A painting of Agatha Christie as a small child is being restored for her Devon home, Greenway, owned by the National Trust. The house is due to open in Spring 2009.
Following a visit by members to the gardens at Greenway in May, the Quantock Centre has given £200 towards the cost of the restoration. Another substantial contribution has been made on behalf of members by Ann and Eric Franks from the proceeds of holidays they have organised.
Agatha Christie, as Mrs Mallowan, bought Greenway in 1938. She and her husband, Max, a distinguished archaeologist, enjoyed it for many years as their holiday home. Her daughter and family gave the house and gardens to the National Trust in 2000.
The “finding a way forward” project, a joint initiative by the National Trust and the Quantock Centre, is now underway with the appointment of a volunteer project manager, Stephanie Szakalo.
Stephanie is a member of the National Trust and lives in Wiltshire. Her career has been largely spent in direct marketing. She was chosen from six short-listed applicants who responded to the Trust's search for “a skilled volunteer to help the Trust and one of its major local supporter groups to identify how the group, and others like it across the country, can be more secure and more attractive to new generations of members”.
She has been meeting officers of the Centre Committee and will soon extend her research to Centre members. She says: “I am very much looking forward to meeting as many people as I can – from the Quantock Centre in particular – during the coming weeks and months. Their views could have a major influence on the future of centres and associations and on their relationship with the Trust.”
Her career has included work with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Multiple Sclerosis Society. “Our work focused particularly in helping them communicate effectively with their supporters, helping them attract new members and gaining a better understanding of the very important work that branches were doing on their behalf.”
A questionnaire will be sent to members in November, seeking their views and ideas. These will help to shape the future of the Centre and other, similar supporter groups of the National Trust. Meanwhile, for any member wishing to contact Stephanie Szakalo by email, her address is: stephanie.szakalo@tiscali.co.uk
Richard Higgs, National Trust Property Manager for South Somerset, met the Committee of the Quantock Centre in July to outline the latest plans for improving facilities for visitors to Barrington Court.
The Centre raised £100,000 in five years towards the cost of a new visitor centre – due to be part of a major development of the farm buildings by the Trust and Somerset Food Links.
Mr Higgs confirmed that, despite planning permission, Somerset Food Links had withdrawn from the scheme because the commercial return was considered insufficient to justify the capital investment. But, he said, the farm buildings, which are Grade 1 listed and regarded as an integral part of Barrington Court's heritage, still needed to be made wind- and water-tight and turned to good use.
He said the latest plan was to develop a new visitors' entrance and reception point, café, shop and plant sales area, all relocated from their present scattered positions. This development would see increased revenue for the property and therefore attract internal investment funding that, added to the Centre's £100,000, would make the scheme financially viable.
The Committee welcomed the positive news of the developments, and Mr Higgs promised an update in January.
There are still places for the Quantock Centre's Christmas lunch at Oake Manor Golf Club, near Bradford-on-Tone, on Friday 12 December (12.30 for 1.00pm). The price is £16 which includes a three-course seasonal meal. Please contact the Booking Secretary for the Autumn programme on 01823 253994.