We are sorry to report that Polly Coburn, loyal trustee of the Commemoration Society from 2003 to 18 and the Wife of Bath on the plinth of the Chaucer statue in Canterbury High Street, died on Monday. She made generous donations to the Chaucer statue and to the statues of …
Do you know a famous person who lived in Canterbury and whose life here should be commemorated with a Blue Plaque? Or is there a famous event which deserves to be remembered? The Canterbury Society and the Canterbury Commemoration Society have set up a new project with the aim of …
On Saturday 14 August, a touching memorial service was held in Boughton Aluph church for the Society’s dynamic former secretary, Cynthia Hawes. Throughout her long life she worked steadfastly for a number of organisations, including the University of Kent, and all who spoke praised her efficiency and bright spirit. The …
The Society is grateful to the City Council for its interesting New Plan and for an opportunity to comment. Our only caveat is that we wish we had been given more time in which to provide feedback, especially during holiday time when several of our members are not at home. …
Steve Portchmouth has finished his striking maquette of the Christopher Marlowe statue. The Marlowe Statue Society hope will be stand two metres tall in St George’s Square, beside the church tower. Steve works in scrap iron – he created the famous Bull in Tannery Field – and his work is …
The AGM last week elected Stewart Ross as the chair of the Society, Charlotte Cornell as vice chair, Alan Turner as treasurer and Brian McHenry as secretary. Stewart is a writer and historian; Charlotte is a writer and campaigner, who is currently working for the Aphra Behn project; Alan is …
On the evening of 8 July 2021, Charlotte Cornell wowed the CCS AGM with a powerful and rousing talk on APHRA BEHN. This remarkable Canterbury-born woman was the FIRST female professional writer in English; female writer whose work (Orinooco) became a prime abolitionist text; author of a novel in English …
Fascinating discussions are currently taking place about the positioning and size of the proposed new Christopher Marlowe statue. These images show where it might stand in St George’s Square, and where the Victorian ‘Kitty’ memorial (now half-hidden in front of the Marlowe theatre) once stood in the Buttermarket.
We offer sincere thanks to the King’s School for offering us a room, free of charge, for our committee meetings. This renewal of the School’s generous and long-standing support for the Society is very much appreciated.
