The First Meeting of 2004.
This was on Wednesday, 24th March
2004 at 8PM in the Church Meeting Room.
Peter told the audience about the Chelmsford Borough Council's Science &
Industry Museum at Sandford Mill. This now houses the Marconi Hut which
was originally at Writtle where the "Two Emma Tock" experimental
"broadcast" transmissions were made.
The BBC 2 TV antique programme "Flog-It" visited the Museum and recorded
a show which was transmitted on 13th April, 2004.
For more details click on the following Web Site:-
Peter Turrell presented an excellent illustrated talk
entitled "Marconi 1898 to 1937"
Peter produced many early etchings & photographs of Marconi and his
equipments. Originally the Italian Government was not interested
but his Mother was a Jameson (of whisky fame) and arranged for him
to see William Preece, Chief Engineer of the GPO in England. Preece
could see potential in the "wireless" equipment which Marconi had
produced and encouraged him. Chelmsford was selected and Marconi
set up in an old silk factory but in 1912 moved to a purpose
built factory.
Many slides were shown of Marconi's early equipment mounted on a
horse, motor cycle side car and even a bus which used to travel
to the top of Danbury Hill to transmit a test signal.
Curt Brown, Chairman seated looking a Peter Turrell lecturing.
Photograph taken by John Bowen
Slides were shown of early Broadcasting from Writtle, The Strand and
then of Television from Alexander Palace.
Pictures were shown of Sattelite Earth Stations (Engineers involved
with the design & erection of which were in the audience) in Hong
Kong and Madley in the UK.
Some of the large audience.
Peter talking to Norman Barlett, Secretary of the Danbury Society during
the refreshment break.
After the tea, coffee and beautiful cakes & biscuits provided by Ivy Hare
and assisted by Jean Brown & Glad Deamer, Peter told a number of stories
with contributions from the audience.
Sandford Mill is open to the public from 2 to 5 pm, on every Sunday in
August, 2004. Entrance & parking is FREE. There is a lot to see with
plenty for the children to fiddle with (safely!).
http://www.g0mwt.org.uk/
and Click on "Past Events & Sandford Mill" and then
browse, as required.
A superb Meeting - thank you Peter for bringing History to life.
The Spring Walk
It rained in the morning but by the time to set off it was cloudy
but dry. The walkers threaded there way via Lingwood Common to
Blakes Wood to see the Bluebells.
Because of the type of weather this year the Bluebells were
just past their peak - a week earlier would have been better.
They still smelt divine.
Unfortunately, the Web Editor forgot to take his camera to
record the event!. If the person(s) who did take some pictures
like to send them in - they will be published here.
Thank you David & Wendy for the walk; hope David gets over
the Shingles soon.
The Annual Coach Outing - Saturday,
10th July 2004.
This year it was to
Windsor and Windsor Castle.
The rebuilt Hall is simply wonderful if not a bit "over the top".
All the Staff were very obliging & helpful.
As there is no food served (to us) in the Castle we made our way
either back to the coach to pick up picnics or to local resturants
to have lunch.
Again it rained but after lunch the sun came out while we enjoyed a
river trip.
After a trip around the shops & market it was time to climb back on our
nearly new bus and head for home, in another thunder storm. We got to
Danbury where it had been dry all day.
A jolly good outing - thank you David Bolwell for organising it.
This was on Sunday, 9th May
2003.
32 persons plus 4 dogs assembled in the Community Centre
Top Car Park at 2.15pm.
We left Danbury, Mayes Lane Car Park on the dot of 8.30am
and return to Danbury at about 7.30pm. The travel was very kind
to us - all the hold-ups were in the opposite direction!.
As is usual we left Danbury in the sun & ran into cloud but it did
not rain until we were inside the Castle - then the heavens opened.
The Changing of the Guard. Note the rain clouds in the
distance.
Photos by John using a throw away camera
The Keep.
Windsor Castle from the boat.
Danbury Society Members on the boat.
The Annual Art Exhibition.
This was held over the Bank Holiday Weekend, Friday the 27nd to Sunday the 29th August.
The Danbury Society 2003 Art Show was
headed by Glad Deamer and her band of willing helpers. She had
graciously agreed to organise the 2004 event.
Approx 440 original oil, watercolour, silk & pastel paintings were
on show varying in price from £15 to £700. The usual very high
standard was displayed with a number of local Danbury scenes and
those of Maldon, Thames Barges and Sailing Boats. Venice
and Malta also featured along with many beautiful cats, dogs and horses.
