CHAIRMAN
Our 25th anniversary conference in Greenwich was hugely enjoyable and a great success. The venue, the splendid Wren buildings of the former Royal Hospital for Seamen, was certainly something to be savoured. Even the view from the gents was breathtaking! This conference was more than usually ambitious, with extra outings and tours, and we must all be grateful to Chris Lusby Taylor for the organisation and for overcoming a number of run-time challenges that were outside his control.
Nothing better demonstrates the Society’s vitality than the extraordinary breadth of the programme of talks. There cannot be many conference programmes which take in early trading with North American Indians and the analemma on Mars.
Looking back, we can all take pride in the first 25 years, especially the corpus of Bulletin issues and the two Registers which form an impressive body of research material and data for future generations. Many, many members have contributed to the Bulletins and to the Registers over the years and given talks at conferences and promoted the science and art of gnomonics throughout the country. We must be grateful to all such members but especially to our dedicated volunteers who keep the Society running.
Of equal importance to our pride in our past must be looking ahead to our next 25 years and beyond. Securing our future will continue to be Council’s priority. The challenges are considerable. We have to exploit new technologies for disseminating our body of knowledge. Our website is likely to be the first point of contact for those who are starting to take an interest in sundials. We must also ensure that our management and procedures and legal structure keep in step with changing times.
In separate entries in this Newsletter, the Webmaster introduces the new website and the Secretary provides an update on progress implementing the outcome of last year’s legal review, including the Society’s change to being a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
Our next gathering is in Newbury in September and I am very much hoping to see many of you there.
Frank King
SECRETARY
The AGM at Greenwich overwhelmingly – 46 to 1 – approved Council’s resolution that the Society become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The background and rational was fully explained in Council’s 20th March 2014 communication (sent by post to all members). Following AGM approval, work started to effect the transfer to CIO status. A future communication will advise the date of transfer and relevant administrative implications.
The principle practical effect of becoming a CIO is that we will no longer be exposed to unlimited liability. Members’ and the public’s experience of the Society will not change: our raison d’etre and esprit de corps remain the same. Another benefit is that we will have a new Constitution – circulated with the 20th March communication – that reflects the Charity Commission’s current advice on best practice governance. It is a governing document that is much better suited to the future.
Becoming a CIO is part of the package of measures reported to members in Council’s report of 11th November 2013 (circulated with the December Bulletin) designed to ensure the Society is fit for purpose. That report did not mention one measure because it was potentially prejudicial to do so. It is now possible to do so. It emerged during last year’s legal review that the Society’s name was not protected. Our name has now been registered with the IPO. This will prevent our name, or misleadingly similar ones, being used by others.
Chris Williams
BULLETIN
The report of the Greenwich conference will be in the next (September) issue of the Bulletin: the layout of the June issue had already been completed before the conference was held. I would appreciate a few selected photographs of the event to go in the report, especially for the Friday events when I wasn’t able to be present (there was a competing conference on ‘astrolabes in medieval cultures’ on in London at the same time!). I don’t guarantee that I’ll use everything I receive but I do try to credit photographers.
As many of you may know, I’m interested in the metallurgy of ‘brass’ sundials as well as in their horological properties and historical development. I have an instrument called an x-ray fluorescence analyser which can give a quick reading of the constituents of the alloy without causing any damage or marks on the specimen. I will be bringing the instrument to the BSS Newbury meeting in September and would like to encourage any members with ‘interesting’ sundials to bring them along for analysis. If you know the approximate date of the dial, so much the better, as the information will help to develop the time-line of brass through English history.
John Davis
TREASURER
A note of appreciation to everyone who attended the Conference auction and made it such a cheerful event. Many “items of great significance” were “saved for the nation” by enthusiastic bidding, to the tune of £454.50. Thank you to all.
Graham Stapleton
WEBSITE
After a prolonged gestation, including testing by a number of members, I am pleased to announce that the new version of the website will be live very soon. Members will receive email notification of the launch in advance. The new version will be reachable at the usual address, www.sundialsoc.org.uk, and will contain all the key information from the current site. However, there are several important changes and enhancements:
Bridol – British Dials Online. A selection of 2500+ dials throughout the UK are available for inspection and analysis. Each dial has a full description, photos and, except where security issues arise, full location details. The dials can also be viewed on a Google map.
Simplified layout – the structure and menus for the site have been simplified and reduced in number; in addition there is a site Search facility and content can be retrieved by tags.
New content – Tony Moss is in the process of making his dialling archive available to the BSS. This information is being made available over time,
At present there are two extensive sets of information under the tag “Make a Dial”. I will also be adding videos of talks at the recent Greenwich conference. Other new content is always welcome.
Mobile friendly – the site is designed to be responsive to the device being used and pages will adapt to all modern browsers, smartphones and tablets. Note: older versions of browsers, particularly Internet Explorer versions 6 or 7, may have difficulty with the new site. Unfortunately, this is a general problem and upgrading your browser – free – is highly recommended both by the BSS and Microsoft!
The site has a more modern appearance and is optimised for search engines, which should enhance our already-good ranking on Google. In addition, the facilities available to contributors to the site have been significantly improved so it is much easier for new material to be added. Please contact the webmaster if you have something to contribute.
A members-only section of the site has been included and, where we have email addresses for members, a UserID and initial password will be distributed electronically. Those members who have not provided email addresses are invited to do so now to:
membership@sundialsoc.org.uk or to webmaster@sundialsoc.org.uk.
