The investment will see the pool close from 12th July until November 2026 as contractors carry out extensive improvement works designed to secure the building’s future for generations to come.

Originally opened in April 1907, the Chelsea Manor Street pool is one of the area’s longest-standing public leisure facilities. The refurbishment will include replacing the roof, resurfacing the main pool and the smaller learning pool for beginners, and reshaping the main pool to create a more flexible layout. The depth will also be standardised to a gradient of between one and 1.8 metres, making it better suited to swimming lessons and a wider range of users.

The Council says the project will also significantly improve the building’s energy efficiency, reducing both water and energy consumption while retaining the pool’s historic character.

Cllr Josh Rendall, lead member for leisure facilities, said: “This historic pool has been in use for 119 years, making it an important part of the borough’s history, as well as a vital health and fitness facility for Chelsea.

“This investment protects a valued heritage asset, suiting it to the needs of residents in 2026, and boosting its energy efficiency so that it can be enjoyed for decades to come.”

The refurbishment is being delivered by the Council in partnership with leisure operator GLL. The £1.3 million scheme is being funded through Section 106 developer contributions alongside grant funding.

The Council says the timing of the closure has been chosen to minimise disruption to pool users and school bookings. During the works, GLL members will be able to use alternative leisure centres, both locally and in other areas of the country.

The project forms part of the Council’s wider plans to invest in healthier communities, improve the efficiency of public buildings and protect the borough’s historic assets.

Running from 1 to 4 October 2026, the eighth edition of the festival will explore the theme of World History, examining the people, events and ideas that have shaped societies across the globe.

The Chelsea Citizen is proud to be supporting the festival as its official media partner, helping bring the stories, speakers and events of the four-day celebration to audiences across the borough.

Rob McGibbon, Editor of The Chelsea Citizen, said: “The Chelsea Citizen exists to document the people, places and stories that shape life in Chelsea every day.

“Local journalism is, in many ways, the first draft of history, which is why we’re delighted to support the Chelsea History Festival as a media partner. By connecting residents with the stories of the past while recording the stories of today, we’re helping to build a richer picture of Chelsea for future generations.”

Organised by Chelsea Heritage Quarter and sponsored by Lord Cadogan and his team at Cadogan Estates, this year’s festival will expand into an even wider network of historic and cultural venues across Chelsea. 

Alongside established festival locations including Chelsea Physic Garden, the National Army Museum and Royal Hospital Chelsea, the 2026 programme will also feature events at Chelsea Old Church, Chelsea Theatre, the Royal Court Theatre and Garrison Chapel at Chelsea Barracks.

John Simpson, one of Britain’s most respected foreign correspondents and a long-time Chelsea resident, has been announced as Guest Curator for 2026. The veteran broadcaster, who has spent more than five decades reporting from around the world, will help shape this year’s programme and offer his own perspective on the festival’s World History theme.

The programme includes talks, performances, exhibitions, walking tours and family activities, with highlights including:

• John Simpson reflecting on world history through the lens of a lifetime spent reporting on major global events.

• Bestselling historian Andrew Roberts exploring the rise and fall of Napoleon and the generals who shaped his legacy.

• Explorer and broadcaster Monty Halls examining the pioneering military academy that inspired modern Special Forces training.

• Historian Anna Whitelock discussing James I and the emergence of a global Britain.

• Professor Jonathan Fennell telling the global story of the Second World War through newly uncovered sources.

• Author Paul French exploring the extraordinary life of Puyi, the last Emperor of China.

• General Sir Adrian Bradshaw discussing the defence and security challenges facing the UK and NATO.

• Professor Matthew Worley marking 50 years of punk as a cultural and social movement.

• A special performance of Dido and Aeneas at Chelsea Old Church.

• Hex in the Garden: Healers, Harmers and the Witch Craze, an after-dark exploration of folklore, herbalism and the witch trials.

• The premiere of Five Soldiers, a dance documentary examining the human cost of military service.

• Family-friendly trails, workshops, performances and walking tours taking place throughout the weekend.

John Simpson, Chelsea History Festival Guest Curator, said: “The Chelsea History Festival is an essential part of the Chelsea calendar, and I’m delighted to support this year’s Festival as Guest Curator. It’s often said news is the first draft of history so I’m looking forward to exploring the Festival’s World History theme and sharing my top tips of what to see from the Festival programme.”

