Recent diary events include :-

Visit to RAF Cranwell and East Kirkby Aviation Centre

 Society Members were fortunate to visit the world famous R.A.F. College at Cranwell on the 15th. April 2008. The College has a long and distinguished place in our history and was a fascinating place to see. We were lucky enough to be guided around the main college building and learn something of its wonderful history. 

  Following our visit to Cranwell we  continued the aviation theme with a visit to The Aviation Centre at East Kirkby. The centre has one of the four remaining Lancaster Bombers in the UK in its care together with a Spitfire Fighter Aircraft. There is also a World War 2 Control Tower restored to its former glory and lots more memorabilia from that period.

Canon Michael Austin  gave a talk  on  the  history  of  Sport  in  Southwell and  the East  Midlands  at  a  well  attended  meeting  of  the  Society  in  the Minster Centre on Wednesday 16th. January 2008. 

•   The Annual General Meeting of the Society was held at the Minster Centre,  Church Street on Tuesday 23rd.October 2007.  

•   Cannon John Toy presented a fascinating talk on the Sufferagette Movement with a particular focus on the part played by his mother in the movement. His talk caught the interest and imagination of the audience as evidenced not only by the questions asked  by those attending, but also by the shared personal experiences and memories of some of the audience.  

•  Southwell and Lincoln cathedrals, a talk by Dr. Phillip Dixon, the distinguished ecclesiastical archaeologist – a fascinating insight into parts seldom visited!

• House visits to Burgage Manor and the Garden House, Westhorpe were so successful and full of interest to the members, that we were much over subscribed and regretfully had to turn some members away!

• A coach visit to Harlaxton Manor and Belton House for private guided tours to   both properties was most interesting and much enjoyed.
• An illustrated talk on The Roberts Lowe (1746-1892) - Three local gents by Prof. Ben Mepham. The rather enigmatic title of the talk referred to three generations of a distinguished local family, whose memory is perpetuated in the local street name Lowes Wong.

• An illustrated talk on Smocks by Prof Stanley Chapman 
• Visit to Burgage Court and Archbishop's Palace Ruins
• Our visit to Burgage Court at the very kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Leadley who have made wonderful improvements there and whose garden is a delight.   We also visited the ruins of the Archbishop’s Palace under the guidance of John Meredith.   The evening was so well supported that we split the party into two large groups so that each could appreciate the buildings more easily.

• Visit to Shireoaks Hall and The Harley Gallery 
  
  

  

  
  
  

•  Shireoaks Hall is a Robert Smythson house built at the beginning of the 1600s and which is being rescued from a ruin by the current owner, Mr. Leo Godlewsky, also the water gardens which have been neglected for many years.
•  Harley Gallery
  Following Shireoaks, which we enjoyed in beautiful sunshine, we drove across to the Harley Gallery near  Welbeck.  There we were given a talk by the curator, Mr. Adlam, on the Duchess of Portland’s eclectic collection of objets d’art made during her life between 1715 – 1785
• Visit to Norwood Park and Hall  A party of about 60 members of the Civic Society enjoyed a most successful evening under the guidance of Sir John Starkey, on a visit to Norwood Park and Hall, on Wednesday 5^th July 2006. In lovely warm evening sunshine, Sir John gave us a brief history of the Park showing the extent of the land given to Archbishop Oskytel by King Edwy in 956 and how it has changed over the centuries to the state it is in today. Development by Edward Cludd and the Sutton and Bacon families led to many trees being planted, lakes formed and of course deer encouraged (to provide meat).  As there were so many of us Sir John split us up into two groups and showed us round the inside of the house, explaining how they are gradually bringing rooms up to date to provide accommodation for weddings.   This will give the family much needed income to keep the house in reasonable order, together with the development of the golf course and improvement in fruit growing - chiefly strawberries under plastic cover.
• Caves of Nottingham   Tony Waltham gave a highly informative and entertaining presentation to a 'full house' at the Minster Centre on Tuesday 14th. November 2006. His talk was illustrated using slides which he has over many years of exploring many caves beneath Nottingham. 
• Eminent Families of Southwell   Professor Stanley Chapman delivered one of his characteristically fascinating talks to a 'full house' at the Southwell Visitors Centre on Wednesday 14th. February. His subject was the part played by several eminent families in the development of Southwell in the 17th. and 18th. century. Their legacy, in the form of many of our fine buildings remain with us to this day and are testimony to their energy and vision.
• Visit to British Geological Society   A group of Civic Society Memebers travelled to the British Geological Society at Keyworh  on the 1st. May 2007. This proved to be a fascinating and valuable experience for all those who attended.