blakers news dec 2010

8/4/2019 Blakers News Dec 2010

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Issue 60 www.blakerspark.org.uk December 2010

FrienDs ReuniteDAs the year comes to an end, it's the season to renew old

friendships. This issue of the newsletter looks back at our

Autumn activities and looks forward to what we hope willhappen in Blaker's Park throughout 2011. We can't remember

a year when the park has hosted as many community events

as it has done in 2010 and while the Friends group is not

claiming credit for it all, it has enabled and encouraged

virtually every one. The group does this because we believe

that the more that goes on in Blaker's Park, the greater

protection our open space will receive and the stronger ourcommunity will become, particularly as times get tougher.

At the end of this month, a lot of people will be singing the

rhetorical verses of Auld Lang Syne. We'd be thrilled if, when

you get to the end of this newsletter, you'd remember this

old acquaintance and join or renew your membership of theFriends of Blaker's Park so that our community has a strong

and active group to protect and enhance our park.



The Committee of the Friends of Blaker's Park includes Margaret Bell(Membership Secretary), Marion Clark, Marjorie Cozens, Sally Cranfield, GerryFaulks (Treasurer), Dominique Giudicelli (Deputy Chair), Max Glaskin (Chair), LeeGriggs, Sam Hart, Ian Lawes, Graham Preston, Jane Skea and Marsali Stuart.Philip Smith is our Honorary Life President.

Max is at 77 Chester Terrace, phone 07981 490516

Dominique is at 10 Southdown Road, phone 07772 040 733Margaret is at 4 Beaconsfield Villas, phone 505763

Email us all via [email protected] issue was edited by Max, overseen by the Committee. He's written most of ithimself in a somewhat melancholy frame of mind. Let him know if you don't like it

– or even if you do. In fact, he did receive one reader's letter after the October issue – well, it was actually a brief text message on his mobile but it bucked himup no end. Anyway, it's time that somebody else contributed and thisneighbourhood has thousands of people who can write. So make it your aim to

contribute to your community newsletter during 2011. As New Year Resolutionsgo, it'll be much easier to keep than giving up chocolate.

Miss M. 'Peggy' Harris 1920-2010Founder member of the Friends of Blaker's Park

I was privileged to represent the Friends of Blaker's Park at the funeral service of Miss Harris, held at the Baptist Church, Gloucester Place, on 26 November. Itwas a warm occasion, where people spoke with affection and appreciation of a

lady whose life had been devoted to the church and to helping others

The Harris family had been prominent members of our community from thebeginning of the last century. From their premises in Havelock Road they tradedas greengrocers and coal merchants. Peggy Harris was an athletic girl and inchildhood delighted in 'scootering' down Beaconsfield Villas (in those days a wide,car-free avenue) and then running back up to do the same again. Later shecycled far and wide. When the war came she joined the ATS (women's army) andbecame a PE instructor. It was characteristic of her that she made many friends

whom she kept for the rest of her life. Later her Christian devotion took her intoRed Cross work, for which she was later awarded their Gold Medal.In her later years Miss Harris was supported in her independent living inWaldegrave Road by her four nephews. They took her on outings to gardencentres in whose cafés she was able to indulge her hearty appetite, often keepingthem waiting until she finished her last morsel.Miss Harris was a founder member of the Friends and was pleased to be alwaysthe first to renew her subscription. She gave many a donation in keeping with her deep interest in her community. Most of all she was devoted to her church. This

Christian lady will be much missed. Philip Smith



Wanted: Graphic Designer We need help urgently to clean up our logos, which are now pretty grubby havingbeen scanned and photocopied far too often. We don't have a budget but we havea lot of goodwill we'll happily give to whomsoever steps forward to spruce up our clock artwork. Don't be shy - come forward with your Rotring or your Photoshopand help the Friends of Blaker's Park. Just email [email protected].

