Members of the Farnham Visitor Forum recently met at the Farnham Pottery. Guy Hains explained that in the 5 years since they took over the Pottery from the Farnham Buildings Preservation Trust, they had undertaken significant renovations without introducing any new materials into the buildings. Two groups, West Street Potters and 318 Ceramics use the buildings and run courses on various aspects of pottery, including craft pottery. About 300 people use the buildings each week. Excellent tuition is provided, and everyone has their own wheel. Fine art drawing, sketching and creative writing groups meet regularly. Members had received copies of the Results of the Farnham Visitors Forum Survey and the Action Plan prepared by the Working Group and there would be a review from the comments made and to agree a plan for visitors coming to Farnham.
The Heritage Open Days committee had decided that the theme for 2017 would be ‘Changing Faces’. Liz May from the Farnham Museum told members about an exhibition on W H Allen, concentrating on his work carried out abroad, which will be opening in 3 weeks. This will be followed by an exhibition on John Henry Knight as a photographer. Alongside this will be a temporary exhibition on Olive Edis, whose family had a photographic studio in Castle Street. The last exhibition of the year will be entitled “Sound”. The museum is launching a Young Archaeologists Club for ages 8-13, starting on 28 January. Norma Corkish from the Ashgate Gallery urged everyone to look in to the gallery, where the exhibition of various art/crafts changes every six weeks, and there is “something for everyone”.
Iain Lynch from the Town Council explained that the Residents’ Guide has been revamped and will be going out at beginning of February. The Visitors Guide is also being updated; Walking Festival 21-28 May, culminating in Step into Spring event at the end of that week; Music in the meadow – May-September. There will also be two winter events, Music in the Vineyard, which are scheduled for the same day as the Farnham Market in each case; Farnham Flash Festival – a month of drama every day organised by Performers Together. This will take place in June, and a booklet is being produced; Litter pickers are working all through the year; Public Art Trust have now published an Arts Trail, and Chris Shepheard has produced an Industrial Heritage Trail (leaflet being published shortly).
The meeting closed with the Chairman, Andrew Lodge, thanking everyone involved in the questionnaire for their hard work and to Guy and Elaine Hains for hosting at the Farnham Pottery.
