On Saturday (28th June), a century after the foundation of Sevenoaks’ first civic society, the Sevenoaks Society commemorated the occasion by holding a highly successful Community Open Day as part of the Sevenoaks Summer Festival. The aim was to showcase the Society’s wide-ranging work and to demonstrate how this benefits the town and its future development. We also sought to encourage residents to become more involved with our activities carried out on behalf of the community. Over a hundred invited guests and members of the Society and the public at large gathered in the Stag Plaza Suite for chairman David Green’s welcome address and the formal opening of the event by Lord Sackville.

Several stands and a Powerpoint display demonstrated the range of our activities, covering townscape and planning, protection of our heritage, walks, footpaths and cycling routes, the natural world, talks and expeditions, publications and archives. The Society’s committee members were on hand to explain the benefits of membership and volunteering as well as to provide an opportunity for residents to raise any issues or concerns.

There were three presentations during the day. Lord Sackville provided a fascinating, entertaining and revealing account of life in Knole, and how the family face the challenges and enjoy the benefits of living in what is both a palatial mansion of national standing, attracting an increasing number of visitors to the house and park, and also an important part of the local community. He painted a vivid picture of the impact of the £20 million National Trust project which transformed an ancient building in dire need of repair whilst making it also fit for modern use.

The presentation by Katey Bell of Sevenoaks Climate Action Network attracted much discussion: demonstrating the importance and benefits of improving home energy efficiency and reducing a building’s carbon footprint, she provided practical advice on how this could be done. The event was supported by and held in association with the Sevenoaks Town Council, and Town Mayor Councillor Tony Clayton formally launched the public consultation on the Council’s Town Centre Masterplan, stressing the benefits and the need for everyone concerned to make their views known. A presentation by representatives of the Council’s consultants and an extensive display of the proposals, which develop and progress the Vision for Sevenoaks by the late Roger FitzGerald of the Sevenoaks Society, provided the opportunity for those attending to do just that.

Matters raised by visitors ranged from the controversial proposal to change the name of the historic Royal Oak Hotel building to Hanover House, to the continuing need for the protection of Sevenoaks’ remarkable trees and widespread concern about the scale and density of certain development proposals coming forward in the town and their inadequate provision for parking. Our various initiatives were welcomed including our promotion of high quality and sustainable building design through our Frank Marshall Award.

Bradbourne Residents’ Association were present to show what a thriving residents’ association can achieve, and were pleased at visitors’ keen interest in the Bradbourne Re-bourne lakes restoration project, and its associated Summer Festival in the park on Saturday afternoon, 2nd August.

All agreed the event was a considerable success in raising awareness of the Society’s role and work, and giving the public the chance to raise their concerns on such a wide range of issues. Our grateful thanks to all those who made this event possible.

The Sevenoaks Society 29th June 2025