Preston Community Library

Family Fun Day
2022-08-18 12:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London) | Preston Community Library, 160 Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, HA9 8PL, United Kingdom
Held in the Library and grounds at Ashley Gardens

It was 4 years since we last held a Summer Fun Day for our community at our home in Carlton Avenue East. With only a few short weeks to plan, arrange and publicise the event, there was some concern, as to whether we had done enough to persuade anyone to turn up! All doubts were swept away as the day turned out to be another triumph for our volunteers and supporters. The day was sunny and warm, as our stalwart early birds opened up in the morning and began preparing the Library and grounds – cleaning, moving tables and chairs, putting up signs and preparing refreshments to ensure everything was ready for the 12:00pm start. There were raffle prizes to display and the ‘Guess how many sweets in the jar’ competition, with the secret answer in a carefully sealed envelope, to set up. The Children’s entertainer and the Face Painter arrived. Mats were laid out under the Old Oak Tree (estimated to be around 200 years old!) for Storytime and Rhyme. The ‘BookAway’ table and the ‘Plant sale’ stall, beautifully arranged with some lovely healthy specimens, were set up. Volunteers from The Jason Roberts Foundation came along to provide Putting practice and Football activities. Our Yoga instructor interrupted her work schedule to give a taster session. Papa Gee’s Crazy Ice Cream Tank was parked by the gate. Our Brent North MP, Barry Gardiner, and Councillors Orleen Hylton, Sunita Hirani and Ryan Hack arrived to support the event. Barry graciously agreed to draw our raffle and announce the winner of the sweetie competition. When the gate was opened, there was already a small crowd gathered, and within a few minutes more families arrived and the grounds began to fill up. The next three hours flew by as more and more people came – it was great to see so many happy faces (some beautifully painted) having fun and enjoying all the activities. There was an unexpected twist in the tale of the sweetie competition: the result was two entries with the same number, each guessing 500. There were 493 in the jar, so we had to split the contents between the two winners, with a large consolation bag of sweets, for each of the two runners-up. At the end of the day, we started the clear-up, getting the Library ready for normal opening the following Saturday. A resounding ‘three cheers’ are owed to all our volunteers, sponsors and supporters who worked so hard to make the day a success. The event raised almost £300 for the Library funds.

Author Hashi Mohamed
2022-10-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Preston Community Library, 160 Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, HA9 8PL, United Kingdom
Another visit from Hashi Mohamed introducing his new book ‘A Home of One’s Own’ followed by a discussion and Q&A

Film Documentary 'Stop Fire and Rehire'
2022-10-29 19:30 - 21:30 | Preston Community Library, 160 Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, HA9 8PL, United Kingdom
Introduction and Q&A session by Barry Gardiner MP
Stop Fire and Rehire tells the story of Barry Gardiner MP campaign to better regulate Fire and Rehire, where workers are fired and rehired to do the same jobs on poorer pay and conditions. Barry meets victims and those fighting injustice.

Pub Quiz at The Preston, 161 Preston Road, Wembley, HA9 8NG
2022-11-07 20:00 - 22:00 | The Preston, The Preston, London, Wembley, HA9 8NG, United Kingdom
Quiz master Ian presents PCL’s Quiz Night at The Preston, 161 Preston Road, Wembley, HA9 8NG.
Donation: £5.00 per person
If you are eating and wish to reserve a table, visit
https://www.emberinns.co.uk/nationalsearch/london/the-preston-wembley/tablebooking
Everyone welcome!
PCL PUB QUIZ
8.00 pm start.

PrestonCommunityLibrary@gmail.com

Look out for Community Library carol singers outside the CoOp - Preston Road
2022-12-16 17:00 - 19:00
Look out for Community Library carol singers outside the CoOp – Preston Road.
We are fundraising for the Library.

Library Closed for Christmas Break
2022-12-22 - 2023-01-03 | Preston Community Library, 160 Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, HA9 8PL, United Kingdom

THE SILVERTONES at the Windermere Pub
2023-01-29 19:30 - 23:00 | Windermere Pub, WINDERMERE AVE, Wembley, London, Wembl, HA9 8QT, United Kingdom
50’sto 80’s Pop, Rock, & Soul
At the Windermere Pub
WINDERMERE AVE, WEMBLEY, SOUTH KENTON HA9 8QT
Opposite South Kenton Tube/Overground Station: 223 Bus
Entrance: £8.00; £5.00(concs) – proceeds to help keep our Library open.

World Book Day at the Library
2023-03-02 | Preston Community Library, 160 Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, HA9 8PL, United Kingdom
Come and borrow a book at the library on World Book Day.
World Book Day was created by UNESCO on 23rd April 1995 as a worldwide celebration of books and reading. It is marked in over 100 countries around the globe.

