Chelsea Society

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The Chelsea Society was founded in 1927, by the Chelsea author Reginald Blunt, with the aim of protecting the historical fabric of Chelsea and of influencing future environmental changes.

The Society's aims are to protect the interests of all who live and work in Chelsea and to preserve and enhance the unique character of the Chelsea area of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It has organised debates and discussions about the area.[1]

Contents

[edit] Planning

All planning applications are studied and comments sent to the Royal Borough.

The Society also works with residents' associations and convenes an annual meeting with them.

[edit] Activities

These include:

  • a Winter Season of Lectures on subjects related to Chelsea
  • the Summer Meeting which takes the form of an evening garden party with a buffet supper
  • visits to places of local interest and other special events

The Society plays a major part in the Chelsea Festival and organises an exhibition.

The Annual General Meeting, held in November, deals with the business of the Society and is yet another opportunity for members to meet.

[edit] Annual Report

This has been published without a break since 1927 and contains, not only the Chairman's and the Treasurer's reports and a list of the membership, but illustrated articles of topical and historical interest on Chelsea.

A complete run of back numbers with an accumulative index is available for reference in the Chelsea Public Library.

[edit] Newsletter

This is sent out twice a year to members informing them of the current work of the Society.

[edit] Governance

President: The Most Hon. Marquess of Salisbury

Vice-Presidents: The Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea, The Earl Cadogan, D.L., The Rt. Hon. Sir Malcolm Rifkind Q.C., M.P.

Hon. Vice-President: Mrs Lesley Lewis, F.S.A.

[edit] Council

Chairman: Mr David Le Lay Vice-Chairman: Mr Nigel Stenhouse Members: Mr Martin Andrews Mr Michael Bach, Mr Richard Ballerand, Dr Serena Davidson, Mr Leonard Holdsworth, Ms Marianne Kingham, Mr Hugh Krall, Mr David Sagar, Mr Andrew Thompson, Mr Jonathan Wheeler, Ms Helen Wright, Hon. Secretary: Mr Stephen Kingsley, Hon. Treasurer: Ms Christy Austin, Hon. Secretary (Membership) Mrs Patricia Sargent, Hon Secretary (Planning) Mr Terence Bendixson, Hon Secretary (Events) Mrs Valerie Hamami-Thomas, Hon. Assistant Secretary: Mrs Patricia Burr, Hon. Editor Mrs Jane Dorrell

[edit] References

  1. ^ Evening Standard (London), Apr 21, 1998 - Searching for Swing in the King, by Valentine Low Debate on urban planning organised by the Chelsea Society.