Blue Plaques – Pink and Green Finally – 111 Years After Her Death – Dorothea Beale, Principal of the Ladies’ College, Is to Be Honoured with a Cheltenham Blue Plaque
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Our Town The Newsletter of Cheltenham Civic Society March 6 2017 Debate, ideas, news and provocations Your regular update on how we are working to keep Cheltenham a great place to live Blue plaques – pink and green Finally – 111 years after her death – Dorothea Beale, principal of The Ladies’ College, is to be honoured with a Cheltenham Blue Plaque. A year ago, Our Town wondered why so few Blue Plaques in Cheltenham honoured women: “Why aren’t Blue Plaques pink?” we asked. We suggested you vote for the woman who most deserved to be so honoured: and the clear winner was Dorothea Beale (right) second Principal of The Ladies’ College. Others who made the shortlist were the suffragist Edith How-Martyn; the town’s historian Gwen Hart; and Harriet Bowdler, who first ‘bowdlerised’ Shakespeare. In 1858 Miss Beale (1831-1906) was chosen NPG out of fifty candidates to be Principal of The Ladies’ College; in 1893 she founded St Hilda’s College, Oxford. In 1901 she was awarded the honorary freedom of the Borough. At this very moment, Miss Beale’s Blue Plaque is being made. (You would not believe the amount of debate there has been about the wording!) There is, as yet, no date for it being unveiled, but the Civic Society’s Blue Plaques sub-committee say it may well be this year… There’s more… Some years ago, the Plaque commemorating Pate’s School (also known as the Grammar School) was removed, during the redevelopment of its High-Street site. The school was founded by Richard Pate (1516–1588) (left) with a fund bestowed by him to Corpus Christi College, Oxford in 1574. Pate was born in Cheltenham, and became one of the two Members of Parliament for Gloucester (1559, 1563-67); he is buried in a rather grand tomb in Gloucester Cathedral. Part of the High-Street site was later occupied by Tesco: now, all that too has What’s in Our Town this time… been swept away, and replaced by the new Brewery development. The good news is that, thanks to the UPDATE: ‘Place Strategy’.…………………….……page 2 developers, the Plaque survived, and has been re- UPDATE: Diary dates - upcoming events….……... page 3 fixed, transformed from original green (the usual UPDATE: 2016 Paterson Memorial Lecture............ page 4 colour for place Plaques) into handsome royal blue: DEBATE: My Dream Cheltenham……….….….… page 5 UPDATE: ‘Cheltenham village’ 3: Oakley…... pages 6 & 7 DEBATE: A contrary view: Reader’s letter...……….page 8 DEBATE: A sceptical view: the High Street….……page 8 DEBATE: Car parks: barriers or gateways?..............page 9 UPDATE: Overview: our five corporate members..page 10 BRAINWAVES: a gallimaufry of notions………….page 12 APPEAL: Your memories of Roger Jones………... page 12 “Place strategy” SOME NEW for investment and change, but also acting as a leadership and influencing tool that will help co- CHALLENGES ordinate the activities of a range of partners and from agencies to support economic growth, and the wider well-being of our communities.” the Society’s The Civic Society is recognised as one of the Chair, agencies that can help inform and deliver the Place Maxine Strategy. So, I hope you have already completed the questionnaire about it I sent out with my most Melling … recent e-bulletin. If not, please do send yours now, or ask me for a copy to be sent in the post to you. In addition to the questionnaire, members of hat do we want Cheltenham to be like in the Society have meanwhile been contributing to a 2040? number of workshops on subjects such as public W Do we want it to be much the same art, tourism, branding and culture. All of this work as it is now? Do we need to encourage more young will come together in a first draft of the Place people to settle here? Do we want more public art Strategy to be considered by CBC on 27 March. and festivals? Should we be a tourist attraction? In June, we plan to run a conference where the How can businesses be supported to flourish? What draft Strategy can be considered and further needs to be done to achieve any of this? feedback provided. Watch this space! These and many similar questions are currently being considered as part of the development of a Civic Society Executive Committee ‘Place Strategy’ for the town. The development is being led by Tracey Crews, Director of Planning at In December, three long standing and valued Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC). members of the Committee stood down. I’d like to Tracey says this: “Destination Cheltenham is the say a big ‘thank you’ to Douglas Ogle and Cecil tagline of the Place Strategy. I see the Strategy as the Sanderson for all their excellent efforts on behalf start of a process of defining place, testing this, and