Pelham Square's official opening, 14th August 2006

Tea party to celebrate new railings and reopening of garden

By Jackie Fuller and Sheila Schaffer, North Laine residents (Secretary and Chair respectively of the Friends of Pelham Square)

The Friends of Pelham Square (FPSq) decided to have a tea party and ribbon-cutting ceremony in Pelham Square on 14 August 2006 to celebrate the installation of new railings and the reopening of the garden to the public after it had remained closed for many years.

The early afternoon rain stopped just in time for the party to go ahead and about 40 members came along, including several children. Peter (NLCA Chair) and Mark and Sara (NLCA joint Secretaries) were there to represent the North Laine Community Association.

Photographs of the event

The party was scheduled for 5-6.30pm but an Argus photographer turned up about a quarter of an hour in advance just as we were starting to set out the tea and said that he could only stay for 5 minutes, so those who had come early to help with the preparations stopped what they were doing to pose for a photo, while sadly those who arrived on time missed being in it! Nevertheless, a picture of a few 'Friendly Faces' did appear in The Argus on 16 August 2006 with an explanation of what the party was all about, and another similar photo was printed on the front page of B&H Leader on 18 August 2006 with a nice little write-up to go with it, both of which gave the FPSq some welcome publicity.

Cutting the ribbon

At about 5.20pm when everyone had assembled Sheila (FPSq Chair) said a few words of welcome, stressing what can sometimes be achieved by voluntary groups and the Council working together, and introduced Cllr Gill Mitchell, Chair of the Environment Committee and Deputy Leader of the Council, who formally cut the ribbon which had been tied across the gate to the Square. Cllr Mitchell thanked the FPSq for inviting her and congratulated the group on its first achievement.

Everyone then tucked into the tea, soft drinks and food and chatted to other members (in some cases meeting them for the first time).

Some thanks

Some special thanks are due as follows:

- The More restaurant opposite Pelham Sq for lending us some tables, providing tea in wonderful china teapots with matching cups and saucers, and also contributing trays of sandwiches for the tea table.

- Revamp in Sydney Street for the magnificent balloons in mauve and yellow, with which we decorated the railings and which gave the children much enjoyment once they were taken down!

- Peter Stocker in North Laine Ceramics in Trafalgar St for making a FPSq banner to hang on the railings

- Everyone who contributed delicious cakes (many home-made) as well as savouries and other delights for the tea table, from which no-one went home hungry. You are too numerous to mention individually but you know who you are...

[This is a shortened version of a piece originally published in the 'North Laine Runner', No 182, Sept/Oct 2006]

Black and white photos below taken by Nigel Swallow of North Laine Photography