CHAIRMAN
Along with many other members, I very much enjoyed a most successful conference in Oxford in April. I am sure that all delegates will join me in congratulating the Conference Team on their attention to every detail. These occasions involve a considerable amount of work over a prolonged period and this is all much appreciated.
It was especially good to welcome new members, all of whom joined the Society via the BSS Help-and-Advice service. This service is now largely in the hands of Sue Manston who frequently finds out far more than the enquirer expects.
As usual, there was an excellent programme of talks covering a wide range of topics. The talks are outlined in the June Bulletin. On Saturday morning, Allan Chapman gave us a most memorable Andrew Somerville lecture and he continued to entertain those who were on his table at the Gala dinner later.
There were numerous interesting exhibits displayed round the conference hall. One highlight for me was to see John Carmichael’s mock-up of a replacement stained-glass sundial for the Old Parsonage in Didsbury near Manchester. The original went missing in the 1940s. The dial is printed on vinyl and we were able to see John’s trade-mark gnomon which is attached to the dial plate by magnets. If the gnomon is knocked, it will fall harmlessly to the ground without there being any danger of damage to the glass. Many thanks to Louise Smail for bringing this along and many thanks to all the other exhibitors too.
At the AGM, there was some discussion about the decline in our membership. This is referred to in the minutes in the Bulletin and a response from the trustees is included in the Secretary’s message below.
The trustees are always pleased to hear from members. We would like to have your views and comments and we are particularly receptive to offers of help.
Next year’s conference will be in Norwich. Please put the dates in your diaries: 20–22 April 2018. The trustees are most grateful to David Payne for finding a splendid venue and he will be joining the 2018 Conference Team. Long before that, David Pawley has kindly arranged another Newbury meeting on Saturday 23 September; his flyer is bundled in with the Bulletin. Please put this date in your diaries too.
Frank King
SECRETARY
Oxford 2017 discussion
This note shares with all members, a discussion that took place at April’s Oxford conference. It also shares related background and gives the trustees thoughts and response to the points raised.
The decline in members has been a concern to us all for some time – not least your trustees! We are today the victim of forces affecting societies of our ilk – an ageing membership. Most of our leavers, many of very long standing, have reluctantly and sadly succumbed to the effects of age. Whilst we continue to attract new joiners, who primarily find us via the internet, we need more! With this in mind the trustees have, in recent months, been actively considering the use of digital advertising.
In the age of big data and with Google, Bing, Facebook, Twitter and other platforms, detailed insights are possible into the behaviour of large numbers of people on the web. The search terms they use to find us, or those that lead them elsewhere, can be tracked. We can build ads designed to appeal to people who have never been anywhere near our site but who have similar interests to current visitors. If you have ever Googled a particular item and then found you are shown ads for the same thing, this is how it is done. People can, of course, opt out but showing ads only to people who are likely to be interested is a very cost effective way of proceeding. It is hoped that, as a result of this exercise, we will be able to develop a number of campaigns that can be run, very cheaply, through web and social media channels.
It will be appreciated that digital advertising confronts head on the old adage ‘Half the spend on advertising is wasted, the trouble is, we don’t know which half’. Digital advertising is also very competitive against the cost of traditional advertising, particularly at national level, in printed media.
Given this background, when the suggestion was made in Oxford that the Society undertake a significant programme of traditional advertising, Ian Butson was invited (see the AGM minutes in the June Bulletin) to undertake a trial programme in his local area. The experience of digital and traditional advertising can then both be assessed together and the appropriate way forward determined in an informed fashion.
It was also suggested at Oxford that the erection by the Society of a sundial in central London commemorating London dial makers would be another way of attracting new members. The costs, practicalities (planning and legal), and time scale of such a venture would be not inconsiderable: they are yet to be explained, as is the mechanism by which the Society would gain members. Consideration of any such proposed sundial requires an estimate of its associated cost and benefits.
It might be supposed by some that the Society can easily afford such projects. Whilst the Society is indeed most fortunate in having reserves sufficient to sustain its regular activities for the foreseeable future, it is important to appreciate they are no longer, as for so long in the past, increasing. In recent years the underlying position, masked by a very generous bequest, is already downward. Looking to the future, overheads will become increasingly burdensome and, as the shortfall in volunteers persists, some traditionally in house activities will have to be contracted out.
