Opening Ceremony cont.

Sir William Collins MP commended the action of the LCC in providing ramparts of fresh air and green fields and verdant forests around the greatest City in the world.

The ovation of the day went to Mr Edward North Buxton who acknowledged the many who had furthered the scheme which had been brought to a happy issue. He asked whether he had been premature in promoting the scheme, and pointed out the only ten years previously four miles of green fields divided Ilford and Romford. Now there was housing between and there had been a rapid growth in population. Within five miles of the forest are over 250,000 people. Villages around London were now towns. It was important to secure land while it was a reasonable price. It was a pity that Hainault Station was far from the forest, but Ilford Urban District Council and others had secured 76 acres of land near the station as an open space for football and cricket.

Councillor John Bodger, Chairman, Ilford Urban Council proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman of the LCC and noted that Councils were sometimes criticised, and their proposals occasionally met with opposition, but this act of the LCC in securing Hainault Forest and dedicating it to the people was one of the grandest thing they had ever done; it was approved by everyone, and would be appreciated for generations to come.