Consultation on change of name for the Naborhood Centre
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Consultation on change of name for the Naborhood Centre
There are several threads on the Naborhood Centre and we will be taking a vote at the next Sydenham Assembly meeting on Thursday 3 December on a change of name. I am currently asking the users of the building their views and welcome your thoughts.
The building was named Naborhood to retain part of the Sydenham heritage in that a cinema previously occupied the site. Our local historian Steve Grindlay has posted that "Naborhood" was the name of a cinema, opened in 1910 as the Queen's Hall. It was re-named several times, finally to the Naborhood Cinema in 1939. It closed in 1943 after bomb damage and was demolished in 1953 to make way for the present building. It seems that "Naborhood Cinema" was actually a generic name given by a small company (Monk's Circuit Cinemas) to a group of cinemas that they acquired, probably in the late 1930s. The choice of spelling was probably because the parent company felt, given Hollywood's influence on film at the time, it sounded more 'modern'.
One suggestion is to change the name to the Sydenham Centre so what do you think?
The building was named Naborhood to retain part of the Sydenham heritage in that a cinema previously occupied the site. Our local historian Steve Grindlay has posted that "Naborhood" was the name of a cinema, opened in 1910 as the Queen's Hall. It was re-named several times, finally to the Naborhood Cinema in 1939. It closed in 1943 after bomb damage and was demolished in 1953 to make way for the present building. It seems that "Naborhood Cinema" was actually a generic name given by a small company (Monk's Circuit Cinemas) to a group of cinemas that they acquired, probably in the late 1930s. The choice of spelling was probably because the parent company felt, given Hollywood's influence on film at the time, it sounded more 'modern'.
One suggestion is to change the name to the Sydenham Centre so what do you think?
Whilst I think it's a shame to lose a such a locally inspired name, I support renaming the Naborhood Centre to something more relevant.
I'd like the name to reflect what the Centre is all about; and so while the 'Sydenham Centre' is nice and clean - and does work - perhaps there should be additional describing word there:
Sydenham Neighbourhood Centre
Continuity, local feel and links with the Naborhood name.
The Sydenham Peoples' Centre
Has more of a stakeholder feel to local residents.
Sydenham Community Centre
Describes its function well (but is a bit bland).
Personally, I'd slightly favour "Sydenham Neighbourhood Centre" with Peoples' a very close 2nd.
I'd like the name to reflect what the Centre is all about; and so while the 'Sydenham Centre' is nice and clean - and does work - perhaps there should be additional describing word there:
Sydenham Neighbourhood Centre
Continuity, local feel and links with the Naborhood name.
The Sydenham Peoples' Centre
Has more of a stakeholder feel to local residents.
Sydenham Community Centre
Describes its function well (but is a bit bland).
Personally, I'd slightly favour "Sydenham Neighbourhood Centre" with Peoples' a very close 2nd.
So all you're actually suggesting is the addition of the word 'Sydenham', which is just stating the bleeding obvious, and changing the spelling of 'naborhood'; what's the point of changing it, you aren't conveying a message that's any different to the current name?Gaz wrote:Whilst I think it's a shame to lose a such a locally inspired name, I support renaming the Naborhood Centre to something more relevant.
I'd like the name to reflect what the Centre is all about; and so while the 'Sydenham Centre' is nice and clean - and does work - perhaps there should be additional describing word there:
Sydenham Neighbourhood Centre
Continuity, local feel and links with the Naborhood name.
The Sydenham Peoples' Centre
Has more of a stakeholder feel to local residents.
Sydenham Community Centre
Describes its function well (but is a bit bland).
Personally, I'd slightly favour "Sydenham Neighbourhood Centre" with Peoples' a very close 2nd.
In fact, I would ask the Sydenham assembly why they are even bothering to discuss this, haven't they got anything better to do than talk about meaningless name changes?
Actually I was responding to Chris Best's request to comment on the proposed name change. If someone said to me 'Nar-bor-hood Centre' or I saw it written I'm not sure I'd realise what it was so I don't think this is a meaningless discussion.Rebelmc wrote:So all you're actually suggesting is the addition of the word 'Sydenham', which is just stating the bleeding obvious, and changing the spelling of 'naborhood'; what's the point of changing it, you aren't conveying a message that's any different to the current name?Gaz wrote:Whilst I think it's a shame to lose a such a locally inspired name, I support renaming the Naborhood Centre to something more relevant.
