This edition reports on the AGM agenda; subscriptions; planning applications; forthcoming events; visiting Canadians; street cleaning; and winners of the essay competition.
Enclosed with this newsletter are the notice of the AGM and agenda, a committee nomination form and the minutes of the 2014 AGM. The formal part of the evening will be followed by a brief talk by our President on progress at Burghley, and we hope members will stay for a glass of wine afterwards.
Many charities and other organisations now try to cut the amount of paper and postage by sending the AGM paperwork by email, and we are now following that practice where possible to all those who have provided an email address. Please contact us if you would prefer to receive a paper copy. All those not on email will be sent a paper copy as a matter of course.
As many of you know, Martin Grimes, our treasurer, will be standing down after the AGM. We are delighted to tell you that we have a volunteer, who will be offering himself for appointment at the AGM. Martin Lander (yes, another Martin!) is a member of the Civic Society; he and Evelyn retired to Stamford six years ago, and although they have lived for some of the intervening time in York, they moved here permanently
towards the end of 2014. Martin has been treasurer of a number of organisations over the years and is currently treasurer of Welland U3A.
We are also sorry to report that after many years on the Committee, Richard Barry has decided not to stand for re-election this year. Richard has been involved in a number of our projects, most recently the sundial project and Built Heritage lottery work.
Our thanks go to both Martin and Richard for all they have done for the Society.
If anyone wishes to talk to us about joining the committee themselves, please get in touch with either myself or Melanie. Alternatively, to nominate an officer or committee member, a nomination form is enclosed. Please note that nomination forms must be returned to the Secretary by Thursday October 8th. Forms returned after that, including on the AGM night will not be accepted.
Subscriptions
The annual subscriptions are due for payment now, please. We hope that you will renew your membership and continue your support. The cost remains at £10 for single members, and £15 for two people living at the same address; we will not be proposing any change at the AGM. The subscriptions can be paid to Martin Grimes at the AGM or sent by post to the Secretary.(Please note that new members who joined after 1st April are not expected to pay again now!).
If you have not signed a gift aid form, please consider doing this so we can get a further contribution back from the tax man. Forms are available from the Secretary.
Members paying by standing order should please ignore this request.
Recent planning responses: as agreed at the members' meeting, we are now reporting briefly in the newsletter on recent planning applications of note. In the last two months, we have commented favourably on the plans to to replace a statue that once stood on Dawson’s roof, repairs to the Town Hall roof, a new door in Scotgate and internal improvements to the Tobie Norris.
We reported last time that the proposed eco-home on the land close to the Meadows had been refused permission by SKDC; this has gone to appeal.
Events programme
Tickets are available from the Secretary. Unless otherwise advised, talks will be in Browne's Hospital and cost £3.50.
Monday September 21st: Visit by coach to the Wedgwood museum in Stoke on Trent. Gil Darby will be leading the visit; many of you will remember her talk on Wedgwood about 18 months ago. The cost to include the coach and museum entry will be £37. We leave Stamford at 9.00am, arrive at Wedgwood about 11.00am. and we buy our own tea/coffee when we arrive and then visit the museum. We buy our own lunch, after which we self guide round the visitor centre which is apparently well signed and parts are interactive. There should be time to have tea if wanted and look at the seconds/ends of line shop. There is also a museum shop. Departure will be at 4.00pm, arriving back in Stamford about 6.00pm. To book, please contact the Secretary by 18th September, at the latest.
Thursday November 4th: A talk by the Front of House Manager of John Clare's Cottage, David Dykes on the Life of John Clare.
February 2016: Lionel Wall will be talking about the Genesis of the English Church
March 2016: Our usual members' meeting at Browne's. There will of course be no charge for this.
Summer 2016: We are planning visits to the Spalding Gentlemen's Society and possibly Wothorpe Towers and Apethorpe Palace.
Canadian Visit
The Society hosted a visit for about 35 Canadians from a Nova Scotia University who are on a visit to the UK. A number of us showed them round the town, in small groups, after which they lunched in the Town Hall. A number of them tried out the Stone Trail in the afternoon. This is the second time in three years that we have hosted this group from Canada; they generously made a donation of £200 to the Society's funds.
Stamford's Streets
Just a reminder that any street cleaning issues should be reported to the Town Hall. Some cleaning is the responsibility of the Town Council, and some of SKDC, so it is easier to tell the Town Clerk and leave her to talk to the right people.
The Stones of Stamford Revisited
A reminder that this booklet written by Rachel Morley, previously of Hirst Conservation, is now available to purchase in Walker's Bookshop and the Tourist Information Centre, 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; judging has now taken place, and the winner and runner-up's essays are now on our website.
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.
