THE NORTH HAMPSHIRE NATIONAL TRUST CENTRE

Founded in 1985 to promote and prosper the work of the National Trust

NEWSLETTER

Tapestries in The Vyne being restored

Issue 68 – Spring 2019

OUR WEBSITE:

www.northhampshirentc.moonfruit.com

The Vyne tapestries

The legacy of the greatest tapestry weaver of his time,

John Vanderbank,six 18th century ‘chinoiserie’ tapestries urgently need conservation work to preserve them for future generations. The historic repairs have begun to fail and the tapestries’ backings have warped, putting strain on the fragile fabric. The result of historic exchanges between the East and Europe, the tapestries depict the East through the romanticised, exaggerated lens of the European explorer. The tapestries chart a significant historic chapter in the development of today’s globalised world.Ahead of extensive conservation work, the tapestries have already made a 291 mile journey to Belgium to be cleaned. A process known as ‘wet cleaning’ saw each tapestry laid out on a suction table and sprayed with a mist, mixed with mild detergent which was drawn through the historic fabric. Now back in the UK, the tapestries need meticulous care to secure their future.

The project is costing £381,744, of which we have secured most of the funding, with only £10,000 left to ensure the conservation project is completed. This sum would clean, conserve and prepare the hanging space for the smallest tapestry, which is a metre square.

The Trust’s primary aim is to stabilise the tapestries at The Vyne, to improve their appearance and secure and support their woven structure. By doing this work we will ensure the tapestries’ future for future generations to enjoy.

CONTENTS

The Vyne’s tapestries

Chairman’s Letter

Membership Secretary and Publicity Officer

Property Manager’s Report

How to book your tickets

AGM agenda

Coach boarding points

Notes from the Events Committee

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

Octavia Hill and the origin of the National Trust

Aide Memoire for your Diary

Many thanks to the National Trust for the cover photograph

Newsletter printed by YESPRINTwww.yesprint.co.uk

THE NORTH HAMPSHIRE NATIONAL TRUST CENTRE

NEWSLETTER

CHAIRMAN’S LETTER

Dear Centre membersHaving had the privilege to be Chairman of the NHNTC for the past fourteen years, this will be my last Chairman’s letter before becoming an ordinary committee member at our AGM in April. There have been many memorable moments and I am now racking my brains to recall a few that stand out. At the top of the list must be the committee members that have given so much of themselves over that time and the support that all members have given to our efforts and events. On the occasions when we have invited you to bring your friends and relatives to our publicity and recruitment drives you have always obliged. You have also come to our talks and booked into our away days. I can barely remember an event which had to be cancelled because numbers were too low. We have set standards for quality, interest and variety over that period. With your support, we have also been able to raise funds for special National Trust projects, many of which have been at The Vyne. We have given donations to a number of recent National Trust purchases including: the White Cliffs of Dover appeal; Nuffield House purchase; the flood relief appeal in The Lake District and the appeal for support for the Clandon House rebuild. We shall, of course, continue to support new projects in the future. Over the years we have broadened the scope of our days out and widened our range of speaker topics. As an example, in February we have the opportunity to listen to a renowned international harpist, Margaret Watson, when she brings her golden harp to the Elizabeth Hall to perform a special concert for us.Now, once more we need your help. Somewhere out there is our next Chairman and we need to find that person now. I had planned to step down last April but, since Julie was terminally ill, it was agreed that I should stay on for a further twelve months.

Now I must stop and hand the reins to another, younger, person. I would like to remain on the committee, partly in order to be around to help but also because I still wish to be involved – as long as I will not be in the way. We also need your assistance in finding members who are willing to join the Events Committee. Trish Brooker took over as Chairman when Julie had to take a back seat, but we definitely require at least two new members to come and share the load. It is not too onerous and you will gain from your involvement as much as you put into the role. So, Trish and I look forward to hearing from you…meanwhile I wish you all the best for 2019.

Paddy Mendham

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARYNORMA MORGAN

It’s that time of year again!...Subscription renewal is due on 1 April.

