Find out more about the Trust for Thanet Archaeology (PDF File)
Celebrations for the Trusts 25th Anniversary began this week with a successful keynote lecture given by the Trust for Thanet Archaeology’s Deputy Director Gerald Moody.
Many people with an interest in Thanet’s Archaeology met at the Touchdown Bar on the Broadstairs Campus of Canterbury Christchurch University where they were welcomed with a complimentary drink and refreshments, followed by toasts from the Trusts President David Steed and the Chair, Simon Perry. David Steed spoke briefly about his involvement in the formation of the Trust in 1988, reading from a letter detailing the programme of an event that was held that year to welcome its foundation.
The focus of the celebration on Tuesday was the Keynote lecture given by the Trust’s Deputy Director Gerald Moody. The talk first looked back at the early archaeologists who worked in Thanet in the nineteenth century, moving on to show how important these early excavations were in developing Thanet’s archaeological record, and how influential they were in the foundation of the Trust for Thanet Archaeology. Gerald emphasised how the excavation in the late 1970’s of a prehistoric site at Lord of The Manor, Ramsgate influenced the late David Perkins into developing his interest in archaeology. Eventually David was employed in the Manpower Services Scheme to work on excavations at Lord of the Manor and other archaeological projects and museum work, including the Ramsgate Maritime Museum display of artefacts from HMS Stirling Castle. With the advent of PPG16 and the end of the Manpower Services scheme, David became the first Director of the newly founded Trust for Thanet Archaeology. Later, Gerald described how a young girl was taken by her father to visit the Lord of Manor excavations in 1978. This girl, Emma Boast, eventually trained as an archaeologist at York University and was later taken under the wing of David Perkins, who helped with information for a dissertation project on Anglo-Saxon Thanet. Employed by the Trust in the late 1990s after working as a field archaeologist in North Yorkshire, Emma Boast became the second Director of the Trust for Thanet Archaeology in 2003 following David Perkins’ retirement. In 2003 she was also joined at the Trust by Gerald Moody, who would later become Deputy Director.
The talk detailed some of the significant excavations that the Trust has carried out and mentioned many of the people who have helped the Trust, as volunteers and employees. With the amount of development led excavation work decreasing in the recession, Gerald Moody emphasized the importance of the Trust’s education work and showed examples of activities at local schools and the University of Kent.
Hearing the talk given last night it is clear that the Trust for Thanet Archaeology, originally under the leadership of David Perkins, and now by Emma Boast and Gerald Moody has grown into an important local heritage organisation dedicated to bringing Thanet’s archaeology to the public. After the first 25 years successful years since its establishment, anyone interested in preserving and promoting Thanet’s archaeology can feel secure in the knowledge of the Trusts success. Long may it continue.
