Is this the most fascinating building in Wimbledon?
Plus: A competition for our readers to win £100 of free food this Christmas
Good morning, Wimblers — I hope that everyone has had a lovely week so far. If you attended Wimbledon Quarter’s ice rink launch on Saturday, please send any awesome photos our way to zak@thewimble.com.
Big news: The Wimble print edition is ready for collection at The Fire Station Café and inside the Quarter by M&S and the escalators. Do grab a copy and check out all of our festive stories.
This week, we’ve got your usual news snippets, some great festive recommendations, and a very short history of one of Wimbledon’s most beloved buildings (which replaces this week’s property of the week).
We also have a great giveaway for one lucky reader! This week, we teamed up with Thunderbird Fried Chicken to run a competition for the Wimblers. The prize is £100 to spend at their Wimbledon site (18 The Broadway) for you and your loved ones this Christmas. All you have to do is click this link here and enter your email to be considered for the competition. Scroll down to read all about Thunderbird’s backstory (spoiler: this isn’t your usual fried chicken joint).
As always, please do share The Wimble with as many people as you can! It would be great to get over 9,000 subscribers before the end of the year.
This week’s Wimble sponsor ⛳️
Caddi Club is gearing up for Christmas. Make sure to check out all of their events and packages for the festive season here. Caddi Club is the biggest indoor golf venue of its kind in Europe. Aren’t we Wimblers lucky to have it on our doorstep? But even if your golf skills leave much to be desired, Caddi Club is a great place to hang out, grab a drink, meet some friends or just get some work done.
News snippets 🗞
🔥 Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters were called to a fire on The Broadway, Wimbledon, last Thursday. The fire occurred in a single-storey takeaway restaurant located next to The Old Frizzle pub. The Brigade was first alerted to the fire at 11.46am and had the blaze under control by 4.12pm. Read the full story as it happened here.
⚪️ Tuesday marked White Ribbon Day, which centres around a global initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls. As some supporters might have seen at the game against Wigan Athletic, AFC Wimbledon continues to proudly champion and celebrate the work of the initiative. The Dons were also supported by Merton Council and the Metropolitan Police to hand out 500 White Ribbon badges at the match on Saturday.
Zoe Gallen, Violence Against Women & Girls lead and White Ribbon champion, commented that “the match on Saturday gave us a great opportunity to speak to fans and visitors about challenging everyday sexism and taking a stand against violence and harassment. Fans were super supportive and thanked us for being there.” Click here to read more about the initiative and all the great work it does to support women across the UK.
🚨 The remains of a woman kidnapped from her home in Wimbledon are “believed to be” in a Bethnal Green garden. Muriel McKay, the wife of wealthy newspaper executive Alick McKay, was taken from her Wimbledon home on December 29, 1969. The kidnapping was actually a case of mistaken identity, as the killers — Arthur and Nizamodeen Hosein — had actually intended to kidnap and ransom Anna Murdoch, the then wife of Rupert Murdoch.
On Monday, the High Court heard that her children, Ian McKay and Dianne Levinson, believe her body is located in a Bethnal Green garden. The children asked the High Court to allow a ground-penetrating radar survey at two London properties. On Tuesday, the injunction that would have allowed the survey was denied. Read more about the crime here and the High Court’s decision here.
Have you had problems on the District line? 📣
This is a callout for all Wimble readers. Have you experienced delays and problems on the District line? We’re currently surveying locals to see just how shoddy the line has become. Get in touch with me and tell me your story: zak@thewimble.com.
Thunderbird Fried Chicken are offering one lucky Wimble reader a £100 voucher this Christmas 💷
That’s right, folks. Thunderbird are very kindly offering one lucky Wimble reader a £100 voucher to use this Christmas at their Wimbledon site (18 The Broadway). All you have to do is click here to enter. But before then, let me tell you a little bit about one of Wimbledon’s newest restaurants. Note: Thunderbird’s Christmas menu goes live next Monday, so be sure to pop down and check it out.
