March 2010 Update
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Introduction, and planning in Deal
Robin Green writes:
I want to begin this annual report by paying tribute to the concept of the voluntary society. The people who work tirelessly for the good of the Deal Society deserve a huge vote of thanks. My colleagues on the Executive Committee and the sub-committees have been a joy to work with. They give their time and energy for the good of Deal and Walmer. I want to express the Society’s thanks this year to Pat Russell who has done so much work researching and organising, with the help of Anthony Hodson Mackenzie, the Society’s outings. Those outings have given huge pleasure to a lot of people. We wish Pat well for the future.
The voluntary society is important in another sense. I have come to realise what a really valuable contribution we can make to the life of this town by being a strong, determined and independent voice. That takes energy and time but my year as Chairman has been rewarding, precisely because we can exercise that independence.
The Society’s planning work in Deal has been a story of mixed fortunes. I have been a co-opted member of the Deal Town Council Planning Committee and I believe that that body has developed more teeth this year. It needed to when dealing with the Dover District Council Planning Department. The low point of the year was the agreement to grant planning permission for an amusement arcade in the only Grade 2 listed building in the High Street. But we did put a stop to more ravages to that building early this year. The discussions about the Quarterdeck, the Canon Street gas works site and the future of the Regent have been extremely time consuming. We have also managed to prevent some real damage being done to a number of listed buildings in the town.
A lot of time has been taken up with transport issues. We have been trying to get the bus station upgraded. Progress has been slow but the Society has had a two hour meeting with members of the Dover District Council Cabinet which we hope will accelerate action. As far as I am able to ascertain that is the first time such a meeting has taken place since DDC came into being in 1974. We also made a representation to South Eastern rail about the high speed trains. Your Executive Committee took the view that two things are important. First of all we need the restoration of the quicker services into Waterloo and Charing Cross. Secondly the timetables from Deal need to be integrated with the high speed departures from Dover and Ramsgate. As I write there is stalemate on both these issues but discussions with a civil servant at the Department of Transport give reasonable hope that the new timetable in May will be much improved.
Our town centre has given rise to much concern in the last year with the closure of several shops. We put a lot of pressure on the Town Council to upgrade the flower planters. We are also in discussion with our Kent County Council councillors about improvements to the pedestrian precinct. Hopefully these measures, together with a slow improvement in the economic climate, will bring about a more dynamic commercial centre to our town.
All this activity has raised the public profile of the Society and one of the spin-offs of that has been an increase in new members. It is always a joy to welcome new people. Our youngest member is 27, our oldest 97. What a wonderful combination of hope and experience! We shall need every ounce of both those qualities in the years ahead for the challenges are not diminishing and the threats to both our built and natural environment remain. The Society is in good heart to face those challenges.
Planning in Walmer
John Goodban writes:
The more recent planning and development issues in Walmer have largely been of a routine nature. The granting of planning permission for the construction of apartment buildings on existing residential sites in Warwick Road and Hawksdown Road, despite local opposition, had the support of Walmer Parish Council. It is hoped that Dover District Council will approve the latest application for a residential development comprising seven detached houses on the Campbell’s garage site alongside Kingsdown Road.
Membership
The membership of 340 reported at the 2009 AGM has now increased to 370: a slow but steady increase for a small Society (as I go to press, however, renewal subscriptions for 20 of the 370 remain outstanding). Like any organisation such as ours, finding people to help, and in particular to serve on the Committee and take on a job, is not easy. I can only say, from personal experience, that it is fun, rewarding and beneficial for our community, so please spread the gospel amongst your friends. For the benefit of new members, here is the current mailing schedule:
February: Papers for the AGM to be held in April and the prospectus for the forthcoming social programme (I trust that you have received these)
March: News Update (herewith!)
July: News Update and the “Yellow Card” with preliminary details of the forthcoming programme of talks, trips and parties
November: News Update
Talks and social programmes
The past twelve months’ programmes have been reported in the News Updates and on the website, so this is just a summary, particularly for the benefit of new members.
