It is tradition in the City of London that each Grand Committee Chairman hosts an annual dinner to draw together the key internal and external partners who work with the Committee to manage our 5 open spaces charities across Greater London, Essex, Buckinghamshire and Surrey.
Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we had to suspend these dinners, after which we were engaged in period of transformation which put some jobs at risk. It didn’t, therefore, seem right to host these black tie functions whilst that process played out. Instead we hosted lots of local recruitment and thank-you events for volunteers.
So this was the first Epping Forest and Commons Committee for about 6 years and it was all the more special because of that fact.
Customarily in the City of London, when Members wish to become Committee Chairman, you first do a two year apprenticeship as Deputy Chairman, followed by three years as Chairman, after which there is a ‘hand-over’ period of one year again as Deputy Chairman. You remain on the Committee after that, subject to election by the whole Court of Common Council every 4 years. However, because there are ‘all out’ public elections every 4 years, it doesn’t always work that way if those Chairman and Deputy Chairman are not re-elected by their constituents.
I was blessed to have Caroline Haines as my Deputy Chairman for two years and am delighted to see her seamlessly picking up the mantle and moving our organisation into its next phase, as we approach the 150th anniversary of the Epping Forest Act.
Guests are drawn from a wide range of individuals who work to support each of our strategic areas of focus: nature conservation and resilience; culture, heritage and leaning; access and recreation and community engagement. Tonight, that happened to include Members of the House of Lords and House of Commons, Council Leaders and Chief Executives, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners, international conservation experts, representatives from youth education groups, journalists, philanthropists and neighbouring landowners.
The evening begun with a reception in the Court Room at Painters’ Hall, to facilitate networking. Each guest was welcomed by the Chair, Deputy Chair and Superintendent of Epping Forest, Jacqueline Eggleston.
The Chair then welcomed guests and said a few words about her links to Painters’ Hall and its rich history. She drew attention to the display boards around the room created by the City’s Natural Environment learning team working with a charity supporting children and young people in need, including those with special needs and disabilities. The young people also made the table decorations using discarded foliage from Epping Forest.
The Chair then paid a very generous tribute to me, as the retiring Chairman of the Committee, saying, “Ben’s leadership over the past three years has been transformative and as Deputy Chair for most of that time I have learned much and witnessed his huge commitment and dedication to Epping Forest and the wider Commons. It seemed fitting in such a historic venue to invite our senior Verderer – an office instituted in the early 13th Century – to deliver our Vote of Thanks to Ben by reading the Declaration endorsed by the Committee at the end of his term in May 2024.”
The vote of thanks was presented and read as follows:
“Deputy Benjamin Murphy: for his exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment during his tenure as Chairman of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee. Ben’s time as Chair has been marked by resilience, innovation, and a deep respect for the natural environment. Despite navigating significant challenges – including budget reductions, the aftermath of the pandemic, and structural reviews—he remained steadfast in championing the value of open spaces for both community wellbeing and ecological sustainability. Under his guidance, the Committee secured an additional £1 million in local risk funding, increased staffing by 25%, and addressed longstanding health and safety concerns. He also led the development of a refreshed strategy and risk register, ensuring a more robust and forward-looking approach to governance. Ben’s passion for volunteerism has been transformative. From launching the first Volunteer Guide and the “50 for 50” campaign to initiating inclusive events like Lend a Hand Day, he has reinvigorated community engagement. Over 51,000 volunteer hours were logged during his tenure—an extraordinary contribution equivalent to over half a million pounds in value. His legacy includes the creation of new learning trails, the restoration of heritage sites, and the celebration of biodiversity—from tree plantings and fungi discoveries to the launch of augmented reality tools and inclusive play areas. He was also pivotal in the celebration of the Rangers Golden Jubilee, championing the recognition of long-serving volunteers, and supporting the recruitment of diverse new voices across the organisation. Ben’s leadership has left an enduring mark on Epping Forest and the Commons. We thank him for his vision, energy, and heartfelt dedication to protecting and enhancing these treasured landscapes for generations to come. Thank you, Ben.”
I briefly responded to the very kind remarks.
Guests then processed into the Livery Hall, with Epping Forest and Commons Committee Member Deputy Jaspreet Hodgson saying grace. Dinner was then served and the conversations ensured.
After dinner speeches were given by the Chair and the guest speaker, Dr. Neil Hudson MP, Shadow Minister at DEFRA and Member of Parliament for Epping Forest.
After dinner, guests were treated to a performance by Modality Voices, a choir from Epping Forest who sang beautifully. A sneak peak is below:
Guests were then invited back into the Court Room for coffee and desert, before heading home.
For those wondering why there’s so many mentions of Epping Forest rather than our Commons, that is because we host a separate annual lunch at the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s residence in Buckinghamshire for local stakeholders there.
It was a really wonderful evening. An opportunity for us to say many thank-yous, to redouble of our efforts to protect these hugely important green spaces and to promise to work in partnership to deliver impact wherever we possibly can.
