About The Friends of Hampton Wick Library

The Friends of Hampton Wick Library was formed in late 2015 as a sub-group of the Hampton Wick Association. Our objectives are to encourage greater use of our Library by:

Organising events to draw more people in to the Library.

Events have included talks on a range of subjects including Hampton Wick in World War 1, the history of the Hampton Wick Royal Cricket Club and the life of playwright RC Sheriff. The talks are preceded by social drinks receptions in the Library. We have also run a children’s colouring competition, Christmastime stories and mulled drinks, and an unveiling ceremony for the Queen Victoria Memorial.

Making the gardens and general environment more attractive.

The Friends’ Gardening Gang meets up monthly to work on the gardens which had become quite neglected. Our plantings in the front, side and back gardens are drought resistant, wildlife friendly, fragrant and colourful.

Arranging exhibitions to enhance the experience of visiting the Library.

Some exhibitions provide further information and images relating to our programme of talks, for instance RC Sherriff and the History of the Cricket Club. Other exhibitions are stand-alone, such as the stunning photography of Summer Wildlife in Bushy Park or the seasonal selection of literary quotes featured in Hedgehogs & Hearthrugs, Pumpkins to Pepys.

Campaigning for improvements and fundraising where needed.

We’ve had some notable victories already: saving and enhancing the Queen Victoria Memorial which marks the entrance to the Library; greatly improving signage both to and on the Library itself; removal of blue tack and chewing gum littering the surface of the building for years; removal of rubbish from the back garden. We will continue to work with the Library service and to campaign for: more sensible opening hours (and end to lunchtime closing); more and more varied book selection; better integration of Bullen Hall with the Library … anything else?

Join us today

Help make a difference in the local community! The more members we have the stronger our voice and the more we can achieve together. Click here to join now.

NB Hampton Wick Association acts as an umbrella organisation for The Friends of the Library. The HWA is a properly constituted body with an elected committee and officers holding regular meetings and an AGM. It has a bank account and public liability insurance which can be used for Friends’ activities. Friends’ membership subscriptions and donations are ringfenced in the HWA accounts and reported separately at the AGM. The Library is also a permanent Agenda item at each HWA committee meeting and AGM.