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 In this Issue:
Chairman's Introduction
Society Business
Social Programme Reviews
Lecture Programme Reviews
CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION
Marianne writes:
The 2009 talks programme began with a wonderful evening with Frances Fyfield during which she explained to us how Deal has featured in, or crept into, her novels since she first came to live here. We have many further treats in store over the coming months. As I mentioned in my earlier letter, we will be serving wine at 7.00 pm before every talk. While we do not charge for the wine, we invite you to make a small contribution towards the cost.
The Society, thanks to the hard work of Robin Green and his Planning Committee, has featured regularly in the East Kent Mercury in calling for transparency in the decision-making process for the future of the Astor Theatre. In addition, the Committee has obtained a commitment from Kent Highways to ensure that existing paving stones are replaced with paving stones, not tarmac, in Conservation Areas. Robin and the Committee are now addressing once more the unsatisfactory one-way system at the end of King Street.
I am pleased to be able to tell you that the Executive Committee, recognizing the important work that he is carrying out on our behalf, unanimously agreed to appoint Robin as Vice-Chairman until the next AGM. He will be a great asset to the Society in this capacity and of great help to me personally, particularly as I shall be working in Fiji during the first part of November. While modern forms of communication make it very easy to keep in touch from any part of the world, I shall not be able to go round the corner to the Town Hall, should it be required.
Since I became Chairman, my major concern has been, as you will have seen in each issue of the Update, the continued running of the Society. It is clear that the Society meets the needs of its members insofar as we are going from strength to strength, constantly welcoming new members. Yet, we suffer from problems similar to those of other societies and organizations in getting members to volunteer to help with the on-going administration that is necessary for the smooth running of the Society. As a result of the questionnaire that was circulated at this time last year, we now have a band of volunteers who are willing to help serve drinks, write reports on our activities and deliver the News Update and other Society mailings. As mentioned by Ant below, there will be a number of vacancies on the Committee for the coming year as well as the need for an Editor for the Update, so please consider taking on any of these portfolios.
SOCIETY BUSINESS
Not just fireworks ….
…. but also best wishes to our President, Tim Lloyd, who celebrated his 80th birthday on 5 November.
Vice-Chairman
After a number of precarious years without a Vice-Chairman of the Executive Committee, Robin Green (Chairman of the Planning, Conservation and Development Committee) has kindly agreed to accept the post.
By way of introduction:
Robin Green was born in Sudbury Suffolk but his father's family hailed from Kent. After degrees at Leeds and Cambridge universities he became an Anglican priest; his first job was to set up the first centre for heroin addicts in Britain at St Martins in the Fields. After taking early retirement he set up Greencades with Ralph Cade, a business they brought to Deal in 2003 after 15 years in London.
More help is desperately needed
As you will have read in the July News Update, I am anxious to give up the editorship of this publication. Being Membership Secretary as well as administering the social and talks programmes is very time-consuming, and being Editor as well is one thing too many. To my delight, David Bridgen has kindly agreed to research and administer the talks programme, so that is one thing off my desk. Thank you, David.
But of greater significance and, indeed, cause for concern is the fact that at next April's AGM we shall lose the services of Wendy Madgwick, Committee Secretary, Ann Huntley, Treasurer and Pat Russell, Social Programme Researcher. We must find members to fill these three key posts in order to keep the Society running as we know it - please think long and hard as to whether you would be willing to help your already over-worked, and about to be short-staffed, Committee.
New members
Since the July News Update went to print, Sheila Folliss, Peter Kean, Anna Minihane, Alan and Christine Clarke, John and Tanya Spooner, Malcolm and Cynthia Barry, Andrew and Valerie Oxford and John and Anny Elms have joined the Society – welcome to you all.
Annual subscription for 2009
A reminder that the 2009 subscription becomes due on 1 January is enclosed. To avoid unnecessary programming in my database, the reminder indicates those who should heed it and those who should ignore it. I very much hope that you will renew your membership - we need you.
Christmas Drinks Party, Wednesday 17 December 2008
As we go print, the party is fully booked with 9 members on the reserve list. I shall be sending out the requests for payment soon. If you do not receive one, don't despair as we usually receive some cancellations.