Gill Webber, Director of Chelsea Heritage Quarter, said: “Chelsea History Festival continues to grow each year, bringing together exceptional speakers, performers and storytellers to explore the people and events that have shaped our world.

“We are particularly delighted to welcome John Simpson as Guest Curator for 2026 and to expand the Festival into new venues across Chelsea. Whether your interests lie in global conflict, royal history, the fascinating history of plants and gardens, literature, music or local stories, there is something for everyone in this year’s programme.”

Hugh Seaborn, CEO of Cadogan, commented: “The Chelsea History Festival captures something quintessential about our neighbourhood, a deep appreciation of heritage alongside a constant spirit of curiosity and reinvention. With Cadogan’s 300-year stewardship of Chelsea, we’re delighted to support a festival that brings together world-class voices and opens up new ways of seeing the past.”

Tickets for the Chelsea History Festival are on sale now. Visitors booking three or more eligible events in a single transaction can receive a 20 per cent discount. For more information and tickets, visit the Chelsea Heritage Quarter website.

Festival Dates: 1-4 October 2026

Box office: 0131 226 0014

www.chelseaheritagequarter.co.uk

]]> https://thechelseacitizen.com/gill-webber-interview-everywhere-you-look-in-chelsea-there-is-a-fascinating-story-to-tell/ Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:46:07 +0000 https://thechelseacitizen.com/?p=8106 The Chelsea History Festival returns this October with its most ambitious programme yet, bringing world-class historians, authors, performers and cultural figures to the area’s most iconic venues.

At the helm and guiding this extraordinary festival every step of the way will be Gill Webber, the Director of Chelsea Heritage Quarter. 

The festival, which is supported by Lord Cadogan and his team at Cadogan Estates, has become a key fixture in the cultural calendar, attracting thousands of visitors to the district’s most treasured places, including the Royal Hospital, National Army Museum and the Physic Garden. 

This year’s theme is ‘World History’, which will see a variety of events take place across four days under the inscrutable eye of this year’s Guest Curator – the BBC’s World Affairs Editor John Simpson.

The festival’s programme ranges from talks on Napoleon, China and the Second World War, to opera performances, theatre productions, family activities and walking tours. New venues that have been added to host the expanded line up are Chelsea Old Church, the Royal Court, Chelsea Theatre and Garrison Chapel at Chelsea Barracks.

The Chelsea Citizen is proud to be the media partner for this year’s festival. We will be bringing a range of latest news and interviews during the next few months, as well as providing in-depth coverage throughout the festival. We even plan to print a special newspaper for visitors to read in celebration of the festival.

Mrs Webber has spent more than four decades holding senior roles in the cultural sector. A lifelong advocate for the power of storytelling, she is particularly interested in how history shapes contemporary life and passionately believes that Chelsea is one of London’s most fascinating neighbourhoods.

Ahead of this year’s festival, reporter Olivia Blackman sat down with Mrs Webber to discuss her career, the growth of the festival, and the historical stories that fascinate her.

Tell us about your background and the career trajectory that led you to this role.

I’ve spent most of my working life in the cultural sector, including roles at the BBC, the British Library, RIBA and, most recently, Imperial War Museums, where I was Executive Director of Programming for nine years.

What has always interested me is storytelling. Throughout my career I’ve been fascinated by the relationship between history and current affairs, and by how understanding the past helps us make sense of the world we’re living in today.

Chelsea Heritage Quarter appealed to me because it’s something quite different. We’re a relatively new charity and, in many ways, a start-up. We’re building something from the ground up and bringing together some extraordinary institutions to tell Chelsea’s stories in new ways.

Gill Webber, Director of Chelsea Heritage Quarter

What does the Chelsea History Festival mean to Chelsea and what does it bring to the area?

Chelsea is one of London’s most storied districts. We actually call it that because wherever you look there is another fascinating story waiting to be told.

The festival has become an important part of Chelsea’s cultural calendar. It encourages people to explore the area, discover institutions they may not have visited before and engage with history in an accessible and entertaining way.

