22C-6e-20200130130018hythecivicsociety.org/newsletter/NL.pdf · 2020. 3. 26. · Title: 22C-6e-20200130130018 Created Date: 1/30/2020 1:00:18 PM

HYTHE CIVIC SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER No. 216: February/March 2021

TALKS AND EVENTS GOOD NEWS

We are resuming our talks programme via Zoom Join us at around 6.45 to start at 7pm

A year ago most of us had not heard of 'Zoom' but it's been a fantastic way of enabling

organisations such as HCS to hold committee meetings and continue planning for the future.

If you have never used ZOOM don't worry. Provided you have a computer, an iPad/tablet or

smart phone, just follow these simple instructions:

On the morning of the Talk we will email you an invitation, it consists of three things:

a lengthy link in blue (e.g bnbnbnbnbnb/baksdnfkasdnfkas), a Meeting ID consisting of 8

letters or numbers, and a Password which could be a word or just letters or numbers.

There are two ways that you can log in:

1. If you have already downloaded the Zoom App on your computer/tablet/smart phone just

tap or click on the blue link in the email invite and wait (you are now in the waiting room !!!)

Eventually you will be let into the meeting by our chairman.

2. If you do not have the Zoom App you need to make a note of the Meeting ID and

Password. Find 'Zoom Log in' via GOOGLE, click Join a meeting, enter the Meeting ID and

click Join. It may ask for the password as well.

NOTE: IF YOU WANT TO JOIN AND WATCH THE TALK VIA ZOOM MAKE SURE WE HAVE YOUR

EMAIL ADDRESS SO WE CAN SEND YOU THE EMAIL INVITE. Good luck and see you on Feb 9th.

9th February Andrew Ashton Banksy: National Treasure or Common Criminal

A look at the artist’s life and work, graffiti and street art

9th March Imogen Corrigan The Searchlight Girls of WW11 The 93rd Regiment

One of the best kept secrets of British military history

© Rufus Segar

FUN QUIZ – SATURDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2021

A year has passed since the quiz to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Society

in 1945. Now that we are in the midst of a third covid lockdown we felt it may be uplifting to

have a fun quiz – nothing too serious! This would take place via Zoom commencing at 7pm

on Saturday 20 February 2021. There will be no restrictions on the size of the teams, but

there will be a maximum of 20 teams participating.

You will have to mark your own answers and you will have to produce your own

refreshments! There will be no cost for entrants and no prizes for the winners, except an

honourable mention in the next HCS newsletter. To enter this fun event just email your

name to the quiz organiser [email protected] and you will receive details of

how to join. We expect a full house and a great evening. We hope you will join us!

2021 CIVIC SOCIETY AWARDS

Nominations for the three categories of annual awards are invited by Friday 12 March 2021

and will be presented at the HCS Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 11 May 2021 –

subject to covid restrictions in place at the time. In the likely event that the AGM will not be

held face to face, the awards will be made in a covid-safe manner. The three categories of

award are:

Amenity Award – to an organisation or a facility that provides a new or significantly

improved amenity for the community of Hythe.

Outstanding Service Award – to an individual who, or organisation that, has rendered

outstanding service to the community of Hythe in line with the Society’s charitable

objectives. Such service will normally be unpaid and outside the individual’s normal

profession, occupation or elected office or additional to the organisation’s normal remit.

Such an award was made in 2020 to the Hythe Community Hub for its increased service to

the community during the covid restrictions.

HCS Award – to a completed project in Hythe displaying an overall excellence of design and

enhancing the visual quality of the neighbourhood.

Nominations, together with the rationale, should be made to the Society via

[email protected] by Friday 12 March 2021.

75TH ANNIVERSARY BOOKLET – APOLOGIES FOR OMMISIONS

On Page 4 we referred to our support for the Green Gym project without mentioning that

the idea was originated by Cllr. Wendy Peacock. On Page 24 we omitted the book “Mirrors

by the Sea” by Dr Richard Scarth from our list of publications. This was a seminal work which

served to promote further serious interest in these structures and led to the updated

edition entitled “Echoes from the Sky” which is still available.

