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SUMMER  NEWSLETTER  2009

Civic Trust

As many members will have already read in the national press the Civic Trust, our parent organisation, has gone into administration. The Trust was founded over 50 years ago to act as a national voice for organisations such as the RVS but gradually took on much wider training and campaigning functions and these contributed to its collapse.

However with support and some funding from the National Trust, the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Campaign for Rural England and others a new organisation “The Civic Society Initiative” has been launched to support local societies under the leadership of Tony Burton the former Deputy Director of the National Trust and is appealing for funds. The Society has sent a donation of £100.       .

The Cross

The Society recently wrote to the Derbyshire County Council regarding the constant damage to the kerb at the Cross requesting that stronger and higher kerbstones be fitted to protect the monument, uplighters, marker stones etc. In their reply the DCC say that the provision of higher, stronger kerbs would necessitate the raising of the central flagged area and this work would require Capital funding as the cost would be beyond their day to day maintenance budget and it is unlikely that this work would attract funding from a limited budget. The DCC will however be investigating turning movements at the Cross to see whether there are any other potential solutions.

Willington Power Station Site

As members will be aware there is a proposal to build a new Power Station on the site of the demolished A and B stations at Willington. We have asked to be kept informed of progress and any information received will be displayed at our meetings. 

Front Gardens and Container Competition

Because the number of entries for the Best Floral Container/Front Garden competition has remained small and static over the last few years we feel that there is a need to promote this event more vigorously and this will require a rethink and more assistance. Regrettably therefore there will not be a competition this year.

Programme

There have been a number of talks and coach trips since the last newsletter and in the main they have been well attended and enjoyable. A possible exception was the wine tasting evening where if it hadn’t been for some members who brought guests the cost of the evening would not have been covered. Maybe this event has run its course. A similar situation arose at the previous tasting in 2007.

The coaches hired for the trips to Shrewsbury and Saltaire were not up to the usual standard. We have used the same company for several years and they have been very competitive and reliable and given good service but we will be considering alternatives for the 2010 programme.

Future  Programme

There is no meeting in August but on Thursday September 3rd Prof. Janet Spencer will be talking about Gothic Revival Architecture – Past and Present. She writes “In this illustrated talk I will look at the reasons for the revival of interest in the mediaeval architecture of Great Britain that took place in the late 18th and early 19th centuries after centuries of passion for the classical architecture of Greece and Rome. The fruits of this revival can be found in Derbyshire and beyond and includes church restoration and building, gothick follies, mansions and great public buildings such as St Pancras Station, the Houses of Parliament and the Law Courts in London. They all look entirely different. We will ask questions about this and consider why the Gothic Revival continues to this day – in new buildings as well in major restoration projects”

Then on Saturday September 19th a coach will be leaving Repton at 8a.m. for York. The programme is for members to do their own thing in the City (maps will be provided) or else visit the Yorkshire Air Museum with the coach, returning from York at 4.30p.m.

Cost of the coach is £12 - admission charges extra. There are a few places left. (701838 for details)

On Thursday October 1st Colin Hobday will be taking a look at Derbyshire through the four seasons including landscapes, customs and history.

Please note

On Thursday November 5th the talk will be on Tower Clocks through the Ages and the meeting will finish with the results of the Photographic Competition and cheese and wine. The prizes will once again be presented by Ashley Franklin. More details to follow.

Email Contact:

Many societies such as Repton Village Society take advantage of the Email system to send information to members. This has the advantages of contact being easy and quick for all members, less need for hand delivery of Newsletters etc., and the reduction of the postage costs. If you are willing to receive your Newsletter and any other information from the Village Society in this way please send an Email message to Hazel Blackhall at hazelblackhall@aol.com.  The current system will continue for those members who do not wish to be contacted by Email.  

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