Our High Street group has been busy, with the Halloween walk, fund raising for the Festive Lights and the Christmas Market coming up on the 2nd December. High Streets are struggling and so bringing people to the village for these events helps our shopkeepers, any many of them have made contributions for both the lights and Halloween walk. Elsewhere we report about how poor drain maintenance has been affecting residents health on the Hillcrest estate and how we have been putting pressure on Haringey Council.
Our flagship Carols in Pond Square are on 13th December and there are other exciting events to look forward to in the New Year. Please read more below.
Why not give Highgate Society membership as a gift this Christmas? For more details please contact membership@highgatesociety.com
NEWS
Calling all guerrillas
The Community Projects group has been taking on “guerrilla gardening” challenges in public spaces around Highgate for several years. You can see a link to some of the sites they have worked onhere.
They want to scale up this work and held a discussion evening on 3 November. The result can be seen on the website here.
The photo shows the newly planted cattle trough in Church Road which is a great example of what they can do. At the moment, they have a box of bulbs to plant in the next few weeks for spring flowers. If you can plant even a handful, please do get in touch: infrastructure@highgatesociety.com.
Hillcrest contamination issue
Recent articles in the Ham & High (here) and Haringey Community Press (here) reported on a contamination issue at the Hillcrest estate on North Hill. The Highgate Society has been working with a group of affected residents and our Councillors since the Summer to put pressure on Haringey Council as the freeholder to address its long-term failure to maintain the drainage system it is responsible for. It seems very likely this failure has led to the toxic fumes which are now affecting some residents.
This is a shocking and complex case. We are determined to ensure a positive outcome for the affected residents. For any questions, please do get in touch with Andrew Sulston, who has been leading our work on this, at andrew.sulston1@gmail.com.
Traffic
Read the latest about traffic consultations and follow what we’re doing. We’d be delighted if you’d like to get involved. Clickhere.
Hallowe'en in Highgate
The Society’s Halloween walk raised £500 towards the Festive Lights in the village and Pond Square. A lot of children had a lot of fun - and there were even some adults too, who seemed to be enjoying it. Many thanks to all the shopkeepers and traders who made it such fun:
The Bull Public House; The Wrestlers Public House; The Red Lion & Sun Public House; The Gatehouse Public House; The Flask Public House; Stonebridge Estate Agents; Kokoa; The Prince of Wales Public House; The Angel Public House; Taylor Gibbs Estate Agents; Highgate Dental Practice; Greens of Highgate; Highgate Stationers; Brooksbys; Sacred Gin; Hilltop Beauty Salon; Omved; Pizza Express
December planning report published
The Society’s December quarterly planning report provides updates on recent developments and planning applications. This report covers updates in relation to Townsend Yard, Highgate School and the Holborn Infirmary/Archway Campus as well as a variety of other recent planning applications. In addition, we report on the Highgate Wood Heritage Day, proposals to upgrade the surface of the Parkland Walk and Hampstead Heath matters. Follow this link to read the full document on our website.
Winter buzz published
The Winter 2023 edition of the Society's magazine buzz has been published and will be distributed to members in the coming days. The many articles include one on Henrietta Barnett, an appreciation of the artist George Claessen, whose work can currently be seen at the Three Gallery in the High Street, and recipes for Christmas puddings by Gloria Davenport.
If you would prefer to receive the magazine by email in PDF form please email buzzdistribution@highgatesociety.com. (Highgate Society members only.)
Highgate festive lights
Highgate Festive Events have had a fantastic response from local businesses and residents in their crowdfunding effort for the 2023 Festive Lights in the High Street and Pond Square. The Lights bring magic to the High Street and help set the scene for the lovely Carols in Pond Square on 13 December. They report: As our 2 local authorities have funding pressures, the team had to rethink how to pay for the lights. We are lucky to have four Sponsors - a big thank you to Channing School, Highgate School, Streathers solicitors and Haringey. We launched a “Supporter of the Lights” campaign where local businesses rallied round to keep the village lights twinkling. We are bowled over by the support including (at the time of going to press) the Highgate Society, HLSI, the Angel, Benham and Reeves, Bross Bennett, Day Morris, Dexters, the Duke’s Head, the Highgate Dental Practice, Highgate Pharmacy, Highgate Stationers, Hilltop Beauty, KFH, Litchfields, Nailuxury, Pizza Express, Pond Square Dental, Prickett & Ellis, Reiss Family office, Sacred Distillery, Taylor Gibbs, Tesco, Turkuaz Brasserie, Village Deli and Winkworth.
