This edition covers the annual members' meeting; recent and future events; and a new Society publication, The Stones of Stamford.
I hope you enjoyed the Annual Review that all members received in January; we are already working on the next one.
Members' meeting March 11th
About 45 members attended; we sat round the fire, and following an introduction summarising some of the things we are doing, the planning sub-committee consisting of John Smith, James Heesom and David Healey was introduced. John summarised the work the sub-committee carries out on behalf of the executive committee. Following that, we discussed a number of issues/suggestions. Among these were:
1. Annual review: should it be A5 or A4? Next year, we will include a membership form in the hope that you will show the review to your friends and persuade them to join the Society.
2. Newsletter: from the next issue, brief mention will be made of any planning responses of significant interest.
3. A group of Canadians is making a visit to Stamford on Tuesday July 21st; any volunteers to help show them round the town for an hour or so in the morning, please contact us. Our thanks to the people who volunteered at the meeting – we will be in touch with more information nearer the time.
4. Martin Grimes is stepping down as Treasurer at the next AGM; please let us know if you are interested in taking over. Martin will help with the items that may not be familiar, such as the annual return and managing gift aid, while a new person gets up to speed.
5. Help in general. We are looking for volunteers from members who would like to help either with projects or visit/talk planning. Please contact us if you are interested.
6. The Bastion. Peter Stevens reported work was complete on the outside; we are talking to English Heritage about the interior of the walls.
7. The southern entrance to the town – the verges are a mess because of cars parking there. We are looking for solutions.
8. A request was made that we look at the state of Cheyne Lane. This has been passed to the planning sub-committee.
Since the last newsletter:
Thursday November 27th: David Pennell, the Estate Director for the Burghley Estate spoke to a full house at Browne's about the day to day issues and intricacies of looking after the Estate's properties in Stamford.
Thursday February 19th: recent Civic Society Award winner, David Ellis talked on “My Life as a Collyweston Slater” from apprentice to master slater. Members listened to a fascinating description of work practices that would have caused serious issues with our modern health and safety conscious society.
Events programme
Tickets are available from the Secretary. Unless otherwise stated, all talks will be at Browne’s Hospital, starting at 7.30pm, with tickets costing £3.50.
Thursday April 23rd: Stuart Orme returns with a talk on “Georgian Peterborough”.
Tuesday May 26th: Open garden in Stamford – Peter Heyes will be opening his garden for us, between 6pm and 8pm. As usual for events such as this, tickets will be issued. Entrance for members is free of charge, but donations to a charity of Peter's choice will be gratefully received on the night.
Tuesday June 2nd: a private visit to Island Hall, Godmanchester. Please meet at the Hall at 2.15pm. The cost for this will be £12 and numbers are limited, so please contact Melanie as soon as possible if you wish to go. We need final numbers by May 12th.
Saturday June 20th: St Leonard's Priory evening event, with snacks and a glass of wine from 6pm to 7.30pm. There is no charge to members; non-members are asked to give a donation to the Society.
September 2015: Visit by coach to the Wedgwood museum in Stoke on Trent. At the moment the museum is closed for refurbishment of the catering areas, but we should have a firm date for the next Newsletter.
Hirst Conservation Talk
Many of you enjoyed the talk given by Elizabeth Hirst but written by Rachel Morley in 2014. Rachel has been working on expanding this into a booklet on the Stones of Stamford. This will be available to purchase in Walker's Bookshop from the end of March, price £5.00. We hope it will prove essential reading and be a useful reference for everyone who has a stone house in and around Stamford.
Creative writing essay competition
You probably saw the article about this in January's Stamford Living; we are looking forward to receiving entries; a judging panel has been set up, and the winning essay will appear on the Society's website in due course.
Stone Trail
Just a reminder about the new version of the previously out of print Stone Trail, It is now available from the Library and the Tourist Information Centre, at the price of £1. Proceeds will go to the Stamford Library and Heritage Centre.
Annual Review
We have some spare copies; if any member would like one (or more) to pass to friends who might like to become members, please let us know.
More members please!
