FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Winter 2008/9
Winter Soiree celebrates Wimbledon's finest garden
MORE than 70 supporters of the Friends guaranteed a great atmosphere at the group's first ever pre-Christmas Winter Soiree on December 9th, hosted by the Royal Wimbledon Golf Club.
Anthony Gardiner, creator of the park's new herb garden, and his wife Jane led the entire gathering as carols were sung, mulled wine was sipped and canapes were enjoyed to celebrate both the season of goodwill and another year of enhancing Wimbledon's finest public garden.
Like Cannizaro Park, the Royal Wimbledon Golf Course occupies part of what was once a single country estate stretching from Warren Farm to Common Westside. Just over a century ago the club leased its area and today Merton Council is freeholder of both the park and the golf course. Fittingly, the Royal Wimbledon has now become the first corporate life member of the Friends of Cannizaro Park.
Said Friends Chairman Juliet Willis: "Our Winter Soiree was so successful that we are now considering making this an annual event. For many of our own members this was the first time they had ever visited the Royal Wimbledon clubhouse, even though they may have lived nearby for many years."
Pictured above from the left: What better Christmas symbol for Cannizaro than a tree? Anthony Gardiner leads the jingling of bells at the carol singing. Committee member Anne Peacock and visitor Annie Lee organise musical accompaniment. A rarely seen angle of Cannizaro's lime trees in winter wear.
Pictured below from the left: Committee members Stuart Vere and Dee Jones, and longstanding members of the Friends, Joyce Smith who delivers the quarterly Newsletter and Paul Bonner, the group's original photographer.
