Greetings!
As we approach the first day of spring, I have high hopes that the swirls of snow and sleet we have been seeing daily are the last vestiges of the winter and I am trying to ignore them, to think of warmer, longer days.
On Friday March 3rd, our stand at the Community Fair in the Corn Exchange polled townsfolk to ask which historic or quirky places or features of St. Ives should be protected and preserved for future generations. Suggestions were as wide-ranging as we hoped: from pill boxes and telephone kiosks to the carved lintel in M&Co’s doorway, from revitalising the weekly markets, pedestrianising the town centre to protecting river fowl. We will be asking the audience at this week’s public meeting to add their views but we’d like to hear about sites outside the town centre too, so please email me through our website with your ideas.
On March 16th, I’m sure Hemlocs won’t mind a plug from me for their lecture, “The Rise & Decline of Victorian Reading Rooms in East Angle” by Sarah Doig.
On March 17th, we will be welcoming Adrian Moss to talk to us about the intriguingly titled “The Mayflower: 400 years On & Fenstanton” so I hope you will be able to join us. Did you know that in the Fenstanton churchyard of St Peter and St Paul lies the graveyard of Mr and Mrs John Howland whose son John arrived in America on the Mayflower? His descendants include Presidents Franklin D Roosevelt, George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.
On the 21st April, when the gardeners amongst us should all be enjoying the fruits of their winter labours, we can be encouraged to do more by Iain Webb from the Beds & Cambs Wildlife Trust talking about “Gardening with Wildlife in Mind”
On Wednesday 22nd March, the Houghton & Wyton history club monthly talk is about the Biden family, who have ties with the village. It takes place at 7:30pm in the Memorial Hall.
And then, there’s the 3-day Coronation weekend from May 6th-8th. The celebration starts with the televised crowning at Westminster Abbey of King Charles III on the Saturday. On Sunday the 7th St Ives will have its very own Big Lunch street party from 12-5pm all along Market Hill, brought to you by the Town Council and a huge bevy of volunteers from groups across the town. Much fun will be had and memories made that weekend. No doubt local photographers will be jostling for prime places, to get the best pictures so perhaps there will be a new Coronation display to put alongside the black & white run in the Corn Exchange?
Behind the scenes, a Planning Advisory Group was formed this month, drawn both from the Executive Committee and from some of the professionals within the Society’s membership, to whom we will be indebted. Collectively, they will respond on our, and your, behalf to planning and development matters, to protect the town’s heritage and mitigate damage by new developments wherever possible. There will be much for them to do!
Kind regards
Civic Society of St Ives