President’s Column

Welcome to the Winter KAS magazine. Despite the enormous challenges of the pandemic and the two lockdowns in 2020, the Society managed to continue most of its functions. Meetings were held online; there were some digs, particularly over the summer and into the early Autumn; and we continued to think about our future direction. Some of that is reflected in this edition.

Throughout this challenging period, I have had a chance to speak to people about their views of where the Society should be heading, and get to know our work far better. Being based more at home has meant I had the time to talk to some of our key partners and members, and to get a better understanding from them of what they think the Society does, and where it needs to be heading.

The good news from this consultation is that none

of those people I spoke with doubted we have an essential function. The more difficult news was that there was significant variance over what the KAS does, and what it should be doing in the future.

Some liked the idea of the Society being more of a supporter of education; others felt we needed to be more involved in exhibiting and running events.

The KAS Strategy Group has been contemplating these ideas and, in 2021, will be able to report back with plans on how we navigate the next few years.

Despite the lockdown, like many others, I was also able to concentrate more on the immediate environment around me. From summer into late Autumn, in manageable chunks, I decided to walk the Kent coast. So far, I have done from Faversham along the creek, and then by the Swale through Whitstable, Herne Bay, Reculver, round by Birchington, Margate, Ramsgate and then down past Pegwell Bay, Sandwich and finally to the castle in Walmer. I have lived in Kent, on and off, all my life. But I’m sad to say I’ve never appreciated how important its coast was, or how varied, dramatic and atmospheric it is. My walks made me appreciate how remarkable and laden with memory traces our county is. It was pleasing to know a good deal of this landscape has, over the years, been researched and explored by the KAS, and I was able to learn about it by looking at articles over the years in Archaeologica Cantiana. Despite the enormous challenges of 2020, I have grown ever more grateful for the work of the KAS.

With best wishes for 2021,

Kerry Brown President-Elect

President-Elect, Kerry Brown