Southern Comfort - TrustNews June 10
Some members will know of Southern Comfort, but a very brief description might be helpful to others. In 1983 the Chichester Society invited Winchester and three other local societies to spend a day with them discussing mutual concerns. We all found it extremely useful and a 'comfort' and agreed that any 'southern' society wishing to host future such events should do so in whatever way suited them; the curious name arose from the heading of a published article reporting the first meeting. Such was the popularity of the idea that larger meetings have taken place every year or two since then, encompassing an ever-wider area until it became a potential burden for the organizers. Following a longer gap than usual we therefore decided to act as host again with a more modest gathering.
Representatives from a dozen societies accepted our invitation amounting, with other individual guests and Trust organisers, to about 40 people filling the Gurkha Gallery almost to capacity on Saturday 10th July. After a welcome from lain Patton, there was a very lively and wide ranging discussion session chaired by Christopher Clark, skilfully and wittily managing a panel that included the Coordinator of Civic Voice and the Chairman of the SE Region. After a coffee break during which discussion continued apace, we had an inspirational and beautifully illustrated talk from the internationally renowned landscape architect, Kim Wilkie, who happens to live locally and is a good friend of the Trust. It has long been our hope to get him to speak at an AGM but although very willing he has always been abroad at the time — next year, perhaps.
After a hasty sandwich lunch, we gathered in four small groups, each to debate one of a number of pressing issues affecting societies in the south: the future of Southern Comfort; membership of Civic Societies, recruitment and subscriptions; Historic Town Status; and the role of trustees and volunteers together with the management of our workforce.
The day ended with a choice of two guided walks, one around Peninsula Barracks under the expert leadership of Robin Merton, and the other across the road to the refurbished County Offices where Steve Clow, now head of Property Services but one-time senior architect, came back from a day on the coast to guide us around the building.
All present acclaimed the day as a great success, for which thanks are due to all who took part, especially in leading and organisational roles, and particularly to John Stanning and Vicky Feldwick who put the event together; thanks also to the staff of the Gurkha Gallery who were as usual both efficient and unobtrusive. For the benefit of all concerned, a detailed report is being written and will be on the Trust website before long. One gratifying outcome is that the Guildford Society has picked up the baton and will host Southern Comfort next year or the year after.