Musical CheersFor the first time, to our knowledge, Blaker's Park has been mentioned in a song.Call Me Jolene has written and recorded "I Lost My Heart in Blaker's Park" and itwas broadcast on BBC Sussex radio on Halloween. We may hope to work outhow to add part of the song to our website, www.blakerspark.org.uk.

Management PlanWe have received a very welcome email from our hard-working park ranger,

Emma Keane. Attached to it was the template of a Management Plan. When fullydeveloped and agreed, it will provide the framework by which the future of thepark will be managed. What's more, it has to accord with the wishes of the localcommunity so we'll all have our say about Blaker's. This is something we've beenseeking for quite a long while and we are delighted that now we can begin toformalise matters so the park can be enhanced in ways the community desires.

InterwebfaceblogthingnetWe'd like to report that the Friends' website, www.blakerspark.org.uk, has provedmassively popular and attracts thousands of visitors, keen to enjoy our virtualpark. We'd like to but, sadly, we can't. Visits peaked on Halloween and spookilywent into a spiral of decline thereafter. Nevertheless we hope it will become moreuseful and even more interesting in the near future so do keep visiting it,particularly the News and What's On pages. Curiously, web analysis has revealedthat the site has been visited by someone in the eastern European country of Belarus. Life in Minsk must be less interesting than we'd ever suspected.

No Holly, No CarolsThere will be two significant omissions from the park this Christmas. A mature

holly tree on the Southdown side was felled by the Council in November becauseit (the tree) was in a very sick state. The community Christmas carols held by thecafé have also been axed. Sally Griffiths of Dishy found that last year's eventattracted so few people that she doesn't want to repeat it.

Christmas Jumper, Hat, Scarf and Gloves ParadeThe unofficial and unstructured parade of new jumpers, hats, scarves and glovesreceived as gifts on Christmas Day will be held as usual on Boxing Day, Sunday26th December, throughout Blaker's Park. People wearing items which they have

owned for more than 24 hours are requested not to point or stare.



FienDs OF BlAKER'S PARKOne night each year not a single living creature visits Blaker's.It becomes the deathly domain of the zombie, mummy, witch

and walking skeleton. Ghosts abound and fiends flit betweenthe shadows. It's Halloween, the scariest, spookiest and mostblood-curdling event in the park's calendar.

Two residents, Sally Cranfield and Dominique Giudicelli, setout to photograph the spectral celebrations but never returned.Their cameras were later spotted hanging from the top-mostbranches of the tallest tree and, when retrieved, were found tocontain these images...



Blaker's Big Night and AGM

If you weren't there, you missed a treat. It began by the Clock Tower when tree expert

David Archer led a wonderful nocturnal tour of some of the park's 106 varieties. He

fielded all manner of questions from the audience, which was so smitten with the subject

that there were groans of disappointment when the tour had to be curtailed in time for therest of the evening's entertainment. It was so popular that there were immediate demandsthat the tour should be repeated – in daylight. This will be happening in the Spring.

The second half of the evening was held in Stanford Avenue Methodist Church. John

Funnell of Brighton & Hove Archaeological Society spoke without repetition, hesitation

or deviation for 15 minutes about stone age man, woman and child in and around Blaker's

Park. He revealed there was evidence of a neolithic burial in the top half of Waldegrave

Road plus many other prehistoric remains within a short walk of Blaker's.

Rose Collis, the editor of the New Encylopaedia of Brighton and ukulele player, put the

origins of our park into context by running through the history of the city's public spaces.

She concluded that there were three main periods of park development and alluded to a

fourth – the short-lived community garden in Lewes Road.

For those who have seen our park ranger Emma Keane working away in Blaker's, the

evning was a chance to hear from her about some of her responsibilities and the Council's

activities. It was an excellent surprise to hear that she expected progress soon with the

long-awaited Management Plan. This was the cherry on the top of the cake as far as the

committee was concerned that evening.

