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BOURNEMOUTH CIVIC SOCIETY
Minutes of a Meeting of the Committee held at the Commodore Hotel at 7pm on Wednesday 18th August 2010
Present: Jean Bird, John Barker, Keith Barnes, Alan Brown, Sally McGrath, Beryl Parker, John Walker and Paul Newsome. Apologies: Ken Mantock, Shirley McKenna and John Soane
August at 10am. Matters for discussion would include:
Echo Architectural Award. Ken would be one of the judges for this award on 31st August. The sponsor was Planning Solutions and there were 10 categories.
9. Membership Officer’s Report. Nothing to report
was £9,316.
October.
14. Any Other Business
There being no further business the meeting was closed at 8.25pm Ken Mantock ========================================================================
NEWSLETTER Mid Summer 2010
Social Activities so far.
This year the social section has again had a good and varied season. The year started with a visit to the Poole Freemasons Lodge where we enjoyed the hospitality and tour of the lovely Amity Lodge. We took a Ghost Walk around Old Poole Town on a very cold and windy night but saw no ghostly apparitions. The coach trip this year was to Greenwich where for three hours was saw the fascinating Werner gold collection. Many of us could have stayed much longer appreciating the beautiful items. This was followed by a meal and a tour of the Thames Barrier. The highlight of the year was a visit to Creech Grange where the new owner amused and delighted us with his asides and general commentary. For those who missed it we hope to include a visit again in a couple of years. Other delightful visits to Fort Brockhurst, Forde Abbey, Wherwell Priory, The Smugglers Inn at Osmington and Marlborpugh have been well attended and enjoyed by all. The Garden Party at Keepers Lodge, Kingston Lacy had to be cancelled through the ill health of the organiser but it is hoped to include it at a later date. A group of twenty went on an additional outing to the Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth to see the excellent BBLOC production of “The Producers”.
Beryl and Keith have had considerable health problems this year and both Beryl and Keith would like to thank all who have been concerned. Your good wishes are really appreciated. If anyone would like to help to organise the programme your input would be very welcome.
The Lunch Club numbers have dropped during the last few months due not only to the organiser’s ill health but through the ill health of the usual participants and family commitments during the summer months. We would all like to wish John Barker well and we look forward to when he and Eileen can rejoin us. Our programme continues and we hope that more people will take the opportunity to join us as it is an ideal way of both enjoying your self and making new friends. “Bournemouth 1810 t0 2010--From Smugglers to Surfers”
Peter Treleaven writes “Recent years have seen the publication of many books about Bournemouth. All are welcome, entertaining and add to the readers knowledge of the town, its life and activities. Appropriately, though, this latest publication celebrating the Borough’s bicentenary really is terrific! Abundant historical and geographical detail to satisfy the purist, curious and rare photographs, combined with a lively commentary from a variety of inspired writers. Published by Dovecot Press at £14.99 this really is “The Book to Buy”. Members of the Civic Society who contributed to this book were John Soane who wrote about the buildings and the development of the resort, Eileen and John Barker described some of the people who lived here and who left their mark on the town, former Committee member John Cresswell wrote about the military and the leisure pursuits of the last two centuries and John Walker checked the facts. Another Society member, Leigh Hatts has published, “Bournemouth’s Who was Who”, which includes a good number of townspeople and visitors like Charles Fox and Christopher Logue who are quite often ignored in other books. Annual General Meeting. This was held at the Hallmark Hotel in Durley Chine Road on 7th April and attended by over forty members. Ken Mantock reviewed the work of the Society and thanked the Committee for its support. The characterisation study of East Boscombe and Pokesdown had been forwarded to the Council for which the Society was thanked. But the election of a new government meant that many of the policies of the previous government were being looked at again. The immediate decisions was the scrapping of the Regional Structure Strategy (RSS) with the effect of saving the green belt and a rethink of planning policies. Also because of the financial crisis a number of road schemes have been scrapped and the school building programme severely cut. The effect of these changes means that Societies such as ours must be vigilant. The financial position of the Society is healthy but the collapse of the Civic Trust and the birth of Civic Voice with its need for funds may mean that the present subscriptions may have to be increased next year. We hope to be in a better position to judge this when the new organisation has bedded down. The question was raised of whether we should move the deposit account to one with a better rate of interest. The committee was re-elected en bloc with addition of Shirley McKenna who is active in Boscombe and Paul Newsome