Those of you on standing order need do nothing, whereas those who still pay by cash or cheque will need to pay £8 (or £13 for two members at the same address) by the AGM, AT THE LATEST, or to my postal address at:

23 Bow Street, Alton GU34 1NYPLEASE REMEMBER THAT BOOKING FORMS WILL NOT BE

AVAILABLE UNTIL SUBSCRIPTONS ARE PAID. We do especially appeal to those paying by cash or

cheque to consider transferring to standing order. If nothing else, this would make my life much easier! An appropriate form is circulated with the Newsletter.

Would those of you with an email address that we do not yet have on file, please send me an email on normamorgan@btinternet.com - it can be a very useful way of communicating with you quickly.

Would anyone who has not given us specific permission to store their data – just for the routine operation of the Centre – please make sure you do so. No details will ever be disclosed to any third party.

PUBLICITY SECRETARYANNIS MENDHAM

For the past few months I have been sitting at the door of Elizabeth Hall, along with Brenda and Maurice, our doorkeepers. It has been a delight to see the enthusiasm with which members arrive for the meeting, as well as an opportunity to hand a copy of our brochure to visitors.Our numbers are remaining quite constant and Norma reports receiving seven applications since our last talk in 2018. Thanks to all of you who have diligently brought a visitor with you to sample a NHNTC meeting and to Jean and Maureen, who organise the team that supplies us with tea and cake.We are planning to hold another special recruitment occasion later this year – to which we shall encourage you to bring a friend. There will be more about this in the next Newsletter.Meanwhile, your committee thanks you for your support and we hope that you will continue to enjoy the outings and talks advertised later in this Newsletter.

PROPERTY MANAGER’S PAGESTUART MAUGHAN

A lot has happened since I last wrote in the summer. The new house offer was launched at the beginning of September, including relocation of the visitor entrance and opening up several new rooms in the house. We have seen an increase in visitors recently, as people have been drawn back to view parts of the house that were closed down for two years during the roof project – including the Oak Gallery, Library and the bedrooms. All of the rooms in the house have been represented, using watercolours from the 1850s as a guide, and we are now telling the story of Wiggett Chute and his sister, Caroline, who had differing experiences in the 19th

Century at The Vyne while they were here, with Wiggett inheriting The Vyne and Caroline being adopted into the family at an earlier time. The two newly-opened rooms are being used as an exhibition space where we are currently telling the story of the roof project – which will remain until the summer.The collection is now all back in the house, with the exception of the library books, which have to be thoroughly checked before they can be put back onto the shelves – yes, all 2,417 of them! We are expecting this to take another three months to complete. In the meantime, visitors can see the conservation works taking place when they visit the library.We have been very fortunate to have had several excellent media opportunities recently, aided by the exciting story of putting the house back after the roof project. As well as appearing on the BBC Inside Out programme in early October, we have featured in the Sunday Telegraph and the Guardian newspapers. This all helps with getting the message out to people that we are fully open and have new compelling stories to share with our visitors.The final aspects of the roof project are now finished, mainly the re-instatement of the grounds and gardens that were damaged by the scaffolding and builders’ compound. It will take several months for the grass to grow through, but we are hoping to be able to take down the barriers by Easter and finally the property will be back to ‘normal’.If you have not been down to see our new house offer then please do – it has really given the property a new lease of life and it looks fantastic.Finally, it is with great sadness that I learn that Paddy will be stepping down in the Spring, having been the Chairman since I started here at The Vyne (and of course, a lot longer before that). Paddy has been such a great support and an amazing advocate for the property and it will be sad to see him go, although he will be

continuing to organise the programme of talks. I am sure, however, that whoever fills his shoes as Chairman will continue to build on the success that Paddy has brought to the Centre.Thank you, as always, to my local Centre for all of your support – it is very much appreciated

Stuart Maughan

HOW TO BOOK YOUR TICKETS PLEASE READ THESE NOTES CAREFULLY IN ORDER TO

EXPEDITE THE BOOKING PROCESS AND MINIMISE DELAYS

[PLEASE NOTE THAT TICKETS ARE NOT NORMALLY SENT OUT UNTIL 4/5 WEEKS AFTER THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE NEWSLETTER.]

