2003 Balchin Family Gathering – Farnham Castle

The 2003 Family Society Gathering was held in Farnham, Surrey during the weekend of 6th/7th September. The venue was the exiting location of Farnham Castle, which dates from the 12th century.

Farnham is a small lively town of some 37,000 inhabitants with a great deal of historic charm; it has Roman and Saxon remains, but grew as a medieval market town after the building of the 12th century Castle on a smallhill which overlooks the present tight cluster of buildings in the valley below. Much of the present town is of Georgian construction. Whereas so many English country towns have been altered out of all recognition by modern development and reconstruction schemes, central Farnham has managed to preserve its architectural character. Interior modernisation has of course taken place behind the Georgian facades

Castle Street and its T-shaped junction with the Borough, plus East and West Street, form the heart of a compact group of shops and offices, with numerous medieval courtyards and passages well worth exploring with the aid of the Farnham Hertiage Trail. As might be expected, the Balchin names figures in its history.

Sunday 7th September

The Gathering followed the pattern of previous events.
The theme this year was the Jubilee of the Queen’s Coronation in 1953.

9.30 – 9.45
Arrival
9.45 – 10.00
Welcome Sir Robert Balchin
10.00 – 10.30
Coffee and a chance to browse the Society archives
10.30 – 11.30
What have you found?everyone
11.30 – 12.00
The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth IISir Robert Balchin
12.00 – 12.45
Annual General Meeting of the Society
12.45 – 2.00
Lunch
2.00 – 3.00
Guided Walk around historic Farnham OR Browse the Society archives
3.00 – 3.30
A Balchin Marriage, Georgian Style; Mary Balchin and her Runaway SpouseJenny Dixon
3.30 – 4.00
Tea
4.00 – 4.30
Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs of a Balchin Researcher Roy Balchin
4.30 – 5.00
Racehorses, Ballerinas and Booksellers; a Bizarre Balchin CombinationJenny Dixon
5.00
Close
Farnham Castle

Following his excellent talk Sir Robert judged the competition of “What have you from the 1953 Coronation?” .Mrs G.M. Beasley was judged by Sir Robert to have the most rare item. The Golden issue of a daily Newspaper carefully preserved since 1953. The prize was a 2003 issue of Fine Bone China from the Royal Collection.