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Talks Report
Coulsdon Celebrates the Millennium
Pauline Payne, Honorary Secretary of the Coulsdon Millennium
Partnership talked to the Society's meeting on 18th September
about its work and achievements. The partnership comprises the
four Residents' Associations of the district, the Coulsdon Forum,
schools, and many local clubs and societies, a membership of
twenty-two in all, under the presidency of Councillor Mary Walker.
The principal memorial to the passing of the Millennium is
the Cairn on Farthing Down. Farthing Down is an historic site
of great significance, being both an archaeological site and
a Site of Special Scientific Importance. It belongs to the City
of London, and is managed as part of the West Wickham and Coulsdon
Commons from its office in Caterham. The location of the Cairn
required special consideration, and that eventually chosen commands
an all-round view and avoided disturbance of any archaeological
remains. The Cairn itself is on a solid foundation, and comprises
a cylinder of concrete, faced with flints, a local material,
and carrying on the top an orientation plaque, indicating the
various landmarks visible from the site. The honorary engineer
was Mr Reg Baker of the Coulsdon West Residents' Association,
and volunteers under the direction of the Downland Countryside
Management Project assisted with the construction work. A plaque
on the side of the Cairn records the principal participants in
its construction. Under the Cairn is a time capsule, containing
a representative collection of manuscripts of local interest
and artefacts of the turn of the Millennium, sealed in a special
container in an inert atmosphere. A visit to the Down and the
Cairn confirms the location as a very special place.
The Millennium was marked by many events in Coulsdon, including
a historical pageant, Coulsdon through the Ages, from Saxon times
to the present, a video of which was shown. School and other
local organisations had worked to produce fully costumed groups
in typical scenes.
Other events included a May Ball, held in the dignified surrounding
of the former Coulsdon and Purley Council Offices in Brighton
Road, talks, meetings and social gatherings. Many of these had
fund-raising as an objective. The principal sources of funding
were the London Borough of Croydon Council for the Cairn and
the Millennium Commission for the Carnival procession. A Millennium
Diary for the year 2000, recording the events of the year and
including much information about Coulsdon past and present, was
produced by voluntary effort and sold in aid of local charities.
Mrs Payne's talk was illustrated with excellent slides, many
from the collection of the City Commons. Our thanks are due to
her for an interesting talk, and in particular, our admiration
for a truly remarkable partnership of organizations and businesses
in Coulsdon to achieve so much for the Millennium Year.
Geoffrey Myers
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