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

CELEBRATING THE SOCIETY’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY (EXTENDED TO 2021)

Watch this Space...

Due to the coronavirus pandemic our plans for several events to celebrate the Society’s 75th

Anniversary during 2020 were shelved, though a successful Quiz night took place in February

2020. The Committee has decided to extend celebrations into 2021 (a 75+1 anniversary) with a

set of heritage focused events at some point during the summer, potentially in August.

Naturally, all event plans are subject to coronavirus restrictions and while there is scope for

optimism later this year we will nevertheless continue to plan with caution.

Current plans include:

Resurrecting ‘Beating the Bounds’ (the ancient custom of walking a town or parish

boundary)

A ‘what was on this site’ themed old photographs exhibition

Heritage guided and self-guided town walks

A special Hythe focused talk

A music concert

Old film footage displayed on the Society’s web-site

BULB PLANTING

As many members will already know, ten years ago Hythe in Bloom began a programme of bulb

planting in and around Hythe. Our efforts began in Tanners Hill when we were lucky enough to be

given around 4,000 daffodil bulbs by a

local nursery – the result of a cancelled

order. We managed to muster a group of

keen volunteers and the job was

completed in no time. Encouraged by this

we then set about more planting on the

grass verges in London Road, followed by

the entrance to Green Lane, Military

Road, Prospect Road and St Leonard’s

churchyard.

In December, we returned to the

churchyard and have planted another

75 kilos of daffodil bulbs. Along with

the ones we planted in 2019 and 2017 respectively, they will look wonderful in the spring

for all to enjoy. Hythe in Bloom and St Leonard’s have shared the cost of the bulbs this time

and we both consider it money well spent.

If you would like to join us to work in the churchyard or in other areas of Hythe, we meet every week and would be delighted if you could join us. No regular commitment is necessary but we all enjoy it! Please contact us via [email protected]

Hythe in Bloom volunteers planting daffodil bulbs in St Leonard’s churchyard

mailto:[email protected]

HYTHE POST OFFICE

A few weeks ago members reported changes to the frontage of the Post Office in the High

Street. The Post Office building is in the Hythe Conservation Area and is a Grade II listed

building. The original frontage appeared to have been Victorian – a pair of shop fronts

divided by a central pilaster and each front had a deeply recessed door to access/exit the

Post Office. A shop front that brought character to the High Street. On making enquiries of

the FHDC Planning Department the Society found that the Planning Department knew

nothing about the work! The Planning Department requested a retrospective planning

application be made. The Society is delighted that this application was refused in mid-

January. It is possible that the applicant will appeal against the refusal so there is little

possibility of the frontage being reinstated in the immediate future. However, this will not

stop the Society asking for the original design to be reinstated.

More generally the Society has asked the Planning Department for a list of policies, specific

to the Hythe Conservation Area, that are used to determine planning and listed building

applications in addition to generic national and FHDC policies. It appears there are none!

The Society will now work with the Town Council and the FHDC to fill that gap so that the

character of the High Street can better be protected.

GIFT AID (A reminder)

Gift Aid is a valuable source of income for the Society. Many of you have already signed gift

aid declarations, but we would like to increase the number. Your annual subscriptions, and

any voluntary donations you make are eligible for gift aid. If you are a taxpayer all that is

required is the completion of a simple declaration which is sent to the Treasurer. You do not

have to advise HMRC.

You can obtain the form either by email, [email protected] or phone Alan

Joyce on 01303 267085.

COMMITTEE

Secretary: Mrs Mary Hunter (01303 268423) Treasurer & Membership: Alan Joyce

Editors: Jill Ayling & Kim Murton Newsletter Distribution: Michael Tubman (01303 267373)

Patron: Admiral of the Fleet The Lord Boyce KG GDB OBE DL

Registered Charity No 283177