Activities

Belsize Community Library, 14 Antrim Road, NW3 4XR

Details from www.thewinch.org/belsize-community-library
Friends of BCL: email address is bcltalks@gmail.com
The first Autumn talk will be “Alice’s New Looking Glass”. Different illustrators give a new look to the well-known story with Lewis Caroll’s original words spoken by Colin Pinney.
Thursday, 15th September at 19.30. Zoom ID 889 6466 1765
Donations to the Belsize Community Library

BCL is open on Mondays and Tuesdays between 10.00 and 18.00 and Wednesdays 12.00 and 20.00 for book browsing, printing and scanning services and the use of two computer terminals (one hour limit but longer times can be arranged). For more information, please check their website above and/or sign up for their weekly newsletter.
BCL Public Assemblies; these gatherings provide a chance for our local residents to come together and weigh in on the social, cultural, and political issues that impact our community and the world at large.
The first 2022/23 assembly is entitled “Home & the World for Bangladeshis in London” with speaker Murad Qureshi, who is of Bangladeshi descent and has degrees in Development Studies and Environmental Economics. A former member of the London Assembly, he has worked for many years to raise awareness of the crucial role of remittances in international development.
Wednesday, 7th September at 19.00. Homemade Persian food will be served to help raise money for the Library.
Belsize Book Club: Autumn book clubs will take place every last Monday of the Month. The next talk will be on Monday, 26th September at 16.00 – 17.30. with new partner Age UK Camden. The chosen read is ‘The fortnight in September’ by R.C. Sherriff.
Books for the rest of 2022 are:
October: Their Eyes were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
November: The Promise by Damon Galgut
December: Lolly Willowers by Sylvia Townsend Warner
For details of each book, please see BCL website in the relevant month and email BCL to register for each event.
Between the Books:  is a live-streamed (for now) concert series presented from BCL’s acoustically rich atrium. Our goal is to celebrate local music and causes while giving artists a space and a platform to share their music.
Open Mic and Poetry Night: a space for people to perform and share their songs and stories, hosted by Dan Sandman.
Every First Thursday of the month, sign-up 18.30, show 19.00 – 21.00. Free with suggested donation £3 or £5.
Contact dsandman@dansandman.co.uk to reserve your spot.
 Belsize Community Yoga: Every Tuesday at 19.00. Email Bojana; bokajovanovic@icloud.com

Belsize Green Gym

The Belsize Green Gym is a volunteer-led group running on the 2nd and 3rd Sunday of the month. Join like-minded people to carry out essential work to enhance and open these hidden sites (currently Belsize Wood and Belsize Sensory Garden) while getting a weekend workout in the great outdoors. Everyone is welcome (under 16s must be accompanied by an adult), it’s free to join and refreshments are provided at the break.
Sunday from 11am to 2pm, meeting at the Belsize Sensory Garden, NW3 2AL (behind Belsize Park tube station).  For more information, or to join, email Belsizegreengym@gmail.com or call 07989 231506. Find other green gyms in Camden and more about TCV, The Conservation Volunteers,  here

Belsize Community Choir

Join our inclusive community, pursuing choral excellence in a playful and relaxed way. To
find out more, contact: 020 7431 7554 or www.belsizecommunitychoir.
Rehearsals on Thursdays between 7pm and
9pm at St Peter’s Church, Belsize Square, NW3.

Belsize Park Rugby Football Club

Belsize Park RFC can truly be said to have been a pioneer of the game of Rugby Union; in 1871, it was one of twenty-one clubs at the inaugural meeting of the Rugby Football Union. The current incarnation of Belsize Park RFC was re-established in 1971. It is London’s most central rugby club with its home grounds in Regent’s Park and training by Russell Square. In 10 years, the men’s club has grown from around 50 players to about 350 each year. It has won an RFU President’s award for recruitment and two Middlesex awards for growing the game. The 1st XV recently won the London 2 NW Division and have been promoted to London 1 South.
The Club’s twice-yearly tours have continued in unbroken pattern since 1989 and travels have been as far afield as Barbados, Brazil, China, Mozambique and the USA. The Club is considered to be the most widely toured amateur clubs in the world.
Now, the aim is to have a similar positive impact on growing women’s rugby. 2019/20 marks the first season for Belsize’s new women’s team. The Club welcomes women of all levels of rugby experience, offering a fantastic opportunity to be a founder member of the women’s teams. Find out more and join at www.bprfc.co.uk

Community Unity Drinks

Kire Estate Agents, recent-comers to Belsize, believe there are many benefits from meeting neighbours to make friends for adults and children alike. This isn’t always easy so Kire have joined forces with Calici Restaurant in Belsize Village to have monthly get-togethers. These will be on the first Wednesday of each month from 19.30 in Calici’s bar area. Local residents can apply  here, to get 20% off drinks and any food ordered on the night.

Hampstead Rugby Club

New players 2021/2022: Hampstead RFC is looking for children of all ages and abilities to join their teams playing rugby in a fun and friendly environment.
Girls and Boys: Minis U6-U12s and Youth U13-U18s
Free taster sessions every week – training every Saturday at 10.00 on the fields by Parliament Hill Running Track, NW3 2JP.
More details from juniors@hampsteadrugbyclub.co.uk or www.hampsteadrugbyclub.co.uk

Hampstead Heath Croquet Club

The Hampstead Heath Croquet Club (HHCC) was formed in 2008 to enable players of all ages and abilities to enjoy challenging and relaxing games in pleasant surroundings.
The Club hosts free sessions for anyone who wants to try out the game on the first Sunday of the month during the season at Golders Hill Park and new members are always welcome. The season starts in late April and finishes in mid September. For further details, go here.
To book use of the lawns and the equipment at Golders Hill Park independently telephone 07786 583990 (Golders Hill Park staff mobile).

Primrose Hill Choirs

The Primrose Hill Choir meets on Mondays during term-time, between 7.30 and 9.30 pm at the Primrose Hill Community Centre (PHCA), NW1 8TN.
The Children’s Choir (ages 4-11) meets on Wednesdays between 4.10 and 5.10 pm at St Mary’s Church, NW3 3DJ. (entrance via glass doors on Primrose Hill Road)
Full details and dates: www.primrosehillchoirs.com,  or contact Matthew Watts at  maestromattheww@yahoo.co.uk or 07817 234925.

Royal Free Music Society Choir

Meets on Thursdays from 7 – 8.30pm at St Saviour’s Church, Eton Rd, NW3  (10 minutes’ walk from Belsize Park or Chalk Farm Tube)
We are a very friendly, non-auditioning four-voice choir, which takes music seriously but has a lot of fun in the process. You don’t need to be able to read music but you must be able to sing in tune. (We are currently singing with masks on for everyone’s continued protection.)
We typically perform three concerts a year to a high standard, often accompanied by our sister orchestra, the Hampstead Sinfonietta and with professional soloists.
Come along one Thursday and meet us!
Further information on www.royalfreemusicsociety.org.uk