2009 Social Programme
This year we have made considerable losses on a number of outings, due to members withdrawing their original applications. To put you in the picture, I send out the prospectus in February and ask for your applications to be returned to me in early March. It has to be this early, as I need to know the approximate numbers before I can cost out each event. This, in itself, is a complicated exercise, involving admission charges, catering, wine, coach hire, etc.
At a meeting held on 9 October, the Executive Committee recognised that the losses incurred this year were unacceptable and agreed that:
The applications made in March will be accompanied by a non-returnable deposit of £2.00 per person per event (the final cost of each event will reflect that the deposit has been paid by those taking up their original applications).
Gillies Coaches will provide a smaller 33-seater vehicle (except the larger 51-seater coach will be provided for City and Village Tours outings, where a minimum of 35 passengers is required).
PLANNING MATTERS
Robin Green, Vice-Chairman, writes:
The summer has been a busy time, with the future of the Astor Theatre at stake. Early on the Society established three principles: 1 - this old and valued building must be conserved for all age groups in Deal and Walmer, 2 - the Theatre needed to be run by a professional group of local people with a solid track record in arts management, and 3 - the process of selecting applicants to run it needed to be an open and transparent process by the Town and District Councils.
On 29 September Deal Town Council announced that Dover District Council was granting it a lease to oversee the Theatre and that it (DTC) was appointing Deal Arts Management, a group of local professional people, to run the Theatre.
We can be proud that the Deal Society kept this issue in the public eye. It was a very good example of what the Society can excel at as an independent voice in the town.
Minter's Yard has been under the scrutiny of the National Planning Inspectorate. As we go to press, the Inspector has just published his report. This will require very careful study and we will wait with bated breath to see how the District Council deals with it.
We have persisted with our attempts to persuade Kent Highways to see sense about the absurd road surface at the junction of King St. and Park St. They are now undertaking a survey to see if pedestrians and motorists are adjusting to the new scheme. If local government spent more time rectifying situations that local people and visitors with small children have told them are dangerous, and less time on surveys, we might feel that we lived in a more civilised society.
I have enjoyed the last few months immensely working on these issues. If you know of anyone who could contribute to these important concerns about the quality of life in our town, don’t hesitate to contact me.
SOCIAL PROGRAMME REVIEWS
9 July: Chatham Historic Dock Yard
Patti Townsend writes:
The weather was disappointing to say the least. Just one week prior there had been the hottest day of the summer. Unfortunately, for this outing a very dismal, grey and wet day of heavy continuous rain was forecast. Despite this, 27 intrepid Deal Society members were undeterred and made light of a “drop of rain” in true British spirit. Fortified with coffee and biscuits on arrival, and armed with macs and umbrellas, the tour began. The group was divided in two, each believing theirs to be the “A” team and the other the “B”. There were two designated guides, gentlemen in period costume, who cheerfully provided us with historic information on (a) buildings, architecture and purpose, (b) seasoning, storage and recycling of wood, (c) development of sailing ships through to steam-power and submarines and (d) the Ropery and it’s unique ? mile long building. It was helpful to have our questions answered and many nautical terms clarified, such as the derivation of “brass monkeys”.
Lunch was back at the Wheelwrights, after which the paddle steamer beckoned. We were much relieved to see tarpaulin covers in place on deck for protection from the inclement weather for the one and half hour Medway trip. Refreshments served “below” sustained the troops while coastal scenery glided by, viewed mostly through semi transparent plastic windows. Make no mistake, the weather was abysmal but the jolly sailors had a great time nonetheless. This was evident later on when the homeward bound coach was filled with tired but happy, smiley faces after a long day from 9am to 6.30pm. This was my first trip out with the Society, but what a great way to make new friends and spend time with people you like.
17 September: Dulwich Village and Art Gallery
Pat Russell writes:
What happened to the queue of members who initially applied for the trip to Dulwich Picture Gallery? We set off on the day with only 30 members and friends on board the coach. The ticket prices are calculated in advance, based on a nearly full coach. The Society had to pay for two guides in advance, when in the event only one was required. This resulted in the Society losing a tidy sum.
Autumn sunshine followed us for most of the day, and the long journey through diverse conurbations was worth it when we emerged into the green, suburban space of Dulwich. Our excellent coffee was taken in the Pavilion Café set in lovely Dulwich Park, after which we were free to explore, and have lunch, until time for our gallery tour.
