Page 8 - HGS Suburb News 133 - Winter2018

in conversation with...

...Professor Margaret Harris

Daphne Berkovi chats to Margaret about her life, academia and nostalgia for a Temple Fortune childhood

Margaret and her husband Paul school in the Suburb, Margaret that Margaret was introduced it had been designed by the Residents Association. Margaret Temple Fortune childhood. This
moved to the Suburb in 2008 then attended Copthall, a local to the world of charities and eccentric architect Matthew also spoke about the good is an important part of social
after their retirement. However, girl’s grammar school. Thereafter the voluntary sector. Thus, in Dawson, who designed several interfaith work that exists, history and Suburb history too;
this move, returned Margaret to she went to Birmingham 1979 Margaret went to Brunel houses in the Suburb. Another encouraged by the local for living here, Margaret
her childhood roots as we University to study Sociology University to complete a Master’s reason was the easy access to churches and synagogues. explains, is helping her to recall
discover in conversation. and Politics where she met her in Public Administration. Whilst transport and shops. Margaret Finally, Margaret spoke of the shops and personalities of
husband Paul who was studying there she was invited to develop expressed how much she really the opportunity for new her local childhood; recounting
argaret’s family moved to law. She related that her teaching and research on the appreciated the H2 bus service learning now that the new U3A and documenting what has
MMonkville Avenue in academic studies have allowed management of charities and that exists in the Suburb. She has been established in the changed and what has
Temple Fortune when she was her to pursue a pathway that other voluntary organisations. also values the online Master Suburb; where she has joined a remained the same. I am sure
aged just 4. Margaret explained has proved interesting and This was at a time when there Tradespeople List that can be class, ‘Blank Page’, and is this will make interesting
to me that she was a lonely worthwhile throughout her life. was practically no research consulted by members of the writing up memories of her reading for us all
only child until aged 6 when A year after graduation Paul about the ‘third sector’.
her brother was born but once and Margaret married in 1967. This then marked a new
the family moved, Margaret A return then to London chapter in Margaret’s life as she
encountered lots of children to and initially to live in Earls recounted that this was the
play with in their cul-de-sac. Court; Margaret’s first job was moment that her career and
These were halcyon days when working for the former Greater research on voluntary
Margaret walked on her own to London Council at County Hall, organisations took off; resulting
and from the Garden Suburb Westminster. It was here that in pioneering a new academic
primary school. There was always Margaret felt she honed her field including postgraduate
the obligatory policeman on organisational skills as she teaching and research projects
duty at the bottom of Childs Way serviced several council at Brunel. With this experience,
to manage the children crossing committees, including the one Margaret told me she then
the Finchley Road (no lollipop supervising the building of the moved to the LSE, where she
lady or pedestrian crossing was National Theatre on the South helped form a new academic
in existence then). Margaret Bank, and the one which centre within the Department
told me that if the policeman provided liaison between the of Social Policy. In parallel
was not present, then she was GLC and the Heathrow Airport Margaret pursued her Ph.D. on
under strict instructions from Authority. Thereafter Margaret research into the organisation
her mother to ask Mr Corney moved to the GLC Research of churches and synagogues,
(the founder of Corney’s Unit, conducting social research and in 1999 she accepted the
fishmongers) to accompany her projects, which fed into the post of Professor at the Business
across the Finchley Road. council’s planning and policy. School at Aston University.
Childhood memories Once Margaret and Paul So, why the move to the
abound as Margaret conveyed started their family (a son and Suburb in 2008? Margaret
to me that she distinctly daughter) they settled in Elstree. explained that once she retired,
remembers being walked to the It was then that Margaret she and Paul wanted to change
Odeon in Temple Fortune to decided to stop the commute their lifestyle. They also wanted
view films of the Queen’s to London and pursue college to live close to their two children
coronation and about the teaching alongside voluntary and their grandchildren in
Conquest of Everest the same work as an adviser and trainer North London. It was only after
year. So, after passing the 11 for the Citizens Advice Bureau. buying their house that they
plus and leaving her primary It was at this juncture of her life were delighted to discover that

CENTRAL SQ U ARE & SUNSHINE CORNER

Works at Sunshine Corner, Winter 2017/18

Following a successful transformation of the beds at Central Square
(above), the Trust is currently making some changes to the planting at
Sunshine Corner.
This includes changing the orientation of the beds, and establishing
a new perennial meadow planting scheme. Early sketches showing the
plans can be seen below, left and right.
If you have any questions about this
or any other queries relating to Sunshine
Corner or Central Square,
please call the Trust office
on 020 8455 1066 or mail@
hgstrust.org.

862 Finchley Road, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London NW11 6AB 020 8455 1066 mail@hgstrust.org www.hgstrust.org twitter: @HGSTrust

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