Published: Tuesday 15 July 2025
A new residential block at the Council’s Barlby Road new homes development will be named after Lady Lee Woolford Chivers MBE, in tribute to her groundbreaking work with children at the Notting Hill Carnival.
A fitting tribute to Lady Woolford Chivers and local legacy
Lady Woolford Chivers was instrumental in founding the Children and Parents Carnival Association in the early 1980s. She helped establish Children’s Day on the Sunday of the Notting Hill Carnival – creating a safe and vibrant space for young people and families to participate in the cultural festivities.
Her daughter, Kim Woolford continues her legacy. She is the former chair of the Notting Hill Children’s Carnival committee and is responsible for the nursery Carnival held in St Mark’s Park in August every year.
Kim Woolford toured the Barlby Road site last week alongside Cllr Sof McVeigh, lead member for housing, to view and celebrate the building being named after her mother and to look at progress on the scheme.
During the tour, Kim said:
“My mother received her MBE for setting up Children’s Carnival. For the past 40 years, she has been doing the nursery carnival, which is the kick-off event for the carnival season here in Notting Hill. We are so proud that her efforts for the community have been recognised by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council.”
She added: “I thought the inside of the building was absolutely amazing. The two main factors that I liked were the height of the ceilings and the balcony area – it’s wide enough to entertain, not just sit outside.
“They are absolutely stunning. And having eight accessible flats is fantastic, especially as my mother is now 89. Anything that can accommodate accessibility is brilliant – and I’m sure people who move in will be very happy.”
Development includes 83 new homes and sports hall
The new homes at Barlby Road include 83 modern, energy-efficient flats, with over half available for social rent and key workers. The site also includes a large community sports hall, a studio, and open outdoor areas for residents. Eight of the flats are designed to be fully accessible.
Cllr Sof McVeigh said naming the building after Lady Woolford Chivers was a meaningful way to recognise her contributions to the borough.
She added: “Barlby Road is really the heart of where Notting Hill Carnival is, and when you’re in one of the top flats, you’re going to have the most amazing views of the celebration. Carnival is at the very heart of North Kensington. It’s more than a celebration – it reflects the spirit, history and creativity of the African-Caribbean community that has shaped this area for generations.
“We’ve been working closely with Matthew Phillip from the Tabernacle and Carnival Village Trust to ensure this tribute reflects the importance of that legacy.
“Naming a building after Lady Woolford Chivers – someone who gave so much to the children and families of Carnival – feels like the perfect way to embed that history into the future of this neighbourhood.”
Community centred design
The project, already more than halfway complete, embraces modern standards with air heat source pumps, making it entirely gas free—promising residents lower energy bills and reduced carbon emissions.
Looking forward
The Barlby Road development is expected to be completed in spring 2026, with residents moving into the new homes shortly after.