Friends of Herne Hill Velodrome and Inaugural Meeting 30/11/11

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Friends of Herne Hill Velodrome and Inaugural Meeting 30/11/11

Dear Herne Hill Velodrome Neighbours

Thank you to all those who have shown interest during the past year in Herne Hill Velodrome (HHV), the 1891 track cycling venue, used for the 1948 Olympics, which has managed to stay open, providing track cycling for all and nurturing a stream of champions, despite its deteriorating physical and financial state. So especial thanks to those who have very generously made donations.

Great progress has been made by the Save the Velodrome campaign, since its launch in October 2010, but much more is needed to make the future of the Velodrome truly secure.

As close neighbours will know, the track was renovated and resurfaced, in August 2011, thanks to British Cycling, its expertise and donors, and The Dulwich Estate, which granted it a 15-year lease for the track and infill. The new, smooth, black, tarred-granite surface is proving fast and stable?a racing and training track fit for today?s and tomorrow?s champions.

Herne Hill Velodrome Trust (HHVT), the charity set up to run the HHV site, (company no. 07458529, charity registration 1140128), has just been awarded ?400,000 from Southwark?s Olympic and Paralympic Legacy Fund to increase the cycling facilities at HHV, with a children?s track and family cycle path. But the buildings on the site remain derelict.

Work is on-going to devise a viable business plan to replace the boarded-up buildings, restore the rest of the site, and produce the revenue stream to keep HHV running as a Community Centre for cycling and other sports, catering for all ages and abilities, while retaining its tranquil, wooded character.

The Trust hopes you support this vision and will want to be a Friend of HHV?those who have already donated ?10 or more to HHVT are offered immediate registration as Inaugural Friends. HHVT will need all the support it can get, when approaching major donors.

For the subscription of ?10 per year, Friends will be providing some base funding for the charity and will receive regular newsletters, with information about activities at HHV, events/visits, special offers, including opportunities for fund-raising and volunteering, and an invitation to the Friends? Annual General Meeting in the autumn. This is where Friends will receive reports from the Trust and those over 18 years old can elect the Friends Management Committee (FMC) and the Friends? Trustee to the HHVT Board, each year.

The Inaugural General Meeting of the Friends and first elections will be on Wednesday 30 November 2011, registration from 7pm, meeting 7.30 to 9pm, in Herne Hill Methodist Church Hall, 155 Half Moon Lane, near Beckwith Road, London SE24 9JG.

Please consider joining the Friends, using the attached form, and come along. And perhaps consider being a candidate for the above positions? Please go to www.seethedifference.org, enter HHV in ?search? and click on ?Help shape the future of HHV? to find all the Information and Application forms (and you can pay the Friends subscription electronically there). Or you can fill in the Friends and FMC forms when you come at 7pm.

Hope to see you there!

Charmian Hornsby HHVT Trustee