Barking and District Historical Society

Barking and District Historical Society

Chairman's Report 2008/2009

We were all saddened by the deaths during the year of two stalwart members of the Society - our Membership Secretary Judith Harcombe and Viola Parr.

Membership currently stands at 48, which is an increase on 2007/8.

Bill George, our President, created the Society's first website during the year and this has already resulted in a steady trickle of membership enquiries. Bill also continues to produce our newsletter. Many thanks, Bill.

The Vice-Presidents continue to offer advice and support and I must thank Joy Lines for not only providing the committee with a meeting place, but also a very welcome supper!

I have attended various events during the year on behalf of the Society - the Dagenham Village Fair in August, the Dagenham Girl Piper's reunion in October, the East of London Family History Fair in January, a number of Essex Congress events including the recent AGM in Colchester and the Barking and Dagenham Heritage Forum meeting at the Barking Learning Centre in November.

My thanks go to Mary Blake for continuing to run the monthly raffles and for her help at various events.

The refreshments team headed by June Johnson must also be thanked for their sterling efforts and, again, have made a profit.

I must also thank Richard Chapman for keeping an eye on our accounts for us and bringing the screen, projector and projector table to our meetings.

The absence of a Social Secretary to organise outings is a great shame, but we did manage a tour of Rainham Hall in October. The Barking Photographic Society and Chadwell Heath Historical Society have opened up some of their trips to our members, which is greatly appreciated.

I now look forward to our 75th anniversary season with a launch event in September attended by the Mayor.

John Blake
Chairman
May 2009