Community benches in Malcolm's memory

Hello, my name is Linda Grove. I'm sure that lots of you know Malcolm and me from the gardens at the Royal Free Hospital, having created that initiative with community members.

Sadly Malcolm has just passed away after 3.5 years of a really tough battle with his health. Malcolm loved these gardens and loved being part of the group and making a lovely area for the community.

That is why we thought it would be a nice way to honour Malcolm's memory by setting up this Just Giving page, to raise money for some park benches on the Hampstead Green Path, NW3, near the new Pears Building, where people can sit and look at the plants and rest. Currently there is only one bench on this path.

We are working closely with Camden Council, and following the due process for benches. With your help, we could raise enough for another 3 benches, with each bench costing £1,590. Any money left over would be donated to Abacus Belsize Primary School, which Malcolm and Linda played a key role in founding.

Malcolm would love to know that the community are coming together again, and taking the time to sit, rest, and appreciate the beauty of the surrounding gardens, particularly after such a difficult covid pandemic and Royal Free staff working so hard.

Hampstead Green Path would be a great place for our nurses and doctors and anybody else passing by to come and sit and relax facing the gardens, and embrace the memory of Malcolm Grove, a much loved Belsize resident, neighbour, friend, father, grandfather, and husband.

To the memory of Malcolm Grove: 01/01/1946 - 03/05/2022

Video/photos, from top to bottom: video of Linda Grove (recorded by A. Rouanet); picture of Royal Free Gardens (Ham & High Archive); Malcolm Grove with Tulip Siddiq, the Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn (Ham & High archive); view of bench on Hampstead Green (photo by A. Rouanet); Malcolm Grove (photo by Linda Grove).