One of the things we’re particularly passionate about is helping local people rediscover what’s on their doorstep. Many people know the King’s Road, but don’t necessarily realise that just a few minutes away are some of the most significant historic and cultural institutions in London.

What can visitors expect from this year’s festival?

We’ve got a wonderfully varied programme this year, which is exactly what we wanted.

The theme is World History and we’ve worked hard to create something that appeals to a wide range of interests. We have fantastic historians and authors discussing subjects ranging from Napoleon and Charles II, to China, the Second World War and contemporary geopolitics.

But we’re also broadening the festival beyond traditional talks. We’ve introduced more performance this year, including opera, theatre and dance.

One event I’m particularly excited about is The Last Bantam, a play about the Bantam Battalions of the First World War. It’s a brilliant example of social history, telling the story of ordinary men who volunteered to serve despite being considered too short for military service.

We’ve also expanded our family programme and introduced projects created by local artists and performers. We really wanted people to come for one event and discover something completely unexpected while they’re here.

Talk us through the key venues and what they represent for Chelsea.

One of the things that makes the festival so special is its setting. Our core venues are the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the National Army Museum and Chelsea Physic Garden, each of which has its own remarkable history.

Visitors aren’t just hearing stories about history, they’re surrounded by it. You can attend an event in a seventeenth-century garden, sit in Sir John Soane’s Stable Yard or explore one of Britain’s most important military collections.

This year we’re also expanding to include venues such as Chelsea Old Church, the Royal Court Theatre, Chelsea Theatre and Garrison Chapel. The more venues we involve, the more stories we can tell and the more people we can reach.

Why is The Chelsea Citizen the right media partner for the festival?

Because we share the same belief in the power of storytelling. The festival is about uncovering and celebrating the stories that make Chelsea unique, and The Citizen does exactly this, week in, week out, through its journalism.

Local news is vital to a community and since it was launched The Citizen has given a powerful voice to so many stories and lives in the area. We also share a local audience and a genuine enthusiasm for the people, places and history that makes Chelsea so special. It feels like a very natural partnership.

John Simpson is this year’s Guest Curator. What will he bring to the festival?

We’re absolutely delighted to have John involved. The theme this year is World History and there are very few people better placed to help shape that conversation. Through his work as BBC World Affairs Editor, he has spent decades reporting on major global events and documenting history as it unfolds.

He was a long-term Chelsea resident before moving to Oxford and he is still President of the Chelsea Society, so he brings both an international perspective and a strong local connection. Most importantly, he’s a brilliant storyteller, which sits right at the very heart of what we’re trying to achieve with the festival.

Guest Curator John Simpson

Which parts of history fascinate you most?

I’m particularly interested in social history. Although I spent nine years at Imperial War Museums, where I was naturally very focused on twentieth and twenty-first century conflict, it’s often the stories of ordinary people that I find most compelling.

I’ve always been fascinated by the impact history has on current affairs. During my time at Imperial War Museums, I worked on exhibitions covering conflicts in places such as Syria, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland and Ukraine. What interested me was exploring how the history of those regions continues to shape what’s happening there today. I don’t think you can really understand current events without understanding a bit about how we got there.

At the same time, I love the stories of individuals. One of my favourite examples is Isabella Beeton. Most people imagine her as an older Victorian matron dispensing household wisdom, but she was actually a 29-year-old journalist and magazine writer. Her famous Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management has become this iconic piece of Victorian culture, but her own story is just as fascinating.

She was a pioneer of women’s journalism at a time when professional opportunities for women were incredibly limited. Through her life and work, you learn about domestic life, class, publishing and the role of women in Victorian society.

That’s what I love about social history. Sometimes the story of one person can tell you far more about a period than studying a king or queen. Those human stories are often the most revealing.

If you could book one figure from history to appear at the festival, who would it be?

Without question, Florence Nightingale – although I should probably declare an interest as Chair of the Florence Nightingale Museum!

Most people know her as the founder of modern nursing, but she was remarkable in so many other ways. She transformed healthcare during the Crimean War, became the first female member of the Royal Statistical Society and pioneered forms of data visualisation that are still used today.

What fascinates me is that she was constantly looking for ways to improve people’s lives, whether through infection control, hospital design or even what we would now call pet therapy.

