CAMBRIDGE SOCIETY OF KENT

The community of Cambridge University Alumni in Kent, U.K.

WHO WE ARE

The Cambridge Society of Kent arranges meetings for members of Cambridge University residing in Kent to meet and to foster interests they have in common. We are part of a worldwide network of alumni societies of the University and maintain close links with the University Alumni Office.

Membership is open to any former or current member of Cambridge University living in Kent or nearby areas, together with Friends of the University. Membership costs £10.00 a year and members pay for each event that they attend.

WHAT WE DO

The Society organises four meetings a year: two outings over the summer to places of interest in or reasonably near to Kent, and two talks during the winter. There is a convivial lunch at each meeting when members can enjoy a meal together in a relaxed environment.

We also organise a reception in September for freshers living in Kent who are about to go up to Cambridge for the first time, giving them a chance to meet other freshers and to learn a little about life at Cambridge from second or third year undergraduates.

FUTURE EVENTS

STAINED GLASS IN KENT

Saturday, 15th February at 10.30am

The Spring Meeting 2025 will be held in Faversham on Thursday 22 May. We meet at the Shepherd Neame Brewery (ME13 7AX), Britain’s oldest brewer with an official founding date of 1698, though there is evidence of brewing here well before that date.

Our tour of the Brewery begins at 11am. You will learn about the ancient art of brewing and visit the Old Brewery Store, housed in the old wines and spirits store, which features impressive displays of historic delivery vehicles, a recreated coopers’ workshop, bygone pub signs and a collection of hop picking memorabilia. The tour ends with a tutored tasting of six beers (soft drinks are available, if preferred).

Please note that the Brewery advises that, since there are uneven surfaces, cobble stones and steps, sturdy closed-in shoes are essential (no sandals!) There is the option of a virtual tour in the Visitor Centre for those who would prefer it. Please see their website for further details: https://www.shepherdneame.co.uk/legal-stuff/visitor-centre-access-statement Because it is a working brewery, we are limited to a group of 40 in total, going round in two groups.

Coffee before the tour is not available at the Brewery itself but there are several cafés within easy reach in the town.

Following the tour, lunch will be provided at The Sun Inn on West Street, just round the corner from the Brewery.

There is no parking at the Brewery itself but there are public car parks: Partridge Lane car park (55 spaces) ME13 7JB just behind the Brewery, Central car park (230 spaces) ME13 8PW and, across Faversham Creek, Upper Brents (15 spaces).

The cost will be £46. This can be paid by bank transfer to the Society’s account: sort code 30 97 49; account no. 00501470 (or by cheque made out to The Cambridge Society of Kent). In either case please return the booking form below by Friday 2 May to the Events Secretary by email to d-bonner@sky.com or by post to Events Secretary, Kent Cottage, 100 Church Road, Sundridge, Kent TN14 6EA.

CASTLE FARM, SHOREHAM VISIT

Tuesday, 8th July 2025

On Tuesday 8 July, by kind invitation of Society member Caroline Alexander, there will be a visit to Castle Farm at Shoreham with its wonderful lavender fields.

AUTUMN MEETING

Saturday, 18th October 2025

Our autumn meeting will be held on Saturday 18 October 2025 at the Mercure Maidstone Hotel which is close to junction 8 of the M20. Sir Peter Riddell will speak about his life in journalism, and this will be followed by lunch. Our AGM will be held before Sir Peter’s talk.

THE FRESHERS' PARTY

Sunday, 14th September 2025

Our welcome party for this year’s freshers will be held at Otford Village Hall on Sunday 14 September 2025.

CONTACT US

Contact the Secretary, David Bonner for more details about these events (email: d-bonner@sky.com) and to book your place.

RECENT EVENTS

STAINED GLASS IN KENT

It is an art form which has developed in Kent over 850 years: it features dazzling colours, a variety of subject matter and is available for everyone to enjoy. This is stained glass. Paul Britton told the story of Kent’s stained glass to more than 50 members of the Society at the meeting on 15th February 2025, drawing on illustrations from more than 100 examples of stained glass from all over the county.