Alternatively, there is an opportunity for members to request a UserID at the sign-on screen. It is early days for this area and we may expand it in the future – ideas welcome.
I am keen that the website becomes as valuable to members as are the Bulletin and the annual conference. Greenwich highlighted several promising areas for new web items and I will be contacting David Young and David Payne for contributions about the sundial trails at the Horniman museum and Burlingham Woodlands in Norfolk. Other comments, contributions and suggestions are always welcome.
Bill Visick
REGISTRAR
When the new website appears, please make Bridol your first stop! Explore the map, and use the Dial List to get full details and to explore by type, date etc. Try the ‘Search’ and ‘Near’ buttons to home in on dials near you.
This first release has secure ‘Open’ dials only, so if your favourite is missing it may be because it was reported just as ‘Visible’. Some of these are ‘over-the-garden-wall’ dials, which we would not include without express permission, but many, though privately owned, are on full display to the public. The next major release will cover most ‘Visible’ dials, for example the many interesting verticals down the High Street at Chipping Campden, and selected ‘Restricted’ ones as well.
Some ‘Open’ dials are too valuable or vulnerable for us to show the location on this public listing. They do not appear on the map, but are included in the Dial List, So if, for example, you look for 17th century horizontals, you will see several which may be of interest, but which have no address or co-ordinates. For full details you can always come to me, of course.
If you have any suggestions for improving the presentation, please get in touch. Also if you have improved photos, or corrections or additions to the descriptions. All input will be very welcome. I would love to hear from you.
John Foad
MEMBERSHIP
We would like to welcome Pierre-Louis Cambefort from France as a new member of the Society. I regrettably have to inform you of the deaths of 2 long-standing members, Walter Wells and Edward McGonagle.
Jackie Jones
MASS DIALS
Not much news, however, Kevin Karney sent in the first colour pictures of the well-known ‘dial’ at St Cuthbert’s Darlington. This has kicked me into action and I am about to write an article about it. It has been suggested that it might be the bottom end of a cheese press and I tend to agree. As the dial has been labelled as such for over 100 years, there may be feathers ruffled.
One mass dial has been reported from Sussex; there appears to be confusion over whether W Hoathly is/was in E or W Sussex; no doubt Maureen Harmer, our lady in Sussex will sort it out for us. Otherwise quiet.
Tony Wood
SALES
It was a pleasure to see so many familiar, and occasionally new, faces at the Greenwich Conference and wonderful to make so many sales – we have boosted the BSS coffers by a considerable amount.
However, the last twelve months have been very quiet in the sales department so could I please remind everyone that a full list of books available is on the website and most orders can be fulfilled within 48 hours. If you are looking for a particular title and it is not listed please contact me anyway. If I can’t supply something myself I might be able to track down a copy for you.
Elspeth Hill
NEWBURY
Newbury One Day BSS Meeting is on Saturday 27th September 2014. Another great day out. Details with the Bulletin and on the Website.
New this year, practical sessions – please offer your suggestions and ideas, come along with your ideas to share with everyone. It would be helpful to let David know in advance please.
Bring a packed lunch, refreshments provided. See you all in September – bring a friend too.
David Pawley
PHOTOGAPHIC COMPETITION
Now that the Silver Jubilee competition is over for this year, there is little to report at present, perhaps just thanks to all the entrants (a record of 35 photos entered) and also to those who gave their support by voting at Greenwich and, of course, congratulations to the winners.
A full report and display of all the photographs entered at Greenwich is currently being prepared for a future Bulletin item. Assuming that the committee is in agreement, I propose that the next competition takes place in 2015-16; i.e., to follow the now accepted 2 year period. Time now to start thinking about suitable pictures for the next one though!!
Ian Butson
CLOCKWORKS
Clockworks is a very new, recently converted and purpose built premises, containing a large collection of electric clocks and time regulators from the 1840s to the present, including “Astronomical regulators, used in observatories for the precise timing of astronomical observations, as well as in laboratories or other environments needing precise metrology.” (Quote from their website).
The Founder is Dr James Nye. (known to Rory McEvoy of the RGO).
“Following graduation from Balliol College, Oxford, James entered a career in finance and the energy sector. More recently, he completed a PhD in financial history at King’s College, London, where he holds a visiting fellowship in the Institute of Contemporary British History. His thesis included case studies of Victorian and Edwardian electric clock companies.”
The Clockworks also has a fully capable workshop and resident or assigned clockmakers, including Johan ten Hoeve – Conservator-in-Residence.
It is a unique studio that combines a museum, workshop, library and meeting space under one roof. It is the heart of a thriving and eclectic community of people interested in the measurement and distribution of time using electric clocks – collectors, researchers, curators, artists, enthusiasts, conservators and many more.
A highly social venue – “The Clockworks offers the chance to explore a remarkable collection of artefacts, books and journals, to find solutions to conservation and repair problems, and to discuss the objects and ideas in the story of electric time.”
The Clockworks Trust, is a registered educational charity which aims to advance education in all aspects of electrical timekeeping and if modern clock design interests you – they can make anything.
The Clockworks, 6 Nettlefold Place, London SE27 0JW. Tel:+44 (0) 20 8676 4856
Email: info@theclockworks.org http://theclockworks.org
Julian Lush