Newport Transporter Bridge AGM 2022

 Newport Transporter Bridge AGM 2022

Here are some photographs of the 2022 AGM which took place on 25th Feb at 7pm at the Seafearers' Mission at the Dock Gates.

David Hando the out going chairman gave his report

and Dame Rosemary Butler chaired the meeting

The Treasurer, Isailo  Dimic, provided his report

Emma Newrick, (Transporter Bridge Client Project Manager) 

talked about the progress of the Project

Councillor David William, Newport's 389th Mayor, mentioned the 

importance of the Bridge and his two charities. 

The money raised from the raffle money was 

shared with the Mayor's charities. They were Newport Mind

 and the Friends of Gwent Music

Martin Bell's talk followed the formal AGM

Professor Martin Bell is an archaeologist who has given many lectures locally about the Usk and its links to industrial heritage. He is a really engaging speaker and has recently led walks and mini excavations on the Gwent Levels and is well known to many of us. The title of his talk was “the archaeology of the mouth of the river Usk and its links to the industrial development of Newport”.

Unfortunately I had failed to charge my phone and so we had no picture of Professor Bell, but Dave Bassett took some pictures throughout the evening and passed them on. Professor Bell began his talk by listing the important finds that had been discovered in the area of the mouth of the Usk. They included parts of boats, animal bones and skulls. I was pleased that he mentioned Tredegar Hill Fort which has never been excavated and which I have noted as being in a similar position above the mouth of the Usk just as Caerau hillfort is above the mouth of the River Taff. He also felt that Medieval Newport had not received sufficient attention and mentioned the Castle. (However recently the remains of the Austin Friars have been excavated.) He felt that the important discovery of the Newport Ship had raised the importance of Newport and its history which was told through archaeological finds. Interestingly he referred to his work on the foreshore and how pieces of a Second World War  aircraft were being found but no  evidence for a plane crashing in the area has yet been discovered.

It was a fascinating talk and I would like to hear it again and I am sure all the members in the audience would agree.

CH.

Another chance to hear Professor Martin Bell talk on Friday 4th March 

at the Lysaught Institute About The Host: Newport Transporter Bridge is one of six operational transporter bridges worldwide- Open April - Sept Weds to Sun 10.00 - 17.00

The Prehistory of the Severn Estuary Levels

From the Palaeolithic communities of the ice ages to the Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, Professor Martin Bell will reveal the stories behind the remarkable footprints they left in the mud of the Severn Estuary. Taking us further on this archaeological journey of discovery, Martin will also focus on the first farmers, seasonal settlements and the changes made by the Romans.

Martin Bell is Emeritus Professor of Archaeology at the University of Reading. He has been excavating in the Severn Estuary since the early 1980s and has been responsible for several intertidal excavations of prehistoric sites around Newport focusing particularly on work at Goldcliff, Redwick and Peterstone. Recently he has been involved in community outreach work on the Archaeology of the Gwent Levels through the Living Levels Project. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and the British Academy. His most recent book is Making one's way in the World: the footprints and trackways of prehistoric people 2020, Oxbow books.

All funds raised through entry fee will contribute to the redevelopment and restoration of the Newport Transporter Bridge.

Tickets

Tickets for The Prehistory of the Severn Estuary Levels can be booked here.

https://allevents.in/newport/the-prehistory-of-the-severn-estuary-levels/200022082268558