It's a long story..........................

Dr. Petr Somol of Malvern's partner town Marianske Lazne in the Czech Republic, and a regular visitor to Malvern over the last fifteen years, gave the annual Community Partnership lecture at the Lewis Theatre at Malvern College during Civic Week. "The History of Book, Script and Typeface Culture" outlined the history of written communication and numeracy.

Petr took his audience on a trip through history back to 900.000 B.C. and the first evidence of symbols drawn and scratched on rock, through Mesopotamian clay tokens depicting early forms of numbers to the present day immediacy of electronic mass communication such as Twitter and Facebook.

Petr covered many of the most important developments of the dissemination of the written word such as Gutenberg's invention of movable type which brought the cost of printed works down to a hitherto unknown low level, thereby encouraging literacy. By allowing easy text changes, books and documents could be updated to reflect changes in thinking, the law and medical knowledge. Petr reflected on the demise of Gutenberg who died in poverty whilst his apprentice Peter Schoffer flourished by adopting a more commercial approach to his master's work and speaking against Gutenberg in a court case. After which Schöffer set up in partnership with Gutenberg's former financier Fust to form the Fust and Schoffer publishing house.

At the end of a most interesting talk Petr was asked whether there were any notes to accompany his very detailed subject. To the surprise of all concerned he produced a 4 metre long scroll detailing the whole of his talk as a timeline. Printed in association with a company in Rakovnik, Czech Republic, using the latest computer printing technology and presented on linen, in an unmistakable reference to the past. The scroll has been presented to the people of Malvern for permanent display and access for study. Suggestions as to where and how it might be displayed are welcome.

The Opening Ceremony with the Mayor, Coun Cynthia Palmer, Chairman of the District Council, Coun Andrea Morgan, MP Harriett Baldwin and many spectators, took place on Belle Vue Island. Proceedings were started with an announcement by the Town Crier. The participants then followed the Town Crier and processed to Malvern Theatre where the prize giving for the Schools' Literary Competition took place.

President Dr John Harcup introduced Jenni Chuck who managed the Senior section of the Literary Competition and Katharine Barber, who was involved with the Junior section. Coun Andrea Morgan then presented the prizes to the winning students. The Overall Winner came from Malvern St James, the Secondary Winner from Hanley Castle and the Highly Commended were from The Chase. In the Junior section, the Winner was from The Downs and the Highly Commended from Malvern Parish. The Book Reviews entered showed a spread of reading and were most interestingly presented. The second event in Midsummer Malvern was the Bands in the Park in conjunction with the Town Council on Sunday 24th June in Priory Park. Coun Hannah Campbell welcomed the large crowd of picnickers and then Clive Hooper, Chairman of the Society, invited everyone to have a piece of the Society's 60th Anniversary birthday cake.

Follow this link to see some photos taken by our members showing some high-lights of Mid-Summer Malvern 2018

For the past 24 years Malvern Civic Society has been making an award for a new or renovated building which adds something special to the Malvern area. A small committee asks for nominations, visits each building and awards a plaque to the winner. We are looking for good design, a high level of workmanship and sympathetic awareness of the surroundings. This year there were six very good nominations; three of them were renovations of older buildings, two of them were completely new and one was a renovation to which a new project was attached..

Saham Toney (named after a Norfolk village), 11 Imperial Road, is a 1960s bungalow which has been transformed for Jenny Bull by her architect Adam Richards and builder Richard Robbins. An extension has been added to the rear of the building, the high point of which is a glass and timber-framed structure which allows light to flood into the house.

Lucy and Peter Farrer rescued South Lodge, 45 Abbey Road, a very elegant Victorian house, built in 1851. They carried out a complete restoration from chimneys to cellars, using a team of first-class builders and craftsmen and have ensured that this family home will continue to fulfil its function for a century or more.

Peter and Christine Kirton commissioned a new house, Littledale House, Walwyn Road, Upper Colwall, from architect Robert Bridge of the firm of Osborne in Hanley Swan. It has a strong individual character. It is certainly modern but quite deliberately has the feel of an older dwelling with many examples of fine craftsmanship. This stems from Christine's admiration for the Arts and Crafts architect Voysey; his spirit is powerfully present.

