The Society provides a programme of monthly talks and other meetings thoughout the year. Meetings start at 7.30pm on the second Thursday in the month (unless otherwise stated), and will take place at a specified venue or on Zoom, details of which are emailed out to members in advance. Non-members are welcome.
Programme for 2024
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9th May at Christ Church, High Street, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1UT
'History of Sissinghurst Castle Garden' - Stephen Harmer presents an extensive history of the world-famous garden and some of its owners.
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Tuesday 4th June
Outing to Buckhurst Park and The Dorset Arms in Withyham 10.30am - at Buckhurst Park, Withyham, Hartfield, East Sussex, TN7 4BL.
Following our interesting and well attended talk last year in Withyham Church on the Sackville tombs by Lady de La Warr, she has invited us to a private tour of her home and gardens at Buckhurst Park followed by a two course lunch at her pub The Dorset Arms. She has suggested it will take her two and a half hours to take us on the tour, so has planned a start at 10.30am and has booked lunch at 1pm. Please park at the house by 10.15am.
The combined cost is £45.00 per person. Drinks at the pub are not included! Limited to 40 members.
To book please click on the link below:
Buckhurst Park
or pay direct into our bank account:
CAF Bank 40-52-40, RTWCS 00017200, and reference with your name and initial - Buckhurst Park
or send a cheque payable to RTWCS to: John de Lucy, 28 Warwick Park, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5TB.
If paying by cheque please make sure you include your phone contact details in case of query as there will not be any tickets issued for this event.
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13th June at Christ Church, High Street, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1UT
'An 18th Century Entrepreneur: Sarah Baker and her Kentish Theatres' - Dr. Jean Baker (no relation) tells how an illiterate fairground performer went on to open four purpose-built theatres, ending with one in Tunbridge Wells in 1802.
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July
Garden Party - at a venue and on a Saturday to be arranged.
- Friday 6th September to Sunday 15th September
Heritage Open Days in and around Tunbridge Wells.
- 12th September at Christ Church, High Street, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1UT
'Herbert Caley: the Father of the Town Council - Neil Spalding traces the life and work of this influential Tunbridge Wells architect, mayor and benefactor.
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Sunday 29th September
Concert at The Finchcocks Charity 5.pm, please be seated by 4.45pm - at the Richard Burnett Heritage Collection, The Finchcocks Charity, Waterdown House, 51 Frant Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5LE.
Katrina Burnett of The Finchcocks Charity has once again kindly agreed to host the Civic Society at 51 Frant Road, and Sebastian Comberti and Maggie Cole are returning to play the following Broadwood Piano Programme:
Beethoven - Sonata for cello and piano in C, opus 102 no 1
Schumann - Five Pieces in Folk Style opus 102
The last group will be pieces by David Popper, Jean-Michel Damase and Heitor Villa Lobos
Born in London, Sebastian Comberti studied in Italy with Amedeo Baldovino and later with Derek Simpson and Sidney Griller at the Royal Academy of Music, from where he graduated in 1977. In 1976 he became a founder member of the Bochmann Quartet giving concerts throughout the British Isles and in Europe. In 1983 he became principal cello with the London Mozart Players, with whom he has appeared frequently as soloist, as well as being an active member of the LMP Chamber Ensemble. A keen interest in historically informed performance has resulted in participation with a great many of London's period instrument groups, frequently appearing as principal cello with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and soloist with the Hanover Band. As soloist for CPO he has recorded 4 CDs of the Sinfonia Concertantes of JC Bach, while as a member of several chamber groups he has recorded for CRD, EMI, Harmonia Mundi, Hyperion, Meridian, Phoenix and RCA. In April 2001 Sebastian Comberti founded Cello Classics, a label devoted to recordings of rare repertoire and artists, for which he has himself released CDs of hitherto unknown sonatas by Boccherini, quartets for 4 cellos, early 19th Century sonatas with fortepiano, and discs of Sonatas by Stephen Paxton and concertos by Haydn and Zumsteeg with the OAE.
Born in the USA, Maggie Cole has made her home in the UK for the past 40 years. During this time, she has enjoyed a career playing harpsichord, fortepiano and piano. She will always be grateful for the superb tuition received here, most notably from Jill Severs on harpsichord, and for the extraordinary opportunities that living in Europe has brought to her. She is harpsichordist with Britten Sinfonia and has performed with The Nash Ensemble and London Sinfonietta in music that ranges from JS Bach to Henri Duttileux. Maggie has recorded a diverse repertoire which includes on harpsichord, Scarlatti and Soler solo sonatas, Bach's Goldberg Variations, his violin sonatas with Catherine Mackintosh and his flute sonatas with Philippa Davies. Another particular delight was in recording Poulenc's "Concert Champêtre" with Richard Hickox and the City of London Sinfonia. On fortepiano she has recorded trios by Haydn and Beethoven with Trio Goya, 'Mozartiana with Sebastian Comberti and a CD of Boccherini cello sonatas with Steven Isserlis. She can be heard on modern piano in a recording of romantic flute music by Philippe Gaubert with Idit Shemer. Maggie is professor of fortepiano at the Guildhall School of Music and teaches all three keyboard instruments from her home in West London. In the early phase of the Covid pandemic, Maggie had the great pleasure of recording the solo harpsichord music used in the play 'Bach and Sons' at the Bridge Theatre.
There are only forty seats available so please register as soon as possible. The concert will finish at 6.30pm and drinks and canapes will be provided until 8pm, whilst members have the opportunity to look around the Museum pianos and the garden.
The price is £30.00 per person.
To book please click on the link below:
Finchcocks Concert
or pay direct into our bank account:
CAF Bank 40-52-40, RTWCS 00017200, and reference with your name and initial - Buckhurst Park
or send a cheque payable to RTWCS to: John de Lucy, 28 Warwick Park, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5TB.
If paying by cheque please make sure you include your phone contact details in case of query as there will not be any tickets issued for this event.
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10th October at Christ Church, High Street, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1UT
Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society Awards Evening - presented by Dr David Wright.
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10th November - 10.30 at the War Memorial
Remembrance Sunday - members are invited to attend the parade in Civic Way.
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14th November at Christ Church, High Street, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1UT
Annual General Meeting followed by an open forum for members.
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12th December at Christ Church, High Street, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1UT
'There's No Accounting for Magic!' - our Treasurer, Chris Weller, a Chartered Accountant and member of the Magic Circle, will keep us intrigued.
As this is the Christmas meeting the traditional refreshments of wine and mince pies will be provided after the presentation.
Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society - Registered Charity No. 276545