Oxford also saw suggestions for enhanced member participation. Regarding the suggestion of an additional meeting, it is highly probable, considering we gather twice a year already, that it would attract a small attendance. A more practical alternative might be to programme an open session during the conference. But member participation should not be limited to set piece annual events, still less only those who attend them. The Newsletter affords a quarterly opportunity to reach all members. In terms of a yet more frequent opportunity, following a suggestion at Oxford, we are evaluating setting up a discussion forum which would have similar facilities to the Sundial Mailing List (SML) with which many members are familiar. Given the inevitable infrequency of members meeting face-to-face, our version is intended as a place where members’ discussions can take place online. Information about the introduction of this facility will be provided as soon as possible.
Last, but by no means least, the trustees are always happy to receive the views of members. The trustees appreciate, welcome, and take into account all of the comments we regularly receive. We look forward to any Oxford 2017 related comments you might have!
Chris Williams
A MEMBERSHIP SUGGESTION
At the AGM in Oxford, the trustees appealed for ideas for recruiting new members. I suggested that we might use the pubic sundials on our register as our “ambassadors” for recruitment. A suitable notice could be printed on a durable long-lasting material. Members of the Society would be asked to visit, say, 10 of the sundials in their area, and ask permission to fix the notice near the sundial. I have posted my idea for a suitable notice at www.centrally.co.uk/sundialnotice.gif
I believe that this indirect method of encouraging people to join the Society might well have more success than the other more direct methods we have tried in the past. If you think it is a worthwhile idea, and you would be willing to try it out on 10 or so sundials in your area, please send me an email headed “Sundial Scheme”, to Piersnicholson@hotmail.com and I will then seek the trustees’ approval to do it.
Piers Nicholson
2018 NORWICH CONFERENCE: 20 – 22 April 2018
Members will wish to note the dates of our next conference in their diaries.
We hope all 2017 delegates enjoyed the conference, venue, and Oxford. We also trust all members will find the Oxford conference information in the Bulletin and on the website interesting.
Our thanks to David Payne for finding us a superb venue in the historic heart of Norwich near to the cathedral. David also joins the 2018 conference team. New volunteers are always very welcome. We have an offer to as- sist in finding a 2019 venue. If you would like to help, especially in regard to future venues and tours, we would love to hear from you.
The 2018 Conference Team (Doug Bateman, David Payne, Bill Visick, Liz and Chris Williams) will provide further details and issue booking forms for Norwich 2018 with the September Newsletter.
2018 Conference Team
REGISTRAR
We do not have any details of this dial, but are simply told it was ‘stolen from a garden’. It must have been an industrial-scale operation! If you happen to spot it on an auction website or elsewhere do get in touch urgently. It is a fine example, somewhat in the style of the Holyrood House dial (SRN 1490), and several identifying features, most noticeably the motto, if the pedestal and dial are still united. Dennis Cowan places it as possibly Victorian, with the motto probably ‘My Utmost for His Highest’, from Oswald Chambers (1874 – 1917).
John Foad
MEMBERSHIP
We would like to welcome to the Society a number of new members: Michael Maroulis from the U.S.A.; Bri- an Huggett from Southampton and Robin & Teleri Begg from Somerset.
Unfortunately, a number of members have recently died: Derek Tagg; Richard Mallet; Andrew Pollock; Bas- anta Campos; Bill May and Allan Mills. There is an obituary of Allan in the Bulletin.
Jackie Jones
SALES
I would like to thank everyone who bought BSS books at the Oxford Conference – we had a reasonably profita- ble (and enjoyable) event. If anyone would like to donate duplicate or unwanted sundial books for me to sell I would be very pleased to hear from you.
Please also note that I have changed my email address to: elspethbhill@gmail.com as the old address will be redundant from the end of May.
Elspeth Hill
NEWBURY ONE DAY MEETING
This is taking place on Saturday 23rd September 2017 at Sutton Hall, Stockcross, Newbury, RG20 8LN. Look out for the flyer about the meeting in the Bulletin. Details will also be on the BSS Website.
The meeting is open to all, no booking is required, just turn up on the day with your lunch in hand. Refreshments and drinks are provided.
Special feature : Bring along your sundials that show clock time, as well as all the other interesting objects. Offers of talks are welcomed, kindly let David know by email.
