The London Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies

NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2016 Chairman/News Planning Matters Local History Obituaries Environment p10 Society Notices p2-3 pages 4-5 pages 6-7 pages 8-9 Away Day p11 page 12 Beyond the boundaries

JOHN MAYS explains why the you go, if you say you are from logic and contradicts the three proposals to change the Wimbledon Wimbledon, people know where criteria previously mentioned. It is parliamentary constituency you come from and have often unsatisfactory for both Mitcham boundary are bad for this locality been here themselves. One would and Wimbledon. and the neighbouring areas have expected, therefore, that all The BCE is holding hearings the parts of this locality would be throughout the country and the THE BOUNDARY COMMISSION within a single constituency, but Society was represented at one ENGLAND (BCE) recently that is not the case. The current in Kingston when these concerns published proposals for redrawing proposals separate the town centre were put before the panel. But it constituency boundaries in England. from the demonstrably Wimbledon is not suffi cient to be critical, we The objective appears to be two- sections like the Common, also have to present alternatives, fold: fi rstly, to reduce the total Wimbledon Village, the All England and the approach we adopted was number of MPs, which in London Club, Wimbledon Park and West that the following wards should be will mean that the current 73 Wimbledon. included in the new constituency: parliamentary seats will be reduced That is not what one would Abbey, Cannon Hill, Dundonald, to 68, and in south-west London expect. The proposals instead link Hillside, Merton Park, Raynes the current 28 will come down to parts of Mitcham to Wimbledon Park, Trinity, Village, West Barnes, 26; secondly the number of voters town centre which defi es all Wimbledon Park. (contd on p3) in each constituency is to be more equal – approximately 75,000 plus Windmill or minus 5%. In Wimbledon the sails again current electorate is some 64,000, Fifteen months after a substantially below the target fi gure. sail fell of , one of the The BCE’s proposals are area’s most notable supposed to be guided by various landmarks returned criteria such as local ties, special to its former glory. The geographical considerations and restoration of the sails in local government boundaries. November by millwright The commission appears to contractor Owlsworth have used the existing ward was made possible by boundaries in allocating voters to Lottery funding secured jointly by the Windmill constituencies. Museum and the Wimbledon is a famous name Commons Conservators. throughout the world – wherever

For the latest information, go to www.wimbledonsociety.org.uk, www.wimbledonmuseum.org.uk or the Facebook page. n EDITOR’S NOTE n

Wimbledon Society contacts President Norman Plastow Chairman’s Chairman John Mays report

IT IS CUSTOMARY for your Chairman to Hon Secretary Sue Lang issue a statement for each edition of the Newsletter. In fact this one is going to be rather brief, not because of lack of subject Hon Treasurer Corinna Edge matter but because most of the important issues are covered elsewhere in this Newsletter. Planning Committee Secretary Crossrail 2, the Boundary Commission’s David Merritt Proposals, the Away Day as well as [email protected] items on the Museum and the Planning Museum Chairman Committee are in various articles and it Cassandra Taylor remains therefore for me to cover two subjects. Local History Chairman The fi rst is the alterations needed from Charles Toase you as the members to your payments for subscriptions to the Society. I would be Membership Secretary most grateful if those who have not yet Jennifer Newman sent their details to Jennifer Newman (our Membership Secretary) would do so as soon as possible. If you need any further Activities/Newsletter Distribution information please contact Jennifer Linda Defriez – the best way to do so is by email at [email protected] The second is to wish everyone the Website Asif Malik compliments of the coming season. On behalf of the board I do wish everyone a happy and joyous time and a splendid New Year. Wimbledon Society Newsletter JOHN MAYS

