THE HARWICH SOCIETY

Founded in 1969, the Society now has a membership of over 1,000 in a town population of 15,000. A vigorous Society, all Executive Committee Members have a job to do and monthly reports ensure they do it well. People are slow to volunteer, so post-holders are selected with care and then invited to fill a vacancy. The system has worked well. Another unusual characteristic of the Society is our policy of carving out areas of responsibility and then giving it to someone to look after. In this way, sixty five different members are involved in running their Society. The responsibility increases their interest.

Monthly meetings with visiting speakers are held for all members. Social events are held quarterly. There are five groups in the Society looking after particular areas such as trees, footpaths, etc., and they meet separately. Any member can join any or all of the groups. There are four subcommittees covering specialist areas such as social (fund raising) and planning. The latter checks planning applications weekly, comments to the District Council when appropriate, and takes an active part in public inquiries, sometimes against the District Council, and sometimes in support. The Executive Committee and Planning Subcommittee are supported by six village agents (from the surrounding villages) who report any unusual development in their patch. The Guide Panel (mostly retired members) conduct 2,000 visitors per annum around the town.

The Society is restoring the largest ancient monument in the area (Harwich Redoubt Fort) and so far has spent £100,000 on the project. It established and maintains a Maritime Museum in a disused lighthouse. It raised £20,000 to have two other iron lighthouses fully restored. It erects commemorative plaques on Historic Buildings and Sites. It has restored and maintains the oldest posting box and the oldest drinking fountain in the town. It created and maintains a large flowerbed in the station forecourt and erected and maintains a rose screen in the shopping centre. It erected a beacon for Armada 88. It publishes postcards and local guide books, (one is available in eight languages). It produced a 180ft long, 10ft high wall mural. It maintains a nature reserve. It plants trees.

The Society also operates a Lifeboat Museum in a disused Victorian Lifeboat House and a Visitor Information Centre in a disused Pier Ticket Office. The fort, the two museums and the visitor information centre are all open daily from May 1st to August 31st, all manned by volunteers.

All Society activities are reported in the quarterly newsletter. The Editor is inundated with material! All members give their services free.

Local Amenity Societies have been active in Community regeneration for many years. Voluntary bodies, drawing on local loyalties and resources, they are well placed to spot, and then tackle, challenges that other organisations have overlooked – or ducked. Throughout the United Kingdom, about 1,000 are registered with the Civic Trust. Their achievements add up to far more than most people realise because each operates independently in its own area, not usually in the national limelight. Imaginative and dedicated, they are highly cost effective. Their work is undertaken to high standards, and is among the best of its kind. They deserve all the support they can get from the Government, Local Authorities and the Private Sector.

You can get details of how to become a member of the Society by returning to the home page and follow the "join" link from there