50 people attended a Film Night Special screening of 'Victoria & Abdul', with the author Shrabani Basu
2023-04-29 19:00 - 21:30 | Preston Community Library, 160 Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, HA9 8PL, United Kingdom
50 people attended a Film Night Special screening of ‘Victoria & Abdul’, with the The Sunday Times best-selling author and historian Shrabani Basu talking about her book, Victoria & Abdul:The True Story of The Queen’s Closest Confidant.

Join our local Safer Neighbourhood Team for the latest help and advice on how to protect yourself from the threats we face.
2023-06-17 12:00 - 13:00 | Preston Community Library, 160 Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, HA9 8PL, United Kingdom
Join our local Safer Neighbourhood Team for the latest help and advice on how to protect yourself from the ever-increasingly-sophisticated threats we face.

Join us for an evening with... Martin Rosenbaum - Author, Journalist, & Radio Producer
2023-06-27 19:00 - 21:30 | Preston Community Library, 160 Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, HA9 8PL, United Kingdom
Martin Rosenbaum is a highly experienced and successful user of the freedom of information system. For 16 years he was the leading specialist in utilising FOI for journalism in BBC News, where he pioneered its use, breaking stories as well as training and advising many other journalists. He now works as an FOI consultant, trainer and writer.

In honour of Refugee Week, the Library hosted another brilliant author-led literary evening on July 10
2023-07-10 19:00 - 22:00
In honour of Refugee Week, the Library hosted another brilliant author-led literary evening on July 10. Two distinguished writers, Kamila Shamsie – author of ‘HOME FIRE’, the astonishing novel set in Preston Road that won the Women’s Prize for Fiction – and Caroline Smith, the much-lauded Wembley-based poet, came to the Library to discuss their works. Kamila read from ‘HOME FIRE‘ of course, and from her thoughtful new novel, ‘BEST OF FRIENDS’. Caroline read from her moving collection ‘THE IMMIGRATION HANDBOOK’ , and her most recent poems on dementia.
The two women stunned the event’s attendees with the power and veracity of their readings. The discussion between them was original and enlightening and we are proud to have brought them, and the full-capacity audience, together for an engrossing evening.
Here are some more photos from the evening.
Kamila
Caroline

Clothing and Toy Swap Day - For Children Aged 0-5
2023-07-15 11:00 - 13:00 | Preston Community Library, 160 Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, HA9 8PL, United Kingdom

BBC reporter, Asad Ahmad, with Preston Community Library's Inspiration, the sculpture, especially created for us by Carl Gabriel
2023-08-25
BBC reporter, Asad Ahmad, with Preston Community Library’s Inspiration, the sculpture, especially created for us by Carl Gabriel, hits the headlines during the BBC London report on Carnival.
BBC London’s report on preparations for Carnival provided fine views of our sculpture Inspiration which is currently on display at the Tabernacle, Notting Hill during our temporary move to Ashley Gardens. Inspiration could be clearly seen during Asad’s interviews with Carnival organisers. The sculptor, Carl Gabriel – well known for his creations for Carnival and the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, made Inspiration for Preston Community Library in 2020 to mark Brent’s year as London Borough of Culture.

Carl Gabriel the sculptor

To mark the 50th anniversary 1973 Coup in Chile, come to a screening of the award-winning documentary Cruel Separation with director, Sarah Boston.
2023-09-09 19:00 - 22:00 | Preston Community Library, 160 Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, HA9 8PL, United Kingdom
To mark the 50th anniversary of the disastrous 1973 Coup in Chile, come to a screening of the award-winning documentary Cruel Separation with director, Sarah Boston.
Cruel Separation is the story of the military coup in Chile on 11 September 1973 from the point of view of four women who lived through it: Hortensia Bussi de Allende, widow of President Salvador Allende; Joan Jara, widow of political singer-songwriter, Victor Jara; Joyce Horman, whose story was made famous in the award-winning film Missing; Angela Jeria de Bachelet, widow of a General loyal to President Allende, whose daughter later became President following Chile’s return to democracy. Narrated by Donald Sutherland, the film won the award for best international documentary in 2006. The director, Sarah Boston, will introduce the film and be available to answer questions.

Library at Fun Day organised by the Mayor
2023-09-16 | Century Bowling Club in Logan Road
On September 16, PCL had a stall at a Fun Day organised by the Mayor, Cllr Orleen Hylton, and Brent Health Matters at the Century Bowling Club in Logan Road. The event offered health checks, arts and crafts, cookery demonstrations and many other activities. Funds raised were shared between the Mayor’s two charities – Preston Community Library and PLIAS Resettlement.