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2 n BOUNDARIES n Boundaries (from p1) Events and Talks This represents the Putney The Milward Essay essential Wimbledon, but because the number Award of electors is only BY THE TIME you read this the approximately 64,000 it Richard Milward Essay Award 2016 Wimbledon would be necessary to Park will have been presented. Wimbledon add additional wards and Common Every essay in this year’s local we suggested two of the history competition produced Wimbledon Colliers following: Lower Morden, Wood interesting points. Every point South Colliers Wood, St Helier. Wimbledon counts and, as we all know, Raynes Morden Each of these has just Park points mean prizes – in this case under 7,000 voters which on Thursday 1 December in The would bring the new Lounge, Emmanuel Church, constituency up to the Ridgway. critical mass required and The good news was that most including two of them it Redraw the map: the existing Putney, Wimbledon of the work was with us on time. would bring the number and Mitcham and Morden constituencies, shaded The bad news was that three of voters to the median blue, and the proposed boundaries in purple competitors were obliged to pull point. out of the competition at a late Mitcham is also an identifi able There is one other aspect. stage for a variety of reasons. local centre and should have its Many residents of Wimbledon The most compelling of these own identity quite independent of pay a levy to the Wimbledon was an accident on Wimbledon Wimbledon. Based on this scenario and Putney Conservators. If the Common, resulting in a broken hip it would have the eight remaining BCE’s proposals were adopted it and hospitalisation in St George’s, Merton wards with about 57,000 would damage the link between Tooting. We wish our unfortunate electors and require the addition the levy payers and the Common. essayist an excellent recovery and of perhaps three wards from An instance perhaps of taxation hope her interesting research will adjoining boroughs. without representation. survive the trauma, so that the work The BCE’s proposals, if The BCE’s consultation extends to is not lost but can be completed at implemented, would not only be 5 December 2016. All those who feel a later date. Our other ‘refuseniks’ at odds with the stated criteria but the proposals are inappropriate and have not thrown in the towel, but would require the local council damaging should make their own hope to complete their work for the (Merton) to deal with fi ve Members representations. It is undoubtedly award in 2018. of Parliament rather than the true that demonstrable public The topics presented for current two. Clearly this would disapproval and anger will have an consideration this year were make local government even more effect. The Society will be putting its eclectic and ranged from 18th- complicated and unwieldy than views in writing but we would urge century Wimbledon estates to at present. In the scenario set out members to do likewise. 19th-century Wimbledon Village here the two MP structure would be Wimbledon and Mitcham both shops. Two entries had a French retained, which would clearly be a have their own clear sense of f avour and although the subjects great advantage. community and identity. Splitting have little in common, in these them up is wrong. Particularly days of ‘Brexit’ both works provided when the stated objectives can be a pleasing, informative reminder attained without doing so. of the entente cordiale and sense of savoir faire that f ourished in GET INVOLVED If you wish to past times; while the lives of two comment on the proposals, go to remarkable women are also re- the website www.bce2018.org.uk, examined to assess their place in enter your postcode, then click on the annals of Wimbledon. the ‘Have your say’ button. MONICA ELLISON

3 n PLANNING MATTERS n On track or of the rails? CR2 rumbles on

CROSSRAIL 2 has been a continuing words, a proper fully-informed round will be put off until March preoccupation for the Planning choice. 2017. We have made inquiries with Committee for more than a year The CR2 representatives (there CR2 which met the response that now and will undoubtedly continue were three including an engineer they were still waiting for the to be so in view of the latest news at and the person responsible for new Government’s decision. the end of this article. stations) told us the following: However, there was an exchange Readers may recollect that a R They had been advised the total in Parliament between Stephen consultation was held earlier cost of the project must be Hammond MP and the Prime finishing in January this year. The reduced by £4bn (from £32bn to Minister Theresa May in which CR2 team received, it is said, 20,000 £28bn). the latter seemed to imply that responses. They have reviewed all R CR2 had to make its business case CR2 would go ahead taking these and published a report this to the Government (presumably into account the concerns of summer which can be seen on their the Treasury) during 2017. Wimbledon residents. In a website. R Subject to the necessary approvals conversation with Michelle Dix, Subsequent to this, the Society’s coming through they expected the managing director of CR2, Planning Committee met CR2 to place an enabling Bill before Stephen was informed of the delay representatives early in September Parliament in 2019 and it being and has relayed the information to and set out our views. Basically passed by 2020/21. residents. these are that CR2 should publish R Provided all this is on track There seems to be a general at least three alternatives for construction would commence in feeling that the Government, having the next round of consultation. 2021. agreed the new runway at Heathrow These alternatives must be worked R In the meantime a further round and the Hinkley Point Project was through properly as to costings, of consultation would take place intent on supporting infrastructure viability etc. It would be acceptable towards the end of this year. improvements which may make CR2 for there to be a preferred solution On this last point the PC expected more certain. But alas we are going but the important point is that the new consultation to commence to have to wait – hopefully not as the public should be given fully in October but it now appears there long as Heathrow! explored alternatives. In other will be a further delay and the next JOHN MAYS

