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Mary Giles Alms Houses, London Street (2008)In 2008, the Society wrote to the Alms House Trustees requesting that the badly eroded plaque on the front of the Alms House should be replaced. Since the previous plaque was illegible the Society drafted the wording for the new plaque and contributed toward the cost of its installation.
View of the building and picture of the new plaque
Town Centre ToiletsWhen Sainsbury’s were first granted permission to open the supermarket in the centre of Chertsey the public were assured that a public toilet would be provided and indeed a toilet block was built near the petrol station. However, sadly in the last few years the toilets have suffered vandalism and Sainsbury’s have refused to allow the toilets to remain open. The Chertsey Society has lobbied RBC to either enforce the original agreement or take over the maintenance of the toilet block. Alternatively, RBC could make arrangements with other shops, halls, pubs or clubs to provide public conveniences and give financial compensation for the facilities. In December 2010, RBC granted Sainsbury’s planning permission to rebuild their petrol station kiosk without provision for public toilets.
Visitors to the town find it amazing that a
Territorial Army (2008)
To commemorate the Centenary of the formation of the Territorial Army, the Society proposed to RBC that the TA should be awarded the Freedom of the Borough. In addition, we organised a Special Service in April 2008 at St. Peter’s Church for the anniversary, together with a parade of WWII vehicles.
The parade and ceremony
"Freedom of the Borough" document
The Church Flagpole and Weather Vane (2008-2011)In December 2008, scaffolding was erected on the church tower roof to repair the flagpole.
Scaffolding on top of the church tower and the flagpole being worked on
The weather vane was removed for repainting and regilding which was undertaken by Malcolm Loveday and Chris McKay who had previously regilded the clock dials. 5th Chertsey Guides helped to repaint the Vane.
The newly gilded weather vane
The Chertsey Society used the balance of the Dorothy Everall memorial fund to cover the cost of the refurbishment. The cost of the scaffolding was met with a grant from SCC from Cllr Ray Lowther’s member’s allocation. It was due to be replaced on a reduced height pole as an interim measure, while funds were raised for a replacement flag pole but unfortunately in March 2009 the pole was deemed to be dangerous and not able to support the weather vane so it was cut down leaving the tower without the protection of the lightning conductor.
The sad remains of the old flagpole
Meanwhile an attempt is being made to raise £10,000 for a new pole and supports and their installation.
Malcolm Loveday with a fundraising display outside St Peter's Church
Christmas LightsIn 2005, the Society agreed to take on the responsibility of co-ordinating the town centre Christmas Lights when the Chertsey Chamber of Commerce no longer had the resources to undertake the task. Runnymede Borough Council have kindly provided a grant of up to £1,850 (2010) on the basis that matching funds are raised. White rope light spirals are fixed by RBC DSO to about 45 lamp posts in the town centre whilst angels are hung on the church parapet by the bell ringers.
The coloured rope lights on the yew trees outside the church have been put up by Peter Boast, Dorian Mead and Peter Gray. Over the past few years, additional financial contributions have been provided by Chertsey Rotary Club and the Black Cherry Fair Team, SCC Councillor’s allocations, local firms and private individuals together with those from the Society.
Society's ArchivesOver the years, the Society has accumulated a considerable archive of documents and photographs, mostly stored at the RAVS centre, in the Sainsbury’s Centre. Over the last couple of years or so we have been indexing and cataloguing the archive. Thanks are recorded to Thelma Lake, Malcolm Loveday, Margaret Nichols and Julie Osborne who are now about two thirds of the way through the task.
Thelma Lake & Julie Osborne shown alongside the archive store at RAVS
Other On-Going ActivitiesMembers continue to take an active part in representing the Society’s views on a number of local committees including:
The Society's 50th Anniversary Event at 'The Orchard'Approximately 70 members and guests attended the 50th Anniversary event held at 'The Orchard' on the evening of Monday, 29th November 2010.
The Orchard
Several founder members, former Chairman and Vice Chairman, former committee members, as well as the present Committee and officers celebrated the achievements of The Chertsey Society.
l.-r. ( standing): Malcolm Loveday
An illustrated review of the Society’s activities over the last 50 years was presented by the current Chairman, Malcolm Loveday. Mrs.Jocelyn Boater (Founder Secretary and Chairman, 1971) together with former Cllr Mrs Rosalind Wyke (Chairman 1967-1968) cut the anniversary cake which had been made by Mrs Mary Lowther (Secretary 1990 -2001).
Our former Secretary, Mary
l.-r.: Malcolm
The assembled company were enthralled by incredible magic tricks executed by Mr Brian Barnes, a member of The Magic Circle, and entertained by former Cllr Peter Anderson with monologues of King John and An Unquiet Spirit. In addition, we were fascinated by the aerial photographs of the area taken from an electric powered model aeroplane by Geoff Chapman and enjoyed the photographic quiz presented by former Vice Chairman, Victor Spink. Guests also had the opportunity to study a display prepared by Mrs Margaret Nichols of some of the Society’s archive materials.
Founder member Mrs
Typically in the last few years, about 200 local planning applications have been considered by the Committee of the Society each year and about 80 letters have been submitted to RBC annually expressing views to the planning committee. In addition, a further 120 letters / e-mails are sent on behalf of the Society on a wide variety of other matters.
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