Results tagged “history” from Hilary King's Blog

F M Alexander was born on 20th January 1869 in Tasmania. He was a premature baby and had a struggle to survive. He later attributed his frequent bouts of illness as a child and young man to his poor use and once he taught himself to improve this, his health also began to improve.

His family had originally lived for many generations in the ancient village of Ramsbury in Wiltshire. Whilst exploring some of my own family history I have discovered that my mother's family also came from Ramsbury and one of them married a Mary Alexander in 1764, quite possibly part of F M's family, although I have not been able to verify this yet.

F M's paternal grandfather, Matthias Alexander was a hurdle maker and other family members were craftsmen. However they supported the impoverished agricultural labourers during the swing riots, in which they protested against the new threshing machines which were costing them their livelihoods. As a result of this support, Alexander's family was sent to Tasmania as convicts in 1831, something that F M never admitted to in public. If you are interested in discovering more about Alexander's background, his biography by Michael Bloch makes for interesting reading.

From these difficult beginnings, F M developed an interest in horses and in the theatre and in 1889 he moved to Melbourne, Australia and began to train for a career as a reciter. A few years later, after many bouts of illness which threatened his new career, F M began to develop his now famous Technique. This process is described in some detail his book 'The Use of the Self' and it is highly recommended reading for anyone interested in learning more about the Alexander Technique.

After his death, a group of teachers that Alexander had trained, formed the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique, STAT, in order to maintain and develop high standard of Alexander Technique Teacher Training and Professional practice.

This year, Newington Green has won the Green Flag Award for the second year running, plus the prestigious Green Heritage Site Award.

The photo shows Hilary King collecting both awards, on behalf of the Newington Green Action Group, a registered charity, along with Mark Rowe from Islington's Greenspace Team.

The Green Flag Award is given to sites that fulfil a set of criteria - they must have public access, be welcoming, safe and well maintained, must promote sustainability and the conservation of heritage, plus involve the local community.  Anyone who knows how the Green has been regenerated over the last few years will know how much it has changed so that it can once again be used and enjoyed by the community. This is all thanks to the efforts of the Greenspace Team and Islington Council, plus those of the Newington Green Action Group (NGAG) and is a good example of fruitful interaction and co-operation between a community group and a local authority.

The Green Heritage Award, which is sponsored by English Heritage, was awarded to just 31sites in England and Newington Green is the only site in Islington to be given the award. Selected sites must be of historical interest, either nationally or locally and to have already achieved Green Flag Award status. The award is given where the heritage value of the site is understood and shared, the heritage value conserved and where efforts are being made to help the local community appreciate and be aware of  their heritage.

 


















Islington Council have promised that the Heritage Award plaque, above, will be framed and hung on the Green so that the public may enjoy seeing it.










The Green Flag was raised on Newington Green by the Mayor of Islington, who is seen here with Nicky Southin, the chair of the Newington Green Action Group, at a ceremony on Newington Green on 6th October '07.