Applications refused: the full storey

THE PLANNING COMMITTEE application was for a single-storey apartment block. Permission continues to monitor applications extension and we opposed it on the was refused. made to Merton Council that lie same grounds. The Council refused An unusual case concerned within the Society’s ‘Area of Benefit’. the new application. the width of a footpath that Recent cases where the Society sent We have seen a number of links Copse Hill with Cottenham representations and where the instances where developments Park Road in West Wimbledon. Council subsequently refused the have been proposed to the rear An earlier application had been application include the following of existing buildings. One such approved to build two new houses ones. application sought to demolish but a condition stipulated that the A side extension was planned to two garages behind a three-storey boundary fence had to be 1.7 metres a detached house on a corner site block of flats near the town centre from the boundary of the property in West Wimbledon. A previous and to replace them with a single- on the other side of the footpath. application for a two-storey storey one-bedroom studio flat. The The current application sought to extension had been refused on the Society considered the development remove that condition and thereby grounds that it would adversely to be inappropriate as it would narrow the path. Several objections affect the spaciousness and overlook the windows of the were sent to the Council and openness of the area. The current ground-floor flats in the existing permission was refused.

4 n PLANNING/CAPABILITY BROWN n Hotel reservations Happy Birthday, Lancelot THIS YEAR Merton Council has received applications for two new hotel A 300th BIRTHDAY celebration developments in the town centre. should be a special occasion and The frst to be made was for a nine- so it proved on a gloriously storey, 176-room hotel on the empty sunny day this summer. ofce block site on the south side of The On Saturday 13 August Broadway that lies between Majestic more than a hundred Wine & the CIPD Building – the one with people, including civic the curved glass frontage. Subsequently dignitaries, gathered to an application for a seven-storey, 150- celebrate the 300th birthday room hotel in Hartfeld Road was fled. of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, This is on the site of the present ‘Slug @ the renowned 18th-century Wimbledon’ pub which will need to be landscape designer. The Friends of demolished. Wimbledon Park (FOWP) organised Golf Club and The Wimbledon Club While more hotel capacity will be a guided walk around the ‘Heritage’ emphasising the national importance welcomed by many people, the Society Park, the historic green space he of the park which English Heritage has grave reservations about both landscaped between 1765-83. Brown has listed as Grade II* status. En route schemes. Neither of them provides transformed the 925 acres into a we were treated to some delicious any parking spaces for guests. Both naturalistic landscape incorporating refreshments at the pavilion café. have limited access for service vehicles woodland, pasture, farmland and Our fnal stop was at The needed for delivery of food, laundry, arresting views as well as creating an Wimbledon Club where Stef etc. But despite our objections, both imposing 22-acre lake which remains Shields, who specialises in historic applications have been recommended a focal point. landscapes, spoke enthusiastically for approval. Final decisions by the Although Brown’s original park about Brown’s drive to become the Council are still awaited. is now much smaller it continues best landscape gardener in Britain to delight all the diferent users and how his innovative designs have incorporating as it does not only the stood the test of time. public park, but also the Wimbledon But that was not all! The Park Golf Club and The Wimbledon Wimbledon Club had set up a Club. Our walk, along the Heritage remarkable feast for us – 18th- Trail (4km), took us through parts century food such as bread with of the historic park that many had cake-like qualities, thick slices of beef never seen before and ofered some and diferent types of sweetmeats; spectacular views. There were many, all truly appetising and in keeping many photographs taken! with the theme of the celebration. A The proposed hotel on The Broadway We were also provided with short speech from Sally Bolton, head fascinating insights into the park’s of corporate afairs at the All England history and ecology through Lawn Tennis Club, rounded of the Does the Village have informative talks given by members of day aptly by expressing pride, which the FOWP; Dr Dave Dawson, Ecology we all shared, in being associated enough benches? Adviser, Tony Borkowski from the with Brown’s historic park. A local resident has contacted the Wimbledon Park Angling Club, and The sun was shining by the time Society pointing out the lack of Martin Sumpton, who spoke about people started drifting out of The benches in the village and the need the uniqueness of the park and the Wimbledon Club. It was a perfect for some of us, especially the elderly, to take a rest whilst out shopping. need to protect, cherish and nurture it. summer’s day made more memorable Do you agree? Would you be Another highlight was the by the events we had been fortunate willing to help with fund raising? unveiling of the commemorative to be a part of – a great day beftting Please contact the editors with your plaques on the gates at the three the ‘Shakespeare of landscape design’. views. entrances to the public park and the AMELIA OBERTELLI-MORIARTY, gates of both the Wimbledon Park Friends of Wimbledon Park

