On 1 July 2025, the Trustees of The Thorney Island Society (TTIS) were delighted to welcome both long-standing supporters and new members to celebrate the Society’s 40th anniversary at the Lord Mayor’s Parlour, right in the heart of Westminster.

Founded in 1985 by June Stubbs MBE and Ann Carlton to save the Old Westminster Public Library on Great Smith Street, TTIS has gone from strength to strength over the decades. Central to this success has been the enduring support of our members and the wider local community.

From a vibrant programme of social events and historic talks and walks, to providing public access to our archives for local history research, TTIS continues to thrive as a dedicated amenity society. This ongoing engagement has been the driving force behind our ability to grow and uphold our mission.

At the core of our work remains a steadfast focus on heritage and the conservation of the historic fabric of the Thorney Island area of Westminster. We are also deeply involved in scrutinising proposed planning initiatives, ensuring that the voices of local residents and the broader community are heard and represented.

In his opening remarks, TTIS Chair Glenn Murphy acknowledged the invaluable partnerships that have supported our mission over the years, including those with The Onion Garden, Westminster Connects, and our local elected representatives, Rachel Blake MP and Councillor Tim Mitchell (St James’s Ward), all of whom have been strong advocates of our cause. He also expressed gratitude to our corporate sponsors – London Heritage Quarter, Blue Orchid Hotels, Sinfonia Smith Square and Marsh Charitable Trust – whose backing has been vital in helping us fulfil our objectives.

Guests were also treated to remarks from the Lord Mayor and Dr Tracy Long CBE, Chair of Sinfonia Smith Square, followed by a beautiful musical performance by Eliza, Gordon and Filipe from Sinfonia Smith Square. The Lord Mayor, Paul Dimoldenberg, explained that he and his wife (also present at our event) were closely involved in the original campaign to save the library building on Great Smith Street, which led to the founding of TTIS, and we gratefully accepted his donation of a folder of correspondence, campaign notes and press cuttings from 1985 for our Archives.

With stunning penthouse views from the Lord Mayor’s Parlour overlooking Buckingham Palace, as well as the parks for which we are the Friends group – St James’s Park and the Green Park – the evening was a wonderful opportunity for members to connect with TTIS Trustees, make new acquaintances and celebrate a significant milestone in the Society’s history.