Minutes of most recent committee meeting

Halling Historical Society:
Minutes of HHS Committee Meeting, held on Tuesday 16th September 2025, 2.00 pm.
Those present:
Philip Badman (Secretary) - PB
Tania Young (Programme Secretary) - TY
Sue Hodges (Chairman) - SH
Janet Stone (Treasurer) - JS
Keith Slucock (Minutes Secretary) - KS
1) Apologies for absence:
Christine Furminger sent apologies.
2) To review and approve review of minutes from:
- last meeting (held 1st May 2025)
No comments or observations: minutes agreed.
3) Matters arising from above:
None.
4) Correspondence:
A thank you card was received from Mary Morren, one of the founding members of HHS,
saying how much she enjoyed the evening of the HHS Anniversary celebration.
5) Treasurer’s report:
- current group finances and any related observations:
JS (treasurer) stated the finances were as follows:
Current business a/c: £875.20
Reserve business a/c: £622.73
Cash account: £129.47
Total: £1627.40
Proceeds and expenses from last night’s talk have yet to be included.
40th anniversary donations totalled £1000. Tickets sales totalled £115. Expenses for the night
were £1,100.38, resulting in a £14.62 profit.
Sue Hodges has been added as a bank account signatory, but ‘technical issues’ prevented the
removal of Dawn as a signatory.
Action: SH is to be granted electronic access to HHS accounts and Dawn’s access still to
be removed. PB.
6) Notes from talks:
Helen Worthy’s talk on “Women of Medway” on the 15th September was very well received.
There were 32 members in attendance (out of 55) and 9 visitors. Tania noted that several
visitors gained awareness of the lecture programme via the HHS website.
7) Lecture programme for 2026:
TY presented a list of possible lectures and visits.
After discussion, Aylesford Priory was agreed as the venue for the 2026 visit.

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Agreed lectures to be arranged were:
 Roger Backway – Evelyn Dunbar, WWII’s only full-time female field artist
 Dr. Philip McDougall – Secret Chatham, a general history of Chatham Dockyard
 Paul Kingman – The rise and decline of the Darnley family of Cobham Hall
 Rod Sheldon – Lullingstone Roman Villa
 Chris Stewart – Hop bine and hop pickers of Kent
Reserve talks were:
 David Carder – Hospitals and Almshouses
 James Preston – Aviation in the Medway area Rochester Airport
Possible 2026 dates for lectures would be:
16th February, 13th April, 8th June, 14th September, 16th November
w/c 13th July for priory visit (Action: TY to look at possible evening visit to priory)
Action: TY to:
- finalise dates with speakers:
- confirm Jubilee hall bookings:
by date of next meeting (21st October, PB, 250 High Street ME2 1BZ)
It was agreed that the arrangement with the Halling Gardening Society re. the distribution of
programme leaflets worked well this year and should be repeated if possible.
It was agreed that Speakers who ask for donations rather than personal payment will be given
£60.
The committee agreed that, once again, Tania was to be congratulated in putting together an
excellent range of speakers and topics.
8) HHS ongoing ‘outreach’ projects:
Lakeview Care Home approached HHS, offering use of their cinema to host one of our lectures.
After some discussion, it was felt that the venue was not large enough to cater for our needs.
Action: PB to contact Lakeview Care Home, declining their offer with thanks.
- Medway History Showcase 18/19 Oct 2025 invitation – any update
PB is still working with the event organisers and has asked members to provide support for the
two-day event. Two offers of help have been received. Details and attendance support will be
finalised nearer the time.
Action: PB to prepare display boards and agree attendance prior to event
- 150th Birthday celebrations for Halling Primary School – any update
No update.
- Parish Council request re. information about Forge Green at Halling Bottom – any update
PB/KS had prepared a draft of an information board that was well-received at the Halling
Parish Council Meeting of 8th September attended by KS. PB has provided HPC with a quote
for an information board and HPC stated that they are intending to proceed with the project.
Action: KS to send PB a final PDF version of the display board to PB.