Kent churches are rich in stained and painted glass. Canterbury Cathedral has one of the best collections of early medieval glass in Europe and the county's parish churches contain outstanding examples of glass of every age, especially the 19th and 20th centuries. The artists creating stained glass in the early mediaeval period demonstrated considerable artistic skill, backed up by sophisticated technical knowledge, to produce images in a range of deep colours. There is still a rich legacy of mediaeval glass in churches throughout Kent. The creation of stained glass was brought to an end in the Reformation. In the 1830s, after a gap of some 300 years, artists became fascinated by the art of the middle ages and revived the old techniques of making stained glass. It became highly fashionable. Pugin used stained glass in his house in Ramsgate, Burne Jones and William Morris were among many leading artists who designed windows for churches around the county. The tradition continued into the 20th century – including the well known set of windows created by Marc Chagall for Tudeley Church. The last of the firms making stained glass windows closed in 2011 but there are still many artists today working in stained glass.

WINE TASTING AND VINEYARD TOUR AT YOTES COURT

Standing high on the Greensand Ridge, members looked down on immaculate rows of vines, sweeping down the hill towards Yotes Court, an historic Grade 1 listed manor house, and the picturesque village of West Peckham. The lower slopes are planted with the classic Champagne vine varieties, producing grapes to make into classic English sparkling wine. Higher up are various different varieties, including Bacchus and a new red variety, Divico, which was developed in Switzerland. These vines are used to make the wines sold under the Yotes Court label.

We heard how the vineyard was planted in 2016 on a beautiful south facing slope where the free-draining soil is perfect for growing grapes and how the vines are managed as far as possible in a sustainable manner with minimal use of sprays.

After our tour of the visit we went to the vineyard’s tasting room, where we were introduced to a selection of the wines made from the Yotes Court vines in a tutored tasting, while enjoying a delicious lunch and stimulating conversation.

The day started with a visit to the fascinating Palladian Church at Mereworth, where our guide was the Rev. Canon Brian Stevenson.

A TOUR OF LEEDS CASTLE

On May 21st, the society visited Leeds Castle, a magnificent monument to the history of England since 857. After over a thousand years of change and re-structuring, for most of the 20th century it was privately owned by Lady Baillie, daughter of Almeric Paget, 1st Baron Queensborough and Paula Payne Whitney, an American heiress. On her death in 1975 she left it to The Leeds Castle Foundation, which owns it still.

As we toured the interior, we were struck by the clear sense of its having been a family home for many decades, but that the family had treasured its centuries of royal history, and sought to maintain that sense of majesty. Beautiful both inside and out, the castle now hosts many public functions and boasts extensive gardens, a lake with a ferry as well as the traditional moat, a falconry area, golf course, themed playgrounds, a maze and opportunities to stay in one of the cottages onsite.

Unfortunately the weather discouraged us from spending time in the parkland and gardens as it poured relentlessly all day. However, with wonderful Cambridge fortitude, we smiled our way to warmth and conviviality - especially in the large, comfortable restaurant where we were able to relax and enjoy each other’s company during lunch.

Despite the rain, it was another thoroughly successful visit, and our thanks go to Althea Chapman whose attention to every member’s needs and ability to rise above minor details like umbrellas and wet guests, ensured its smooth-running and excellent organisation.

THE CINQUE PORTS

Some 30 members and Friends of the Society attended the Society’s AGM on 26th October 2024 and heard reports on the Society’s activities over the last year and the plans for the future.

After the formal meeting, Philip Lewis gave a talk on the history of The Cinque Ports. Philip is a former mayor of the small town of Fordwich, which lies on the River Stour, just down river from Canterbury. During the Middle Ages Fordwich served as the port for Canterbury, and goods flowed through the town from the Continent, using a navigable channel to the west of the Isle of Thanet.

Five ports and two ancient towns - The Cinque Ports - formed a confederation, gaining privileges and rights in return for 'Sea Service', providing ships for the defence of the realm. Men from these ports lived also from fishing, trading, piracy and smuggling. In the modern era, the Cinque Ports are no longer responsible for defence but the Confederation still exists and celebrates its rich history.

THE FRESHERS' PARTY

The Society held a Welcome to Cambridge party on 8 September 2024 for Freshers living in Kent who were about to go up to Cambridge. The party was held at the Village Hall in Otford. Some 40 freshers attended, and had the opportunity to talk to 5 second or third year undergraduates who talked to them about life in Cambridge. Our Chairman, Miriam Westendarp, welcomed the students and third year undergraduate Emily Clarke talked about her experience of Cambridge life and shared some tips on how to make the most of their time at the University.