Clifton and Hotwells
Improvement Society (CHIS)

We will ask for a donation to help cover the cost of soft drinks and wine. Please fill and return the form included in the Newsletter. We do need to know the number of people who will be coming by Monday 15th December.

Please book with RoseMary.

All three are Nobel Laureates who worked in Bristol during the 20th Century.

Each made significant contributions to his or her field, but, of course, only one was 'Bristol's greatest scientist'.

The talk will be relatively light-hearted and will not contain lots of scientific jargon. Indeed, stories about the lives of the chosen three will overshadow their scientific work. There may even be opportunities to chuckle! We are left to speculate who these great people are.

Clive is an author, social historian and non-executive director of Empica Ltd. He's also a researcher and volunteer film archivist with Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives. Currently writing two books and co-authoring a third, Clive has worked with the BBC on radio and television programmes.

This is not a travel talk but is about Bristol's own International Exhibition that was held in 1914. It was a huge undertaking which cost over £100,000 and 32 acres of land was covered with white plasterboard structures and pavilions. It opened on the bank holiday of 28th May and was due to run until October but on 4th August 1914 war was declared. By mid-September, the War Office had acquired the site and converted it into a temporary military facility used as a base for Bristol's Own'. This 'white city' would have been clearly seen from Clifton because it was set opposite 'B' bond warehouse at Ashton Gate. Clive will tell the poignant story of development and final use of this enterprise.

Mark Horton will be recognised by many of you as he was the man behind, and appeared on many episodes, of the TV series ‘Coast’.

Although bequeathed to the National Trust it remains the family home of Lord Faringdon, who continues to care for the property as well as the family art collection, the Faringdon Collection, which is displayed in the house.

The extensive gardens, designed by Harold Peto, are considered to be one of the finest examples of Edwardian gardens. Peto was a promoter of the Italian Renaissance style and has cleverly incorporated this formality in an English landscape. Canals withh bridges and pools lead on through a set of gardens to a large lake.

So whatever the weather, there will be plenty to see as well as tea-rooms to relax in.

Book with RoseMary

We will proceed to Monmouth for a lunch break (own arrangements) before travelling to St Arvans to visit WYNDCLIFFE COURT, another Arts and Crafts garden, laid out by Tipping, on a south slope overlooking the Severn Estuary. Larger than Tipping's own garden, it has toppling yew topiary, sun-warmed stone walls, a trickling fountain, a sunken garden, delightful summerhouse and lily pond. The shady paths through woods create a contrast, beloved of Tipping, between cultivation and wild, natural landscape. Here tea on the terrace or in the ballroom is available but not included. An added bonus is that these gardens are the setting for sculpture shows featuring inspiring and professional art pieces by local and well known artists.

Stuart Andrews has been writing on the political and religious views of the Lake Poets for some 20 years. His Robert Southey: history, politics, religion was published by Palgrave/MacMillan USA in 2011. He has written for The Coleridge Bulletin, Romanticism, Symbiosis and The Wordsworth Circle. In his talk he will link many of the events in Southey's public life to buildings and monuments in Bristol that have direct or indirect connection with this largely uncelebrated Bristolian.

This is your opportunity to put your views forward, to question members of the CHIS committee and to have a general discussion about current matters in Bristol 8. It is really important for the committee to know the feelings of members. The Annual Report and the audited accounts will be available at the meeting.

AGENDA

• The Chairman's introduction.
• Report from the Treasurer.
• Election to the committee. This year there are three vacancies on the Committee
• Report from the Chairman.
• Questions and suggestions to the responsible committee member on Membership, Planning, Licensing, Streetscape, Refuse, Plaques, Green Squares and Secret Gardens.
• Any other business.
• Talk and demonstration by Alistair Park who carved the oak bench in the children's playground near the Suspension Bridge

There will be a lecture on William Smith, father of English Geology by Professor Hugh Torrens of Keele University at Tyndall Lecture Theatre, University of Bristol at 7:30pm