A few of us found our way to the church of St Barnabas in the village. The original Victorian Gothic building was destroyed by fire in 1992, then in 1996 like a phoenix, rose the wonderful, spacious, colourful and very modern church, with an innovative glass spire and windows with vibrant bands of stained glass in medieval colours. The furniture and the central altar are all movable, to create space for concerts, workshops and general community projects. 300 people or more worship here every Sunday. It was a lovely find to add to our day.
Onto the Picture Gallery, which was, after all, the reason for our visit. A brief history of its inception is that in 1790 successful art dealers Noel Desefans and Sir Francis Bourgeois were commissioned by the King of Poland to form a Royal Collection, which took 5 years. When the King was forced to abdicate, the dealers were left with the collection. The Polish stock was sold off gradually and replaced with further important pieces. When Sir Francis Bourgeois died in 1811 (he survived Noel Desefans), he left the paintings to Dulwich College. Dulwich Picture Gallery, England’s first public art gallery, was founded.
The main gallery was designed by Sir John Soane, who created a sequence of arched spaces with roof- lanterns diffusing natural daylight, creating an even "wash" of light, ideal for viewing paintings, and simple arches and smooth coved vaults provide interest without fuss (a concept copied by many gallery designers, including the Sainsbury wing of the National Gallery). Over the years more galleries have been added to house donated pictures.
Thankfully we hadn’t lost anyone when the party gathered, ready for our guided tour. We split into two parties, and our very knowledgeable, charming guides took us on a magical journey, with humour and insight, into the lives of the artists and paintings; all recounted as if prepared just for us, as opposed to repeating some boring lecture given many times. Old Masters are in abundance in this wonderful collection of mostly European seventeenth and eighteenth century work, known as the "Age of Baroque". Italian, Spanish, French, Dutch and Flemish, and a great collection of English paintings are represented here. The collection has been hung by country and period. Guido Reni; Guercino; Murillo; Poussin; Gainsborough; Canaletto; Watteau; Rubens; van Dyck; Rembrandt; Pynacker; Reynolds - they are all here, with so many other wonderful artists. I cannot begin to convey the magnificence of this Gallery. Two temporary exhibitions were on - "What Are You Like?", self-revealing artworks by people in the public eye, and "Painting Family: The De Brays, Master Painters of 17th Century Holland", both fascinating in their own way, making it an eclectic mix of styles.
We had a long journey home, partly because of "operation stack" and the rush hour, but I think it was a lovely day, and most people enjoyed the experience.
15 October: "Hidden London"
Una Stanley writes:
Eight o'clock on a moist autumnal morning sees some 40 Society members and friends gathered in South Street for the last of this year's coach tours. We're off to explore parts of "Hidden London" and its one-time trade route, the Regent's Canal. As we await Mick, our favourite Gillies coach driver, a lady traveller tells us "I used to be a barmaid in my parents' pub in Camden Town and I'd like to see the old place again!". From the back of the group, a man's voice: "I'm looking forward to visiting my old hunting grounds". Wife: What were you hunting - girls?" No reply.
Displaying a Cockney-like knowledge of the highways and backways of London, Mick whisked us up to London Wall and the Museum of London to meet our guide and enjoy a jolt of coffee. As we emerged, we were able to admire Postman's Park and the nearby St Botolph's Church. It was here that a certain John Watt suggested, at the time of Queen Victoria's Jubilee, that a monument be built to celebrate the courage and good works of the ordinary people of London. Spurned, he built it himself, and his commemorative wall recently featured prominently in the film "Closer".
It was at this point that things turned a bit bloody. As we were led through a maze of narrow streets and alleyways, it was not difficult to imagine the dark deeds that occurred there in times past. As we were, after all, heading for Newgate, site of the infamous prison and the place where sinners (and no doubt a few saints) were hung, drawn and quartered. Moreover, the place is overlooked by St Bartholemew's, London's oldest hospital, which was functioning long before the discovery of anaesthetics. Also close by is Smithfield, the meat market.
