News

Established in 1997 and with over 140 images from which to choose, Mountbatten Cards enables customers to donate 25% of the net proceeds of their purchase to the charity of their choice.

The Royal Parks have just released this two minute beautifully made Youtube film. Flowers brought in remembrance of Her Majesty are carefully laid out in the Green and Hyde Parks and make gorgeous displays, and then they have to be cleared…….

The death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has brought back many memories for us all. Several of you got in touch with your own remembrances and thoughts on the last few weeks. Some of these contributions are enclosed in this newsletter.

As far as the Friends organisation went, we had little to do except stand back, support, admire and congratulate the Royal Parks staff on the way the long planned arrangements slipped into place and suddenly “our” parks became a focus for the world.

From Friday morning when a 96 gun salute took place, our two parks played a vital role. There were three more gun salutes during the following ten days, large screens erected, flowers laid and then ended with the solemn progress of the hearse through Hyde Park and then Kensington Gardens on its way to Windsor.

On Sunday August 21st, our toes started tapping from the off, to the familiar tunes of a Beetles medley specially arranged for the Melodians Steel Orchestra.

The first concert on the 7th August was a great success and was enjoyed by more than 300 foot tappers and dancers. Our photos give you a taste.

Also read how both Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park have achieved their green flag awards with the maximum points possible.

After a three year gap the lovely Hyde Park bandstand will, once again, host four wonderful bands which will fill the space and deliver toe-tapping and dancing music on four dates in August and September.
With very many thanks to our extremely generous donors, without whom we couldn’t do it, we are unveiling the programme and hope you’ll be tempted by some of these offerings. We’re looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible.

Families, friends, old comrades and serving officers met again for the 98th Anniversary of the combined cavalry parade and memorial service on the 8th May in Hyde Park