Sir John inspires the repainting of church (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Sir John inspires the repainting of church

12:00pm Thursday 14th December 2006 in Search By Richard Boullemier

A gala year for poet laureat Sir John Betjeman, the man who saved Chiswick's Bedford Park from destruction in the 1960s', reaches its finale this weekend.

He may have passed away over 20 years ago, but his legacy lives on.

Known in his day as the "Bard of Suburbia", Betjeman helped preserve Bedford Park from becoming overrun with concrete eyesores as property developers in the 1960s' threatened to knock down the unfashionable Victorian houses, which now sell for millions.

Fans have been remembering his achievements and will be celebrating the repainting of Bedford Park's parish church at an evening gala this Saturday, which will be held at St Michael & All Angels Church, Bedford Park, the world's first garden suburb.

The public are invited to join in the celebrations on December 9, and can hear readings of Betjeman's poems, radio scripts and articles, along with music from the Bedford Park Wind Quintet, and an exhibition of pictures and articles about the writer's role in getting it designated a conservation area.

There will be readings from That's Life presenter Gavin Campbell and actors John Rowe and Joanna McCallum.

Tickets are £15 - including the first glass of wine and interval canapes.

For more details call 020 8994 1380.