The more you learn about Florence Nightingale, the more extraordinary she becomes. She was endlessly curious, endlessly innovative and always asking how things could be done better. What a woman.

What are your ambitions for the Chelsea History Festival going forward?

We want the Chelsea History Festival to become the place for interesting discussions about history. That means continuing to grow audiences, attracting new visitors and establishing ourselves as one of London’s leading cultural festivals. We also want to keep expanding our partnerships across Chelsea and involve even more venues, artists and organisations in the years ahead.

Chelsea has an extraordinary history and a remarkable collection of cultural institutions. Our ambition is to make sure as many people as possible have the opportunity to discover them and enjoy the stories they have to tell.

Photos: Olivia Blackman

For details about events and tickets for this year’s Chelsea History Festival visit HERE

Those three simply words rang out as Ciara Ryan launched the Justice for Jack Ryan campaign during an emotional interview on Good Morning Britain today.

Speaking to presenters Susanna Reid and Ed Balls, Ryan outlined the campaign’s twin aims: to secure killer Rashid Ali’s extradition from Pakistan and to reform the Bail Act to ensure defendants facing serious charges are not able to leave the UK before a trial.   

“What we’re aiming to do with this campaign is to make it mandatory for passports to be surrendered in serious criminal cases, such as the case of my brother,” Ryan declared.

The campaign, which is being run in partnership with The Chelsea Citizen, comes more than five years after Jack was killed on 13th January 2021 at the junction of Cheyne Walk and Battersea Bridge.

As he crossed the bridge at around 6pm that evening, Jack was hit by a black Range Rover driven at speed by Ali. Police later proved that Ali was driving south down Beaufort Street and had accelerated as the traffic lights switched to amber. He drove over the crossroads and hit Jack at a speed estimated at 40mph in a 20mph zone.

Jack’s death prompted an outpouring of grief and a large flower memorial appeared on the bridge near where he died. It also sparked a petition and a road safety campaign led by The Citizen’s editor Rob McGibbon.

Andy Byford, the then Commissioner of Transport for London, reacted to the campaign by instigating a review of safety at the junction. Ultimately, TFL installed  Green Man pedestrian crossings across all four arms of the junction. Before the accident, there were none.

Ali was convicted at the Old Bailey in September 2024 of causing death by dangerous driving and sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison. However, he had fled the UK before his trial and remains in his native Pakistan. At the time of the accident he had been living in Britain on a student visa.

Before the interview on Good Morning Britain, a video of Rashid Ali talking to reporter Matt Shea on last week’s Channel 4’s Dispatches documentary was shown. This proved that Ali is living a carefree life abroad. Susanna Reid then asked Ryan for her reaction to the footage.  

“It’s painful, but it’s also quite surreal, to be honest,” she said. “I can only describe it as a living nightmare for the past five years, and I think seeing something like that just adds to the sense of this not being real.”

Ryan said one of the greatest shocks for the family came when they discovered Ali had left the UK before standing trial.

Reid told viewers she had been unaware that a defendant facing serious charges could retain their passport and travel abroad. Turning to Ryan, Reid asked: “Did you have any idea that a defendant, once charged, who was from abroad, could still hang on to their passport and travel? Because I have to admit, until I found out about your story, I didn’t know that.”

Ryan said her family had shared the same assumption. “We assumed that he would not be able to leave the UK, especially in a case that someone’s life has been lost,” she said. “I was naive in thinking that he would not have the freedom to travel outside of the UK whilst he was waiting for his trial.”

Ryan also dismissed Ali’s explanation to Shea that he had returned to Pakistan because he was ‘terminally ill’. “In the documentary, you also see that he’s travelling quite freely outside of the UK as well,” she said. “He’s going on holidays and things like that.”

The Justice for Jack Ryan campaign is calling for changes to the Bail Act that would make the surrender of passports mandatory for anyone facing charges that warrant a custodial sentence.

During the interview, Ryan said that her family had spent years attempting to raise the issue with government ministers, but had got nowhere. “We have throughout the past five years written to local MPs. We have had it passed on to the Home Secretary, but the response is very much that it’s being dealt with by the independent judiciary – the Crown Prosecution Service,” she said.

