Past Engagements June 2008
June was a busy month for the Speaker, who attended and hosted a wide variety of events.
National Gardens Scheme
Green-fingered Hackney folk opened their gardens for charity in June, and welcomed a very special guest.
Cllr Ian Rathbone, Speaker of Hackney, visited gardens in Lower Clapton to see the fruits of residents’ labour. He said: “'I was pleased to see the way the different garden space in these homes has been used to create a beautiful place of quietness, and a world away from all that is inner city Hackney. If only more people would take care of their gardens in this way, it would mean a cleaner atmosphere.”
He also congratulated residents Philip Lightowlers, Rose Greenwood and Annie Moloney for all their hard work.
Tea, cakes as well as plants were on sale during the open day, organised as part of the National Gardens Scheme - a charity which fundraises each year for nursing, caring and gardening charities. Garden owners charge a small entrance fee which goes to the scheme. There are some 3,600 gardens in the NGS scheme, details of which are available on their website www.ngs.org.uk.
The Speaker was guest of honour at the 11th HVA Annual Achievement Awards
On 5 June, the Speaker was the guest of honour at the 11th HVA (Hackney Voluntary Action) annual achievement awards. "It is very encouraging to hear about the high standard of work carried out by people, particularly young people," he said at the meeting.
During the evening the Volunteer of the Year award went to Monica Harding of the Community Resource Team; Hackney City Farm won the Good Practice Organisation award; and Young Volunteers Award winner was Deimante Karpaviciute from Envision.
Opening of the Clapton Park Fun Day
On 7 June, the Speaker attended the opening of the Clapton Park Fun Day that was organised by the Clapton Park Tenant Management Organisation for the people of Clapton Park, Nye Bevan and Millfields Estates.
The Speaker with a member of the Hackney’s Community Safety Team
Visit to the London Waste Ltd
On 20 June, the Speaker visited the London Waste Ltd. which is a 50:50 joint venture company, its shareholders being the North London Waste Authority and the SITA UK Limited. The Speaker was given a tour of the Eco Park in Edmonton. As part of the tour the Speaker visited the Compost Centre where the processing of organic waste takes place and the Energy Centre where the residual waste is managed.
The Speaker in the Control Room at the Eco Park, Edmonton
Da Big Freeze event & an evening for Zimbabwe
On 28 June the Speaker attended Da Big Freeze; an ice skating event organised for Hackney young people aged 11 to 21 by Hold it Down. The event was part of a Youth Futures programme which is a voluntary and community sector led partnership tackling gun and gang crime in the borough. Bashment, Hip-Hop, R‘n’B and grime were played by Energy FM’s DJ Gangster Kid, while prizes were given out as well as free food and drink.
The Speaker said: "I really enjoyed the event, it was excellent to see so many young people from Hackney come together, enjoy themselves peacefully and show a real pride in their borough. Events like this help to give our young people an opportunity to say what’s on their mind as well as having a good time. Organisers Hold it Down showed just how effective community-led projects can be in reaching out to young people."
The Speaker also attended a community concert on the same day in aid of an orphanage in Zimbabwe for destitute children.
The 60th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush
The Speaker of Hackney marked the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush by hosting a reception at the Town Hall on Sunday, 22 June.
The Borough Deans Group organised a service at Salvation Army Hall, Mare Street, to mark the occasion. Following the service Hackney’s Windrush generation of the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s met up in the Speaker’s Parlour.
The Speaker said: "The diversity that has come from the Windrush phenomenon is to be celebrated and affirmed by all of us.”
The Speaker then presented those gathered with a map of the Caribbean in the 1930s, ads well as a lapel badge bearing the crest of the borough.
Members of the borough’s Windrush generation have also recently attended workshops held by Lorna Holder, managing director of Tuareg Productions, as research for a play to be staged at the Hackney Empire.
The Speaker with members of the borough’s Windrush generation. Photo by Gary Manhine
Page updated: 15 Aug 2008