Rye & District Association Newsletter Spring-Summer 2017 Photo: Phil Maynard Photo:Photo: Marion Phil Maynard Brunt Newly created effigy of Rudyard Kipling at Bateman's (beautifully sculpted in a willow tree stump - by chainsaw!) Committee Members Chairman Marion Brunt 01424 883566 [email protected] Vice-Chairman Lovat Bonnet 01797 230740 / Theatre [email protected] Secretary Rita Kirk 01797 364356 [email protected] Treasurer Julie Etches 01797 225317 [email protected] Newsletter John Wright 01797 260503 Editor [email protected] Bookings Ros Adkins 01797 253763 [email protected] Membership Catharine Frewen 01797 252123 [email protected] Lectures Maggie Brown 01580 764013 [email protected] Outings (position vacant) Publicity & Philip Romani 01424 883420 Website Editor [email protected] Walks Phil Maynard 01797 260637 [email protected] Committee Ann Rolfe 01797 361770 Member [email protected] Photo: Phil Maynard Photo: Phil Maynard Above: Enjoying the walk near Westfield in February. For more Walking Group photos, see pages 25-26. - 2 - 2017 PROGRAMME SPRING LUNCH (See on page 17.) Saturday 22 April 12:30pm for 1pm, Powder Mills Hotel, Battle THEATRE (See on page 17.) Thursday 4 May Funny Girl, Marlowe, Canterbury RITZY ROYAL CELEBRATION (Details on page 19.) Thursday 15 June Brede Village Hall, 2pm OUTINGS (See page 20.) Wednesday 5 July Quex House & Gardens, Birchington GOLF DAY (See page 18.) Friday 18 August Sedlescombe Golf Club. MEET & GREET (See on page 21.) Friday 22 September Sissinghurst, at 10am LECTURES (See page 22.) All talks start at 2pm in Brede Village Hall. Thursday 20 April John Stevenson: Artists’ Village Thursday 18 May Andy Putland: My Career in Silversmithing MUSIC CLUB (See page 22.) WALKS (See page 23.) Walks normally start at 10:30, and are approx. 5-6 miles followed by lunch. Thursday 30 March Meet at The Bell, Iden Tuesday 2 May Meet at The Farriers Arms Mersham, Ashford Thursday 6 June Meet at the Rose and Crown, Burwash. Tuesday 11 July Meet at the Dover White Cliffs Visitor Centre. Thursday 21 September TBA Tuesday 24 October TBA Thursday 30 November TBA but includes Christmas lunch! For any further information on the 2017 Programme, please contact the appropriate Committee Member (listed on page 2) or Chairman Marion Brunt. - 3 - Editorial ell, I now find I am waking to daylight not darkness. Maybe it is not W always bright and sunny, but perhaps more often it is, and days are noticeably longer. Surely it must be the start of Spring. HURRAY! Each season has its attractions, and I do enjoy each for what it has to offer. But, I must admit, Spring is the season I enjoy most of all. I guess it is the promise of what is to come: new beginnings; new growth in the garden and the countryside around us. It makes me feel good to be alive. So, it's time to rise from Winter Hibernation and get out and about! Yes, time to go visiting places again - time to go re-visiting our National Trust properties - and to go exploring new ones. (I know many of us enjoy visiting in the Winter, but how much better they look in the Spring and Summer, as the gardens and countryside take on their fresh new look) Welcome, to your Spring-Summer Newsletter! But first, I must emphasise the now boringly regular plea for volunteers to join our committee. Those of you who attended the AGM will know that Marion, our Chairman, and Cathy, our Membership Secretary, will be standing down in February next year. We have had a vacancy for an Outings Organiser for two years - during which time we have struggled to arrange trips. Without an imminent influx of help, it is difficult to see how our Association will be able to continue for much longer. Surely none of us want our demise. Please help! Now, moving on - once again, we report within on the activities we have enjoyed since the last Newsletter, and tell you about our Association offerings for the next few months. Please do join us in as many as you can. Our society is all about enjoying ourselves whilst raising funds for the National Trust. So, on with the show! Let's all enjoy Spring & Summer of 2017, with the National Trust! John Wright ***************************************************************************************** STOP PRESS ey events for your diary - put them in now! K Spring Lunch: Saturday 22 April, Battle (page 17). Funny Girl: Thursday 4 May, Canterbury (page 17). Ritzy Royal Celebration: Thursday 15 June, Brede Hall, (page 19). Quex House & Gardens: Wednesday 5 July, Birchington, (page 20). - 4 - Chairman’s Annual Report to the AGM Photo: Cathy Frewen am pleased to report that we had an incredibly successful