BCS Newsletter Spring 2013 Email-1
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-2- Society Executive Officers Chairman Ken Chamberlain 49 Christchurch Avenue, Erith, DA8 3AP 01322-337-893 Secretary Michael Pooley 78 Longmead Drive, Sidcup, DA14 4NZ 020-8302-2443 Treasurer Raymond Hubbard 4 Rowanwood Avenue, Sidcup, DA15 8WN 020-8308-1984 Elected Executive Committee Members Jean Davis 4 Woodlands Road, Bexleyheath, DA7 4AF 020-8303-9570 Linda Hubbard 4 Rowanwood Avenue, Sidcup, DA15 8WN 020-8308-1984 John Mercer 65 Longlands Road, Sidcup, DA15 7LQ 020-8300-3136 Betty Sadler 16 Percy Road, Bexleyheath, DA7 4DZ 020-8304-1819 Martin Wilson 58 Palmeira Road, Bexleyheath, DA7 4UX 020-8301-5917 Heads of Committees Planning, Conservation & Environment John Mercer 65 Longlands Road, Sidcup, DA15 7LQ 020-8300-3136 Membership & Publicity Betty Sadler 16 Percy Road, Bexleyheath, DA7 4DZ 020-8304-1819 Social & Education Linda Hubbard 4 Rowanwood Avenue, Sidcup, DA15 8WN 020-8308-1984 Other Posts Membership Secretary Jennifer Hetherington 117 Marten’s Avenue, Bexleyheath, DA7 6AB 01322-527-947 Executive Minutes Secretary Catherine Wilson 58 Palmeira Road, Bexleyheath, DA7 4UX 020-8301-5917 Publicity John Mercer 65 Longlands Road, Sidcup, DA15 7LQ 020-8300-3136 Newsletter Editor Geoff Birch 72 The Drive, Bexley, DA5 3BZ 020-8306-2152 Newsletter Distribution Jennifer Hetherington 117 Marten’s Avenue, Bexleyheath, DA7 6AB 01322-527-947 Webmaster Jane Dole 240 Upton Road South, Bexley, DA5 1QS 01322-558-631 Area Representatives Barnehurst & Northumberland Heath Jennifer Hetherington 117 Marten’s Avenue, Bexleyheath, DA7 6AB 01322-527-947 Belvedere & Lesnes Linda Atkinson 11 Mossdown Close, Belvedere, DA17 5QW 01322-447-022 Bexley, East Sonya Brett 13 Thanet Road, Bexley, DA5 1AN 01322-522-021 Bexley, West Geoff Birch 72 The Drive, Bexley, DA5 3BZ 020-8306-2152 Bexleyheath, North Jean Davis 4 Woodlands Road, Bexleyheath, DA7 4AF 020-8303-9570 Bexleyheath, South Edna Clewes 71 Townley Road, Bexleyheath, DA6 7HW 020-8303-5371 Crayford Jenny Dunlop 2 Bexley Close, Crayford, DA1 4DH 01322-529-407 Erith Ray Hudson 10 Canberra Road, Bexleyheath, DA7 5SG 020-8310-5131 Foots Cray & North Cray John Harrington 166 North Cray Road, Sidcup, DA14 5EL 020-8300-8514 Lamorbey & Blackfen (vacant) Sidcup, East Rita Benwell 11 Eynswood Drive, Sidcup, DA14 6JQ 020-8302-9064 Sidcup, West John Mercer 65 Longlands Road, Sidcup, DA15 7LQ 020-8300-3136 Slade Green & North End Brian Rodmell 22 Alderney Road, Slade Green, DA8 2JD 01322-339-900 Thamesmead (vacant) Welling Laurie Dunmow 6 Belmont Avenue, Welling, DA16 2SP 020-8856-6717 BCS Representatives on Other Bodies Reporting To: London Forum of Amenity Societies (vacant) Planning, Conservation & Environment Cttee Friends of Footscray Meadows John Mercer " " " Bexley Heritage Trust Peter Hofford Membership and Publicity Committee Kent History Federation Martin Wilson Executive Committee Kent Federation of Amenity Societies John Mercer " " Erith Town Centre Partnership Joan Armitage " " Crayford Town Centre Partnership Jenny Dunlop " " Welling Town Centre Partnership Doug and Sue Ginn " " Sidcup Town Centre Partnership John Mercer " " Belvedere Community Forum (vacant) " " Northumberland Heath Community Forum Jennifer Hetherington " " Slade Green Community Forum Brian Rodmell " " Bexleyheath Business Partnership Jean Davis " " Partnership for Bexley Brian Rodmell " " Membership Fees Life Membership £60.00 Affiliated Societies £17.00 Individual Annual Membership £ 9.00 Senior Citizens, Disabled Family Membership £12.00 Persons & Students £ 6.00 -3- 1. Editorial First, my apologies for the late arrival of this newsletter – due to circumstances beyond my control. As I write this the weather has still not gone beyond the decidedly wintry; but let us hope for better things after Easter. As usual, Linda has put forward a great programme for the summer, one in which everyone can find something of interest. Get in quick!! Thanks too to Martin Wilson for his up-date on Crossness. [email protected] Geoff Birch 2. Dates for Your Diary Society-organised events for Members and Guests only 30 th April 2013 Visit to Herstmonceux Castle (details below). 31 st May 2013 Talk: “Suffragettes” (details below). 13 th June 2013 Visit to Hylands House (details below). 19 th August 2013 Talk: “Other Famous Murders 1811-1911” (details below). 3rd – 11 th September 2013 Trip to Söll, Austria (details below). 