Chairman's Blog - August 2017

SUMMER PARTY

We held a very successful summer party to which we had invited all the volunteers who run the Association and look after the Pavilion. It took place on the middle Saturday of the Wimbledon fortnight, and was blessed by weather. In keeping with the spirit of

Wimbledon, we enjoyed prosecco, and strawberries and cream, as well as lots of savouries. 

There was a more serious side to the occasion too. In the early spring, we had planted a Bird Cherry tree in memory of Jan Bailey, who was our Secretary for very many years, and who died suddenly last year to our great loss. During the party, her partner, Gordon, unveiled a plaque at the tree commemorating her, and made a lovely speech in her honour. It was very moving. 

WATERLOO TRAINS

Another reminder that four platforms at Waterloo are being extended this month to take longer trains and new track is being laid. This will cause major disruption to services during the expected work schedule from August 5 to 28, and half the services will not run. The advice is to travel only outside rush hours, if possible, or to find alternative means of getting to London.

 CYCLE RACE IN LONDON AND SURREY

The annual cycle race took place on Sunday 30th July, which required the closure of many major local roads for the whole day. The organisers now build in some crossing points where local people can try and get through, both on foot and by car. Let us know if there were any difficulties that you found, and we will pass these onto the organisers to build in for next year.

 A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE

When people ask me why I have never moved, I always say it is because this is the best place to live in London. It has more open space and greenery than anywhere else in the capital, with Wimbledon Common, Wimbledon Park, and Cannon Hill Common, among many other parks, to enjoy. It has

good transport links by train, tube, tram, bus, and road in all directions. It has accessible major hospitals. It has a variety of housing. It has many sports clubs, including the tennis championships and AFC Wimbledon. 

It has good schools, both local authority and private. It is also, as the local police officers told us at our AGM, about the safest place in London in terms of crime. Our task, as an Association, is to help keep it this way. 

HOLIDAYS

We all wish you a very happy and enjoyable holiday, whether you stay at home or go away. 

John Elvidge