Lectures, Walks and Visits - Trust Annual Report 1985
A Balaclava Day visit to The Royal Hussars' Museum opened the Trust's winter programme. Members were welcomed by Lt.-Col. Peter Upton and his successor, Lt.-Col. Merton, and learnt not only about the Regiments concerned, but also about the formation of their award-winning museum, which gave those of the audience connected with the Heritage Centre some ideas for displays.
Andrew Rutter's talk, "Windows on a Conservation Officer's World", ranged far from home and provoked many questions nearer to home. Sadly, this splendidly-illustrated talk took place during one of the worst autumn gales, at our new venue, hurriedly arranged due to the non-availability of the Royal Hotel, and so our audience was reduced. Next there was a visit to Taylor Maxwell's brick library, where members were entertained to a fascinating talk, illustrated by actual examples, on the types and forms of bricks, including the revival of hand-made bricks and brick carving.
January saw an appreciative audience when Elyston Phillips talked about those Royal Coats of Arms so often seen in Hampshire churches. In February, John Reynolds showed slides of the resurrection of Bursiedon Windmill from a ruin to a fully-operational mill, with advance orders for stone-ground flour when complete in a few years' time.
Miss Jennifer Eagles' talk, "Another Look at York", was of special interest to those who had attended the presentation on Tourism by the City Council, and also to those who were looking forward to Bob Bixby's talk on Oxford's Park & Ride system.
Early summer saw two evening walks, with Ken Qualman on the City's defences and Keith Leaman on aspects of the street scene we sometimes take for granted. On a June evening Mrs. Corinne Bennett conducted another of her popular tours of the upper regions of the Cathedral.
The visit to Bradford on Avon was marred by heavy and very penetrating rain and wind. However, the 27 who made it (sadly one of the party fell near the coach in Winchester and had to be rushed to hospital) had an energetic time climbing up to the terraces, scrambling In the lock-up on the bridge over the Avon and dodging the traffic, before a welcome tea and drying-out at Bradford Preservation Trust's H.Q. at Priory Barn.
Our President was forced to postpone her walks until August, due to a broken ankle. The rain cleared soon after the first walk got under way, and the second took place in fine weather (exactly as Mrs. Carpenter Turner had predicted!). As is usual on these occasions, many participants brought notebooks in which to record a wealth of information.