This Spring sees the departure from Corsham of one of the Civic Society’s longest serving Committee members, Pat Whalley. Corsham born Pat is taking the opportunity of downsizing and moving to Broughton Gifford to stay with her son David and family. For Pat this has been a difficult decision to make, but she now feels that perhaps after this last year of national health and welfare issues, it’s time to move.
Pat has been a member of the CCS for 54 years and during that time she has been the Society’s Secretary, twice, 1970/71 and 1994 to 2006, the editor of Spotlight from its inception in 2003 until 2011, Programme Organiser from 2019 until 2021 plus serving on a range of committees, the Mayo project, possible demolition of Osborne House, the Corsham Station Campaign,
(still on-going), Heritage Open Days, the Corsham High Street Project, and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the First World War.
Pat has also written and published 5 paperbacks with Corsham connections, those being: History of RNSD Copenacre, Corsham Facts and Folklore, Corsham Memories from 1910, Corsham Memories – the Prefab Years and The Shadow of Mary Deane [The diaries of a Victorian gentlewoman].
As you can see Pat has kept herself busy over the years and we shall certainly miss her contributions at the Committee meetings and her thoughts on future programme of talks. It was a great pleasure for me, on behalf of the Society, to make Pat an Honorary Vice President and I know she will continue to support the Society in the years to come and attend meetings and events as they occur. Thank you Pat for your 54 years of help, advice and general knowledge of Corsham which we have all appreciated.
‘The Society needs you – we are looking for a new Programme Organiser, can you help?’
As you can see from the above article the Executive Committee is looking for a volunteer to become the new Programme Organiser for talks etc. Pat believes that the speakers and talks planned for 2020 – which were all cancelled but one – would hopefully be prepared to visit us in 2022 to present their subject. Pat would be delighted to advise and assist the new Programme Organiser for the first 12 months. If you are interested in undertaking this work, please contact me on either 01249 715741 or 07767 371485 and email to michael.rumsey@btinternet.com.
Thank you in anticipation.
Michael Rumsey