Coming soon: The Wimble in print
Plus: How to get Wimbledon's kids reading again
Hello Wimblers — and a good morning to you all.
This week’s newsletter is a snappy one as we’re gearing up for our print edition. That’s right, The Wimble will finally be in print! As it stands, the physical edition of The Wimble will be a one-off and will be released during the tennis this year. The idea is to feature some of our favourite pieces, map out Wimbledon’s best spots, and shine a light on all the great work that goes on in Wimbledon.
One of the articles in the print edition will feature ‘hot tips’ for those queuing to secure tennis tickets. If any of our readers are ‘queue gurus’, please do get in touch: zak@thewimble.com. I’d love to hear your ideas about how to survive The Championship’s line.
Our feature is a quickfire interview with Alison Palmer, co-founder of charity Book Clubs in Schools (BCiS), which celebrated its 10th birthday last week. Alison and I grabbed a coffee to talk about everything from the sort of books that children read to the problem of children not reading at all.
We’ve also got your usual news snippets, some rather exciting upcoming events, and a London Marathon photo of the week. Thanks again to Katharine Rowe who sent in her photo.
I think that’s all for now.
Happy reading!
News snippets 🗞️
🚧 Check out an exhaustive list of roadworks descending on Merton from now until August. Expect closures on Worple Road, Kingston Road, Dudley Road, Dundonald Road, Somerset Road, and more. You can read the full list of closures here.
🍗 Last week we brought you news of Wimbledon Broadway McDonald’s applying for a 24/7 licence. This week we’re still on the Broadway fast food joints: KFC are also bidding for a change in licence which might require the business to hire security staff whenever it’s open past midnight. Read more about it here.
📚 Local author Julia Boggio has been nominated in two categories for the Romantic Novel Awards. Julia, who we interviewed last year, also won the Selfies Award at the London Book Fair in 2024 for her debut novel, Shooters. Big congratulations to Julia!
🌳 A former ‘Tree of the Year’ is now under risk due to Merton’s new housing plans. The pagoda tree, which is thought to be over 70 years old, could be cut down to make way for new council housing, even though the tree is right in the middle of Mitcham’s Canons heritage site. Read all about Merton’s potential plans for expansion here.
Property of the week 🏠
This might not be the flashiest house we’ve featured, but it’s pretty darn nice. I think the top floor is really where this property shines, with its huge bedroom, dressing room (basically the size of another bedroom), and ensuite bathroom. This house will set you back just under £1.3m. Cheap for a four-bedroom house in London? Yes. Worth that price? Is anything? Check out more photos here.
The Wimble’s to-do list
🎨 Worple Art Group Spring Exhibition: The Worple Art Group exhibits twice a year (in spring and autumn). Founded in 1983, the group is made up of 20 artists who are required to contribute a minimum number of paintings for each exhibition. Next week is your chance to see their recent works firsthand. Oh, and did I mention that the event is entirely free?
Where: St Mark’s Church, SW19 7ND
When: Friday 16 May - Saturday 17 May, 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
🥃 Taste of Rum Networking Evening: Whether you’re a rum enthusiast or a rum novice, this event caters to all. Expect to sample four local craft rum brands, engage with the founders and makers, nibble on some light bites, and network to your heart’s content. Tickets are £30 and can be bought here.
Where: The Fire Station Café, Wimbledon Quarter
When: Thursday 15 May, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
🍷 Prams and Pinot: By now, you’re probably more than familiar with Friarwood’s parent-friendly wine tastings. If not, you’re missing out. Bring your kids (and prams) and learn about four wines with some accompanying nibbles. Who doesn’t love a cheeky glass of wine on a Monday lunchtime? Book your spot here.
Where: Friarwood, Wimbledon Village
When: Monday 12 May, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
⚓️ Turner and the Modern World: JMW Turner might have been born in the Age of Sail, but he came of age during the Industrial Revolution. As the world continued to change rapidly, it was up to artists like Turner to capture the shifting landscape. Join Cindy Polemis next Wednesday for a lecture on how Turner articulated the dramatic changes by creating a new aesthetic of the industrial sublime. This event is free for members and costs £10 for everyone else.
Where: The Sacred Heart Church Hall
When: Wednesday 14 May, 8:00 PM onwards (also available on Zoom)
🧘♀️ Yoga, Sound Bath and Meditation Workshop: This workshop is designed to restore harmony between the mind, body and spirit (which is easier said than done). It is also all about reconnecting with your ‘inner self’. I like the sound of that. Tickets are £75, which does seem a little steep — but can you put a price on inner peace?
