Cherry trees a “fitting tribute” to Muswell Hill residents chair

A row of pink blossom cherry trees will be planted in a “fitting tribute” to the chair of a residents association who tragically died in a car accident this month.

Michael McCarthy, 63, chairman of the Cranley Gardens Residents Association in Muswell Hill, was driving home in the early hours of September 1 when his car crashed in Hampstead Lane.

In one of his final acts in the role, the keen photographer applied to Haringey Council for funding to replace 15 cherry trees in the street – a request which has been posthumously granted.

Neighbour Elizabeth Sutton-Klein said: “He was the most incredibly tenacious man and this is a fitting tribute to his dedication and hard work.

“Mike organised an audit of the trees a couple of years ago and went up and down the road with council officers and they counted each tree that was there and each tree pit that wasn’t there.

“He was still working on this right up until the end – just a week before he died he was up negotiating where trees should go.”

Haringey Council has agreed to spend �2,250 to replace 15 missing cherry trees from Cranley Gardens.

Deborah Fowler, secretary of the Cranley Gardens Residents’ Association, said: “The avenue of cherry trees is a fantastic site in springtime and will be a lasting tribute to Mike McCarthy, who did so much as chair of the local residents association.”