Newsletter Summer 2006

Recent weather seems to suggest that summer is approaching – unless, of course, that WAS summer for the year! In any event, as the Society completes its programme of meetings for 2005/6, the time is right to issue a newsletter to advise/remind members of what is happening over the next few months. The Committee has been very busy in planning what will hopefully be some interesting events and it is hoped that members will give their support to these ventures. We have tried to be innovative and introduce certain types of activities for the first time.

ANNUAL OUTING

Following up on the invitation given to us by Ian Forbes when he gave a talk at one of our monthly meetings, we are visiting the Killhope site on Wednesday, the 5th July, meeting in the car park at 6.30. Anyone requiring help with transport should contact Richard Turner. Ian has arranged this special out of normal hours visit for us as a favour and members and non-members are welcome to attend. Admission charges will be as follows:-

ADULTS - £4.50
CONCESSIONS - £4.00

UNDERGROUND TRIP - £1.50

FRIENDS OF KILLHOPE NEED ONLY PAY THE UNDERGROUND FEE

If you would like to go and did not put your name on the list at the June monthly please could you please let Richard know, indicating whether or not you wish to go underground. This is to ensure that enough guides are available. Richard's telephone number is 01434 381353.

SUMMER EXHIBITION

We have decided to stage an exhibition at weekends between July 22nd and September 10th and it is designed to encourage residents and visitors to share in the history of the Moor. We are greatly indebted to Syl and Ray Macro for the use of their unoccupied premises near the Market Cross. There will be signage to direct visitors when the exhibition is open. The display will include photographs, documents, artefacts and, hopefully, a computer based rolling slide show presentation. The venture is being administered by Alistair Robertson and he needs help in respect of:-

1. Volunteers to man the exhibition. Each session will be a half day and should not prove to be too demanding. The more volunteers we can get to share the load, the fewer number of sessions any one person needs to attend over the seven weeks
2. We are very anxious to borrow local historical artefacts for the display. Anything loaned to us will be looked after very carefully!

If you can help with either of these items, please ring Alistair on 01434 381769.

FIELD STUDY GROUP

Alistair is hoping to organise a field study group but there will be no activity until after the exhibition closes in September. He has been advised that a North Pennine Community Landscape Archaeologist is soon to be appointed and he is anxious to meet with the new jobholder to explore the possibility of joint projects with the Society. There have also been exciting developments at Whitley Castle which Alistair is monitoring and will report to us in due course.

CHRISTMAS DINNER

Whilst it is only June we would need to have an indication of numbers interested in this proposed event to ascertain its viability. The intention is to have external caterers and for December they would need to be booked in good time. The plan is to have a WW11 based evening with appropriate food and entertainment. However the list at the last meeting produced a ‘nil’ return so at the moment it looks like Richard and I sharing a spam sandwich in a phone box – any other venue would be too big! The subject will be raised again at the September meeting.

SUGGESTIONS FROM MEMBERS

We try to produce a varied programme of topics at our monthly meetings, but if there is a subject you would particularly like to have us cover, then please let the Secretary know. We will try to accommodate all tastes but it must be appreciated that we have to book at least twelve months ahead. Similarly if there is any project which you would like the Society to consider, please tell us. We are trying to be more proactive than hitherto and are anxious to expand our range of interests and activities.

WEBSITE

Please visit our site from time to time. It now contains more information then ever before and will continue to expand. We are planning to establish electronic links with other historical societies and, similarly, they will be able to access our site.

An illustrated history of ore mining on the Moor is being prepared and should appear in the next three months. If you have any suggestions for other topics or items, please tell the Secretary.

NEXT MEETING

There is no meeting in August and the next meeting is on the 6th September. This will be based on a very topical subject which is causing much concern with all residents of Alston Moor. Whilst not actually dealing with the current attempts to close the hospital, Richard Turner will present ‘A Review of the History of Alston Hospital’. We are hoping that there will be a good audience for this talk which should be of great general interest and will give a detailed background of how and why the hospital came into being.

Until then, have a good summer but please let us have your views and comments on any of our current issues.

LAURENCE LAW
Secretary

18th June 2006