A standard size stamped addressed envelope MUST accompany any correspondence with a committee member

if a reply is required.

As the tickets are now in a smaller format, the SAE required should be an ordinary envelope with standard postage.

Applications for tickets must be made on the official booking forms provided.

Completed booking forms should be sent to the Bookings Secretary at the address given with the list of committee members (see page 1).

Booking forms are despatched to members in the Spring after they have paid their annual subscription. In the autumn they are sent out with the Newsletter to paid-up members.

The forms are processed strictly in order of receipt.

Unless the trips overlap two Newsletters, tickets are normally despatched approximately 4-5 weeks after the Newsletter distribution meeting.

Sometimes an Organiser will need to receive the booking forms direct. The booking form will state this and will be

printed on coloured paper. Sending these forms to the Secretary will delay receipt of your application and lower your place in the order of priority.

There is a higher charge for non-members and friends attending events.

Non-members will be placed on a waiting list during the initial booking period until it becomes clear that all members wishing to participate are able to do so.If spaces are still available just before the tickets are despatched, non-members and friends will be allocated places and be very welcome.

HOW TO BOOK YOUR TICKETS (cont.)

Once an event is fully booked, a waiting list is maintained, in order of receipt of booking form. You must tick the box requesting to be placed on a waiting list. A ‘waiting list ticket’ will be issued stating the position on the waiting list. If you wish to withdraw from a waiting list you must inform the Bookings Secretary and/or Organiser.

Please indicate on the booking form the boarding point to be used. Should it be necessary to change this, the Organiser must be informed. If those whose applications are submitted on one form wish to use different boarding points please indicate very clearly on the form.

If you are unable to use your allocated place(s), you must inform the Bookings Secretary and/or Organiser as soon as possible. If there is a waiting list, you will be informed of the person(s) you should sell your ticket(s) to. This is a private transaction between individuals and the Centre plays no part.

If you are on a waiting list and a place becomes available, the Organiser will contact you to ask if you still wish to

participate. You will be told from whom you can buy your ticket. The transaction is between individuals and the Centre plays no part.

If you are unable to use tickets and there is no waiting list you may sell them to a friend who may or may not be a member of the Centre. You must notify the Organiser of the name, address and telephone number of such people in case arrangements are changed at the last minute.

Partial REFUNDS can ONLY be made where costs have not been incurred by the Centre. Refunds of fixed costs, e.g. coach hire, CANNOT be made.

THERE IS AN AGE LIMIT ON THE NATIONAL TRUST INSURANCE, SO MEMBERS WHO ARE EIGHTY OR MORE YEARS OF AGE MAY WISH TO CONSIDER TAKING OUT AN INSURANCE POLICY AGAINST PERSONAL INJURY THAT MAY BE INCURRED ON OUR OUTINGS.

THE CHEQUE or CHEQUES

In order to help the BOOKINGS SECRETARY, please read very carefully before completing your cheques.

Cheques should be made payable to the NHNTCEITHER:

1.a) Send a separate cheque with each booking

form. [Please note that post-dated cheques can no

longer be accepted.] b) Please do not staple cheques to the booking

forms.

OR : 2.

a) Send a ‘limited’ cheque completed as below so that the Bookings Secretary may complete one cheque for the total cost of the tickets actually allocated.

b) Where the amount would normally be written in words, write ‘not more than X pounds’, X being the total cost of all the tickets ordered.

c) Leave the box blank where the amount is normally written in figures.

