The Queen's Pier Story .. .. ..

December 2003 Newsletter

The AGM was held at the end of September with a healthy attendance of around seventy members. A wide range of topics were raised and enthusiastically discussed and these will be covered in this update.

The main aim of the Friends is to encourage the Government to restore Queens Pier so that the public can use it for recreational purposes. It is as simple as that. However, the costs are a major consideration when there is such competition for public money. Our main focus continues to be that we keep the issue of the Queens Pier in the public eye, cultivating meaningful dialogue with the appropriate Government Departments. Individually these Departments are constrained by financial budgets, and the fate of Queens Pier will not in all likelihood be a priority for any of them. Ultimately of course, Tynwald will make the decision, so we must therefore attempt to establish a convincing argument in favour of restoration that can be brought before Tynwald.

The Department of Transport (DOT) is responsible for the Queens Pier, with the Department for Local Government and Environment (DOLGE) responsible for its protection under the listed buildings legislation.

The Minister of DOT, the Hon John Shimmin MHK, promised at a meeting held in April at Ramsey Town Hall, to hold another meeting with interest parties, once his staff had considered the issue in greater detail. True to his word, this meeting duly took place at the Sea Terminal on 17 October and was attended by representatives from DOT, DOLGE, the Victorian Society, Ramsey Commissioners and the Friends. The sole purpose of the meeting was to discuss and agree a brief that would be given to the BWB Partnership, to provide a cost quotation in producing a further report with more defined and fully agreed guidelines. You will remember that BWB were commissioned by the Friends to supply us with a report last year, so it is gratifying that they are to be approached by DOT rather than other firms that have produced reports in the past, some at huge expense.

Agreement was reached to continue this particular debate with one named individual representing each interested party; another meeting will be held shortly. The Friends would like to thank Mr Shimmin for allowing us to make a direct contribution in discussions, an opportunity that has not previously been made available to us. In general, we also welcome his willingness to address the issue of the Queens Pier. We shall keep you posted on this encouraging development.

It came out very strongly at the AGM that members would like to be kept informed a little more regularly than has been in the recent past. It is also intended that we send new members a welcome letter.

Please can you have a look at the envelope in which this newsletter arrived, and check the details to see that they are totally accurate. If they are not, please advise the Treasurer of the required amendments, using the form overleaf.
There was also a discussion on the merits of keeping our members advised by e-mail, with it being both cheap and efficient. This is something that we shall look at if we can find the necessary specialist help and expertise. For those of you that use e-mail regularly, please let us have a note of your address in case we are able to contact you in this way, sooner rather than later.

To help us achieve this we need an I.T. literate person to manage the membership database for us. Practically, this is likely to take only a couple of hours a month. Any volunteers please?

In August, as we were unable to obtain permission to access the Pier, the Friends held a very successful "Day under the Pier". It was felt that we should continue to hold our customary summer event although we were not allowed to walk on the Pier and our patron Sir Norman Wisdom was otherwise engaged. All went very well and we should like to thank all those that helped in any way. Additionally, we were able to donate the proceeds of £317 to the Mighty Oak appeal.

Some time ago, our Vice Chairman Michele Tramontana painted a picture of the Pier, and its owner has very kindly agreed that one hundred prints of it could be produced. The number one print of this limited edition run was officially presented in early November to the president of Tynwald, the Hon Noel Cringle. It will be displayed in the refurbished offices and will be viewed by, amongst others, all our politicians. We are sure that Michele would be pleased to sell the remaining ninety nine prints that will be available from his Ramsey Gallery!

Increasing the membership was considered to be an important measure in demonstrating that support for our cause was greater than ever, rather than on the decline. You can help us to achieve this by enrolling two new members on the application forms supplied. Thank you in anticipation. On this point, we are very grateful to the Victorian Society that has canvassed its membership resulting in many new members for the Friends.

We are even more optimistic than we were a year ago, and very much hope that in our next newsletter we shall be able to report on some real progress.

Your chairman and committee would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.