Formosa Book Club - Vacancy

Our new community initiatives continue to gather pace, with the Formosa Book Club devouring 12 books this season. We have two groups running, both covering fiction and non-fiction and with audio book lovers also welcome. Places are limited so that everyone can contribute, but [as Helen Burrluck departs for Oxford] we have a space in one group. Please email Viv Robins on vivvy.robins@gmail.com if you might like to join us.

Open-air cinema is a hit

Around eighty residents camped out in Formosa Garden on a luckily balmy evening on September 10th for an outdoor screening of the 1961 romantic comedy Breakfast at Tiffany's, which came out top of the poll from a choice of seven films. The event was kindly sponsored by local retirement living specialists Wallacea Living who also laid on the refreshments. Headsets were provided & the blue or red glow they gave off made for an almost ethereal sight as darkness fell! Huge thanks to the organisers Marc Scrimshire & Susan Wright -- something tells me it could be the first of many!

Farewell party stops the traffic

Dozens of local residents crowded into Formosa Street on September 3rd to say Goodbye to two of its best-loved & most familiar figures, Hiten & Darshna Patel, who ran Dhigs convenience store for a hard-to-credit 44 years. before handing over to new owners in mid-August.

The closure of Formosa Street was arranged by Westminster Councillor Melvyn Caplan who made a speech thanking the Patels for their exceptional service to the community, particularly during the dark days of Covid when they were a vital source not just of supplies but of human contact.

It was an emotional occasion, especially for Darshna as her husband gave a speech of thanks in reply...

....and again when he singled out his shop co-worker & friend Jassi Taylor for a special hug:

The Prince Alfred pub laid on lavish refreshments plus two cakes which seemed to say it all:

So good luck to Hiten & Darshna in their new life which we understand includes a well-earned holiday in India....