Stamford Civic Society
  • Home
  • Who we are
    • About the Society
    • Join us
    • Renew subscription
  • What we do
    • Projects >
      • The Sundial Project
      • School Projects
    • Stamford Urban Group
    • Information boards
    • Newsletters
    • Other publications >
      • Annual review >
        • Annual Review 2018 >
          • Highlights of 2018
          • Mallory Lane
          • Eventful times
          • Off the wall
          • Town centre issues
          • Nelson Dawson
          • In my time
          • Recognising the best
          • First impressions
          • National civic issues
          • Bland or inspiring
          • Arrivals and departures
          • Finances 2017-18
        • Annual Review 2017 >
          • Highlights of 2017
          • Open for tours
          • Eventful times
          • Keeping a watching brief
          • Town centre issues
          • Stamford: a celebration
          • Worth their weight in bronze
          • Getting the best advice
          • The Albert Bridge
          • From the Mercury
          • National civic issues
          • To bypass or not to bypass
          • Arrivals and a departure
          • Finances
        • Annual Review 2016 >
          • Highlights of the Year
          • Magical Metropolis
          • Eventful times
          • Keeping a Watching Brief
          • Tackling Town Centre Issues
          • My Favourite Building
          • An Arts & Crafts Treasure
          • Big, Bigger, Better?
          • What Do Young People Think?
          • Apethorpe Palace
          • National Civic Issues
          • Recognising the Best
          • Arrivals and Departures
        • Annual Review 2015
        • Annual Review 2014
      • Stones of Stamford Revisited
      • Articles
      • Archives
    • Awards >
      • 2018 Awards
      • 2014 Awards
      • 2011 Awards
      • 2009 Awards
  • Events
    • Coming events
    • Past events >
      • Stamford in Bloom 2018
      • 50th anniversary 2017 >
        • Press release
        • Competition winner
  • Stamford Heritage
    • Introduction to Stamford
    • First Conservation Area
    • St Leonard's Priory
    • Browne's Hospital >
      • Visit Browne's
      • Common room
      • Chapel
      • Staircase
      • Audit room
      • Confrator's room
      • 50 years ago
      • Brownes in pictures
    • The Priest's House
    • Other buildings >
      • Truesdale
      • Stamford School Chapel
      • The Institution
      • Stamford Houses
      • Railway Station
    • Other sites >
      • The Bastion
      • The Conduit
      • Recreation Ground
      • Daniel Lambert
    • Points of interest >
      • Plaques in Stamford
      • William Stukeley
    • Georgian Transport
    • 1960s pictures
    • 1900s pictures
    • 1870s pictures
  • Sponsors & partners
  • Contact us

In my time: Gwyneth looks back on her 11 years as Civic Society Chairman

Oh dear! 600 words reviewing my time as Chairman — where do I start? Actually, I don’t; instead I’ll pick out some personal highlights. There’s lots more on our website.

Planning
Planning in the Conservation Area has always been an integral part of the Society’s remit. Closer relationships with the planners have helped to make the Society much more influential. We have helped with local and sometimes expert knowledge, we respond constructively and we only make a fuss when we think it is really necessary. In return, we are listened to and our input has impact. No, we haven’t won all our battles over the years, but we can take credit for many incremental improvements and for stopping a few eyesores.

Awards
We have presented our awards every two years and they are greatly valued. Categories have included conservation and renovation, green projects and new builds. I particularly remember the green space on Church Lane: our award is still displayed there.
Projects
The sundial on All Saints’ was certainly the hardest work, but a real favourite of mine is the cleaning up of the outside of the Bastion, now being maintained by St. Peter’s Community Group. We have also worked with local schools to inculcate a sense of pride in our town from an early age. The Stamford Children’s Town Trail is a memorable example.
Picture
Urban Group
The Urban Group became part of the Society in 2012. Its renovation of St. Michael’s Churchyard was a huge improvement in the town centre. Among many smaller projects, the recent work on the Albert Bridge stands out.

Website
In 2006, our website was unloved and poorly maintained. It has been hugely extended and it is now a proper ‘shop window’ for the Society, though there is still room for improvement in our social media presence.
Picture
Plaques and Information Boards
We have installed two blue plaques and four more information boards in the town since 2007. Nearly every time I walk past St. Michael’s Churchyard, somebody is reading our board. Very satisfying!
Annual Reviews and Newsletters
Our bi-monthly newsletter was started in 2013; it has been an excellent way of keeping members up to date. 2018 will see the printing of our fifth Annual Review; the high quality of these publications is confirmed by a recent request for copies from the copyright libraries, reflecting great credit on our editors and contributors.

Events
While the Society has a serious purpose, that does not exclude having fun. The website lists almost 100 events in my time as Chairman: the variety is amazing. Two very different talks stand out for me: David Ellis on Collyweston slate, especially his pictures of working conditions in the 1960s; and Elizabeth Inman on what it takes to put on the Burghley Horse Trials. Our celebration of the 50th anniversary of Stamford becoming the first Conservation Area is a happy memory.

I have been delighted to see our summer party at St. Leonard’s Priory so well attended every year. I hope the next Chairman has as much luck in keeping the rain away!

And finally,

Anything that we have achieved has been a group effort, with major contributions of time and expertise from committee members, the planning subcommittee and the urban group, not forgetting Orlando Rock, who became President when I became Chairman. Without all of them and our members, we wouldn’t be here today.
About the Society
Join us
Coming events
​Projects
Stamford Urban Group
Publications
​​Newsletters
Annual Review
Archives
Stamford heritage
Plaques in Stamford
William Stukeley
Browne's Hospital
The Priest's House
Stamford Mercury Archive

Contact us
Acknowledgements
Privacy policy

This website is archived in the
Internet Archive WayBackMachine
Copyright © 1962-2021 Stamford Civic Society
Registered charity no. 242571
Picture

a member of 
Civic Voice

Find us elsewhere:
Picture
Picture
Twitter
Picture
Facebook