Page 12 - HGS Suburb News 138 - Spring 2019

Suburb life through
TONY BRAND
Night at the Opera: A full house on Sunday, March 24, at the Free Church, as the London International Orchestra played a wonderful selection of extracts from some of the best
known operas, supported by three soloists from Hampstead Garden Opera. The whole evening raised much needed funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.
RA and Barnet in joint tree initiative
Lyttelton Playing Fields is one
of the green lungs of the Suburb, chairman of the HGS Trust, Alfred
less well known than the Heath
Extension or Central Square, but
a much used open space. The the first to represent England at
playing fields are named after
PHOTOS: EMMA HOWARD
the Liberal politician and first
Lyttelton, who was one of the great
sportsmen of his generation, and
as remnant of a hedgerow (see
both football and cricket.
picture postcards
The latest exciting collection to big world events and little local
hit the HGS Virtual Museum is ones on the lives and people of
the extensive Raymond Lowe Hampstead Garden Suburb from
Collection of picture postcards. 1907 onwards.
These cards tell the story of the We know of at least two more
Suburb’s development from its Suburb postcard collections
very beginnings, and also trace the waiting to join this one in the
history of one particular extended museum. The Virtual Museum
family of early residents and seeks to preserve any unique
their neighbours and friends. memorabilia or artefacts relating
Raymond was an avid to Suburb people, activities and
collector, who, over many years, history that Suburb families may
enjoyed searching through boxes still have at home, by scanning
and boxes at postcard fairs for and digitising them without
Suburb scenes, “as rare as hens’ families losing ownership.
teeth”. He then mounted and You can find the Raymond
annotated them in several large Lowe Collection in the ‘Collections’
albums, the contents of which section and explore the rest of the
have now been painstakingly museum at hgsheritage.org.uk.
scanned into the Virtual Museum. And if you have anything you
Other local people augmented would like to share yourself
his collection by giving him while retaining ownership, or if
any Suburb cards that they you would like to help with
owned or found. As with the inputting information, please
museum’s First World War get in touch with me – info@
Collection, Raymond’s postcards hgsheritage.org.uk, 8455 6507.
also depict the repercussions of MARJORIE HARRIS
The playing fields were added SN134, back page) that once
to the Suburb in its second phase marked the boundary to the
of development after World War I. Bishop of London’s medieval
A few mature oaks survive, as well Hornsey Park. The small area of
woodland by Mutton Brook is
known as Watery Wood and is
shown on Rocque’s map of 1754.
In 2000 a Millennium Wood
was planted as part of a scheme
promoted by the Woodland
Trust. The area is well known to
users of the children’s play-
ground, outdoor gym and
tennis courts, all provided by
Barnet Council, and Keren’s
Nursery School and the Gaya
Cafe in the pavilion.
The Residents Association
has been working with Barnet
Council to plant some additional
trees in the playing fields and
the photographs illustrate a group
of cherries, hawthorns and a
silver birch planted last month.
More trees will be planted next
season in the playing fields and
the Residents Association is
very pleased at Barnet Council’s
commitment to maintaining
the Suburb’s trees in the playing
fields and elsewhere.
COLIN GREGORY
Please help make Suburb News your newspaper. Articles, letters and news items welcome,
send to the publisher with High Res pictures at rapublications@hgsra.uk
EDITOR: Terry Brooks, rapublications@hgsra.uk
WHAT’S ON EDITOR: David Littaur, dvdlttr@gmail.com.
Views expressed in Suburb News are not necessarily those of the publishers
the Hampstead Garden Suburb Residents Association.
Deadline for the Summer issue is July 6, for publication on August 3
The RA website is www.hgsra.uk