Friday 28th March was a big night for Hurst Park as residents, committee members, and friends came together at the Royal British Legion for our Annual General Meeting. It was a great chance to catch up, hear what’s been going on, and chat about what’s coming next for our community.
Charlotte Dean, our Acting Chair, welcomed everyone and introduced special guest Monica Harding MP. Monica spoke passionately about local issues — everything from sewage in the Thames (still a big headache) to GP surgery access, support for kids with special needs, and the growing number of abandoned and overstaying boats along the river.
The boat problem definitely got people talking! Monica promised she’s pushing ministers to take action, and gave a big thanks to Peter Aron and the Molesey Riverside Action Group for all their hard work.
After Monica’s Q&A, the official AGM business got started. Last year’s minutes were quickly approved (thank you, Alistair and Roger), and Treasurer Jenni Haile shared the financial report — a small loss this year, but strong fundraising events like the Quiz Night really helped.
Charlotte then gave an update on everything the HPRA’s been up to — from fighting to protect our green spaces to celebrating the Dog Show, the Quiz Night, and the launch of our brand-new, much more stylish newsletter designed by Paulo Moro.
At the meeting, several changes to the committee were agreed upon. A new Chair and Secretary were appointed, while the current Acting Chair confirmed she would move into the Treasurer role once a permanent Chair was in place.
The existing committee members who wished to continue in their roles were also re-elected, ensuring continuity and experience for the year ahead.
In the open forum, lots of great ideas came up for bringing the community closer, like setting up street reps, running a survey, getting younger residents involved, and teaming up with other local groups. Plenty to look forward to!
The meeting wrapped up around 10 PM after a really positive evening. Thanks to everyone who came along — it’s clear that with a bit of teamwork and a lot of heart, Hurst Park’s best days are still ahead.
You can access the Minutes here.
