| Skip Navigation | Home | About the Society | 30 Years of Success | Annual Report | Fishermen's Heritage Centre | The Peter Coke Shell Gallery, Sheringham, Norfolk | Current Issues | Current Projects | Programme of Events 2010 | Find Us | Contact Us | Join Us | Links |

Welcome to the Sheringham & District Preservation Society

The Preservation Society has worked since 1979 to preserve the best that Sheringham has to offer.

The Sheringham and District Preservation Society covers the parishes of Upper Sheringham and Beeston Regis as well as the town of Sheringham.

It exists to protect the best features of the area from developments which could destroy their character. It also aims to research and record the history of the area and to publicise it in any way possible.

NEWS:

URGENT APPEAL FOR VOLUNTEERS

In October the Chief Steward of the Fishermen's Heritage, Nancy Appleton retired. Nancy had carried the main burden of keeping the Centre open over recent years, taking responsibility for opening and closing daily, looking after the administration and doing a lot of the stewarding herself.

Her retirement leaves a very large gap to be filled and the Society is urgently considering how the many tasks undertaken by Nancy will be carried out in 2010. We urgently need a stewarding co-ordinator who can liaise between stewards and those opening and closing the Centre and Shell Gallery. This could be someone who is relatively immobile and would take up at most an hour or so each week.

We also urgently require stewards for the Fishermen's Centre and Peter Coke Shell Gallery who would be willing to spend two hours occasionally greeting visitors. Anyone able to help in any way should please contact our Secretary, Kathleen Bird (tel. 01263 824155) for further information.

FURTHER DELAY ON TESCO DECISION

The planning meeting to decide between rival supermarket plans for Sheringham has been delayed further to allow full consideration of the latest government guidance on out-of-town supermarket developments, the ostensible object of which is the protection of town-centre businesses. The decision is now expected to be made in February, at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Clive Hay-Smith has announced that if his application is successful the Greenhouse store will be operated by the Waitrose Group. This has brought protests from the pro-Tesco camp that it would be "just another Waitrose" (as opposed, presumably, to "just another Tesco"). Far from being a standard branch of the Waitrose chain, the store would have extra benefits such as electric delivery vehicles, a free bus service, Mr Hay-Smith's Food Academy and the allotment and cemetery land already donated to the town. The store plans will, however, need to overcome a number of planning objections before they can become reality.

For a full history of the developments in this long-running saga which has divided the local community for approximately 13 years, see Current Issues.

THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION

Because 2009 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the Society, it is a natural time to look back at what has been achieved during those years, to take stock and plan for the future.

As part of this process, the Society held an exhibition in the St John Ambulance Hall, Wyndham Street, Sheringham, on Saturday and Sunday, 6th and 7th June. The exhibition was well attended on both days and many local people came along to be reminded of the considerable contribution the Society made to the life of the town over these years. It also provided an opportunity to talk about how the Society can evolve to continue this work and to meet new challenges.

For details of the Society's achievements see the section of this website headed "30 years of Success".

AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE

Having served six to twelve years in their current posts, the last six of which have been particularly active, the principal officers of the Society (Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer) are all seeking an opportunity to retire. After many years of carrying the main burden of running the Fishermen's Heritage Centre its Chief Steward, Nancy Appleton, has taken a well-earned retirement and has moved away from the town.

The Society finds that the task of managing the Fishermen's Heritage Centre and Peter Coke Shell Gallery, which are demanding though essential and satisfying activities in their own right, leaves little time for its other responsibilities as a civic/amenity association. It is therefore urgently seeking people of any age from the Sheringham area who have an interest in its history, who wish to maintain its many attractive features as a place to live and to visit and would be willing to assist us in the worthy objective of keeping the Society and its activities thriving. We are especially seeking anyone who is willing to take on any of the principal officer posts, after a reasonable period of preparation. We also urgently need a stewarding co-ordinator to liaise between stewards and those who open and close the centre and gallery. Any assistance with stewarding in the Fishermen's Heritage Centre and Peter Coke Shell Gallery, however infrequent, would also be very welcome.

The Society is financially secure, it has a sound structure and a history of contributing many and varied benefits to the local community. The Fishermen's Heritage Centre and Shell Gallery attract thousands of visitors every year who greatly appreciate the opportunity to browse the exhibitions. However, unless the Society can attract a younger generation of members to take an active part in organising and running the Society it will not be able to continue for much longer.