temple Brew House
46 Essex St, London WC2R 3JF
The Natural Kitchen
176 Aldersgate St, London EC1A 4HR
The Old Bank of England Pub
194 Fleet St, London EC4A 2LT
Ye Old Cheshire Cheese
145 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2BU
You’ll be able to pick up your copy every Thursday from Tube and Overground stations within the Square Mile, or at one of the
above collection points. To find out how to become a free collection hub for City Matters, please contact: 020 8640 6015

It’s Not Magic!
Can you make the money you
spend on print work twice?
Buy your print from the Social Enterprise
Press. The profit from your work will support
adults with learning difficulties and ex service
personnel requiring a route back to civilian life.
Contact SE Press on 020 8640 6014 or
Email us at info@sepress.org

Page 10 | 25-31 January 2017
CITYMATTERS.LONDON
by JM Barrie
devised by
the Companies
‘Unforgettable. Magic’
Guardian
‘Superb. Inventive’
Daily Telegraph
Until 4 Feb
South Bank, London SE1
A co-production with
Photography by Sam Robinson

CITYMATTERS.LONDON 25-31 January 2017 | Page 11
Food Matters
Flight mode
succulent steaks: enough
to have mouths watering
THE tenth floor of the Montcalm Hotel in
Finsbury Square offers spectacular views
over a City skyline that seems to have grown a
hundred thousand inches overnight.
It is the perfect position from which to
survey the pulsing energy of the Square Mile
and neighbouring Tech City; seal your deals,
celebrate your successes and, perhaps, if one is
feeling inspired, formulate a plan to conquer it
all.
Tom and Ed Martin, the publican brothers
behind rapidly expanding restaurant operator
ETM Group clearly identified a similar purpose
for this perch when charged with designing a
new rooftop drinking and dining destination
to crown the recently redeveloped hotel. For
LET’S DO...
SURF VS TURF / Extra Fancy pop up at Blues Kitchen
With their esteemed new President firmly in place as of
Friday, now seems as good a time as any for the Yanks
to begin testing the waters across the pond. Brooklyn
seafood and crab shack Extra Fancy is setting up shop at
Shoreditch’s Blues Kitchen for a three-day battle between
their famed seafood smorgasbord and the hearty Texan
BBQ ‘turf’ for which Blues is renowned. Diners can
select ‘surf’ for Extra Fancy’s smoked trout devilled eggs,
oysters Rockefeller and Boston cream pie while ‘turf’ is a meaty mash up of prime brisket with
bone marrow, St Louis rib with scotch bonnet hot root pickles and smoked goat tacos.
From 30 January to 1 February
134-146 Curtain Road EC2A 3AR
BUNS, BOMBS AND BOOZE / HOPSCOTCH
This self-described ‘dining room and drinking den’ has managed to carve out a niche in the
crowded East London dining scene, bringing buns stuffed with spiced goat, bite-sized deep-fried
bombs of smoked eel, and plenty of booze to Brick Lane. Founder Jonathan Cowley has drawn
from experience at Chick’n’Sours, Street Feast and Bleeker Burger to tick all the boxes; starting
with the downstairs dive bar pouring bespoke cocktails to the buzzy eatery dishing up inventive
share plates. The Over-The-Road option, in particular, demonstrates a deep understanding of his
audience; waiters will duck out and grab your dessert from neighbours Crosstown Doughnuts or
Dark Sugars for the ultimate East London eating experience.
202 Brick Lane E1 6SA
THE WHISKEY WAGON / Nicholson’s pubs
If 2016 was the year gin was ‘in’ (we drank it in
copious amounts, according to the Wine and Spirit
Trade Association) then booze hounds will be waiting
with bated breath to see what spirit they will be
supping in 2017. Nicholson’s – the pub giant behind
City watering holes The Lord Aberconway, The Globe
and The Sugar Loaf – is throwing up one suggestion:
whiskey. If you need convincing, check out their
Whiskey Showcase, a month-long programme of
special events showcasing the 30-odd single malts
and blends behind the bar at each Nicholson’s pub.
Check out the programme at nicholsonspubs.co.uk
until 18 February.
