What we do

• monitor proposed building and other development plans in Beaconsfield
• present views to South Bucks District Council
• act as a successful pressure group when the need arises
• organise the annual Beaconsfield Awareness Day
• plant trees
• arrange meetings and lectures on topics of interest to the membership
• present yearly awards for the Outstanding Citizen and Best New Building
• issue a newsletter three times a year to members
• organise a Heritage Day event every year (members only) offering access to local sites and local places of interest such as Hall Barn and Wilton Park that are not normally open to the public

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Proposed events for  our 2006 PROGRAMME 

** AWARENESS DAY** on 10 June. For a summary and photographs of the event, please click on the Awareness Day tab. 

a) A visit to the Film School in June [now booked; see April Newsletter]

b) A visit to Woodrow High House in September to mark Heritage Day

                    ++++++ WEDNESDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER 2007 ++++++

                               Guided Visit to Woodrow High House

                            A National Heritage Day Event for Members

Woodrow High House was Oliver Cromwell's home during part of the Civil War. It is located on the north side of the High Wycombe-to-Amersham road, opposte Penn Street.

As we advised you in the last Newsletter, we have arranged for Mr Roy Hickman to give us a guided tour of the house in the morning of this day.

We propose to meet at the house at 10.30 a.m. when we shall be provided with mid-morning refreshments [Tea and Biscuits].

The tour will start at about 11 a.m. and take just over one hour.

It has been suggested that we then cross the main road into Penn Street and gather in The Hit Or Miss pub to take a bar or restaurant lunch.

We already have some bookings and numbers are limited.

Bookings will be taken on a 'first come first served' basis.

PLEASE CONTACT MICHAEL HARRISION TO BOOK PLACES BEFORE 22 AUGUST. 

Telephone 01494-677024 or e-mail dmharriuk@aol.com

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                              NEWS FROM "THE CIVIC TRUST"


 
Grass Roots Online


News from the Membership Services Team August 2007



Dear Michael Harrison,  
This fortnight's newsletter features loads of opportunities to get involved with improving and recognising the built environment.  Your society could contribute to a forthcoming edition of Tonight with Trevor McDonald, take the Clone Town Survey from the New Economics Foundation and enter a superb building for the Georgian Group Architectural Awards.  Also read Dr Kevin Grady's, director of the Leeds Civic Trust, report from the Green Flag Awards.
Civic Societies in the NewsScarborough Civic Society encourages tourists to 'Step Out' Skipton Civic Society object to contreversial Children Centre Plans Local Government Ombudsman rules in favour of Selby Civic Society.  
Your Society on the News!Tonight with Trevor McDonald is making an appeal for your stories of significant old buildings that have been ignored.  The programme needs examples of important buildings in a state of disrepair and which face possible demolition due to lack of investment.  The producer wants to feature residential properties or properties with the potential to become residences in an areas where developers/council have invested millions in redevelopment. Why, when property is at a premium are such buildings left in decay.  Perhaps you know of a building standing in the way of a development that is ear-marked for demolition?    With a boom in the property market many old properties are being knocked down or ignored in favour of new build - have you got a good example of this?    Please contact Katie Faulkner (kfaulkner@civictrust.org.uk) with your examples 

Membership AnnouncementsDo you live in a Clone Town? Take the New Economics Foundation survey to find out. The Georgian Group Archictectural Awards 2007 Are there any Georgian restoration projects in your area that deserve recognition? Click here to find out more. Pictured below is one of last years winners, the redevelopment of the Brewhouse and Clarence Building in Plymouth. Find out how your local council performed in the Local Environment Quality Survey here.
Green Flag Awards at Leeds Royal Armouries.The 2007 Green Flag Award ceremony took place on 26th of July. The event was hosted by Leeds City Council. Representatives from the Yorkshire and Humbershide Amenities Societies Association and Leeds Civic Trust were there to represent Civic Societies, including Dr. Kevin Grady, Director of the Leeds Civic Trust:  "The entertaining Green Flag Awards evening gave us the opportunity to welcome members of other Civic Societies to the green city of Leeds and to learn about the work being done all over the country to improve valuable green spaces. The evening had a real buzz with wonderful music from the Yorkshire Evening Post Brass Band and a dazzling display from the Zulu Nation dancers in thanks for Leeds City Council's partnership on their Durban allotment project." For more information on the Green Flag Award Scheme, click here.
Forthcoming Civic Society EventsJust a small selection from the rich and varied programme of events offered by Civic Societies around the country this month.   7th August - A Costumed walk around Ramsgate with Ramsgate Civic Society 11th August - Otter Valley Association offer a pleasant country walk around East Budleigh. 11th August -  Herne Hill Society present a town trail witha literary theme.  16th August - Didsbury Civic Society are off to Buxton Opera House to enjoy a spot of Gilbert and Sullivan. 21st August - Wakefield Civic Society launch their new publication City of Spires, Towers and Turrets at Wakefield Cathedral at 10.30 and then unveil their 30th Blue Plaque, outside the Wakefield Museum at 1.30. If you are tempted by any of these events and want to know more please contact Katie Faulkner (kfaulkner@civictrust.org.uk) for further details.


