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From the Newsletter- April 2005 |
HISTORIANS ARISE!
and look to the future
It is tempting, although possibly statistically unsound, to suggest on the evidence of just two dates that the early years of all new centuries are a time of bold initiatives and change that can herald the shape of things to come in the following years. Certainly 1806 and 1905 were notable years.
A century ago in 1905 The Kyrle Society, now Bristol Civic Society was born. You can read and marvel at the exciting story of a 100 years of campaigning for a better Bristol in our new Millennium Book. It goes to Members and will also be available in bookshops. The book both celebrates the past and establishes a new identity and logo to carry the Civic Society into the future.
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Brunel was born in 1806 and his works and determination still inspire us |
The new body ‘Brunel 200’ has dual aims, first to celebrate his life and
works and second, “to create the Brunels of the future”. All will be
revealed on May 19th at The Brunel 200 Conference at The Watershed.
Brunel 200 believes that the Brunels of the future are present today amongst
the “creative individuals and teams dedicated to finding new solutions to
contemporary problems”.
We may get involved; the Civic Society Committee has recently identified and
approved a project which aims to set about one of Bristol’s most intractable
problems. Did any of you ride on the electric railbus when it was giving
rides on Harbourside? Then you were testing a prototype of the Ultra Light
Rail System which could be developed to give a regular service from the
Centre utilising the protected rail lines on the docks to the Create Centre,
Long Ashton and on to Portishead.
Think what an opportunity there is here to reduce car use, relieve
congestion and pollution in Bristol itself. We all know how traffic problems
are reducing quality of life here and new solutions must be found. Yes,
there will be difficulties and logistical problems but remember Brunel and
the obstacles he faced and overcame. The secret is to revive his ‘can do’
culture, expertise, imagination and determination. Other cities seem able to
respond positively to challenges. Let this year be the turn of Bristol to
show its mettle!
Audrey Lennox
Chairman
0117 950 0664
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