The Lord Aberconway, 72 Old Broad St EC2M 1QT
The Globe, 83 Moorgate EC2M 6SA
The Sugar Loaf, 65 Cannon St EC4N 5AA
AVIARY IS ANOTHER FEATHER IN THE
EVER-GROWING CAP FOR ETM GROUP
almost every aspect of Aviary, from the bronze
and timber interiors to the flirty cocktails to the
slick kitchen pumping British cuts out of the
cast-iron coal oven, has been designed for City
boys and girls to do just that.
And it would seem the Martin brothers have
succeeded, at least for the time being, because
despite it being a bitingly cold Tuesday evening
in Dry January, Aviary is in full flight.
Both restaurant and bar are buzzing against
a backdrop of fluorescent-lit windows from
surrounding offices that are as soft and warm
from a safe distance as they are harsh and
unforgiving when sitting underneath them.
Atmosphere
The same cannot be said for the vast terrace,
despite promises of heat lamps, fire pits and
staff proffering cosy blankets, but as one of a
surprising few rooftop bars for this particular
pocket of the City, the vibe will doubtless
improve with the temperatures.
Nevertheless it all makes for an inviting
atmosphere within which to enjoy a wellrounded
menu of meats and fishes spruiking the
ever-popular back-to-British ethos, served up
with the flair Square Mile diners have come to
expect from new kids on the block.
Raw starters like the yellowfin tuna sashimi
are top quality and served simply, letting the
produce do the talking.
A salad of beetroot, goat’s cheese, blackberries
and truffle, on the other hand, has the fussfactor
to land a spot on your Instagram feed,
but lacks the depth of flavour to really earn it.
Mains take a similar line to the tuna, with
even greater success. The loin of Scottish deer
is dished up on a bed of venison bolognese with
curls of spiralised parsnip to soak it all up.
Meanwhile, the retired dairy cow sirloin
arrives so tender and flavoursome that it drives
our neighbouring diners to distraction.
Desserts arrive in a haze of tonka crumbles
over a moist sticky toffee pudding but by that
stage we’ve made our way through a couple
of cocktails and a bottle of medium-bodied
French malbec and are busy strategising world
domination.
Needless to say, a slightly sickening chocolate
mousse did little to knock the evening off its
perch.
Aviary, 10th-floor of Montcalm Hotel, 22-25
Finsbury Square EC2A 1DX
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CITYMATTERS.LONDON 25-31 January 2017 | Page 13
Wellness Matters
Winter wanderings
The top 3 TfL tours
TRANSPORT for London’s will lead 44 free
guided walking tours across the Capital as part
of the annual Winter Wanders weekend on 28
and 29 January. Visit walklondon.org.uk to
book your spot.
Hidden Alleyways and Courtyards
This 1.5-mile tour takes in a slice of secret
London from St Paul’s to Chancery Lane,
exploring hidden alleyways, a monastery,
plus the history of London’s newspapers and
journalism.
28 January at 11am
Goodnight Mr Tom
Goodnight Mister Tom, Michelle Magorian’s
beloved tale of Willy Beech, a young boy who
was evacuated from London during World War
II, inspired this tour that illustrates what life
was like for those who remained in the Capital
during the Blitz.
28 January at 2pm
The Spooky City
Do you like scary stories? This 1.1-mile stroll
around the Square Mile comes with a side of
gruesome tales of London’s most famous ghosts,
ghouls, body snatchers and public executions.
29 January at 11am
BREATHE EASY
STRESSED out? Lethargic? Struggling to
concentrate? There could be a fix right under
your nose; just take a deep breath.
Breathing is an automatic function of the
human body controlled by the subconscious,
but some health practitioners are promising
major benefits if we can all just put a little
more thought into the way we take air into our
lungs, a technique known as Transformational
Breath.
What is it?
A technique of ‘conscious connected breath
work’ focussing on improving breathing
patterns to open up the full potential of the
breathing system for better physical and
emotional well-being.
How does it work?
Everyone has their own individual breathing
pattern. Breath coach Aimee Hartley
describes this pattern as being “as unique
as our thumbprint”. “Some of us are ‘upper
chest breathers’, whereby we overuse our
shoulder, intercostal and neck muscles (the
upper respiratory muscles) to breathe, while
others are ‘belly breathers’, those who use the
diaphragm but are not accessing the upper
respiratory tract,” she explains. “There are also
an increasing number of ‘breath holders; those
who tend to ‘stop breathing’ when under mild
or extreme stress.”
