The Marden Society was formed in the 1970s in response to concerns about a particular development near the village. After that was successfully resolved the Society has gone on both to represent the views of the village, as far as it is able, and to promote interest in Marden, in Kent and in the countryside in general. In the words of its constitution, the Society exists to:
To these ends the Society has a programme of monthly meetings with guest speakers talking on subjects of interest to members, plus a summer outing usually in June, and also publishes a free bi-monthly newsletter, The Parish Pump. It initiated a project which produced the now adopted Village Design Statement; and keeps a general eye on what is happening in terms of planning and development both in the village and the local area.
Meetings are normally held at 7.30 p.m. in the Vestry Hall, unless otherwise advised. There is a raffle, refreshments are provided, and visitors are always welcome.
The 2017 Committee is:
Membership costs just £5.00 per annum.
For details please email us here
The program for 2018 is:
- Wednesday 24th January: Annual General Meeting, followed by a wine and cheese social event.
- Wednesday 28th February: “A Schoolgirls War” by Mary Smith. This talk describes a unique set of WW2 paintings and drawings created by an art teacher in Kent . These show the lives of schoolgirls and their teachers in paint and pencil as the war unfolded, with contemporary photos and accounts of those at school during the war.
- Wednesday 28th March: ENSA or “Every night Something Awful”
Delia Taylor will talk on ENSA, the organisation responsible for entertaining the troops during WW2. They were asked by the Government to raise the morale of the public as well. Stars such as Tommy Cooper, Gracie Fields and Vera Lynn were just a few of the thousands employed. The talk includes videos of some of these artists visiting troops and workers in factories, plus American artists such as Glen Miller when America joined the war, right up to present day conflicts.We will be encouraged to sing along to some of the songs, which I am sure most of us will remember.
- Wednesday 25th April: “Walking the Saxon Shore Way” by Ian Balmer. A review of the Marden Walking Group’s completion of the Saxon Shore Way in 2017.
- 23rd May: “The Bits that Don’t Fit” by Steve Hopkins, a miscellany of items.
- Wednesday 27th June: Summer Outing. This year we will enjoy a 45 minute afternoon trip on the Bewl Belle on Wednesday 27th June, followed by a cream tea. For those who do not know Bewl Water, this lovely reservoir is now full and beginning to put on its summer plumage. Wednesdays are Midweekers sailing days so we should be accompanied by some dinghies enjoying the summer.The cost is £11.50 per person – please let either Mo Clayton or a committee member know you are coming – a deposit or full payment would be appreciated.Entry to the Reservoir is £3 for non-members but I will make enquiries whether it is necessary to pay if we are having a cruise.
- Wednesday 26th September: “The Life of Edith Cavell” by Melanie Gibson-Barton.
- Wednesday 24th October: “Handbells Talk and Demonstration” by Mary Douglas.
- Wednesday 28th November: “The History of Mote Park” by Simon Ginnaw, this is a return for Simon, the naturalist who told us about the wildlife of Mote Park in March 2015.
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