Camden News - by DAN CARRIER Published: 2 April 2009
Friends and family of Harold Marks at the Belsize village bench dedicated to his memory
Bench Marks: Tribute to village campaigner Harold
IT was fitting that the bench and two trees commemorating the life of Harold Marks were placed in the centre of Belsize village’s pedestrianised centre.
It was the work of the late chairman of the area’s residents’ association that stopped the back streets from being a rat-run.
Friends and family of Mr Marks gathered on Friday afternoon to unveil the bench and trees and spoke of how the retired schools inspector had dedicated his time to improving Belsize Park. He died in 2005, aged 91, and left money in his will to put a bench in Belsize village. He had spent five years as chairman and a further six on the Belsize Residents Association’s committee. Friend Diana Self said: “He moved here in 1989 and very soon after got involved with the Association.
“He joined the committee and then within three months became the chairman of the group.”