The Life of a Battersea Society Trustee… highlights and hairy bits!
By Sue Demont and Sara Milne
Retiring trustees Sara Milne and Sue Demont share memories of their years of service.
On the left, Sue at Falcon Road festival, 2019; on the right, new trustee Jenny Boehm
Proudest moments
Sara: the creation of our commemorative Blue Plaque programme and the unveiling of our first plaque to Donald Swann; and managing to move the Events programme online during the Covid 19 pandemic, making the Society more accessible not just to members but also the local community
Sue: supporting the late David Lewis in the creation of a Heritage Committee which is now making a significant contribution to one of the Society’s three missions - the celebration of Battersea’s past
Maureen Larkin on the left, with Sara in 2019
Fondest memory
Sara: having a laugh with the late Maureen Larkin at church fetes, fundraising for the Society by selling home made jams and chutneys, and chatting about local issues and the changes she had seen in the community over the decades
Sue: endless coffees at the Deli Boutique in Webb’s Road with the great Jenny Sheridan, Chair 2018-22, who never stopped thinking up new ways to promote Battersea’s past, present AND future and always tried to take trustees - including me - with her
Hairiest moment
Sara: trying to live stream the World Cup semi-final match during the Summer Party 2018: thank goodness for the technical know-how of the Police Cadets!
Sue: causing chaos at Rymans the stationers when a new member of staff and I made a complete hash of photocopying the 2019 AGM papers: thank goodness for the calm and collected branch manager who came to the rescue.
Most satisfying contribution
Sara: introducing the Society to online banking!
Sue: persuading my fellow trustees that the Society should fund Jeanne Rathbone’s Inspiring Women of Battersea (on sale from June!)
What we learned about Battersea through being trustees
Sara: just how emotionally involved, passionate and positive people can be about their local community
Sue: the astonishing scale and reach of the Battersea brand – we have members all over the country and receive communications and enquiries via our website from all over the world
Sue Demont continues as Chair of the Heritage committee and Sara Milne carries on as chair of the Events committee.