National Trust members saved from closure

Bexhill Association of National Trust Members president Arland Kingston was reading the proposal for dissolving the branch at an Extraordinary General Meeting on Wednesday SEPTEMBER 2 when branch members interrupted him to take on vital commitee roles.

Colin Kirk was first to single himself out by volunteering to take on the post of vice-chairman, left unfilled since Graham Looker retired at the AGM last November. He said it was "human nature" to wait till the last minute before coming forwards.

Retiring chairman Hans Heetveld was vexed that members ignored the August 24 deadline for nominations, provoking an emergency meeting, but remained enthusiastic about the future, saying: "I'm very glad the organisation is saved. I was very upset that I might have to preside over the closure of the branch. We have been going for 39 years and I can tell you that this year we reached 140,000 given to local National Trust properties."

The chairman struck a sombre note as members gathered in St Augustine's Church, saying: "This is the first time we have organised a meeting in a church, but its appropriate because its certainly a very solemn occasion."

He described the dwindling membership of the branch, blaming a lack of volunteers for the closure of the branch under its constitution, which states that there must always be a chairman and vice chairman.

A vote registered strong support for the branch to continue, and proceedings were stymied before tension developed between members critical of the "rigid and inflexible" constitution, and a group of supporters, lead by the committee, keen to abide by National Trust approved guidelines.

Arland Kingston said: "This is an impossible situation. None of you who do not want this organisation to be dissolved have come forward to nominate yourselves as chairman or vice chairman."

Colin Kirk then nominated himself as vice chairman, before Joy Fieldman stood up to a round of applause.

She said: "I have given six years to this organisation as treasurer and I do not want it to go down.

"I do not have my own transport and I'm getting a bit long in the tooth, but if nobody else comes forward I will take the role of chairman on."

Sitting next to her in the church pew was Mary Varela, who put herself fowards as publicity officer.

Hans Heetveld accepted the nominations with a mixture of frustration and relief, saying: "All these people received a statement and have received notice. Why wait till the last minute?

"The Bexhill Association of National Trust Members will continue, and I wish it a long and very successful life.

"I would like to warn you that this is a commitment that involves your whole being."

Joy Fieldman, who will be accepted as chairman at the branch's next AGM in November, said: "I was very much hoping that someone else would come forward, as it's not going to be easy for me, but I'm not prepared to see the association go down."

Colin Kirk, the vice chairman, said it was "human nature" to wait till the last minute before coming forward.

The BANTM provides valuable financial assistance to local National Trust properties, such as Rudyard Kipling's house Bateman's, Bodiam Castle and Sissinghurst.

Officially named in 1992, the organisation's roots stretch back to the South East Centre for National Trust Members, which formed in Eastbourne in 1970.

For more information on the group, please call 01424 844843.