The Dorothy L Sayers Society − Chairman’s Annual Report 2009
Events held
These have been reported in our Bulletins.
2008
- November: AGM and presentation of Actor's award to Rob Solar by Sheila Mitchell
- December 17: In Memoriam in The Times: “I would not hold too closely to the past”.
2009
- March 12: Dorothy L Sayers Lecture: Laura Thompson (read in her absence)
- March 21: Young Ringers Award presented to Chloe Guthrie by Dame Norma Major
- June 13: Barbara Reynolds Award and Birthday Lunch in Cambridge
- August 8-11: Annual Convention at the University of Chichester
- September 4: Meeting at the College of Arms
- October 17: Joint meeting with Charles Williams Society
Financial
The accounts are published separately. The Society is, as ever, grateful to the Hon. Treasurer, Geoff Raley, for his thorough attention to every detail. Also to Neville Osmond for his careful inspection.
Membership has held up to last year’s numbers:
| 2009 | 2008 | |
| UK | 263 | 267 |
| USA | 118 | 112 |
| Europe | 75 | 76 |
| Rest of World | 12 | 13 |
| Total | 468 | 468 |
The Society is grateful to Lenelle Davis for her continuing work with the membership.
Society Publications
- Sidelights LIX
- SurreyProceedings 2008
- A Detection of the Trinity by John Thurmer
The Society thanks Geraldine Perriam, Publications Officer, for her editing and production of publications and Seona Ford who has helped with printing and transport.
Articles have appeared in:
- SEVEN: Suzanne Bray and Christopher Dean
TV and Radio: The whole cycle of The Man Born to be King was broadcast on BBC Radio 7 over the Christmas period.
Publicity is available through the Society’s permanent notice board administered by the staff in Witham library, and via the Society’s web-site thanks to Richard Birkett; The Society was further publicised through the Essex Book Festival, where Jane Stanway ran an excellent quiz, and in further reviews of The Christ of the Creeds in the Church Times. Bookbrunch and The Bookseller both carried reports on the Barbara Reynolds Award and Ringing World gave a full account of the Young Ringer's Award. The Actor's Award is currently shown on Theatre Centre and ALRA websites.
The Bulletin
We appreciate the contributions from all members and the photographs from Lesley Simpson. We most particularly thank Jasmine for her work which does not stop with editing ― it involves stuffing all Bulletins and other items into envelopes which she has stamped and addressed. Suggestions from some members that we might distribute the Bulletin online were discussed by the Committee and rejected on administrative grounds.
Archives
Orders have been speedily attended to thanks to the enthusiastic work of Bunty Parkinson. The Society is most appreciative and welcomes the help of Jo Short who is now assistant Archivist.
Advice
Advice and assistance continues to be given to publishers, authors, journalists, musicians, researchers and students throughout the world by post, telephone, fax and e-mail. These have included a request from the commissioned historian of St Anne’s, Soho, who will be publishing his work in 2010. The Society is indebted to all those who help with the many enquiries.
Awards and Donations
The Society has gradually increased the number of its grants and awards. This year has seen the presentation of two new awards: the Barbara Reynolds Award, which we hope to make every two or three years, to Crystal Downing, and the Young Ringer’s Award to Chloe Guthrie.
Grants and donations totalling £4062.01 (last year £1623.50) have been made this year for:
- Barbara Reynolds Award £1000
- Music award: £750 (Helena Buckie)
- Radius £100
- Actor’s awards: £500 (Robert Solar), £500 (Michael Lyle)
- Young Ringer’s Award £196.35
- Bluntisham PCC £50
- Royal Theatrical Fund (in memory of Margaret Wolfit) £25
- Towards publication of DLS’ Sacred Plays £340.66
- CS Lewis production of Perelandra £600
The Lord Peter Wimsey Companion
The sub-committee has continued to make progress in transferring this major work to an online edition, giving an update at the Convention and inviting members to proof read.
Other
The Trustees have taken professional advice in order to ensure that the Society continues to operate in conformity with UK standards of governance and practice. The subsequent report confirmed this to be the case.
The Dorothy L. Sayers Centre saw the delivery of The Dorothy L. Sayers Lecture. I am grateful to Seona Ford and Jane Stanway for their work in the Centre.
The Convention held at Chichester this year had “DLS at school” for its theme and was most successful. I am once again grateful to Seona Ford for her expert management.
I thank the Committee and all members of the Society whose unstinted voluntary work has contributed to the year's success.
Christopher Dean
Chairman
31.x.2009
Committee
| President | Dr Barbara Reynolds |
| The following are trustees: | |
| Chairman | Christopher Dean |
| Vice Chairman, Witham Liaison and Convention Administration | Seona Ford |
| Hon. Treasurer | Geoff Raley |
| Hon. Secretary and Bulletin | Jasmine Simeone |
| Archivist | Bunty Parkinson |
| Assistant Archivist | Jo Short |
| Research Officer | Philip Scowcroft |
| Sound Archives | Richard Birkett |
| Publications Officer | Geraldine Perriam |
| Membership Secretary | Lenelle Davis |
| Christine Dean | |
| Christine Simpson | |
| Co-opted member [non-Trustee]: Wheaton Representative | Marjorie Lamp Mead |