History of the Rural Society
The origins of the Langton Green Rural Society go back to
1959 when it was formed under the name of the Langton Green
Philtopian Society, ‘philtopia’ meaning the striving
after Utopia. The society, founded by local resident and councilor
Miss Mary Chattel*, declared itself to be ‘anti-subtopia’,
sub-topia being at that time the ‘in word’ for
poor and sprawling development. During Miss Chattel’s
chairmanship the name was changed to the present Langton Green
Rural Society which thanks to her dedication and commitment
was one of the earliest village amenity Societies to be formed
in Kent and to be affiliated with the Kent Branch of the Council
for the Protection of Rural England.
The aims and objectives of the Society were stated as being
- To make known to the authorities concerned the interest
of local residents in the appearance and character of the
village
- To preserve the surrounding countryside which the Society
considers to be an integral and essential part of Langton
Green
- To take action on its own account where this is possible
to make Langton Green a more pleasant place in which to
live and work
A revised constitution in 1992 summed up the Society’s
purpose more briefly as being to protect and enhance the environment
and amenity of the village of Langton Green’. Today
this is still its aim and through the efforts of its committee
and members it carries on the work and vision of its founders.
With this in mind it successfully fought the proposed development
of Victoria Park Farm in 1987 and in the 1990’s it actively
opposed the Park and Ride scheme (deleted from the Local Plan
in 2005), both with funds raised from public subscription.
However, with the new ruling regarding “brown field”
sites it has become harder to oppose some of the more recent
developments, regardless of how unsuitable they may be to
the infrastructure of the area.
Since the Society’s inception it has published a number
of booklets in 1964, 1971, 1977 and 1983 entitled Welcome
to Langton Green both to inform existing residents and to
welcome newcomers to the village.
In 1994 the Rural Society was invited by the Horticultural
Society to consider taking over the running of the Village
Fete; the first of these was held in 1996 and since then
the fete has taken place annually on the first Saturday in
July. A portion of the funds raised has gone towards the financing
of projects within the village, including the new Village
Hall and the Church extension; the Society has also helped
the football club and the Brownies and is currently funding
both the village website and village sign. The Society holds
an extremely popular annual Quiz Night early in the New Year
and has in the past organized a Casino Evening, a Wine Tasting
evening and a Ball to celebrate the Millennium.
Committee meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month
at the home of a committee member with an AGM in May and occasionally
an October social meeting; at these two latter events, in
addition to the formal business of the evening, the focal
points are the guest speakers who may come from a variety
of backgrounds, but all have something of interest for our
members.
Membership is £2 annually per household and if you
are not a member and would like to become one please contact
our Membership Secretary.
* Mary Chattell was a member of four councils over a 25 year period and devoted almost her whole life to Langton Green.
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