For the fourth meeting in the Lymington Society Social Programme for 2017 to 2018 – held on the 23^rd of January, Society members were very pleased to be able to return to St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery for a Private View of the current exhibition of World War II art.

Following the normal Society meeting format of a short Drinks Reception, where members could chat over refreshment, the Private View and talk was conducted by St Barbe Exhibitions Curator Steve Marshall, who is well known to Society members from his many excellent presentations to members over the years.

The exhibition seen features an amazing collection of art collected over many years by successful art dealer John Noote. John was 7 years old when war broke out in 1939. Later in life as a successful art dealer he began to collect art made during the war.

The collection now includes over 100 paintings, prints and posters by famous and lesser known artists including Felix Topolski, and Eduardo Paolozzi.In this remarkable exhibition you will find rarely seen portrayals of Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, the Blitz, life on the Home Front, the war at sea and in the air, the battlefronts in Africa, Europe and the Far East and the aftermath of this global tragedy.
Speaking about his collection he said:

“I don’t think I ever made a specific decision to collect, it just became what I did alongside the rest of my business, trawling auction catalogues, asking other dealers to look for suitable works on my behalf, I gradually realised that I had a collection which might not only be of interest to others, but could also be educational”.

As member have come to expect, Steve Marshall – who curated the exhibition – gave a stimulating and captivating glimpse into the world depicted in the wide-ranging collection of the images on display.

As members were taken round the exhibition by Steve, he shared with them fascinating facts about the many different types of images in front of them, answered many questions and really illuminated the exhibition for the large number of Society members present.

The Lymington Society actively works locally as a planning watchdog and amenity society, representing the views of local members and residents in the town on important issues. It also organises an exciting programme of social events including talks, Christmas Drinks Party and Summer Garden Party for its members.

It’s time once again for the Society’s Annual General Meeting.

We are in the Mc Clellan Room at the Lymington Centre

This is the chance for members to hear what the Committee has been up to in the last year, and to have a say in the running of your Society.

Refreshments of Wine, Soft Drinks and Nibbles will be served from 6.30pm with the meeting starting at 7.00pm.

The business meeting will be followed by a talk from Nick Saunders, a local historian, about the Special Operations Executive in WW2 and the training of agents at Beaulieu

Don’t miss the next Lymington Society social (and educational) event at the St Barbe museum

Art of World War II – John Noott Collection

Steve Marshall has kindly agreed to give members a private viewing of this remarkable exhibition.

Here you will see and hear about the art that defines The Battle of Britain, the Blitz and Life on the Home Front during World War Two.

This collection includes over 100 paintings, prints and posters by artists including Montague Dawson, Edward Bawden and Felix Toploski.

Steve’s talks are always well received by our members so if you have not been to a talk before then do come along, enjoy a glass of wine and widen your knowledge of this subject.

St Barbe Museum, New Street 6:00 pm Tickets £5.00 from Clive Sutton Solicitors, 3 The Old Printworks, 85b High St, Lymington SO41 9AN or on the door

Local benefactor Charles Burnett III, who made an important and generous contribution to the Burrard Neale monument restoration fund, has died in a helicopter crash in New Mexico. Our sympathies are with his family, and his partner Andra Cobb, the only survivor of the crash.

The two appeals by Renaissance Retirement Ltd & the Go Ahead Group PLC against the refusal of their planning applications have been dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate. Both applications were refused for reasons relating to their effects on the Lymington Conservation Area, the setting of nearby listed buildings and the absence of a mechanism to secure appropriate contributions to the provision of affordable housing.

The Lymington Society is pleased to note the decision of the planning inspector in relation to the Lymington high Street bus station site.

The Planning Inspector agreed with the views of the Lymington Society and the NFDC Conservation Officer in stating: “The development as a whole would appear to be out of scale with its surroundings” and: “I conclude that the proposals would fail to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Lymington conservation area”.

Commenting on the decision, the Society Chairman, Clive Sutton, said that the Society looked forward to further proposals being brought forward which will create a scheme to merge retail with residential use with the possibility of facilities which would continue to benefit bus passengers in the future.

He said that the Inspector had recognised the considerable inconvenience caused by the closure of the bus station, although, because these issues were matters for the highway authority and the bus operators, she could not address them in relation to the redevelopment of the site. The Society hope that in any future scheme these considerable concerns, which were forcefully put forward at the appeal by various bus users, will be taken account of.

The Society look forward to commenting constructively on any further plans that are put forward for this important site and are always ready to engage with developers at a very early stage in any potential scheme.

Christmas Party Thursday 15th December 6:00 – 8:00

This year’s Christmas party will once again take place at Stanwell House Hotel
Tickets available from Clive Sutton solicitors
3 The Old Printworks, 85b High St Lymington, SO41 9AN
Or on the door £7.50