Chairman's Miscellany - TrustNews December 09
It has been a busy autumn for the Trust and remains so. Major events fell at the beginning and end of the period under review. Our Annual General Meeting on 15th September drew many members who braved very heavy rain and were rewarded by a fascinating address by our Vice President, Donald Insall CBE, based on his book “Living Buildings” aided by contrasting illustrations taken from the book. As part of the business of the meeting, John Beveridge and Peter Rees were elected as Trustees, having been co-opted to the Trust Council during the preceeding year.
On 6th November came the publication by P & G Wells Ltd of Andrew Rutter’s book Winchester - Heart of the City, and its launch by our President, His Honour Judge Christopher Clark QC in a lively speech at the Discovery Centre. Publication was the culmination of many months of labour by the editorial team of Keith Leaman, Richard Baker, Gill Collymore, Robin Freeman and Matthew Huntley and supported by Carol Leaman who laboured hard to record the many revisions which were necessary. Warmest thanks to them for their commitment. It is heartening that they all say that they now miss their twice weekly meetings! It gives me great pleasure that Andrew Rutter, the author of the original text, is delighted with the book. It is available from Wells Bookshop in College Street and is excellent value at £35.
In addition to all that, the Trust has been heavily involved in the consultation process set up by Cala Homes on their proposals for Barton Farm and while we remain strongly opposed to any development on that important edge of the City, it is pleasing that the developers have taken time to consult widely. We have also taken part in a landscape Assessment Group set up by Winchester City Council to consider the landscape aspects of its proposal to develop Bushfield Down as a “Knowledge Park”. Participation does not lessen our opposition to any development of the site which is so very important to the setting of Winchester. It is only by participating in such consultations that the Trust can strive to ensure that, if the developments do go ahead, they will be designed to the highest standards.
I am delighted to report that we will run Design Awards again in the coming year. This will be organised by Chris Higgins who is well known for his work at King Alfred’s College and later the University where he maintained a very high standard of architecture in the developments there.
Finally, I salute all those who work so hard - as members of Council, as members of the Planning Appraisal Group and in many other ways - to push forward our aims for the City of Winchester. Without them, we would be nothing.