GOSPORT SOCIETY NEWS & UPDATES FOR YOUR DIARY- 5th JULY 2024
ANNUAL AGM JUNE 2024
A very successful AGM took place with 30 Gosport Society Members attending, our President The Worshipful Mayor of Gosport Cllr. Richard Earle chaired the meeting, a copy of the minutes will be circulated in due course.
It was a real chance to socialise after the AGM, thank you to the 30 members who attended! A record number for the annual AGM recent years. I was sorry that I was unable to speak to you all but I was busy handing over the copies of the Gosport Fortification Map, the sale of which contributed £150.00 to our project fund for 2024-2025, a great start to fund raising for the year. NB If you do wish to send a copy of the Gosport Fortification Map to someone by post, this can be arranged.
We are also pleased to report, we have a new member for the Executive Committee, Michaell Williams, who was elected on the evening, we would like to thank Michael for ‘stepping forward’ to assist the Executive Committee.
Don’t be shy, please step forward and help, we don’t bite, further members are still needed to help on the Executive Committee.
Peace Agreement signing at Bastion No1 Trinity Green Gosport 1st September signing at 11:30am.
Arrangements are well underway.
In attendance will be The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth and The Worshipful Mayor of Gosport.
A Town Crier will be in attendance making the announcements,
Gosport Society, have enquired of Little Woodham 17th Century Living Village if they are able to arrange for a Musketeer to be on hand to give us a demonstration of his skills, this would give an added flavour to the event.
THIS IS A PRIVATE INVITATION ONLY EVENT
We have invited other associated society’s interested in the history of Gosport, Friends of Bastion No1, Gosport History Group, Haslar Heritage Group and Gosport U3A History Group.
The landscaping and new access paths should be completed in August, therefore, the presentation of Gosport’s new public open space is expected as the plan below.
A formal ‘Peace Treaty’ document is being prepared for signatures by both Gosport and Portsmouth Society’s, so. If you wish you name to be added to this document of peace, it is important to register your attendance, only those attending will be mentioned on the document. Names need to be submitted by the end of July.
Contact: secretary @gosportsociety.co.uk
Assistance is required by Gosport Society members on the day, setting up and dismantling the Gazebo, greeting invited visitors, ensuring we leave no litter behind when we leave. Please contact Richard on the above email to volunteer.
GOSPORT SOCIETY PROJECTS FOR 2024/2025
- – USEFUL TOUR MAP GUIDE OF HISTORICAL GOSPORT
These will be available from the Tourist Information Office from 6th July 2024, @£1.00 per copy.
Tour Guide includes information on 34 Historical sites, Post Codes- Bus Transport No’s – what3words location.
We intend providing all local Junior & Senior schools with a copy of our ‘Tour Guide’, together with a copy of the Gosport HAZ videos of ‘Discover Gosport’, produced by GBC. (see YouTube – Discover Gosport)
This falls in line with our ‘constitution’ informing residents of Gosport’s Heritage.
2.- Gosport High Street Alleyways Project.
The Executive Committee are discussing a proposal that Gosport Society assist with Gosport High Street HAZ, in organising Alleyway name signs. This will involve obtaining permission from the owners of the Alleyway premises where signs would be erected, obtaining planning permission, and providing and installing the signs.
3.- Green Plaque Awards –
A Proposal has been made for the provision of a plaque commemorating Dr James Lind, renowned ‘Father of Naval Medicine’. The Plaque would be in conjunction with Haslar Heritage Group, you may recall Mark Trasler, who gave Gosport Society a guided tour of Haslar recently, mentioned the need for Dr. Lind’s recognition.
4 – Digital conversion of The Gosport Records 1- 18.
The intention is to make these available on Gosport Society’s forthcoming new Web pages.
If any member may have knowledge in achieving this, their help would be very much appreciated.
MICHAELMAS FAYRE Saturday September 28th at Alverstoke Village Centre.
We shall be concentrating on promoting the sale of the copy of prints of Gosport’s 1678 Fortifications and Gosport Society’s Useful Tour Map Guide, to help fund our projects for his year 2024-2025.
Please find attached staffing list to assist on the day, setting up the Gazebo (having erected the Gazebo on my own last year, it was very difficult to say the least), also help is required for the sale of our ‘Fortification Prints’ and ‘Tour Guide’.
We would be pleased if you are able help out for an hour or so on this fund-raising day, which will ensure our Projects for 2024-2025 can be achieved.
Visit to ‘The Slaughter House 4th July 2024.
Deniz Beck, Conservation Architect, provided a most interesting presentation of the building. It was also good to meet Members of Portsmouth Naval Dockyard Society.
Apologies to Sue Coutney, Alan Dent and Chris Stevens, who were unaware of the time change for this tour, which had been brought forward an hour to 2.30pm. It goes to show that I do need help in co-ordinating all the administration of Gosport Society, mistakes do happen if you have too much on one person’s plate. Chris Stevens, Sue Courtney are greatly missed, suffice to say.
Fort Blockhouse Sea Defences. Our ‘Planning Team have been in contact with our MP, obtained a response from The Ministry of Defence (7th June 2024), acknowledging Gosport Society’s view that the ownership and maintenance of the sea walls at Fort Blockhouse should remain with The Defence Infrastructure Organisation, and not transferred to private ownership. We have been advised that this will be considered as part of the ongoing sea wall study assessments.
This matter, therefore, has not been resolved, Gosport Society will continue to address this issue through Gosport Borough Council and Gosport’s MP.
Liaison Meeting with Gosport Borough Council Planning Dept.
Our Planning Team met with GBC Planning Officers and Conservation Officer last week.
Items on the Agenda for discussion were,
Anglesey Lodge – current proposals.
Extensions to Kings Academy Bay House.
Browndown Battery 1
Progress on Fort Gilkicker
Updates on Ft. Blockhouse Sea Defences.
Waste disposal arrangements rear of 17a High Street Gosport.
Land adjacent the Immigration Centre (500 bed Immigration Centre extension)
Future of The Gun Boat Yard.
Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO’s)
Talk on The Story of HM Hospital Ship UGANDA 18th July St Lukes Church Royal Haslar at 1600Hrs (4PM).
We currently have 14 Member wishing to attend. Reservations are still being taken.
PROM NIGHT AT KINGS ACADEMY 4th JULY 2024.
Pupils arriving in style last evening!
Wishing you all a happy summer interlude, Sue & I will be entertaining our youngest daughter & family for the next few weeks and following them back to Scotland in August.
Kind regards,
Richard Cook
Chairman Gosport Society.