who will relieve John Barker as Minutes Secretary. The meeting ended with a talk on the history and work of he Society talk by Ray Chapman of the Bournemouth Natural Science Society with particular reference to its latest publication “The Natural History of Bournemouth and the surrounding area”. John Soane’s favourite building in Bournemouth--Saint Peter’s Church I have three reasons for making St Peter’s my first choice; it is the spiritual centre of Bournemouth; it has a most distinctive architectural significance; it has a personal connection with my family. For me it is the symbolic meaning of this building that is the most important consideration--even more than its visual importance and its close bonds with me. The surge of Christian self confidence and renewal, so clearly demonstrated by the strong presence of the church, sited very precisely on the eastern slope of the Bourne Valley and near to the early building activity in the town along Westover Road during the 1930s. It perfectly encapsulates the sense of moral improvement initiated by the Oxford movement in face of the considerable problems of rapid industrialisation. Also St Peter’s is a good example of this Christian social crusade by which the Church would become a completely new community dedicated to achieving a better life open to everyone with sufficient drive and imagination. The dominating presence of St Peter’s symbolises the widespread belief that a new industrial society that was being brought into being as the result of exceptional economic and social changes could be strongly influenced by a renaissance of proactive Christian ideals. Indeed here in Bournemouth would be the living proof that more humane attitudes between individuals could successfully combined with considerable material improvement brought about by the continuing momentum of economic development. Mainly designed by George E Street, the creator of the Royal Courts of Justice, in the Decorated, English Gothic style, the greatest aesthetic emphasis is upon the exceptional sumptuousness of the chancel and the dramatic appearance of the western tower and spire rising to 202 feet. The richness of the East End is a reminder of the strong belief of the Victorians in the sanctity of God in daily life--an attitude appropriate in Bournemouth where one of the principal activities was the treatment of debilitating diseases of the chest. At the same time the intimidating presence of the tower with its magnificent spire (based on East midland prototypes) is still a poignant reminder to the commercial heart of Bournemouth that the inhabitants should never forget that the resort owes its continuous prosperity to an idealised, quasi-religious vision of a better attainable world which has always been separate from normal economic activity. Finally St Peter’s has always been my favourite building as a setting for important family occasions. In 1941 my parents were married there; the following summer I was baptised there by Canon Burrows and some years later confirmed at St Peter’s with other young parishioners. In July 1998 I attended a most joyous funeral service in memory of my mother together with many of the staff from her hair dressing salon in Westover Road. John Soane. Contacts: Chairman Ken Mantock Tel: 420199 Deputy Chairman Jean Bird Tel: 757051 Activities Beryl Parker Tel: 512717 Keith Barnes Tel: 397073 Web Manager Alan Brown Tel: 763318 Editor John Barker Tel: 292871 Bournemouth Bi-centenary. The Honorary Freedom of Boroughs Act 1866 allows Councils to award this honour to persons of distinction or persons who have rendered eminent service to the borough. So one of the events celebrating the bicentenary was the granting of the Freedom of the Borough to The Rifles, the regiment formed by amalgamating the local county regiments. In 1945 the Freedom was also presented to the Hampshire Regiment, the County Regiment since 1782 also known as the “Fighting Tigers”. George III ordered the 37th Foot to become the North Hampshire Regiment and the 67th Foot to be the South Hampshire Regiment. On Wednesday 12th September 1945 representatives from ten battalions of the regiment marched from West Station to the Town Hall, led by Lt-Col J.M.Lee DSO who had commanded the 1st, 2nd and 7th Battalions during the war. The regimental band playing, “Farmer’s Boy” led the parade followed by the mascot of the 1st Battalion, “Fritz”, a German dog captured on D-Day outside Arrowmanches, on the Normandy beach-head. Outside the Town Hall the Mayor presented the scroll of the Freedom to General Sir George Jeffreys, KCB, KCVO, CMG, DL, JP, the Colonel of the Regiment. On receipt of the scroll which “recognised the intimate association long enjoyed by the town and the regiment in which many of our sons had been proud to serve”, the Regimental Colours were unfurled, bayonets fixed and he troops marched through Old Christchurch Road to Bath Road and down to Westover Road and past the saluting base in the Pavilion forecourt. After the march past the troops were entertained to luncheon, a matinee and tea in the Pavilion. An exhibition at the Russell-Cotes museum celebrated the sea-side and the Bournemouth Library had an excellent exhibition of old photographs of the town as well as one for the centenary of the Girl Guides. Apologies for the later than usual appearance of this newsletter due to unforeseen difficulties. The Editor.