The Civic Trust is an independent, national organisation with charitable status. It is the umbrella body for over 800 civic societies, representing over 250,000 individuals committed to improving and caring for places where people live and work.
Sincerely, 
Katie Faulkner Membership Services Manager 



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To give visitors to the site an idea of the type of activities we plan, previous programmes are shown below: 

Programme for 2005

Sunday 24th April 2005
Old Town Walk
Old Town Reading Rooms, 2.00 p.m. 
            Dick Smith, our Town Crier, will lead us on an amazing and amusing walk with tales of history and boyhood, along another "end" of the Old Town.  The walk will be followed by tea and biscuits in the Reading Room.  If you wish to join  us and are not a member, but are considering joining, then email us at info@beaconsfieldsociety.org.uk* 

Thursday 19th May 2005 'SID'
Various Locations Around The Town
            A day with SID (Speed Indicator Device).  As last year we will be manning this device at selected sites around Beaconsfield on the day to remind motorist of the speed limits.  Volunteers needed to watch over the equipment.  Send us an email at info@beaconsfieldsociety.org.uk if you are interested.

 Saturday 11th June 2005
Beaconsfield Awareness Day
Town Green, 10.30 a.m.  to 1.30 p.m. 
            This is the 13th year that your Society has co-ordinated this shop window event at which some 50 local organisations will present to local people, opportunities to volunteer, give of skills, try new activities and meet new friends. 

Past Events in 2004/2005

Wednesday 12 January 8 pm at the Town Hall

Chiltern District Council Strategy Planning talk. see Newsletter for outcome.

Tuesday 30 November 10am Town Hall/ Council Green

Litter blitz morning. See Newsletter for outcome

Thursday 11th November 2004, 8 pm, Annual General Meeting in the Council Chamber, Town Hall 

The meeting was opened by John Gorton, the President of the Society. He welcomed the members and the speaker Saskia Hallam of the Civic Trust. John noted that changes were foreseen in local government which would reduce accountability at a local level. There was, therefore, a strong need for vibrant civic societies to influence local authority decisions. 

Chairman Les Davies reported that the Society was in good heart and had capitalised on changes made in the year. The society is recognised as the premier amenity society in the Town.  

A survey of residents views on planning issues which was held last year has been used in responding to planning applications from South Bucks and Chiltern District Councils. It has also been used to provide input of local opinion into the new development documents used by both district councils and in responses to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Society held a number of events for members which were well supported.

The Society hosted the AGM of the Association of North Thames Amenity Societies (ANTAS) where nineteen representatives met to discuss issues and share best practice.

A meeting of local groups in Beaconsfield interested in the fabric of the Town was organised and hosted by the Society.

The Trees and Town Group has now been merged in as a section of the Society.

Members, with due authority, have been active in removing illegal developers roadside signs.

The annual Awareness Day was a great success and a flagship event in the Town.

Membership has been declining and costs increasing. The committee will work to increase the membership but recommends increasing the subscription to £10 per household. 

Les Davies was required by the constitution to stand down as Chairman.

The following were elected to be the officers for the year 2005-2006:

Chairman                    David Davies

Vice Chairman            Les Davies

Hon. Treasurer            Nick Harrandell

Hon. Secretary            Michael Harrison

Committee members    Jackie Dawes, Alan Green, Doug Manocha, Shirley Scrivener. 

Each year the Society presents awards to the Outstanding Citizen and for the Outstanding Building of the year. After due consideration the Committee felt that none of the new buildings had the "Outstanding" quality and that the award would not be made this year.

There were a number of candidates proposed for the Outstanding Citizen and it was unanimously agreed that the award should go to John Page. 

The meeting concluded and was followed by a very informative description of the work of the Civic Trust and the way that it works with local amenity societies to give support at national level. The talk was given by Saskia Hallam, Head of Civic Societies at The Civic Trust. 

Award for the Outstanding Citizen - 2004 

The award was presented to John Page. 

John has dedicated much of his time, freely given over many years, to the people of Beaconsfield. He has been a very influential as a County Councillor, a School Governor, Chairman of the Curzon Centre, an active Rotarian, a Sidesman and with the Red Cross. 

 He was presented with a framed certificate by the retiring Chairman, Les Davies.

The speaker, Saskia Hallam – Head of Civic Societies at The Civic Trust, gave a talk on her subject  “The Civic Trust” . There was wine after the talk. 

Sunday 1st August, 2 pm Old Town Walk

The Old Town Walk was well attended and a success and Mr Dick Smith the Town Crier lead the party. Thanks to Jackie for organising it and making the tea.

Saturday 18th September, 2004 Bulstrode Park

The Heritage visit to Bulstrode Park also was a great success with 27 members. Thanks to Jackie for stepping in to organise this one. 