3. Society News Report of the Planning, Conservation and Environment Committee The committee met on 18 th February and on 25 th March. The Chairman is standing down after 12 years and a successor is being discussed. This involves not only the chairman but also other officers of the committee, who will be needed to take on some of the tasks taken by the outgoing chairman. At the meeting of the committee on 25 th March Sylvia Malt agreed to be acting Chairman and Jean Gammons agreed to become the secretary. Recent planning applications of note include the Seven Stars and the Tudor Cottages in Foots Cray High Street. Concern was expressed over the application to install polytunnels at Honeydale Farm, which would have an adverse impact on the local environment. The outcome of the appeal by the developer of the Black Horse, Sidcup, is awaited. What is believed to be a Byzantine coin of the early medieval times was discovered in the River Shuttle. John Mercer Chairman, Planning, Conservation and Environment Committee Report of the Social and Education Committee Firstly, I would like to give a special thanks to all of you who supported our Quiz Night on 19 th January, which raised £634.13 towards our Children’s Art Exhibition at Hall Place, and also to those that provided raffle prizes. The Art Exhibition was, once again, a great success and very popular with the public – thank you to Maureen Ridley for organizing her 37th annual exhibition. We have just returned from our weekend in Bath which I am told was enjoyed by all; a write-up on that weekend will appear in the next newsletter. In the events to come in this newsletter I trust you will find something of interest, with more to come later in the year. As the Society was instrumental in setting up the Friends of Red House, we are again inviting you to join us at our garden party on Saturday, 15 th June; details of the September concert garden party will be with the next newsletter. Both are really good days, especially if the weather is good!! See you all soon. Linda Hubbard Chairman, Social and Education Committee -4- Report of the Membership and Publicity Committee It is with regret that I have to inform you that Jane Dole has had to relinquish her role as our website manager. The Society owes her an enormous debt of gratitude for her work in this capacity and her shoes will be very hard to fill. If any of our members feel that they could take up this task, or knows of anyone who would be willing to do so, please do get in touch with me, or any of our committee members. Our decorated Christmas tree at Christ Church, Erith looked splendid and evoked numerous compli- mentary comments, and our participation in the charities Fair in the church hall was a great success. We now look forward to the Local History Fair at Crossness, which we are once again organising following on from the success of last year. I am now looking for volunteers to help look after the stall; the date is Sunday, 21 st April. Please let me know if you are available. Elizabeth Sadler Chairman, Membership and Publicity Committee 4. Hazel Birch: It is with sad regret that I have to inform you that Hazel Birch, wife of Geoff Birch, sadly passed away suddenly on Sunday 3 rd March 2013 after being admitted to hospital the previous day. Hazel and Geoff have been members of the Society for many years. Hazel always enjoyed the trips, especially those to the Christmas Markets and the Spring Weekends, where she met and made many new friends. She always strongly supported Geoff, who produces “The Birches” the Newsletter for Bexley Civic Society. On behalf of Bexley Civic Society I would like to send Geoff and his family our deepest sympathy at his sad time. Mike Pooley Chairman, Secretary, Bexley Civic Society 5. Events to Come: st a) Talk – “The Suffragettes”, Friday 31 May, 2013 at 3.00 pm Our second talk for this year, by Ian Porter – one of our favourite speakers, is about the Suffragette movement. The talk will take place in The United Reformed Church at Geddes Place, Bexleyheath at 3.00 p.m. so do come along and support our 2013 talks series. Please send in the completed ticket application form by 27 th May, 2013. In order to save costs tickets will not be issued. th b) Talk – “Other Famous Murders 1811-1911”, Monday 19 August, 2013 at 3.00 pm Our next talk for this year, again by Ian Porter, is about other famous murders (we have already heard about Jack The Ripper). The talk will take place in The United Reformed Church at Geddes Place, Bexleyheath at 3.00 p.m. so do come along and support our 2013 talks series. Please send in the completed ticket application form by 16 th August, 2013. In order to save costs tickets will not be issued. th c) Visit to Herstmonceux Castle, Tuesday 30 April, 2013. Built originally as a country home in the mid 15 th century, Herstmonceux Castle embodies the history of Medieval England and the romance of Renaissance Europe. It is one of the oldest significant brick buildings still standing in England, as brick was an unusual material for the time in Britain. The builders concentrated more on grandeur and comfort than on defence. The castle was dismantled in 1777 leaving the exterior walls standing, and it remained a ruin until the early 20 th century.