A printable PDF version of this newsletter can be downloaded from HERE

Letter from the Chair

HAROLD GOODWIN

For the first time in the Society’s history, there will not be a Faversham Society Newsletter this month. Our Honorary Editor is indisposed.

Our VIC and shop has opened in its new location at 12 Market Place. Our Mayor, Cllr Alison Reynolds, cut the ribbon on 26th February – the Charters Exhibition will open on 28th May.

Legacies are significant to the Faversham Society, not least as evidence of people’s value of our work. Alan Swan recently left us his remarkable collection of Osborne Plaques along with a gift for insurance and any costs of display and storage. Mr and Mrs Pyatt were members from their arrival in Faversham in the 1970s. Mrs Pyatt’s bequest will be ringfenced for a major project and acknowledged.

We have taken a barrister’s advice over whether or not the proposed housing development on Abbeyfields constitutes substantial harm. He confirms it does. We have submitted further evidence and his views to Swale. You can find details and a link to all the documents on our policy blog on the website.

Swale is finally making some urgent repairs to the roof of TS Hazard the Town Warehouse, which dates to 1420. The Society continues to press for Town Quay, the Town Warehouse and the old pumping station building to be developed as the core of a new heritage quarter for the town.

Graham Setterfield and Matthew Hatchwell have prepared and submitted a response with the support of the Board to the Water Resources South East (WRSE) Consultation. You can find details on our policy blog on the website.

Do take time to visit the Faversham Museums Together exhibition adjacent to our new VIC & Shop in 12 Market Place – there are some rarely seen items there, a testament to the remarkable richness of our heritage.

Don’t miss Catherine Richardson’s talk on Arden of Faversham in the Guild Hall on 23rd April – Shakespeare’s birthday.

EELS! Matthew Hatchwell is working with colleagues from the Zoological Society of London and the Environment Agency and is in the process of finalising the arrangements for elver monitoring this Summer on three structures around Faversham, at Oare Marshes, at Thorn Creek, and possibly in the Stonebridge Pond allotments. If you are interested and would like to help, email Matthew at mchatchwell@gmail.com

The nomination forms for Directors, Chair and Vice-Chair, will be available on our website from Thursday 14th April and more details about our AGM will be in the next newsletter due to be published just after Easter.

CONTACT HAROLD

Being There

Peter Williams, renowned local journalist and the only person ever to have ‘interviewed’ the Queen has been asked by the Top Hat & Tales bookshop in Faversham to talk about his book ‘BEING THERE’, on Thursday 21st April 2022. This just happens also to be the Queen’s birthday! At The Guildhall, Faversham 6.30pm.

BEING THERE - TITANIC, MARLON BRANDO AND THE LUGER PISTOL - to give the book its full title and a glimpse into all the investigative journalism Peter Williams undertook - is highly praised by many top names of television such as Greg Dyke, former Director General of the BBC, Sir Jeremy Isaacs, founder of Channel 4, ITV executive Sir Clive Jones and Prof Michael Irwin of Kent University.

As one of them said ‘The great virtue of ‘BEING THERE’ is the fact that Peter really WAS there’.

A revelatory book by Kent author and film-maker Peter Williams reveals the inside stories behind some of the world milestone events he has covered during 70 years as a broadcaster and journalist.

Tickets available from Top Hat & Tales bookshop in the Market Place in Faversham.

No charge for tickets but total numbers limited to 50.

‘BEING THERE’ will be available for purchase at the end of the talk.

Appeal from the Museum Team!

Leigh Allison

It is an exciting period of major change for our buildings in Preston Street, and now in the Market Place.

The Visitor Information Centre is exceeding expectations in visitor numbers and is making a valuable difference to the positive experience that we hope that all visitors receive. Displays of books and gifts make an enticing option to purchasing more than just postcards…

The changes to accommodate the Second-Hand Bookshop are bringing their move ever closer and are looking to be of a very good quality and utility.

The museum does not want, or need, to suffer because of these changes. We opened during the school summer holidays, with free admission, and the feedback received was all good. Many Faversham residents came for the first time and have promised to return, with other family members. Visitors to the town also remarked on what a splendid history we have and how well it was displayed.

Opening again during this Easter school holiday period is going to provide more of a challenge. We have exhibits to relocate, other areas to vacate and the place is filthy! We accept this challenge and will be:

• Opening daily from Tuesday 12^th April to Saturday 16^th April, including Good Friday
• Opening Times: 11.00 to 15.00
• Free Admittance
• Spring cleaning during the week 4^th to 8^th April
• An Easter Egg Hunt to be included
• Introducing a friend to join you on your shift is acceptable, but please advise us beforehand

Please note the word you in the final sentence.  We do require some more volunteers.

We will require a minimum of two volunteers during each session. One at reception which may be sedentary, (note that there will be no till), and one or more stewards to move around the site, as appropriate. There is no reason why roles cannot interchange during a shift. A member of the Museum Committee will be available at the beginning of each shift to walk stewards around, for acclimatisation purposes. As opening will be across lunchtime, please bring a packed lunch.

Volunteers who can only attend for a part of a session are more than welcome.

However little you think that you can contribute, please contact either:
Heather Wooton, (chwoott@aol.com, 07542172372), or
Antony Millett, (antony.millett@gmail.com 07771184441)

Don’t delay, respond today, please. Please respond directly to Heather or Antony if you can offer some help. Leigh Allison - membership@favershamsociety.org