2022 AGM & TALK
In the absence of the Chairman, Fran Wilson, the Vice Chair presided for this evening on Thursday 9th June. She expanded on a yet another difficult year for the MMF operation, but pointed out that there were real signs of things ‘getting back to normal’. The Friends’ shop in Fremlin Walk was open regularly on Fridays and Saturdays, and the venue was being used to its maximum with receptions and regular monthly Friends’ talks.
Stephen Farrant, the Treasurer, reported that our balances were holding up very well given the diminished activities in previous years.
In Ivan White the Membership Secretary’s absence Trevor Sturgess advised that our membership stayed at roughly the same level (c500) as the previous year, as it did indeed from 2020. The board felt that this was very heartening.
The 2021 Annual Report was made available – hot off the press. A pdf version (along with the Annual Accounts) is now on the ‘About Us – Trustees’ page of this website.
At the end of the AGM the Vice Chair formally thanked fellow trustee Janette Lloyd, who is stepping down from the board after 5 years wonderful service. Janette was presented with a bouquet of flowers. The Board is not to lose its important educational advice as Janette is being replaced as trustee by fellow Invicta teacher, Guy Macdonald.
Afterwards we received an informative presentation by the Museums’ Collections Manager, Sam Harris, entitled:
“Japanese Art of the Edo Period at Maidstone Museum“
It emphasised what an incredible collection of this period Maidstone Museum has – much valued by the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and Japanese experts and researchers across the world. She explained the philosophy of the artists in Japan at that time, who were seeking basic design and avoiding the excesses so often used in some art work. She also explained the ‘closed’ nature of Japan during this period (c1600 to 1850), and the relative rarity of objects from this period outside Japan. Her love of this subject shone through as she gave us all a superb presentation.
We are delighted to report that Sam has agreed to make a presentation next year too, about the Local Industries in Maidstone – paper making, brewing & food manufacture.
