Chairman’s Overview September 2007
This year’s AGM was held at Thrumpton Hall, the subject of Miranda Seymour’s recent book, “In my Father’s House”, which was a most impressive venue. David Measures gave an interesting talk on “Nature Wild and Commonplace”. We shall now look at what we had previously thought as commonplace in a different light.
At the AGM we welcomed Peter Winstanley to the Executive. I should like to thank Leslie Teasdale who has stood down from the position of Vice-Chairman, but he is to remain as Newark & Sherwood’s representative. Frank Thomas has now become Vice-Chairman along with Rosamund Macfarlane. Brooke Sidebottom is no longer a member of the Executive, but he is to continue with his work in commenting on the planning applications for wind turbines. We are delighted to have found Tony Barton, who now represents Mansfield on the committee.
In February we were given an enlightening lecture on ‘You and the Environment’ by David Clarke in the Great Hall at Southwell. Later in the month we enjoyed a convivial lunch at The Red House at Kelham.
In June we held our annual picnic on the Welbeck Estate thanks to Mr. and Mrs. William Parente. This month was a washout and there was torrential rain on the day, but our hosts allowed us the use of the cricket pavilion – there was no play on the day – so a pleasant ‘picnic’ was held looking out through the windows at the rain, while remaining nice and dry. We shall try and arrange better weather for next year.
Our new display stands were used at the Newark & Notts. Show in May, at a Climate Change Fair in Nottingham’s Market Square in June, and again at the Southwell Ploughing Match in September. All shows were manned by volunteers but we could do with more helpers to share the load. If there is anyone interested please contact a member of the committee.
During the summer the Examination In Public was held for the new East Midlands Regional Plan with the Branch making representations in relation to certain topics at the Leicester venue with CPRE well represented through the Examination. The Branch was also involved this summer with the public enquiry being helf for the dualling of the A46 from Newark to Widmerpool.
We now have a new website designed by Optillion: www.nottscpre.org.uk Please do have a look at it, and contributions for it would be gratefully received by the committee.
We have had promotional articles for Notts. CPRE in Lowdham Life, Southwell Life and the Walker this year, as well as advertisements for the lecture in a variety of magazines and newspapers. An article appeared about our Tranquillity Maps in the Newark Advertiser, and Peter Holland spoke about the Bassetlaw group on Trax FM.
May I thank all of the members of the Branch Executive Committee for all of the unpaid hard work that they have put in, in particular my Vice-Chairman Rosamund who keeps me up to speed and Mary Ball for putting together the Annual Report.
Stuart Byfield