5 n LOCAL HISTORY n The silent MP

CHARLES TOASE explores the legend of Wimbledon politicians whose voices were rarely if ever heard

THERE IS A Parliamentary legend of an MP who never spoke in the House of Commons; it is sometimes embellished with “except to ask for the windows to be opened (or closed)”. The story goes back a long way, and has been applied to Isaac Newton, but when I checked this I found that the 18th-century MP in question was actually one Michael Newton. I first heard it in connection with Sir John Power, Wimbledon’s MP in the 1930s, but again a check proved this untrue – he made 30 speeches in the House. So I went through Hansard’s record of parliamentary debates, looking for our members’ contributions, and found that Charles Hambro represented us for six years, 1900-06, without speaking. He was a merchant banker, and became the chairman of Hambro’s Bank. Doubtless, work for the bank left him little time to spare for the House of Commons. A eulogy published just after he had been elected said that he entered on his work as an MP “with earnestness and zeal” (although apparently not zealous enough to make a speech), and that he was “immensely Wimbledon because he was responsible for the part popular with his constituents”. It is, destruction of Caesar’s Camp. Although he and his of course, not essential to speak in family owned much land in Wimbledon, they owned the Commons; voting according to far more in Dorset, and he had three spells (amounting your party whip may be sufficient, to almost 40 years) as MP for Wareham. In his case the and MPs can also help their story about not speaking has a variant – it says that he constituents in various ways. did speak, and it was the Speaker who asked for the There was another silent MP windows to be opened, to let out the hot air. connected with Wimbledon who However, whether it relates to Newton, Hambro, will be familiar to readers of Drax, or any other MP, the story that there was a silent this Newsletter, and that was the The quiet men: MP who spoke only to ask for the windows to be opened splendidly-named John Samuel Charles Hambro could not be found in Hansard, and indeed one of the Wanley Sawbridge Erle-Drax, still (top) and John Hansard staff told me that it is probably a myth. regarded with opprobrium in Erle-Drax (above) CHARLES TOASE

