The operation of the Friends of Kenwood is carried out by the Friends’ Council, a committee of approximately ten trustees who are elected from the membership base, and who generally have experience in curatorship or have other business and administrative skills.
There is an Annual General Meeting, usually in April, to which all Friends are welcome, and at which the Council is formally elected every other year.
Council work is on an entirely voluntary basis – the Friends has no paid employees and small administrative costs, so that a maximum of funds raised can be employed on projects benefitting the Kenwood Estate.
What We Do
The Council meets approximately every three months, together with members of the English Heritage Kenwood curatorial and estate management teams. Taking account of members’ wishes, we advise as required on matters relating to the running of the house and estate and discuss funding requests from English Heritage. We also plan events and lectures for our members and participate in local fairs and other residents’ groups around Hampstead Heath.
You can download a copy of our revised constitution which was approved at our Annual General Meeting in April 2021.
Our Patron
We are happy to enjoy the active support of Edward Guinness, 4th Earl of Iveagh.
Lord Iveagh is the great-great grandson of the brewing magnate and philanthropist Edward Cecil Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh, who bequeathed Kenwood House, the grounds and the collection to the nation in 1928.
The Committee
| Jenny Abramsky, DBE | Chair / Development / Events |
| Mala Gole | Secretary / Archive / Events Co-ordinator |
| Ken Solomons | Treasurer |
| Tracy Abraham |
Marketing |
| Angela Cox | Lectures Co-ordinator / Events |
| Sally Doganis | Development Group Co-ordinator / Corporate Benefactors |
| Nick Fielding | Newsletter and Website Editor |
| Dr Pat Hardy |
Lectures Advisor |
| Mark King |
Visits Co-ordinator |
| Richard Ormond, CBE | Lectures Advisor |
| Helen Payne | Membership Secretary / Development / Landscape Forum / Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee / Local Group Liaison |
We also have a number of sub-committees which support our activities, which include Friends of Kenwood members who are not full Council members.
Rembrandt Anniversary event – Melvyn Bragg introduces Simon Schama on Rembrandt
Kenwood Dairy
Rhododendrons
Friends garden walk
