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A voluntary group of National Trust Members and Volunteers in support of the National Trust

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                     Social Committee Report

When one event is over the ladies of the Social Committee meet and plot and plan for the next event for our members to socialize and chat.

 

Following our June Antiques Road Show which was so enjoyable, our next target is the Annual Supper Evening which takes place on November 24th

at Bluecoat School. The Credo Singers will entertain us after the meal this year. They performed  for us before when we celebrated Trafalgar Day several years ago at the Central Hall and were very much appreciated

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On March 15th we go again to Tutbury Castle, this time Lesley Smith  will entertain us as Boudicca followed by a refreshing cream tea.

 

Socializing at the Walsall Association of NT Members is certainly all go besides being very educational

 

 

 

Elizabeth Vodden

Chairman, Social Committee.

 

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Membership

Membership to Walsall National Trust Association is open to all National Trust members and Volunteers.

 

                 Our present membership stands at just over 300.

 

The annual subscription of £12.00 per member is payable on 1st September and entitles members to free attendance at our afternoon and evening lectures.   Members also receive a copy of our Newsletter which is published in the Spring and Autumn.   The Newsletter gives details of  all activities during the year.  

 

The evening lectures take place at Blue Coat School, C of E Comprehensive School Walsall on the second Wednesday of the month from September to April commencing at 7.30pm.   The afternoon lectures take place at the Methodist Church Rooms, Anchor Road, Aldridge on the fourth Wednesday afternoon of the month from September to November and from January to March commencing at 2.30pm

 

From April to October, coach and car outings are arranged to National Trust and non National Trust properties.   A full calendar of walks is also arranged. We also have a lively Theatre Group with visits to Stratford-upon-Avon, The Malvern Theatre , The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton as well as local theatres.

 

Mary & Nancy Sankey

Membership Secretaries

 

 

 

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         Restoration at Baddeseley Clinton and Mrs Ena Eades’s legacy.

Ena was Principal Lecturer in Dance & Movement Studies  at West Midlands College, having joined the staff  in 1963,  its first year. Following their retirement, both she and husband Gerald played a full part in the life of the community through membership of the National Trust Association where Ena organised tours including residential holidays eventually serving as Chairman 2000-2005. In addition to these commitments, she and Gerald took leading parts in Probus and at St. Matthew’s Parish Church. Gerald, who had been Head of the Department of Music frequently served as organist, and at St. Margaret’s Church. They celebrated their Silver Wedding in  1993.

While Gerald was a Londoner, Ena came from Leamington Spa which helps to explain her affection for nearby Baddesley Clinton and why, following her death, the Association agreed that  that particular National Trust property received the bulk of her very generous bequest.

This has been used to repair the stone-work on the North-east corner of the house with Arden Sandstone quarried on site at Badger’s Dell. The stone had started to weather and a hole appeared in the library chimney sending rubble down into the room  and letting in the rain and birds . Arden stone is unique and is best described as siltstone and is quite weak when it first comes out of the ground, but hardens once it has lost its quarry sap. Despite its softness , there are no problems of rising damp in the moated house at Baddesley. This is because the ground water contains  a lot of dissolved lime and this, combined with lime already in the stone , seals up the pores and makes the stone impervious  so no repairs have been needed for 500 years. The same approach is used in Venice where an Istrian Limestone is used at the waterline of the buildings.

 David F. Vodden

 President

 

 

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The restored stonework was completed in September.

 

Photo by Mr. D. Vodden