year, thanks to I our hard working committee, despite the fact that several have been hospitalised for varying reasons. The latest is Ann Rolfe who at present is unwell. We wish her a speedy recovery. I am also pleased to report that all others are back ‘in harness’ and are now enjoying good health. The Spring lunch, at the Powder Mills Hotel was once again an enormous success. The event, organised as usual by Ann Rolfe and Ros Adkins, will be repeated again this year on Saturday 22 April. The Lectures have been an outstanding success, evident by the increase in numbers attending. Maggie Brown certainly has the ‘knack’ of choosing inspiring subjects, and rounded off the season with a jolly Christmas party with performances by the Udimore Vocality Choir and the Rye Ukulele Group. Thank you Maggie, I am sure we are all looking forward to our season of lectures this year. The January lecture ‘Medical Detection Dogs’ raised £294 from those who attended and a further £100.00 from Maureen Iliffe on behalf of her charity group which gives annually to the charity of their choice. We have held three Outings during the past year. The first to Hawkinge and Capel-le-Ferne, organised by Cathy and Laton Frewen and Ros Adkins, a wonderful day reminiscing and thinking of the thousands of service men and women who made the supreme sacrifice for our country. The second trip was to Buckingham Palace, the theme ‘Fashioning a Reign’. I was unable to go, but I understand it was a great day out. The annual Bluewater trip again attracted a full coach. Many came home with empty pockets but were well compensated by an enjoyable day. Theatre Trips have been poorly supported, so much so that we have reluctantly had to cancel all that had been arranged. This has been a great disappointment to Lovat, who puts so much effort and research into the - 5 - planning. Fortunately, we do have one in the pipeline: ‘Funny Girl’ at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury on Thursday 4 May. There are still seats available so please see Ros and book yours. The Walks organised by Phil Maynard are becoming so popular that they have reached saturation point. Whatever the elements throw at this stoic group, they sally forth, but always enjoy a meal and a quiz at a local pub. To Phil’s credit, he has gained us many new members and raised several hundred pounds towards our funds. Thank you Phil and Phil. To the other extreme, for those who enjoy a more relaxing afternoon, why not come to the newly formed ‘Music Club’? George and Val Terry have kindly organised these at their home. Those of us who have been have enjoyed a variety of classical music. The rare opportunity of just sitting and listening has greatly enhanced our appreciation of the classics. During the interval we are treated to delicious cakes and a cup of tea. George and Val, we much appreciate your kind hospitality, thank you. The annual Golf Day at Sedlescombe Golf Club, was again a great success. Although the weather could have been a little kinder we were able to attract the optimum number of players and raise a record of just over £1000. We have planned this year to hold the event on Friday 18 August. The Meet and Greet and the Quiz at Beckley were not quite so well attended, but those who were able to go enjoyed both occasions. Our Newsletters again have been the envy of other National Trust Associations in our area, as was evident when John and I attended the Area meeting last spring. Praise was extended to John for his publishing skills (much deserved) and to Phil Maynard and Philip Romani for our up to date information on the NT Website, our Facebook Page and our information on Google. IT skills are not my strong point, so we much appreciate the efforts of those who keep us up to date in the 21st century. I cannot conclude my report without mentioning our Membership Secretary Cathy Frewen, who I am pleased to say has welcomed many new members during the past year. We have reached a total of 276. So far, only 150 have renewed their membership this year. Subscriptions are due in January each - 6 - year. We do make some allowance, so please see Cathy if you have not yet renewed. We would hate to delete you from our list. Our Secretary, Rita Kirk is the most skilful and efficient Secretary that I have ever encountered. The minutes from our meetings are so precise. Rita, what would we do without you. Thank you. You will be receiving the report from the Treasurer at the conclusion of mine. Julie we would like to thank you for keeping our finances in such good order. Our aim is to raise funds to help support our local National Trust properties.