Chairman's remarks

Normally the editor requires my contribution before the last day of the month, one clear month before publication. However I delayed this edition's missive to include reflections of the Planning Committee's decision on the Cornhill. Their meeting took place on the 31 May and on June 1 both the Ipswich Star and the EADT carry a report of the meeting.

I mention these publications only because they emphasised my reference to reconstituted stone as ‘posh concrete'. Perhaps derogatory but as reconstituted stone is natural aggregates with a cementitious binder the use of the slang led to a mention of the Society in the Press.

There was widespread concern about the design of the sculptural arches amongst Councillors, about their impact on the open space of the Cornhill and the possibility of attracting graffiti once erected. However, they were regarded as an integral constituent of the scheme which was approved.

To redress the balance, the Society's Ipswich Icons made a double centre pages spread in the Ipswich Star. The important news, day one of the Suffolk Show was sufficiently important to warrant an eight page insert (now there's a challenge!).

Neil Thompson, new to the Society, is working hard putting together the Heritage Open Days brochure which by the time you read this should be ready to go to press. As last year it will be accompanied by an A5 flyer which is to be distributed from the beginning of August. If we can get the flyer into information centres and tourist attractions carrying the message that Heritage Ipswich is open on the 9 and 10 September it should go some way to attracting 10,000 visitors, similar to last year.

If you are out and about in mid-August please let the Secretary know and we will furnish you with some flyers to deliver. We are working on a distribution patch including Colchester, Sudbury, Bury, Diss and the Suffolk Coast.

We have again secured the Foyer in the University Waterfront building for an exhibition in October; this year we have delegated the space to Ipswich Maritime Trust and are helping them put together an interesting history of the Waterfront, mainly in photographs (the IMT photographic collection is a wonderful and important on-line resource).

To accompany the exhibition, Vice-Chairman Tony Marsden and Newsletter Editor Robin Gaylard are putting together a 21st century version of the Ipswich Maritime Trail leaflet. Originally published for the 1982 Maritime Festival the new version will be in a similar format to the Heritage Open Days brochure (a 16 page booklet). It should be on sale during the Heritage Open Days weekend and, of course it will be available at the University exhibition 2-11 October 2017.

Right now I'm off to Copenhagen to inspect the work of Hall McKnight, architects of the Ipswich Cornhill scheme; they also designed the public realm and street furniture for the Town Hall square in the centre of the Danish capital.

John Norman