Thunderbird Fried Chicken’s story doesn’t begin in a boardroom, nor does it begin in your typical commercial kitchen. It actually begins with Thunderbird’s owner, Matt Harris, racing cars in the high-speed, high-adrenaline environment of NASCAR in the US, where Brit-born Matt was exposed to the incredible flavours of southern fried chicken. He returned to the UK with a new mission: to bring an authentic and ultimate fried chicken experience to London. At first, he launched his own food truck called BBQ Lab. Three months after introducing wings to his menu, BBQ Lab won best buffalo wings in London at Wing Fest. But as anyone in the hospitality industry knows, food trucks are rarely scalable. So Matt closed down BBQ Lab and launched Thunderbird in March 2017.
But Matt didn’t want Thunderbird to feel like it was simply copying the chicken shops of the deep South; he wanted to do things a little differently. So Thunderbird developed something called their “frientific” process. Put simply, all of their chicken undergoes a 12-hour brine, gets covered in a seasoning of 12 herbs and spices, is hand-breaded and then fried until it’s golden and perfect. Now Thunderbird has seven locations across London, with their site at 18 The Broadway in Wimbledon being one of the newest. I decided to pop down to Thunderbird and see what all the hype was about for myself. All I’ll say is that it’s no wonder their Chipuffalo wings were crowned the best in London. The team at The Wimble was only too happy to see me walk through the doors with those bad boys.
But now for the best bit: Thunderbird recently got in touch with us at The Wimble and asked if they could do something for our readers. I obliged, of course. That’s when they told me that they wanted to offer one Wimbler £100 of free food this Christmas, to treat themselves and their loved ones. To enter, all you have to do is click this link here and pop your email in. Thunderbird will handle the rest and let one of our lucky readers know if they’ve won. But in the meantime, do get yourself down to Thunderbird and taste some authentic and delicious fried chicken. You won’t regret it.
Once again, just click the button below and type your email in to enter the competition.
The Wimble’s to-do list 🍷
❄️ Wimbledon Winterfest: The occasion has finally arrived! This weekend, get ready for the most festive 48 hours in Wimbledon. On Saturday, Riverside Radio will be broadcasting live and direct from the community stage, with dance performances, local choirs and a collection of roaming Christmas characters to keep you entertained. Sunday is the day for the kids: there will be face painting, delicious festive foods, creative workshops and even Santa’s grotto.
Where: Wimbledon Quarter and The Piazza
When: Saturday 29 November – Sunday 30 November, 11am – 6pm
🥃 Glencadam & Tomintoul whisky tasting: The season for a nice glass of whisky by the fire is upon us. And what better way to pick your whisky distiller of choice than by attending a local tasting? Pop into Amathus this weekend to try these two lovely whiskies from Angus Dundee. No booking is required (and the event is entirely free).
Where: Amathus, Wimbledon Village
When: Saturday 29 November, 4–7pm
🎅🏻 Wimbledon Guild Carol Service: Join Wimbledon Guild for a festive evening of traditional carols and community spirit. Enjoy performances by talented students from the Study Prep and Bishop Gilpin primary school, plus drinks and mince pies. All money raised from the Carol Service will go towards the Gift of Hope Christmas Appeal. Grab your tickets before they sell out.
Where: St Mark’s Church, Wimbledon SW19 7ND
When: Wednesday 3 December, 6.30pm
🍷 Amathus Christmas Wine Fair: Does this need any more of an introduction? Great wine is the backbone of Christmas. So why not head up to Wimbledon Village next weekend, where the friendly Amathus team will be on hand to guide you through the perfect wine selections for your festive celebrations? This event is entirely free and doesn’t require booking.
Where: Amathus, Wimbledon Village
When: Friday 5 December from 3–7pm/Saturday 6 December from 12–7pm/Sunday 7 December from 11am – 6pm
🏹 Robin Hood (Pantomime): Ashley Banjo and Diversity take over Sherwood Forest this Christmas, joined by an outstanding cast that includes comedian and magician Pete Firman. Expect stunning costumes, tummy-clutching comedy and beautiful sets. Grab your tickets here.
Where: New Wimbledon Theatre
When: Saturday 6 December – Sunday 4 January
A short history of one of Wimbledon’s most iconic buildings ⛪️
On 2 November this year, St John the Baptist church in Wimbledon celebrated its 150-year anniversary. To mark the occasion, I thought I’d give our readers a very short insight into the church’s rich history. Many thanks to Jane Long for providing me with buckets of information (as well as images) and for gifting me Mark Elliott and Catherine Cooke’s new book, The Church of St. John the Baptist: A Historical Summary, which is available in the church and at the Wimbledon Museum.