6 n LOCAL HISTORY n

The last millers WHEN JENNIFER NASH, who lived at Bringing Blyton Lee House, died in September aged 104, to life we were puzzled by her claim to have IN 1864, when Earl Spencer closed done illustrations for Enid Blyton. Even Wimbledon Windmill as part of when we had the inspiration to check his plan to enclose the Common, under her maiden name of Rickard, the millers were the Marsh family. we didn’t fnd her among the many They had several mills in Kingston, illustrators of the books. It turns out operated by both wind and that she did covers and pictures for the Blyton magazines like Sunny Stories, and water, and a shop in the Market also for books such as Little Teddy Tales Place. Joseph and Richard Marsh and The Three Little Bunnikins, together were prominent businessmen in with Christmas cards, postcards of fairies, Kingston, each serving as mayor. and work for Good Housekeeping. One of the mills, Hog’s Mill, was As it happens, there was another sold in 1896 to the manufacturers Blyton illustrator in Wimbledon – René of Yewsabit, a delightfully-named Cloke, who lived at 31 Bernard Gardens metal polish much used by the and died in 1995; she also provided pictures for Alice in Wonderland and The British Army in the Boer War. In Wind in the Willows, together with her Wimbledon, Joseph & Bedford own book of stories Before We Go To Bed. Marsh had their original shop at the corner of Church Road and the High Street, next to the brewery (later the site of the fire This is Wimbledon calling station) before moving to 33 High Street, advertising as ‘corn and IN A HANDBOOK produced by the Morrison claimed he was antifascist, flour merchants; horses foraged Russians for their spies, they were but not a communist. He joined by contract’. They moved next told what to do when in London. the International Brigade in 1937, door to No.32 in 1909, and then, When they needed to meet their and during the Second World War during World War I, the shop was secret contacts or informants, there served with distinction in the RAF. taken over by WC Billings. When were five places suggested: the Peter Then, during World War II, MI5 the demand for food for horses fell Pan statue in Kensington Gardens, started monitoring the activities away, they switched to being coal the bandstand in a park in Hendon, of Jean Jefferson who had been a merchants. The Marshes also had a Chelsea Town Hall, the ABC café in member of the Young Communist shop down in the town, next to the Ealing Broadway, and Wimbledon League, attended the Lenin School Alexandra pub, until 1910. Post Office. in Moscow, and then worked at That related to Russian spies in the London HQ of the Communist the 1930s. The National Archives Party of Great Britain. In 1943 she also have reports on William operated a Comintern radio station Morrison, who went to Moscow from her home in Wimbledon, (with a false Australian passport) to 7 Malcolm Road. MI5 intercepted train English-speaking operators in her post, opening her letters Morse and cypher transmissions. In (there are copies at Kew) and 1935 he returned home to operate listening to her phone calls. Most an illicit Comintern radio station calls were domestic – her husband from the Wimbledon area. He was saying he would be late home handed messages to transmit, but from the office, or Jean arranging they were in cypher and he did a nursery school for her three- not know what they contained. year-old daughter. The file at the He lived at 215 Earlsfield Road, National Archives does not indicate and then moved to 401 Durnsford that any action was taken against Road in 1938. It is not clear where her, nor does it reveal the content the illegal transmitter was based. of the messages she was sending.

7 n OBITUARIES n

SYLVIA PETERS Born Sylvia Petronzio, the BRIAN daughter of Romelo Petronzio 26 September 1925 – 26 July 2016 RIX and his English wife Ethel who 27 January 1924 – owned a clock-making business in 20 August 2016 WATCHED BY AN estimated global London, Sylvia was urged by her audience of 277 million, the mother to answer an advertisement coronation of the present Queen for announcers at the BBC under BRIAN NORMAN made television history. The event her anglicised name ‘Peters’, a ROGER RIX, also made Sylvia Peters, for she was name that was to became known Lord Rix, actor- the young announcer chosen by the throughout the country. manager and disability campaigner BBC to be the face that introduced In 1950 she married Kenneth lived for decades of his long life in the dawn to dark coverage of Milne-Buckley, a television director Wimbledon. In every sense he was that historic day from a studio and they had one daughter. Sylvia a man of many parts. Originally in Alexandra Palace, providing decided to retire in 1957 when the from Yorkshire, he began acting linkage material between Richard BBC replaced women announcers professionally at the age of 18. At Dimbleby at Westminster Abbey with ‘anchor men’ for the evening the outbreak of WWII, faced with and other commentators along the schedules. She made comebacks a 10-month wait for call-up, he Royal route. Overnight she was a on occasions and was for a time a managed to wangle himself on a tour celebrity. presenter on Years Ahead, a Channel with actor-manager Donald Wolft It appears that Sylvia was chosen 4 series. in King Lear, before being claimed for her excellent memory as well Sylvia Peters is remembered for duty with the RAF. Demobbed as her photogenic charm. Also she in Wimbledon for fashion. In the in 1947, he decided that the role of was the same age as the young 1960s she went into partnership, actor-manager was the one for him Queen, which added to her appeal. owning and running a dress shop and with some family backing he Before autocue, the ability to learn called Accent on Youth at 41 Church formed his own theatre company, the a script was a key requirement Road. Later she sold the building Whitehall Theatre. For 30 years, he for broadcasters. Sylvia was well and opened a shop on the opposite was one of the West End’s best-loved practised, as her mother had taken side of the road, specialising in faces, featuring in famous Whitehall her to acting and ballet lessons the Jean Muir label. Dress sense farces, where he usually managed to from an early age. As an actress she was something that never left her lose his trousers. He also became a appeared on the stage including the and she remained a delightful and regular on television, starring in many revue from the Coliseum marking elegant figure into her 90s. comedy plays for the BBC. VE Day at the end of WWII. MONICA ELLISON Brian married the lovely actress Elspet Gray and the couple had four children. Sadly Shelley, the eldest daughter, was born with Down’s Syndrome. As a result Brian became passionately involved with support for disabled children, taking on the role of secretary-general at Mencap in 1980. As head of Mencap, he helped to win the battle to restore the Normansfeld Theatre at Hampton Wick, built as part of a residential mental hospital in 1879, by Dr John Langdon Down, who it was that frst recognised the condition that came to be called after him, Down’s Syndrome. Brian Rix was knighted in 1986 and made a life peer in 1992 for services to charity. Both Shelley and Elspet predeceased him.

