Our Commitment To The Community
At John Martin Estates, we value the support of the community in which we are based and the business which that generates. For that reason, John Martin has always ensured that he, in turn, has provided support to the community, its residents and fellow business owners.
John has now been the Chairman of PVTA (Pitshanger Village Traders Association) since its formation and has in that position spearheaded campaigns to prevent unwanted changes to the Lane, including the "pay by phone" parking extension proposal in 2011 and the 2013 CPZ consultation. He was also an integral part of the community campaign to keep Tesco Express out of Pitshanger and of the traders' Love Pitshanger Lane drive to ensure the longevity of the Lane after the lengthy roadworks when vacancy rates were over 25%.
He is a passionate believer in the community of which he has been a part for 25 years. It is for this reason that John led the campaign in support of the PVTA's entry in the Great British High Street Awards 2015 which saw a social media campaign par excellence, a six week public vote with supporters encouraged to vote daily and a judges' visit to showcase the Lane and its businesses. John and Rhian were incredibly proud to be at Admiralty House on 30 November 2015 to hear Pitshanger Lane announced as winner of the London category and to receive the certificate from Marcus Jones MP and Stephen Roberts of Boots plc.
John Martin Estates also celebrated its 20th birthday during the campaign, on 25 October 2015, and in keeping with the desire to give back to the community, purchased a G5 defibrillator unit for the benefit and use of everyone. Our actual birthday saw the first training session for traders and residents held by Tim Chivers of London Ambulance Service.
The Great British High Street award still seemed surreal, however, until 24 May 2016, when the official plaque recognising the win was unveiled by the then Minister for High Streets, Marcus Jones MP, at an event attended by the Mayor of Ealing, Councillor Dr Patricia Walker, Ealing North MP, Steve Pound, local ward councillors and London Live TV! The plaque sits at the centre of the Lane, outside Number 82, and new street signs replicating the plaque now welcome everyone to Pitshanger Lane.
John was also honoured and delighted, in equal measure, to be asked by the Government to be a judge in the Great British High Street Awards 2018 and again in 2019 and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to travel the country and meet other high street champions and tell the story of #Pitshanger #GBHighSt.
In order to ensure that we can keep our "hub within a hub" John battled with Ealing Council against the closure of Pitshanger Library, speaking at a number of Cabinet and Overview & Scrutiny Committee meetings from July 2018 to July 2019. When it was clear that Ealing Council would pursue the closure, John and Rhian were two of the original founders of "Friends of Pitshanger Library", working to establish a charitable organisation to run a community managed library still on the same site on Pitshanger Lane. The Council finally awarded community managed status to the library in February 2020 and, once certain essential works are undertaken (delayed by the pandemic), the aim is to open Pitshanger Library to the public once again.
During the pandemic, John also worked with the Council to establish the Ealing High Streets Taskforce. The original aim of the Taskforce members including business stakeholders from high streets across the Borough and council officers, was to reopen high streets safely after the first lockdown.
John was delighted to be asked to become Chair of the Taskforce in September 2020 and has enthusiastically worked with council officers and fellow stakeholders to focus on the needs of businesses in dealing with the challenging times encountered as a result of three national lockdowns and the COVID-19 compliance issues for all business owners. The work of the Taskforce continues in welcoming people back to their high streets and to #LoveEaling #lovelocal.
John Martin Estates marked a further achievement during the pandemic - its 25th birthday on 25th October 2020 - not celebrated in quite the way envisaged but celebrated none the less!
Since opening in 1995, John Martin Estates has also provided the following support and sponsorship:
Sponsor of local football club, Brentham FC, who play at Brentham Club on Meadvale Road, for tthree seasons, bringing John back to his years playing in central midfield for another local team, Brentford FC!
Financial support of many local playgroups including St Barnabas Playgroup and Pitshanger Playcentre, as well as primary and senior schools including St Gregory's, North Ealing and Notting Hill, allowing the purchase of equipment for children's development and their enjoyment. Due to a number of break ins, we paid for the supply and fitting of an alarm system at Pitshanger Playcentre.
A founding trader in 1997 of "Light Up The Lane", an annual festival in November/December each year, run for some time by Pitshanger Community Association and for which financial support is still provided by John Martin Estates and fellow traders.
A founding sponsor in 2000 of "Party In The Park", an annual summer event held in Pitshanger Park, organised by Pitshanger Community Association, which allows the funding of equipment and other projects by charities in the community. John has, since 2013, been the Master of Ceremonies for the ever popular Village Vet Dog Show and is delighted to team up with our next door neighbours each year for this fun event in the Dave Wallis Arena.
The first official sponsor from season 2004/5 to season 2008/9 of the Academy at London Wasps, the club which John Martin has followed since a teenager, and which allows talented youngsters to receive professional coaching in all areas to enable them to become rugby stars of the future. Our sponsorship has seen the emergence of many talented players and, in particular, senior international call-ups for Academy graduates Tom Rees, James Haskell, Danny Cipriani, Dominic Waldouck, Rob Webber, Joe Simpson, Warren Fury, Thom Evans, Joe Launchbury and Billy Vunnipola and British and Irish Lions call ups for Launchbury and for Christian Wade.
A sponsor of Ealing Cluster Rugby Action Group, providing funding for RFU Community Rugby coaches to take tag rugby training sessions for local schools, supplying participants with rugby kit, the schools with rugby balls and hosting "World Cup Rugby" style tag rugby tournaments.
The sponsor for four years of Ealing Lawn Tennis Club, based in Daniel Road, Ealing and founded in 1882, a club which encourages membership for old and new, beginners and experienced players alke and, in particular the sponsor for two seasons of the Junior Development Programme for talented players of the future.
The sponsor for five seasons of Brentham Cricket Club, based at The Brentham Club in Meadvale Road, Ealing.
A financial supporter of Ealing Abbey Choir, who produced a CD of their music entitled "Love Divine", featuring many children from the local community, and appeared on Songs of Praise