Chair's Report, Christmas 2015
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
December 2015 Issue 54 } } } } } } news APPRA exists to help retain the uniqueAPPRA character of the Avenues and Pearson Park conservation area and to support the neighbourhood’s strong community spirit CHAIR’S REPORT, CHRISTMAS 2015 he Committee’s routine work hanks too to Tim Beckley, who the original kitchens had outbuildings carries on, but with developing has undertaken to move THE attached (larder, coal hole, outside T specialisations or diversifications, T UNICORN TREE to a nearby front lavatory etc), linked by a roofed verandah; which operate under the ægis of APPRA, garden; it is generous of the residents to our own had all been knocked together but independently. We are grateful to the offer it hospitality, extending its life and and incorporated into a new, bigger Fountain Group and the group who have contribution to the street scene. kitchen by 1970 when we moved into our come together to save the Park Avenue nd the most enormous thanks house. So a view of the garden became Education Centre as a community asset. of all are due to Chrys Bavey. possible; and for some houses, a simple Both groups are energetic, focused and AThis is her last newsletter (but window suffices. well-informed in pursuit of their goal; she has composed exhaustive advice e have to frame another their work is of course crucial to our for the two successors who have come response to the current Conservation Area and symptomatic of forward, happily for us). She has brought W(Preferred Options) stage of the the pride and responsibility we take in its a standard of editing and design to the Local Plan, which contains an alarming ‘preservation and enhancement.’ Many newsletter which has been a constant surprise — the designation ‘Potential thanks to them, and also to individuals pleasure for us all to distribute, receive Housing Allocation’ for part of ‘The Field,’ who assume separate responsibilities. and read: such a sustained contribution off Jack Kaye Walk. Consultation ends esley Longworth has made such over years, so professionally yet a success over years of organizing modestly executed. …continued on page 3 Lthe Advent Windows that the eanwhile the Committee has vacancies fill amazingly quickly now. dealt with many The idea, originally suggested from their Mapplications APPRA continental experience by Sabine Bieli for tree work, several and Stefan Weigert, has become a quick- extensions and a smattering rooted tradition and such a source of of windows, mostly SINGS CAROLS additional seasonal pleasure, with some alas UPVC, though one on tuesday, 22 december memorably brilliant images over the replacement proposal at Come and join us. We meet at the years; but all are delightful to look for 158 Victoria Avenue almost Park Avenue roundabout at 5.45pm and admire — again, thanks to residents makes up for them: the all money raised will go to who draw, cut and stick, and cudgel their notable windows of this the teenage cancer ward brains for ideas at an already busy time. corner house are all going at castle hill hospital ean Sykes has volunteered to be our to be like-for-like, timber link with Westbourne House; she replacements. The number J—and other Avenues residents — of extensions has made will attend liaison meetings at the hostel me muse on the historic and report back; we are grateful to her absence in our typical for taking on this extra and important nineteenth century terraces commitment. of a ground floor view of the back garden, because To find us on Twitter search for Like APPRA on Facebook. Scan the QR code @APPRAHull To find us, log in to to reach APPRA’s Tweet us to tell us you are an Facebook and search for website. See the Advent Avenues resident and we will “APPRA” then Like our page Windows, our craftsmen follow you back list and other resources 2 Let’s have a green plaque for Frank Redpath — POET 1927-1990 On 22 May 2015, the Time Literary going to pretend that his is a household as ‘a commie troublemaker’ which, coming Supplement published ‘In and Out’, a name – an accolade granted to very few from someone like Larkin can only be read previously-unknown poem by Philip poets. as a compliment. Larkin. It threatened to be the literary I first became aware of Frank because Sean O’Brien saw fit to dedicate his 1991 sensation of at least the decade. There we live in his house, by which I mean it poem “To the Unknown God of Hull and were two problems: one, it wasn’t actually was his house when he lived in it, and now Holderness” (other Gods are available) to