APRIL 2011
	NEW CHAIRMAN AND SECRETARY We welcome Maureen Stockwood as our new Chairman and wish her well as she takes on the role from Sue Summers. In addition David Atkins has taken over the role of Secretary from long-serving Geoff Turner.
	CURRENT PROJECTS
	Thoroton Dovecote. The Trust are continuing with the restoration project at Thoroton Dovecote and the detail proposals are shown on the attached drawing. A listed building application is the next stage of the project and funding is being sought towards the cost of the works. The photograph to the left shows the original dovecote before the new house was built and below the current proposals to refurbish the dovecote and provide public access.
	10 Asher Lane, Ruddington. The Trust have completed the successful refurbishment of this small two-storey former knitting-workers frameshop. The works carried out included the repair and restoration of the external envelope and reroofing and restoration of the original fenestration. The project was marked by a ceremony to hand-over the keys of the building to its new owner, Ben Dunning, who has undertaken the restoration and fitting-out of the interior. The ceremony was attended by family members of the previous owner, Mrs Cicely Hind. The Trust acknowledges the help and advice of the Rushcliffe Borough Council officers. The drawing to the left shows the original sketch design proposals and below the photograph indicates the building upon completion.
	In addition to the major projects, negotiations on over a dozen other buildings of possible interest have taken place.
	MEETING DATES 2011 Council of Management: Trebeck Hall, Bishop's Drive, Southwell. 2.00pm. Wed 2nd March, 1st June, 7th September and 7th December. Projects Committee: Minster Chambers, Church Street, Southwell. 2.00pm. Wed 1st February, 4th May, 3rd August and 2nd November.
	NBPT NEWSLETTERS & ANNUAL REPORTS Plans are in hand to add a list of the old NBPT newsletters on this website. The newsletters contain a wealth of information, both historical and informative and much is considered still relevant to anyone contemplating altering their listed building to-day. It is hoped to include some form of index to enable a quick search to be made and it may be possible to include particular subject or topic matter in full. Annual reports have been produced since the first report for 1967-68. They make interesting reading particularly in the early days of the NBPT. We are however in our archives missing reports for the years 1968/69, 1969/70 and 1971/72. If anyone has a copy that they will donate to the NBPT this would be most appreciated.
	ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDING MARCH 2010 Progress is being made on improving the access to the Thoroton Dovecote with the co-operation of the neighbourng landowners. Investigations on the type of glover required are in hand but further deliberations and additional funding will be necessary. The Trust continues to discuss options at the Saracen's Head Hotel in Southwell. Increasingly there is very little we can do if owners of buildings are either unwilling to commit themselves or funds. We continue to keep buildings under review and see the way forward as a challenge to both getting co-operation from owners and drawing attention to the plight of some buildings. Our technical panel actively follow up each problem building brought to our attention and during 2009/10 the notable examples that have been investigated are the Manor House at Bingham, Annesley Hall, Clifton Rectory, the Banana Warehouse at Retford, South Wheatley Manor, Colwick Manor Farm and Ollerton Hall Others from previous reports are kept on file to periodically review. Last year the Harry Johnson Award saw a good number of entries and some very commendable winners who were reported to you in the newsletter we produced entitled Restoration in Action. Entries have significantly increased now that the award is made bi-annually. The Administrative Assistant has taken on the task of producing our occasional newsletter and we are grateful for her enthusiastic support in our activities. After several years at the helm Sue Summers has stepped down as Chairman of the Trust. Sue expertly guided us through these years, keeping the Trust on track as support declined and local authority input and donations dwindled. Her own enthusiasm, interest and hard work were an inspiration for the rest of the team to give of our best and this was an indication of how successful her chairmanship was. We are thankful and pleased that we continue to have her input as Sue has kindly remained on the Council of Management to assist. Following in her footsteps was always going to be difficult for her successor to try to emulate. In spite of her many interests and commitments she continues to give her help and advice and also to impart her knowledge of the past from many years of association with the Trust. A further bout of illness led Geoff Turner to reluctantly step down from the Council of Management but he has agreed to continue his interest in and to impart his expert judgement helping with the Harry Johnson Award. At the AGM in 2009 when the business of the meeting was duly carried out and completed there followed a light-hearted and informative talk and Quiz by Rodney Couins. Astute guesswork allowed you to get half the answers right but one of our knowledgeable architects gained full marks with several others achieving excellent results also. A group of members took part in visits over this period to Kelham, Boughton Pumping Station and Ollerton Watermill. Plans are in hand to visit further attractions in the area. It is hard to envisage that the acquisition and renovation role which the Trust previously held will one day be possible again. As your new Chairman I believe the advisory role performed by our Technical Team is the way forward and it is vital that we attract others to their numbers. I am particularly indebted to David Atkins for his support as one of that Team, as Secretary of the Trust and for stepping forward to fill the role of Vice-Chairman. So often these days it is the publicity which we can engineer as a pressure group which can lead to the saving of buildings at risk thereby helping to protect our wonderful heritage of the built environment. Maureen Stockwood Chairman April 2010

 Page last updated: 24 April 2011