Committee Concerns.
Some of the topics discussed by the Committee have included Throop Mill where it seems that the owners have little interest in developing its potential as a tourist attraction but will keep it structurally sound and weatherproof. The state of the URC Church and its manse at Throop which have stood unoccupied for some two years has also raised concern. Correspondence with the Church authorities suggests that they will take some action to ensure the future with possible a change of use. A change of use to retail or office use was granted for the Wesleyan Methodist Church at Westbourne. Unfortunately the application and the decision went unnoticed, as did the application to convert the building into a Tesco mini-market. The makeover of the Triangle into a market place and events area has been completed just in time for the Bourne Parade. The replacement of the award winning Punshon Church by an hotel has been agreed and demolition is under way. The Westbourne Arcade has been re-roofed. The future of the Municipal College Clock is still not clear. The Society did contribute to its repair some years ago but it is still not working. An understanding has been reached with the Meyrick Estate over the site beside the Pavilion for the proposed Casino. Councillor John Beesley led the Committee on a visit to the Waterfront Building and the IMAX Cinema. Proposals for the future use of the building are out for public consultation. Poole Council’s proposals for a large housing development on Talbot Heath as raised concerns. The Society has joined the Bournemouth Council for Voluntary Services. Despite the success of the re-development of the Honeycomb Chine and Boscombe Chine there is still disappointment that Boscombe itself has not benefited from the investment.
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Notes of meeting with Mike Holmes, Head of Transport & Development On April 30th 2010 at 10.am
Present: Jean Bird, Sally McGrath, Beryl Parker, John Walker, John Barker. 1. Civic Voice. Jean explained that Civic Voice was under way and has planned a seminar in Bristol and one in Bournemouth in the Autumn. Mike said that he would, if possible, help with the autumn meeting. He added that the Boscombe regeneration had generated a lot of countrywide interest. Jean said Ken Mantock would contact him when plans were firmer.
2. Affordable Housing. Mike said that the criteria for contributions by developers was changing in May. Developers would be required to make a contribution for all developments more than one. The District Valuer would decide on the amount after a viability test, The Council have resumed building affordable housing. 3. Westbourne Methodist Church. The Society asked if any planning applications had been submitted. Mike confirmed that a change of use to office or retail had been granted. There was now a new owner and the question of Tesco’s interest had not been confirmed. 4. Shelley Manor. The RDA has withdrawn funds for the theatre. The sugery had opened and flats were being constructed. 5. Throop Mill. Nothing had changed, 6. The Triangle. Work had started and should be finished in time for the Bourne Free festival. 7. Waterfront Building. A report to the Cabinet would be made on Wednesday 5th May. The Council will be inviting developers to produce a financially viable mixed scheme. The height of the building will be lowered. Nothing is likely to happen before 2011. 8. The Pavilion. An agreement with the Meyrick estate now allows the scheme to progress. A renwasl of the planning application should be submitted in May. A full environmental review may be required. The Pavilion is now watertight. The Dance School will open in May. The Pavilion will not close: construction work will be sequenced. : the “Piazza” will be last.