Meet Preston Safer Neighbourhood Team, Members and Councillors
2023-09-26 18:30 - 21:00 | Preston Community Library, 160 Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, HA9 8PL, United Kingdom
Meet Preston Safer Neighbourhood Team, Members and Councillors
Tuesday 26th September
Agenda
6:30 – 7:00 pm Informal (Meet SNT Team, Members and Councillors)
7:00 – 9:00 pm Standard SNT Meeting
Twitter: @MPSPreston

Local Author and Historian, Shrabani Basu, Will Discuss Her Book For King and Another Country
2023-11-14 19:00 - 21:30 | Preston Community Library, 160 Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, HA9 8PL, United Kingdom
An evening with the Author! Over a million Indian soldiers left their villages for the mud-filled trenches of France and Flanders – their contribution largely forgotten. Some 4,742 Indian and Nepali soldiers who fell have no known grave. Historian Shrabani Basu’s book tells the personal stories of some who went to fight the on the killing
fields of the Western Front – From a Maharajah to street sweepers; many won the highest awards. This is also the story of how the War changed India and led to calls for Independence.

Cuppa With A Copper - Community Contact Session
2024-01-06 13:00 - 14:00, 2024-02-07 18:00 - 19:00, 2024-08-03 11:00 - 12:00 | Preston Community Library, 160 Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, HA9 8PL, United Kingdom
Meet our local police officers who will be there to discuss personal safety, crime prevention methods and address any community concerns you have.
Join them cuppa and an important conversation!
#CommunityEngagement #SafetyFirst
preston.snt@met.police.uk

Come and join the party with THE SILVERTONES 50’s to 80’s Pop, Rock, & Soul
2024-02-04 19:30 - 23:00 | Windermere Pub, WINDERMERE AVE, Wembley, London, Wembl, HA9 8QT, United Kingdom
Sunday 4th February 2024, at 7:30pm
The Windermere Pub, Windermere Ave, Wembley, South Kenton HA9 8QT
Opposite South Kenton Tube/Overground Station: 223 Bus
Entrance: £8.00; £5.00(concs) – proceeds to help keep our Library open.
Raising funds for: PRESTON COMMUNITY LIBRARY

Gareth Armstrong - performs his award-winning play Shylock
2024-02-06 19:00 - 21:00
Tuesday 6th February 2024 7:00 pm
THIS IS A TICKETED EVENT: Please register here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shylock-tickets-797225622297?aff=oddtdtcreator
‘Armstrong is nothing short of incredible… It is an exceptional piece of theatre. Everyone should see it.’
Independent on Sunday
A villain? A victim? Or something even more intriguing? The tragic, funny, and often unbelievable life, of fiction’s most famous Jew.
The play confronts and confounds the stereotypes through the eyes of Shylock’s only friend – Tubal, who proves a born comic storyteller. Celebrating the richness of Shakespeare’s
language and conjuring up a whole cast of characters, this dazzling, moving, and often hilarious play is a fascinating exploration of Shylock and his people.

Cuppa With A Copper - Community Contact Session
2024-08-22 13:00 - 14:00 | Century Bowling Club in Logan Road

The British Empire Exhibition 1924/25 & beyond, An illustrated talk by Philip Grant of the Wembley History Society
2024-10-27 15:00 - 17:00 | Preston Community Library, 160 Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, HA9 8PL, United Kingdom
Sunday 27th October 2024, 3:00 pm in Ashley Gardens
In 1924, Wembley Park was the venue for the British Empire Exhibition, which brought people from countries across the world, which were all “under the British flag” at that time, to show their cultures and their produce.
Philip Grant of the Wembley History Society will introduce us to the different nations at the Exhibition, and some of the people who came to represent them.
The talk will then go on to look at how our area has grown in its cultural mix over the past 100 years, to become the wonderfully diverse community that we know today, and invite your family stories of coming to Wembley from the former Empire and beyond.

One Boy’s War - an illustrated talkby Terry EmeryAuthor Terry Emery
2024-11-17 15:00 - 17:00 | Preston Community Library, 160 Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, HA9 8PL, United Kingdom
On September 3rd 1939, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain declared ‘We are at War with Germany’, when Terry was four years old.When WW2 ended in 1945 he was ten, and all his formative childhood years were coloured by the wartime experience.We often hear the reminiscences from an adult perspective but few from the child’s point-of-view. The familiar scenario of many families with the absent father off to the Armed Forces for five of those years with only the occasional visit; and the mothers and children at home (those who weren’t evacuated), surviving on wartime rations, apprehensively tuning in to daily news bulletins, never quite sure if their husbands/fathers would ever return. Conversely, Terry also recalls many fun times and lighter moments amidst all the unsettling circumstances.

