Past Events of the Friends of Henfield Museum
As well as funding and working on museum projects, the Friends hold talks, excursions as well as our Annual General Meeting and Christmas party. See a selection here.
2024
Friends Christmas Party
Talk: AmDram ProDram by Peter Bates
Wed 4th Dec 2024, 16:30 - 18:30
Drawing upon his 70+ years in the theatre, on stage, back stage and in the audience, Peter talked of his early days at school, through Cambridge, and for over 50 years on and off the Henfield stage in association with the venerable Henfield Players and today's Henfield Theatre Company.
We were privileged to hear some exquisite titbits and a few fine theatrics thrown in!
We were privileged to hear some exquisite titbits and a few fine theatrics thrown in!
From left: unknown friend of Paul Murden, Anne Hubner, Doreen Barclay, Doreen Wheeler, Peter Bates, seen in the Henfield Players' 1975 production of 'The Heiress'. A 1947 adaptation of Henry James' 1880 novel 'Washington Square', it was made into a 4x Oscar winning film two years later with Olivia de Havilland
Annual General Meeting
Talk: Farming in the '40s and '50s' by Peter Bates
Thurs 9th May 2024, 19:00
After an update on Friends and museum projects, AGM business and the election of the committee, a talk by Peter Bates followed, entitled 'Farming in the '40s and '50s'.
This was Peter's personal story based on his first 20 years, brought up on a 48 acre, small mixed farm smallholding in the Weald of Kent (Smarden) with 12 cows, 3 pigs, 30 sheep, 50 chicken and a cart horse - no mains water until 1947, nor mains electricity until 1962. He brought with him some artefacts from that era, including his mother's Tilley iron in its original (somewhat tattered) box and a selection of photographs and documents.
This was Peter's personal story based on his first 20 years, brought up on a 48 acre, small mixed farm smallholding in the Weald of Kent (Smarden) with 12 cows, 3 pigs, 30 sheep, 50 chicken and a cart horse - no mains water until 1947, nor mains electricity until 1962. He brought with him some artefacts from that era, including his mother's Tilley iron in its original (somewhat tattered) box and a selection of photographs and documents.
