SOME BACKGROUND ON THE WESTBURY-ON-TRYM SOCIETY
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The Society is a voluntary organisation, set up in 1972, originally to look after the amenities, landscape and historic heritage of this 1300 year old village. Most neighbourhoods now have a residents' or conservation society but WotSoc can claim to have been one of the first to be set up in the Bristol area, over 35 years ago. Most meetings of the Society are held in the victorian Village Hall which was saved from the threat of demolition and re-development in 1972. The Society was a key player in the campaign which preserved this jewel of the village. |
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The Village Hall was financed, built and endowed to the village by Henry St Vincent Ames, a local benefactor, for the promotion of recreation, social and moral improvement, including lectures, music, reading, exhibitions of art, science, industry, agriculture, horticulture and public instruction. It is now managed as a voluntary organisation and is available for hire for events, weddings, meetings etc. For more information on its historic facilities and hire charges visit the Village Hall website. |
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The Society is a registered charity No. 265486 and exists entirely on voluntary help and membership subscriptions. There is an elected committee (see Contacts and Links above) and a formal Constitution. The committee meets monthly to discuss current business and organise activities and campaigns. Elections and formal matters are dealt with at the Annual General Meeting of the Society. There have been four formally elected chairman since the Society was founded (John Lodge, Prof Brian Pickering, Roger Smith and Hilary Long). |
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The Society relies heavily on volunteers for example to help at events, clearing planters in the village, and distribution of newsletters etc. Volunteers are always welcome and if you would like to help please contact us using the Contact Form. |
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The Society's activities include: Constantly working to ensure that Westbury remains a pleasant place to live, work and visit by the provision and maintenance of the flowers in pots around the village centre, by managing arrangements for the hanging baskets and maintaining the Packhorse Gardens. The Village has won various categories of Bristol in Bloom for a number of consecutive years. Monitoring planning applications including significant new-build or redevelopment, change of use for shops etc and responding as necessary. We support and try to shape those plans which enhance the character, amenity and future vitality of the village and oppose those which we consider to be detrimental to the village character and or the amenities and facilities available to residents and visitors. Supporting other campaign and village interest groups where appropriate and encouraging (seed) the formation of new groups. Distributing regular electronic communications to our members, including articles on local events and history. Commissioning special projects such as the recently completed DVD on Westbury's history made for us by the ex-BBC Producer Keith Sheather. |
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There are some lovely pictures and further information about Westbury on Trym on the About Bristol website (the site is not a tourism agency or information centre but none the less is very informative). If you believe there are errors or omissions on the About Bristol site please feedback directly to them.
