Forest Hill Society AGM 2025 - minutes
- Forest Hill Society
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Held at Forest Hill Community Library and on Zoom on 6 November 2025
Welcome
The Chair, Robert McIntosh, welcomed the over 20 members and local councillors present in person and additional members attending on Zoom.
The plan had been for local businesses to lead a discussion on the “renewal “of Forest Hill but the intended guest speakers, including the owner of Gambado, who owns the new lease on the Capitol building on London Road, were unavailable. The theme, however, will continue to be relevant to the work of the society throughout the coming year.
Apologies for absence had been received from some members of the Executive Committee and some local councillors.
Annual Review
Robert reflected on the amazing community spirit evident in the response to the tragic fire at Finches. Everyone felt the loss and wished the family well in their plans to re-open.
Robert then went on to review the past year - with a summary below, but a more complete text can be found here: Chair's review of 2025
Environment
The Society’s gardening efforts at the station and on adjacent roads continued to be well received. The FHS was well supported by Energy Garden. In addition, there had been litter picks with Albion Millennium Green (AMG), the subway had been cleaned and over 300 plants handed over at the edible plant giveaway during the walking festival in June.
Events
Over 100 participated in the Walking Festival, in history and environmental themed walks.
History Talks are now a regular feature and the plan is to take them online to reach a larger audience.
Transport
The FHS, together with the Sydenham Society had lobbied successfully for more train services. Traffic data was being collected and shared e.g. on Devonshire Road, to inform Lewisham’s active travel strategy, which includes proposals for new bicycle routes through SE23. There is also the prospect of a new “superloop” bus route improving east-west public transport, where the Society will be replying to the consultation.
Planning
The FHS continued to monitor planning applications and where appropriate comment on them. The approach was to comment on how applications can be improved rather than reject them.
Encouraging local businesses
It’s not the Society’s role to promote individual business activities, but by making a Forest Hill a nicer place to live in it can do much to encourage entrepreneurs to move to Forest Hill. The past year had seen several new businesses open up. The latest announcement is that One Stop, which is under the Tesco umbrella, is to open on the former Paddy Power site.
Looking ahead, Robert said he wanted to grow the Society’s membership and build closer links with groups like resident associations. The work of respective groups is different but complimentary. The FHS has plans to crowdfund the re-painting of the Walrus mural under the railway bridge over the south circular road, and make improvements to the gardens at the station. Longer term, a close relationship with bodies like Network Rail is key to re-developing the centre of Forest Hill.
The following points were made in the discussion that followed:
The FHS will be 20 in 2026 and this important anniversary will be marked appropriately.
The wider developments underway in Lewisham represent both challenges and opportunities for Forest Hill. Closer to home, there were issues with shopping at the local Sainsbury’s supermarket.
A major development is underway at Bell Green but generally there was reduced building activity across Forest Hill and Sydenham during the past year and there was no sign this would change in the near future.
Concern was expressed regarding the cracks in the library walls. There were comments to the effect that Lewisham didn’t do enough to protect its heritage. [Secretary note: a structural engineer has inspected the library and declared it safe while measures are taken to secure the walls long term. ]
Treasurer’s Report
Gary Thornton shared copies of the accounts. There had been a deficit of £469 recorded in the Y/E 30 September 2025. The bank balance at year end was £9552 of which roughly £5K was unallocated.
Paid membership at the end of year was 358, a slight decline on the previous year. The annual Christmas Quiz raised £875 for the Lewisham Foodbank. Donations were made to the library (£500) and AMG (£100). Traffic monitors purchased during the year have been capitalised.
In reply to a question, Gary confirmed that the mural at the station was part of the forecourt project, not money for the different mural under the railway bridge.
Election of officers
Chair – Robert McIntosh was proposed by Gary Thornton and seconded by John Doherty.
Vice Chair – Tim Walker was proposed by Michael Abrahams and seconded by John Doherty.
Treasurer – Gary Thornton was proposed by Quetta Kaye and seconded by Robert McIntosh.
Membership Secretary – Belinda Evans was proposed by Gary Thornton and seconded by John Firmin.
Secretary – John Firmin was proposed by Michael Abrahams and seconded by Quetta Kaye.
There were no other nominations for these posts and the above nominees were duly elected.
Executive Committee
The following will join the elected officers (see above) on the Executive Committee for 2025 – 26: Andrew Orford, Katherine Willett, Claire Gayle, Tim Walker, Penelope Jarrett, Michael Abrahams, Derek Randell, Colin Povey and Jason Kee.
The Executive Committee meets about every six weeks. A schedule of meetings will be published for the year ahead. A lot of work of the Society happens in its sub-committees: Communications and events, Planning and development, Transport operations and Environment. New members of all committees are welcome.
Open forum - Any Other Business
Air traffic – Concern was expressed about noise especially over Horniman Hill. Tim Walker briefed the meeting on the latest developments. The Planning Officer at City Airport visited to experience the problem first hand. We continue to lobby for data collected locally to inform decisions not manufacturer data. There is the chance to untangle Heathrow and London City flight paths in a redesign taking place in 2026. The Society will continue to engage closely on the issue of air traffic noise. Tim and John Doherty were thanked for their sterling efforts.
Street trees – Stuart Checkley said that over 200 trees had been planted in the last seven years. Clearly, they make a difference as well as encouraging the community to work closely together. The next round of identifying new sites for trees is underway and he invited expressions of interest before Christmas. Volunteers will be required to plant and nurture the trees.
Historical roundels - Chris Best briefed the meeting on a SEE3 project, which will award blue historical roundels to shops on Dartmouth Road as seen in Crystal Palace and Penge. These roundels will tell you what business was there at the beginning of the 20th century. Eventually, this project will continue down Kirkdale and Sydenham roads.
Attention was drawn to the following events:
Remembrance Day on 9 November.
Dartmouth Connect at 5 pm on 9 November at Beetroot and Beans
Christmas Tree lights and carols at Forest Hill Station on 6 December.
Forest Hill Society Christmas Quiz date TBC
Finches Apres Ski party at 6 pm onwards on 22 November at the Forester’s Arms.
Forest Hill Society gardening session at 2 pm on 29 November at the station
Robert McIntosh again thanked everyone for attending and invited them to join him in the Sylvan Post after the meeting.
The meeting concluded at 9 pm.