Following our recent article on Robert Lochner’s Blue Plaque, lots of you have been keen to discover more about how these are chosen and put in place. So, we arranged a meeting with Chris Harrison, the current Chair of the Haslemere Society to find out more about the work they do.

The Society is perhaps one of the oldest running clubs within Haslemere. Its roots date back to 1884 when Sir Robert Hunter (one of the three co-founders of the National Trust) set up the Haslemere Branch of the Commons Preservation Society, which eventually became the Haslemere Society.

According to its homepage, it exists, ‘to protect and enhance Haslemere, nearby villages and the surrounding countryside, by encouraging the interest and support of residents and members.’ In reality, its focus sits in three different areas – heritage, planning and environment. The society exists to celebrate and share the town’s heritage, to both preserve the environment around Haslemere but also to be forward-thinking about the town’s future and to help support other groups in the work they do to ensure planning is in the best interests of the town.

Their Blue Plaque scheme was launched in 2007 and since then, numerous figures have been commemorated via a blue plaque on one of Haslemere’s buildings. That said, there are many figures who may never be included due to the criteria of awarding these plaques, a process which largely follows the rules of the scheme in London. These criteria insist that the blue plaque needs to be visible from a road or footpath. The person being recognised also needs to have been deceased for at least twenty years or we need to have passed the centenary of their birth of death (whichever comes soonest). And finally, the person needs to be a figure that an informed passer-by would largely recognise.

Seventeen blue plaques have already been awarded to historical figures such as Robert Lochner, Melvin ‘Dingy’ Young and Field Marshal Montgomery, but also to literary figures such as George Eliot and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Others include Ron Reynolds on Lion Lane and Walter Tyndale on Hill Road. A blue plaque trail has been designed to allow people to discover them all on foot.

The exciting news is that there is a new blue plaque just around the corner. And it’s for the creator of one of the UKs most loveable bears – Paddington! Michael Bond lived on Farnham Lane with his first wife Brenda and their daughter Karen in the 1970s, before moving to a flat in central London following his divorce in 1981. Next month, an invited audience will be welcomed to the house to see the Blue Plaque being put in place.

If local history like this piques your interest, then it’s worth joining the other 400 members of the Haslemere Society that are equally curious about the history of our town.

Chris has been Chair of the Haslemere Society since 2021 but a member for nearly 20 years. One of the things Chris has done in that time is to replace the paper newsletter that was once posted out to members with a new digital newsletter. Become a member and you will automatically receive this in your inbox every quarter. Members also have access to a number of talks each year along with trips and drinks events. Some of these are paid trips such as the upcoming August trip is to Parham House followed by lunch in Petworth. Others are free to attend.

And at the AGM in November, members will enjoy a talk by the official historian of George Macdonald whom many regard as the founder of fantasy literature. George Macdonald lived on Grayswood Road from 1900 until his death in 1905. He was a memorable figure back then, often spotted in his scarlet cloak, serge suit and grey felt hat. Certainly, read his novel The Princess and Curdie, and you can see how Tolkein was influenced by him. George Macdonald was also known for mentoring authors like Lewis Carroll and C.S. Lewis.

The society is excellent value - annual membership is just £15 for an individual and £25 for a household. Find out more and sign up online.