Jimmy Burns - Editor Mike Bates - Production - Battersea Park

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Running for Life the Ups and Downs OVER 5,000 women of all shapes, sizes, ages, and backround converged on the Park on May 3 to raise more than £850,000 for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life. While such events now take place around the UK, it is in the Park that the first ‘race’ was held back in 1994, when some 600 women came together and raised £36,000 in sponsorship. Less than four weeks later, the men and the boys joined in for another fun fundraising physical, for the palliative and neurological care provider, Sue Ryder Care. The weather, on this very British bank holiday weekend, was awful but the runners-some 800 odd-ran the Beat the Baton dressed in bright yellow ponchos and with generous spirits. Billed as the UK’s first 5km race set to live music from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the event was judged a success by the organisers, and was certainly enjoyed by those taking part. “We witnessed true Dunkirk spirit,” enthused Anthony Inglis, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conductor, “There was fabulous atmosphere on stage and the runners certainly seemed to enjoy themselves.” It was, he told us, the most unusual even he had ever done –and one of the most worthwhile. But when does a fun run become an open air concert? asks Friends of Bat- PARKWATCH tersea Park chairman Philip Wright. The runners ran their race against the aural backdrop of a medley of popular classical hits which were amplified around the park. A large sound stage, TV pantechnicon and screen, three generators and four mobile catering outlets were driven on to and parked on the grassed area adjacent to West Carriage Drive. A metal fencing enclosure and a lunch marquee were erected. Due to the downpour that weekend and sheer weight of the vehicles the grass was compacted with deep muddy tracks across it. In 2005 an assurance was given in Wandsworth Council’s Battersea Park Events Strategy paper that “Most events are confined to the British Genius Site. A few sporting events, fun runs and charity bike rides are centred on the genius site but participants then leave the Park or run round the carriage drives.” We hope that the justifiable desire to raise funds for worthy causes in future does not permit the sort of large scale open air concerts on the grass that have done so much damage to the green space in Hyde Park. New York City has banned all commercial events from Central Park. A member of the Friends of Central Park is quoted as saying: “We love our Park it’s a glo- 8 bal tourist attraction and a much needed refuge for New Yorkers. It was not worth it for the few bucks the city was making.” Wandsworth Council please take note. Above: All is not so peaceful for the Monk, see page 7. Below: Getting the winning ticket at the BBQ draw
FT in the Park PARKWATCH Foreign correspondents past and present from the Financial Times gathered near the Park’s War memorial for the newspaper’s annual picnic on June 17. The FT’s motto is “without fear and without favour” so it was in that spirit that colleagues braved appalling weather conditions, dressed down, and shared a huge bowl of pims, sandwiches, and gazpacho (see recipe on page 18) prepared by the Review’s new editor, the FT’s long-serving Jimmy Burns (sitting while grappling with a friend’s dog). The next day your editor was out with the crowds along Horseguards Parade celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Falklands. Watching the march-past by Falklands vets, Jimmy remembered the war, as the FT’s man in Buenos Aires in 1982-an experience that produced his award-winning The Land that Lost its Heroes (recently updated and reprinted by Bloomsbury). After Argentina, Jimmy came back to live in his beloved Battersea,to carry on as an author, journalist, and co-founder of the Above: FT foreign correspondents, past and present, gather in Park Friends of Battersea Park. Servicing Battersea’s printing and stationery requirements for over 50 years. Printing Digital colour copying Binding Stationery 341 Battersea Park Road London SW11 4LS Telephone 020 7622 4522 Fax 020 7498 0173 email sales@embassypress.co.uk web www.embassypress.co.uk 9 Above: Buses and branches and boughs, see page 5. Did you know? According to the Association of Football Statisticians, the first game played under the “Football Association” rules was on the 9th January 1864 in Battersea Park.
Page 1 and 2: Friends of Battersea Park R E V I E
Page 3 and 4: THE POWER STATION Have we been here
Page 5 and 6: PARKWATCH A charming mid summer reh
Page 7: Unholy action LARGE chunks of grass
Page 11 and 12: In the continuing series of Nature
Page 13 and 14: fore breakfast, my father would tak
Page 15 and 16: As a travel journalist, Sophie Camp
Page 17 and 18: The rejuvenated Pump House Gallery
Page 19 and 20: Below, a summary of the Friends acc

Jimmy Burns - Editor Mike Bates - Production - Battersea Park

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