NOTES FROM THE CHAIR – May 2020
The celebrations of the 75th anniversary of VE Day on the 8th May must necessarily be muted because of the Coronavirus and the self isolation to which we have to adhere.
Nevertheless it is an occasion to commemorate the end of the Second World War in Europe, to celebrate the victory that was achieved and to remember all those who died in the struggle and all the sacrifices made.
In the second issue of the Society’s magazine George Mortimer, aided by Ian Denness, reminds us of the effect the War had on Cerne, the men who lost their lives fighting in the War, the conditions under which the villagers had to live and their joy on the 8th March when the end of the War was announced.
The magazine also contains the first of a series of three “memories” of Cerne by Joan Keeble who lived in the village with her family in the 1970s and an article by Martin Papworth, the National Trust’s archaeologist, describing what he and his fellow archaeologists found when they carried out excavations on the Giant in March. The National Trust was planning to celebrate the centenary of its ownership of the Giant and announce the results of laboratory tests to date samples they took at that time in July but it is likely that both will have to be postponed until later in the year.
Gordon Bishop – Chair
You can get in touch with Gordon via
the Contact Us form on this site.
Click to view
Previously…
Regrettably we have been forced by the Coronavirus Pandemic to cancel the meetings of the Society planned for 23 April and 28 May and the Larmer Tree Gardens visit on 13 May. The meeting on the 25th June is also almost certain to be cancelled although a formal decision has not yet been made. We are hoping to be able to re-arrange the very interesting talks that were to have been given for later in the year or next year.
To keep the Society active during this period of self-isolation we decided to produce for our members an online magazine with articles about the history of Dorset and Cerne in particular. The first issue of the magazine is published today, the 9th April. We are making it available not only to our members but to anyone else who would like to read it. We hope you will find it interesting, informative and entertaining.
Please let us know what you think about the magazine and what subjects you would like covered. We intend to publish further issues at about 4 week intervals. They will contain further information on the tests carried out by the National Trust to determine the Giant’s age, including we hope an article by the NT’s archaeologist Martin Papworth, as well as articles about the research we are planning on the site and buildings of the Abbey and a Letters Page. We would particularly like to include reminiscences, stories and photos from our members and readers.
I very much hope you will enjoy the magazine and look forward to receiving your comments about it.
Wishing you a Very Happy Easter despite the difficult circumstances we all find ourselves in.
Gordon Bishop – Chair
You can get in touch with Gordon via
the Contact Us form on this site.