Meet the V17 Committee
The V17 committee meets monthly to plan and organise public and member events, our quarterly newsletter, and collaborations with local businesses and organisations.
If you have an idea you’d like to bring to the committee’s attention, click the button below:
A new committee member will be added each quarter, as they’re introduced in the newsletter.
David Baker
Secretary
How long have you lived in Walthamstow Village?
In November 1982 we moved into the Village area from Greenleaf Rd. We raised our family of three sons here and enjoy living in such a wonderful corner of E17. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.
What motivated you to join the V17 Committee?
I realised that volunteers can help shape a local area and thought I might be able to contribute towards making where we live a better place to be. I thought that my experiences in living in E17 since I was born would be helpful.
What does your role involve?
As secretary, my main role is to ensure an accurate agenda for committee meetings, keeping good records of meetings and updating any action plan as a result of our deliberations.
What’s the best thing about living in Walthamstow Village?
I have always appreciated the rich heritage and history that Walthamstow Village holds and I love walking around the area and appreciating that I live in a special place. I love being part of a community that looks out for each other and shows care for visitors and neighbours.
What positive changes have you seen?
Restricting vehicle access to Orford Road and the implementation of Mini Holland reduced the traffic flow through the area and therefore made it safer for pedestrians. Obviously, gentrification has changed the area considerably since we first moved in over 40 years ago and the range and style of shops along Orford Road reflect this.
What do you enjoy most about being on the V17 Committee?
There is a great mixture of purpose and fun on the committee. We are all committed and enthusiastic to make where we live a beautiful, interesting and safe place to live and we all work hard but enjoy the times when we meet together. I meet with a wonderful set of people - we all bring different skills and experiences but enjoy working together to a common purpose.
Carol 'Molly' Moloney
Event Coordinator
How long have you lived in Walthamstow Village? 15 years What is your role and what does it involve? I am the Event Co-ordinator and lead for the Walthamstow Village Community Network.
What motivated you to join the V17 Committee? I joined the V17 Committee in 2018 to support the Village newsletter editor at the time (Daniel) with designing our quarterly publication. I had also coordinated the Walthamstow Village Jumble Trail for 3 years by the time I joined and was delighted to combine the two projects and create an income stream for the village together with an annual event that is so popular across the borough.
What's the best thing about living in Walthamstow Village? The community spirit within the village is a beautiful thing. I can't remember living anywhere else where a trip to the town centre is punctuated with so many familiar faces and chats. I often go for a local wander and the landscape is always breathtaking to me; from St Mary's Church, Vestry House, Orford House to the village veg plot, the wildflower meadow and Hope garden, it's all a result of people and organisations that really care about their environment and community.
What do you enjoy most about being on the V17 Committee? I am so pleased to be a part of this great team of people. Until last October I was Site Director at Fellowship Square (the Town Hall) and my plate was very full with organising large scale public events. Since retiring I have been busy behind the scenes organising our admin environment, funding streams, the Walthamstow Village Community Network, V17 Street Leaders project and spending an extraordinary amount of time colour coding. I am delighted to be the event lead for V17 and promise some interesting and quirky events in the near future.
Miranda Keeling
Social Media Deputy
How long have you lived in Walthamstow Village?
4 years.
What motivated you to join the V17 Committee?
I joined the Village in Bloom gardening group within days of moving into Walthamstow! I was happy to find an active residents' association. I joined the committee because I'm interested in how to communicate through social media and I knew that was something the group needed, and I wanted to volunteer.
What's the best thing about living in Walthamstow Village?
Having neighbours and visitors who actively care for the area and its unique character. The gardening group is important because they contribute to the environment in the face of issues like climate change: it's not just beautification, it makes the neighbourhood more resilient in the face of floods and heatwaves. I love the distinct areas: the Ravenswood Estate, St Mary's church and gardens, Vestry House Museum, the shop fronts of Beulah Road, the square and Orford Road.
What positive changes have you seen?
I haven't lived here long and many of the changes I benefit from like the mini-Holland scheme happened before I arrived. I'm looking forward to the museum re-opening - it's a lovely space. I think awareness of V17's work is improving. More people want to get involved, from the garden competitions and events to conversations about the practicalities of living here, including liaising with police about crime prevention.
What do you enjoy most about being on the V17 Committee?
The committee are a talented, committed and hard-working bunch. It is an honour to be on it - to have a say in what we focus on and to gather feedback from neighbours so we can act on things that matter to people. I see a direct result from the effect of my work in comms: more people attending events and knowing what's happening in the village. Our membership is growing and I feel part of that change.
Rachael Mitas
Branding, Graphics, Website
How long have you lived in Walthamstow Village? Nearly 5 fantastic years.
What is your role and what does it involve? I'm the lead on the website, branding and graphics, so I work on presenting a clear, cohesive, and consistent visual identity for V17 - as well as design and maintain the website and our new membership facility.
What motivated you to join the V17 Committee? I was looking to contribute to my neighbourhood; I saw some of the Saturday gardening volunteers and asked who organised them and how I could help.
What's the best thing about living in Walthamstow Village? Having a mostly pedestrianised high street is core to my experience here - it facilitates running into friends and neighbours as well as creating a lively vibe. I wish everyone could have a high street like ours.
What do you enjoy most about being on the VI7 Committee? I like how we bat around ideas and problem-solve together; it's a fantastic group with a wealth of talent and I've learned so much working with them. I also get a little thrill seeing the V17 logo I designed in all of our shop windows.
If you had a magic wand what would you change? I'd get local artists to decorate all of our bike hangers, making them more fun and less useful for ugly graffiti tagging.