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Halling History trail website plans
KS had produced two different pamphlets, both of which include a map of the ‘blue plaque’
locations and a route of a suggested ‘trail’. One leaflet was a multi-fold ‘half A2’ containing old
photographs and detailed information about each plaque subject; the second was a simpler
three-fold A4-sized version just showing photos of the plaques and a sentence about each one.
The first could be made available to members at HHS lecture evenings (perhaps for a suitable
donation), the second could be for general distribution to public places e.g. Cuxton Library,
Halling Community Centre.
Actions:
KS to forward a PDF version of the ‘short’ pamphlet to committee members
PB to obtain cost for a print run of 500
KS to obtain cost for 100 ‘long’ pamphlets
Final versions may need to wait until a final plaque (see below) is agreed and in place.
9) Suggestions for additional plaques
After discussion, it was agreed that only one additional plaque would be progressed – at Pring’s
Cottage.
Action: TY to initiate contact with new occupiers re. possible plaque installation
10) AOB
Next meeting:
The date and venue of the next meeting was agreed as:
Tuesday 21st October, 2.00pm at PB’s house, 250 High Street ME2 1BZ.
Halling Historical Society 40th anniversary 16th June:
It was agreed that the event was a huge success, both from an organisational and attendance
perspective. The attendance of, and an entertaining speech from, the Mayor of Medway Trevore
Clarke (accompanied by his wife Mandy, the Mayoress), who also unveiled the display of ‘blue
plaques’, was particularly appreciated.
Generous donations of £500 from both local residents Mr. & Mrs. Swain and the local business
of Oscar Acoustics ensured that the event was fully funded at no incidental cost to HHS.
Bishops Palace:
PB has been in contact with Medway Council yet again, to point out the damage that untreated
weed growth is doing to the masonry of the Bishops Palace. Previous commitments by the
council to address this have gone unfulfilled to date.
Committee vacancy:
PB is talking to a member who has expressed an interest in filling the current committee
vacancy.
Meeting posters:
TY requested further posters for distribution. PB to give local councillor 3 posters to place on
otherwise inaccessible council notice boards.
Ted Gowers information folder:
TY to arrange plastic holder for Ted Gowers information folder and for HHS design picture to
be put up in Jubilee Hall

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Jubilee Hall lighting:
TY expressed some concerns re. lighting for lectures and will ‘experiment’ at hall prior to next
talk. PB to bring LED floodlight to next meeting to demonstrate possible lighting option.
Meeting closed 16.30.
KS (Minutes Secretary)
Actions arising from this meeting:
Action: Who By: Required by:
SH to be granted electronic access to HHS accounts and Dawn’s access to be
removed.

PB/SH Early 2026

Finalise 2026 lecture dates with speakers and confirm Jubilee hall bookings
Look at possible evening visit to Aylesford priory

TY 21/10/2025

Prepare display boards for Medway History showcase and arrange HHS support as
required

PB 11/10/2025
Decline, with thanks, the offer from Lakeview Care Home to host a lecture PB 21/10/2025
KS to send final PDF of Forge Green information board to PB KS 22/09/2025
Halling history trail:
KS to forward a PDF version of the ‘short’ pamphlet to committee members
PB to obtain cost for a print run of 500 ‘short’ pamphlets
KS to obtain cost for 100 ‘long’ pamphlets

KS
PB
KS

22/09/2025
21/10/2025
21/10/2025
Initiate contact with new occupiers of Prings Cottage re. possible plaque installation TY 21/10/2025
Progress against actions arising from previous meeting:
Action: Who By: Required by:
To agree a time and place to undertake the online process of the bank account
signature change with JS/SH

PB Complete

To suggest final content for a possible information board at Halling Bottom, for
review by the HHS committee.

PB/KS Complete
To provide KS with a definitive list of plaques and locations, plus plaque texts. PB Complete
To produce a draft pamphlet along the lines suggested by PH, for review by the
HHS committee.

KS Complete
To research history of possible new ‘blue plaque’ sites (list on p.2,3) All No longer
required (see
above)

To urgently contact a professional caterer to undertake the provision and laying-out
of food and drinks on our behalf for the June 16th 40th HHS anniversary event

PB Complete

To update the tasks and actions list for the June 16th 40th HHS anniversary event
and re-issue.

PB Complete

Agree wording of necessary introductions, thanks etc for the June 16th 40th HHS
anniversary event.

PB/SH Complete
Agree date and venue of next meeting and circulate. SH Complete