From the Chairman:

It is a pleasure to write this Newsletter, my first as the Society’s new chairman, and to thank members for the confidence they have placed in me. I shall do my best to maintain the Society’s valued traditions and to develop the Society’s activities in the early 21^st century. This is an opportunity to say a personal and public thank-you to Gayne Wells for his sterling service for over 18 years, for handing over a society in good heart and for making the transition an easy one. We are delighted that he will remain active with the Society, continuing to take care of the library, which he has done so much to improve, and we will value his experience and wise counsel.

In the last two months we have had an inspiring Banister Fletcher lecture from Dame Judith Mayhew, full of confidence about the future of London, and a successful Annual General Meeting at St Botolph Aldersgate. At this meeting presentations were made to Gayne and Gillian. We marked the great contributions to the Society made by Benita and Ian Jones by electing them Vice-Presidents. We have also seen the first issue of the Society’s journal in its new format, with a colour picture on the front cover. We hope that members approve.

I am sorry to report the death of Ruth Panter. Ruth had vast experience of planning and conservation in cities and was awarded an MBE for her work in Liverpool after the Toxteth riots. On retirement from English Heritage she became an active member of the Committee with wise advice on many of the most important cases, most recently on the London Bridge tower and the proposed redevelopment of Spitalfields Market.

With this Newsletter is the next list of visits and activities. These are a vital part of the Society’s programme, meeting our objectives to widen knowledge of London. We must urge members who are successful in getting places on our visits to make sure that they turn up, or at least give as much notice as possible of their inability to attend. Failure to turn up deprives others of the opportunity and can cause the Society embarrassment if numbers don’t reach the figure which hosts, who have often put themselves to great trouble to welcome us, have been led to expect. The Committee has decided to end the credit-note system for non-attenders but existing credit notes will be honoured. We would welcome feedback from members about the inclusion of some more lectures in our programme, though we have no intention of establishing a regular lecture series.

Members may also wish to know that London Open House weekend this year will be September 20^th and 21^st. This weekend, organised through the Civic Trust, offers opportunities for access to many buildings not usually open to the public. Details can be taken from the website www.londonopenhouse.org or by telephoning 020 7267 2070.

Members should also visit the British Museum where there is at the moment an exhibition on London 1753, concentrating on life in the capital two hundred years ago when the British Museum was founded, and the Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner where English Heritage has mounted a small exhibition on the blue scheme, marking the houses of the famous. You can make your own nomination for a new plaque while you are there.

The Society has received a request from London Weekend Television for any information about the existence of London Home Movies. This is part of a project for the London Film Archive to collect home produced film from the last century which will preserve evidence of both the domestic life of Londoners and the private citizen’s view of more public events. If any member has been an enthusiastic film-maker or knows where such film may be found please let the Society know and we’ll pass the information on.

We have also received an invitation from the Sloane Club asking if any members might wish to use its facilities. These include the opportunity to dine there and also, for those members who live out of London, the availability of overnight accommodation at weekend. Again, if you are interested please let us know.

The Royal Institute of British Architects has just announced its awards for 2003. These include some already established favourites such as the British Museum Great Court and the Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace. But the list also contains some small scale less well publicised buildings, for instance a new Red House, a home and gallery in Tite Street, Chelsea, and The Women’s Library at Aldgate East.

News of major grants just announced by Heritage Lottery Fund has been dominated by the large offer to the National Gallery to enable it to keep Raphael’s Madonna of the Pinks. But the list also includes help for two of London’s most important churches. St Martin-in-the-Fields will be enabled to develop its facilities for visitors and for its social service work by money for works in the vaults under the churchyard and in the parochial buildings to the north of the church while St George Bloomsbury will be re-ordered and also able to develop its community facilities. Both churches will get some much needed repair as part of the programme. St George’s has also been adopted by the World Monuments Fund as one of its projects.

For those who have their 2004 diaries already to hand then mark 18^th May for the Banister Fletcher lecture and 14^th June for the Annual General Meeting. More details on venues and speakers in the next Newsletter.

With all best wishes,
Frank Kelsall

TheLondonSociety

From the Chairman:

The
London
Society