zaterdag 16 april 2016

Dame Judi Dench accepts Bronte Society role

Dame Judi Dench has been appointed the new honorary president of the Bronte Society as it marks the bicentenary of Charlotte Bronte's birth. The actress, who appeared in the 2011 film of Bronte's Jane Eyre, said she was "delighted" to be offered the role. "It will be an honour to work with the society to promote [the Brontes'] legacy," continued the 81-year-old.  Chair John Thirlwell said the society was "thrilled" and could "think of no better person" to be its president. Dame Judi, who was born near York, will be officially voted in at the society's annual general meeting in June.
Her appointment follows a tumultuous period for the organisation and last year's resignation of its former president, Bonnie Greer. bbc./news

maandag 11 april 2016

On this day in Yorkshire, April 9, 1945.

April 9, 1945
The remarkable increase of from under 10,000 to over 21,000 in the number visitors to the Bronte Parsonage Museum at Haworth last year was referred to at the 51st annual meeting of the Bronte Society, held in the Leeds Civic Hall on Saturday.
Mr Donald Hopewell (President), who presided, said he thought this was almost the most encouraging thing that could have happened. The increase was partly due the fact that because, with transport difficulties, people could not go far afield at present, and more people than formerly were compelled to learn something about their own neighbourhood. Another reason was the very large number of men and women in the Forces who, in their leisure hours, had visited the Museum. It all showed how great was the interest taken in the life and work of the Brontes.

A satisfactory financial statement was presented by Dr W.M. Dickie, the hon treasurer, who said the receipts from Museum admission fees had Increased from £252 in 1943 to £520 last year. The total cash assets of the Society were £1,651, as against £1,237 at the end of 1943, an increase of £414.
Reviewing the work of the Society during the year, Mrs C. Mabel Edgerley (hon secretary) said they had added many new members. She also referred to interesting gifts which had been made to the Society.
Mr W.L. Andrews, hon editor of the Transactions of the Society, and chairman of the Council, reported how paper and printing labour difficulties had been overcome in producing the Transactions, mainly through the efforts of Mr H. Outhwaite. Read all the article: yorkshirepost