2004 Art Exhibition from the entrance doors
There was a Raffle and a lovely display of flowers by Jean Brown & Margaret Whitehead.
2004 Art Exhibition from the stage
We had what we really wanted - dry periods but with a forcaste of rain - this way people came to us in Danbury instead. It was also a very good social event with near neighbours talking for the first time this year - the car is the conversation killer!.
There were plenty of Red Dots indicationg the painting was sold and many portfolios were also sold.
While visiting Danbury Art Show people visited Eves Corner pond and sat in the seat in memory of Mrs Allpress who donated so much of her time to the Village functions. Some then took a snack, a real cup of tea, coffee & cakes from the "Tea on the Green" nearby.
Local builders of quality, Bakers of Danbury collected & returned the Art display screens - our grateful thanks to their helpful drivers.
Danbury Palace - The end of an era.
Andrew Martin Associates have been retained to advise
Anglia University on the most cost effective disposal option for
the Palace now that it is not required.
Click below to view more details.
The Autumn Meeting.
This was an illustrated talk by Peter Woolstenholme
entitled "Everest, Nepal and the Himalayan Trust".
Mr Woolstenholme first enchanted the audience with breathtaking
pictures of Everest as he climbed part of the way up in 2002.
He then explained how Sir Edmund Hillary & Sherpa Tensing
became involved with the Himalayan Trust which has donated 1/2 £Million
to the villages immediately below Everest.
He showed slides of the villages, schools & Monasteries which
The Trust supports & the people in them.
During the break, Ivy Hare & Pauline Bowen supplied excellent
refreshments. Thank you both.
After the break Mr Woolstenholme answered many questions. Another
superb presentation.
The previous day was foul with high winds & rain but the wind dropped
to a normal breeze & the sun came out. The shade temperature was
16 degrees C but felt much warmer in the sun. The day was ideal
for a walk. David went on Danbury Walk Number 1 to include Thrift's
Wood, slightly modified
to see the Autumn tints. It was scheduled to be about 5 miles.
The Annual General Meeting
This was held on TUESDAY, 23rd
November at 8pm, in The Village Hall at Eve's Corner.
At the AGM, Mr Curt Brown was re-elected
as Chairman.
He explained how he designed ships until the British
ship-building industry collapsed mainly due to lack
of investment & good Management. He then went to work for
a number of overseas companies. He was involved with producing
Under Sea Pipe-laying Barges which floated well down in the water
and 4,000 Tonne lifting capacity cranes mounted on barges.
These are used to recover sunken ships.
He told numerous stories about who owns what - quite a revelation.
Thank you very much for an interesting evening.
After the presentation the audience enjoyed soft drinks, wine
& cheese with the Danbury Society Committee.
Christmas Carols around the Tree at Eve's
Corner.
The Christmas Trees was provided from the Little Baddow Fruit Farm
and erected by a happy band of volunteers under the guidance of
Dave Bolwell, recently back from Australia. Groundsman, Robin
assisted with his tractor.
As the tree had a better shape but was not so heavy as we have had
it soon went up.
Arthur Allen had the right knack of taking off the caps to replace
those bulbs which had blown - including the one on the very top!
Well done Arthur & thank you.
With 40 lights the tree looked good in the dark.
On Wednesday evening, Eddie produced a battery of equipment including
a radio microphone & a 600 Watt amplifier & Speakers.
The night proved relatively mild at 10 degrees C & dry inspite of dire
warnings to the opposite by all Met Persons in the Media.
Well over 100 people turned out & enjoyed a good selection of Carols
& Readings.
Afterwards 55 + persons walked up to the URC Meeting Room to be
given a glass of hot, non-alcoholic Mulled Wine served by Pauline
Bowen. Then they all had a cup of tea/coffee & Mince Pies made
by the Ladies of the local Churches - well done & thank you.
Click here to go back to the Top
Mr Woolstenholme & David Bolwell looking at a
map of Everest.
Mrs Woolstenholme holding a tapestry of Everest.
The Autumn Walk
This took place on Sunday, 24th of
October
20 + Members met in the Top Car Park at 2.15PM.
The walkers before they set off.
Photograph by John using a Cannon A75 digital camera
Wendy and David Moore led a select band of walkers and a
well behaved dog on the final Walk of the year.
After, Mr R Crouch presented a very interesting Talk
entitled "I built Ships for Swan Hunter and Hyundai".
Mr Crouch showed a number of persons in the audience some of the
involved design drawings of projected he was involved with -
facinating.
Copyright (c) Danbury Society 2004
Last revised:- 23rd January 2005.