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Annual General Meeting 4th July 2001

The 2001 AGM of the Covent Garden Community Association (its 29th!)was a great success and an occasion to be remembered, not least because of the wonderful talk by Michael Palin.

The meeting took place on Wednesday 4th July in the New Connaught Rooms, Great Queen Street, London WC2. More than 175 people, most of them members of the Association, attended the event.

Following the reports by Executive Committee members, Jo Weir was re-elected unopposed as Chairman. The following were elected as members of the Executive Committee for 2001/2001: Jim Monahan, Sital Maan, Ian Todd, James Tait, Christina Smith, Michael Wylde, Malcolm Davey, Joyce Kirby, Martin Wilkie.

Whilst the votes for the new Executive Committee were being counted, the meeting was treated to an interesting and amusing talk by Michael Palin, who very generously donated his time to be the guest speaker. Michael recounted his early years in Covent Garden, when the Monty Python team was based in Neal's Yard. He fondly remembered the Covent Garden of the late 1970s and described Neal's Yard as "...Dickensian with a twist". The Monty Python films were entirely produced on-site, with the different floors of the old warehouse building used for different parts of the production process. A huge sign in the shape of a mouth alerted passers-by to the team's world headquarters' presence: "Neal's Yard Abattoir".

Michael still has an office in Covent Garden and in his talk he graphically described his views on the special character of the area. His extensive travelling to all corners of the world added further colour and interest. After his talk, Michael answered many questions by members of the public about his films, his personal background, Covent Garden and his future films and projects.

After the results of the election were announced, the meeting was treated to a lavish buffet of American food, specially prepared by Maxwell's executive chef to mark the US Independence Day celebrations taking place that day. Generous amounts of coffee, tea, wine and beer were also on offer to lubricate Covent Garden's dry throats.

Many of the guests stayed in the grand surroundings of the New Connaught Rooms until well after 22:30 hrs to renew friendships or to make new friends, and in an attempt to help celebrate the CGCA's 30th anniversary.

The CGCA is very grateful to the New Connaught Rooms for generously making the air-conditioned Edinburgh Suite and beautiful Drawing Room available for our event free-of-charge. We are also very grateful to Maxwell's Restaurants Ltd for providing the wonderful buffet and a never-ending stream of wine and beer.

© Covent Garden Community Association, August 2001

 

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