AOB. Cliffe End Hotel. The Meyrick estate hold the key to the situation. Strouden Park Community Centre. No money available at present to proceed with its replacementr. Shelagh Levett has left the Council and her responsibilities have been split. Next Meeting. 27th August 2010 at 10.00 #################################################################
BOURNEMOUTH CIVIC SOCIETY
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held at the Hallmark Hotel, Durley Chine Road on Wednesday 7th April 2010
1. 42 members were welcomed by Chairman Ken Mantock who was particularly pleased to see the President Keith Rawlings present. 2. Apologies were received from Dr James Fisher, Anne O’Gorman, Rick Farrell, Michael Dawney, Peter Jackson and John Soane. 3. The minutes of the 2009 AGM were circulated before the meeting and accepted as a true record. The adoption was proposed by John Walker and seconded by Eileen Barker. Matters arising were held back for Item 7, members concerns. 4. Chairman’s report. Ken Mantock thanked the committee for their work over the past year. Jean Bird for her support as Deputy Chairman; Peter Jackson for the accounts; John Soane for his work on the “built environment”; Beryl Parker and Keith Barnes for organising the various activities; Sally McGrath for keeping the membership records, liaising with the printers and distributing the newsletters; Alan Brown for the web site which is now up and running on the internet; John Barker for the minutes and the Newsletters; John Walker for his work on the Bicentenary celebrations. The main concern has been the ever present threat to the Green Belt but the Government has yet to publish its proposals. Ken serves on the Local Development Framework group which aims to protect the quality areas of the town and reduce the amount of development. The Society has contributed to consultations on affordable housing, the Town Centre Plan (designed to regenerate the town centre); the Triangle, the Pavilion, Terrace Mount among others An important and valuable piece of work has been the characterisaton study of East Boscombe and Pokesdown done mainly by John Soane. It was a detailed study of the streets and buildings of the area with the aim of informing the Council of what was there of real quality and where redevelopments was a possibility. The study has been well received by the Council and may serve as a model for studies of other parts of the town. The regeneration of Boscombe also exercises the Society. There are still areas of Boscombe not getting the help they need; such as the residential areas near the top of Sea Road. The demolition of the fountain at the centre of the precinct before the consultation was complete was disgraceful. The Civic Trust to which most societies belonged was the national voice of Civic Societies so its collapse and entry into administration in early 2009 was a blow to the movement. It had taken on too many tasks for the Government and too many staff. Fortunately a number of societies formed another association entitled the Civic Society Initiative. After a number of meetings some of which were attended by Ken Mantock, Beryl Parker and Sally McGrath the basic organisation has been set up and under its new title Civic Voice will be launched on 17th April 2010 in London. To finance the new organisation a capitation fee of £1.50 has been agreed for the first year. Eventually this may lead to an increase in the subscription A parallel proposal for a forum of coastal resorts is under way. Interest has been expressed by Blackpool, Torquay, Hunstanton, Scarborough, Weymouth and Bournemouth. It will discuss the common problems that these and similar towns experience. . Ken Mantock asked the meeting to endorse the committee's decision to join the Civic Voice. This was agreed without dissent, 5. Treasurer’s Report. Copies of the audited accounts were available at the meeting. In the absence of Peter Jackson his report was read by John Barker. The financial position of the Society is healthy despite the income from subscriptions and activities Being down by about 10%; also the interest from the deposit account was only just over £57. But some of the shortfall was compensated by a generous legacy and donations. The revenue for the year exceeded expenditure by £358.61. One member pointed out that the Society would earn more interest if it put the deposit in National Savings. There were no other questions and the accounts were approved. Proposed by David Bird and seconded by John Walker. 6. Elections. Keith Rawlings proposed that the present committee should be elected en bloc with the addition of Shirley McKenna. Jean Bird agreed, seconded by Jane Simkin. No dissent. 7. Members concerns. David Bird reported that he had joined the artist for the sculpture trail from Boscombe Chine to Christchurch Road, Boscombe and was impressed by his enthusiasm and skills. Ken Mantock reminded members of two Civic Voice campaigns, namely, ”Love Local”, and “Street Pride”. The latter will be featured in Winchester in May. Throop Mill. Ken had met the owner Mr Heygate and had tried to persuade him to get together with the Council and produce a scheme to use the building as a heritage site or some other purpose rather than let it moulder away. Barry Rossell said his neighbour was trying to organise a programme to commemorate the death of Charles Rolls at Hengistbury Head and the Air Show during Bournemouth’s centennial celebrations and wondered whether the Society could help. Elizabeth Shawcross asked what was happening to the Municipal College Clock at the Lansdowne and would the Society contribute to any repairs. Ken Mantock replied that the Society had contributed at the time of the initial appeal. He thought that the Society could contribute more. Brian Shuttleworth proposed the Society should ascertain what the true position and status of the clock is before it commits itself. This was agreed. Hilary Bennett asked what the position of the Westbourne Methodist Church was. It was thought it could be a Tesco Express and possibly a bar. Ken Mantock said the Society would look at the Planning Register. (The Echo implied in the 8th April edition that a change of use had been granted.)_ The meeting closed and was followed by a illustrated talk by Ray Chapman on the story of the Bournemouth Natural Science Society, its collections and the publication of a new edition of “The Natural History of Bournemouth and the Surrounding Area”.