Thank you to all who donated personally and as families, we appreciate all your help. If you would like to contribute, please follow the link below. We hope you enjoy the Lights this year! www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jameswy-wilkinson
Other news
The prize draw for the 50-50 Club will take place during the Saturday coffee morning on December 30th. The club helps to raise money for the Society's activities. For details on how it works and how to join in click here.
Haringey Council are to remove two decaying lime trees in Bishopswood Road. Replacements will be planted in the ward.
EVENTS
We’re taking the opportunity to brighten up the Old Bus Stand in the centre of Highgate Village with a Christmas Market on 2nd December. Do come along for some Christmas gifts, decorations, plants, festive drinks and food from our local businesses.
Carols in Pond Square
Wednesday 13th December 6.30 pm
With the Highgate School Symphonic Band and Concert Choir. Click here for a link to the song sheet. Followed by mulled wine and festive fare at the Highgate Society, 10A South Grove.
There will be a collection for the North London Hospice and Christmas Day at Jacksons Lane.(cash preferred).
Citizen of London: The story of Richard Whittington
Wednesday 17th January 7.30 pm
10A South Grove N6 6BS and on Zoom.
Entry £7.50 including a glass of wine. (£3 on Zoom).
Michael McCarthy introduces his biography of Richard Whittington - 'the boy who would be mayor' -from his arrival in London as a young boy to his death in 1423, against a backdrop of plague, politics and war.
Sunday 11th February 6.30 pm
Venue to be announced
£30 including interval wine and canapés
Highgate Society members only
Amber Emson (violin), Luca Maffessoli Wadham (viola) and Jason Ma (cello) are award-winning students from the Royal Academy of Music. Their programme will include works by Beethoven and Dohnanyi. For more details and booking arrangements click here or see the Winter issue of buzz.
Cocktail tasting with Alice Lascelles
Friday 23rd February 7.30 pm
10A South Grove N6 6BS
£32.50 including cocktail tasters and light snacks.
Pre-booking essential
Join the Financial Times’s Alice Lascelles for a special evening of cocktail tasting and storytelling. This is the third time Alice has appeared at the Society – her previous, immensely enjoyable, gin and whiskey tasting evenings were both sold out.
● The next Coffee & Computers session will be on Monday 4th December at 10A South Grove. To receive notifications of sessions, email highgatecoffeeandcomputers@gmail.com.
●The Poetry Group has its next meeting on Tuesday 5th Decemberat 6.30 pm. The challenges for the month are 'Operations, Xmas Shopping, Pantomime'. £3 admission includes tea and biscuits. For more details contact Richard Downes at r.downes@yahoo.co.uk.
● The nextFrench Circle meeting will be on Wednesday 6th December at 7.30pm. "You are cordially invited to our Christmas get-together! We speak French, we sing carols in French, we listen to some recorded music, we partake of a special feast of cheeses, pâtés, nibbles and of course a "bûche de Noël". A pianist will accompany us and all the words for the carols will be available. Wear something festive and come and join the fun. Entry is £15 on the door, and cash only please. We look forward to welcoming you!"
● The next Tidy-up event is on Saturday 9th December. Meet on North Hill outside Highgate Surgery For more details click here.
Save the date
Saturday morning coffee on 30th December will be a special 'New Year's Eve Eve' event with mince pies and cake.served.
Wednesday 7th February: Travellers' Tales: Why visit Jordan? An illustrated talk by Jane Campbell and Richard Webber.
You may also be interested in
Highgate Choral Society Family Carols. Saturday 2nd December, St Michael's Church South Grove. Details and booking arrangements here.
The Harington Scheme is running its Christmas Fair and Open Day on Saturday 9th December. Details here.
Please forward this newsletter to anyone who you think would find it interesting. They can sign up to receive it regularly by followingthislink.
To access past issues of this newsletter visit the News page of the Highgate Society web site.
Disclaimer:
The Highgate Society is an unincorporated association established for the public benefit. It endeavours to ensure that the information it provides as a free service is correct but does not warrant that it is accurate or complete. Nothing in this correspondence constitutes professional or legal advice and may not be relied on as such. In no event will the Society be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation indirect or consequential loss or damage or any damage whatsoever arising from any objections criticism advice and information it provides.
