Many charities 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. Please contact us if you would prefer to receive a paper copy. All those not on email receive a paper copy as a matter of course.
We are sorry to report that after many years on the Committee, Peter Stevens and Gil Williams have decided not to stand for re-election this year. Our thanks go to both Peter and Gil 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 6th.
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 £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 Lander at the AGM or sent by post to the Secretary. (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 taxman. Forms are available from the Secretary.
Members paying by standing order should please ignore this request.
Since the last newsletter
Saturday 16 July 2016: Our annual evening event took place at St. Leonard's Priory. Drinks, music, reasonable weather and the attendance of local artist Karen Neale made it a delightful evening.
Wednesday 17 August: A group of 25 members enjoyed a conducted tour of Apethorpe Palace, one of England’s greatest country houses. It is now privately owned and English Heritage provided two very knowledgeable tour guides who, over a two hour period, explained the architecture and history of the building to the fascination of all.
Recent planning responses
Nothing new of importance to report. The Kier proposal on the site to the south of Kettering Road is still ongoing and we do not expect to hear more about that until much later in the year.
Events programme
Tickets are available from the Secretary. Unless otherwise advised, talks will be in Browne's Hospital at 7.30pm and cost £3.50.
Tuesday 20th September 2016 at 10.30am: a private tour of Octavia Hill’s Birthplace in Wisbech. Octavia Hill was a social reformer and one of the founders of the National Trust. See http://www.octaviahill.org. Tickets cost £6, to include coffee and biscuits. Please note the closing date for tickets is September 6th, as we have to confirm numbers by then.
Thursday 13th October 2016 at 7.30pm in the Town Hall: the Society's AGM and Awards evening.
Thursday 17th November at 7.30pm at Browne's: We are delighted that Gil Darby is going to give another of her talks. After Wedgwood a couple of years ago, we now move to Meissen, with a talk entitled “A Passion for Porcelain; the Early Days of the Meissen Factory”.
In this talk the extraordinary story of the founding of Meissen, Europe’s first commercially successful porcelain factory will be related, and you will be introduced to the subjects and people inspiring the factory’s modellers and painters.
New - illustrated note cards
Stamford Civic Society has produced a range of note cards, blank inside for use on all occasions, illustrated with images of special places in Stamford by the artist Karen Neale.
The A6 (105×148 mm) cards are sold in sets of 6 at £5.00. A set comprises 2 cards each of 3 different cover images and comes with envelopes. Two cover images are of St Leonard’s Priory and were specially commissioned by the Society, which helped to rescue and restore the Priory – the sole remnant of a Norman period structure in Stamford. The third image shows a selection of favourite buildings and places in the town chosen by Stamford primary school children.
You can purchase cards from Martin Lander by email at treasurer@stamfordcivicsociety.org.uk, telephone 01780 754567, or by post from 28 Christ Church Close, Stamford, PE9 1HS.
Sets will also be available for purchase at the Society's AGM and at our talks.
Peterborough Heritage Open Days 2016
Information on the forthcoming Heritage Open Days in the Peterborough area is available on the Peterborough Civic Society website, www.peterboroughcivicsociety.org.uk.
Events take place from Thursday 8th to Sunday 11th September 2016 inclusive. This is a once a year chance to discover fascinating buildings and to enjoy a wide range of tours, events and activities that bring to life local history and culture.
Heritage Open Days is a national event so if you fancy travelling further afield, information on what else is happening in other parts of the country can be found at www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Browne's Hospital News
Browne's Hospital has an Open Day on 10th September, from 11am until 4pm in conjunction with Heritage Open Days. Entry is free.
Members are always welcome at the Holy Communion service at Browne’s Hospital every Tuesday at 10 am. The door we use for entry to meetings is locked; you have to go down the entrance corridor and turn right into the garden (the chain might have to be lifted up), walk across the grass and enter by the external chapel door.
Town improvements
Look out for improvements to the road surface in Crown Street later this summer. The Society has been campaigning for remedial action to be taken as this small road is in a very bad state. LCC Highways has now agreed to resurface the road.
You may have noticed that the lights on the Town Bridge are looking their age. Thanks to efforts by the Urban Group – with funding from the Town Council and the Civic Society - these will be replaced in the Autumn.