Balls questioned why ministers had not yet met with the family to discuss the proposed reforms.

“I think the individual case is being handled independently of ministers,” he said. “But the policy you’re talking about here, that the seizing of the passport should be mandatory, that’s not an individual case, that is a policy rule, that is for ministers.

“You should have a meeting with a Justice Minister, explain the wider campaign and see what they say.”

Reid also reflected on the impact the case has had on Jack’s family.

“That’s devastating,” she said. “You’re dealing with the grief, you think the person responsible is going to finally be held accountable. And not only do you find he’s not there to be in court, but he hasn’t been in the country for a number of months.”

Reflecting on the campaign’s aims, Ryan stressed that her motivation was not revenge.

“It’s not about retribution, it’s about someone doing the morally right thing,” she said.

The Justice for Jack Ryan campaign will now seek heavyweight political support within Parliament to change the law, as well as backing from the government of Pakistan to establish what needs to be done for extradition proceedings to begin, so that Ali can be brought before the UK courts. 

The new venue – to be known simply as Curzon Chelsea – will be inside the redeveloped The Gaumont building and is scheduled to open as early as October.

The original cinema, which had been in place since 1983, closed in 2018. Since then, the £235m redevelopment by Cadogan Estates has transformed this slice of the King’s Road into cultural and retail hub, with entertainment spaces and apartments. The Citizen attended the opening celebrations last July.

Within The Gaumont is a vast space that Curzon describes as a “multi-purpose environment” for film, art and live culture. At more than 20,000 sq ft, the flagship is intended to be far more than a traditional cinema.

Alongside a 300-seat Dolby Atmos auditorium, designed for premieres and large-scale screenings, the venue will include podcast and recording studios, flexible screening rooms, event spaces, a gallery café and bar, and dedicated production facilities.

CGI impression of the new Curzon’s main screen auditorium

Curzon Executive Chairman Philip Knatchbull – a long-term resident of Chelsea – said the project represented “everything we have been envisioning for the future of Curzon”.

“Curzon Chelsea reflects a rethinking of the role that Curzon holds at the cutting edge of the industry by creating a multi-purpose environment for the wider creative community,” he said.

“Our flagship location will span film, art, storytelling, content creation, podcasting, live performance and conversation-led events.”

Philip Knatchbull, Executive Chairman of Curzon                           PHOTO: ©Curzon

For many locals the announcement will carry a strong sense of nostalgia. The Curzon Chelsea was long considered part of the cultural fabric of the King’s Road before its closure. Its return, albeit in a dramatically expanded form, represents both a revival of a familiar Chelsea institution and a bet on the future of communal cultural spaces in an increasingly digital world.

The old Curzon alongside Habitat – where the frontage has been immaculately restored for The Gaumont

The project also signals a notable cultural addition to the rapidly evolving central section of the King’s Road, where a growing cluster of creative, hospitality and independent businesses has emerged in recent years.

Curzon says the new venue reflects changing audience habits and the increasingly blurred lines between film, digital media, live experiences and creator-led content. Screening rooms, studios, production facilities and hospitality spaces will operate simultaneously across the site, creating what it hopes will become an all-day cultural destination for Chelsea.

Hugh Seaborn, chief executive of Cadogan, said Curzon’s return would reinforce Chelsea’s long-standing cultural identity.

“Curzon has long been part of the Chelsea community and we look forward to their reopening as part of The Gaumont, a landmark development designed to celebrate Chelsea’s cultural heritage and enhance its thriving creative scene,” he said.

Cadogan CEO Hugh Seaborn at the 2025 opening of The Gaumont

Architects Takero Shimazaki described the building as being conceived as a “continuous public forum”, featuring flexible spaces designed to support film, videography and wellbeing.

The venue will also feature a large-scale immersive projection scheme created by CT London, the studio behind Frameless London, as well as a specially commissioned art installation embedded into the building from launch.

For a company born in arthouse cinema, the new Chelsea flagship represents something much larger, reflecting how cinemas are evolving into broader spaces for events, conversation and creative work, something Curzon is betting will resonate with the increasingly culture-led atmosphere emerging along the King’s Road.