Charity Registered Number 1114470
Minutes ofMeeting No 51, Wednesday 29th Oct 2008
At Old Hall Heckmondwike
Present Les Woodcock (Chairman)
Joe Lee Stuart Martin
Jim Birch Paul Goulden
Lesley BirchGeoffrey Forster
Margaret Rhodes
Apologies Kath Conway Stephen Bartle
Keith Baker
Joe Lee welcomed the secretary to his first meeting after a break for illness and work commitments.
(i)Minutes of Meeting of 24th Sept. 2008
Signed off OK.
(ii) Matters arising
Les Woodcock is awaiting a response from Kath White (Kirklees Council) to an email sent on 23rd June re a further meeting.
(iii) New Members
Three new members have recently been accepted
(iv) Publications
Specimen copies of some chapters of “Friends and Foes of Joseph Priestley” by Keith Baker are ready to be sent to prospective printers.
“Life and Legacy” is selling steadily.
Copies of “Life and Legacy” can be obtained from the Priestley Society; 6 Beech Way; Birstall; WF17 0EG. Price £20.00 plus £4.00 P & P (Cheques made payable to “Priestley Society”)
(v) Website & Newsletter Update:
Thanks were expressed to Henry Stokeley for changing and improving the website. Contributions can be sent to .
(vi) Leeds Library
At Leeds Library a meeting on December 3rd will discuss an idea for a Priestley study centre. Anyone wishing to attend can obtain details from Les Woodcock. Les will contact John Lydon of the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society regarding possible sponsorship.
(vii) Meetings 2009
The AGM will be held at Mill Hill Chapel, Leeds on March 13th 2009. It was agreed to contact the Unitarians in Wakefield to consider holding the 4th July lecture there.
(viii) Old Hall Exhibits
A memorial to Alan Naylor is being prepared for display and a copy of the Leeds portrait is to be framed and displayed.
(ix) Any other business
Anne Dickinson of the Batley and Birstall Civic Society attended to invite Priestley Society Members to an event in Birstall, details will be sent to the secretary when available.
Joe Lee reported that he had given evidence at the Coroner’s inquest on Alan Naylor’s fatal accident. A verdict of accidental death was recorded.
Les Woodcock will contact the Huddersfield Examiner regarding the misreporting of Alan as a member of the “J.B.Priestley Society”.
Jim and Lesley Birch recently hosted Ron and Frances Blatchley, active members and friends from the United States. A tour of the Leeds Heritage Trail and other sites was arranged.
Geoffrey Forster circulated details of a lecture “Never met by moonlight. The curious case of Joseph Black and Joseph Priestley” arranged by the Leeds Library, Mill Hill Chapel andLeeds Philosophical and Literary Society.
This will be held at Leeds City Museum (Millennium Square) at 7.00 p.m. on Thursday 27th November 2008. Tea and biscuits will be provided from 6.30.
Admission is free but it will help if members intending to be present contacted Leeds library: Tel. 0113 2453071 or .
Date of next meeting
This will be on the 26th November 2008 at 7.30 p.m. in the Priestley Room at the Old Hall Heckmondwike.
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