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Events organised by the Civic Society

Meetings start at 7.30 on the second Thursday in the month (unless otherwise stated), and once again take place in the Town Hall. Please remember to bring your membership card. Visitors are welcome for an entry fee of £2.
** Please note the change of venue and start time. **
Entrance to the Town Hall is via the main door. If you are late and find that it is locked, please ring the bell and wait to be admitted.

 

  • 9th February - Council Chamber, Town Hall
    'The Architecture of Decimus Burton' - a illustated talk by Dr Philip Whitbourn OBE, FSA, FRIBA. Philip is well known to Society members as the founder secretary in 1959, four times chairman, and president from 1995 to 2005. He last spoke to us about Decimus Burton (1800-1881) just ten years ago, and has since produced the best-selling monograph on him. The talk will explain the importance of Burton’s work, both nationally and locally, in and around Tunbridge Wells.



  • 8th March - Council Chamber, Town Hall
    'A Haven for the First Lady of Fleet Street' - a talk by Eilat Negev and Yehuda Koren from Israel, about Rachel Beer (née Sassoon, and aunt of Siegfried), who remarkably owned and edited both The Observer and The Sunday Times while also caring for her seriously ill husband. The stress of his death in 1903, and the pressure of her workload, culminated in a breakdown in 1904, after which she retreated to her 'haven' at Chancellor House on Mount Ephraim, dying in 1927. Our speakers’ book, 'The First Lady of Fleet Street,' was published last year.

  • 12th April - Council Chamber, Town Hall
    'A Journey through the Weald of Kent' - A lyrical John Betjeman film from 1959, followed by its 2010 counterpart, commissioned by the Weald of Kent Preservation Society and made by pupils of Cranbrook School.

  • 10th May - Council Chamber, Town Hall
    'Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society Awards Evening - presenter to be announced.

  • 14th June - Council Chamber, Town Hall
    'Between Tradition and Modernity: British Architecture between the Wars' - Dr Graham Whitham on the array of buildings produced when British tradition faced European modernity.

  • July
    Garden Party - at a venue and on a Saturday to be arranged.

  • Saturday 18th August
    Battle Abbey and the site of the Battle of Hastings - Local History Group outing. Transport arrangements will depend upon numbers. If you are interested, it would be helpful if you could advise either Chris Jones (522025) or John Cunningham (534599).

  • Thursday 6th September to Sunday 9th September
    Heritage Open Days in and around Tunbridge Wells.

  • 13th September - Council Chamber, Town Hall
    Tunbridge Wells Borough Council - a presentation by senior TWBC representatives, followed by your opportunity to question them.

  • 11th October - Committee Room A, Town Hall
    The Local History Group presents its most recent work.

  • 8th November - Council Chamber, Town Hall
    Annual General Meeting followed by an open forum for members.

  • 11th November - 10.30 at the War Memorial
    Remembrance Sunday - members are invited to attend the parade in Civic Way.

  • 13th December - Council Chamber, Town Hall
    'Smuggling: The Pantiles' Alter Ego' - Grahame Bell tells how, while the gentry promenaded, illicit business was being carried on in the shadows.

    As this is the Christmas meeting the traditional refreshments of wine and nibbles will be provided afterwards.


The Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society 2012 - Registered Charity No. 276545