Editorial

Breasting the tape almost effortlessly at the 200 issue mark, I deliver this special edition of the Society's Newsletter. Now with added full colour (but only for this special issue). The Society seems to be as busy now as it ever has been - although the head of steam in 1961, with the Society a mere yearling - must have been something to behold.

See our back page for news of The Fore Street Facelift 1961 exhibition in October. A pair of tickets for the Members' Launch Evening is enclosed with this issue. The remarkable photograph below gives a flavour of the exhibition: the offices of Meux brewing company. The wall of the associated maltings still stands to the left; it remained in place (hiding the Wet Dock from those travelling down Grimwade Street) until the building of the Bellway Flats (Neptune Square) in 2000. Note the panorama of an almost empty Wet Dock behind which the three chimneys of Cliff Quay power station are just visible. The photograph must have been taken from a high window of the rebuilt Salvation Army hostel (built 1987-9).

Huge thanks, as ever, to all contributors; letters, images and articles are always most welcome.

Robin Gaylard