Family Yoga Free Taster Class
2024-12-07 10:30 - 11:15 | Preston Community Library, 160 Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, HA9 8PL, United Kingdom
Join us for a relaxing and invigorating Family Yoga Free Taster Class at Preston Community Library. This is the perfect opportunity for you and your family to bond, unwind, and explore the benefits of yoga together.
Led by Samantha Warrington, this class welcomes individuals of all ages and skill levels. Samantha is dedicated to creating a serene and inclusive environment where you can connect with each other through mindful movements and calming practices.

Date Saturday, 7th December
Time 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Location Preston Community Library, Ashley Gardens, Wembley HA9 8NP

What to Expect

Gentle yoga poses that are easy to follow
Guided meditation and mindfulness exercises
Fun activities to engage children and adults alike
A peaceful atmosphere to enhance family well-being

To learn more about Samantha Warrington and her teaching philosophy, visit her website at samanthawarringtonyoga.org .
For inquiries, you can reach her via email samantha.warrington.yoga@gmail.com at or call 07801 697712.
Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to enhance your family’s physical and mental well-being. See you on the mat!

Large attendance for Wartime letters from Preston Park - Philip Grant
2026-04-19 15:00 - 16:00 | Preston Community Library, 160 Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, HA9 8PL, United Kingdom
Come to the Library on Sunday 19 April 3:00-4:00pm to hear Philip Grant from Wembley History Society uncover an amazing archive of letters which tell the story of what it was like to live in the Preston Park area during the Second World War.

Muriel lived at Derwent Gardens, on the Preston Park Estate, until 1938, and was friends with other local housewives who, like her, had young children. After moving back to Hereford, with her husband and son, she kept in touch by letter with her former neighbour, Nancie, and friend Doris, who lived in Allonby Gardens. After Muriel died in 2003, her daughter found that she had kept the letters she’d received from these friends between 1940 and 1945, with news from Preston Park about everyday life during the Second World War, and their children who went to Preston Park School. It was only during the Covid lockdown in 2020 that her daughter got round to reading those letters, and realising what an amazing source of first hand history they were, got in touch with Wembley History Society to share them with us.

Library volunteers will read out the letters.

Our Children's Laureate, author Saman Shamsie, visited the Library read to local Cub Scouts
2026-06-19 | Preston Community Library, 160 Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, HA9 8PL, United Kingdom
Our Children’s Laureate, author Saman Shamsie, visited the Library on June 19 to read to local Cub Scouts
On a hot June evening a group of Brent Cubs (South Kenton), began to arrive early at the Library: keen to see what we had in store. As they waited on the steps of the library, we noted that this was the first Young Writers’ Challenge -a unique programme run by the Library – to be held at the new building.

The group of 26 Cub Scouts with their leaders and a curious young visitor to the library crowded into the little garden at the rear of the library to see the two swift nesting- sites installed during the construction of the building. The Cubs learnt about a close encounter with 5 lively swifts the night before. All filed back into the cool breezy library for a magical meet-up with our Children’s Laureate , the Pakistani children’s author, Saman Shamsie.
Saman enchanted the Cubs and Leaders: with a true tale about a bird of prey – a Kite – which became stranded and taken up residence in her garden in Karachi, which she has named ‘Green’ . The children asked if she might write about ‘Green’s exploits? Yes indeed!

This was followed by captivating readings from her books , ‘’The Magical Woods’, ‘Slothful Slough-Off the Snake ‘ instantly engaging a four – year -old who knew ‘everything about snakes!’ and a newer traditional tale ‘Wali Dad’ with its message for today. As the Library’s first Children’s Event in its new home – a very successful evening! What’s more children and parents returned the next day and joined the Library!

Saman Shamsie is published by Penguin Books, and Oxford University Books. All Saman’s books are held in the Library and are available to borrow. Read more at Saman Shamsie Preston Community Library Children’s Laureate : Preston Community Library

Free Best Selling Author Event: Janice Hallett Live at Preston Community Library
2026-06-25 19:30 - 21:00 | Preston Community Library, 160 Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, HA9 8PL, United Kingdom
To mark National Crime Reading Month, we have invited best selling crime writer, Janice Hallett, to come along to the library to talk to us about her work and her latest novel ‘The Killer Question’. Several of her previous books have been based in North West London. Do join us on Thursday, June 25 at 7.30 pm.
