In the year-end issue: an update from the Chairman; projects news; recent events; and the expanded 2020 programme.
From the Chairman
 Jim Mason | Well! here we are already, the 2019 Year-end Newsletter – they say “time flies when you are enjoying yourself” and, if you are feeling this same time-flying experience, then hopefully at least some of your enjoyment relates to your membership of our Society! I have enjoyed my first year as your Chairman thanks to Members’ steadfast support for our activities both project related and social. The Committee as a whole appreciates your backing and, indeed, the confidence shown in them with their re-election for a further year at the October AGM held at the Town Hall. There was just one Committee change, owing to other time consuming commitments, Michael Thompson retired to the ‘back benches’, offering continued support from there and we thank him for his valuable contribution over the years. |
| The administrative tasks intrinsic with an AGM were completed relative - ly quickly without contention and Steve Bowyer, Chief Executive Invest SK, followed with a very open and frank talk regarding Stamford’s high standing in the Lincolnshire heritage portfolio. There was lively interac - tion between Steve and the Members and an enjoyable social period saw out the evening. One of the points raised by Members at the AGM was a request to widen the Society’s Planning Application reviews to include sig- nificant developments outside the Conservation Area and, in response the Committee has decided to add the following line to the Planning reference on our website under “About the Society”: ‘Although our primary focus is on Stamford’s conservation area, we are always happy to discuss develop - ments elsewhere in Stamford wherever it may be helpful. Please contact us if you would like our advice or support’. |  Steve Bowyer |
We have enjoyed some very interesting talks and visits this year and we have now put together our full monthly programme for 2020 – see ‘Upcoming Events’. We very much hope that you will find something of interest to you in the wide variety of events arranged. That just leaves me to wish you a very happy Festive Season and say I look forward to a new year continuing together our efforts in our ‘endeavour to make Stamford more attractive, enjoyable and distinctive whilst protecting its heritage.’
Project update
Our lighting project aimed at enhancing the night scene in the Town is progressing steadily with lighting established for St Michael’s Church and new lights, to match the recently replaced Red Lion Square units, now in place in Horseshoe Lane. Plans for lighting St. Martin’s and St. Mary’s Churches are being devel- oped with the resolution of the continuing operational support for the proposed installations currently a drag on progress.
| We have continued to pressurize the Town, District and County local authori- ties in relation to the extremely poor state of the Town’s paving and the High- ways Authority have now agreed to commit £50,000 to resource immediate repair work at the most hazardous locations. |  |
 | We have established a plan for the replacement of the unsightly vehicle barrier plastic bollards, adjacent to the ‘zebra crossing’ in the Sheepmarket, with more acceptable and appropriate quarried and dressed limestone blocks. |
| Work by the Millstream Improvement Project Group continues apace and as result of some strong support from Anglia Water, the pump feeding the stream from the Welland River is now delivering its maximum authorized drawdown. Enhancement of the Millstream banks and river bed clearance is steadily progressing and an application to SKDC Community Fund to support future phases of the overall plan has recently been submitted. |  |
Recent events
 | The Society’s support for September’s Georgian Festival exhibition at the Art Centre billed ‘Stamford in the Georgian Transport Era’ was much appreciated. The exhibition was extremely well received and sizeable numbers of visitors viewed the impressive story banners. |
| Members painted a somewhat surreal scene as they stood in their bright orange jackets, white helmets, goggles and protective gloves in the middle of a huge Rutland quarry on a glorious Autumn day – they were taking part in September’s SCS outing to Hanson Cement, Ketton works. ‘Awesome’ was the only word to describe this Giant’s chemical ‘kitchen’ utilizing mined limestone and clay ingredients, massive mixers and milling equipment and ‘cooking’ in a huge horizontal rotating ‘oven’ at a kiln temperature of 1450 degrees to produce 4,000 tonnes per day of cement. |  |
We were shown the complete continuous process from the initial crushing and mixing of batches of 150 tonnes of discrete limestone deposits with 30 tonnes of special clay, to the impressive bagging, loading and shipping facilities on this 20 square mile site. We also viewed the large bat cave that had to be cre- ated in order to move this protected species out of adjacent woodland to allow for further quarrying. We were very cordially hosted, everyone thoroughly enjoyed our guide’s humour and his extensive knowledge and we wound up the visit with a pleasurable buffet lunch.
 | On a very chilly November evening the cosy atmosphere of Browne’s Hospital Hall, with its warm open fire, was a welcoming location for our November Event. A change to our speaker was necessary as result of the sad passing last August of Gill Darby who was scheduled to speak on ‘The Fine Arts’. Bearing in mind the very topical news headline issue of widespread river flooding, we were fortunate to be able to engage Chris French from The Welland Rivers Trust to talk to us about river flow management. |
| Chris gave us an informative and entertaining presentation with some excellent visual aids. He covered the impact over the years of river rerouting and deterioration (through lack of appropriate maintenance) and explained the current strategy of ‘catchment based’ water management with its implications in respect of ground works and funding. |  |
| Chris’s talk was followed up by an update on the local Millstream Improvement Project by Amelia Billington, Project Manager and Andy Sadler from the Environment Agency. After a lively Q&A session the evening concluded with our usual enjoyable social element. |  |
Upcoming events
Full details are on our Events page. Please note the change to the date and venue of our January 2020 talk.
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