Chairman’s Report for AGM , 2nd July 2024
This has been a successful year following the pattern of previous years. I have been very fortunate to be able to rely on an experienced and capable committee.
The programme has followed the usual pattern, except that to make best use of daylight there were seven talks in the spring and five in the autumn. We have had a range of good talks and with three outings planned, one already having taken place and two to come
During the year we have helped the Museums with several acquisitions. These include:
Donation for work on historic theatre posters
Donation towards the purchase of coins from the Braintree Hoard
Conservation work on a sketch of St Botolphs Abbey by John Constable
Agreement to purchase of a Globe by Will Teather previously on short term display in the Museum. This will be in memory of Andrew Millar who served the Friends of the Museums for many years.
Agreement in Principle to give money towards the purchase of a Bronze Age gold torc from Mistley (broken but still of great interest), and for the purchase of a medieval silver pendant found at St Osyth.
Under Michael Connell’s editorship the newsletter has continued to be produced in its enlarged form. Contributions are welcome, though with no guarantee that all will be included.
We are pleased to report that Yvonne Abrams has joined the committee and has taken responsibility for running our website.
We are sorry to report that Harry Carlo has stood down from the committee for health reasons, and Sir Bob Russell has resigned from being a Vice President
Alan Skinner, although no longer on the committee, is running a Facebook site for us, which is much appreciated.
Ray Cantrell 2[nd] July 2024