***Please note: our AGM is on Monday 20th May, NOT as stated in buzz Wednesday 20th May.***
This month we report on a very successful Volunteer Fair and positive news about step free access to Waterlow Park. On planning, we continue to fight our way through the labyrinth of fire and planning regulations involving Shepherd’s Cottage. The Highgate Bookshop is for sale but we want to keep it! Might it be a business or investment opportunity for you?
As usual there’s a great calendar of events in April with a talk and film about Highgate New Town - a high density but low-rise housing estate, and a reminder of when local councils had money to spend. We then have our Spring Social and the Merry Mug quiz, near the end of the month.
Remember, unless we say otherwise our events are open to anyone - no need for membership.
NEWS
Volunteer Fair attracts steady stream of visitors
Tulip Siddiq, MP for Hampstead and Kilburn, (third from the left) visited Highgate Society’s Volunteer Fair where the Society and local organisations encourage visitors to get involved. The idea behind this is to create an event where people considering the idea of volunteering can meet and chat to local organisations about how they can get involved – on an ad hoc or a regular basis. Tulip Siddiq said: "It was a real pleasure to attend the Highgate Society Volunteer Fair to support local charities and community groups and encourage as many people as possible to become a volunteer." For the full story click here
Photo copyright Kathryn McGeary
The continued fight to protect Shepherd’s Cottage
The future of this historic gem and its inhabitants hangs precariously in the balance, overshadowed by the spectre of inadequate fire safety measures. For the full details click here.
Spring buzz published
The latest issue of the Society's quarterly magazine has been published and distributed to members. If you haven't received yours, email buzzdistribution@highgatesociety.com and we will look into it.
If you would prefer to receive your copy by email as a PDF file please contact us at the above address.
buzz is available free to Highgate Society members only. It can be purchased by non-members for £1.50 at the Saturday morning coffee session at 10A.
Step free access to Waterlow Park
We’re delighted to hear that Camden are going ahead with a project to put in place step free access at the High Street entrance to Waterlow Park. Inevitably there is an extended timeline for community consultation, design and appointment of a contractor but the new access is intended to be completed by the Spring 2025.
At the same time there will be a review of the play facilities near the lower pond and some improvements being considered there.
Ever wanted to run a bookshop?
If you or anyone you know is looking for a new career as a bookseller here is the opportunity. It’s official - sadly Michael the current owner of Highgate Bookshop after many years is retiring and the bookshop is up for sale. We wish him well for his retirement.
We hope that a buyer can be found to continue selling books at this much loved Highgate Village landmark. If you are interested please contact us.
Posters have appeared near Highgate School and across North London advertising illegal cannabis sales. if you see any such posters please remove them. For the full story see this Ham & High article.
Haringey has launched a trial dockless bike scheme across the borough following a first round of consultation. It is now seeking residents' input on how the trial is working, both generally and in specific parking locations. Find out more and have your say here. The consultation runs until Autumn 2025.
A small section of Hampstead Lane is due to be partially closed between Tuesday 2 and Friday 5 April 2024, while Highgate School carries out some essential tree works. The section of road affected runs along the Junior School boundary and will be controlled by a traffic light system during this period.
When you are out and about, it can be useful to have the app Love Clean Streets available on your phones. This enables you to report direct to the Councils any issues with rubbish, street furniture, graffiti and it really does work well! Based on where you make the report from, it goes to the correct Council and Veolia as their contractor normally follows up promptly. If you go to your App Store and type “love clean streets”, the app appears as a white square, with green, red and white hearts in the middle.
In the news:
Sunday lunchtime concerts (Ham & High article) - click here
Volunteers wanted to help with AV equipment
The Society is looking for volunteers to help set up and operate audio-visual equipment for our evening talks and some events by hall hirers. If you might be interested in helping, contact it@highgatesociety.com for more information on what it involves.
EVENTS
Highgate New Town: The Place and Its People
Wednesday 17th April 7.30 pm
10A South Grove N6 6BS and on Zoom
£7.50 including a glass of wine (£3 on Zoom)
An evening celebrating Highgate NT by its residents. A short film will be followed by a talk by Fabian Wilkinson author of the Golden Age of Camden Housing. For details click here. For booking click here.
Spring Social at 10A
Friday 26th April 7.00 to 8.15 pm
10A South Grove N6 6BS
Entry £6 on the door (booking not required).
Come and celebrate the arrival of spring while enjoying a glass of wine or two (or a soft drink) in the company of old friends or while making new ones.
The Annual Merry Mug Quiz
Tuesday 30th April 7.30 for 8.00 pm
HLSI, 11 South Grove N6 6BS
Th Highgate Society takes on the Highgate Literary & Scientific Institution in the annual general knowledge challenge. No need to book or form a team. Just come along and join a table. (Highgate Society and HLSI members only.)
From Blackpool to Highgate
Wednesday 15th May 7.30 pm
10A South Grove N6 6BS and on Zoom
£7.50 including a glass of wine (£3 on Zoom)
John Plews ran the Highgate venue ‘Upstairs at the Gatehouse’ for 26 years He will recount his early days in the entertainment industry which led to an exciting theatrical journey…..”From Blackpool to Highgate”. For details click here. For booking clickhere.
The Highgate Society's 2024 AGM will be held on Monday 20th May at St Michael's Primary School, North Road N6 4BG. Doors will open at 6.45 pm for a 7.00 pm start.
The guest speaker will be Alice Roberts, Head of Campaigns for CPRE London.
Refreshments will be provided and non-members are welcome. Admission is free.
Sunday 26th May 12 noon (doors open 11.45).
10A South Grove N6 6BS
£15 including a glass of Buck's Fizz.
Anna Scott sings and plays Americana classics.– and might even be persuaded to do a little tap dancing! For details click here. For booking, click here.
More events
●The Poetry Group has its next meeting on Tuesday 2nd April at 6.30 pm. The themes for the month are 'Fools and fanatics/April is the cruelest month/Does s/he like chocolate'. £3 admission includes tea and biscuits. For more details contact Richard Downes at r.downes@yahoo.co.uk.
● The next French Circle meeting will be on Wednesday 3rd April at 7.30pm.
● The next Coffee & Computers session will be on Monday 8th April 10.30 am to 12.30 pm at 10A South Grove. To receive notifications of sessions, email highgatecoffeeandcomputers@gmail.com.
● The next Tidy-up event is on Saturday 13th April 9.00 to 10.00 am. Meet at the Community Centre, Girdlestone Estate N19 5DX. For more details click here.
● The next guerrilla gardening event is on Saturday 20th April 10.00 am to 12 noon meeting at the green triangle of land opposite The Woodman pub on Archway Road at the junction with Muswell Hill Road. We plan to prepare the ground there and do planting. Please bring gloves, secateurs and forks if you have them. There will be tea and coffee after the event.
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.