Talks: In May, Robin organised a Question Time to consider the future of Deal and Walmer. A panel of experts discussed matters raised by members, such as the use of industrial land (with particular reference to Minters Yard), the plan to build many houses on the flood plain and the games that developers play. Other topics discussed included the relocation of health centres (which had highlighted the shortcomings of the local bus services), the need to ensure that future housing development took account of an increasingly ageing population, the future of public halls, leisure facilities and resources for young people and last, but not least, the fact that our drains were not “fit for purpose”. On a more light-hearted note, the November talk by Christopher Dovey gave us an insight into being a butler to royalty, initially at Kensington Palace and then at Thatch House Lodge, Richmond Park. He spoke warmly about Princess Marina, Princess Alexandra and their families and had clearly enjoyed both appointments enormously.
Social programme: The April weather was kind for the Spring drinks party at Glenhill, but a grey sky and drizzle did not bode well for the following month’s trip to Le Touquet. The sun appeared soon and, despite a blustery wind, members enjoyed a day mainly devoted to a good lunch and some shopping. It was nostalgic to enjoy the view of the spectacular beach, as 2009 was the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings. In June the coach took members for an excursion to Faversham. The day started with a visit to Belmont House, the elegant 18th home of the Harris family who amassed a remarkable collection of clocks and furniture. The house is set in lovely grounds, both formal and informal, including a well-stocked fruit and vegetable garden. Then on to the Shepherd Neame Brewery, where a fascinating tour culminated in a tasting session before the sleepy drive home. The Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club was the venue for our traditional Summer supper in July. September saw a visit to St Margaret’s, on our doorstep. A tour of the Calyx conference centre set in the beautiful Pines Garden was an eye-opener: a state-of-the-art eco-friendly building which is as beautiful as it is revolutionary. The Coastguard pub on the Bay provided a delicious lunch. We went further afield in September and enjoyed a tour of the Palace of Westminster, including Westminster Hall, the Lords and the Commons. Such rich surroundings and the sense of history made a strong impression. As usual we rounded off the year with the Christmas drinks party in the Town Hall.
SOCIETY BUSINESS
New members
Since the last November’s News Update went to print, Roz Macklin, Barry, Janet and Jade Stevenson, John and Gloria Voller, John Suddaby and Anni Cittern, Alan and Ann Milne, Roger and Eileen Marsh, David White, Richard and Ann Cole, David and Frances Evison, Léonie Craven, Anne Gavan-Wooldridge, and Tim and Edwina Jackaman have joined the Society – welcome to you all.
Annual subscription for 2010
As reported above, 20 members have not renewed their subscriptions. I sent out reminders with the AGM mailing last month. If you have not paid this year’s subscription by 31 March, you will not receive any more mailings from the Society. But thank you for your support in the past and please know that you can always rejoin us.
2010 SOCIAL PROGRAMME
The Pocahontas cruise was fully booked by 6 March, the Summer Supper and visit to Squerryes Court by 11 March and the visit to Finchcocks by 15 March. In the event of a trip or party being oversubscribed, I keep a reserve list, based on the dates of original applications.
If you have applied for an event and do not receive a request for payment nearer the time, your name will be on that list. Do not despair, however, as I normally receive a number of cancellations and it is rare that a member is disappointed.
TALKS REVIEWS
“The Tower you know and the Tower you don’t know”, 2 February
David Bridgen writes:
It gave me great pleasure to welcome 67 members and guests, who packed the Town Hall to hear Colonel Richard Harrold OBE, Deputy Governor of HM Tower of London, share the magic and secrets of this iconic landmark. Richard’s passion for the history and now vital work of the Charity that maintains and protects the Tower for generations to come was wonderful to share, as the slide presentation unfolded.
As far back as Roman times the site has played a strategic role, but it was not until William the Conqueror had defeated King Harold in 1066 and ruled the land for a few years that the now famous White Tower was commissioned in 1078, built with pure white stone shipped from Caen and with other materials from our native Kent to create its powerful outline. The Tower of London was to become the home of monarchs for over 500 years, the last being James I before the court of Henry VIII moved to the new palace at Hampton Court.
This vast fortress, set within 18 acres surrounded by the inner and outer walls, originally had a water filled moat that was designed to self clean with the ebb and flow of the tidal waters of the Thames. Over the years the silt made the moat a breeding ground of disease and during the Duke of Wellington’s tenure as Constable of the Tower he oversaw the draining of the moat and the laying of turf as is now evident today. Other visible changes were made by Christopher Wren who was commissioned to replace the original slit windows with large arched windows to let in light to the gloomy interior of the White Tower.
