The name Kilburn sounds Irish, as many Irish towns begin with the prefix Kil (church). Most commonly it is said that the name probably came from a Saxon word meaning cattle stream, although there was an Augustinian priory founded by a stream here in 1134. The Irish immigrants were quite a bit later, with large numbers of railway workers coming in the nineteenth century and construction workers after the last war. And there are still Irish pubs as well as at least two newsagents selling a large selection of Irish newspapers.
We pass one of these newsagents on our way to catch the tube to West Harrow to visit Jean. A visit that very nearly didn’t happen, as I kept getting an answering service assuring me that she was not available. Then discovered that I had been using a previous telephone number and had entered it in the contact list on my mobile. Recourse to my address book set the record straight.
Have been visiting Jean in West Harrow since 1989, shortly after she and Siva came back from Sri Lanka. Twice a year since we retired, and many a good curry round the dining room table. Not into cooking these days, as she’ll turn ninety in December, but still a voracious reader. Living on her own thanks to her local council’s social services and her weekly cleaner who is a real treasure - brings homemade food and does Jean’s shopping and errands, treating her like family.
A glass of wine, a snack, and catch up on family news and it’s time to say goodbye for another six months.