Chairman's Report

Chairman's Report to the 38th Annual General Meeting of the Berkhamsted & District Archaeological Society

The Society has come a long way since it was founded by my old friend Frank Leek in 1971. He and I had first met in Egypt in 1963. It will soon be time to start thinking about our 40th year celebration.

Looking back over our past year, the Society has once again enjoyed a successful season with a series of eight lectures on a wide variety of topics of archaeological interest. We also enjoyed a fantastic away weekend on 16/17 May last year, and the weather was kind to us (most of the time). Our visits ranged from Anglo-Saxon churches, through medieval manors, an Elizabethan poor house, an Eleanor Cross (one of only three original now extant), to George Washington's ancestral home and, not least, met face to face with Ronald, Lord Cardigan's charger at the Charge of the Light Brigade. It was sumptuous fare, all prepared for us by Brendon Sparks, whom we most sincerely thank not only for that, but also in anticipation of our fast approaching next weekend away on 15/16 May which Brendon has also organised.

We have also been active in the field. Following a successful application to the Berkhamsted Arts Trust the Society received a substantial grant which enabled us to acquire, with the help of Professor Bill Martin, our own resistivity meter and finance to pay for training in its use. Our first foray was at Little Gaddesden in an endeavour to locate the postulated Roman road that passed through the village. Whilst not, in the end, being able to show that the road existed, the negative evidence is still of use. A report is in preparation by Brendon and Ken Wallis, and they acknowledge the enthusiastic support by Society members who were involved in the survey.

Leading on from that survey the Society has been invited by Mick Thompson of the Ashridge College to assist with a resistivity survey of part of the College grounds to locate some of the medieval buildings of what was once a major pilgrimage focus. Brendon and Ken are leading this and details will be circulated when we have formulated a programme with Mick Thompson.

We have continued to enjoy the hospitality of Berkhamsted School in the use of Newcroft for our meetings (and I have noticed that more members are bringing their own cushions to alleviate the hard school benches). The Society has continued its support of the School Library and its Librarian, Miss Rachael Guy, and donated books of archaeological and historical interest to the Library.

It has become a commonplace for me to thank the members of the Society's Committee for their continued support of the Society and of me as your Chairman. In so doing, they are the people whose commitment help us maintain a thriving Society. This year, however, it is with regret that we say goodbye to one of our major stalwarts, Doug Burgess, who has served us well as Treasurer for many years, stepping into the breech on the unexpected death of our previous Treasurer, Peter Connolly. Doug is not leaving us, he is just taking a well earned rest and he and Maddy will continue to ornament our meetings.

The programme of lectures for next season is well in hand with Hilary and I shall kick it off on 23 September, following the tradition set by our founder Frank Leek, and talk on "The Nectar of the Gods: Wine and Trade in the Ancient Greek World".

Peter A Clayton, Chairman, BDAS 22 April 2010