SHERINGHAM PRESERVATION SOCIETY

The Society needs more members - new blood is needed on the Committee.   Speak to your friends and neighbours.  Amongst a population of 7,300 there must be a dozen people who are willing to serve on the Committee to be the decision-makers for the Society, possibly taking it in a new direction!

If you are interested in Sheringham and the surrounding area, if you are concerned about what happens to the community where you live, or visit frequently, then that is sufficient qualification to be a member of the Society.  You do not have to be a resident to be a member, you do not need to be retired and you can be as old or as young as you like.

I was 29 years old when I helped to found the Society in 1979.  The Society quickly became a force to be reckoned with. Consulted by Sheringham Town Council on community issues, consulted by North Norfolk District Council on planning issues. We had a busy Conservation Section that kept the Common tidy and planted trees.  There was an active Junior Section for children of members.  Our Annual Art Exhibition has been a great success every year since 1979.  Twenty years ago, during one of our attempts to open a museum in Sheringham, the Society adopted the slogan ''Preserving the Past to Protect the Future'.

That does not mean that the Society is opposed to all change.  Some change is necessary, some change is good.  The beneficial changes have been supported by the Society; the detrimental changes have been opposed.  Sometimes opposition was too great to overcome but our voice was heard and sometimes made a difference.

The Society played a major role in securing the future of Sheringham Museum 15 years ago.   After being involved with the Henry Ramey Upcher Lifeboat Museum for many years the future is secured there.  More recently the Society has secured the future of the sheds on West Cliff.

That was a long, time consuming and expensive process during which the Society appeared to be doing little else but that was far from being true.   Over the years there have also been many small successes and with a good number of active members there could be many more.

You do not have to be a ''local'' to be a member although it is good if you are.  The Society would not have been so successful without the active 'foreigners' who have been members over the years.  It has been the 'locals' and the 'foreigners' working together that has enabled the Society to achieve so much.  We want that success to continue.

If you are a member, or a prospective member and you want to discuss the Society's activities, to praise it, or to criticise then come and speak to me at Peter's Bookshop, St Peter's Road, or phone me on 823008.

What will be the next project for the Society?  Do you have any ideas?

If you are already a member, or you know someone who is a likely volunteer and you have some time to spare, or expertise to offer, then come forward.

Do not leave it to someone else because every other 'someone else' could be leaving it to you!
Peter Cox - President.