May 2023
CORNWALL GARDENS BULLETIN - 12 MAY 2023
Dear Cornwall Gardens Residents Association (CGRA) Member and/or Cornwall Gardens Committee (CGC) Member
Coronation Party and Concert, Gloucester Road Coronation Street Party and the Coronation Chicken Lunch
The prolonged cool wet Spring has rewarded us with an extended display of blossoming trees and shrubs, early flowering plants and abundance of bluebells and other bulb varieties. The downside is that there have been fewer opportunities to enjoy much Spring sunshine and warmth out in the gardens as there has been so little.
So it was with remarkable luck we were able to enjoy the Coronation Musical Party presented by tlc and the Earl's Courtiers last Friday's sunny evening and the Gloucester Road Street Party last Sunday in warm sunshine organised by our ward councillors Roberto, Sam and Will. Then a dry though cloudy Coronation Chicken Lunch for Generation Camilla and Charles residents (plus helpers) when rain had been forecast for the whole day. Four lucky residents won raffle Coronation prizes provided by Fortnums. All three events were a great success, judging by the positive feedback received, with many hoping that we won't have to wait until the next Coronation for the next ones!
There was some confusion at the pricing policy for Friday's open event as we had been informed the refreshments provided by tlc would be free of charge whereas on the evening, donations were invited. We are in discussion with tlc so that the pricing policy can be clarified with certainty for any future events. Jakobs provided a table of refreshments on a commercial basis as requested and intended, which quickly sold out.
Do please feel free to send in your pictures for inclusion in future publications including the Cornwall Gardens website currently being built.
Authorised Private Gatherings in the Gardens
In the light of the above, it is no surprise that with the gradually improving weather and to make up for lost opportunities, there are more private Family and Household gatherings in the gardens now being booked, the great majority of which we have been able to accommodate as follows:
Sat, 13 May 2023 from 11 am, East Garden, Celebration Table Picnic with Benches for 10 adult Family and Friends hosted by Silvia M, a key holder
Sat, 20 May 2023 from 1 pm, East Garden, Family Birthday Table Picnic for 10 Family and Friends hosted by Ignacio, a key holder
Sat, 20 May 2023 in the afternoon, Central Garden (front of shed and part of lawn) - Arlo's Birthday Party and Table Picnic hosted by Dianne (a key holder) for around 20 adults and children
Sun, 4 June 2023 from 2 pm for two to three hours, Central Garden (front of shed and part of lawn), Son's First Birthday for between 10 and 20 Family and Friends hosted by Lucas & Klevia, key holders
Fri, 9 June 2023 (alternative Fri, 23 June 2023 if wet) from 1 pm to 5 pm, Children's Picnic for 10 people, West Garden, hosted by Cecilia
Sat, 10 June 2023, Afternoon finishing at 6 pm, East Garden Jessica's Birthday Picnic for around 10 to 15 people, hosted by Lachlan & Jessica, key holders
Sat, 17 June 2023, 10 am to 3 pm, West Garden, Children's Table and Gazebo Picnic, Central Garden (front of shed and part of lawn) for 15 people hosted by Cora, a key holder
Sat, 17 June 2023, Christening Celebration Table Drinks Event for Hosts' Daughter Olympia , 2.30 pm to 5 pm for up to 25 people (Families with children)
Thurs, 22 June 2023, East Garden, Birthday Table Picnic for Adult key holder, late afternoon and evening for around 15 people, hosted by two key holders
Sat, 30 June 2023, provisional request for Children's event in Central Garden (front of shed and part of lawn) hosted by two key holders for their nursery age Son, subject to confirmation
Sat, 23 Sep 2023 from 4 to 6 pm, plus an hour either side to set up and dismantle, Central Garden - Wedding Reception hosted by Jamie & Allie (key holders), following their marriage in Christ Church earlier in the day, for around 120 people, with small jazz band. In the event of bad weather, the Reception will be held in Christ Church.
Booking a Private Household or Family Event Being Hosted by Key Holders
If you would like to host an event for your Family or Household to which you wish to invite guests into double figures or which may draw attention in other ways, pl notify the Secretary so the arrangements can be discussed, agreed and the garden space booked and notified to neighbours in advance via the Bulletin. There are some picnic tables (with white fitted table cloths available on request), benches and gazebos for your use (if available at the time) and as needed.
Garden Rules During Private Household or Family Events
Unless authorised working dogs, pl do not bring dogs into the gardens for your event at any time. To do so invariably leads to immediate complaints from neighbours thereby causing embarrassment. Please avoid continuous audible electronic or instrumental music as this often leads to complaint when going on for too long or is too intrusive. However, a few rounds of singing 'Happy Birthday' and similar celebration songs, professional entertainers or supervisors organising children's play for shortish periods rarely leads to complaint. Make sure that children's play activities do not involve organised team ball games or anything similar which can lead to running onto the beds or damaging the trees and plants. Make sure you clear up thoroughly after your event including returning all toys and mobiles to the bunker and the area around the bunker. Stack the tables and benches neatly in the bunker with the gazebo holdall placed on the floor horizontally at the rear. Don't forget recycling bin bags and ordinary bin liners and take them home with you.
Picnic Tables, Fitted White Table Cloths, Benches and Gazebos
One or two of the picnic tables and benches are starting to show their age too but as long as the legs are securely in position, they are ok to use. There are white fitted table cloths available on request. The cloths may be returned, shaken of loose dirt, but otherwise unwashed as they have to be soaked in a special solution.
