The Society has been part of the community for over 50 years, with strong links to other local organisations. Our parties, lectures and other events, such as our annual meeting, are a chance for members to meet each other and chat informally to the committee.
Our main social gathering is the members’ Winter Party, organised at the end of January in the Church Hall. It regularly attracts around 100 guests who enjoy a buffet, wine and entertainment.
Another well–established annual event is the Betjeman Lecture, held in memory of our late patron, Sir John Betjeman, which raises money for the Cure Parkinson’s Trust as Sir John suffered from this disease. Lectures by experts on subjects related to Bedford Park have proved very popular, so we have recently run additional talks. These are usually held in the Arts Education Schools Theatre, which has a bar and comfortable seating.
Green Days
The Society supports the Bedford Park Festival Green Days with a stall selling a variety of Bedford Park memorabilia ranging from cards and books, to mugs, bags, umbrellas, tea towels and aprons. Our membership secretary is on hand to renew subscriptions and welcome new members.
Organised by St Michael and All Angels church, the weekend Green Days on Acton Green kick off the two-week Bedford Park Festival. The Society has contributed speakers for festival events and donates parts of the stall’s profits to the church.
We have recently also set up our stall at the church’s Christmas Fair.
Society lectures
Dr Mervyn Miller, the leading expert on garden cities, presented Bedford Park Society’s annual Betjeman lecture: The Spirit of Place in Letchworth Garden City on 12 December 2016.
In 2017 the Society’s Lecture: The role of heritage and conservation in the future of London took place on 20 November in St Alban’s Church, South Parade.