Registered Charity No. 515724

The Friends of Newport and Nevern was founded by Miss Audrey Bosville as a result of a public meeting held in the Memorial Hall in Newport in November 1959. She remained chairman for the next fifteen years. The meeting was to voice opposition of the people of the area to plans by a developer for damming the estuary, thus making a marina between the Parrog and Iron Bridge. No marina was built. The Friends also strongly opposed the building of two bungalows on the site at the top of Market Street when it came on the market. They were able to buy the property in 1969, and designed and constructed a garden there, which received a Prince of Wales Award in 1971. The garden is still maintained by volunteers of the Friends. A further fight was undertaken when a plan for twenty five houses in Feidr Ganol was presented in the National Park Local Plan of 1995, this was successfully overturned.

All the above has happened with considerable financial aid from the members of the Society, and other interested parties, and the continuance of the Society depends on support from Newport and Nevern.

The stated objects of the Friends are:

• to promote high standards of planning and architecture in, or affecting, the area;
• to educate the public in the geography, history, natural history and architecture of the area;
• to secure the preservation, protection, development and improvement of features of historic or public interest.

PROGRAMME 2007

This year your Committee, who are Reg Atkinson (Chairman), Tony Barnes, Arthur Davies (Treasurer), Antony Jefferson, Gwyneth Hayward, Anne Lewis-Smith (Hon Secretary), Meryl Roberts, Jackie Thomas (Membership Secretary) and Sue Wells (i/c Garden Rota), have planned the following events:

• June 13th, Wednesday. Visit to the National Botanical Gardens by coach.

We have 30 FREE TICKETS ! Ring Jackie Thomas, 820339, as soon as possible to

get one or more, the coach will cost £8 each.

• June 23rd, Saturday. Ffair Gurig. Please support our stall.
• August 4th, Saturday. Coffee Morning and Bring-and-Buy in the Friends' Garden. This promises to be even better that last year.
• August 24th, Tuesday. August Lecture. To be given by the archaeological historian, Julian Orbach, on 'Newport's Houses'. 7.00 p.m. at the Boat Club.
• October 9th, Tuesday. A.G.M. and Luncheon at the Llwyngwair Manor.

Speaker to be the Rev. Neil Llwelwyn titled "They haven't shot me yet..."

Tickets from Reg Atkinson (820889), Jackie Thomas (820339)

or Anne Lewis-Smith (820285).

Also of great interest is that Nevern has been chosen for the Five Nations Ploughing and Hedging Championships on September 21st and 22nd. Further information from Meryl Roberts (820230).

If you would like more information on the Society or forthcoming events, or wish to join the Friends, please contact Mrs Anne Lewis-Smith on 01239-820285 or Mrs Jackie Thomas on 01239-820339.

It is not "What will I get out of the Society" - it is "What can I put in to the Society?" that will help us protect Newport and Nevern.