Highlight 160 Highlight 160 Highlight 160 FROM THE CHAIR 2 FORESTERS 200 CLUB 2 CURRENT COMMENTS 3 AMENITY SUB-COMMITTEE 4 REDOUBT FORT REPORT 5 FROM THE LIBRARIAN & ARCHIVIST 5 MARITIME MUSEUM 6 FOOTPATH REPORT 7 THE HARWICH SOCIETY ANNUAL DINNER 8 MORE OF LEN’S STORIES 8 TAKE PART IN OUR CHARITY STROLL……... 9 FORESTERS OPEN DAYS 9 UNVEILING OF BENCH IN MEMORY OF MIKE MEALING 10 RECENT EVENTS 10 DRAWING LINES IN THE PARK 11 PORTRAIT OF A MEMBER 12 STEAM DRIFTER JEANNIE McINTOSH BCK209 13 POSTBOX 14 WHAT IT MEANS TO BE OCCUPIED (CONT) 17 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME FOR HARWICH WEEK - Date? 18 THE GREATEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE 19 EVACUATION MEMORIES 20 FIRE MARKS 21 HARWICH FROM THE AIR c1950 22 YEARS OF MY LIFE CONTINUED 23 WHAT DID THE ROMANS DO FOR US? 24 OBITUARIES 25 HARWICH BOROUGH COUNCIL 1951 25 MEMBERSHIP NOTES 26 COMING ATTRACTIONS 27
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FROM THE CHAIR 2
FORESTERS 200 CLUB 2
CURRENT COMMENTS 3
AMENITY SUB-COMMITTEE 4
REDOUBT FORT REPORT 5
FROM THE LIBRARI AN & ARCHIVIST 5
MARIT IME MUSEUM 6
FOOTP ATH REPORT 7
THE HARWICH SOCIETY ANNUAL DINNER 8
MORE OF LEN’S STORIES 8
TAKE PART IN OUR CHARITY STROLL…….. . 9
FORESTERS OPEN DAYS 9
UNVEILING OF BENCH IN MEMORY OF MIKE ME ALING 10
RECENT EVENTS 10
DRAWING L INES IN THE P ARK 11
PORTRAIT OF A MEMBER 12
STE AM DRIFTER JE ANNIE McINTOSH BCK209 13
POSTBOX 14
WHAT IT ME ANS TO BE OCCUPIED (CONT) 17
OFFICIAL PROGRAMME FOR HARWICH WEEK - Da te? 18
THE GRE ATEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE 19
EV ACUATION MEMORIES 20
FIRE MARKS 21
HARWICH FROM THE AIR c1950 22 YE ARS OF MY L IFE CONTINUED 23 WHAT DID THE ROMANS DO FOR US? 24 OBITUARIES 25 HARWICH BOROUGH COUNCIL 1951 25 MEMBERSHIP NOTES 26 COMING ATTRACTION S 27
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2
FROM THE CHAIR Bernie Sadler
For many years the Society has been a member of the Civic Trust, the umbrella organisation which
offered advice and support to Civic Societies and represented us at regional and national levels.
Regretfully, in April last year, the Civic Trust announced that it could no longer continue to function
due to a lack of funds. Following a period of consultation and debate a new national charity has been
launched called Civic Voice which it is hoped will continue and extend the work carried out by the
Civic Trust. Fees for membership of the new body were originally suggested to be on a per capita
basis which for a large organisation like the Harwich Society would have been prohibitive. It is now
agreed, however, that a cap will be provided for the larger societies. On this basis we have enlisted in
the new organisation recognising, of course, the need for improved funding and the benefits which
would flow from membership. Watch this space!
On Saturday the 15th of May a number of members met at Foresters for the unveiling of a garden
bench in memory of Mike Mealing. Mike was Treasurer of the Society from 1976 to 2008. He was
also chairman of the House Committee which looks after Foresters. As Treasurer Mike oversaw the
financial repercussions of the massive increase in Society membership, the advance of IT re book
keeping and the meeting of the increasingly vigorous demands of the Charity Commissioners. The
bench was unveiled by Mike's wife, Judith, and the event was attended by their children and
grandchildren. The Social group provided excellent refreshments and the weather too was kind to us.
(see photograph on page 10)
By the time this copy of Highlight is delivered to your doors the Flower Baskets initiated by the
Society should be on display at various locations round Harwich and Dovercourt. The scheme is
funded by individuals and businesses in the town as well as some Tendring District councillors,
Harwich Town Council and the Society itself. Historically the baskets have been hung from lamp
posts but over recent years many lamp posts have been ruled out by the highway authority on safety
grounds. Apparently the modern concrete lamp posts are made to break on impact thereby
minimising damage to vehicles, drivers and passengers. Because of this they are not strong enough
to safely support the flower baskets. This affects in particular the number of baskets in Dovercourt
town centre. We are working with the Dovercourt traders to secure funding for stronger removable
posts in the town. In the meantime many of the baskets originally planned for the town centre will be
hung in Cliff Park, close to the band stand.