Today, St John the Baptist is just as integral to Wimbledon’s community as it was 150 years ago. In fact, The Wimble regularly features their free Friday lunchtime concerts, and the church also served as a venue in this year’s Wimbledon International Music Festival (check out our piece on that here). But how many of our readers know about the church’s colourful history?
Our story starts in the 19th century. Between 1860 and 1899, eleven new churches were built in Wimbledon. One of these was St John the Baptist on Spencer Hill, with plans for its construction beginning in 1866. Architects were invited to submit plans for a church that would seat 500 people and not cost more than £6,000 to make. Three architects pitched their ideas. One of these architects was Thomas Graham Jackson. Jackson is best known for his work in Oxford — hence the nickname “Oxford Jackson” — and is often remembered for designing the Bridge of Sighs at Hertford College. Unfortunately, the church planners failed to raise sufficient funds, and plans stalled until around 1871. Jackson’s initial plan for the church included a tower and spire, but the various underground streams in the area meant that the foundations were washed away several times during construction, thus rendering the tower too dangerous to build.
Gertrude Murray provided money for the tower’s construction in 1888, but when work on that part of the building was abandoned, the church used her funds to pay for the North Porch instead. The North Porch has a lovely little detail in the form of a stone sculpture depicting St John’s baptism of Christ. It was also said to be a sheltering spot for a widow who often sat beneath its arches and engaged passers-by in conversation.
But the most ornate aspect of the church is its Italianate Opus Alexandrium floor mosaics in the Chancel and Sanctuary. These mosaics were designed in the same tradition as the thirteenth-century Cosmati Great Pavement in Westminster Abbey. The geometric patterns of marble and stone are said to symbolise eternity and the divine. After the church’s consecration on All Souls’ Day, 1875, Jackson kept a keen eye on the church’s development, making sure to approve any alterations or additional changes.
Over time, the church became an integral part of Wimbledon’s community. We know that in the 1930s, the first in a series of Nativity Plays was performed on a stage in front of the Rood Screen. According to Elliott and Cooke’s book, one of these plays was so successful that the cast members were taken by coach to play it at two different psychiatric hospitals.
But it has not always been smooth sailing for St John’s. In the 1970s, disaster struck in the form of Britain’s economic turmoil. Labour costs grew, and inflation made maintenance particularly difficult. The church, like many others, was also suffering a decline in numbers. By 1975, the electoral roll had fallen to just 137. Despite these problems (and others mentioned in Elliott and Cooke’s book), the church trudged on. But it wasn’t until the late 90s — and the arrival of Christopher Davies as rector — that St John’s fortunes began to change.
Of course, there is much more to learn about this wonderful building, but for that, you’ll need to read Elliott and Cooke’s book. In the meantime, here are some upcoming events that St John’s is hosting.
Saturday 29 November — St John’s Christmas Fair (11am – 3pm).
Sunday 14 December — St John’s Carol Service (5.30pm).
Monday 2 February — a talk by Professor William Whyte on Thomas Graham Jackson in conjunction with The Wimbledon Society (time TBC).
A huge thank you again to Jane Long and the rest of the team at St John the Baptist for making this short piece possible. Please do grab a copy of Mark Elliott and Catherine Cooke’s book for yourself or your history-loving loved ones this Christmas.
Question of the week 🔍
Last week, I asked you in what year Wimbledon Common was formally established. The answer: 1871.
Q: The Old Rectory is the most expensive property ever put on the market in Wimbledon. But how much was it listed for in 2012?
You’re up to date 👋
Thank you for reading this week’s edition of The Wimble. I hope you enjoyed our in-depth feature of St John the Baptist. Do pick up a copy of Mark Elliott and Catherine Cooke’s incredibly informative book if you can. And if you want to win £100 of free food from Wimbledon’s Thunderbird Fried Chicken, click here and enter your email. Other than that, have a great rest of your week, enjoy Winterfest and we’ll see you next time.
Yes all going to be wonderful Wimbledon for the festive season. Don’t forget Rockchoir Wimbledon will be singing 7/12/25
Wimbledon village Dox & Fox 10.30pm
Wimbledon piazza 3.30pm
Lots of old favourites and Carols of course!