The gazebo tarpaulin is beginning to tear at the corners so don't worry about that when you set it up. We will be ordering a replacement tarpaulin when the need arises. There is a knack to doing it and it is best done by two people, preferably with at least one person who has done it before or speaking to someone who knows already (pl feel to phone me if stuck). In a nutshell, open the holdall and set up the frame to the half way point by placing one foot on each opposite corner leg and then lift the frame until the first click holding it in place. Then put the roof on with the top right over the dolly. Secure the roof corners with the velcro attached to the roof corners and frame. Then push the rest of the frame up to the top and click into place at the desired setting. There are also side panels that can be added if needed. A good location is on the open paved area in front of the shed if using this area in Central. If going up on the grass in Central or the other gardens, you will find securing pins in a small plastic bag in the hold.
Finally wet wipes, damp cloths and towels are useful. Remember to bring a bottle opener and corkscrew as these are most often forgotten and cannot easily be substituted without causing an injury!
Open Events in the Gardens
London Open Gardens Weekend Sat 10 and Sun 11 June 2023
The London Gardens Trust has arranged for 117 gardens to be open to paying members of the public and also, for the first time, the gardens of the Prime Minister's residence at 10 Downing Street. Cornwall Gardens will be participating on Sat 10 June only. The Central Garden will host the event with a live student band from the Royal College of Music playing background light music and refreshments on a charge basis provided by Jakobs of Gloucester Road. Entrance is free to residents of Cornwall Gardens. If you would like to view other gardens, you can book your tickets on <londongardenstrust.org> More information may be found here. Banners advertising this event will be going up on garden fences and railings shortly.
'Twelfth Night' performed by Shakespeare in the Squares Tues 20 June 2023 at 7 pm in the Central Garden of Cornwall Gardens
Banners are going up advertising this event along garden fences and along Gloucester Road at the east end of Cornwall Gardens. Flyers will be distributed by hand to your block shortly. Chestertons will be sponsoring a prize draw and a number of related activities including a possible VIP area to add some extra sparkle.
Details of the cast have just been announced and may be found at <shakespeareinthesquares.co.uk> where you can also book your tickets and obtain other information about the production and Shakespeare in the Squares generally.
Gardens Committee and Residents Association Business
Gardener's Quarterly Report May 2023
This can be viewed here following presentation to the Gardens Management Committee at its quarterly meeting last Wednesday, 10 May 2023. Further details of this Meeting along with the Residents Association Management Committee meeting will follow in due course after the Minutes have been approved.
Mobile Street CCTV
The first web camera has now been installed and affixed to the lamp post outside 31/33 Cornwall Gardens with a view of the length of the street north side and the cut between West and Central Gardens. The second web camera will be installed outside 82 Cornwall Gardens, some time soon, we hope. We also intend to apply for a Community Infrastructure Levy grant from RBKC for the installation of a third camera overlooking Lexham Walk into Cornwall Gardens. This will require the support of our ward councillors. Awards are discretionary.
Quarterly Police Crime Report and Minutes of Queen's Gate Police Liaison Panel. The can be viewed here.
Separately, there was one reported incident in Cornwall Gardens in the previous month namely theft of luggage from a private car on the north side of Cornwall Gardens parked outside one of the blocks in the 30s. There were also reports of an unknown male, but with no description, ringing and knocking on doors at random in the evenings.
Last Monday, we received a report of a male trying to bluff his way into Cornwall Gardens blocks numbered in the teens close to Launceston Place. We received a detailed description of his methods, clothing and appearance. We can forward this to you on request
Hanging Flower Baskets
Installation is still awaited. If there is much more delay, we will apply for a discount as we successfully did last year. Like the Jubilee, the Coronation may well have had an effect on the supply chain.
Bingo Evenings at Jakobs
Tania, the proprietor of Jakobs of Gloucester Road, has offered to host bingo evenings with prizes at her restaurant for residents of Cornwall Gardens and surrounding streets accompanied by delicious food from Armenia and similar cuisines as well as a wide choice of drinks. More details to follow depending on interest shown by residents.
Kensington Society
The AGM of the Kensington Society will be held on 1 Jun 2023 at the Town Hall. The Annual Report for 2022/2023 has just been published and costs £5 but sent free to Members. It is an excellent read. highly informative, beautifully presented and essential for any resident interested in protecting our conservation area and RBKC's heritage. For the first time it also includes a report on Cornwall Gardens by our Chairman John Varley. Membership is £20 a year. If you are interested in joining, please email kensingtonsociety@outlook.com. They are looking to refresh their management committee and particularly keen to hear from anyone with a background in planning or accounts. More information may be found here.
Planning Applications
We are pleased to report the proposal to install a gigantic hoarding on the frontage of 116-118 Gloucester Road was withdrawn following receipt of a number of objections. This does not mean the proposal is dead as it can be resubmitted at any time. Further applications have been submitted to squeeze in extra Flats on the site to which the residents living there supported by the Kensington Society, ourselves and others will object on the basis it amounts to gross over-development and could create an unwelcome precedent. The applications have been called in by the Planning Committee and therefore at least cannot be disposed by officials acting on their own initiative.
Best,
Alan
Secretary, Cornwall Gardens Committee and Cornwall Gardens Residents Association
07816 324335
