The Membership Secretary
Martin H Revill
386 Hurst Road,
Bexley,
Kent,
DA5 3JY
Canterbury
The Branch continues to hold its meetings on the first Saturday of the month (no
meeting in August). We welcome any members who would like to join us. Coffee
at 10.15a.m., start at 10.30a.m., finish at 12.15p.m.
For venues and more details, Contact Secretary: Mrs. Patricia Mann 01233 623051
Isle of Man
Full details of all branch events from the
Secretary: Joyce Corlett, Erin Arts Centre,
Victoria Square, Port Erin, Isle of Man, IM9 6LD
Lincolnshire
for further details of the
Group contact Rev Clifford Knowles on 01522 810720.
Sherborne
The Sherborne Branch meets in "Spring House" studio to read and talk
about John Betjeman. Recitals are given throughoutthe Southern counties, reading
the Poet Laureate's verse and prose interspersed with music. We raise money for
the Parkinson's Disease Society, Cancer Care, and various churches.
Full details of all branch activities from the Chairman: Kay Jackman, Spring House, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5PB,
01963 210240
The Shires
The Shires Branch exists to bring together members of our Society resident in
the counties of Leicester, Derby, Nottingham, Northampton, and Rutland. We have
strong links with the Lincolnshire Branch, and several members outside our
geographical territory attend Shires Branch meetings.
For further details of the Branch and its
activities, please contact our Chairman: Ann Ward, 33 Dean Street, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6AF, 01572 757844.
Wantage
contact: Roy Denison, 24 Penny Piece, Goring-on-Thames, Reading, RG8 9BY
Oxford
Enquiries to their Secretary, Penny Forbes-Roberts, 92 Churchway, Haddenham, Bucks HP17 8DT
The Ridings Branch (Yorkshire)
Peter Scott, 7 Anderson Grove, York, YO24 4DX.
To book a place for these events use the booking form that is sent out with the Newsletter or write to John Heald at 35 Eaton Court, Boxgrove Avenue, Guildford, Surrey GU1 1XH
NW5 and N6 Guided Walk - Saturday, 11 July 2009 - Lance Pierson is our guide on a walk from Kentish Town to Highgate visiting scenes from John Betjeman’s childhood – Meet at Kentish Town Station at 2.00pm. Open to members who may bring a guest if there is a vacancy. Maximum number is 30. Cost £8 for members, £10 for guests.
Birthday Party at St John’s Church, Waterloo - Thursday, 27 August 2009 - We gather at 6.00pm for 6.30pm. Our guest speaker this year is the biographer and journalist, Valerie Grove. Her life of John Mortimer, published before his recent death was a ‘book of the year’ for many members. A party atmosphere will prevail; refreshments and a birthday cake will be provided. Tickets are available at £18 for members and £20 for their guests.
Betjeman Lecture at The Cowcross Gallery, 77 Cowcross Street, London EC1, on Thursday 15 October 2009 – Our lecturer this year is Greg Morse, author of John Betjeman, Reading the Victorians
Who will speak on the subject A question of influence: John Betjeman and the Victorians. Tickets will be available later.
These are not organised by the Society but members are welcome to join in – contacts are shown in each entry.
An Evening of Betjeman at St Katherine’s Church, Chiselhampton, at 7.30pm on Friday 31st July 2009 – recitals of Sir John Betjeman’s work with music from the St James Singers. In aid of the Churches Conservation Trust and the Parish Church. Tickets are £10 from Tom Peers or Stephen Dawson on 01865 890079
Poetry Reading on Betjeman’s Birth date 28 August 2009 – This will be part of a tour organised by our member, Don Kennedy. The full tour will visit railway and canal related sites in north London (including the Cumberland Basin arm of The Regents Canal), ending at St Pancras for a literary celebration of Sir John. To book for the full tour contact Don Kennedy on 020 8567 4397. Members can just attend the poetry reading but will need to contact Don for details of the time to meet at St Pancras.
Padstow Festival from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October 2009 – A celebration of the works of two eminent former residents of North Cornwall - Sir Malcolm Arnold (composer) and Sir John Betjeman (poet and man of letters). Events will take place in St Petroc Church, Padstow and at Prideaux Place, Padstow. The outline programme is: