Message from the Chair of the Board of Trustees

[fg][/fg]I was thrilled to attend the official opening of the Maidstone Museum Lives in our Landscapes Gallery in June. The Society wholeheartedly supports access to Kent’s unique archaeology through this remarkable achievement. Maidstone Borough Council and the dedicated staff of the Maidstone Museum deserve high praise for creating such a truly spectacular public resource.

2024 has been a busy year for public exhibitions. Key amongst these was the Lees Court Estate: Story of a Prehistoric Landscape Exhibition, a collaboration between the Society, the Faversham Fleur De Lis Museum, and the Lees Court Estate. The exhibition showcased many artefacts recovered from prehistoric monuments at the Estate and excavated by the Society. It ran from March to June, attracting hundreds of visitors. I want to express my gratitude to Lady Sondes for her continued support of the Society’s activities, the Fleur De Lis Museum staff, and our Curator, Andy Ward, for their excellent presentation of this important and enigmatic site, which the Society continues to research.

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As we conclude a busy 2024 excavation season, I am pleased with the progress the Society is making as the Management Team works to align our organisation with its intended purpose. The Society needs to operate more like a business to generate regular income streams that will support our core objectives. The Management Team and Trustees are collaborating on strategies to increase revenue to fund the Society’s activities and ensure its long-term financial stability, demonstrating our commitment to a secure future. I will provide more details on these developments towards the end of the year.

Best wishes,
Kerry Brown
Chair, Board of Trustees