Past Events in 2003     

Sunday September 14th 2003 Heritage Day Visit.

The Beaconsfield Society held its annual Heritage Day on Sunday 14th September. Members spent the morning underground in the now decommissioned Civil Defence Bunker, which lies beneath the Magistrates Court in the Old Town. 

Dai Brogden, who is responsible for maintaining the site for the County Council, gave us a guided tour. 

The bunker was originally conceived to be the local command centre in the event of nuclear war. Detailed plans for the running to the facility had been devised in the event of an attack, providing the enemy had given a few day warning in order for it to be stocked up first!   

The site is now used as a base for Rainet, a national network of radio enthusiasts and the Bucks Search and Rescue Team. As a bonus for us, Louise Holmes, from Bucks Search and Rescue was available to speak to the group and provided us with a great insight into their work and the valuable voluntary support they give to the emergency services in finding missing persons across the South East. We had a thoroughly enjoyable and stimulating visit to a hidden part of the Town.

If you wish to know more about the underground sites go to http://www.subbrit.org.uk/

Saturday, 4th October, 10am, Litter collection session

A big thank you to the seven members of The Beaconsfield Society who turned out on the day for our second Beaconsfield Litter Blitz morning. 

Thirty two sacks of rubbish, a car tyre and wheel, a roadworks cone, two wheel trims, three shopping trolleys and two office chairs were collected in just a couple of hours and disposed of by Biffa.  The areas covered were Seeleys Walk, the station approaches, Waitrose car park fringe and the footpath from Kiln Court in Holtspur to Hampden Hill. 

The attendance on the day was disappointing as at least twice as many sacks of rubbish could have been collected with more help.  Does it really mean that the other 9,000 plus residents of Beaconsfield are not interested in the appearance of the town?  Your Society will persevere! 

David Davies

Thursday, 16th October, 8 pm at the Town Hall Beaconsfield.

"Patients and Public in a changing NHS" -  A presentation to find out how today's NHS is changing and how you can get involved as a member of the public or as a patient by Leslie  Malinder of the Chilternand South Bucks Primary Care Trust talk to members of the Beaconsfield Society on"Patients and Public in a changing NHS". 

Thursday November 13th, 8 pm, Annual General Meeting in the Council Chamber, Town Hall

The AGM was held on 13th November in the Town Hall and about 40 members attended.  Chairman Les Davies introduced his remarks by defining the special character of The Beaconsfield Society and its differences from single issue pressure groups.  His report gave details of a successful year and a varied programme of activities.  The only disappointing note was the somewhat low turnout at a few of the events.  He noted that the membership had requested extra events at meetings at several AGMs in recent years.  Further events have been organised and he hoped that members would respond positively. 

The following were elected as officers for 2003-04:

Chairman:  Les Davies

Deputy Chairman:  David Davies

Treasurer:  Nick Harrandell

Committee:  Michael Harrison ; Jonathan Steel ; Peter Richards 

There was a general invitation for additional nominations to the committee, but there was no response at the meeting.  It was noted that two women committee members had retired and it was hoped that women members might seek co-option during the coming year. 

The Society’s annual awards were presented.  The Best new Building award went to Hughes Garage and was accepted by sales director Simon Egg.  The Outstanding Citizen 2003 award went to Jacqui Dawes for her work with BOTRA, the Horticultural Society and the Trees and Town Group. More details below. 

The formal business continued with a well-received talk by David Shakespeare, leader of Bucks County Council who gave his audience some fascinating insights into the implications of regional policy for out town and its surroundings.  The evening concluded with refreshments and the opportunity for members to exchange news and views.  

Award for The Outstanding Citizen - 2003

The Outstanding Citizen was awarded to Jacqui Dawes.

Jacqui was chairman of BOTRA for many years. With her husband she ran the Beaconsfield Horticultural Society. They plant and maintain the tubs on the Green in Windsor End behind the War Memorial and still find time to have an impressive flower display in their own garden in Hedgerley Lane. 

Jacqui is also a member of Trees and Town and represents the Old Town at meetings with the Showman's Guild over May fair Day.

A photograph of the Chairman, Les Davies thanking Jacqui Dawes on behalf of the Town and awarding the framed certificate is attached.

Award for The Best New Building in Beaconsfield - 2003

The best new building was awarded to Hughes of Beaconsfield. This is on the grounds that:
1. It is a modern well constructed and designed commercial building to house a car showroom and offices, which is less obtrusive than the previous one, yet blends in well. The combination of brick and aluminium with balconies at the front on the first and second floors give it a modern European look.
2. The inside of the car showroom and waiting area are light and pleasant for both employees and customers.  .
3. The mainly open plan offices on the first floor have a large central glass roof and this results in a quadrangle on the top floor and is a greatly improved place to work.

The award was made by the Chairman Les Davies to Simon Eggs, After Sales Director.

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Saturday 12th June Awareness Day .. please go to section