Saturday 27 January 2024

An Urgent Appeal from the Leicester Group of the Victorian Society

THE LEICESTER GROUP OF THE VICTORIAN SOCIETY NEEDS YOU! Please find below an urgent appeal from the Leicester Group of the Victorian Society.

The Leicester Group of the Victorian Society has run successfully since its foundation in 1977. It has raised awareness of the city's Victorian heritage, led campaigns to alert the public to buildings under threat (including the frontage of London Road railway station and Thomas Cook’s Temperance Hotel on Granby Street) and, perhaps most remarkably, succeeded in obtaining national heritage listing protection for over 60 Victorian buildings in and around the city (see https://bit.ly/4aRiVpz). Members and non-members alike have enjoyed annual events programmes which have included visits to historic destinations in Leicester and beyond, regular guided walks and numerous interesting speakers - all at an affordable cost.

Lately, however, membership and attendance at events have fallen significantly and membership of the Committee has also declined - meaning that work is shared out between fewer people. It is clear that, unless we have an influx of new people to take active roles, the Group will only be able to operate on a reduced basis, dealing with `core’ planning and listing matters and radically reducing (or discontinuing entirely) its events programme. We may even have to cease our activities altogether.

Help is urgently needed; to plan and organise events and speakers, produce the regular Newsletter and manage the affairs of the Group itself.

If you think you could help and you like a challenge, please come along to the AGM at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 6 February 2024 at Bishop Street Church in Leicester. Our future is in your hands.