The legacy that this seat of power created can still be seen today in other parts of London. Within the walls of the Tower could be found the Royal Mint that had produced the coins of the realm for both England and Ireland since the time of Edward IV until 1810 when it moved out to a new site within the City of London and later to its present home in Wales. The Royal Menagerie housed a collection of exotic animals and gifts given to the monarchs, with records showing a polar bear in 1251 that was shackled on a long chain to enable it to fish for salmon in the Thames. In 1255 Henry III was sent an elephant by the king of France that was landed at Sandwich before being transported to London. In the late 18th century the animals were moved to Regents Park and what is known today as the Royal Zoological Society. Other remarkable legacies were the Royal Ordnance Office that mapped most of the Empire, and today gives us the world leading Ordnance Survey maps, and the Public Records Office, that moved to Somerset House for many years until being relocated out of London in the 1970’s.
Probably most famous was the Tower’s rôle as a State Prison for political enemies of the state or, more common in Henry VIII’s time, unwanted wives. The Tower has no dungeons and was only used for the execution of 8 souls, 7 by the axe and 1, namely Ann Boleyn, by the sword. The executions of the less famous took place on Tower Hill away from the Tower itself. As a scene of torture, the only well documented prisoner was Guy Fawkes, who was placed on the rack to break him into giving the names of his co conspirators before being beheaded himself.
Other famous prisoners in recent times include Rudolf Hess, deputy to Adolf Hitler, who was captured in Scotland and held in the Tower for a short time before going on trial in Nuremberg. The last prisoners were the East End villains the Kray Twins, who were detained for a short while before escaping to their home off the Commercial Road to be quickly recaptured and returned to the Tower until a more secure place could be found.
The stories could have continued all night, as could the questions that Richard gladly encouraged, definitely setting a new record by an enthusiastic audience.
“More than just a Doctor, third time lucky”, 2 March
Pog Waite and friends write:
Third time lucky was never more true than at the March meeting. Dr Vivienne Nathanson from the British Medical Association came to talk about her experiences and the changes in present-day health care. Dr Nathanson had twice before been prevented from being with us, so she was given a particularly warm and well-deserved welcome.
Although her father had been a doctor, Vivienne was far from certain that she wanted to follow in his footsteps. In the event, however, she ended up studying medicine and eventually started working with the BMA, where she is currently Director of Professional Activities and on the Ethics Committee of that organisation.
You name it and Vivienne has been involved with it. A comment was made after the meeting that “I had no idea the BMA was such a campaigning organisation.” She spoke about her work with alcohol and tobacco abuse and control, looking at the ethical implications of stem-cell research, deciding the medical profession’s stance on euthanasia and assisted suicide, and leaving us in no doubt that the BMA is right there in a dangerous front line in considering those aspects of medicine that can provoke ferocious controversy.
Grandparents among us listened intently to what she had to say about the MMR vaccine - remembering our sons’ and daughter’ dilemmas over what was best for their children. We heard how the BMA three years ago laid down its policy on assisted suicide and that the recent government ruling does not affect that policy. We silently applauded the BMA’s sustained campaign against the use of landmines and for their continued clearance. Vivienne has seen for herself the appalling injuries suffered by men, women and children tending their fields or walking to fetch water.
As an act of friendship, Vivienne had spent time with a prisoner on death row in the USA. She never did work out why she had to declare she was wearing underwear, as visitor and prisoner were separated by grilles and glass screens. Although her touch was light, I think we all felt the real horror of the situation, and one sensed the shock when she told us that doctors, dedicated to saving life, do not administer the lethal injection: it is done by a vet.
Vivienne answered questions on a range of subjects including swine ‘flu, assisted suicide and relations with the press. She was thanked by Una Stanley, who thought that BMA must stand for the Buzz generated by such a fascinating and humorous talk, the Multiple facets of her work and Alcohol, which wasn’t necessary to enliven such an entertaining evening (editorial note: due to a misunderstanding, there was no wine to serve to the speaker and audience).
THE KENT COASTAL NETWORK
The Kent Federation of Amenity Societies is holding its annual conference this year at the Pines Calyx conference centre in St Margaret’s Bay. It is on Saturday 15th May and the theme this year is the threats posed to coastal towns all around the Kent Coast. Coastal towns are under threat not only from rising sea levels but also from threats to the built environment. The Pines is a wonderful location as those who visited it on the Society outing last year will testify. The conference starts at 10 am and finishes at 4 pm. The cost for the day is £15.00 but lunch is extra. If anyone would like to go they should contact Robin Green by 15th April.