Urban Studies Committee - Trust Annual Report 1990
Probably the single most innovative and important event staged by the Trust during the year was the pilot "Chippindale Venture". As explained in last year's Annual Report when the scheme was in course of preparation, it involved 48 eleven year old children from two Winchester schools who were set an exercise to devise a scheme for a Visitors/Heritage Centre on a site adjacent to the Castle. The scheme reproduced the design and planning procedures involved in an actual project, and in the preparatory stages the children were assisted by representatives of no less than 9 Winchester architectural practices whose time was generously donated. The culmination of the scheme was a Presentation at the Castle in October 1989, attended by the children, the architects who had worked with them, Planning and Conservation Officers from Winchester City Council and Hampshire County Council who assisted in the presentation of the schemes to a Planning Committee consisting of Councillors both from the City and the County. Awards were presented by the Mayor of Winchester. The whole occasion was widely acclaimed as a great success and received considerable publicity. It was sponsored by John Laing Construction, Ladbrokes and Arundell House Securities to whom we are extremely grateful. We were particularly glad that both Frank Chippindale's son and daughter, Mrs. Spinoza, were able to be present and we believe that they as well as we felt that no more suitable memorial could have been devised for Frank, who made such a great contribution to the Trust and to whom education was so important. Mrs. Spinoza made a most generous donation to be used for the "Chippindale Venture" in future. Plans are already under way for the next exercise. This will follow the general pattern of the original but will involve different schools and a different architectural project, and the Presentation Day will be in March 1991.
The Chippendale Venture involves a great deal of work and organisation but not content with this, the Urban Studies Committee is active in other directions. It is creating a series of illustrated articles on buildings in Winchester which, it is intended, will be published in the local press and perhaps printed ultimately as a book. It is compiling a photographic archive which will be invaluable source material for anyone interested in the architectural history of Winchester. Finally, it is taking over the organisation of the Trust's programme of lectures, talks and walks, following the retirement of Mrs. Ann Jones. The Trust attaches the greatest importance to the Urban Studies Committee which is developing an area in which the Trust should be able to make a real contribution to life in Winchester, and we are extremely grateful to all who serve on this very vigorous Committee.