Gosport Society
Registered as Charity No. 289942
GOSPORT SOCIETY AUTUMN NEWSLETTER 2024
Dated 13th September 2024
Dear Gosport Society Members,
After a very unusual chilly Summer, it seems Autumn is already upon us. Perhaps we can hope for an Indian Summer!
However, best to start with the gloomy news! Members will be well aware in the numerous News Letters and requests over the past two years, for members to come forward to join and help a seriously depleted Executive Committee, which has struggled to work effectively without an Hon. Secretary, Social Secretary and Hon. Treasurer. These are vital posts for the effective running of your Executive Committee, and whilst it was hoped that these vacant posts would be filled during the last two AGM’s and Committee years, sadly this has not happened. Against this background, I hoped the membership will appreciate that as a consequence of their reluctance to join the Committee and fill the vacant posts, and/or help organise the monthly speakers talks, the monthly talks will be put on hold until such time that vacant Committee posts are filled, or a 2/3 Members get together to organise the monthly speakers meetings outside the framework of the Executive Committee! The announcement of this decision taken at our Executive Committee September meeting is extremely regrettable and has been taken with great reluctance.
Gosport & Portsmouth – ‘Treaty of Peace’
The Gods were looking down on us on the 1st September at Bastion No1, where we signed the long overdue ‘Treaty of Peace’ together with Portsmouth Society, the weather could not have been better.
All those who attended will agree, that it was a very successful event in promoting Gosport’s newly open space, a continuation of our involvement in the Gosport’s HAZ project in restoring the remains of the De Gomme’s Fortifications.
We were very pleased to be supported by The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, and our own Worshipful Mayor of Gosport, they certainly entered into the spirit of the day, the Worshipful Mayors speech being very entertaining. We give thanks to the Marquess of Winchester Regiment, who escorted our honoured guests into the Bastion, their colourful uniforms provided an effective display for the event.
The announcements made by the Town Crier, (Fiona The Town Crier of Petersfield) also made it a great occasion, folk on the ‘Round Tower’ could have possibly heard the announcements! We have had no complaints of not being able to hear the announcements!
Thank you to all those who contributed to donating to Gosport’s Mayor Appeal and the English Civil War Society, with encouragement from ‘The Mad Monk of Gosport’!
We handed over the donation buckets at the end of the event.
£84.00 being handed to The Mayors Appeal, and £90.06 to The English Civil War Society.
There is still landscaping to complete at the new ‘Public Open Space’, the Bastion could be such a tourist attraction, the removal of vegetation & trees has grown since the site was cleared. (Originally organised by Rob Harper the former GBC Conservation Officer.) We can only hope that GBC continue this work.
Gosport Society – Planning Matters.
At our May 2024 Executive Meeting, our Planning Team reported that GBC did not have a Policy for HMO Planning Applications. (Houses of Multiple Occupation)
Two GBC Councillors were present at our meeting, who requested our planning team to consult with GBC Officers. This meeting took place, and we are pleased to report that a GBC HMO Policy is to be introduced in conjunction with Environmental requirements.
Gosport Tourist Information Centre.
We have been advised that the Centre will be closing in a few weeks time, the Bus Station site being due for demolition.
As you are aware, the TIC has been an outlet for selling our Gosport Society Publications over the years, the outlet will be sorely missed.
Our final invoice has been issued to the TIC, the amount of £120.00 will be banked into Gosport Society’s account shortly.
Gosport Society’s – Publication Gosport – Gosport -Heritage & Conservation, launched in January 2022, we confirm we only have 5 copies remaining in stock. (Other copies available through online sales such as Amazon).
Gosport Society – New Web Page.
Further discussions took place at our September Executive Meeting, Chris Kerrison reported that a draft layout of proposals will be ready for approval by the next Executive meeting. It was appreciated what a mammoth task Chris has undertaken and offers of help were given.
RC to approach St. Vincents College, to ascertain if Gosport Society Records could be digitalised.
RH offered to assist with loading our Photo Archive & planning documents.
The project to update our Web Page has taken longer than expected, unfortunately our current web page remaining static. However, our Gosport Society FaceBook Page is regularly updated. (More photograghs of events can be seen).
Hampshire Archive Trust.
We regret you have not been informed of Online events Hampshire Archieves Trust have introduced in recent years, due to lack of communication.
We will be emailing those who are able to use this facility, separately to this newsleter.
Kind regards,
Richard Cook
Chairman Gosport Society 13th September 2024.