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BOURNEMOUTH CIVIC SOCIETY
SUPPLEMENTARY NEWSLETTER March 2010
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
This is notice that the Annual General Meeting will be held on 7th April at 7pm in the Hallmark Hotel (formerly the Durley Hall Hotel) on the corner of Marlborough Road and Durley Chine Road. All members are invited to attend. To vote on any motions or elections you must be a fully paid up member. As well as the normal business of reporting on the past year, presenting the accounts, electing next year’s officers it is an opportunity to raise any concerns you may have about the Society, its actions (or lack of action) and issues about the town you feel the Society should address. Motions for debate at the meeting should be sent a week before to Jean Bird with the names of the proposer and a seconder. Similarly nominations for the committee should be available on the evening of the meeting.
More members needed now!!! To present a strong case on the issues that the Society currently address and those in the offing the Committee recognises it needs more members and particularly fresh and younger ones to serve on the committee as well as ones that can represent a particular district of the town. There is now no one representing the particular interests of Southbourne, Northbourne, Kinson or Winton. If you know anyone who cares about the concerns of any of these or other districts, persuade them to join the Society and ensure that these are not ignored. ---------------------------- Bournemouth Town Centre Action Plan.
This is a current public consultation by the Council on a number of proposals for the Town Centre. This is roughly the area south of the Wessex Way bounded on the East by the Rail Station and on the West by St Michael’s roundabout and Durley Chine. Its vision is produce “a vibrant, diverse and sustainable coastal centre Societies offering a unique retail, leisure. Living and learning experience.” Also “an accessible place where people feel safe and are proud to live, work, visit and invest with an inspiring fusion of historic and high quality modern buildings” It is a comprehensive plan encompassing the environment, the economy, transport and homes with some alternative possibilities. The responses needed by March 8th are being studied by a sub-committee under Ken Mantock. This is only one of the public consultations that the Council initiate and which the Society respond to another recent one was the Future of the Triangle. These are opportunities to make a positive contribution to a solution.
CivicVoice.
We reported in the last Newsletter on the replacing of the Civic Trust, which had gone into administration, by the Civic Society Initiative. This was to provide a focus for the many Civic Societies which felt that a national forum was essential to carry weight with Government bodies. This forum will be launched in April under the title Civic Voice. It will be financed by member societies, which may mean for some of us increased subscriptions. Some of the benefits such as insurance arranged under the Civic Trust will continue and more will be added.
The IMAX or Waterfront building.
The news that the Council had bought the building was welcomed by most people but it does raise the question, Whither forward? The Council still has to buy out various leaseholders before it can proceed to adapt it to a new use. Many may feel it will be a waste of money to demolish it completely although others think it the only way. Among the suggestions is that it should be the much needed museum that the town lacks now. Others that it should provide a wet weather activity centre, some look forward to reinstating a swimming pool. We hope the Council will consult its citizens before a final decision is made. Amity Lodge
One of the first visits of this season was to the Freemason’s Amity Lodge in Poole. Hidden almost anonymously in Market Close not far from the Guild Hall it looks from the outside like a typical Victorian worker’s cottage. Once inside it spreads out into a imposing dining room with some imported carvings. A room just within the entrance has a fine stone fireplace. Upstairs is the temple. This a large and high room furnished with stalls on either side and ceremonial chairs. On the walls are panels containing the names of the various Masonic lodges which meet here and a list of the members of that lodge. The founders were the Amity Lodge and among the members were several prominent Bournemouth citizens of the mid-Victorian years including James McWilliam and EW Rebbeck. Our guide not only outlined some of the rites of the Masons but also described the rooms we saw. It was an enjoyable and informative visit. The Bournemouth Bicentenary.
Although until now there have been no major events of celebration it has inspired The Bournemouth Natural Science Society to update its 1914 book, “A Natural History of Bournemouth and District”. The resulting, “The Natural History of Bournemouth and the surrounding area”, is an attractive and well illustrated book with a contribution by a former committee member of the Civic Society, John Cresswell. Paul Miles has produced a calendar for 2010 which contrasts photographs of 1910 with those of today together with contemporary quotes from local newspapers. And these are only two of what may be a stream of publications about Bournemouth in this celebration year. John Walker’s have been noted in previous newsletters. Westbourne Arcade
It is gratifying to see that the re-roofing of the Arcade has also resulted in the cleaning of the end arches which commemorate Henry Joy’s achievement. See you at the AGM.
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