The Bookings Secretary will fill in the amount depending on how many tickets are allocated.d) Please sign your cheque in the usual way.

a

Yourbank 010203000-01-1004050607

Date……...…

1, Bank Address StreetBanktown AA1 0OU

PAY: N H N T CNot more than “X” pounds £

A N Other

0102030 00-01-10 04050607

Notice is hereby given ofANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

of the North Hampshire National Trust Centre2.00pm (Please note start

time)Elizabeth Hall, Hook

Saturday 13th April 2019 Main Speaker: Stuart Maughan

Acco

unt

paye

e

A G E N D A1. Welcome and apologies for absence2. Minutes of the AGM of the NHNTC held on 14th April

2018 in the Elizabeth Hall, Hook

3. Matters arising from these minutes4. Chairman’s Report5. Hon Treasurer’s Report and Accounts6. Allocation of surplus7. Appointment of Hon Independent Examiner8. Election of Officers and Committee9. Any Other Business10.Date of next meeting

The following offer themselves for re-election:Chairman *To be nominated and chosen at the meetingVice Chairman TBDHon. Treasurer Brian CrowHon. Secretary David WestonMembership Secretary Norma MorganBookings Secretary Maureen RisbridgerNewsletter Editor                    Jonathan HughesEvents Committee Chairman Trish BrookerPublicity Officer Annis MendhamCommittee Member(s): Jean Hawkins

Paddy MendhamMiriam Weston

The Centre’s Constitution provides for 4 officers and no fewer than five other committee members. Nominations for Officers and Committee Members should normally be sent to the Secretary at least 14 days before the AGM and must have the consent of the nominee. Further nominations, however, may be accepted from the floor at the AGM.

*The Centre must have a Chairman in order to continue to function

Notice is hereby given of

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGof the North Hampshire National Trust Centre

2.00pm (Please note start time)

Elizabeth Hall, Hook

Saturday 13th April 2019 Main Speaker: Stuart Maughan

No charge may be made for the AGM, so there will be a RAFFLE. **PRIZES FOR THIS WOULD BE MOST WELCOME**

There will be an interval for refreshmentsfor which donations of cakes would also be very welcome

We look forward to welcoming all members to this meeting, at which you may renew your membership if you have not already done so.

There will be a display of information regarding visits this summer.

Details will be available of the number of people already booked on outings. You can find out more about being a volunteer at The Vyne. Your Committee will be on hand to listen to suggestions

as to how to improve the service that the Centre offers its members.

SPEAKER: Stuart MaughanStuart has been General Manager of The Vyne since April 2014 and has managed the successful, ambitious Roofing Project from start to finish. Whilst The Vyne, in terms of visitor numbers and its position in the National Trust property portfolio, has grown over that period, so have Stuart’s confidence and standing. He is coming to our AGM to tell us what has been learned over the past two years. We all enjoyed being taken up to the roof walkway many times in 2017 and 2018; now we can hear about it from the horse’s mouth. What was the purpose of that body-shaped space uncovered under the tiles and how many tiles did our grandchildren (and even ourselves) sign and where are they now?

Following his talk, which will take place after our AGM

business, Stuart has kindly offered to answer our questions. He hopes to bring another member of staff to

help him find the answers.There is no charge for attendance but a contribution of £1,

or more, towards the cost of tea/cakes is suggested. Donations to the raffle will also be gratefully received on

the day.

COACH PICK-UP POINTS** MEMBERS ARE REMINDED TO BE ON TIME as THE COACH CANNOT

WAIT **We try to have an experienced person at each boarding point to look after newcomers and ensure no one is left behind. However, as coaches are unable to wait, please ensure adequate time for parking and getting to the boarding point well before the time of departure. If you are not used to travelling early in the morning, do please take account of possible commuter traffic at this time.

Would members please note that the coach will pick up and drop ONLY at the DESIGNATED STOPS below. The Centre has contractual arrangements with the coach company and, for health, safety and legal reasons, the driver may not communicate with passengers during the journey.

BASINGSTOKE:o The pick-up point for Basingstoke is the bus shelter (on the

north side, east bound) in Alençon Link below the Railway Station.

HOOK:o When journeys begin in Basingstoke the coach driver will

pick up on London Road A30, at the east bound bus stop opposite the White Hart, Hook, adjacent to the (paying) car park.

o When the journey begins at Hartley Wintney the pick up point is at the Old White Hart. Passengers park in the (paying) car park at Hook, cross the road, walk about 100 yards towards Basingstoke, and then wait for the coach at the west bound bus stop outside The Old White Hart.