previously-unknown; and, two, it wasn’t it’s ours. When we moved in, a neighbour Frank. by Larkin. (undoubtedly one of the community that Douglas Dunn in his Introduction to ‘To However, there was a decided silver Jean Hartley mentions in her 1991 tribute the Village’ writes: “Frank Redpath’s poetry lining to this potential debacle, because, to Frank ) told us about the poet who lived is wise, often witty, sometimes mischievous, although the world missed out on new here. I was curious. and lyrical. It is a pleasure to read and it Larkin, what we were given instead was an It isn’t easy to discover his work these deserves to be read.” opportunity to rediscover Frank Redpath – days; but it isn’t that hard. I recently saw the green plaque for James the Hull poet that time threatens to forget. He was writing as early as the 1940s, Neal on Victoria Avenue. I admit I had search As Larkin wrote of Hull: “People are but only in his later years did his work around to find some examples of his work slow to leave it, quick to return. And there found its way into print. Included in a (he’s in the Ferens and online), and was very are others who come, as they think, for a seminal anthology , a first solo edition pleased that I did. (The Ferens is planning a year or two, and stay a lifetime.” The latter ‘To The Village’ (published by Ted Tarling’s big retrospective for 2017.) describes Larkin himself, but the first could Sonus Press, 1986), and then in poetry That gave me the idea that Frank Redpath be Frank. magazines (local and national, including might deserve a plaque as well, especially as Frank Redpath was born in Hull in 1927. ‘Wave’ and Jon Silkin’s ‘Stand’, and even the we approach 2017, with the opportunity to A scholarship to Hymers College; National CIA-fronted ‘Encounter’), culminating in a celebrate the city’s contribution to Culture. Service (1944-8); freelance writing and posthumous selection ‘How It Turned Out’, There can be no doubt that Frank warrants journalism. He made the trip to London, (Rialto 1996). There are also more poems a place among the pantheon of those who then did his degree at Hull Uni (1965-8), and tributes in the Spring 1991 edition of have contributed to Hull’s reputation. some post-grad, taught at Hull Prison and John Osborne’s ‘Bête Noire’ (University of So what am I saying? Larkin – he’s got then Hull College (1973-86). Some research Hull) — and there are some lines of his more plaques than you can shake a stick at, finds him living (inter alia) on Victoria Ave, verse inscribed on a statue in Great Union from Newland Park to Westminster Abbey; and at 134 Sunny Bank, then Richmond Street. Altogether I have found about 80 not to mention a Trail. Jean Hartley – she’s Street. His last house was in a little terrace, of Frank’s poems, and some recordings of got a plaque. Douglas Dunn, Sean O’Brien, off the Boulevard. him reading his own work. Andrew Motion, Anthony Thwaite, Tom Some of you may have known him, as You do have to go looking for it, but I Paulin (who am I missing out?); they’re neighbour, as teacher, or as poet; some think you’ll find it worth the effort. But all doing very nicely, thank you. What has may have been anthologised beside him, don’t just take my word for it… Frank got? Come on, everybody; after me: or you may only know him as the reluctant Philip Larkin on Frank Redpath’s “Let’s Give Frank a Plaque!” gun-toting hero and all-round good egg contribution to “A Rumoured City” (as For more information, or to share other that emerges from among Jean Hartley’s quoted by Jean Hartley): “Yours are the ideas, please email: [email protected] reminiscences. Of course it is possible that only poems in the book I would have been you have never heard of him. No one is glad to have written” — and described him David Greaves PLANNING CONTROLS Contact the Planning Department Tel: 612345 Email: [email protected] To help maintain our Conservation Area 6 porches (both alteration and construction highway (national guidelines for Conservation planning p ermission is required for require planning permission); Areas) and the felling/pruning of trees (where alterations to or construction of the 7 verges: construction of a vehicular driveway the trunk circumference is more than 24 cm). following, as they are protected features across requires planning permission (see under Article 4 Directions. For roofs and Footnote 3); Footnote 1: highways do not need to be roads— chimneys the Directions apply to all roof 8 front gardens: (houses next to a tenfoot or these footpaths are considered by Planning slopes (ie front, back and rear extensions).