Christine Powell a Celebration of Life
1945 - 2023
Christine Powell, who has sadly died over the New Year, was a stalwart of the Earl’s Court Square Residents’ Association (ECSRA) from the time she arrived in the Square in 1977 until her death. Her commitment, organisation skills, attention to detail and hard work all honed during her career as a statistician for the UK Atomic Energy Authority and BAA made her a valuable asset for the development of the Association.
For ten years she was Chair of the Association, and successfully applied for the Gold Standard Award that was given to the RA by RBKC. She headed up organising the wonderful 40th anniversary of ECSRA celebrations in the Poets’ House, obtained CLLL funding for the plaques to recognise four notable individuals who had lived in the Square, and most recently, wrote up and took people on a history walk of Earl’s Court Square. After retiring as ECSRA Chairman she became Membership Secretary and remained on the Executive Committee.
In the wider Earl’s Court, for many years Christine served on the Environment Committee of the Earl’s Court Society and ‘represented the ECRA’ on many events. She served on an RBKC committee seeking to find jobs for young people and represented ECSRA at the Kensington Society.
Christine kept quiet her short battle with cancer, serving minced pies to residents at the December Christmas tree lighting event.
Music was Christine’s great love. She played the violin in the highly regarded Brent Symphony Orchestra. For many years she was a volunteer host with Opera Holland Park, greeting guests with her warm smile. She encouraged Earl’s Court residents to join her at OHP operas, always with chocolates at the interval. Christine also enjoyed playing bridge and tending her flowers on her balcony. It was known not to call Christine when The Archers was on the radio.
Earl’s Court Square and the wider Kensington community have lost a great friend and neighbour as well as a valuable community asset. As Alex Tullett said, “If you knew Christine as a friend, that’s all you needed to know.”