Sylvia Peters photograph © National Portrait Gallery; photograph Peters Sylvia Brian courtesy Rix photograph Mencap Monica Ellison

8 n OBITUARIES n

June, as there had been annoying CECILE BLOOMFIELD cuts to services during the week, 1925 – 18 May 2016 Cecile’s mother announced “I’m fed up with this – I’m going to CECILE BLOOMFIELD died on 18 May have a bath”. Mr Bloomfield and in the Royal Trinity Hospice aged 91. his elder son were in the garden, She had been a museum volunteer Cecile was practising the piano and and a staunch supporter of the Local the younger boy was playing with History Group whose appearances the cat. No one sensed anything at evening meetings, even on cold untoward except the cat, who, winter months put less regular tail down, ran for the cupboard attendees to shame. Despite her under the stairs quickly followed ANDREW WAKEFIELD move to live in Streatham, this loyal by the boy. 25 June 1955 – 26 October 2016 Wimbledonian made the journey Out of the blue, the church of to the 8pm monthly meeting in the St Matthew’s was hit by a flying Museum until quite recently. bomb. The blast lifted the elder boy REVEREND DOCTOR Andrew Wakefeld In the 1930s the Bloomfield over the fence, Mr Bloomfield was died suddenly on 26 October. He had family lived at 51 Coombe Lane thrown to the ground and Cecile lived and worked in Merton for 30 years when her father worked as an slid under the piano. The windows and during that time worked tirelessly actuary for Sun Life of Canada. At were sucked out towards the site of to build the links between the business, the outbreak of war Canada offered the blast and Mrs Bloomfield could voluntary and public sectors in the to take in the families of all UK be heard calling plaintively “I’m borough for the beneft of local people. employees for the duration. The not coming out – I’ve got no clothes He was generous with his time – always Bloomfield parents consulted their on!” Of the precious china in their there in support at meetings, events children, two sons and a daughter. dresser only one piece was cracked. and functions. The unanimous decision was to stay Cecile went on to study at the Andrew was the Vicar of St Andrew’s put with the family, like so many Wimbledon School of Art and Church in Herbert Road, central others, relying on their token bomb maintained a life-long interest in Wimbledon, and could often be seen shelter under the stairs. local history. Her account of the around the town and borough going Later in life Cecile recounted night the church was bombed was about his business. Earlier this year he that by 1944 Wimbledon people printed in St Matthew’s Parish had been made an honorary Doctor of had given up bothering about Newsletter and is held in our Divinity by Roehampton University for bombs. Then, on the evening of 29 Museum archives. Monica Ellison his long service in the borough. He had been Chair of Merton Chamber of Commerce for more than 20 years and will be sadly missed in 2017, when the Chamber celebrates its 25th anniversary. Andrew had a number of leadership roles in the borough and used his intellect and position to fght for a cohesive, safe and business friendly borough. Someone I know well captured the essence of Andrew: “We will miss his love, laughter and his ‘we can do this!’ attitude to all the many challenges we faced together.” He leaves a rich and indelible legacy of interwoven tapestry in the fabric of Merton’s civic and

