THE STEYNING SOCIETY
Registered Charity No. 269859 www.steyningsociety.org.uk
February 2020 NEWSLETTER
MEMBERSHIP CARDS AND PAYMENT
This year we are introducing small, wallet size membership cards which will be issued to all members once their subscriptions have been received. Our annual programme will be available as before. The membership cards will be issued at the AGM on April 17th and we ask that members bring them to all meetings.
We would be grateful if members could arrive about 15 minutes earlier on April 17th in order to process the membership cards.
You are reminded that the current subscription is £10 (single)/£15 (double) and the deadline for paying is March 1st . It is very helpful if members pay by Bank Transfer; our bank details are: Account No. 60832235 Sort Code 20-98-74.
If you are paying by cheque, please post it to the Treasurer: Adrian Gobat, 41 Goring Road, Steyning, BN44 3GF.
CHRISTMAS SUPPER
The supper on December 20th was a very enjoyable occasion, with over 80 diners. It was a pleasure to welcome back our Honorary President Peter Harris, who joined in proceedings with his customary enthusiasm! Peter and Diana have moved into their new home in Norfolk and we send them our best wishes.
The raffle was very successful and we would like to thank all the local businesses who donated prizes: Co-op, Green and Healthy, John Wakefield – artist, Megalily Design, Gruffalo Post Office, Sakala, Sarah Abbott – artist, Singing Hamalaya, Something Special – Joyce Pinkus, The Basement 93, The Little Sweet Shop, Woody’s Attic, Sussex Stationers.
GRANTS
We were very pleased to award the following grants in December:
Steyning Air Cadets: £300 to cover the cost of a Chromebook and the building of a flight simulator; Steyning for Trees: £250 to help fund their tree planting projects; Steyning Grammar School: £230 to cover the cost of a Chromebook for the Science department; Steyning Museum: £200 to cover the cost of two display cabinets.
The next deadline for applications for Steyning Society grants is May 1st. If any members know of any local organisation which provides amenities for the people of Steyning, or is involved with any local conservation projects, and would benefit from a small grant, do encourage them to download an application form from our website and send it in.
PLANNING
After publishing a draft document, Horsham District Council will be holding a Local Plan Review consultation period in February and March. The Council plans to go round the District with exhibitions and surveys to gather local opinion. You can register to receive email updates at https://www.horsham.gov.uk/planning/local-plan
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS
Steyning and District’s Heritage Open Days will be from Friday to Sunday 18 – 20 September 2020 as part of the national festival, celebrating our history and culture. We will be working with owners and others to identify properties that can be open and anticipate the event will provide the opportunity to go behind the scenes as well as illustrate our history. We want to promote Steyning’s heritage to our community and to a wider audience. Heritage Open Days are well publicised, so we can expect visitors from outside the town.
So far we have booked an open evening with a local historian Janet Pennington on the evening of Friday18th September and two film showings on Saturday morning 19th September at 9.30 and 11.30 of The Lost Railway: A Return Ticket to the Steyning Line. In the evening on the same day, a film showing of A Century in Steyning at 7.30pm. All of these will be at the Steyning Centre and will be bookable, but as with all Heritage Open events they will be free.
Further details of the event and proposed openings will be available in our next newsletter and on our website – https://steyningsociety.org.uk. It will also be on the national website – https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk. In addition we will produce a leaflet to publicise events, along with booking arrangements for those properties with limited access.
STEYNING FOR TREES
Steyning For Trees (STF) is a new community group formed to help fight climate change by promoting the planting of more trees. Trees are also vital for the beauty of our town and landscape – and our mental wellbeing.
The Steyning Society is keen to support SFT and has provided a grant to assist their work. The aims of this group complement those of the Steyning Society and so we have agreed that SFT should be affiliated to us.
At the October Farmers’ Market SFT gave away 240 trees to gardeners, sourced from the Woodland Trust. They are now working with the parish Council to undertake tree planting on selected green spaces in Steyning owned by the Parish.
SFT are working closely with other organisations including The Woodland Trust and the Council for the Protection of Rural England. However, they are very dependent on local volunteers for committee work, planting and funding. If you think you can help please contact: ggordon@talk21.com .
OUTINGS
A number of outings are being planned, but at the time of going to print the details have not been finalised. Once finalised an email will be sent to all members online and the outings will also be advertised with posters around the town and at the next Steyning Society meeting on 21 February.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Steyning Society gives notice that the Society’s Annual General Meeting 2020 will be held at 7.30 pm on Friday 17th April 2020 in the Steyning Centre, Fletchers Croft, Steyning BN44 3XZ
1 Apologies for absence
2 Minutes of the AGM 2019
3 Chair’s Report for 2019
4 Treasurer’s Report for 2019
5 Election of Officers 2020/21
6 Election of Committee Members 2020/21
7 Appointment of Examiner for accounts
8 Any Other Business
NEWSLETTER DELIVERERS
We would like to thank our band of deliverers who make sure that every member receives a copy of our newsletter.
