September | October 2012
Call to Members
Our Chairman sends out a special plea for association volunteers. He wants to rally support for our drive to recruit people for a range of Association roles ~This comes after a number of urgent appeals for help, published in several successive issues of our newsletter, without response. He said: “We now have over 700 members so it’s clear that people really do care about the brilliant work we do to make our area as clean, green and safe as possible. We depend on you, however, to make this possible. Please do your bit!”
Alexandra Palace HLF Bid for Renovations
The public consultation on the future of the Palace resulted in about 2000 individual responses, which generally supported the main concepts put forward, although support for a hotel was relatively modest. It is however considered by the Chief Executive, Duncan Wilson, to be a complementary development, which will support the other proposals.
In July, the APP Board awarded a further contract to Terry Farrell and Partners for further design and architectural services in relation to the theatre refurbishments, opening up the BBC Studios, design development of a hotel, West and Great Hall upgrades and Mechanical and Electrical advice. This is in order to be able to develop the HLF bid with the required detail and to make progress on critical design solutions for the event spaces and hotel proposals.
Cherry Trees Return
One of our members living in Victoria Road has written to our Association to say thank you for our help in securing replacements for eight cherry trees removed from her road. The newly planted saplings have been diligently watered by this member and her neighbours and are now 10 feet tall. Well done Victoria Road!
A Sad Farewell To Gerry
Committee members were deeply saddened by the death of Gerry Saunders, long-standing member and ex-Newsletter Editor, on 3rd July 2012. We have sent condolences to Anne, his widow, and his family, along with a donation to one of Gerry’s favourite charities.
As well as being a hard-working Committee member for our Association for many years, Gerry was responsible for transforming our Newsletter from a mere sheet of paper into its current format, as well as training and mentoring the current Editor to build upon his innovations and achievement.
Before retirement, Gerry was editor and then publisher of Drapers magazine. He was made MBE in the New Year Honours List of 1989 for services to journalism.