The Kensington Magazine and Dr Joan Martin at No. 11 Downing St.
In Autumn last year The Times ran an article about the Sternberg Award, an initiative by Sir Sigmund Sternberg recognising the huge contribution those over 70 can make to their community. We considered Dr Joan Martin who runs the Emperor’s Swimming Club in North Kensington for disabled people was top of the list and so nominated her. Joan started the swimming club in 1955 and since then, every Friday night has attended. She’s now 96 and in addition to teaching swimming she regularly tends the Vicarage gardens and is still involved in the Guide movement. In fact we were not able to daly too long at Downing St. as she had to rush off to a Guides meeting.
Accompanying Joan to receive her award by James Harding, Editor of The Times and Michael Sternberg (son of) was Joy Puritz who also lives in Kensington and recently wrote Joan’s biography.
Joan did not win but did come as a Runner Up and received a certifcate from James and Michael. The winner was Colin Murray Parkes aged 84 who set up the first hospice-based bereavement service. After his retirement at 65, he “embarked on a second career exploring the links between grief, terrorism, violence and reconciliation”.
Despite George Osborne taking a break from the trials of the Euro to meet the finalists, this was an informal but inspirational event – the older generation have a lot to be proud of and their contribution to the local or wider community is not to be underestimated.
Recently Kuoni in Kensington High St. hosted an evening with Simon Reeve for residents and friends to meet him and learn more about his recent travels for the BBC programme ‘Indian Ocean’. The evening was informal and very relaxed, Simon is charismatic and down to earth, even to the description of how in Mogadishu (the most dangerous city on earth) he had to wear special shrapnel protective boxers. His knowledge of sustainable development is enormous and he is passionate about it, e.g. pointing out that we should not be overly critical of other countries with a heavy deforestation programme, since we only have to look at the UK to see we too have lost many of our forests. Kuoni were extremely generous with the champagne and nibbles, Simon an excellent and most informative talker – a combination of which is bound to have encouraged some on the night to sign up for the more exotic trips Kuoni offer (without the camera crew of course).
Fabulous afternoon. A lunch party for ten Kensington Residents – the true ‘Golden Oldies’ whose ages ranged from the spring chicken of just 80 to a sightly more mature 96. A three course lunch with wine at the Milestone Hotel, a visit by the Mayor of Kensington & Chelsea, Councillor Julie Mills, and a photo shoot by the Kensington & Chelsea Chronicle. A very special occasion and a tremendous thank you to the Mayor and the Milestone for making this such a success.