FORESTERS 200 CLUB
The winner of the Foresters 200 Club draw for March which was drawn at the AGM was Mrs Gibbs
of Little Clacton. She has kindly donated her prize to the Harwich Society to further the work at
Foresters.
You have the opportunity to help the Society raise funds and to win a cash prize of £200 each
quarter. If you want to help, with the possibility of winning money, send a cheque payable to the
Harwich Society for £25 (or cash by hand) per membership to The Harwich Society, Foresters Club,
c/o Miss S Marshall, 23 Station Road, Harwich, Essex CO12 3LY. Please provide your address and
to whom the winning cheque should be made payable.
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CURRENT COMMENTS Andy Rut ter
Your Executive Committee
was re-elected en bloc at the Annual General Meeting, and all Groups and Subcommittees were
subsequently re-appointed
noted that 79 members enjoyed the Annual Dinner in the Pier Hotel when Mike Riches spoke
about Harwich High School
was pleased to learn that 43 members enjoyed the St George‟s Day Dinner in the new Crown Post
Restaurant in Church Street when they were entertained by the Vice Chairman David Whittle
has approved a smart new uniform for members on duty for the Society, it consists of navy blue
sweatshirts and polo shirts with the Society logo in light blue
thanks the team who took the Society exhibition to represent Harwich at the County Tourism and
Leisure Show
thanked Vice Chairman David Whittle and Mrs Jacky Whittle for arranging the Society display at
the Tour de Tendring Cycle Race by the Swimming Pool
was delighted at the gathering of members present to see Mrs Judith Mealing unveil the memorial
seat to our late Treasurer Mike Mealing at Foresters
welcomed two American visitors from Harwich Massachusetts who spent a week in our town.
Highlight of the visit was a re-union dinner at the Crown Post with those members who went to
Harwich MA in 2002
deplores the procrastination of Taylor Wimpey in providing an adequate wildlife corridor around
Bobbits Hole Nature Reserve, now four years behind schedule. The situation is exacerbated by
the developer placing social housing next to the reserve
was pleased to hear Chairman Bernie Sadler speaking about Harwich and the Harwich Society on
Felixstowe Radio, a new radio station
learned that the decorative lights on The Quay have been removed because TDC felt they were
dangerous. Has this ever happened at Clacton?
has joined Civic Voice, the successor organization to the Civic Trust
is repairing vandalism damage to the Flood Plaque on the Ha‟penny Pier and to the Post Box on
Harwich Town Station
has purchased a new lap top computer to give improved power point presentations to the
members
thanks the Bury St Edmunds, Colchester, Felixstowe, Frinton & Walton, Hadleigh, Ipswich,
Kelvedon & Feering, Norwich, Sudbury and Wivenhoe Societies for the receipt of their
newsletters
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AMENITY SUB COMMITTEE Ron Farnwor th
Planning Application - no comment made:
Capital House Estate, Dovercourt - change approved plan of plots to include 50 new build
dwellings, to include 3 affordable. Replaces upmarket houses with mid market types to reflect
current conditions. No changes would be approved unless the criteria were met
Alexandra House, Marine Parade - minor changes to existing approval
Bathside Bay development various - defer all works until 2021
10 Marine Parade, Dovercourt - 2 flats with office on ground floor + parking
Don Thompson Care Home, Low Rd, Dovercourt - 2 x 2 storey extensions to increase bedrooms
from 28 to 70 with additional amenity area and recreational space on adjoining land to be acquired
from the caravan park
48 Kings Head St, Harwich - balcony to form viewing platform from bedroom overlooking sailing
centre
Flat 3, 20 Market St, Harwich - 2 front dormer windows instead of larger single dormer (approved)
Extracts from TDC minutes:-
Planning Applications approved:
Bucks Lane, off Stones Green, Gt Oakley - two “earth sheltered” eco houses for agricultural
workers
Old Bakehouse, Ramsey - single storey extension
Kingsway House, 21 Kingsway, Dovercourt - change of use of ground floor offices to Class A3 cafe/
TAKE PART IN OUR CHARITY STROLL Gar ry Calver NO TRAINING NECESSARY I have great admiration for all of those hardy souls who spend countless hours pounding the streets in
order to prepare for the London Marathon. On the fateful day they then put themselves through untold
agonies in order to complete the arduous course around the streets of our capital city. The Harwich
Society‟s version is somewhat more relaxed, requires no training and can be completed without any
fear of being overtaken by a pantomime horse. I am talking, of course, about the Bobbit‟s Hole
Charity Stroll. It isn‟t sponsored by Flora Margarine, it isn‟t organised by David Bedford and there
are unlikely to be media helicopters flying overhead. It is, however, the perfect fund raising event for
anyone not really inclined to half kill themselves in order to raise a few bob.
