Thank you Charlotte

The AGM, held on 15 June in the Fitzhugh Auditorium at Exeter College, reflected on a lively and successful year for the Association. Chair Charlotte Christie reported on the increasingly well‑used community centre, a vibrant Street Fair, and support for a wide range of activities—from Alive and Kicking to Greening Jericho and the Jericho Pantry. Centre Manager Peter Hart also described a packed schedule of classes and groups, including dance, music and theatre rehearsals, Brownies, martial arts, life drawing, and more. Work is also underway to upgrade the building, including a major in‑kind donation from Lucy Properties, who have carried out a striking renovation of the downstairs hall.

Treasurer Peter Stalker presented the 2025 annual accounts. Thanks to a busy year, the Association expects a surplus of around £11,000, bringing accumulated funds to £75,000. However, approximately £40,000 of this must now be set aside for urgent renovations, notably the replacement of 19 fire doors.

Audience questions focused on how to quantify the value of volunteer contributions and how best to boost JCA membership.

The meeting then moved to the election of Trustees and Officers to replace those whose terms had ended. Elected or re‑elected as Trustees were: Nathan Breeze, Amy Stein, and Micaela Tuckwell of Cranham Street; Alex Hollingsworth of Canal Street; and Phyllis Starkey of Walton Crescent. The officers elected were: Chair, Alex Hollingsworth; Vice‑Chair, John Crabtree of Walton Street; Secretary, Amy Stein; and Treasurer, Peter Stalker.

Charlotte’s departure marked the end of a momentous 20 years as Chair. Former Chair George Taylor recalled how Charlotte first attended a community meeting, where he quickly persuaded her to join the committee and help run the Street Fair—then just a handful of bric‑a‑brac stalls. She could not have imagined she would take on the role for more than two decades. As Chair, Charlotte expanded the Fair into a major local event and helped transform the JCA into a far more effective organisation, achieving accreditation for service quality and overseeing the transition to charitable incorporated status. She also served as a trustee of the Jericho Wharf Trust, contributing significantly to its work.

As a token of thanks for her many years of service, George presented Charlotte with a beautiful watercolour impression of the Street Fair by renowned local artist Valerie Petts.

An evocation of the Street Fair by Valerie Petts. Charlotte is on the far right, with George Taylor playing the trombone.

The main speaker for the evening, David Edwards of the Jericho Wharf Trust, outlined the Trust’s major achievement in breaking the long‑standing stalemate over the site and initiating the compulsory purchase process. The aim is to compel the owner, Cheer Team Corporation of Hong Kong, either to sell voluntarily or to have the site acquired by Oxford City Council. The Trust has been in close contact with potential owners and developers who could realise the potential of this iconic location—but none are likely to proceed while Cheer Team remains involved.

David Edwards of the Jericho Wharf Trust, which represents three local organisations and works closely with St Barnabas Church and Oxford City Council.

David’s presentation included two videos: one on the Save Jericho Wharf campaign, and another from the Aylesbury Canal Society, showing how a community‑managed, and professionally run boatyard with community facilities can fit seamlessly into a residential area. Claims that a boatyard would be a noisy industrial operation are simply unfounded; in reality, it would make Jericho even more interesting and attractive.

The Trust also benefits from the widely supported scheme that secured planning consent in 2014. It will now embark on an extensive and inclusive public consultation to explore how that design can be adapted to meet the current needs and aspirations of both land‑based and boating communities.

Meanwhile, after more than ten years of unproductive ownership, Cheer Team has consumed large amounts of community and Council time. They now face a clear choice: sell the site promptly at a reasonable price, or have it compulsorily purchased by the City Council.