The London Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies NEWSLETTER JUNE 2016 Society AGM Planning matters Local History Toynbee Hall p8 Environment p10 Excursions & pages 2-3 pages 4-5 pages 6-7 Robert Graves p9 BookFest p11 Notices page 12 building was fairly modest, and sails to the windshaft so that a Windmill the museum exhibits were similar incident cannot occur again. unscathed. But most importantly An application was prepared and ready to no one was hurt. submitted to the Heritage Lottery The specialist millwrights Foundation (HLF), bringing a grant sail again cleared away the fallen sail almost of £100,000 to cover the work on immediately and returned to the sails and their stocks, along ANDREW SIMON reports on the remove the three other sails very with other work already planned exciting renovation of Wimbledon soon after. They discovered that to eliminate water penetration Common’s famous landmark the stock of the fallen sail had at the cap and in the tower of deteriorated and fractured at one the windmill. The total cost will THE WINDMILL will be 200 years of its securing bolts, a problem that be about £138,000 and various old in 2017. Last year on Sunday had not been visible at the latest other donations, all of them most 2 August one of the four sails broke expert inspection two months gratefully received, have made up from its stock, and fell into the roof previously. The museum was able the balance. of the museum. to resume its normal opening Fabrication of the new stocks This happened in the early schedule after a few weeks. and repair of the sails has been evening when, very fortunately, no Since last August, a new system handled off site at the millwrights’ one was around. The damage to the has been devised for attaching the workshop in (continued on p3) Magnif cent men and their mowing machines Jordan Horrocks (left) and Dan Price from the AELTC groundstaf showing of their handiwork at the War Memorial Gardens in Wimbledon Village. Jordan and Dan assisted Grant Cantin, the AELTC’s deputy head groundsman who took this photo. As reported in the March Newsletter, the ‘One Man Went to Mow’ team have much-needed, and very gratefully received, expert help from Grant and his team to transform the Gardens. For the latest information, go to www.wimbledonsociety.org.uk, www.wimbledonmuseum.org.uk or the Facebook page. EDITOR’S NOTE Wimbledon Society contacts AGM report 2016 President Norman Plastow THE SOCIETY held its 112th Annual General Meeting at the Lower Hall, Sacred Heart Church, Chairman John Mays Edge Hill, on 14 May 2016. There were two AGMs; the fi rst for the ‘old’ Society and the second for the ‘new’ Company Limited by Guarantee. Hon Secretary Sue Lang The President Norman Plastow opened the proceedings, which were attended by some 90 members and guests. Deputy Mayor Pauline Cowper and her consort, and Leader of the Council Hon Treasurer Corinna Edge Stephen Alambritis were among the guests. AGM REPORT FOR THE ‘OLD’ SOCIETY Planning Committee Secretary Introducing his report for the ‘old’ Society, David Merritt Chairman Asif Malik welcomed guests and [email protected] members, and thanked all volunteers. He Museum Chairman Cassandra Taylor described coming promotional events, at which all members would be welcome. The Chairman reported the sad death of Janet Koss, a museum expert and member of the Executive Committee. Local History Chairman Charles Toase The Chairman stated that, following approval given by the 2015 AGM, incorporated and charity status as a company limited by guarantee was Membership Secretary achieved on the planned date of 1 January 2016. Jennifer Newman The ‘old’ Society would continue to exist for the time being to ease the transition to the new form of governance. The Chairman thanked the group, Activities/Newsletter Distribution co-ordinated by Iain Simpson, which had ensured Linda Defriez that all necessary procedures were followed. Treasurer Corinna Edge presented the 2015 Accountants and Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts for the ‘old’ Society, reporting the Website Asif Malik healthy state of Society fi nances. She noted that all assets of the Society had been transferred to the new company. Wimbledon Society Newsletter The President advised members that Chairman Editorial team Asif Malik was to stand down, after four years in John Stern this position. The Board had agreed that John Nigel Davies Monica Ellison, Asif Malik, John Mays, Iain Simpson Letters to the editor Write to John Stern c/o The Museum of Wimbledon, 22 Ridgway, SW19 4QN Printing: The Wimbledon Print Company, 257 Haydons Road, SW19 8TY Follow us on Facebook and Twitter Asif Malik (centre) with his commemorative certif cate www.facebook.com/TheWimbledonSociety @wimsoc presented to him by new chairman John Mays (right) 2 AGM/WINDMILL Mays, current chairman of the Planning