A new house suddenly appeared at 19 Victoria Road. It was the creation of Ross and Sarah Kane and their brother-in -law architect Ben Cunliffe. Having prepared the foundations, the pre-constructed walls and roof, supplied by the firm of Glosford of Hereford, were then delivered and erected within three weeks. The Kane family now have a spacious modern home which features a light-filled kitchen/living room at first floor level.

Charlotte and Edward Elgar combined something old with something new at 8 Somers Road. They uncovered the fine Victorian mansion (designed by William Henman in 1851) from the trees and vegetation which had overwhelmed it and carried out a complete renovation. On to this has been built an ultra-modern kitchen/dining area extension covered in compressed stone tiles. The contrast makes a dramatic impact. Their architect was David Greenhill of Vivid Architects of Worcester.

St Ann's Well was the final nomination. The owners, Malvern Hills Trust, decided this iconic Malvern building needed thorough restoration. Local architect Matthew Gullick and local builders SMB carried out the scheme. The outside is now in very good order and the inside has been substantially transformed to meet today's food hygiene regulations whilst retaining its 19th century character.

The Award sub-committee had a difficult task to decide the winner; in the end, they chose South Lodge, 45 Abbey Road. The workmanship here was of a high order with strong regard for period detail. The electronic and computerised subtleties of a 20th century house have been added to South Lodge without compromising its 19th century character. What swayed the committee in its final decision was that this very attractive house, together with its front garden scheme and garage, have lifted the character of the whole area. Abbey Road is one of Malvern's most important Victorian thoroughfares. What has been achieved at South Lodge will hopefully serve as an example to other householders of what can be done.

The winner's plaque will be presented by the Society's President Dr John Harcup, O.B.E.

John Dixon
Vice Chair of Malvern Civic Society.

In It is with great sadness that I have to report that Dudley Brook, our much-loved Civic Society President Emeritus, died peacefully in his sleep today (Saturday) with his family at his bedside. He was admitted to hospital last week, but his condition deteriorated a few days ago when he slipped into unconsciousness. Our thoughts and prayers will be with Dudley and his family at this time. A thanksgiving service for the life of Dudley Brook will take place in Malvern Priory Church at 2.00pm on Thursday 19 April 2018.

A collection will be taken at the end of the service to contribute towards a memorial fund for Dudley.

Clive Hooper, Chairman. 

Certificates of Excellence will be awarded by Malvern Civic Society for two very different buildings this year. A new, fairly small house, 366 Pickersleigh Road, built by Steve and Lee Bone, was praised for its pleasing design, its high standard of workmanship and its thoughtful eco-friendly and low -maintenance features.

Another certificate will be awarded to 'Copper Beeches', a fine Edwardian house in Albert Road South. Richard Southall, the owner since 2004, has brought the house back to life whilst preserving its authentic period detail and atmosphere. In this Conservation Year, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Civic Amenities Act which created Conservation Areas, the Award Sub-Committee thought it was appropriate to give Richard a Special Award for Excellence in Conservation. 

There were four other nominations. One was the new shop, Rhubarb Home, opened by Nigel and Sara Morris on the corner of the Exchange, in Church Street. The Sub-Committee praised what had been done, particularly the preservation of 'Fishy' Davis's ceramic pictures inside, and considered that it had had an uplifting effect on that whole area of the town.

Three other projects saved important Malvern buildings from near dereliction. Local property developer Steve Hickman converted the old Town Club in Worcester Road into six modern apartments. They are different in size and character but all are energy-efficient and well sound-proofed and insulated. The elegant Grade ll listed façade of the building now looks very handsome. 

Another local property company, Crystalight Ltd., has rescued 'Ivydene' in Albert Road North, a fine old Victorian mansion, formerly occupied by the Girls' College. Great ingenuity was shown in planning 17 modern apartments, with very high-quality fittings and wonderful views. The building has regained its former grandeur.

Malvern Civic Society is putting a final call out for entries to its Civic Award which recognises buildings - old or new - which add 'something special to the built environment of the area'. 

