Summer’s Last Stand

This seems like the beginning of a new term for me. Even though it’s decades since I really did have one, I can’t quite throw off the feeling.

We’ve still got some nice treats for you all to enjoy, and it puts off thinking about shortening days.

This Newsletter will be followed in late October by our Annual Review, which is a much bigger proposition, so apologies for a brief silence from this editor.

‘‘Let’s Hear the Music and Dance’‘

Our first two bandstand concerts in Hyde Park have been a great success.

The Mercian Regiment
Played a charming selection, and the appreciative audience included many veterans of the regiment as well as families and friends of the bandsmen, both past and present .

Summer’s Last Stand

This seems like the beginning of a new term for me. Even though it’s decades since I really did have one, I can’t quite throw off the feeling.

We’ve still got some nice treats for you all to enjoy, and it puts off thinking about shortening days.

This Newsletter will be followed in late October by our Annual Review, which is a much bigger proposition, so apologies for a brief silence from this editor.

‘‘Let’s Hear the Music and Dance’‘

Our first two bandstand concerts in Hyde Park have been a great success.

The Mercian Regiment
Played a charming selection, and the appreciative audience included many veterans of the regiment as well as families and friends of the bandsmen, both past and present.

Sponsor Carl Richardson was delighted

We have a great selection of photos, including several where the scarlet tunics make a real splash of colour.

Orquesta Mambarito
Followed last Sunday (1st September) and the salsa dancing took off very expertly. The big Latin Jazz band kept everyone dancing or enjoying watching all afternoon, and there was still dancing to recorded music long after the performance had finished. A very generous member has funded this once again and we are so grateful.

South London Jazz Orchestra (SLJO)

Along with teacher Simon Selman.

So, dancing shoes are in order again as everyone around is encouraged to join in. I realise you have to be reasonably fit for our entertainment, it’s not just a slight shuffle round.

Marble Arch BID is the generous organisation which has sponsored this concert for us all to enjoy. The Trustees and I Iook forward to seeing lots of you there.

FUTURE CONCERT Kensington Gardens Bandstand
The Epsom and Ewell Silver Band
Sunday 15th September 2.30pm

And now for our latest addition, with “drum rolls,” we look forward to enjoying the first concert organised by us on the newly restored Kensington Gardens bandstand. It’s funded very generously by member Sarah Joiner, who responded instantly to my appeal last month. She tells us “…the Kensington Gardens bandstand was such an important part of my childhood summer”.

The Epsom and Ewell Silver Band are very pleased to be playing for us on and have a large number of musicians coming along. We hope they’ll all be able to squeeze onto the platform, and we will be able to unlock the chairs which we will set up for you all to listen and relax.

Many thanks to Sarah. The bandstand is close to the South of the Round Pond.

An Eye Opener c/o the Serpentine Gallery

Wednesday 18th September at 9.30 am
Many thanks to Alexa Chow, who is the Project Curator at the Serpentine Gallery, for her offer to show a group of members and guests round the temporary Summer Pavilion. This will be before it opens to the public at 10am.

This Event is free. There will be a 30min tour of the construction and explanation of the design, before the public arrive.

Alexa will then be available for a Q & A session.

We need to keep a register of participants (limited numbers) so are asking you to book through Eventbrite (you will receive this link via email). There is no charge for this interesting start to the day.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Or, how would you like it to grow in the Spring?

We are grateful to Rob Dowling (Nursery Manager) for giving us another date for our own Autumn / Winter/ early Spring plant sale at the Nursery.

HOLD THE DATE!
Tuesday 22nd October 10am to 3pm

More details will follow as logistics may be slightly different this time. A reminder will be sent nearer the date.

Ave atque Vale

Hail and welcome: Matthew Pottage, who has joined the Royal Parks as Head of Horticulture and Landscape Strategy.

One of his strategic objectives is to deliver “World class horticulture” to the Parks. He comes from the RHS at Wisley, where he delivered many exciting and innovative schemes, and you’ll have recognised his name (and his voice) from BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners Question Time.

We were lucky to hear him at our AGM, and it will be a pleasure to report on innovations and schemes as he works with the Head Gardeners across all the Parks.

Kasia Swiderska has just joined the staff at the Nursery as Assistant Manager. We look forward to meeting her at one of the events at the Nursery and introducing her to you all properly in a future NL.

Farewell, good luck and congratulations: Martin Hojka has been the Assistant Manager at the nursery for several years. He isn’t going far, to St James’s Park as Assistant Manager to Mark Wasilewski.

Although we think of the nursery as the centre of our world, it turns out St James’s is actually closer to the heart of everything important in this country. Royal occasions, ceremony and government are all conducted with St James’s as a backdrop, or playing a major part. This has lured him away.

Martin and his special dogs, 9-year-old Boston terrier Duke and 4-year-old Australian Labradoodle Brodie, will be missed here in Hyde. Occasional visitors to the office with Martin, they had become small celebrities.

I wish you all well and hope we can all enjoy some lovely (cameras in hand) autumn days in the Parks.
Sue

Photography:
Rob Dowling
John Foldes
Tina Higginson
Sue Price
Paul Shelley.

Apologies to anyone I may have missed. Thank you all for your snapping.

Design and layout Lynden Easton.
Sue Price
Chairman

September 8th 2024