Where: APPI, Thornton Road
When: Sunday 11 May, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
‘I think the books that kids are being offered aren’t the ones they want to read’ 📚
Last week marked the 10th birthday of Book Clubs in Schools (BCiS). Founded by Wimbledon parents Alison Palmer and Beth Ginsburg (now a trustee) to encourage their own children to read, BCiS has helped over 40,000 children in 250 schools nationwide. On Thursday last week, BCiS celebrated the children, teachers, librarians and authors who have made their mission possible. The day was packed with activities, including an in-person event with Michael Rosen at Merton Abbey Primary School and an outside broadcast with Riverside Radio, which gave the team a chance to chat with the children and hear their thoughts. Having noticed all the great work that BCiS do, I decided it was time that Alison and I sat down for a coffee and had a good natter about all things book related. So, that’s what we did.
The Wimble: Take me back to the beginning ten years ago. How did this all start?
Alison Palmer: Before we launched our charity, Beth and I were going into our kids’ primary school and reading with the children, as parents often do. Beth’s mum was in New York at the time running a programme for the public school [state school] kids out there. This programme was based around book clubs for gifted and talented children within these schools. And Beth just said one day that running a book club would be a whole lot more fun than what we were doing [laughs]. So initially we set it up in Wimbledon Park, where our children went, and ran it with some other parents. It was a small group at first.
Book clubs might be common, but not with your format. Where did the idea for having older pupils leading younger pupils come from?
AP: One of our friends said, ‘Why don’t you get some of the older kids to deliver the book club to the younger students?’ And that was a lightbulb moment for us. I suppose that’s really our unique selling point. Lots of schools have book clubs, but they’re not run by students like ours. What’s also unique about our format is that these pupils are just talking. The older children aren’t ‘teaching’. There are no hands up or strict rules in place. Our book clubs should feel as little like school as possible, even though they are ‘in school’. But really, they’re just about having conversations. I think that’s how you get children interested in reading again: by talking.
How do schools get involved and join? And what does that look like?
AP: It’s an annual fee because the books and guides change every year. Also, I should mention that most of the schools we work with are state schools. We have a long list of about 50 books for the schools and pupils to choose from. The books are a real mix. It’s really important for us that children can see themselves in books, and for that you need to have a diverse list. There’s a real variety both in terms of content and reading ability. That way, a school can have book clubs happening simultaneously for children at different reading levels.
The Book Clubbers, who are the younger pupils, read the same book and then discuss it in small weekly book clubs that are held during school hours. The older pupils — say the Year 10s or Year 11s — are the Book Club Leaders. They get some training before the book club begins so that they’re able to lead the sessions positively and create a relaxed and encouraging environment.
I read that another reason for starting BCiS is because you wanted your own children to read more. Do you think reading for pleasure is a dying hobby?
AP: I think we all spend too much time on social media. And what’s worse is that most people aren’t even reading on social media. But it’s not just technology’s fault. Quite often, the books that kids are being offered are not the ones they want to read. Children are encouraged to talk less about books, and if there isn’t a library, if there isn’t a space to go to where reading is prioritised, then we see reading in decline.
Another problem is that a lot of people buy their books at the supermarket; it’s unlikely that children are going to find books they want to read in a supermarket, let alone books about someone who looks like them — someone who represents them. As I said earlier, children tend to read more when they can see themselves in a book. That’s why it’s so important that schools are able to offer a variety of things to read, and not just a few out of touch and out of date books.
Check out the BCiS website and read all about the fantastic work they’ve been doing and, more importantly, how you can help them too.
Photo of the week (London Marathon edition) 📸
Big shout out to Katharine Rowe who ran the London Marathon for Sue Ryder — a charity that specialises in palliative care and bereavement support — this year. Well done, Katharine. In her email, Katharine wrote:
It was my first (and final) marathon. It was a lot harder than I thought in the heat but I managed 4.10, so I was pretty happy.
Relieved picture attached!
You’re a legend, Katharine! If any of our other readers have some pictures they’d like to send in, do get in touch: zak@thewimble.com.
Question of the week 🔍
Last week I asked our readers which year was the hottest on record for The Championships. The answer: 2015.
Q: What was the first play staged at the New Wimbledon Theatre?
You’re up to date 👋
Thanks for reading this week’s edition. Do keep reaching out and sending your ideas in: zak@thewimble.com. If you’re going to next week’s rum tasting, have fun. In the meantime, enjoy your week and I’ll see you next time.