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Royal Borough of Kingston up Thames is an attractive place
to reside partly due to its location south of London, it is very convenient for commuters
just 10 minutes by train into Waterloo station, leadings to all major underground stations.
Kingston is so called because it used to be the old capital city where
all the ancient kings and queens were crowned, thus Kings-stone. After
the kings coronation stone can be seen at the Guildhall near Market Place where
you can buy almost anything from vegetables to a sewing machine.
Just a short distance from here one has the feeling of living in
the countryside with the beautiful parks and lakes where deer roam
freely. The river Thames flows past Surbiton and Kingston and on to
Richmond, another Bahá'í community with which Kingston has close
ties. We share many events with Richmond including tree planting in the Richmond
park, which is
all that divides Kingston from Richmond.
Hampton Court with its history and beautiful rose gardens where
Henry the VIII was one of its more famous residents, its even more famous maze
within the grounds. Son et Lumière is displayed all summer, with some
wonderful historical plays about its past inhabitants.
Kingston boasts some of the finest educational establishments in
the country, with Kingston college, and Kingston University
which is among the first 50 in the United Kingdom. Most schools in the
borough are excellent and have a high level of pass results. In 1999 they were
classed best in the country along with Sutton.
The first group of Bahais came to live in Kingston in
1959. The first Local Assembly of 9 Bahá'ís was formed in 1962. Since this time
the Bahá'í community has grown into a large incorporated charity, involved with
supporting other like-minded organizations such as UNA, Kingston Racial Equality
Council, Amnesty International, and various other multi-cultural and educational
organizations.
Talks in schools are offered. We also support various charities WWF,
UNICEF and the Save the Children Fund, amongst others.
For more information about local Bahá'í or events please send e-mail to secretary@kingston-bahai.co.uk
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