Some of the folk band taking a break by the pond. Photo: Photo: Ruth Tod.
Muswell Hill centenary
Celebrations begin
The first of our celebrations to mark 100 years of Friends in Muswell Hill was held on the weekend of 12 to 13 June. On the Saturday we had a garden party in our pretty organic garden, the pond on the left of the photo being an inspired solution to the puddles that collected in that area. All afternoon we were entertained with folk music, interrupted only by rehearsals from upstairs for the concert the following evening. Then, with the support of our friends, we had a lively and varied programme of poetry, readings and music from Purcell right through to present day compositions by some of the performers. A few of us wove in the theme of growing old and time passing – some with humour and some with sadness.
Muswell Hill Quakers first started meeting in a school in 1910. Within a couple of years a more permanent room was found in the Conservatoire of Music in the Athenaneum, which was a wonderful late Victorian community centre, sadly pulled down in the 1960s. However, in 1926 Friends built their own Meeting house and moved on. Since then we have extended twice, as those who generously contributed to our building will know. We will be celebrating more on 9 October with 100 Quakers planting 100 trees.