The more members we have, the more we can make our voice heard. If you have friends who might be interested in joining the Society, please point them at our web site, where thay can download the application form, or ask them to get in touch by phone or letter.
Members' meeting March 11th
About 45 members attended; we sat round the fire, and following an introduction summarising some of the things we are doing, the planning sub-committee consisting of John Smith, James Heesom and David Healey was introduced. John summarised the work the sub-committee carries out on behalf of the executive committee. Following that, we discussed a number of issues/suggestions. Among these were:
1. Annual review: should it be A5 or A4? Next year, we will include a membership form in the hope that you will show the review to your friends and persuade them to join the Society.
2. Newsletter: from the next issue, brief mention will be made of any planning responses of significant interest.
3. A group of Canadians is making a visit to Stamford on Tuesday July 21st; any volunteers to help show them round the town for an hour or so in the morning, please contact us. Our thanks to the people who volunteered at the meeting – we will be in touch with more information nearer the time.
4. Martin Grimes is stepping down as Treasurer at the next AGM; please let us know if you are interested in taking over. Martin will help with the items that may not be familiar, such as the annual return and managing gift aid, while a new person gets up to speed.
5. Help in general. We are looking for volunteers from members who would like to help either with projects or visit/talk planning. Please contact us if you are interested.
6. The Bastion. Peter Stevens reported work was complete on the outside; we are talking to English Heritage about the interior of the walls.
7. The southern entrance to the town – the verges are a mess because of cars parking there. We are looking for solutions.
8. A request was made that we look at the state of Cheyne Lane. This has been passed to the planning sub-committee.
Since the last newsletter:
Thursday November 27th: David Pennell, the Estate Director for the Burghley Estate spoke to a full house at Browne's about the day to day issues and intricacies of looking after the Estate's properties in Stamford.
Thursday February 19th: recent Civic Society Award winner, David Ellis talked on “My Life as a Collyweston Slater” from apprentice to master slater. Members listened to a fascinating description of work practices that would have caused serious issues with our modern health and safety conscious society.
Events programme
Tickets are available from the Secretary. Unless otherwise stated, all talks will be at Browne’s Hospital, starting at 7.30pm, with tickets costing £3.50.
Thursday April 23rd: Stuart Orme returns with a talk on “Georgian Peterborough”.
Tuesday May 26th: Open garden in Stamford – Peter Heyes will be opening his garden for us, between 6pm and 8pm. As usual for events such as this, tickets will be issued. Entrance for members is free of charge, but donations to a charity of Peter's choice will be gratefully received on the night.
Tuesday June 2nd: a private visit to Island Hall, Godmanchester. Please meet at the Hall at 2.15pm. The cost for this will be £12 and numbers are limited, so please contact Melanie as soon as possible if you wish to go. We need final numbers by May 12th.
Saturday June 20th: St Leonard's Priory evening event, with snacks and a glass of wine from 6pm to 7.30pm. There is no charge to members; non-members are asked to give a donation to the Society.
September 2015: Visit by coach to the Wedgwood museum in Stoke on Trent. At the moment the museum is closed for refurbishment of the catering areas, but we should have a firm date for the next Newsletter.
Hirst Conservation Talk
Many of you enjoyed the talk given by Elizabeth Hirst but written by Rachel Morley in 2014. Rachel has been working on expanding this into a booklet on the Stones of Stamford. This will be available to purchase in Walker's Bookshop from the end of March, price £5.00. We hope it will prove essential reading and be a useful reference for everyone who has a stone house in and around Stamford.
Creative writing essay competition
You probably saw the article about this in January's Stamford Living; we are looking forward to receiving entries; a judging panel has been set up, and the winning essay will appear on the Society's website in due course.
Stone Trail
Just a reminder about the new version of the previously out of print Stone Trail, It is now available from the Library and the Tourist Information Centre, at the price of £1. Proceeds will go to the Stamford Library and Heritage Centre.
Annual Review
We have some spare copies; if any member would like one (or more) to pass to friends who might like to become members, please let us know.
More members please!
The more members we have, the more we can make our voice heard. If you have friends who might be interested in joining the Society, please point them at our web site, where thay can download the application form, or ask them to get in touch by phone or letter.
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