3 Issue 41 – Autumn 2014 THE KEDGE ANCHOR Conservation is a professional approach far removed from well-meaning interference, such as indiscriminate cleaning, which may do more harm than good. It aims to safeguard the long term future of the memorial at its original site with the minimum possible intervention. It does not replace parts of the structure that have gone missing, such as railings. This is The 1805 Club’s philosophy, which it has described and delineated in its Conservation Guidelines. The historical roots of the philosophy go back to William Morris, the founder the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in 1877. He favoured sensitive repair rather than destructive restoration. Restoration aims to return a memorial or building to a previous state in its history. This is a much more invasive approach and one that can sometimes have destructive rather than constructive results. Preservation is another form of action. It is an even more interventionist approach because it can involve maintaining the surrounding environment in an unchanged state in order to either conserve or restore the memorial or building. There is an ongoing discussion about the margin between conservation and restoration and following the excellent review by Stephen Tregidgo of all the conservations undertaken by the Club over the past 24 years it is a subject that we shall be re-visiting to see if changes need to be made to the Club’s guidelines to reflect contemporary professional practice. Admiral Charles Stuart was recognized for his innovation and ability to adapt to changing political and technological circumstances and therefore we echo his attitude. Nevertheless, his long career also conceals an anxiety when we consider the perpetuation of The 1805 Club. As Chairman I and my fellow Council members have a duty of care to the Club because it is larger than any personality representing it, in the same way that the US and Royal navies are bigger than any of the officers that serve, no matter how long or illustrious their careers. Typically, a tour of duty in, say, the Royal Navy is two years. The anxiety is that a substantial number of those on Council have been in post for much longer than this. I have been privileged to be your chairman for more than ten years! While I believe your longest serving Council members are all happy to continue to stand for re-election in 2015, every one of them thinks of the longer term and how the Club will progress and prosper when inevitably the time comes for them to stand down. These apprehensions are heightened when we remember that Huw Lewis Jones is standing down as editor of the Trafalgar Chronicle, the Club’s premier publication. The 2014 edition is his last. Huw has done a fantastic job and we owe him a huge thank you for his own long service to the Chronicle. That it is so well regarded by the naval historical community is down to his creativity, energy, dedication and professionalism. We wish him well in the future and hope that from time to time he may be one of the Chronicle’s contributors! I am therefore pleased that the current Council includes new blood and I hope that this process will continue so that succession paths and opportunities are more obvious. Ultimately the Club is only as strong as its membership and so I ask all of you to seriously consider whether you might be prepared to take a more active role in future. Please feel free to contact me. With kind regards and best wishes to you all, Peter Warwick, Chairman AMA DataSet Limited are pleased to be associated with both The Kedge Anchor and The 1805 Club. AMA DataSet Limited, 5 School Lane, Bamber Bridge, Preston PR5 6QD Telephone 01772 627534 www.ama.uk.com Please note the next edition is due in the spring. The deadline for copy will therefore be 21 February 2015. We will be pleased to receive your ideas and contributions at an early date. FROM THE EDITOR Balance is central in any publication, in setting that balance the lead article is fundamental. In this issue we have an outstanding lead by our North American Editor Randy Mafit. The Battle of Pulo Aura is little known. Uniquely fought by East Indiamen against a powerful French naval squadron on 15 February 1804 it saved the Honourable East India Company and Lloyd’s of London from financial ruin. Randy continues to produce exceptional content for each issue while also continuing to provide his excellent, Auction and Book notes. The Gog Magog Shutter Telegraph Journals is the second of three articles on the Naval Signalling Stations by John Wakefield. John has a deep knowledge of his subject and although he is not a member of the Club he has given his expertise freely. His articles are a remarkable insight into a pivotal naval communication system, one that also opens a small window on history. We are able to recognise the achievements of James Sadler, the first Englishman to fly, and who as a chemist helped attain greater accuracy in naval armaments. John will conclude his series in the Spring issue with a review of Claude Chappe’s synchronous telegraph system which was first adopted across France in 1792. It is now described as the “mechanical internet”. The series is set to become a reference point for the mechanisms of the Napoleonic naval signalling stations. A single issue of the newsletter has a uniform 40 pages with an average 28,500 words and 55 illustrations. When multiplied by three issues the set-up and publication likens to a full time commission when combined with the article and picture research required. There is a mounting need for additional help in article and picture research which is a relatively easy undertaking. The task is to create a ‘washing line’, or more appropriately a ready use locker of articles. Material can be found on the internet, the local community, current reading, individual research or member’s specific subject interest. Your editors would welcome any member or joint members who are willing to contribute their ideas; commitment can be marginal or otherwise. Please contact myself or consulting editor Randy Mafit.
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