I'd like the name to reflect what the Centre is all about; and so while the 'Sydenham Centre' is nice and clean - and does work - perhaps there should be additional describing word there:
Sydenham Neighbourhood Centre
Continuity, local feel and links with the Naborhood name.
The Sydenham Peoples' Centre
Has more of a stakeholder feel to local residents.
Sydenham Community Centre
Describes its function well (but is a bit bland).
Personally, I'd slightly favour "Sydenham Neighbourhood Centre" with Peoples' a very close 2nd.
In fact, I would ask the Sydenham assembly why they are even bothering to discuss this, haven't they got anything better to do than talk about meaningless name changes?
Sorry, I was coming at it from the angle that I have never understood why anyone pronounces the name of the building as anything other than 'neighbourhood', it's always seemed obvious to me that that's how it should be pronounced; although, having said that, I am a bit of an Art Deco fiend, so streamlining everything, including spelling, appeals to me.Gaz wrote: Actually I was responding to Chris Best's request to comment on the proposed name change. If someone said to me 'Nar-bor-hood Centre' or I saw it written I'm not sure I'd realise what it was so I don't think this is a meaningless discussion.
I'm still at a loss as to why the Sydenham assembly consider this to be such a high priority; giving it a different name is the least of it's problems, making it look a bit more appealing should be higher on the list (and not by backing some cockamamie scheme to put a mosaic on the front of it).
Perhaps they should start by explaining just exactly what services the Naborhood Centre provides, to which members of the community; I've been a resident for 36 years and the nearest I've got to the place, is going into the post office next door.
People might be better able to judge what it should be called, if they knew what goes on in there.
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Given that, according to Cllr Best, the building only actually functioned as a 'Naborhood' cinema for four years (1939-43), I'd have thought the argument for retaining Naborhood/Neighbourhood in the name on grounds of 'tradition' was a bit thin. Why not go back a bit further and call it the Queen's Hall? (Only joking).
I share rebelmc's irritation with the pronunciation 'Nabberhood' or 'Narberhood' which must be wrong. Save the traditional English long A! ('Ey' not 'ah'.) Cf modern mispronunciations of 'Clara', 'Georgiana', 'Baal', 'Aaron', 'Iranian'. Even the Americans get 'tomato' right.
I share rebelmc's irritation with the pronunciation 'Nabberhood' or 'Narberhood' which must be wrong. Save the traditional English long A! ('Ey' not 'ah'.) Cf modern mispronunciations of 'Clara', 'Georgiana', 'Baal', 'Aaron', 'Iranian'. Even the Americans get 'tomato' right.
Re: Consultation on change of name for the Naborhood Centre
That's fine. It will probably become known to some as the SC or the syd-centre or similar as people love to abbreviate (as in The Syd-Soc).Chris Best wrote: One suggestion is to change the name to the Sydenham Centre so what do you think?
Any of the suggestions is fine. I don't think it's that important.
Will this mean new signage?
Hmm, what if it stayed as the naborhood centre and there was a bit of text (possibly written by Steve Grindley) about the history of the site, people and the name for passers by? Like a local blue plaque but with a historical twist, and more text?
Another thought.
Is there anyone of note (Steve may be able to help here) that deserves to be Honoured by having the centre named after them?
Theophilus William Williams Centre?
The John Logie Baird Centre?
The Shackleton Centre?
WG Grace centre?
Sir George Groves Centre?
The Rolf Harris Centre?
The Pat Trembath Centre?
Could be from past or present.
How about running it as a competition?
Is there anyone of note (Steve may be able to help here) that deserves to be Honoured by having the centre named after them?
Theophilus William Williams Centre?
The John Logie Baird Centre?
The Shackleton Centre?
WG Grace centre?
Sir George Groves Centre?
The Rolf Harris Centre?
The Pat Trembath Centre?
Could be from past or present.
How about running it as a competition?
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