Hythe Civic Society

Schedule of  Events 2008 - 2009. (updated 26th July 2008).

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 Town Walks restarted in June 2008: every Thursday at 10.30 am from the Town Hall.

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The talks programme restarts on October 14th 2008.

Talks will be in the School Hall, Hythe Bay C of E Primary School, Cinque Ports Avenue, Hythe, CT21 6HS.  This is a change of venue that offers increased capacity versus our former venue, the United Reform Church, East Street, Hythe.

Talks start at 7.30 pm promptly.

Talks - details and dates:

12^th May 2009       ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – HYTHE TOWN HALL – 7.00 PM
 

 Town Walks restarted in June 2008: every Thursday at 10.30 am from the Town Hall.

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Below - A reminder of these events in 2007.

Hythe Civic Society Thankyou Lunch - Sunday, 16th December.

Each year the Society organises a lunch to thank members who help in the Society's activities during the year: the Newsletter Distributers, the Town Walk Guides, helpers with Hythe in Bloom, the staff at Oaklands, and the host for our website.
Evelyn Joyce provided the excellent food and Alan Joyce and Ian Hill served the drinks. Below are some photos from the event, starting with Chairman, Brigadier John Holman welcoming the Mayor, Councillor Alan Ewart-James and the Mayoress.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the occasion and Evelyn and her helpers were warmly thanked for putting on such delightful refreshments.

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Hythe Civic Society Social Evening - 11th December 2007

About 50 members attended the Christmas Social Evening on Tuesday 11th December at the United Reform Church. June Orell, Anne Woodward, Jane Twist and Sybil Melchers served warm mince pies and coffee and Doug Amans organised a Quiz. Boards around the room displayed photos of well known people and members tried to identify them. The winner identified 34 out of the 40 pictures displayed. The runner up got 33; although these two scores were significantly ahead of most.

Anne Woodward with HCS Secretary Mary Hunter; Sybil in the background.	Jane Twist also helped with the refreshments.
June Orell with Anne Woodward at the refreshments table.	"I recognise 15, but what is his name?"
Waiting for the answers.
Quizmaster Doug Amans calls out the answers	The winner receives the prize - a bottle of sparkling wine.

After the Quiz Vice Chairman and Editor of the Newsletter Christopher Melchers welcomed members, gave the Chairman's apologies, thanked the ladies for organising the refreshments and Doug for the Quiz. Christopher then coducted a survey of members to find out what changes they would like to see in the Newsletter. Members welcomed the increase in colour illustrations, but on the whole thought topics were what they wanted and the content was about right.
Jane Twist then gave an account of improvements to the Town Square (which the Society had been very much involved in through committee member Sally Chesters) and her frustration that Aldi would not open their access from the Town Square - that they had literally "turned their back" on the High Street.

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Hythe Civic Society Lunch 2007.

The Society Lunch took place at Hythe Bowling Club on Saturday, October 13^th. Ninety nine members sat down to a superb 5 course meal of Crispy Camembert & Red Onion Chutney, followed by Leek stuffed Chicken Breasts wrapped in Bacon, served with potatoes & vegetables, Cheese & Biscuits, Orange & Chocolate Mousse and Coffee & Mints.

Below some pictures of just a few of the members enjoying the lunch and the convivial atmosphere.

The lunch was organised by Doug Amans, seen below talking to committee member June Orrell. Opening the proceedings Chairman of Hythe Civic Society, Brigadier John Holman CBE DL paid tribute to Doug for the superb organisation (we are used to nothing less) for the day.

The guest speaker was Mrs. Amanda Cottrell, JP, seen here with John Holman and other members.

Mrs. Cottrell addressed the Society on her year as High Sheriff of Kent, and her new role as Director of the Kent Tourism Alliance. Below, John Holman introduces her.

In an entertaining speech, delivered without notes, she explained the history and current duties of the office of High Sheriff which is held for one year. She explained how the Reeves man was originally the King’s representative in the Shires, and how the shire reeve became the Sheriff. His helpers were a posse, a word surviving to this day.  In modern times many of the duties related to the Monarch have transferred to the Lord Lieutenant, although the High Sheriff retains ceremonial duties related to the judiciary.  The High Sheriff is still responsible however for reading the Riot Act should the need arise, although she admitted it is so long the rioters would have fallen asleep or been uncurtailed long before the reading was finished.

The High Sheriff’s appointment is for 1 year, and he or she (but it is generally he!) is expected to adopt a theme for the year. Typical of the energy and enthusiasm of Mrs Cottrell she had 3 themes. One was promoting Kent produce, and she praised the Hythe Farmers market (that Society committee member Sally Chesters was instrumental in establishing and sustaining). Another theme has been promoting inter cultural understanding, and a third theme was promoting Kent Tourism.

Her speech was filled with amusing anecdotes from her time in office. She briefly wore her three-cornered hat with its magnificent decoration of feathers, and recalled a visit she hosted to Gravesend (of Pocahontas fame) for 8 Indian Tribes where her formal dress compared very favourably with that of the Indian Chiefs.

Mrs. Cottrell is now Director of Kent Tourism Alliance. In her talk she went on to describe the link she helped Kent forge with the State of Virginia (where Mrs. Cottrell was born), and that this link with the US has brought in £7.4 million of revenue to Kent over the past 3 years. The 400^th anniversary of the first settlers from Kent is an opportunity for extra tourism next year. Tourism employs 50,000 people directly and indirectly in Kent and is extremely important to the local economy.  She is working to expand it.

She concluded with a passionate plea for the Canterbury Cathedral Appeal.

John Holman thanked her for her informative speech and impressive achievements, which had been greatly appreciated by all the members.  He then thanked Margaret King and her team of helpers for an excellent lunch. Members endorsed this with an enthusiastic round of applause.

Margaret King is warmly applauded by members.

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