Of particular relevance to our party was the fact that St Bart's was "home" to William Harvey, who was principal physician there for 35 years until 1644. Regarded as the founder of experimental medicine, he discovered the circulation of blood in relation to the heart and other organs. In recognition of his work, he was appointed Physician Extraordinary to King James I and later to Charles I. Born in Folkestone in 1578, he lived to the (then) extraordinary age of 79 but never forgot his roots, leaving money in his will for the founding of the Harvey Grammar School that thrives to this day. And. of course, his money is further enshrined in the name of Ashford's hospital. The whole of Smithfield is steeped in historical and artistic interest. Hogarth painted the church murals; Charterhouse School was founded in the Carthusian Priory; John Betjeman adored the area; an art deco block of flats is immediately recognisable as the fictional home of Hercule Poirot - Horace Jones, creator of the "Tower of London" was a resident. The story is endless and, thankfully, the City of London has put up £70m for refurbishment and preservation of this piece of "Hidden London".
On to a good lunch at the Barbican. This 85 acre site was cleared by Hermann Goering in the 40's, and the present complex built in the 70's. While the architecture has attracted much criticism. the area is home to several thousand people and contains a huge and invaluable arts complex with cinema, theatre, concert hall. conference facilities and exhibition spaces.
Back to the ever-patient Mick and on to Camden Lock, where an old Thames barge awaited us. Camden was popular with the Bloomsbury Set, who "lived in squares, loved in triangles and talked in circles". Today it is decidedly hip, home to the modern music fraternity, which perhaps accounts for the wide variety of pashminas on sale in the market. Despite the fine rain, a number of them found their way home to Deal. Our canal voyage took us through Regent's Park, past a bit of the Zoo (we only saw a warthog) and by Snowdon's aviary. The towpath, that once was the preserve of barge horses, now affords much pleasure to urban cyclists and walkers and takes them past some very beautiful Classic-style mansions, together with a fleet of house boats and cruisers of all sorts and sizes, in various states of repair. After 50 delightful minutes we berthed in the aptly-named Little Venice, a lagoon bordered by elegant and eye-wateringly costly Regency homes.
Then it was time to return to our own, rather more modest addresses.
TALKS PROGRAMME REVIEWS
7 October: Frances Fyfield "The Dealer's Hand"
Pog Waite writes:
How many times have you heard someone say of Deal “I felt I had come home”? We heard it at our October meeting from Frances Fyfield, whose book “Blood from Stone” has won the Duncan Lawrie Dagger for the best crime novel of 2008.
“My gratitude to Deal is boundless. I feel I have a home for the first time in my life: coming to Deal was a catalyst for me. To write about Deal, to be in it when writing, well in my last five books it creeps in without my realising it. Plus the sound of the sea really helps me to write, and I love writing about the sea.”
To show us how she uses places in her writing, Frankie read the first two pages of “Undercurrents” which describe an arrival in a seaside town which is really Deal in a winter storm. As she read, we knew she had been there, done that! The same is true of a later passage in the same book which tells of a walk around the moat-level passages of the town’s castle. I bet I wasn’t the only one with the cold shiver of memory.
Frankie calls herself a “storyteller”. She finds “novelist” pretentious. She loves stories and always wanted to tell them, but a career as a lawyer appearing for the Crown meant her task was to present the truth - “to make the truth wear its best clothes”. That was frustrating for a storyteller; her desire was to dress it up, but an honest lawyer cannot be a storyteller.
Eventually the storyteller prevailed and she wrote a romance. She said she was bored by it, and a publisher paralysed! So she began writing about what she knew, and she knew MURDER! She knew the modus operandi, she understood motives; she heard the stories, backgrounds and theories from police, pathologists, victims’ relatives, and the gallows humour that keeps such people sane.
So an incident, a place, characters, situations - Frankie knows when they will end up in a book, even if she doesn’t yet know where. She gets to know her characters, sometimes ending up with sympathy, even liking, for the evil ones, just as in real life. They make the story; she does not have it off pat. She will begin with a situation, a character, a scene to come in later, finding a reason to write about what she wants to write about. For Frankie the only real ingredient for a novel is suspense and for her she creates “true novels of suspense because even the author doesn’t know”! She strives for “the sense of grief at the end of a really good book”. She is passionate about the value of stories; as a child she began to learn because someone told her a story.
We should honour Deal’s wonderful library. We need stories, and Frankie's come from being interested in people. One of the questions put to her concerned discipline in writing. “It has to be there,” she said, “but avoidance techniques mean that I have even cleaned the kitchen floor, rather than write.” Her main spur is guilt and wanting to know what happens, because she lives and breathes her characters and their motives - be they fear, anger, lust, greed or the redeeming power of love.
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