HARTLEY WINTNEY:o When journeys begin in Basingstoke the pick up point is on

the High Street A30, at the bus stop outside Swan Court. o When the journey begins in Hartley Wintney the pick up is

at the bus stop on the other side of the road.

ALTON (ONLY when there is a southern destination- OR for the ‘holiday’):o Bus stop on Drayman’s Way – alongside Sainsbury’s.o *For all other journeys, members from Alton are

encouraged to participate in car-sharing arrangements to the Hook car park.

FLEET: o Members in Fleet are encouraged to make car pooling

arrangements to the bus stop in Hartley Wintney.

NOTES from the EVENTS COMMITTEETRISH BROOKER

The Events Committee hopes that you have enjoyed the trips that we have offered over the past six months. I know that a great highlight was the outing to Farnborough Air Sciences Trust Museum and then a trip on the John Pinkerton to take in the delights of the autumn colours. Thank you Marianne for thinking outside the box again

Thanks, too, go to Paddy for organising some wonderful talks…he certainly manages to find some very interesting speakers.Despite the Events committee being small in number, we are pleased that we have managed to offer a full programme and it is wonderful to see so many of you supporting us. Thank you.As you know, we always welcome members bringing guests, but we must issue a gentle reminder that we do have to give priority to members when a trip is popular. However, as far as I am aware, it has not caused us to have to decline a booking, although, with our membership growing, there is always a risk. So, wherever possible, please do encourage your friends/family to join our group. The modest annual subscription is soon covered if one goes on several trips, or attends a few talks, over the year. Non-members pay an additional premium on each occasion. It is always a good idea to book as early as possible to ensure a place. I would like to bring to your attention that the outings may vary in pick up times as this is dependent on the distance we travel. Usually it is not very different, but we do not want you to either be late (we can only wait for 5 minutes after scheduled departure time) or miss the coach.Some members have enquired about the possibility of booking outings online.  The committee has looked into this and discovered that, whilst it might be possible, it would add a further administrative cost of up to £3 per booking.  As this figure would either have to be added to the cost of the outing or deducted from the modest surplus we donate to the NT, the committee does not feel that the option is desirable.Furthermore, such a system would not be applicable to all members, a fair number of whom neither have, nor desire, access to the internet.  As a consequence, the bookings secretary would have to run two parallel systems for each event.  We are sure that members will agree that this will impose an unacceptable burden on the secretary. So - to cut a long story short - our current system, although arguably 'quaint' by modern standards, does fulfil our needs and enables all members to follow a common system.On behalf of the committee, I wish you all a good year ahead and I hope we shall share many enjoyable times together.

Trish Brooker We are still hoping to recruit two more committee

members – initially to ‘shadow’ an existing outing and then to organise one of their choice.

STANDEN HOUSE & GARDENSNYMANS HOUSE & GARDENS

Tuesday 14th May 2019Organiser: Barbara CairnsEmergency mobile: 07706

731717

Standen is the finest Arts and Crafts property in the care of the National Trust. It was designed in the 1890s by Philip Webb, a friend of William Morris. Housing fine examples of Morris carpets, fabrics and wallpapers, it is well worth a visit. At this time of year the tulips, which are a great feature of the garden, will hopefully still be out. On arrival, a guide will board the coach and tell us the history of the house. We will then be free to visit the house on timed tickets, and maybe have a walk in the garden. There is a cafe to purchase a selection of food for lunch, at own expense, before leaving at 2pm to travel on to Nymans, which nestles in the High Weald countryside in Sussex. It is famous for its beautiful gardens and was bought by the Messel family in the late 19th century. The house was partially destroyed by fire in 1947 and sits in a picturesque setting. As well as the house and gardens to explore, there is also a garden centre and café.

Depart: [Please note EARLIER times]08.00 Basingstoke 08.15 Hook 08.30 Hartley WintneyReturn:16.15 Leave Nymans

Cost:£22.00 Members£24.00 Non-membersRefreshments:NOT included, but cafes are available.Please remember to bring your National Trust membership card. Non NT members will have to pay entrance fees to both properties.