Courtesy Church St Matthew’s community life. Out of the blue: St Matthew’s Church after the bomb strike DIANA STERCK

9 n ENVIRONMENT n Death of a veteran An historic tree has been lost. DAVE DAWSON relates the story

IN 1725, down in the Duchess of Marlborough’s Wimbledon Park, an acorn germinated. It was 40 years old when her great grandson, the first Earl Spencer, decided to improve the park. A new ‘Park Road’ came to snake just west of the oak. The oak grew on for 60 years whilst the Earls Spencer enjoyed their fine park until the deeply indebted second Earl gave up his private pleasure ground and the park was leased as a farm. Then, in 1846, the fourth Earl sold the park From little acorns: the old oak tree, which has been alive for some 290 years, to pay off his debts. The new owner on Church Road is now sadly reduced to a stump was John Beaumont, an insurance company director and property had the girth of a 260-year-old tree. was sought there. This apparent developer. However, this year, a ring count oversight was not picked up. As Beaumont constructed roads confirmed the age as 290 years. It We don’t know which blow was for new villas in the west of the had been growing more slowly than the fatal one, or even if there was Park, he upgraded Park Road and it average. Only half of the stump had some other problem. Nevertheless, became today’s Church Road. The intact bark. What had gone wrong? greater vigilance might have helped oak became a roadside tree. The first blow: the pavement the veteran to survive. The highway Beaumont died in 1886, having came right up to the tree, without authority (the London Borough covenanted the land “for the regard to the risk of damage. of Merton), the owners (AELTC general benefit”. Development came The second blow: recently, the and Merton), those who planned slowly. Finally, in 1915, Beaumont’s ugly concrete fence was demolished and advised on the improvements daughter, Lady Lane, sold today’s and replaced with a fine iron fence, (AELTC and their consultants) and golf course to Wimbledon but the work came very close to the the planning authority (Merton) all Corporation. The 190-year-old oak tree. overlooked the considerable value of came to lie between the road and The third blow: a permanent the veteran oak. the golf course. The land to the west pathway was constructed on the golf Oaks can live to a thousand years. was acquired by the All England course for the Wimbledon Tennis Other countries protect veteran Lawn Tennis Club in 1922 and queue, also very close to the oak. trees. In England, protection is Merton Borough sold the golf course Who planned this? In 2012, the for landscape value, and easily to the AELTC in 1993. fence in Merton to the south was perverted by concerns about disease When I first saw the oak, in 1983, granted planning permission, and public safety. the concrete boundary fence of the without reference to another Apart from the veteran oak golf course was set back, giving a veteran there. Then, in 2013, further south, there are two others semi-circle of golf course land to the new path and fence within that should now be valued for their the pavement. The tree was in good Wandsworth were granted planning history and biodiversity: one is in condition, with a pair of breeding permission. There are no veteran Home Park Road beside the same golf Nuthatches. The oak was one of a trees close to the road there. Our course and the other in Lake Road at select few survivors. oak was in the middle, between the junction with Church Hill. When I measured the oak two these other two and there’s no The London Borough of Merton years ago there was little foliage. It record that planning permission should step up to the plate!

10 n SOCIETY AWAY DAY n Building for the future Much was up for discussion when 30 Society volunteers came together