of the Society. Then, in February, we heard the sad re-inventing the town, with our local communities, news of the death of the third member, Roger to create opportunities for new investment, and Jones, whose contribution was outstanding and open up options for funding. We have started a tireless, and knowledge of the town second to none. conversation about these ideas with a variety of He will be sadly missed. (See page 12.) groups – stakeholders across the borough.” In February, we are delighted to welcome a Those of you who saw my February e-bulletin new Committee member, Duncan Smith, a former will have read my definition of ‘place-shaping’: Mayor of Cheltenham. Duncan has impressive recognising the importance of creating and financial credentials, with experience of chairing a nurturing liveable towns and cities. In CBC’s own charity finance committee. So I’m very pleased he words, “Cheltenham has all the key ingredients for a has agreed to take over as Society Treasurer when liveable town: an extensive cultural offer, attractive our long-standing Treasurer, Lloyd Surgenor, steps built and natural environment, and wide-ranging job down in the spring. Many thanks to Lloyd for his opportunities. But this offer is not consistent for all, work on our behalf, and welcome Duncan! nor does it necessarily reflect the preferences of our We are always on the lookout for members communities, businesses and visitors.” who would like to act as Trustees, and contribute to The objective of the Place Strategy, as the success of the Society. If you have the skills, explained by Tracey, is to “draw together the interests and enthusiasm, please do let me know. strands which impact on defining Cheltenham as a I’m always happy to meet to talk through place, acting as a vehicle to help join up resources what’s involved, or for a chat at one of our events. A WARM WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS: Jim Markland Julia and Colin Smith Lionel Hurst David and Linda Stevenson 2 Geoffrey and Linda Pratt Duncan Smith Tess Beck and Nic Pehkonen Diary dates Even if you are not a member of the Society, Captain Skillicorne remains elusive. Our view of you are warmly invited to attend these events: him is coloured by his astonishingly long memorial in St Mary’s minster (essential reading Tuesday 7 March before you hear this talk!). AGM and Open Forum But how accurate or complete is Maxine Melling will give feedback on the Place this marmoreal memoir, erected many Strategy questionnaires, and Alec Hamilton will talk decades after his death? James briefly about future plans for Our Town. Hodsdon (right) has been back to basics, checking out records of all 7. 30 p.m. 13 Lypiatt Terrace, GL50 2SX descriptions, to uncover a much fuller, richer, even darker story. Wednesday 19 April Skillicorne may have had good fortune in The Civic Awards arriving in Cheltenham when he did, but his success Each year Civic Awards are made by the Society on was no accident – persistence and patience played behalf of the Borough Council, to encourage their part. His invigoration of the fledgling spa was improvements in the town’s built environment. a genuinely remarkable achievement, coming as it The Awards Committee reports there has been did after forty years’ seafaring that most would have a very good selection of projects submitted this year thought sufficient ground for easeful retirement. in all categories: new build, environmental (Any member who can declaim Manx verse, improvements, restoration, and shop-front design. please contact James for an audition.) The Mayor and our guest 7. 30 p.m. 13 Lypiatt Terrace, GL50 2SX speaker, Simon Bradley (left) co-editor of The Buildings of Tuesday 6 June England (the ‘Pevsner Guides’), will be in Behind the scenes at attendance. Cheltenham Racecourse Simon Bradley will give a talk at 7.30 pm. on ‘The Pevsner Architectural Guides: Past, Present and Future.’ All members are welcome to attend both the awards ceremony and the evening lecture. Civic Awards presentation: 5 p.m. Harwood Hall, Christ Church, BBC Malvern Road, GL50 2JH (N.B. New time and place.) Exclusive behind the scenes access to places not Simon Bradley’s lecture: normally open to the public. Tea, coffee and 7. 30 p.m. at the same venue. biscuits will be served at the start of the tour. After meeting our tour guide in the Hall of Fame, we will Tuesday 9 May visit the stables (below), weighing-in room, ‘From Sea to Spa’– Grandstands, and executive boxes. To book your place, complete and return the application form The Life and enclosed with your copy of Our Town. Times of Captain Henry Skillicorne Though much spoken of in 2016 - the year of the Spa tercentenary - the ‘real’ BBC 3 3 2 ‘In the public eye’ n 7 December (in case you cultural developments, to missed it) a capacity comprehensive town planning audience attended the schemes.