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CHAIRMAN
Our Silver Anniversary year has arrived and it is a great tribute to our Founding Fathers and many, many others that we have flourished so mightily since our foundation.
The Society has numerous monumental achievements to its credit. In particular, it has created a body of knowledge and expertise exemplified by our Bulletin, our Registers and by the free advice we give to the public.
CHAIRMAN
This edition of the Newsletter heralds our 25th anniversary year in 2014. You will read about preparations for the Annual Conference which is to be held in Greenwich and other events that have been prepared.
Quite separately, but of the greatest significance, is the progress that Council has made on addressing the Society’s exposure to risk. There is a separate flyer which gives further details.
CHAIRMAN
I am sure that all members of the Society will wish to congratulate Chris Daniel on being awarded an MBE in the Birthday Honours List in June. This is a fitting tribute to his contribution to so many aspects of sundials and related activities over so many years.
Other entries in this Newsletter report progress on various fronts and, once again, I must emphasise how much the Society appreciates all that our Volunteers do for us and the continuing need for others to come forward with offers to help.
CHAIRMAN
I am sure that all those who were at the Edinburgh Conference will agree that we had an excellent venue in a spectacular setting and we all enjoyed the Conference dinner in the splendour of the Playfair Library.
The highlight, for me, was undoubtedly the Andrew Somerville lecture. Tony Freeth enthralled us all with his talk about the Antikythera Mechanism. Here was a true enthusiast holding his audience in rapt attention. The applause at the end was loud and prolonged.
My second year on Council is drawing to a close and I look forward to outlining progress at the Edinburgh Conference.
As at Cheltenham last year, a session will be set aside for discussion. One topic to be aired is the Society’s Grants Policy. Council is reluctant to spend members’ money without having some feel for the views of the membership.
Once again, the annual gathering in Newbury was very successful with a sunny day, good talks and fascinating exhibits. Our thanks are due to David Pawley for making the arrangements. He has already confirmed that there will be another meeting in Newbury next year.
A most notable event this autumn was undoubtedly Mike Shaw’s cameo performance on the Antiques Roadshow on 14th October. A stellar performance notwithstanding the rain!