Annual Report 2000
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,l: átlr l¡ä, i't ¡?J. THE MEDICI GALLERIES THE 26 Thurloe Street, SW7 2IÏ 020 7589 1363, Fax 020 7581 9758 Kensington Society The objects of the Society are to preserve and improve the amenities of Kensington for the public benefit by stimulating interest in its history and records, promoting good architecture and planning in its future development and by protecting, preserving and improving its buildings, open spaces and other features d-- of beauty or historic or public interest. Registered Charity No. 267778 !,- =, Original paintings, limited editions, prints, greeting cards, books, postcards and gifts. Specialist framing service available. Also visit our Mayfair Galleries Annual Report at7 Grafton Street, London \ØlX 3LA 020-7 239 567 5, Fax 020-7 495 2997 2000 The Kensington Society PATR,ON HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, K.c,c.c.vo. PRESIDENT SIR JOHN DRUMMOND, c.n.n. VICE-PRESIDENTS THE RT. HON. THE EARL OF SNOIVDON, c.c.v.o. MRS GAY CHRISTIANSEN COUNCIL Sir Ronald Arculus, K.c.M.G,K.c.v.o. Dr Peter Nathan Barnabas Brunner Sir Duncan Oppenheim Philip English Dr Stephen Pasmore Arthur Farrand Radley, tu.n.n. George Pole Peter de Vere Hunt The Hon. Laura Ponsonby Robert Martin Martin Starkie Michael Middleton, c.n.r. Tom-Wilmot Michael Winner EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Sir Ronald Arculus, x.c.tu.c, K.c.v.o. Harry Morgan Michael Bach Robin Price Mrs Angela Darwin Ms Celia Rees-Jenkins, o.n.o. Mrs Dianne Gabitass Mrs Ethne Rudd Mrs Susan Lockhart Ms Susie Symes Robert Meadows Robert Vigars David Meggitt Nigel Wilkins Robert Milne-Tlte CHAIRMAN: Sir Ronald Arculus, K.c.M.G, K.c.v.o. VICE-CHAIRMAN: Robert Meadows HON.SECRE"TARY: Mrs Ethne Rudd HoN. TREASURER: David Meggitt VISITSSECRETARIES: Robin Price & Mrs D. Gabitass MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY: Mrs Angela Darwin EDITOR, ANNUAL REPORT: Robert Milne-þte 2 3 Contents Presidential Val edi ction After fifteen years as President, I believe the time has come for someone else to take over and so this is the last Annual Report to which I will contribute the Foreword. I was very flattered when the Committee asked me to step in following the death of my old friend, the much admired Alec Clifton-Taylor. Alec had devoted his whole life to the business of buildings and the materials of which they were made. His book The Pattem of English Building, and his contributions to the Peusner Buildings of England seÄes tÐ are invaluable. I share his passion for architecture, though AGM 2OO1 without his totally professional eye. Nevertheless, born and resident in Kensington, and with experience of both the architectural world and the heritage lobby, it did not seem totally Princess of Wales inappropriate that I should accept. The presidential responsibilities are far from onerous and I have tended to avoid public rows. My comments each year on the kind of problems which face all inner city Boroughs have been largely supported, whether about street furniture, parking, the pavements, shop fronts. My views on A One-Sided View oo state of the or inappropriate dogs in the park brought a chorus ofdissent, but I arn unrepentant. Planning & Conservation oa Parks are primarily for people, not exercise yards for pets. But the matter seems not to have caused the revolution that was predicted. The proposal for the Diana Garden was successfull¡ and in my view, rightly contested, though I could have wished for greater moderation in some of the language employed by its opponents. During my time there have been few disasters on the planning front. Little of great consequerìce has been lost, while some major Going Places achievements have been registered, notably the refurbishment, slow and expensive as it was, of the Albert Memorial. But at the Events same time, as the winning architect in this year's Stirling Prize for Architecture observed, Kensington's record in creating new structures of real distinction is pretty poor. As members of the Society know, I welcomed the Libeskind proposal for the extension All the King's Women OE to the Victoria and Albert Museum, because it was at least a striking statement by an international figure. Who knows whether it will'happen, but if it does, I remain fairly certain that Princess Alice Garden Ðô it will continue to be opposed by the Society. And that I very much regret. Book Review AA Members of the Society are certainly discerning and concerned Acknowledgements about their environment, but time moves on, and if the Society is to flourish, it needs not only more members, as I have often said, but younger ones. Otherwise, in the natural course ofthings it will eventually cease to exist. I wish my successor and the Society well and I thank you for having given me the privilege of being your