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Friends of Vauxhall Park
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An award winning park in Central London |
Newsletter |
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FRIENDS OF VAUXHALL PARK NEWSLETTER 19 (APRIL 2008)
Welcome to the Spring edition of the Friends of Vauxhall Park Newsletter.
New Gates on Fentiman Road The Friends of Vauxhall Park have received an incredible donation specifically for replacing the gates on Fentiman Road. We have insured the design for the gates will be in keeping with those existing on South Lambeth Road. These will be in place before the end of the summer.
We are immensely thankful for such generous donations, without which we would not be able to fund major restoration projects like this. One of our next projects is to raise funds to replace the railings on the South Lambeth Road.
Thoughts from one of our Friends Recently, I received a charming letter from a friend who was visiting Vauxhall Park. He said:-
After many years, I recently came into Vauxhall Park ..I first came into the Park in the autumn of 1940, 67 years ago, not walking, but in a pram, as we used to live in a flat that overlooked the Park. I am not sure how many remember the factory Brands and Co Ltd which was on South Lambeth Road 72 84 right up to St Annes Church. In this Church I was baptised, when bombs were falling on Croydon . My father was a gatekeeper at the factory, so we lived in a flat at the factory which was in fact the Old Vicarage of the Church. Later we moved to Battersea .
As a small boy I remember a round the tree seat, which I used to go around and around, this was around a large tree near the tennis courts. I also remember the model village going in. I was so pleased that it is still there and looking so well looked after The last time I went into the park, some years ago, the bowling green looked very overgrown, but I so like the green changed into a Lavender Garden . It is very interesting that when our Battersea house was built in the 1880s, the area was full of Lavender Fields.
Easter Egg Hunt 2008 Our annual Easter Egg Hunt was again a great success. 180 children registered and enormous fun was had by all racing around the lavender garden and the tulips.
Huge thanks to all people who volunteered to lay eggs, marshal the gates, and in particular to Louise Norwood and Polly Freeman for organising such a splendid event.
Summer Fair on Sunday 22nd June, 2.00pm 5pm
After the success of last year, we are hoping that this year will be bigger and better. All the usual events will be there again, including the hugely successful giant bouncy castle and go-carts. But this year, we are going to introduce a dog show. We are giving you plenty of time to get your dog spruced up and ready to go. Enter either the agility course or the best groomed, amongst other categories. The events will be judged and the winners will be awarded Vauxhall Park rosettes.
We will also be running our very popular plant stall again. Please bring your contributions on the day by 1pm, or, if you contact Ivan McCracken beforehand, he will be happy to collect.
After the success of last years bric-a-brac stall, we intend to run this again if you wish to contribute to this, please contact Seth Taylor. Alternatively, do you have something you would like to sell? This year you could have your own stall. If you would be interested, please contact Seth Taylor for details (see below).
We are looking for anyone who is able to volunteer and help out on the day. We really do welcome anyone who is willing and able to help. If you are free please contact
childrens events - contact Polly Freeman (see below) stewards - Seth Taylor (see below)
Dont forget to bring your friends and family to join in the fun.
On a personal note, every time I have walked through the park, I am amazed by how wonderful it is looking. All the spring bulbs are coming through, and everything looks stunning. The park does not have a sense of being a municipal urban space, but more of an individual and much loved personal garden.
Most of the work on the new cafι has been completed and the mains services are now connected. The landscaping work outside is continuing, and we have been assured that it will be open in time for the Summer Fair.
The Parks Dept continues to undertaken a wide-ranging programme of improvements, many of them quite small in themselves but adding up to a major transformation in the parks appearance.
Green Flag Award for Vauxhall Park Vauxhall Park will be submitted again this year for the Green Flag Award. Judging will take place in May, with the results announced in June.
It is a fantastic testament to all involved with the park that the award was achieved last year, and that the park is continuing to be maintained to such a high standard. A continuing note of thanks must go to the gardeners, Richard and George, both of whom worked extremely hard prior to last years inspection, making the park look glorious. Dates of Meetings Come and have your say at the Friends of Vauxhall Park open meetings. They are:-
Open Meetings Wednesday 30th April, 2008 - 8pm, St Annes Community Room Saturday 15th November, 2008 - 10.30am, Ashmole Tenants Hall
Next AGM Saturday 31st January 2009 -10.30am, Ashmole Tenants Hall
Georgina Trevelyan-Clark Membership Secretary and Newsletter Editor
This newsletter is distributed free to members.
Contacts:- Seth Taylor - seth@overmantels.co.uk or 020 7582 0928 Sophie Kotch sophie@hunterkotch.co.uk or 020 7735 1390 Polly Freeman - pollyf@talktalk.net or 020 7720 7568 Georgina Trevelyan-Clark georgina@trevelyan-clark.com or 020 7582 1108
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Annual Subscription November 2007 Oct 2008
Individual £3 . Unwaged £2 . Family £5 . Group £5 . Donation . TOTAL .
Please make cheques payable to:-
Friends of Vauxhall Park And send to:-
Georgina Trevelyan-Clark Membership Secretary Friends of Vauxhall Park 101 Old South Lambeth Road London SW8 1XU
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