Please note David’s NEW email address: clocksmith604@gmail.com
BSS PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION
David Pawley
Having taken on the role of organiser for the Photographic Competition in 2010, I have now decided to step down after 7 years, and to pass the reins on to another member of the Society, David Hawker. David has been a regular entrant to recent photo competitions and will now be taking on the organisational responsibility on behalf of the Society.
Currently the competition is run on a 2-yearly basis, with the next one due to take place during this 2017/18 year with the entries being displayed and judged at the forthcoming Norwich Conference, in April 2018.
As in the previous competitions, reminders will be included in the September and December 2017 editions of the Newsletter, with entry forms and a copy of the rules also being included with the Bulletin at the same time. Copies of the entry form and rules will also be available for downloading from the BSS website, if required.
Since taking over the role in 2010 I have very much enjoyed being involved in this interesting activity of the Society and I would like to thank all those who have submitted entries in support of the past competitions, and hope that you will continue to do so in the future, with David at the helm. My thanks also go to the formal panel of judges on the earlier competitions in this period, as well as those who participated more recently in the “conference vote” process of marking the entries, whilst attending the conferences.
It only now remains for me to remind you that with summer fast approaching, there comes the prospect of those longer sunny days. So now is the time to start looking for that winning sundial photo for entry into the competition, and to keep David busy during the autumn and winter evenings.
Ian Butson
BSS AGM
I would like to comment particularly on two areas of concern that this year’s annual report has highlighted to the membership, and also to make a proposal. Firstly, the fall in membership level.
You will, I am sure, have noted that the overall membership continues to fall. The trustees are considering this, and have also suggested that the membership might also help by encouraging those who show an interest, or who have a query, that they might join the Society.
Loss due to death is understandable, but have the trustees considered enquiring of those who have not rejoined, their reasons why? Perhaps the society may not be addressing their individual interests sufficiently.
Secondly, the current level of financial assets held. I am equally concerned that the level of the liquid current assets held as “Cash at Bank and In Hand” continues to grow significantly. Do the trustees have any plans at present for any of this money to be used? We appear to be “membership poor, but cash rich.”
Considering this and remembering that back in 2012 the membership was asked for suggestions as to how the Silver Anniversary of the society might be celebrated in 2014, have any of the suggestions been acted upon, and if so, effectively brought to fruition?
I recall that one of the significant suggestions made by a number of the respondents was the commission of memorial sundials by the Society.
I would now like to make the following proposal, to be put to the membership for their consideration.
“That the Society commissions and funds the installation of a suitable sundial to commemorate the significant work of the important early London instrument and sundial makers, who mainly worked in and around The Strand, Fleet Street, Cheapside and Cornhill areas in the City of London.”
Perhaps a suitable public location might be found in one of these areas, maybe even centrally, close to the popular vicinity of St Paul’s Cathedral! By suitably indicating the involvement of The British Sundial Society on the sundial it could also act as a very effective advertisement for the Society.
If as a Society we wish to attract new members and to halt the decline in numbers, we need to be much more pro-active in our approach to advertising. We must “Speculate to Accumulate.”
Ian Butson
NEW SUNDIALS ON THE INTERNET
In a couple of Newsletters last year I wrote of finding new sundials on the internet. I followed #sundial on Twitter and Instagram (www.instagram.com/explore/tags/sundial/) and amongst all the photos it’s normal to find one or two dials per week not in the 2015 BSS Register.
I started adding these dials to a Google Map and have 88 dials (mainly sourced from Instragram), and Graham Stapleton, searching GeoGraph and other sources, has added 163. Yes there are 251 new dials not in the Register crying out for a visit. The map in my Google Drive can be accessed via the link below.
If you click any of the map pins there are web references that Graham and I have added so you can see the source information from which we are working.
As it’s now getting warmer and sunnier I thought it was time to send out a reminder about these dials and try to encourage a few visits. If you are a BSS member in the vicinity of any of the locations please can you check the dials and put in a proper report with photos for the Register. John Foad, the Registrar, can send you the report form if you don’t already have one (or it’s available from the members area of the BSS website).
If you have any problems then please email me at Ian_Maddocks@hotmail.com
Ian Maddocks
Material for the next Newsletter, preferably as plain text e-mail, should be with me before 15th August 2017 newsletter@sundialsoc.org.uk Q) 0151 608 8610