We will be holding our AGM on Tuesday 30 April between 7:30 – 9:00pm at OneSpace Cafe, Kidbrooke Park Road, SE3 9YY
We hope that all plot holders will attend in order to catch up with the latest news from the Committee, raise and questions or concerns related to the site. It is also the ideal opportunity to meet fellow plot holders and share your plans for the year ahead.
The cafe will be open providing tea, coffee and cakes prior to the meeting between 7:00 and 7:30pm. The meeting will start at 7:30 prompt.
OneSpace Cafe Kidbrooke Park Road Kidbrooke SE3 9YY
Do you have a little spare time to help manage our allotment site? You can help improve the site and be involved in the day to day management by becoming a Committee member.
The Committee meets quarterly and hosts one annual general meeting. Each member takes on a specific responsibility and leads in that area bringing their enthusiasm, energy and skills.
The vacancies we have currently are listed below. If you are interested in any of them please contact a current member of the Committee or email us at kpaa.info@gmail.com.
New Committee members will be voted in at our AGM on 30 April.
Current vacancies:
Committee Secretary a crucial role in the smooth running of KPAA.
A committee member with an interest in managing site maintenance and security matters.
Second site officer supporting Evy Hoyte.
A committee member with an interest in organising events and activities ranging from site clear ups to summer BBQs.
Draft agenda for the KPAA AGM on 30 April 2019 at OneSpace Cafe Kidbrooke. The meeting starts promptly at 7:30pm. There will be opportunities to purchase refreshments from 7:00pm from the Cafe.
Welcome and opening statement
Vote of thanks to committee members & chair
2018/19 year in review
Nominations and votes for 2019/20 Committee membership
Spring is in the air so it must be time to get your plot ready for the season ahead. Get planning, repairing, weeding, digging and sowing for your best harvest ever.
Our site officers will be checking the status of plots and the site in general from 8 April 2019.
It’s always sad to see any plot holder leave but if your circumstances have changed and you no longer have the ability to maintain your plot please do let a member of the committee know. You can email us at kpaa.info@gmail.com
The KPAA site has a rich history. It was part of the original land that comprised RAF Kidbrooke which operated in the area close to Kidbrooke Station from 1917 to 1965.
1938 — Air Minister at RAF Kidbrooke
A large site RAF Kibdrooke had a diverse and distinguished history operating primarily as an RAF support base rather than an airfield. At various times in its history it functioned as a Stores Depot, Installation Unit for Chain Home Radar masts, Gliding School and Joint Services School for Linguists. During he Second World War Sqn. 901, 902 and 903 No. 1 Balloon Command of the Auxiliary Airforce operated from RAF Kidbrooke.
1941 — RAF Kidbrooke on parade
Balloon Command were established in 1938 to provide a ‘ring of steel’ to keep German bombers and fighters high up over London by flying barrage balloons. This remit extended during the war to cover all of the UK. By 1944 there were 3000 balloons in operation under Balloon Command. In that same year in order to combat the assault of V1 rockets being directed on London balloons were moved to form a defensive ring around south London. Up to 100 V1’s were snagged and stopped this way.
Serving in Balloon Command came with considerable risks for all personnel involved. Peter Sydenham whose father served at RAF Kidbrooke has researched and written extensively about the history of Barrage Ballooners and the site. This sadly includes a roll call of the those from Sqn 901, 902 and 903 who lost their lives in active service. He has written the following in remembrance of lives lost:
At 0410 hours, 18 June 1944, a V1 bomb landed on the HQ hut of Sqn 901 in the allotments.
At 0810 hours, 23 June 1944, at a spot likely to be the south of the railway line, a V1 made a direct hit on the HQ of ‘E’ Flight Sqn 901.
11 serving RAF personnel from Sqn. 901 lost their lives in these two incidents:
Frank Alfred Edwin Bartlett, age 43 Joy Burton, age 21 Percy Dodds, age 32 Ernest Robert Eldridge, age 45 Ernest Sidney Barrup Gent, age 32 John Phillip Hale Jacobs, age 40 Graham Christopher Maynard, age 47 John Constantine Peddrazzini, age 37 Walter Clark Robertson, age 34 R. Smalley, age 26 Frederick Thomas Waterman, age 40
During the development of Kidbrooke Village, replacing the former Ferrier Estate roads were named to reflect the sites history. The Depot also acknowledges this history too.
Barrage Balloon cutouts on the wall of The Depot, Kidbrooke Village
If rain and wind keep me away from planting, weeding and harvesting I’ll write a post on The Sky Rockets. The illustrious dance band of No. 1 Balloon Command!
