| Chair | Amanda Lloyd-Harris |
| Deputy Chair | Roger Weston |
| Treasurer | Christopher Round |
| Membership | Edward Windsor Clive |
| Minute Sec | Howard Palmer |
| Hon Sec | Vivien Heilbron |
| Elizabeth Sinclair-House | |
| Andrew Zoltowski | |
| Rowena Vaughan |
The inaugural meeting of the group, as currently constituted, was held on the 19th January, 2000 at All Saints School, Bishop’s Avenue when “all who use and appreciate the Park are cordially invited”.
Previously, the two Ward Councillors had arranged for a user’s group to have bi-annual “walk abouts” but the formation of FoBP represented the first amenity group that was open to every Park user and was strictly non political.
At the Inaugural Meeting, FoBP’s stated aims were- “to represent the interests of all users of Bishop’s Park over the maintenance, preservation and improvement of the Park for the benefit of all current and future generations.” Thereafter, the initial steering group met many times in preparation for the first meeting of members and agreed on a formal mission statement and the adoption of a constitution based, in large measure, on that adopted by the very successful Friends of Holland Park.
The first meeting of members, held on the 13th June 2001, elected members of the steering group as the initial committee and approved both the draft mission statement and the proposed constitution – and these two documents have formed the framework that has guided the committee and the group ever since. The former is reproduced below:-
The objects of the Friends shall be for the public benefit to secure the reservation, protection and improvement of Bishops Park as a place of historic and ecological interest and beauty and recreational use; to promote the conservation of the natural plant, animal and bird life of the Park and educate the public in the history, natural history and other aspects of the Park.
1. NAME
The name of the association shall be “Friends of Bishops Park” (hereinafter called “theFriends”)
2. OBJECTS
The objects of the Friends shall be for the public benefit to secure the preservation, protection and improvement of Bishops Park (hereinafter called “the Park”) as a place of historic and ecological interest and beauty; to promote the conservation of the natural plant, animal and bird life of the Park and, in particular, its retention as a natural woodland habitat for wild life; and to educate the public In the history, natural history and other aspects of the Park.
3. POWERS
In furtherance of the above objectives but not further or otherwise the Friends may:
a) Communicate through and make representations to the appropriate authorities on any matters relating to the Park.
b) Donate to the Department of the Hammersmith and Fulham Council responsible for the Park, benches and such other things as the Committee may determine from time to time.
c) Promote the improvement of communication between the Hammersmith and Fulham Council and local residents.
d) Work towards the reduction of vandalism in the Park in cooperation with local schools and youth groups.
e) Organize walks, lectures, exhibitions and meetings.
f) Carry out any ecological or other research deemed necessary for the attainment of the above objects and provide that the useful results of such research be published.
g) Accept gifts and borrow or raise money for the objects of the Friends on such terms and on such security as shall be thought fit, subject to such consents (If any) as shall be necessary from time to time.
h) Raise funds and invite and receive contributions, subscriptions, covenants, donations and otherwise from any person or persons whatsoever; provided that the Friends shall not undertake any permanent trading activities concerned solely with the raising of funds for the objects declared in Clause 2 hereof.
I) Do all such other things as shall further the attainment of the above object
4. MEMBERSHIP
a) The members of the Friends shall be the initial members and all those subsequently admitted to membership. Any person who has attained the age of fifteen and assents to the objects of the Friends shall be eligible for membership.
b) Applications for membership shall be in writing and shall be approved by an Officer of the Friends or by a committee appointed for that purpose by the Committee as defined in paragraph (6)below (hereinafter called ‘the Committee
c) A body whether corporate or uncorporated supporting the objects of the Friends may, at the discretion of the Committee, be admitted to membership and shall thereafter be entitled to nominate one of its members as eligible for election or co-option to the Committee and to attend and vote at General Meetings as though he or she were a member of the Friends.
d) An annual subscription shall be paid by all members. The annual subscription shall be made payable on such day of the year and be of such amount as the Friends in Membership shall determine.
e) Membership shall terminate
(1) If the annual subscription is not paid three months after the date on wwhich it should have been paid
(11) If Membership is terminated in accordance with the provisions of Clause 7(b)(ll)
(111) On resignation.
5. OFFICERS
The Friends shall elect a Chairman, a Secretary and a Treasurer In General Meeting. The term of office shall be until the following Annual General Meeting unless decided by the Friends in General Meeting.