Finally the Chairman wittered on and on about what happened in the park in 2010, with

particular thanks to Mel Levy for organising the first Spring Clean and to Transition

Fiveways for holding so many community-minded events. When he ran out of steam he

chaired the AGM which lasted just a few moments, to the collective relief of everyone.The accounts were accepted and the Committee was re-elected unanimously.

When all the teas and coffees were drunk and several dozen biscuits scoffed, the hall

gradually emptied, Almost 60 people had come along, the largest audience for an eveningevent for several years. Half of them added their names to our newly established list of

people who may be available to help the Friends in a voluntary capacity.

Who knows if Blaker's Big Night will ever happen again? Some say we tried to pack in

too much for one evening. Others say there should have been some live musicians to add

to the atmosphere. Email [email protected] if you have suggestions.

Most importantly, none of it could have happened without the generous efforts of

Marjorie and Harold Cozens, and the hospitality of the Church, to whom the Friendsextend their thanks.



What's On?

Sunday 26th December 2010

Christmas Jumper, Hat, Scarf and Gloves Parade

Wear your new woolies with pride and show the world how warm and cosy you feel.

Sunday 20th March 2011

Spring Clean

Last year was such a huge success with more than 100 volunteers. This year we want to do

just as well, cleaning up our park so it's spic and span.

April and ongoing through the year

Swap Meets organised by Transition Fiveways

Sunday 15th May 2011

(if the weather is bad it'll be held on Sunday 22nd May)

Open Air Art Exhibition

The third annual exhibition. Everyone welcome to hang their artworks and catch the eyes

of people moving between the Open Houses.

Spring Half Term (28th May- 5th June 2011)

Terrific Trees part one

For young people who want to know more about the park's oldest residents - the trees.

Saturday 25th June 2011

Community Picnic

Meet your friends, family and neighbours at our al fresco day-long party. Live music,

stalls and games. Did anyone mention a bouncy castle?

Thursday 13th October 2011

Blaker's Big Night & AGM

It's back - the outdoor/indoor event that brings everyone together and reveals the hidden

secrets of Blaker's Park.

Autumn Half Term (22nd - 30th October 2011)

Terrific trees part two

For young people who want to know even more about the park's trees.

Monday 31st October 2011

Halloween

Party in the dark with the Fiends of Blaker's Park. Spooky.

And there's more to come...Keep an eye on the website, www.blakerspark.org.uk, for more events. And if you want to

put on an event just let us know and we'll do what we can to help you.



How to Be a Good Friend of Blaker's Park

It's very easy to support the work of the Friends of Blaker's Park, a community

organisation which protects and enhances our local open space – join us. Our strength is in

our numbers so membership fees are ridiculously affordable. There are two different

ways to join us (or to renew your existing membership which will have expired in

October). The first is the simple form you can fill in and give to us with cash or a cheque

made out to "Friends of Blaker's Park".

Name:___________________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________

__________________________Phone_______________

Please write your email address below to receive news and events by email:

_______________________@________________________________________

I enclose payment for the following (please circle):One year's membership £3.00One year's membership students and unwaged £1.50Three year's membership £9.00Five year's membership £15.00

The second way to join us is to complete this standing order mandate.

Standing Order MandateMy bank:________________________________ ________________ Bank address: ______________________________Postcode: ______________ My account no: ___________________________________________ Sort code: __________________________ My name: _______________________________ Signature: _____________________ _ Date: _______________

Bank instruction: Please pay £3 beginning on _____/____________/_______ (day/month/year) and on the same date each year to Friends of Blaker's ParkAccount no: 21262734; Sort Code 40-05-27; HSBC 69 Pall Mall, London SW1 5EY

This Standing Order Mandate supersedes all previous standing orders to Friends of Blaker's Park

When you've filled in your name, address, phone & email details and completed either the

membership payment panel (with payment) or the standing order mandate, please dropthis into either 4 Beaconsfield Villas, 77 Chester Terrace or 10 Southdown Road.

Thank you in advance for being a Friend of Blaker's Park.

We wish you a very Happy New Year

blakers news dec 2010

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