2025 Programme
All meetings are held at the Victory Hall,
Stockcroft Road, Balcombe, RH17 6HP, starting at 7pm.
Wednesday, 19th March – Colin Burnham
The story of Balcombe Station 1841 – 2025
Colin, a railwayman for many years, will show us how the Station has served village expansion and the community since the 1840s.
Wednesday, 16th April – Debby Matthews
Gideon Mantel and his discovery of the CuckfieldIguanodon
Debby is a Lewes Town Guide and lives in Gideon Mantell’s house. Her talk celebrates the 200-year Anniversary of Dr. Mantell’s extraordinary find.
Note – the April talk will be preceded by the AGM
Wednesday, 14th May – Richard Linford
Paul Scofield: actor and villager
Richard will present an appreciation of former Balcombe resident Paul Scofield’s illustrious six-decade Oscar winning career. Richard is a West End actor and writer, and lives in Balcombe.
Saturday, 31sth May – Archive Day and Exhibition
In the Parish Room
Time to be advised
Wednesday, 17th September – Julian Bell
Deconstruction and reconstruction: the work of the Weald and Downland Museum
Julian Bell is a curator at the Museum, and will focus on the rescue of the Eastwick dairy at Great Bookham, a recent project.
Wednesday, 15th October – Ann Berkovith and Sue Miller-Jones
A closer look at Standen
Volunteers for over 10 years at Standen, our presenters will tell us of Philip Web and the charming house he created in the Arts and Crafts style for the Beale family, set in a beautiful hillside garden.
Wednesday, 12th November – Antony Perkins
Christmas through the Ages
Tony will guide us through Christmas as it might have been experienced in Tudor, Georgian, Victorian times, and in WWII.
Membership 2025
Membership is open to all.
The annual subscription is now £10 per person for the talks, to include the current entrance fee. For regular attenders, this represents an actual overall reduction, and it will dispense with the need to produce £1 at the door. The visitors fee will be £5, payable at the door.
Annual fees will be collected on the 20th of March. New members can join and pay their subscriptions by attending any of our events.
About Us
An inaugural meeting took place on Tuesday 14th October 2008 and was attended by 80 residents. Votes were cast for Chair, Vice Chairs, Secretary, Treasurer and other officials. Several short talks outlined future activities and were enthusiastically received. A collection of maps and other historical documents were perused during the tea break. During the meeting, several residents shared some of their interesting personal research into the village. At the conclusion of the meeting, it was announced that there were already more than 60 members signed up.
Objectives
The objectives of the Society shall be:
- to stimulate interest in the history of Balcombe and the surrounding area
- to encourage the identification and preservation of buildings, artefacts, written material, photographs and pictures that are of local historical interest
- to conduct research projects, arrange meetings, talks and other activities that contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the area’s past
Contacts:
| Secretary | Julie Budgen 55 Spicers Farm Cotts, Rowhill Lane Balcombe, West Sussex. RH17 6JN julie.budgen55@outlook.com | 811 641 |