Rebecca Frayn Re-elected Chair of Friends of Turnham Green

Film maker had stood down during 'Cherrygate' row

Rebecca Frayn posting notice of cancellation of planting. Picture Abundance London

Rebecca Frayn, the film maker and Chiswick resident, has been re-elected as chair of the Friends of Turnham Green in an online vote.

The group helps look after the public park in the centre of Chiswick. The award winning writer and environmentalist stood down from the position this February after thirteen years with the group following a row about plans to plant cherry trees on the Green which came to be known as ‘cherrygate’.

After the election she said, “I thank members for their kind support in returning me as chair and look forward to a resumption of a group that unites rather than divides us as a community. I would like to acknowledge the exceptional dedication and determination of Ed Stanley our secretary who has worked so skilfully for many months to reach out to the membership and other stakeholders to put together a newly constituted group, so ably aided more recently by Azim Karimjee, our treasurer. I would also like to remind anyone who uses or has a connection with the Green that they are all welcome to join us by contacting fotgreen@outlook.com or via our website. We are all, in partnership with the Council, custodians of this wonderful open space and as a committee, we would welcome a wider and more diverse membership with open arms.”

There was a disagreement at an AGM earlier this year over whether cherry trees should be planted at the north west end of the Green and along the path east of the Church. Karen Liebreich of Abundance told the AGM that an anonymous donor had offered £5,000 towards planting cherry trees and she was willing to organise a community planting event. A vote at the AGM supported the plan although some members of the group argued that cherry trees weren’t suitable for that location.

At the urging of members of the group’s planting committee, Cllr Jo Biddolph asked council officers to delay the planting of the cherry trees. Ultimately they were planted on Acton Green Common instead.

At the time of her resignation Ms Frayn said, "Once a tiny minority, supported by Cllr Joanna Biddolph, successfully blocked our planting day last Saturday, despite the overwhelming vote in favour of the tree-planting at our well attended AGM, it became apparent that a precedent had now been set whereby a motion passed by a majority of our members will only actually be honoured if that vocal minority, together with Cllr Biddolph, happen to agree with it."

Cllr Biddolph disputes that she intended to block the planting and says that she wished to bring both parties together to discuss the matter before the final decision was made.

The Friends group has now been reconstituted and Ms Frayn gained 79% of the votes in the election. Her opponent was Jill Spencer who had opposed the planting of the cherry trees.

Ms Frayn, is married to film and TV producer Andy Harries (The Queen, The Crown, Outlander, The Royle Family) and her sons Jack and Finn are prominent YouTubers.

November 24, 2020