NEWSLETTER NO. 9 - Jan 2006

The second Annual General Meeting of the Society, held on Wednesday 7 December 2005, was attended by a remarkable total of 95 members - attracted by the offer of mince pies and mulled wine. The Chairman reported good attendance at all meetings during the past year: especially popular had been the talks given by people known to us - Ron Lewis talking about being an evacuee, Neil Rose’s somewhat traumatic talk about the Railway in Wadhurst, given in the literal depths of winter, and Heather Woodward’s topical talk on Nelson, the Myths and the Truths, timed to coincide as near as possible with the bi-centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar. Outings and socials, including visits to Lewes and Chatham, an English wine and cheese tasting and the summer barbecue at Walland, had also been very successful.

The Treasurer reported on a very successful year – even better than had been anticipated: instead of the forecast 150 members, there were 168. A very generous £500 donation had meant we could purchase a really large, good quality screen which was much appreciated. Newsletter costs had increased because printing was now contracted out; nevertheless the end of year [30 Sept] balance had risen from £1757 in 2004 to £4121 in 2005.

The AGM then discussed an application for charitable status and unanimously agreed that this was a desirable objective; the meeting also gave unanimous agreement to the changes in constitution and rules that would be needed.

Apart from separating the functions of trustees and other members of the management committee, the principal alteration was in the objectives of the Society which now read:
To advance the public’s education in the local history of Wadhurst and adjacent parishes in East Sussex and Kent by the collection, collation and dissemination to the public of relevant information and by the conduct of meetings, lectures and visits to places of historical interest.

Michael Blease set the principles behind the talk programme: a little education, a little enlightenment and a lot of entertainment. A varied programme was planned for 2006 with two speakers being invited back – Neil Rose to summarise his first talk on the railway and continue the story, and Chris Wade who would talk about smuggling; the pugilistic vicar, Michael Insley, would be coming to talk about the last prize fight. Rachel Ring then outlined the events planned for 2006: an evening to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Meteor crash which changed the face of Wadhurst for ever, a visit to the Chichester Flower festival, a visit to Bletchley Park and a barbecue at Olives Manor. Members suggested several other possible events.
David James had agreed to co-ordinate the work of the task groups from now on: one of the key priorities for most of the groups had been to research material for the Society’s first publication. From 2006, the focus would be altered so that they would work towards another area of the history of Wadhurst, still to be finally decided.

Heather Woodward then briefly explained what each task group had done during the year and introduced the new book Victorian Wadhurst – Glimpses of Our Past. Written by 11 members of the Society, with many others helping with research, 16 articles explored various facets of the Victorian town – its population, patterns of employment, industry and agriculture, the treatment of Wadhurst’s poor, our churches and buildings, tollgates and the railway, and family stories. 1000 copies had been printed and would be on sale at £9; all those who paid for membership in 2006 would get a free copy - creating no precedent for any future publication - and those attending the AGM were offered the chance of buying additional copies for £7. The book itself was then unveiled and copies distributed all round. A lively social evening closed proceedings.