FRIENDS OF INSOLE COURT WINTER NEWSLETTER

JANUARY 2009 

CARDIFF COUNCIL IS HOLDING

A PUBLIC CONSULTATION

ON THE SALE OF THE STABLE BLOCK

TUESDAY 27th January 2009

AT THE BISHOP OF LLANDAFF HIGH SCHOOL

FROM 6.30 TO 8.30 PM

 As you know, the Friends' Special General Meeting on October 11th - the best attended for many years - passed overwhelmingly the following resolution:- 

"This SGM believes that the disposal of the Stable Block at Insole Court would permanently diminish the integrity and heritage value of this listed house and gardens in return for only a short-term capital gain. We therefore call upon the Committee to campaign for retention of the Stable Block in the public domain and to seek other means for it to be sympathetically restored and put to viable community use."

The full minutes of this SGM can be read on our website www.insolecourt.org.uk. 

 

Your committee members will be attending and submitting a document setting forth the arguments presented at the meeting and they will urge the Council to undertake a rigorous feasibility study to explore ways of achieving our objective.

Arguments have a certain force - but so do numbers of people attending in support of those arguments.

We cannot tell what effect the consultation will have on the Council's decision; however it is certain that without well presented counter arguments and a strong indication of public support for those arguments, the Council will feel justified in proceeding with their plan. 

So if you care and if you can –

PLEASE TURN UP AND GIVE SUPPORT!

THE BISHOP OF LLANDAFF HIGH SCHOOL

TUESDAY 27th JANUARY 6.30 pm 

A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION WILL BE HELD

ON WEDNESDAY 11TH FEBRUARY 2.30 pm at INSOLE COURT

TO VOTE UPON THE FOLLOWING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS:

2. Aims:

 Add new clause 2.3, to read:-

“2.3 To engage in researching, recording and interpreting any matters relevant to the history of Insole Court House and Grounds, the Insole family and their business enterprises.”

9. Accounts, Income and Property:

Delete clause 9.6 (as adopted on 20th October 2008) and replace with:-

“The income and property of the Association will be applied solely towards the promotion of its objects and no portion will be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise by way of profit to members: providing that nothing in this rule shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable and proper remuneration for any services provided to the Association by any member, officer or servant of the Association.”

 VOLUNTEERING:  Our plans to have volunteers working in the pantry have been delayed by County Council procedures. The Library is open Monday to Friday, on a help-yourself basis.  We intend staffing it on Wednesdays for 2 x 2 hour stints, and we need volunteers for this straight away (Please contact John Isaacs for details).  Meanwhile the 50+ group has built sessions into its programme designed to help potential volunteers to extend their knowledge of the House and its history.  This process will link up in due course with the Lottery-funded Heritage project.  (See 50+ Group (below)

C O M I N G   F. I. C.   E V E N T S

ANNUAL PLANT SALE – SAT 16th MAY 10.00 am

 ‘FIC  50+ GROUP’ SPRING PROGRAMME

SESSIONS EACH WEDNESDAY IN THE COURT AT 10.00 am

NEW MEMBERS  WELCOME – JUST TURN UP AND JOIN

The 50+ Group supports the aims of FIC and provides a social programme.   Meanwhile, the following Spring programme of Wednesday morning events has been planned. As well as talks and debates, we have built sessions into the programme that will help potential volunteers to extend their knowledge of the House and its history.  This process will link up in due course with the Lottery-funded Heritage project.   We also have access to a room on Wednesday afternoons for further studies should we wish to use it.

PROGRAMME

14 Jan  -        The progress of Insole Court and outcome of the FIC Heritage Lottery bid.

21 Jan  -      “Crime Writing” - Guest speaker – Prof Bernard Knight, Forensic Pathologist.

  +   FIC News up-date.

28 Jan  -        Current affairs discussion and debate   (Subject TBA)

  4 Feb -      “Myth Makers”   Guest speaker Mr Alan Thorne

11 Feb -      “The Insole Heritage”  - presentation and discussion.   

18 Feb -      “Paying for Care” A Welsh Assembly consultation

25 Feb -      “Cardiff at War”   Guest speaker, Mr Dennis Morgan
 4 Mar -      “The Insole Heritage” - presentation and discussion

11 Mar -     “The Leprosy Mission” Guest speaker, John White

18 Mar -     “Welsh Artefacts”  Walter Jones Retired head of education at St Fagans   

25 Mar -     “The Insole Heritage”  presentation and discussion.

The group is part-funded by a grant from the ‘Ageing Well and Engagement’ Programme

We make a nominal charge of £1.00 per head towards the cost of room hire. 

 “THIRD THURSDAY” CONCERTS

 We hope you will enjoy our new season of monthly intimate music in the oak panelled George Frederick Insole Room from March to June at 7.30 pm.

Thurs 19th March         -  Cube  (You may have enjoyed their cool jazz in the summer picnics)

Thurs 16th April  -  A Romantic Evening of Guitar Music & Song

                                    in Spanish, Welsh &  English (René Griffiths & Rhisiart Arwel)

Thurs 21st May   -  The Gwalia String Octet ( WNO Orchestral players)

Thurs 18th June   -  Absolute Zero Viola Quartet (BBC & WNO Players)  

A maximum of 60 tickets will be available for each  concert

 £8.00  (Members £7)  Or book all 4 in advance for £30 (Members £25).

For ticket sales watch for more detailed posters & website entry in February.

If in doubt ring John P-M on 07966 48 77 11

A NOTE FROM THE MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY

 MEMBERSHIP FEES

 

If you are a Life Member or have a standing order with your bank to pay your annual subscription automatically, please disregard this notice.

THE MEMBERSHIP YEAR BEGINS ON JUNE 1ST

 Please help the AGM to get started punctually

by renewing your subscription in advance of the 13th June AGM 

   The current rates are:

              ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP     £ 3  (Unchanged)

                       LIFE MEMBERSHIP              £30  (New rate)

Or why not make someone a gift of 5years’ membership for £15 ?

 

WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE ANNUAL STANDING ORDER PAYMENTS.

If you are willing to assist us in this way, please contact me

Alun Salisbury

Membership Secretary, Friends of Insole Court

2 Thistle Way, Llandaf, Cardiff CF5 2BU

(029 2056 6083        or    alun@asalisbury5.wanadoo.co.uk

Otherwise, cheques should be sent to me and made payable to:

“The Friends of Insole Court”

 

THANK YOU !

 

NEWSLETTERS BY E-MAIL

We shall continue hand-delivery of course, but our activities and membership have grown to the point where this is not the most effective tool it once was in keeping you all informed of developments.

 

We can provide you a better and more frequent service and avoid overworking our  dedicated but small band of distributors if we can contact more members by e-mail.     May I appeal to all members who can do so to send their email addresses to me at

alun@asalisbury5.wanadoo.co.uk

N/B To reassure you about privacy: I undertake to always send group emails out using the ‘Blind Carbon Copy’ system which prevents circulation of your e-mail address to other recipients on the list.

 Thanks in anticipation                                                                                 Alun Salisbury

 

THE 2009 A.G.M. WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 13th  IN THE COURT.

OUR NEXT NEWSLETTER WILL GIVE YOU FULL DETAILS.

 

ANY FURTHER EVENTS ARRANGED BEFORE THAT WILL BE ADVERTISED ON VILLAGE NOTICEBOARDS AND ON THE WEBSITE

www.insolecourt.org.uk