The Society’s 73rd AGM held on 24th September was a momentous occasion as it marked the passing of the Chairmanship of the Society from David Green to myself. David had been in post for virtually a decade and felt that the time had come for him to step down.
In taking over from David, I should like to acknowledge the huge debt that the Society owes him for his steadfast leadership and unwavering commitment over the past nine years. He thoroughly deserves our gratitude and thanks, not least in steering the Society safely through the turmoil caused by the Covid era. Among other things, the move to Zoom meetings and back was seamless. David’s term of office has seen a number of achievements for the Society that have significantly raised its profile in the town and local community. Among these are the Society’s efforts to campaign against harmful development and to call for action on vacant sites – the Society has consistently pressed SDC and the owners for the redevelopment of the vacant Farmers site and others, including raising a petition with more than 1500 local signatures. Under David’s watch, efforts to protect the Green Belt have also been positive - the Society joined with local Residents’ Associations to successfully defeat an appeal for development in 2023 of a Green Belt site south of Brittains Farm. David has set a high standard of excellence which I will endeavour to follow. I should also like to thank him most sincerely for his willingness to continue to serve on the Executive Committee. I value both his help and his friendship.
Introducing myself, some of you will know me from my work relating to local history. My involvement in the Society goes back some 12 years when I was asked if I might be able to assist a retired High Court judge – your current President Sir Michael Harrison - with compiling a Local List for Sevenoaks. Developed in a collaboration between us and the District Council, it became a landmark project for the Society. I headed the research for that project. Following that, I was invited to become a member of the Society’s Executive Committee since when I have co-authored two local history books and a local Town Heritage Trail and organised Society heritage exhibitions in 2019 and 2022. Most recently, I organised the Society’s highly successful Open Day in June this year.
These achievements however are by no means mine. The success of these projects is due to all members of the Executive Committee and many Society members themselves, notably Elizabeth Purves and Victoria Granville. I mention these events to stress how much time and effort is voluntarily given by Society members in the interests of the town and the local community.
To conclude this section, I am both delighted and honoured to become Chairman of the Sevenoaks Society, a charitable body that can trace its origins back over one hundred years. I thank you again for electing me as your Chairman and I look forward to working with you all.
By Geraldine Tucker
