News for Spring 2008

Our President on location!

20/20 vision members will spot our President, Rosalys Coope, second from the right in this picture! She was caught on camera at the Tercentenary Dinner of the Society of Antiquaries, held at Armoury House, London, the headquarters of the Honourable Artillery Company, on December 5 last year. In the centre of the picture is the President, Geoff Wainwright (wearing medallion), and just left of centre the guest speaker, Sir Simon Jenkins. Members won’t be surprised to see Rosalys is flanked by gentlemen, including Professor Maurice Howard (two to her right), and Professor Eric Fernie on her left.

OBITUARY: Geoffrey Mein

Geoffrey, who was a life member, died recently. In his younger days he was associated with the archaeological work of the Society. Subsequently he moved away from the area to live at Usk, in Wales, but he retained an interest in the Society. In 1996 he unearthed his Society tie and attended the Annual Lunch at Southwell. At that time he had already been a member for more than half a century. A photograph of Geoffrey, with our chairman, was published in the Centenary booklet in 1997 (p32). A funeral and memorial service was held in Usk on 1 March.

Annual General Meeting – Norwell, 26 April 2008

This year's AGM will be held in Norwell Village Hall, a relatively new building with full facilities. There will be a chance to visit the church, and to learn more about, and perhaps go on, the recently recreated Heritage Trail. Norwell has an active Heritage group, and a great deal of effort is going into researching and writing the village's history (see page 6 of Newsletter  No 50 for more information). We should find out more on the day – but if you would like to learn more about the church in advance of the meeting, you can check Norwell’s entry on the following website: http://southwellchurches.nottingham.ac.uk/n12/index.html. Papers for the business meeting will be circulated to members under separate cover.

GEOFFREY BOND, OBE
Another of our life members, Mr Geoffrey Bond of Southwell, was appointed OBE in the New Year Honours for his services to heritage. He is Chairman of Papplewick Pumping Station, and Deputy Chair of the Museum of Law and the National Centre for Citizenship and the Law. Geoffrey also has many roles further afield, and members will recall his talk to the Annual Lunch following the year that he spent as Sheriff of London in 2003-4. He is currently chairman of MLA London, the strategic regional development agency for museums, libraries and archives. He is also, of course, a great Byronist.