Dear members                                                                                              December 2020                                                            

As promised in my last missive, this is coming to you for the New Year period. It is essentially a very early Spring 2021 update, and you will find enclosed the March 2021 Newsletter of the Society.

Soon after I wrote to you all in August, your committee agreed to cancel the January and February 2021 meetings and informed the speakers. In the last few days, we have also cancelled the remainder of the 2020-21 programme. This includes the Coffee Morning in March, and all possibility of any Summer outings. I suppose the only remark one can make on this catastrophic situation is that we are in the same boat as practically every other local community organisation, not to mention organisations of wider remit. At the moment consideration is beginning of a programme for 2021-22 to start in September. Whether that will prove possible (not to mention what the enthusiasm for public gatherings will be) remains to be seen. It is likely that we will not send out another mailing until the usual August one.

I must use this opportunity to remark upon the recent death of Fred Walker, a figure notable not only in our local history community, but more widely known nationally in those circles studying the history of marine architecture. An engineer graduate of Glasgow University, Fred worked in the shipyards of Scotland and, indeed, in international shipbuilding. His interest in the history of shipbuilding took him from Smallhythe to all other places east and west around the globe. He had lectured widely and still held a honorary academic post at his death, which was sudden. If you needed to build a coracle or a supertanker, Fred knew the engineering issues involved! Many in Tenterden have had the benefit of hearing Fred speak on diverse and fascinating maritime subjects. The fruit of one of his labours can be seen in St Mildred’s church where hangs an accurate model of the “Grand Mistress” built for Henry VIII at Smallhythe. Familiar as I am with the frustrated utterings of Glaswegians (!) I well remember Fred’s mutterings over the complications and delays in actually getting that task brought to its excellent conclusion. He was a very fine friend to many of us in this town.

It was, of course, impossible to hold our Annual General Meeting in November, as had been planned. On the reverse of this letter, for information, are the certified accounts for 2019-20, accepted by your Committee. These will be presented for approval by members when possible at a formal General Meeting. My feeling is that you ought to have a sight of these now, and please do raise with me any points of concern.

My very best wishes , and I hope to be greeting many of you to a meeting in September. Patience is the word.

Dr Nick Hudd