The Marden Society
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 Village Design Statement, participated in development of the Neighborhood Plan 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 2024 Committee is:
| Chairman: | Steve McArragher 01622 831007 steve.mcarragher@btinternet.com |
| Secretary: | Carol Hogg 01622 832900 carol.hogg@hotmail.com |
| Treasurer: | Mike Lockett 01622 833346 opplock@btinternet.com |
| Membership Sec. | Carol Hogg |
| Committee | Diane Fisher |
| Barbara Dubois | |
| Kim Day |
Membership costs just £5.00 per annum.
For details please email us here: steve.mcarragher@btinternet.com
| Our next meeting is on Wednesday March 26th “and will be a talk on “Kent Spring and Summer Customs” by Geoff Doel. This will tell us about: “Jack in the Green”, Hop Hoddening, Oak Apple Day, Beating the Bounds (which the Walking Group used to do in Marden), Horned Head Fares and many other customs. This is the we talk should have had last year, but Geoff could not make it as there were no trains from Canterbury due to a broken down freight train. Let’s just hope he has better luck this year! Then on April 23rd we will hear about “Ted Catt – A Victorian Naturalist” by Melvin Smith. Ted Catt was born in the 1860s and kept a journal of everything that he saw within his parish of Iden, on the East Sussex / Kent border. This contains over 800 pages of water colour and pen and ink images of all the wildlife and villagers as they went about their daily lives in a Victorian parish. Teds way of life has featured in national magazines and a book. All meetings will start at 7.30 p.m. in the Vestry Hall, include a raffle and will be followed by refreshments. There is no charge, and we only ask that you buy at least one raffle ticket! For further information contact Steve at steve.mcarragher@btinternet.com or 07946 532591. |