CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION
Robin writes:

One of the many delights of the Spring Drinks Party was meeting one of our new members. She is the granddaughter of Charles Vyse, one of the people who sent the letter to The Times in 1947 about the threats to the architecture of Deal. It reminded me how important the three words.”Past, Present, and Future” are in the title of our Society. By understanding the history of our community, we develop that strong sense of belonging to, and responsibility for, our neighbourhood in the present. That in turn has far reaching effects on a whole range of priorities in the future. By understanding our past, we change our future.

At the Society's AGM on Tuesday April 7 2009 Robin Green was elected as the new Chairman of the Deal Society. When Robin lived in London he fought a 4 year battle against the destruction of a historic part of south west London by property developers. He is passionate about the protection of our historic and natural environment and for the last year has been the Chair of the Society's Planning,Conservation and Development Committee. In that year he has helped to formulate the Society's response to the Local Development Framework, the future of the Astor Theatre and the blight that would be caused by the Minters Yard development. He has also served as a coopted member of the Deal Town Council Planning Committee.

At the same meeting Carol Burns was elected as the Secretary and David Bridgen as the Treasurer. Until her recent retirement Carol was the secretary to a special needs school in south east London for 25 years. She has now moved permanently to Deal where she and her husband had a holiday home for 10 years. David is an East Kent business man and has organised the Society's lecture programme for the last year,a task which he has agreed to continue as well as looking after the Society's finances.

At the AGM Robin Green paid tribute to the retiring Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer speaking about their exceptional gifts that they had put to the service of the Society.

In this issue:

Report Of The Chairman And Committee

Sub-Committee On Planning, Conservation And Development

Talks And Social Programme

Society Business

Social Programme 2009

Social Programme Reviews

Talks Programme Reviews

In this Issue:

Chairman's Introduction
Society Business
Social Programme Reviews
Lecture Programme Reviews