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Report of the CHAIRMAN of The Midhurst Society for last year 2018/2019

Dear Members,

There have been a number of highlights this last 12 months and in case you have not been closely following them here is a summary for you.

The climax was in January of this year when we invited Chichester District Councillor Tony Dignum and his wife Councillor Pam Dignum to the Memorial Hall to answer pre-submitted questions. This was following the decision to sell the Grange Development site to a care home developer. The news had caused uproar amongst residents across the whole town and it’s the first time one of our meetings had standing room only!

New website Harvey Tordoff working with an outside creative team put together a new website which he will be talking us through. Personally I am proud to share this with everyone I meet not to mention friends and family. See www.midhurstsociety.org.uk

Facebook This is a daily news sheet for many people in our town now, with contributions mainly by Harvey but with some other followers of which we have 450! Some ‘posts’ i.e news items have attracted as many as 2000 visitors namely the Grange development plan. Members often say to me “but I don’t do Facebook” -I tell them you don’t have to have an account-simply go to our website and click on the Facebook icon to go straight to our pages, -it really is worthwhile -but yes it can very easily become addictive, be warned!

Who are we and why are we here?

We DO have an answer to this eternal question- but as The Midhurst Society!

Over the year your Committee in developing its position in the community, has constantly examined the fundamentals of what drives us to further the interests of the Society. Basically it’s a belief in the founding principles of protecting and conserving the architecture and infrastructure of our town. It has developed into a still wider responsibility and that is to provide a voice for concerns on numerous planning issues that affect where and how we live and work. This is summarized on our website as follows:

“Local interest talks / discussions, Local Magazine, Commenting on planning, Supporting heritage groups, Promoting local interests, Liason with the National Park,Town and Parish Councils

To be on top of our game entails a lot of backroom discussion and research so we welcome all help either from new Committee members or simply those members who can help with ad hoc practical advice e.g. historical, local knowledge, planning, environmental expertise. We NEED your help to continue the good work, so please don’t hesitate even setting up the talks room/bar!

Midhurst Magazine

After tremendous efforts by both Editor Graham Tite and Sheila Ryan we decide to tackle the cost which was dominating our expenses. Fortunately one of our members Peter Sydenham -who launched his book ‘Midhurst WW2 Memoirs’ at last years AGM- showed us how we can dramatically reduce production costs and also offer a digital version so giving us the ability to cover a diverse number of interesting topics. Harvey Tordoff will be outlining this exciting new development for us and what it means in practical terms

Membership Fees Announcement

As a result of these savings, and given the recent increase in membership fees and the number of visitors and many kind donations, your Committee is delighted to announce that the entry fee of £3 to the talks charged to members will no longer be payable for the remainder of this year.

Talks Programme

Peter Shaw, our talks organizer, has as usual , provided us with an entertaining series of monthly talks, but is more than happy to hear YOUR ideas on potential speakers past and future!

New Members

We are welcome this year 29 new members who we look to as the future of the Society

Claire Cox

After six years on the Committee, Claire is now stepping down, and I thank her for her on-going support to me and the other Committee members. Could you help fill her shoes? Speak to Claire in the first instance if you prefer!

Yours sincerely,

Michael Balmforth

Chairman

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