Chair's update: December

Tom Walker, Chair

November is a slightly quieter month in the Abney calendar as the days shorten.

We did, however, host a couple of important events this month.

Remembrance Sunday is one of the most important occasions in the calendar in terms of the fundamental role of Abney as a cemetery and place of rest. We had a crowd of about 60 people joining the event – which also featured two local choirs, poetry readings, and an address from Hackney Council's Deputy Mayor Councillor Anntoinette Bramble. We also had an impeccably-observed two minute silence and the Last Post, played by solo trumpeter Steve Pretty of the Hackney Colliery Band. We are really grateful for all the participants. We also raised a substantial sum for the Disasters Emergency Committee.

Our Trust Co-ordinator, Haydn, also delivered a fantastic “Lost at Sea” event on behalf of the Abney Unearthed project, which maps unmarked graves in the park. And we held a “Fungal Foray” exploring the various types of fungus in the cemetery.

On Wednesday 30th November, the Annual General Meeting signed off our annual report and accounts. These will now be filed with Companies House and the Charity Commission. We also had a brilliant update on Abney Unearthed, the project that the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hackney Council support to map the graves right across Abney.

The conclusion of last year's accounts marks a real turning point for us. The last two years have been challenging. Firstly, Covid 19 upended all our normal way of doing things. And then for the last eighteen months the cemetery has been a building site and we have had our activities curtailed – and we have been working out of a portacabin with no public facing space.

We can now look ahead.

We will be shortly be launching a recruitment campaign for a new position working for the Trust. We will deliver a number of “activities” as part of the Lottery-funded project to bring new visitors to the park and ensure that the whole of the Hackney community can benefit. With new premises there will be a chance to do some really special things. Please help promote this opportunity so we can find someone with all the passion and skills we need.

As part of the year ahead, we are always interested in projects celebrating and marking the history of Abney Park and the lives commemorated there. Get in touch if you have ideas.

Season’s Greetings – and thank you for your support.