Tireless crusader established the Brondesbury Residents’ and Tenants’ Association

A tree has been planted in memory of a tireless campaigner from Kilburn who founded the Brondesbury Residents’ and Tenants’ Association.

Monika Huber died on July 4 last year – just a few days short of her 70th birthday.

The loving grandmother is best remembered for her community work, especially helping the young and disadvantaged.

Despite poor health in her later years, her spirit with which she tackled new projects to help others was never dampened.

In 1979, Miss Huber wrote to the Kilburn Times slamming Brent Council’s decision to remove trees lining the borough’s streets.

Following this she helped to form the Brondesbury Residents’ and Tenants’ Association (BRAT) which continues to serve the community 33 years on.

On Saturday, a tree was planted in her memory, in Streatley Gardens, Kilburn, where she spent the summer of 1982 turning the area into a tiny oasis for the community with the help of friends and family.

Her daughter, Annaliese, son-in-law Alden and granddaughter, Asha, two, helped to plant the tree in front of friends. Miss Huber’s mother, a kosher cook living in Belsize Road, sent her daughter to Barrow Hill School, in St John’s Wood, and Harben School, in Kilburn. This was followed by Northwest Polytechnic for Girls.

One of her first jobs included working for Iliffe Publishers, in Waterloo, where her love affair for theatre and music began.

But it was when she joined Camden’s Task Force, in charge of young volunteers carrying out repairs for the elderly, that her work within the community truly began.

Throughout the 60s, Miss Huber worked as a youth organiser at Oxfam and also opened her own fashion business.

She then formed the Kingsgate Play Centre, in Kilburn, before helping underprivileged children and their families for more than 20 years at Cubitt Street Playgroup, in Camden.

She continued her love of performance with visits to Hampstead Theatre and in 1974, bought her home of 37 years, in Plympton Road, Kilburn.

Al Forsyth, chairman of BRAT, said: “Her brave rugged optimism for both her own health and well-being and that of the young and disadvantaged was unbeatable. She leaves a sad void in our community.

“As a reminder of Monika’s work and friendship, we dedicate this tree in her memory in Streatley Gardens. The making of these gardens has been one of BRAT’s hugely successful projects.

“Monika’s determined approach to problems has been an inspiration to us all.”

For more information about BRAT visit https://sites.google.com/site/brondesburyres/home