Chairman's Miscellany - TrustNews March 2008
When I wrote, for the last TrustNews, a warm tribute to Pat Edwards' work as Chairman, I could not have dreamt that she would be dead before that issue was published. Her sudden death was a shock to all who knew her and a particularly great shock to those, like me, who worked closely with her. Those who attended her funeral gained a great insight into her life and, particularly, her devotion to her family both when her daughter was growing up and later to her grandsons. Pat will long be remembered for her tireless work for our City.
The dark cloud which Pat's death cast over the Trust is lifting slowly and I turn to other matters. The largely unseen work of Shione Carden and members of the Planning Appraisal Group, the core activity of the Trust, has continued to be heavy. Since Christmas, in addition to an unusually large number of applications to consider, there were six evening presentations to members of panels and Council, all of which requires time to arrange, to take part in and to report. We are indebted to those who give so much time to this essential work.
Members have expressed understandable concern about news of a proposal by the Dean and Chapter to build a Choir school in part of the Dean Garnier Garden. At the moment, there is not a great deal of information but I am told that there will be public consultation starting in March. Last September, four of us from the Trust Council met the Receiver-General of the Cathedral to hear and discuss various building proposals which included the Garden plan and, though we could not give a view on behalf of the Trust as a whole, individual comments were made. We were asked that the discussion should be treated as confidential. Regrettably, it has been suggested that a plan to build in the Garden has support from the Trust. That is not so. The Trust can only express a corporate opinion on a proposed development after an open presentation to a representative panel of members or following a planning application. I anticipate that this will take place. I have written to the Receiver-General to avoid any further misunderstanding and the Trust will be represented at a seminar about the Cathedral Plan which is to be held at the Cathedral in early March.