DAY IN DORSET TRIBUTE TO JULIE BOWELL

Wednesday 12th June 2019Organiser: Paddy Mendham

Emergency mobile: 07775 689422

Another day to remember to bring

your camera!The NHNTC is grateful to Julie for all the work she did for us as Chairman of the Events committee. Dorset was Julie’s

home county and she organized many memorable outings there. Somehow, she always managed to choose good weather for these days! Today we travel to Dorchester and, after a stop for morning coffee, take a guided tour of the town with Blue Badge Guide Joy Wallis. She will lead us on a gentle one mile walk, taking in about 2000+ years of history, going right back to pre-Roman times. We will see an amazingly well-preserved Roman Town house, with water meadows and a millstream, the building where the Tolpuddle Martyrs were tried and St Peter's Church, which I believe Julie knew. There, we will have a moment to remember her. Then we will hear more about Dorchester’s history, with mention of: Thomas Hardy, William Barnes, Frederick Treves, and more. Afterwards, we will travel by coach a

short distance to Athelhampton House. This is one of the finest 15th Century manor-houses in England and is surrounded by superb architectural gardens. It contains many finely-furnished rooms. The Grade I Listed garden, dating from c1891, is full of vistas and is enhanced by its fountains and the River Piddle that flows through them. The walled gardens include wonderful topiary pyramids and collections of tulips, roses, magnolias, clematis and lilies. There is a 15th Century dovecote and boardwalk along the banks of the river. Julie enjoyed having a Cream Tea on an outing and so, in her memory, we will have one here.

Depart: [NOTE PICK-UP TIMES]08.00 Hartley Wintney 08.15 Hook08.30 BasingstokeReturn:16.00 Leave Dorchester

Cost:£46.00 Members£48.00 Non-membersAccessibility: Gravel paths.Disabled toilet available.Refreshments included: Coffee, Afternoon Cream Tea. [But, own lunch]

WADDESDON MANORROTHSCHILD COLLECTIONS TOUR AND

WINE CELLARS TOUR (INCLUDING WINE TASTING)

Thursday 11th July 2019Organiser: Marianne Parker

Emergency mobile: 07777 681151

Join us for a visit to the magnificent Waddesdon Manor, created by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, who was passionate about French collections, specially furniture, porcelain and textiles. The Manor was built in the 18th century style of a French Chateau and is stuffed to bursting with beautiful and precious objects. Look out for Savonnerie carpets, tapestries from Beauvais, magnificent English paintings, French porcelain and the ‘musical elephant’!

Our visit will include a guided tour of the ground floor of the Manor; a soup and sandwich lunch; free time to explore the First Floor and a chance to look over the garden and impressive grounds. There is also a shop and – not to be missed - a guided tour

of the Manor Wine Cellars. We shall have a talk about the Rothschilds' wine-making heritage and contents of the c13,000 bottles stored in the vault.  The tour will conclude with an opportunity to sample two Rothschild wines.

Depart: [PLEASE NOTE EARLIER TIMES]08.00 Basingstoke 08.15 Hook08.30 Hartley WintneyReturn:16.30 Leave Waddesdon

Cost:£43.50 Members£45.50 Non-members[Bring NT membership cards – otherwise there is an additional entrance fee of £18.]Accessibility: Gravel paths Courtesy hop on/off bus. Disabled toilet Refreshments Included: Coffee/Tea Soup and sandwich lunch

DYLAN THOMASCREAM TEA and A TALK

By JONATHAN JONES

2.00pm Elizabeth Hall, Hook, RG27 9HH

Wednesday 21st August 2019 Organiser: Paddy Mendham

Today we have one of our favourite speakers returning to us. Jonathan Jones came to us for the first time in November 2017. He was larger than life and almost convinced us that he really was Rudyard Kipling. This year, on the occasion of our August Cream Tea, he will be Dylan Thomas!

