Visitors to the Cleaver Square Fete in May - at which we presided over not one but two tables - saw a model for the proposed new notice board outside St. Anselm’s. It is to be built and maintained by old style public subscription and donations from local businesses / associations. In this age of increasingly digital communication, it was noted by Lady C of EoB that there always seems to be someone who misses the memo about a local event, or who does not have, or wish to have, access to Facebook, Twitter et al. She mentioned the idea of a notice board to one of our many clients who are eminent in their field, local resident Edward Hutchison. Being a man of action, he appeared for his next fitting with a portfolio of preliminary sketches. For who better to mention it to than Edward, who designed (at world famous architectural practice Norman Foster) the bus shelters on the Champs Elysées. These were deemed so beautiful and functional that they were rolled out across Europe and are most recently installed in Edinburgh. It is a lovely thing when you can murmur a dream to have someone listen and progress its journey to reality.
The site outside St. Anselm’s church at Kennington Cross (the grand junction of Kennington Road and Kennington Lane) was considered the natural choice, for as well as having space the intersection symbolises a confluence of community, which we hope this monument will come to represent. A map of London shows how Kennington is the hub from which many roads and bridges run as spokes, and inspired by this, Lady C devised an emblem (see below) for the project. Our Auxiliary Graphics Department (our beloved Ian Vincent) then translated her original draft in Chanel "Peridot" nail varnish to a version in grown up graphics. To run parallel to the garden hedge of another top Bedlam model Rev. Aagaard, the board will create a “piazza” effect in front of the church and be built in materials sympathetic to the listed building (Portland Stone if funds allow).
Yet another of Bedlam’s clients, Andrew Wheatley of the Cabinet Gallery (due to open this summer at the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, roll up, roll up!) joined the Board of the Board and proposed another local, Malcolm Brady, as structural engineer. Malcolm duly organised a meeting with Lambeth planning officer Doug Black who “did not doubt the design excellence” and gave us advice as to what would most likely be approved. As a result, we have now a pleasingly asymmetric synthesis of old style village church yard paper notices with a space age digital map of Kennington and its surrounding area on the other side, featuring the pubs, restaurants, galleries, farms and interesting local businesses that make where we live so great. Also incorporated will be a chalk board for those who can’t resist making their mark (a.k.a. organised vandalism); a panel for a weekly children’s art exhibit; seating; and an eave to protect people from the elements.
Please admire, below, Edward’s beautiful isometric drawing of our proposal, and the bank details to make it a 3-D reality! We have already had some most generous donations from Counter restaurant and LASSCOs in Vauxhall; the Three Stags and the TommyField; the lovely Boule-In Bullens; Caroline’s mum; Mr David Beck and many people at the fete. If anyone took a leaflet and made a transfer subsequently we thank you and have a share certificate for you, a covetable watercolour wash by Edward, to enhance your sense of ownership. Rev. Angus has kindly allowed us to use the parish bank account, but do PLEASE use “notice board” as a reference:
Account name is North Lambeth PCC
Account number: 34275088
Sort code: 60 60 04
The blue blob is Bedlam. Kennington Cross lies where "A3204" is written.
Lady C's original draft of the emblem for the new KC board, executed in Chanel nail varnish (peridot) and felt tip pen.
n aerial view of Kennintgon Cross from the roof of our pals at the Dog House public house. The vicarage, and Angus' garden hedge, is just behind the tree to the right.