Come and Join Us!

Our hard-working committees urgently need new members to help organize their many interesting activities.

All readers of this newsletter will have some experience, skills and knowledge that could be applied to further our Society's objectives, which are "To promote the study and publication of archaeology and history in all their branches, especially within the ancient county of Kent".

So please read the summary of the society's activities on our website, decide which of our committees is involved in work that most appeals to you, and contact the secretary of that committee to discuss how you could contribute. A list of Committee Secretaries telephone numbers appears below.

If you decide to volunteer you will be invited to attend a committee meeting every few months and, in the intervening weeks, to help follow-up some of the work in progress on the committee's agenda.

Two members who recently responded to invitations to join a committee are Caromin Louw and Paul Tritton, who have been co-opted on to the membership and publicity committee.

Caromin moved from South Africa three years ago and lives in Folkestone with her husband Nic and their family. She obtained a BA Degree at Pretoria University and Honours degrees in Geography and Archaeology.

In the 1990s she became actively involved in the history and heritage management of Mafikeng. She gained archaeological excavation experience at Kruger National Park, Mapungubwe and the Northern Cape/Kalahari region and in March 2000 became a council member for the South African Heritage Resources Agency.

Caromin obtained an M-Degree in Environmental Management at the University of The Free State in 2004 and went on to lecture at the University of the Northwest and teach at a private school.

Soon after settling in Folkestone, Caromin joined the Kent Geological Society, the Hythe Art Society and the KAS. "I wish to expand on my historical and archaeological experience and knowledge here in the UK" she said. "I enjoy the Society's activities and look forward to all the planned activities for the coming year. I firmly believe that to understand and love a country and its people, understand their history first!".

Paul lives in Loose and is our new Hon. Press Officer. He began his career in 1954 as a reporter on the Kentish Gazette in Canterbury, and from there moved on to various press and PR jobs. He semi-retired in 2003 after running an editorial consultancy in partnership with his wife, Pat, for 30 years and working as a freelance writer and author.

His interests span business, family, local and social history and industrial archaeology - subjects that give him plenty of scope for research and writing. He has written nine books, including Wincheap Memories: a Pictorial History of a Corner of Canterbury; Whitstable Harbour Memories; 'A Canterbury Tale': Memories of a Classic Wartime Movie and A Canterbury Girl: Memories and Pictures of life in a Cathedral City (co-authored with his mother, Mary Tritton).

Paul is currently writing a history of Robert Brett & Sons Ltd of Canterbury, for publication when the company celebrates its centenary in 2009.

Pat Tritton's name is probably more familiar to KAS members than Paul's, since she is one of the volunteers who transcribe the Kent tithe schedules, Kent churchyard monumental inscriptions and other documents for Ted Connell to post on our website.

Spread the Word

Paul will be pleased to help our committees and associated organisations obtain media coverage for their activities. We hope this will result in wider recognition of the KAS's role in recording our county's past, and encourage non-members to take an active interest in archaeology and local history.

Typical activities that members may consider worth publishing in local newspapers and on local radio include:

• Forthcoming talks, exhibitions and other events that are open to the public.
• Research projects and fieldwork.
• Important 'finds' and other achievements.
• Joint activities and ventures with other societies.
• Publications.

Please feel free to contact Paul at paul.tritton@btinternet.com or by telephone (preferably between 9 am and 5 pm) on 01622 741198 if you would like his advice or help on any current projects.

Committee Secretaries

• Membership & Publicity - Sheila Bromfield 01732 838698
• Publications - Dr James Gibson 01622 673050
• Education - Marion Green 01227 462062
• Churches - Mrs E Nussbaum 0208 7887441
• Library & Muniments - Karl Wittwer 01622 755941
• Place-Names - Anita Thompson 01580 891222
• Historic Buildings - Mike Clinch 01322 526425