Humans of Shepherd's Bush No 17 - Tom House

Tom House of Tom House Fitness

"I'm a personal fitness trainer; I live in Shepherd's Bush with my family, and I love what I do, helping people to get fit, stay healthy, and take care of themselves.

My Dad was a dairy farmer, but the big supermarkets made it impossible to make a living in farming. 

I get to work from home - I have a fully equipped gym outside my house, and I welcome clients both in person and online. 

ATM Fraud on Shepherd's Bush Green

Watch out for ATM Fraud on Shepherd's Bush Green.  Recently a local man got scammed when trying to withdraw £20 in cash from the Sainsbury's ATM on Shepherd's Bush Green.

The notes came out but were "sitting stuck behind the opened flap against some weird metal frame piece". 

"I tried grabbing them with my fingers through the gap but it was too tight to reach. Then the flap got shut but I still got charged."

"Right after me, another guy used the ATM. He had the exact two £10 notes, plus another £20 in his hand".

Outdoor Table Tennis Returns to Westfield

Outdoor Table Tennis returns to Westfield Square

Outdoor Table Tennis has returned to Westfield, with two all-weather table tennis tables popping up just outside Westfield Square, next to the orange Upside-Down-House, opposite the White City Bus Station. 

Many thanks to the good folks at Westfield, especially Andrew Phyllis and Matt Coppins, for bringing back this free outdoor community resource. 

The two outdoor all-weather tables were originally donated by Table Tennis England, and offer the chance for anyone with a bat and a ball to come and play for free.

Labour Holds Hammersmith and Fulham

Congratulations to our local candidates Mercy Umeh and Zarar Qayyum who have been re-elected as councillors for Shepherd's Bush Green Ward.

Overall, the Labour Party has maintained control over our local Council, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, bucking the national trend.  

Flyers from both Greens and Lib Dems claimed to have a polling lead, but these claims turned out not to be true. There was no "Turquoise Wave" here for Reform, and the Conservatives remain the main opposition party to the ruling Labour administration. 

Today is Election Day in Shepherd's Bush

Candidates in Shepherd's Bush Ward

Today is Election Day in Shepherd's Bush, and in the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.

Voters in Shepherd's Bush Green Ward can choose from a number of candidates (see left).

Shepherd's Bush Green is a very safe ward for Labour.  In 2022 the two Labour candidates, Mercy Umeh and Zarar Qayyum, were returned with large majorities. 

Will this year be different? It's hard to say. Both Greens and Lib Dems claim to be ahead in the polls, if you believe the leaflets they have pushed through local letter boxes.  They cannot both be right. 

Remembering Claire Hickey of Greenford Timber

Our local community was saddened to learn of the passing of Claire Hickey, a familiar and much-loved presence at hardware store Greenford Timber on Uxbridge Road.

Claire died on 17 April 2026 after a long battle with cancer, leaving behind many friends, neighbours, and customers who knew her for her warmth, kindness, and steady presence.  

Anyone in Shepherd's Bush with a DIY project will have met Claire; her hardware store Greenford Timber at 328 Uxbridge Rd somehow manages to have everything in stock, despite its modest size.   

One local resident said "Claire was incredible, she could always lay her hands on whatever you needed, even when you didn't know yourself". 

Summer Table Tennis is back at TV Centre

Outdoor Table Tennis is back at TV Centre on Wood Lane; the owners of upscale housing development and TV Sound Stages are putting up a big screen for visitors to watch summer sports, and have also provided two outdoor  tennis tables for summer entertainment. 

Children are welcome, and TV Centre even provide free table tennis bats and balls - though it's advisable to bring your own.  

Local Elections - Who Will Win in LBHF on May 7?

LBHF Seats by Ward - Wikipedia

On May 7th we have local council elections, and all 50 seats on our council the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham are up for grabs. The question is - who will win?

LBHF has been Labour-run since 2014; Labour currently holds a commanding majority.  At the last election in 2022, Labour won 40 of 50 seats, with the Conservatives taking the remaining 10 seats, mostly in the leafier southern wards in Fulham. Take a peek at the map to the left to see the spread of votes. 

Despite a more difficult national picture for Labour, local projections still suggest the party is likely to retain control in LBHF. 

Pollcheck.co.uk suggests that, while opposition to Labour is strong, the opposition vote is split between the four challenging parties - Conservative, Reform, Lib Dem and Greens.