Issue 8 Sept 2006

IMT NEWSLETTER No. 8 September 2006

The long hot(?) days of summer are over, the temperature is dropping and the nights are closing in………..on a more cheerful note it is time to think about evening entertainments in the autumn. In order to entice you out we have arranged a series of three talks with a maritime theme.

These are:

Wednesday, October 11th “The changing coastline of Suffolk and Essex - How it has evolved and what the future may hold” by Keith Turner of the National Trust.

Wednesday, November 15th. “My early days barging Part 2”. Jim Lawrence continues his memorable talk – Part 1 given in March - carrying on from the age of 19 when Jim was skippering barges.

Wednesday, December 13th. Our Annual General Meeting followed by Brian Hammet talking on “Arthur Ransome and the East Coast”.

We have a new venue to hold the talks as, due to the popularity of the spring series, we unfortunately had to turn people away! The talks will be held at the Royal Harwich Yacht Club, Wolverstone, commencing at 7.30pm. This venue has greater capacity than we had previously, and has the advantage of ample adjacent parking.

In addition the RHYC can provide a 2-course ‘buffet style’ meal prior to the talks at a cost of £10 per head. The meal consists of a selection of 3 or 4 main courses (including a vegetarian choice) and a choice or 2 or 3 cold sweets. In order to take advantage of this we have to guarantee a minimum of 20 people – please see the attached sheet for full details. There is also a bar where your thirst may be quenched during the course of the evening. The charge to members for the talks remains at £2.50, but to encourage new membership, that for non-members will increase to £3.50 per lecture.

On the topic of new members, if you introduce a new member to the IMT (Individual or Household) we will give you free entry to the next lecture you attend.

Just to remind you of other coming events:

September 9th. & 10th. Heritage Weekend, when normally closed buildings of note around Ipswich are opened to the public. As usual, the Waterfront Centre in the basement of the Old Custom House on Common Quay will be open 10am - 4pm; visitors will be able to see the ship models and other artifacts on permanent display

(originally organised by the IMT) together with an exhibition on the Ipswich Dock Tramway System put together by Richard Smith and a display of 8 charcoal drawings of Ipswich Dock 2003-2005 by Valerie Irwin.

The spring 2007 series of talks are being arranged, but one confirmed date is April 4th 2007 when Capt. Richard Woodman, who gave us a fascinating talk on the background to the Battle of Trafalgar last winter, has kindly agreed to return to talk on “The Merchant Service in the Napoleonic War”.

As usual, in order to assist us with planning the events it is very helpful if you can let us know which talks you will be attending. Please contact Des Pawson by phone (01473 690090), email (knots@footrope.fsnet.co.uk), or returning the enclosed form to let us

know, and we look forward to seeing you at the RHYC in October for the first of the autumn talks.