Born in 1914, Welshman Dylan Thomas left school at age 16 to become a reporter and writer. His most famous poem, ‘Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night’, was published in 1952, but his reputation was solidified years earlier. Thomas's prose includes Under Milk Wood (1954) and A Child's Christmas in Wales (1955). Thomas was in high demand for his animated readings, but debt and heavy drinking took their toll, and he died in New York City while on tour in 1953, at age 39. In his presentation Jonathan/Dylan will talk about his early life in Wales and his first paid employment. No doubt we shall also hear some of his better known works resounding across the Elizabeth Hall in a rich Welsh baritone.

Cost (on door/Ticketed event – PLEASE BOOK) Talk &

Members £5.00 Non-members £5.50

Cream Tea:

WINCHESTER PRISON CHAPLAINCYA TALK

by REVEREND DAVID HINKS

2.00pm Elizabeth Hall, Hook, RG27 9HH

Wednesday 18th September 2019 Organiser: Paddy Mendham

Rev David Hinks is the Managing Chaplain of HMP YOI Winchester, a category B local prison serving the surrounding courts. He has been an ordained minister of the Church of England for almost twelve years. Before ordination, David spent much of his early working life in the motor industry. Then in 2003 he felt a calling to ordained ministry, so he changed career and worked for the Anglican Diocese of Winchester as a lay-officer in the Department for Social Responsibility. It was during this post that David felt himself drawn to prison ministry. After

ordination, he acted as a volunteer chaplain to HMP Isle of Wight, supporting the teams at the

Albany and Camp Hill sites, visiting one day a week for four years. He then moved to Alton, where he served as Associate Vicar for six and a half years before being appointed to HMP YOI Winchester in July 2018.

David and his team offer pastoral support, worship and study classes to prisoners. They also support prison staff and the families of prisoners. Prison is a gritty and hard environment where many of the prisoners have complex needs and are often victims themselves. Prisons are a multi-cultural and multi-faith environment. The managing chaplain ensures that the spiritual and pastoral needs of all who are incarcerated, work in, visit, or have relatives in the prison, are met.

If the Chaplain's proverb is 'loiter with intent', what does that entail?... David will give an overview of a day in the life of the prison, and

how he and his team undertake their statutory duties and ministries.

NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION This is the afternoon when Newsletters for the forthcoming

season are distributed and we hope that those who are present will collect them for those members who live near them. It is much appreciated if this can be done, as it saves the Centre significant postage costs.

Those who undertake to deliver Newsletters are asked to do so within a week of the meeting so that members may send in their booking forms for outings promptly.

Cost on door (including refreshments):

Members £3.50 Non-members £4.00

LEEDS CASTLE[900th BIRTHDAY]

Wednesday 25th September 2019

Organiser: Trish BrookerEmergency mobile: 07736

071041

We are visiting Leeds Castle, both as a beautiful place to visit and to mark its 900th birthday. Starting as a Norman stronghold, it has been many things. It later became a private property and was the home of six medieval queens before becoming a home for Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Following this, it then was a Georgian manor and, in the 20th century, became an elegant retreat for the influential and famous. It is now one of the most historic buildings in Britain.

Surrounded by a moat, and accessed by a drawbridge, there is much to see here. We will have a visit to the castle before lunch (not included). After lunch there is a falconry display to watch. Following this, we have a garden tour booked, which will offer us an opportunity to see the wonderful grounds that surround the castle .

If anyone does not wish to see the falconry display or spend much time in the garden, there is a punt that will take visitors around the moat, at an additional cost of £3.50 - this is not included in our day and would be a private arrangement.

Depart:08.45 Basingstoke09.00 Hook09.15 Hartley WintneyReturn:16.00 Leave Leeds Castle

Cost: £38.00 Members£40.00 Non-membersRefreshments: Not includedCafé facilities on siteAccessibility No known hazards

OCTAVIA HILLTRISTRAM HUNT

[DIRECTOR OF THE V&A MUSEUM]

Members might be interested to read a few extracts from Tristam Hunt’s article

on one of the co-founders of the National TrustIn addition to founding the Trust, Octavia Hill was one of the greatest social entrepreneurs in British history. From housing to philanthropy, arts policy to feminism, welfare reform to conservation, her legacy is all around us and, what is more, in current times, it is coming back into fashion.Her story begins in Cambridgeshire where on 3 December 1838 she was born, the third daughter of merchant James Hill and his third wife, Caroline Southwood Smith. However, we would do better to look in other directions for her early influences, most notably her grandfather, Thomas Southwood Smith, who was one of the leading public health reformers of early Victorian Britain.  Octavia’s father, James Hill, was another inspiration. He combined business endeavours with repeated forays into radical politics, going so far as to support various socialist communes. From her mother, Octavia learnt those quintessential