6.COMMITTEE
a) Subject as hereinafter mentioned the policy and general management of the affairs of the Friends shall be directed by a Committee consisting of the Officers and eight members of the Friends and such members as may be co- opted to membership of the Committee.
b) A quorum of the Committee shall be five.
c) Members of the Committee shall be elected by members of the Friends in General Meeting. Every candidate for election shall have consented to nomination and be proposed and seconded in writing by members. Proposals and consents shall be delivered to the Secretary at least seven days before the Annual General Meeting. The Committee may for good reason abridge this period in favour of any named person.
d) The first members of the Committee shall be elected at the first General Meeting the Friends and shall be elected for a term of three years PROVIDED NEVERTHELESS that at or before the Annual General Meeting for 1981 and 1982 at least four members shall resign in each of these years and shall be eligible for reelection. In default of agreement such members shall be chosen by lot
e) The Committee may co-opt any member of the Friends to be a member of the Committee for a term not longer than three years. If no term is fixed such membership shall lapse at the next Annual General Meeting. The power to co-opt shall not be so exercised that there are more than three co-opted members at any time,
f) Any casual vacancy in the Committee may be filled by the Committee and any persons so appointed shall hold office until the following Annual General Meeting and shall be eligible for re-election at that meeting
7. FUNCTIONS & POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE
a) The committee may appoint such special or standing committees as may be deemed necessary by the Committee and may determine their terms of reference, powers, duration and composition. Any such committee shall be advisory only and shall report back as soon as possible all acts and proceedings to the Committee.
b) The Committee shall have the power (I) to approve or reject applications for membership and (11) for good and sufficient reason to terminate the membership of any member of the Friends PROVIDED THAT any member shall have the right to be heard by the Committee before a decision is made.
c) Subject to and In conformity with this Constitution and subject to any resolution passed in General Meeting the Committee may make and amend such regulations concerning the administration of the Mends and take such steps in the name of the Friends as It may consider desirable to achieve the objects of the Friends.
8. FINANCE
a) All monies raised by or on behalf of the Friends shall be applied to further the objects of the Friends and for no other purpose.
b) The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the Friends.
c) The accounts shall be audited at least once a year by a qualified auditor or auditors who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.
d). An audited statement of accounts for the last financial year shall be submitted by the Committee to the Annual General meeting.
e) A Bank Account shall be opened in the name of the Friends with Barclays Bank, 78 Victoria Street, London SWI or with such other bank as the Committee shall from time to time decide. The Committee shall authorise in writing the Chairman, the Treasurer, the Secretary and two members of the Committee to sign cheques on behalf of the Friends. All cheques must be signed by not less than two of the five authorised signatures.
9. MEETINGS
a) An initial General Meeting of the Friends shall be held at which the Constitution shall be adopted, the Officers of the Friends and the members of the Committee shall be elected and the amount of the annual membership subscription be fixed.
b) Once In each year thereafter an Annual General Meeting shall be held at such time (not being more than fifteen months after the holding of the preceding Annual General Meeting) and place, as the Committee shall determine. At such Annual General Meeting the business shall Include the election of Officers and members of the Committee as provided for in this Constitution, the appointment of auditors, the consideration of the annual report of the Chairman and of the audited accounts and the transaction of any other business as may from time to time be necessary.
c) The Chairman may at any time and at his discretion, and shall Within 21 days of receiving a written request so to do signed by lot fewer than 20 members giving the reason for such a request, call a Special General Meeting of the Friends.
d) The quorum at Annual or Special General meetings shall be thirty members.
10.DISSOLUTION
If the Committee by a simple majority decide at any time that on the ground of expense or otherwise It is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Friends, It shall call a meeting of the Friends giving not less than 21 days notice and stating the terms of the Resolution to be proposed thereat. If such a decision be confirmed by a simple majority of those present and voting at such meeting, the Committee shall have power to dispose of any assets held by in the name of the Friends. Any assets remaining after satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to such other charitable Institution or institutions having objects similar to those of the Friends as the Committee may determine.
11. ALTERATION TO THE CONSTITUTION
Any alteration to this Constitution shall require the assent of not fewer than two thirds of the members of the Friends present and voting at a meeting specially called for the purpose PROVIDED THAT notice of any such alteration shall have been received by the Secretary in writing not fewer than 21 days before the meeting at which the alteration is to be brought forward. At least 14 days notice in writing of such meeting setting forth the terms of the alterations to be proposed shall be sent by the Secretary to each member of the Friends. PROVIDED FURTHER that no alteration shall be made to clauses 2, 10 and 11 and that no alteration shall be made which would have the effect of causing the Friends to cease to be a charity at law.
12. NOTICES
Any notice may be served by the Secretary or any member either personally or by sending through the post in a prepaid letter addressed to such member to his order last known address in the United Kingdom and any letter so sent shall be deemed to have been received within 10 days of posting.