THE SOCIETY’S first Away Day was held at Wimbledon Park Hall on 5 November. Thirty volunteers, including members of the Board, plus Museum, Planning and Activity Committee members gathered to discuss the Society’s three main Thinking outside the box: facilitator Michael Padmanathan leads the brainstorming areas of work as undertaken by the session into the future of the Society at the recent Away Day three Committees mentioned above and how a strategy for the future with each group tasked with Group Three Chaired by Asif Malik could be developed. developing a specific theme and was given the topic of Scope: Our President, Norman Plastow, they reported back as follows: l Felt that there was an element of opened proceedings followed being stuck in a rut and that there by John Mays, the Chairman. Group 1 chaired by Cassandra Taylor should be more communication He emphasised that while the considered Communications: between Museum, Planning and Society’s finances, governance and l Appoint a Communications Activities. volunteering presented a picture of Officer to manage social media l The website needs considerable a strong vibrant Society, there were and the website. improvement – it should be a problems of an ageing membership l Leaflets, flyers etc. distributed comprehensive, up-to-date source and a lack of strategic direction. to selected outlets perhaps of information and needs to look Cassandra Taylor, Chairman with free reciprocation in the good and be user-friendly. of the Museum Committee, Newsletter. A common theme from all three then spoke about the Museum’s l Appeal to younger groups groups was that the Society should varying activities and plans for the via initiatives like school aim to increase its membership to future. She was followed by Chris competitions and children’s 1,500, establish links with other Goodair, the current Chairman activities at exhibitions at the societies, form sub-groups (eg: on of the Planning Committee, who Village Fair and Piazza Day. transport issues), explore fund- performed a similar task regarding raising opportunities and seek planning and finally Monica Ellison Group 2 chaired by Iain Simpson engagement of the membership, spoke on Activities. There were looked at Membership: eg: more Away Days etc. various questions to these speakers l Wanted more meetings – there is The consensus was that the and the attendees had a full briefing only one per year – for members day had been a great success, on what the Society currently does. and the public. bringing forth a number of ideas There followed a brainstorming l Diversify out of the Village, and proposals as well as giving session conducted by an excellent seeking members in other parts participants a better understanding facilitator, Michael Padmanathan. of Wimbledon. of what the Society does and where The object was to get everyone to l Try to increase membership by its strengths and weaknesses lie. To propose ideas for future activities, 50% over the next three years to be of lasting benefit, there must be how the Society should be run and 1,500. a concrete follow-up. We will watch methods of increasing membership, l Establish affiliate membership with interest how matters proceed. particularly younger ones. perhaps in conjunction with Thanks are due to all those who We then split into three groups, residents’ associations. gave time and effort to taking part.

11 n SOCIETY NOTICES n http://www.bigyellow.co.uk/Get some space in your life.

Membership YOUR SOCIETY NEEDS YOU! reminder Help wanted at the Museum Standing orders Duty Of cer The post involves greeting visitors to the Museum, showing them how it is Our Membership Secretary, laid out, dealing with simple inquiries and directing other queries as appropriate. Training Jennifer Newman, is will be given and Duty Of cers are asked to volunteer for one weekend afternoon per hoping that all members month. Museum opening hours are 2.30-5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. A quarterly rota have now cancelled their is issued and DOs are free to swap their duties around if necessary. Must be computer old standing orders and literate. Please contact Cassandra Taylor on [email protected] with a brief cv. returned the new form to her in the stamp addressed Designer We are looking for a designer or graphic artist to help out with small ad hoc envelope sent to them design projects for the Society and the Museum – maybe a poster or a mug. Please contact with the Newsletter in Kevin O’Neil at [email protected] with a cv and portfolio. September. If there are any queries, Keen photographer wanted please contact her The Society occasionally has need of a photographer to record its social gatherings. at membership@ Please contact Asif Malik at [email protected]. wimbledonsociety.org.uk Planning Committee Secretary and she will happily get in The Society’s Planning Committee needs a new Secretary as our current one is moving touch with you. away from the area. The main duties are to set the Agenda for our meetings and produce All forms need to be Minutes afterwards. Meetings are held every four weeks on Monday evenings. If you are sent to the respective interested, please call Chris Goodair on 8540 9503. banks at the beginning of December.

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The Wimbledon Society was founded in 1903. It is a Registered Charity (No 1164261), and a company limited by guarantee (No 9818707). Annual subscription rates: Individual £15; Couple/family £20; Af liated: £25. Membership application forms can be downloaded from the Society website or collected from the Museum. The Museum and Bookshop (020 8296 9914), 22 Ridgway, near Lingf eld Road, are open from 2.30 to 5.00pm Saturday and Sunday. Admission free.

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