Committee, should replace him for the coming year. Norman Plastow was re-elected President and Pat Keith, Charles Toase and Tony Michael re-elected as Vice-Presidents. John Mays was elected as Chairman, Corinna Edge re-elected as Treasurer and Sue Lang as Honorary Secretary. Elected to the Board were Marsha Beresford, Linda Defriez, Monica Ellison, Asif Malik, Jennifer Newman, Andrew Simon, Iain Simpson and Cassandra Taylor. and Nigel Angela Evans by Davies Photos Former glory: the windmill before one of the sails broke of (above left) and now AGM REPORT FOR THE WIMBLEDON SOCIETY Wimbledon windmill (from p1) annually until 1889, with a tented (Company Limited by Guarantee) city of organisers, restaurants, and Asif Malik handed over the Reading, and they will soon be accommodation for contestants Chairmanship to John Mays. ready for installation. around the windmill. John then invited the meeting Timing of the repairs has been The last of the millers had to approve the appointment of planned for the summer months. removed most of their equipment Norman Plastow as President and The scaffolding is expected to be when leaving in 1864. From about Tony Michael, Pat Keith and Charles erected around the end of May. 1870 the windmill was converted Toase as Vice-Presidents. Unless further disrepair or other into living accommodation for The following were elected to problems come to light while the six families. A major restoration the Board: Oliver Bennett, Marsha repairs are proceeding, the sails will in 1893 resulted in changes to the Beresford, Linda Defriez, Corinna be re-installed in September. cap and tower, and the central Edge, Monica Ellison, Pamela The museum will continue to supporting post was replaced with a Greenwood, Sue Lang, Asif Malik, open at weekends during that time. new internal structure. John Mays, Jennifer Newman, Readers who have never visited Further repairs were carried Andrew Simon, Iain Simpson and the Windmill Museum are urged out in 1975, when the first floor Cassandra Taylor. to come and see Norman Plastow’s was converted into a museum. John Mays then commended the superb series of models showing the The ground floor was by then used work of the Society’s volunteers and development of windmills. Other as living accommodation for the officers. In particular he emphasised exhibits explain various aspects of Commons Rangers; that continued the tremendous value of Asif Malik’s milling and there is a fine collection until the early 1990s. contribution over the last four years of wood working tools. A further In 1999 a Millennium Grant as Chairman and presented him small display deals with aspects of from the HLF enabled the sails to with a commemorative certificate. the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. be restored to working order. At The audience applauded warmly. Originally constructed in 1817, the same time the museum was Members commented on the it was a working mill for 47 years. extended to take in the ground Society’s work before the address by It ceased working in 1864 when floor, taking the form it retains the guest speaker Simon Lee, Chief the 5th Earl Spencer bought in to this day. Executive of the Wimbledon and the lease as part of his plan to After this year’s work, plans are Putney Commons Conservators. enclose Wimbledon Common and already under way to celebrate Simon described the history of the build on it. Earl Spencer was also the bi-centenary of the windmill Commons, their ecology, habitat a leading committee member of in 2017. These will include some maintenance, the work of the the National Rifle Association. The refurbishment of the flat roof, Ranger’s Office, as well as challenges NRA’s championships had by then improvements to the exhibits both and future plans. been taking place on the common out of doors and inside the windmill, SUE LANG, Honorary Secretary for several years and they continued and a series of special events. 3 PLANNING MATTERS Crossrail 2: the next steps NEWS UPDATE Planning TONY MICHAEL outlines the Planning rational discussion about alternative Committee Committee’s report to CR2 designs, we need to be sure that all the issues are understood, and able Chairperson THE MARCH edition of the to be compared. John Mays, who has been Newsletter set out the Society’s Four points we feel stand out. the Planning Committee’s views on the then current plans Firstly, the CR2 team should table Chairman for the past fve for Crossrail 2 (CR2). Since then we at least three different options, so years, relinquished the role in have had a clear indication that that the public can have a choice: a May. Unfortunately, despite an this project has very significant “take it or leave it” approach as in active advertising campaign Government backing. the initial consultation should not no suitable successor has A new London Mayor has also be accepted.