John Dixon, who organises the Award for the Society explains: 

In May this year, Malvern Hills District Council (MHDC) had refused a planning application submitted in 2015 to demolish the former Malvern Community Hospital in Lansdowne Crescent and replace it with a 50 bed care home. That decision fully supported the strong stand Malvern Civic Society has maintained for the retention of this heritage asset.. Clive Hooper, Chairman of Malvern Civic Society, commented "The Society has argued that if the proposals were implemented they would have an adverse impact upon the town's historic environment and would result in substantial harm to 

the Great Malvern Conservation Area. This applies equally to the new planning application recently submitted to MHDC. The building is in good order and not in a ruinous state and should be kept. The Society's Planning Sub-Committee discussed the new plans at its meeting on 28 September and will be writing formally to MHDC." Mr Hooper went on to say "Malvern Civic Society has always recognised the local importance of the old hospital building, and this is reflected by the building's submission by the Society to MHDC, together with other properties, for consideration for its Local Listing. We also recognise the value which MHDC has attached to preserving the building: it produced a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) in 2006 outlining the desirability of keeping it." 

"The new planning application submitted by the developers, Montpellier Estates, notes that they had prepared a paper 'to prove that the existing hospital could not be viably converted to residential housing due to the physical and financial constraints imposed by the existing building'. Evidence submitted on this as part of the consultation process was flawed and completely failed to make the case. We understand that there are other developers keen to purchase the property in order to convert it into residential accommodation, but that they are currently locked out from making an offer to purchase it by the NHS trust through the agreement it has with Montpellier." 

"Mention is made in the current application of the MHDC's planning policy SWDP 6 on the Historic Environment: this requires that development proposals should conserve and enhance the significance of heritage assets including their setting, which includes conservation areas and undesignated heritage assets. However, no mention is made of the SPD in this context, or the extensive report from Historic England, both of which underline the desirability of retaining the building." 

Malvern Civic Society had previously campaigned for the old community hospital to be given a Grade II statutory listing. The former hospital was built between 1909-11 by William Henman FRIBA and was given to the people of Malvern by local benefactor C. W. Dyson Perrins; it has heritage connections with development of hospital architecture and interesting innovative technological features (such as the early use of reinforced concrete) and quality design and internal fittings. Historic England's criteria for assessing whether a building should be added to the national heritage list for England is that the building in question should be under serious threat or have national significance if built after 1840. As the former hospital was at risk of demolition, it fitted the criteria for assessment as under threat. The Secretary of State had concluded that the building was not nationally significant enough to have statutory listing, but that it was protected under local policy and was in the Conservation Area. However, the report accompanying the minister's decision, in noting the strong local architectural interest of the building, did mention 'its strong local presence, expressed in the scale and massing of its design, its quality features, and its local historic significance, which was recognised by its inclusion in the conservation area'. 

Clive Hooper, Chairman. 

Dudley Brook unveiling plaque commemorating site of medieval parish church of St Thomas and Spytalway (now Church Street)

After walking down from Belle Vue Island to Malvern Theatres behind Mike Fray, our Town Crier, our President, Dudley Brook, welcomed everyone to the Opening Ceremony, including Harriett Baldwin, our MP. Councillor Hannah Campbell, the Deputy Mayor, opened the proceedings and then Councillor John Raine, Chairman of Malvern Hills District Council, presented the prizes for the Malvern Civic Society’s Schools’ Literary Competition. 

The overall winner was Seb Roberts from The Elms, the Secondary Schools’ winner was Thomas Winters from the Chase and the Primary Schools’ winner was Elizabeth Jacob from Malvern Parish – congratulations to them all. This was followed by the unveiling of the Mulberry tree in Priory Park by Di Foster from Malvern, Australia.

Priory exhibitions: people watching 3d slideshow of 2016 MSA well dressings, (note the 3D glasses).

The Bands in the Park on Sunday was slightly damp but the stalwarts remained to listen to the excellent Cinderford Brass band, to eat cake from the WI stand and to take part in the raffles and tombola of the Guides and Rotary. The Malvern Beavers produced 12 entries for the Garden Competition. We awarded 2 prizes, one for the best decorated yoghurt pot and the second for the best flowers. The title had been a bunch of flowers for the Queen’s 90^th birthday. This was all due to the splendid efforts of their pack leader Heather Oldroyd whose Beavers gave a dull day a splash of colour.

The owners of Elmslie, Anna and Bernard Taylor

The Week gave us the chance to visit The Dell House in Malvern Wells, the house and garden including a Victorian summerhouse and some wonderful tree sculptures.  Elmslie, Avenue Road, which was presented with the Civic Society's 2016 Award a few days earlier, was the other house which drew people to appreciate its marvellous restoration and to see the slides of Bygone Malvern. 