Everyone who visits the Harwich Society‟s nature reserve at Bobbit‟s Hole is amazed by what the
small band of dedicated volunteers has achieved. Last summer, as a way of celebrating this
achievement, the Society held a „charity stroll‟ to encourage visitors to the reserve and to raise money
for a good cause at the same time.
Bobbit‟s Hole is a haven of peace and tranquillity only a few yards from the Main Road and is open
to the public throughout the season free of charge between 10am and 12 noon each Sunday morning.
On the designated day visitors were asked to stroll around and make a donation to the Royal British
Legion‟s Poppy Appeal for the privilege of doing so. The Bobbit‟s Hole team were on hand to show
people around and to provide light refreshments. The result was 72 happy visitors who raised
£162.40.
Colin and Aileen Farnell were so pleased with the day that they agreed to make it an annual event and
this year‟s Bobbit‟s Hole Charity Stroll will take place on Sunday 8th August between 10am and 3
pm. This year the team has chosen „Riding for the Disabled‟ as its charity and I would ask anyone
with a half hour to spare to support the event by enjoying a leisurely stroll around one of the most
peaceful and picturesque places in our town. Unlike the London Marathon, you won‟t get a medal at
the end but I can assure you that you will leave feeling very relaxed and very impressed. Even better
– you will leave happy in the knowledge that you can take part again next year without any training
whatsoever!
FORESTERS OPEN DAY S
* Sunday 4th July and Sunday 11th July, 10.30 am to 4.30 pm
* Albums of old local photographs to peruse
* Situated at 5 Church Street, Harwich
* An opportunity to look round The Society Headquarters (circa 1450)
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UNVEIL ING OF BENCH IN MEMORY OF MIKE ME ALING
Over 40 people assembled in Foresters on Saturday 15th May to welcome Judith Mealing who
unveiled a bench in memory of her husband. The photo is Judith and her family sitting on the bench.
RECENT EVENTS Garry Ca lver
The Harwich Society played hosts to The Colchester Blue Badge Guides on Saturday 24th April for a
familiarisation tour of Harwich. The Group were greeted by James Cole, the Harwich Town Crier on
the Ha'penny Pier and were then conducted around the town by David Whittle, taking in visits to The
Electric Palace, Treadwheel Crane and Jacky Walton was on hand at The Maritime Museum to show
them round. After lunch they were met by Andy Rutter and Bernie Sadler at the Redoubt to complete
their look at Harwich.
Sixty members attended the last talk in the winter series of Harwich Society lectures, when Angela
Blakeway gave an interesting and very informative talk on the Bayeaux Tapestry. The tapestry which
is 230 ft long depicts the conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066. Most members
were surprised to learn that the tapestry was made in England, possibly at Canterbury, commissioned
by Bishop Odo (half brother to King William) for the consecration of his new cathedral at Bayeaux.
Now over 900 years old it obviously was embroidered some years after the events depicted on it. Mrs
Blakeway's enthusiasm for the subject was very infectious.
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DRAWING LINES IN THE PARK
Members will recall that the two projects to celebrate our 40th anniversary were firstly writing a
history of the Society and secondly marking out the site of Cliff House in Cliff Park. Built in 1845,
Cliff House was the home of the Harwich MP, John Bagshaw. It was a very grand house, quite the
biggest in town, and what is now Cliff Park was the extensive gardens to the house. It was
demolished in 1909.
In September 2009, once the summer rush of looking after our five tourist sites was over, we called in
Maldon Archaeological Group who made a geophysical survey of the area, enabling us to pinpoint
and mark out the site of the house. Activities came to an abrupt halt when the water company turned
off the water supply to the park for the winter. Work started again when the water was reconnected at
the beginning of May.
It was decided to outline the site of the house with a line of bricks, laid as a simple rectangle thus
emphasizing the great size of the mansion which was 100ft long and 50 ft wide. The bricks have to be
lower than the surrounding grass to allow grass mowers to go over the top of them. Digging the
trench for the bricks provoked a lot of local curiosity, even causing one ill informed local resident to
write to the Standard suggesting the project was in the wrong place! Pity he hadn‟t looked into the
trench where the foundations of the house were revealed.
800 bricks were laid in the project which was carried out by Mark‟s Garden & Landscape Services
for the Society and paid for by a legacy from the late Mr Albert Goddard. The finishing touch will be
the erection of an interpretation board explaining what it is all about.