This year’s AGM was held at Belsize Square Synagogue on Sunday 9 March, with about 50 members attending.
The Chair reported on the past year’s activities, including events such as the well-attended history walks, the annual summer party, our annual carol singing, and BelSoc’s growing links with the Belsize Community Library. There was a discussion about the Society’s work on issues such as parking permits and the planning of various developments in the area.
The meeting covered the upgrade to the website that is planned. The costs of this were discussed and it was recognised that the financial outlay – while significant – was consistent with the needed level of website functionality. The Society had also continued its engagement with Camden and other bodies about how to support residents retrofitting their properties with sustainable energy systems, and this Newsletter includes some of the follow-on from this work.
A new committee was agreed, and we were pleased that Chris Langdon has joined the committee. Alan Selwyn joins the committee and has become a Trustee of the Society. Other committee members are Barbara Abraham, Sanya Polescuk, David Thomas, Prabhat Vaze, and Peter Wallace. Anne Stevens is a Trustee, as are Barbara, Prabhat and David.
The AGM was followed by a talk by Paul Wood on London Trees. London is one of the few metropolitan areas that can claim – because tree coverage is so high – to be a forested area. Over the course of an absorbing half an hour, Paul talked about, and showed images of, some of the oldest and most remarkable trees in the city, such as the oaks in Richmond Park and the familiar but beautiful London planes. His talk had sections on the places of London associated with trees, where trees enter into place names (e.g. the nine elms of. Nine Elms), the way developments have been designed around historic trees, and the more recent work by London boroughs to ensure that a varied set of urban trees is planted taking into account climate changes.
New trustee: Alan Selwyn
I joined the Belsoc committee having recently retired from General Practice in Brent after 38 years. Alongside some wonderful colleagues, I cared for what grew to 16,000 patients, and developed a new state-of-the-art surgery.
Whilst living in West Hampstead I co-founded and chaired CRASH (The Combined Residents Association of South Hampstead) and we looked after that Conservation Area at a time of rampant development. I have subsequently lived in Belsize Park for over 30 years and care deeply about its architecture, greenery and general appearance, as well as the fantastic people who live here and its rich history.
I monitor and respond to planning matters, having taken on the mantle from the estimable Tom Symes. I am also keen to enhance our communication and attract new members and am facilitating a new website and social media presence.