Celebrating Diwali with MMUK

Barry joined Maheshwari Mahasabha United Kingdom (MMUK) as the chief guest at the charity’s 15th Diwali gala dinner, held at Clay Oven Banqueting in Wembley.

MMUK has 450+ active families – the majority living in Brent North – who are active in raising money for charities that support underprivileged students in education and other social needs.

Lest we forget

For Barry, it is always a huge privilege to attend Brent’s Remembrance Sunday events. This year he attended the Royal British Legion Remembrance Service at St John the Evangelist Church in Wembley and the Borough Civic Remembrance Service and Parade at the Memorial Site in Queen Elizabeth Gardens, Barham Park.

We Shall Remember Them.

Stimulating debate at the library

Barry’s film about the disgraceful practice of fire and rehire was the featured Saturday night film at the Preston Community Library recently. Every day, workers across Britain are being threatened with the sack unless they accept new contracts with worse terms and conditions for doing the same job.

After showing the film, Barry took questions from the audience and there was a lively discussion about the state of British politics.

100 years of working class history

Barry spoke at Brent Trades Council’s celebration of the centenary of the Willesden Trades and Labour Hall’s constitution. The trades hall has played a key role in the political, economic and social history of Willesden and then Brent since the early 20th century, being a focal point for trade union meetings and strike committees as the unions grew in strength on the industrial estates of Park Royal, the North Circular Road and Cricklewood.

The iconic building, which is now in a state of disrepair, has witnessed the rich, working class, fighting back history of the borough and has hosted some of the greatest orators of the labour movement over many decades. Barry talked about how thrilled he was at the plans to restore and relaunch the hall and the adjacent London Apollo Club to serve as a labour and community centre again, at a time of increasing confidence and a definite sense of a revival of the trade unions.

Read more about the hall’s history in the Morning Star newspaper here

Developing leadership skills in primary pupils

Barry joined pupils at Mount Stewart school as they prepare to elect their new school council. He talked to them about what it means to be a leader and the importance of giving other people a voice. Barry explained what the children may want to include in their election speeches and offered to support our new school council with their manifesto.

The school has worked hard on developing leadership in its pupils, with 11 different, wide ranging roles open to children from Reception to Year 6 and over 200 children in a position of responsibility. 

There is a clear problem solving focus, with studentss producing costed and detailed plans to make a difference to the school. One pupil leader stated that “I have a voice now and I know that I have a right to be heard.”

Cutting the ribbon

Barry attended the official opening of the refurbished clubhouse and new playing pitch at Hendon FC back in July. The club plays just behind Silver Jubilee Park in Kingsbury

They forgot the scissors and the ribbon so the 9-year-old junior squad helped Barry cut the imaginary ribbon. All two fingers held carefully horizontal!

Summer of Solidarity

Barry also joined Brent South MP Dawn Butler, ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan and ASLEF members on their picket line at the Willesden depot in early August.

These striking workers have not had a pay rise since 2019, while inflation is rocketing, yet the rail companies signed a deal with the government stopping them offering more than 2% unless the Transport Secretary agreed.

Barry called on then transport secretary Grant Shapps to lift the cap on rail workers’ pay.

Construction of the Aum Crematorium Project begins

For years the Hindu community has been trying to establish a purpose-built Hindu crematorium. So it was a particular joy for Barry to be asked to break the turf at the Bhumi Pooja Ceremony – ground breaking ceremony – on 15 July to mark the start of construction at the Aum Crematorium Project as part of the Anoopam Mission, Swaminarayan Temple. The photo shows Barry breaking the turf after offering prayers to mother earth.

Barry joins religious events in Brent North

Barry attended a major Hindu gathering on 22 June at the Kadwa Patidar Hall, examining the plight of Hindus globally and the increasing Hindu phobia experienced by the community.

He was also honoured to say a few words about the significance of the Gita when he attended a Katha (an exposition of the Bhagavad Gita) at the Maa Krupa Foundation at the Harrow Leisure Centre, on 2 July.

And it was a privilege for Barry to attend the opening of the Shiv Shakti Maa Meldi Temple on Wembley High Road on 3 July and then to attend a Mahayagna at the Neasden Mandir to celebrate the centenary of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. A mahayagna is a special service of prayers and rituals for peace, protection and global harmony.

Here are pictures of some of the events 🔽