June 2011
The Consortium's AGM was held on the 27th June 2011. It included a report from the Chairman, Martin Stancliffe where he told how over the last year the Consortium has continued to pursue its primary aims of promoting the skilled work of its members and encouraging the training of craftsmen and conservators. The main channels for this work have continued to be the website, the twice-yearly Newsletter, and the annual Bursary Scheme. Further initiatives of the Executive Committee have been to seek ways of tapping into Heritage Lottery funding for training purposes, and to support the work of the National Heritage Training Academy for the Yorkshire and Humber Region.
Membership has remained steady, finishing the year with 129 paid-up members, a small increase on the previous year (120). The Consortium finances too remain healthy with expenses broadly matching subscription income, and a sustained bank balance of £7,000. The latter will contribute to the costs of a new edition of the Directory which will probably be required towards the end of the current year.
Elections to the Committee followed. Sylvia Hogarth and James Grierson were confirmed in their positions of Secretary of the Consortium and Secretary of the Foundation.
Following the main business of the meeting, a presentation was made to Martin Marsh in recognition of his immense contribution to the Consortium.
The AGM was then followed by a reception in the Undercroft of the Merchant Adventurers' Hall, where members of the Consortium were joined by members of York Civic Trust. All were able to see the display of the results of the bursaries received by last years winners.
There then followed Bursary Awards for 2011. Vice President Peter Addyman made the presentations, for full details click here.
The John Shannon lecture then followed. This was given by Mr Jeremy Musson, Architectural Historian, Writer and Broadcaster and recognised Country House expert. The title of his talk was: Historic Ruins, in which he explored some of England's most evocative derelict and abandoned buildings, from churches, castles and forts to country houses.