HAARG
Hastings Area Archaeological Research Group Registered Charity No.294989
HOMENEWSLETTER - MAY 2005 (special issue)
MICHAEL GREENHALGH, 1941-2005: We record with profound
regret the death in hospital on 27 April of Mike Greenhalgh; he had been noticeably
unwell for only a few weeks, but was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Mike joined
HAARG some ten years ago after his early retirement as PE master at local schools,
and in 1996 volunteered to take on the post of Treasurer. Two years later he
also assumed the role of Field Officer which had been dormant for five years,
and this together with the revival of the Journal brought new life to HAARG
with a doubling of membership and the provision of activities which all could
take part in. In recent years Mike has also been carrying out a number of local
Watching Briefs for the County Archaeologist, and had devoted many hours a week
to HAARG's affairs. The funeral will take place at Hastings Crematorium on Monday 9 May at 11.0 am. In lieu of flowers, donations to HAARG funds in his memory are invited, c/o the new Treasurer (see below).
We extend the sympathy of all members to his wife Kay and all the family, many of whom have visited our digs at Beckley on several occasions. They were in process of moving from the Laton Road address to Bexhill and the house is being vacated shortly. Any member seeking further details should contact David Padgham or Lynn Russell (all contact addresses at end of this Newsletter).
THE FUTURE OF HAARG: this loss has placed a heavy
work-load on the few remaining officers - reiterating what I have said in my
Chairman's annual reports more than once, that HAARG was over-dependent on too
few officers who had no deputies. It will mean further upheaval in the day-to-day
administration, following on our recent change of club room which has caused
a lot of work. Your Committee has already made a number of appointments: Kevin
Cornwell is now Treasurer (which includes Membership renewals and recruitment),
and Lynn Russell is managing the Watching Briefs. Equipment, many boxes of finds,
and a large amount of records and reports are being temporarily stored by the
Chairman and the Secretary, but offers of dry storage would be welcomed. No
appointment is being made at present to the post of Field Officer, as this calls
for availability frequently during the average week as well as organising skills,
and has been a position only filled at wide intervals; however the Footlands
Project led by Lynn Russell is still to proceed (see last Newsletter).
VICE-CHAIRMAN: the Committee was also pleased to
appoint Barbara White to a new post of Vice-Chairman; Barbara regularly attends
our Wednesday meetings and was already co-opted to the committee in view of
her previous experience as Chairman of another archaeology group.
CLUB HEADQUARTERS: the room we have at All Saints
Street for several years has been vacated, as reported in the March Newsletter.
Wednesday morning meetings are being held until further notice in the upstairs
room (disabled lift available) at the Fishermen's Museum, Rock-a-Nore Road,
from 10.30am to 12.00. Members are urged to support these, as a means of keeping
in touch with events, as it will obviously not be possible to provide very much
outdoor activity for a few months.
A PERMANENT LOCAL HISTORY CENTRE is still being
actively planned, and there are distinct hopes now that premises can be secured
in the Old Town within a year or so.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS WERE DUE IN JANUARY; a large
majority of members have renewed without reminder. A number who did not respond
to two requests have now been deleted from the mailing list, but in a few cases
we feel there is still an interest and for these a further renewal form is enclosed
which please return to the new Treasurer as soon as possible.
EXCAVATIONS AT GLOSSAMS PLACE, BECKLEY: as previously
explained, there will be no full-scale excavation this year pending the preparation
of a definitive report. However it is intended that conservation work on some
of the masonry will be carried out by members and visiting students as a training
course under Paul Reed's professional supervision; details will be circulated
later to all those who have expressed an interest.
THE SUMMER JOURNAL is being planned for publication
in August, and will be accompanied by the next Newsletter. 
