The Dell: Friends of the Dell

The Friends of the Dell are a group of local residents started by Pearl Braddock (left). As a baby-sitter she realised that there were not enough play facilities in the immediate neighbourhood for very young children, so she began a campaign to raise funds to provide toddlers' play equipment. The new play area with its colourful roundabout, rockers and a little slide has brightened up the Dell since March 1997, when it was officially opened by the Mayor of Leamington. Pearl died in 2013. Read a tribute to her here. For newly discovered photographs from the early years, 1996-98, click here.

The Friends encourage local interest and pride in the Dell. They liaise with Warwick District Council Parks Department, maintain publicity for the Dell in local news media and schools, and act as a forum for residents to air their views, suggestions or complaints. They have organised a series of social events in the Dell, starting with a highly successful party in May 1998 to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary, a party that has become an annual event. They have also held several barbecues and a Halloween party. These events have been paid for by voluntary contributions, fund raising sales and local sponsorship.

The annual subscription is £5.00 (£1.00 concessions) payable by cash, cheque or standing order. Members will receive the agenda and the minutes of each meeting. Meetings take place once a month, following the AGM in February, until September or October. If you would like to join, email the Secretary of Friends of the Dell, Penny Hughes, with an address to which an application form can be sent.

We are also affiliated to Love Parks, a national non profit-making organisation committed to improving open spaces and public parks across the UK. Their vision is to see a network of easily accessible, safe, attractive and welcoming parks, gardens and green spaces which meet the needs of everyone and which contribute to the economic, social and environmental well-being of people and places, now and for future generations. They have developed an extensive links resource to community and friends of parks groups around the country. Visit their website at www.loveparks.org

Friends of the Dell is now formally established as an ‘unincorporated association’ with its own constitution defining the ‘committee’ and the ‘members’. Click here to read the constitution and also the Friends' Privacy Policy.

The Mad Dun Cow sets out to terrorise the Dell Barbecue.