Civic Society Website
I hope you do occasionally take a look at our website; we try to update it regularly. If you haven't seen the changes to the Heritage section, you might like to have a look at that, for example.
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 they can download the application form, or ask them to get in touch by phone or letter.
Many charities and other organisations now try to cut the amount of paper and postage by sending the AGM paperwork by email, and we are now following that practice where possible to all those who have provided an email address. Please contact us if you would prefer to receive a paper copy. All those not on email will be sent a paper copy as a matter of course.
As many of you know, Martin Grimes, our treasurer, will be standing down after the AGM. We are delighted to tell you that we have a volunteer, who will be offering himself for appointment at the AGM. Martin Lander (yes, another Martin!) is a member of the Civic Society; he and Evelyn retired to Stamford six years ago, and although they have lived for some of the intervening time in York, they moved here permanently
towards the end of 2014. Martin has been treasurer of a number of organisations over the years and is currently treasurer of Welland U3A.
We are also sorry to report that after many years on the Committee, Richard Barry has decided not to stand for re-election this year. Richard has been involved in a number of our projects, most recently the sundial project and Built Heritage lottery work.
Our thanks go to both Martin and Richard for all they have done for the Society.
If anyone wishes to talk to us about joining the committee themselves, please get in touch with either myself or Melanie. Alternatively, to nominate an officer or committee member, a nomination form is enclosed. Please note that nomination forms must be returned to the Secretary by Thursday October 8th. Forms returned after that, including on the AGM night will not be accepted.
Subscriptions
The annual subscriptions are due for payment now, please. We hope that you will renew your membership and continue your support. The cost remains at £10 for single members, and £15 for two people living at the same address; we will not be proposing any change at the AGM. The subscriptions can be paid to Martin Grimes at the AGM or sent by post to the Secretary.(Please note that new members who joined after 1st April are not expected to pay again now!).
If you have not signed a gift aid form, please consider doing this so we can get a further contribution back from the tax man. Forms are available from the Secretary.
Members paying by standing order should please ignore this request.
Recent planning responses: as agreed at the members' meeting, we are now reporting briefly in the newsletter on recent planning applications of note. In the last two months, we have commented favourably on the plans to to replace a statue that once stood on Dawson’s roof, repairs to the Town Hall roof, a new door in Scotgate and internal improvements to the Tobie Norris.
We reported last time that the proposed eco-home on the land close to the Meadows had been refused permission by SKDC; this has gone to appeal.
Events programme
Tickets are available from the Secretary. Unless otherwise advised, talks will be in Browne's Hospital and cost £3.50.
Monday September 21st: Visit by coach to the Wedgwood museum in Stoke on Trent. Gil Darby will be leading the visit; many of you will remember her talk on Wedgwood about 18 months ago. The cost to include the coach and museum entry will be £37. We leave Stamford at 9.00am, arrive at Wedgwood about 11.00am. and we buy our own tea/coffee when we arrive and then visit the museum. We buy our own lunch, after which we self guide round the visitor centre which is apparently well signed and parts are interactive. There should be time to have tea if wanted and look at the seconds/ends of line shop. There is also a museum shop. Departure will be at 4.00pm, arriving back in Stamford about 6.00pm. To book, please contact the Secretary by 18th September, at the latest.
Thursday November 4th: A talk by the Front of House Manager of John Clare's Cottage, David Dykes on the Life of John Clare.
February 2016: Lionel Wall will be talking about the Genesis of the English Church
March 2016: Our usual members' meeting at Browne's. There will of course be no charge for this.
Summer 2016: We are planning visits to the Spalding Gentlemen's Society and possibly Wothorpe Towers and Apethorpe Palace.
Canadian Visit
The Society hosted a visit for about 35 Canadians from a Nova Scotia University who are on a visit to the UK. A number of us showed them round the town, in small groups, after which they lunched in the Town Hall. A number of them tried out the Stone Trail in the afternoon. This is the second time in three years that we have hosted this group from Canada; they generously made a donation of £200 to the Society's funds.
Stamford's Streets
Just a reminder that any street cleaning issues should be reported to the Town Hall. Some cleaning is the responsibility of the Town Council, and some of SKDC, so it is easier to tell the Town Clerk and leave her to talk to the right people.
The Stones of Stamford Revisited
A reminder that this booklet written by Rachel Morley, previously of Hirst Conservation, is now available to purchase in Walker's Bookshop and the Tourist Information Centre, 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; judging has now taken place, and the winner and runner-up's essays are now on our website.
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.
Civic Society Website
I hope you do occasionally take a look at our website; we try to update it regularly. If you haven't seen the changes to the Heritage section, you might like to have a look at that, for example.
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 they can download the application form, or ask them to get in touch by phone or letter.
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