Victorian precepts of ‘workfulness’, ‘character’ and ‘self-help’.Through her mother’s connections, Octavia came to know the pioneering Christian socialist minister F.D. Maurice, the aesthete and radical John Ruskin and the anti-capitalist critic and author Charles Kingsley. Indeed, according to her biographer Gillian Darley, it was at a lecture by Kingsley on the role women should play in improving the lives of the poor that Octavia realised that her vocation was to be in the provision of social housing. She began with a series of properties off London’s Marylebone Road, which Ruskin purchased. Just as governments today seek to involve voluntary societies in tackling worklessness, so Octavia’s team of housing managers (or ‘visitors’) sought to transform the work-shy, drunken habits of the poor through personal contact, tenement by tenement. Yet Octavia always had an admirably broad conception of the lives of the inner-city poor and closely connected cultural philanthropy to social reform. It was not enough just to collect the rent and fix the gutters. Her estates, with some 3,000 tenants by the mid-1870s, were hubs of creativity, with panels by the artist Walter Crane, music lessons, cultural outings and Gilbert & Sullivan performances.She was adamant that a distant, Whitehall-run welfare state could never provide such intimacy and personal care. Octavia was dead against free school meals, council housing and a universal old-age pension, with its nefarious attempt ‘to equalise income, and to get rid of charity, and to substitute a rate distributed as of right’. So it was the independent, voluntary nature that led her to join with Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley and Robert Hunter of the Commons’ Preservation Society in founding a National Trust for Places of Historic Interest and Natural Beauty. Octavia had become convinced of the need for open spaces for the urban masses, providing ‘a few acres where the hill top enables the Londoner to rise above the smoke, to feel a refreshing air for a little time and to see the sun setting in coloured glory which abounds so in the Earth God made’. The creation of the Trust would enable London’s fast-disappearing green spaces to ‘be kept for the enjoyment, refreshment, and rest of those who have no country house’.

See the full article at: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/octavia-hill---her-life-and-

legacy

CURRENT PROGRAMME

EVENTBold = OutingItalic = All Talks in Elizabeth Hall, Hook at 2.00pm

Wed

13th

MarParticipate in a special winter trip to Windsor Castle for a guided visit especially tailored for us.

Wed

20th

MarSimon Newman will give us a photographic tour of Stourhead through the seasons.

1011 Sat 13th

AprANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AT 2.00pmFollowed by talk by Stuart Maughan (General

Manager of The Vyne)

14 Tue 14th

MayVisit two houses and gardens:Standen House (Arts & Crafts) & Nymans

15 Wed

12th

JunJoin Paddy’s outing to Dorset – Dorchester and Athelhampton - in memory of Julie Bowell

16 Thu 11th

JulVisit Waddesdon Manor, its gardens & its wine cellar!

17 Wed

21stAug

Dylan Thomas – Rec-reated by Jonathan Jones (Farnham Town Crier) [AND – ticketed – CREAM TEA]

18 Wed

18th Sep

Attend a talk on Prison chaplaincy by David Hinks[and NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION]

19 Wed

25th

SepJoin an outing to Leeds Castle in Kent

ADVANCE NOTICE FOR THE AUTUMN

Wed

9th

Oct

Outing to StourheadAn outing is being arranged by Chris Broughton to see the autumnal colours in this National Trust Property. This will be a follow-up to the talk in March.

Full details and a booking form will be published in the next Newsletter in September. The day will consist of coffee on arrival, self guided

Wed

16th

OctAutumn lunch in Elizabeth HallAnd talk: Shepherd – Sheep shearing by David Sullivan

These are views of /from places that are

on our outings in this newsletter...

…Can You Identify Them?