During a Transformational Breath session,
a breath coach will analyse your natural
breathing pattern, then help you use your entire
respiratory system through a combination of
therapies involving conscious breath work,
movement, sound, acupressure and positive
mental affirmations.
Aimee runs The Breathing Room, a City-based
breath clinic offering private Transformational
Breath sessions for individuals, workshops
and corporate wellbeing programmes aimed at
stressed out workers. The number of sessions
required to develop the technique varies –
some people pick it up straight away, others
might need four or five sessions before they can
practice effectively without assistance.
Why all the fuss?
Learning and practicing to breathe fully can
have a hugely positive impact on your physical
health, which in turn does wonders for your
mental state.
Regular practice can relieve long-term
respiratory difficulties, boost your immune
system, improve posture by releasing tension in
the muscles, aid detoxification of the body, and
boosts circulation and oxygen to your organs.
You will also find it easier to relax your
nervous system, which promotes feelings of calm
and relaxation and reduces stress responses,
and improve your mental concentration and
productivity.
Aimee discovered the technique eight years
ago while teaching yoga, describing the effects
of her first session as “a calm high”.
Finding that the technique was overlooked,
even in yoga practice, she established the
Breathing Room five years ago to educate others
about the benefits.
“Many clients come to learn the technique with
the view to manage stress, overcome anxiety
(often when public speaking), recovery from
burnout; while others come needing inspiration
for a new direction in their work-life.”
How much?
One-on-one coaching is £125 for the initial
90-minute appointment and breath analysis,
then £75 for a 60-minute session thereafter.
Half and full-day corporate packages are also
available.
Where can I try it?
Breathing Room operates out of the Physical
Health Clinic, 33-34 Chiswell Street EC1Y 4SF,
and Stillpoint Meditation and Therapy Centre,
18 Devonshire Row EC2M 4RH.
take a stand: and
improve your health
Over-sitting ages cells
SITTING for too long can age women by up to
eight years, a new study has revealed.
Researchers at the University of California in
San Diego surveyed almost 1,500 women aged
64 to 95, and found that those who spend more
than 10 hours a day seated and get less than 40
minutes exercise have cells that are biologically
much older.
The study, published in the American
Journal of Epidemiology, linked the impact
of sitting longer to shorter telomeres –
protective caps on the end of DNA strips that
protect chromosomes from deterioration and
progressively shorten with age, increasing the
risk of disease.
Dr Aladdin Shadyab of the University of
California said: “Our study found cells age
faster with a sedentary lifestyle. Chronological
age doesn’t always match biological age.”
Sitting has been labelled ‘the new smoking’,
with studies linking a sedentary lifestyle to a
host of health problems, from obesity to heart
problems and diabetes, as well as early death.
Dr Shadyab said that just half an hour of
exercise per day will help reverse the effects of
sitting for long periods of time.
“We found that women who sat longer did not
have shorter telomere length if they exercised
for at least 30 minutes a day, the national
recommended guideline,” said Shadyab.
“Discussions about the benefits of exercise
should start when we are young, and physical
activity should continue to be part of our daily
lives as we get older, even at 80 years old.”

Page 14 | 25-31 January 2017
CITYMATTERS.LONDON
Pay for a Day at Maggie’s
We are calling on businesses and their employees
to help fund a day at their Maggie’s Centre. All the
money raised will go directly to providing practical,
emotional and social support to people with
cancer in your community.
On average a Maggie’s Centre sees up
to 100 people a day, providing support to
anyone affected by cancer through a team
of trained professionals in a warm and
welcoming environment.
It costs £2,400 a day to run a Centre and
we are only able to keep our doors open,
free of charge thanks to the support we
receive from organisations and individuals.
To find out more about
supporting your local London
Centre contact Ali Orr at
ali.orr@maggiescentres.org
or on 020 7386 3523
www.maggiescentres.org/payforaday
Maggie Keswick Jencks Cancer Caring Centres Trust (Maggie’s) is a registered charity, No.SC024414