President. Accounts 2000 EE Sir John Drummond 4 b traffic control. The proposed alterations to pub licensing hours, Annual General Meeting allowing up to 24 hours opening, would also need to be watched. There was no indication as to how tough the Council was likely to 2000 be in defining opening and closing hours, but members were urged to write to the Home Secretary and Michael Portillo MP, before A large audience was in attendance at the Convent, Kensington legislation was framed, to call for modifications to the proposal for Square, on April I2,2000,for the 47th Annual General Meeting of 24 hours opening. the Kensington Society, reflecting the prestige of the principal Additional matters touched upon by the Chairman included speaker, Ambassador Raymond Seitz, America's most senior reference to the judicial review under way concerning rejection of diplomat in Britain from 1991 to L994. Mr Seitz, now a banker in the Council's appeal against Thames Water's plans for London and a resident of Notting Hill, spoke prior to the business development of the Campden Hill site; housing developments at of the meeting owing to a later commitment elsewhere, his theme the former Kings College site, and the closure of the Kensington being the awesome weight of responsibility likely to fall upon the High Street market - any ne\ü plans for which would be closely shoulders of the victorious candidate in the United States monitored. presidential election of 2000. Summarising the contemporary geo- Sir Ronald concluded with the observation that although the political outlook Mr Seitz said that with America now the world's weight of influence exerted by the Kensington Society had unchallenged super-power, its military strength backed by its increased, additional members would add further to that weight. ever-growing economic dynamism, there was a danger that too He therefore urged the audience to give thought to persuading much global influence would breed arrogance. This could lead to other residents of the Borough to join the Society. the pursuit of American interests regardless of those of all other Mr Price, chairman of the Visits sub-committee, then reported nations, friends and foes alike. Hints of this had already been on the Society's consistently well supported programme of outings perceived in some quarters. A primary task of the new President and events. would therefore be to define the global role to be played by the United States in the coming few years. But of equal importance would be the restoration of dignity to the office of President, and the repair of Presidential relationships with Congress and the people of America. At the conclusion of Mr Seitz's warmly applauded speech the Gay Christiansen President of the Kensington Society, Sir John Drummond announced, in opening the proceedings of the AGM, that he would After editing the Annual Report ever since the Kensington be retiring in twelve months time, to be replaced by the current Society was founded in 1953, ill-health has finally forced Mrs Gay Chairman of Society's Executive Committee, Sir Ronald Arculus. Christiansen to relinquish the task. To many people she ¡ros the The meeting then followed the business of the agenda, the Kensington Societ¡ having brought it into being and remained its minutes of the AGM of 1"999 being formally confirmed, and the principal motivating force for more than forty years in the post of Annual Report and Accounts moved and seconded. Honorary Secretary. Even after she relinquished her Secretarial Congratulations were extended to Mrs Gay Christiansen, editor of duties in 1996 she continued to supervise the production of the the Report, on its continuing high standard. All existing officers Annual Report. Now, however, failing eyesight and other ailments and members of the Executive Committee were re-elected. have caused her to vacate the editor's chair. Under Gay The Chairman then proceeded to review some of the activities of Christiansen's guidance the Report was ranked high among such the Society during 1999, and to outline a range of matters which local society publications, winning several commendations for would need attention in the year 2000. Sir Ronald began by excellence and regularly providing members of the Kensington reporting a meeting with the new MP for Kensington and Chelsea, Society with a wide range of information on developments within Michael Portillo, the thrust of his message to Mr Portillo being the Royal Borough. Her achievements present a formidable 'Don't forget us'. Mr Portillo had already interested himself in challenge to those who follow her. Meantime she retains her links several issues of common interest, including leasehold reform, with the Society in her post as Vice-President, a role she shares licensing and the royal parks. The impact of a Mayor of London with the Earl of Snowdon.