The London Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies NEWSLETTER MARCH 2021 WPCC Elections Local History Planning and Dorset Hall p8 Obituaries p10 Eco-friendly living page 3 pages 4-5 Environment p6-7 The Museum p9 Game Cover p11 page 12 Museum refurbishment Museum Director heritage project management, JACQUELINE LAURENCE with wide experience across outlines the plans to the field, from national modernise the Society’s museums to voluntary Museum trusts. They told us “We are delighted to be working with THE MUSEUM has been a the Wimbledon Society on feature of Wimbledon life their exciting new project to for more than a century, and re-present the Museum for its over that period its fortunes existing and new audiences”. have waxed and waned. It The new Museum will be has always had a loyal core of designed by Philip Simpson, volunteers and visitors, but it of Philip Simpson Design, who was last refurbished in 1993, specialise in heritage projects. and the displays no longer He says: “We are thrilled to meet expectations of how a have the opportunity to work museum should look and feel with The Wimbledon Society in the 21st Century. to transform the museum into So we have embarked a valued resource for local on a project to recreate the people and a destination for museum, with entirely new visitors from further afield. displays. We want to take As a team at Philip Simpson inspiration from the superb Design, we offer in-depth collections which we have understanding of heritage inherited, and use them to destinations, museums and tell new stories which will sites, having worked with both appeal to young and old alike, national and local museums and to all the communities of such as the London Borough Wimbledon and Merton. At of Sutton’s Museum Services the same time we will create (Whitehall Historic House a beautiful new space for © Philip Simpson Design & Honeywood House), All activities and local events. Impressions of the new look for the Museum by Philip Simpson Designs Saints Church, Kingston and We would like to hear your the British Museum to name views about the new museum. our project. Our lead is Jane Having very recently retired, a few. Our process is highly You can take part in our Allen, who was the Head of she has agreed to take on this collaborative, an approach Members Consultation on Heritage at Sutton Council. role as a volunteer. developed over many years of the Society’s website: https:// She was responsible for the Our Project Manager is working harmoniously with wimbledonsociety.org.uk excellent refurbishment of Jason Lowe, of Conservation clients, fellow consultants We have a great team for the Whitehall Historic House. Plus, a firm specialising in and audiences. (contd p3) 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 Tony Michael [email protected] Chairman’s view Chairman Jeremy Hudson [email protected] FOR CHRISTMAS I was given a copy of We Are Vice Chairman John Mays Home, a history of Wimbledon Football Club and [email protected] AFC Wimbledon, written by Mike Dunn, charting the club’s emotional return to its spiritual home. The Hon Secretary Maureen Field book is extremely readable, illustrated with superb [email protected] photographs and I would heartily recommend it. I am sure that Wimbledon’s unique football story Hon Treasurer Corinna Edge will feature in our refurbished Museum. Jacqueline [email protected] Laurence and her team are doing excellent work on planning the refurbishment and have made great Planning & Environment strides towards securing the finance needed to Committee Secretary Liz Newman complete the scheme. In this newsletter we appeal for [email protected] members’ donations for the project and I am confident of a very generous response. Membership Secretary Simon Ingall It is greatly to the credit of all our subcommittees [email protected] that they have managed to undertake so much good work despite the restrictions and inconvenience of Museum Director Jacqueline Laurence [email protected] lockdown. As I write this, we are 11 months into the pandemic and on our third confinement. Like many members, I am waiting patiently for my Covid jab. Local History Michael Norman Smith Our Planning & Environment Committee has remained as busy as ever. Public consultations, on Website Asif Malik [email protected] matters which will impact all our lives, come thick and fast. We have recently responded in detail to the draft Local Plan, and thanks are due in particular to Tony Wimbledon Society Newsletter Michael for his work on this. Editorial team Wimbledon hosts the world’s greatest tennis Sally Gibbons [email protected] tournament. We now boast a state-of-the-art football Nigel Davies stadium, as well as a fine theatre, and soon we will have a Monica Ellison, Asif Malik, John Mays, Jeremy Hudson superb new museum. It is a shame then that Wimbledon Letters to the editor still does not have a world-class music venue. The Please email [email protected] Wimbledon Concert Hall Trust has been pushing for or write to Sally Gibbons c/o The Museum of Wimbledon, 22 Ridgway, SW19 4QN this for several years, and the celebrated architect Frank Gehry is ready to develop his initial plans. Printing: The Wimbledon Print Company, What we need, for the project to be realised, is for 257 Haydons Road, SW19 8TY [email protected] the Council to make a site available. The Hartfield Follow us on Facebook and Twitter Road car park site was earmarked for this, but the www.facebook.com/TheWimbledonSociety @wimsoc Council’s draft Local Plan no longer designates this site as ‘cultural’. I hope that the Council may yet be The name of the Wimbledon Society or that of the Museum of persuaded to support the project. When the Civic Wimbledon must never be used to promote personal activities or written work without written permission from the Society. Hall was demolished in 1990 (to make way for the The articles and photos in this newsletter are copyright of those credited Centre Court shopping centre) the Council promised or, where no credit exists, of The Wimbledon Society. No part of this to replace it. 30 years on it really is time for them to newsletter can be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the copyright holder. make good that promise. JEREMY HUDSON 2 | March 2021 n NEWS n Wimbledon Wimbledon and Putney Commons Championships Conservators Election 2021 2021 STEPHEN BOUND, Three of the Conservators has been low; just 21 percent THE ALL ENGLAND Lawn Acting Chief Executive are appointed by government of those eligible voted in the Tennis Club promised last of Wimbledon & Putney departments, while the last election in 2018. In 2015 year that the Championships, Commons, stresses the remaining five are elected turnout was only 16 percent. which were cancelled because importance of a good turnout triennially by local residents The Wimbledon Society hosted of Covid-19, would go ahead for the current election. who live within three quarters an online “hustings” event in 2021, and it is working on of a mile of Wimbledon to meet the candidates on 25 keeping that promise. WIMBLEDON AND Putney Common, or in the old February, and have stressed the The AELTC wants to Commons are overseen by a Parish of Putney, and who importance of all eligible voters stage the best possible Board of eight independent are on the electoral register. taking part. If you are eligible, Championships while ensuring Conservators who ensure These residents also fund you will already have received the health and safety of all that the Commons are management of the ballot papers, which can be guests, staff, competitors and managed in accordance with Commons through payment returned by post. However, local residents as priority. their founding legislation, of a special levy which is as there have been some So, while it is committed to the Wimbledon and collected by the local councils disruptions to the mail during staging the event as planned Putney Commons Act 1871. via the council tax system. the pandemic, the Returning from 28 June – 11 July, the According to the Act, their The next election is being Officer is encouraging people fortnight is likely to look rather duties include to “protect the held at this moment; closing to vote online wherever different this year. commons and preserve them date for votes is 10 March. possible. Information on how The main aim is to be as open spaces”, to “preserve The last year has to vote online is included on completely flexible to ... the natural aspect and demonstrated just how the ballot paper. Online voting allow instant adaptation state of the commons”, to important the Commons are also saves WPCC money to whatever circumstances “make bye-laws ... for the to the local community as a by avoiding postage costs. prevail in the summer. The preservation of order on place for exercise, recreation Completed ballots must be three basic options are a the commons” and also to and relaxation. The elections received by Civica Election full capacity, semi-capacity prevent “interference with are the opportunity for local Services by 5pm on Wednesday or closed Championships, the use thereof by the public residents to have their say 10 March 2021, and the results depending on the situation. for purposes of exercise and on how the Commons are will be announced on Thursday Concentration at present is recreation”.