There were some splendid talks, two of which were held in the Malvern College Lewis Science Theatre: Paula Byrne on her best seller 'Kick' about Kathleen 'Kick' Kennedy; Ben Cowell, Director General of the Historic Houses Association about 'Saving Country Houses';

Rosamund Wallinger showing wonderful photos of her Gertrude Jekyll designed garden, which she has restored and has become an expert on Gertrude Jekyll’s life and art;

Robert Payne portrayed Francis Kilvert

Water Cure Re-enactment, the "descending douche", with Dr John Harcup as Dr Wilson, Ken Crump as Bath Attendant and David Armitage as Patient.

For over twenty years Malvern Civic Society has been making an annual Civic Award. We are always on the look-out for new or renovated buildings, completed during the previous year, which add something special to the built environment of the area. The award is only a small plaque but it is highly regarded by the winning owners, builders and developers. Last year's winner was the new Malvern Link railway station and we were hoping for nominations of similar high quality this year. We were not disappointed. 

There were six nominations - one newly built development, two renovations of large Victorian houses, and three more radical renovations which completely changed the character of their original buildings.

The new development is Nightingale Court in Jenny Lind Grove, Malvern Link. Roy Pendleton of Court Properties and his designer Steven Salisbury achieved the difficult feat of fitting two 3-bedroomed duplex units and two 2-bedroomed apartments into the ground plan of a small chapel which existed there before, without sacrificing space or convenience. The new building fits in well with the quiet, residential character of the area.

No 8 The Lees (off Thirlstane Road) is one of the Victorian houses which has been renovated. Tom Wood inherited this fine house, built in 1889, which, apart from a rear extension added in the 1920s, has survived almost unchanged. It has been a labour of love for Tom to manage a total renovation both inside and out using local expertise. Architect Marcus Cleaver, builders Jeremy Dean and Horizon 

Construction, stonemason James Robinson, carpenters Mark Davies and Steve Taine and metalworker D.A. Walton have all been involved. An elegant and spacious family home and garden have been brought back to life with much thoughtful and painstaking work.

The other Victorian house is Elmslie House in Avenue Road. This has had a significant history. It was designed and built in 1862 by the distinguished Malvern architect E.W. Elmslie, with ornamentation both inside and out by the Worcester sculptor William Forsyth. It went through several changes of ownership and name until it was bought in 2013 by Anna and Bernard Taylor. They have carried out a thorough and careful renovation of both the house 

and the garden, using local architect Steve Davies and a team of local craftsmen including Pegasus Joinery, Steve Allard the stonemason, the Swinbourne brothers, Morgan the blacksmith and the glazier Malcolm Wicherley. The house has now regained its original Victorian splendour but is also a delightful family home.

No 17 Imperial Road was a nondescript 1960s bungalow. Behind the façade the living area has now been more than doubled by owner Owen Law, assisted by local builders Simon Rowe and Jeremy Dean, creating a spacious, modern home.

The Razak Science Centre, named after a former pupil who is now prime minister of Malaysia, is a truly impressive addition to Malvern College. Two existing science buildings, one built in the 1930s and the other in the 1960s, have been completely renovated and modernised and connected together by a new component which contains a state-of-the-art lecture theatre. The architects were Squire and Brown and 

the work was carried out by Keir Construction. The overall impression is of space and light.

The apartment building called 'The Corner' has made a dramatic appearance at the junction of Christchurch and Court Roads. There was a dull three-storey structure here before. Now developer Ben Guthrie and Matt Banks of Glazzard Architects have transformed it by clever outside styling and radical internal planning. Bricklayers Brooke and Poynton, Walter Electrical and W.P. Plastering have created a striking, modernist building which improves the character of the whole area. 

It was difficult to compare these six very different structures but, in the end, the committee's unanimous decision was that the 2016 award should go to Elmslie House. This iconic Victorian mansion has been saved for posterity; the craftsmanship and attention to detail have been superb and, as the owners are keen to arrange a series of public events in the house, the whole community can enjoy what has been achieved. The winner's plaque will be presented to Anna and Bernard as part of Malvern's Civic Week events. (John Dixon, Chair of Civic Award Sub-Committee)