Friends of Kett's Heights
Recent News and Activities
Friends of Kett’s Heights. Special General Meeting 1 July 2025
Background
Our Chair, Cavan, was elected in 2022 and re-elected twice in 2023 and 2024. According to our constitution he was required to stand down as Chair at the AGM in May this year.
Section 5d of the constitution currently reads as follows:
The honorary officers and the individual members of the Executive Committee shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting, and shall be eligible for re-election, save that the Chair may not be re-elected more than twice as the Chair.
At a meeting of our Executive Committee in March Cavan invited those present to self-nominate for the position of Chair. This invitation was repeated at the Annual General Meeting but nobody was willing to consider the role. The position then remained vacant until the following week when, in line with our constitution, Cavan took up the role once more after a unanimous vote of our Executive Committee. In an effort to make the succession of the Chair more efficient in future our committee has agreed the following proposal for consideration by members.
Proposal to be considered at the Special General Meeting
Section 5d of the constitution should be changed to read as follows:
The honorary officers including Chair, Vice-chair, Secretary and Treasurer and the individual members of the Executive Committee shall be elected annually and shall be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meeting.
This proposal removes any time restriction on the tenure of honorary officers but maintains the important practice which requires both honorary officers and committee members to be elected each year at the Annual General Meeting.
Background
Our Chair, Cavan, was elected in 2022 and re-elected twice in 2023 and 2024. According to our constitution he was required to stand down as Chair at the AGM in May this year.
Section 5d of the constitution currently reads as follows:
The honorary officers and the individual members of the Executive Committee shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting, and shall be eligible for re-election, save that the Chair may not be re-elected more than twice as the Chair.
At a meeting of our Executive Committee in March Cavan invited those present to self-nominate for the position of Chair. This invitation was repeated at the Annual General Meeting but nobody was willing to consider the role. The position then remained vacant until the following week when, in line with our constitution, Cavan took up the role once more after a unanimous vote of our Executive Committee. In an effort to make the succession of the Chair more efficient in future our committee has agreed the following proposal for consideration by members.
Proposal to be considered at the Special General Meeting
Section 5d of the constitution should be changed to read as follows:
The honorary officers including Chair, Vice-chair, Secretary and Treasurer and the individual members of the Executive Committee shall be elected annually and shall be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meeting.
This proposal removes any time restriction on the tenure of honorary officers but maintains the important practice which requires both honorary officers and committee members to be elected each year at the Annual General Meeting.
Read our Chairman's report given at our May 2025 AGM

chairmans_report_may_2025.pdf |
Cub Scout Visit
Some photos from the recent visit of the Little and Great Plumstead cub scouts yesterday evening. Paddy conducted the tour and later they had fun doing a quiz. It was really lovely evening and the children were delightful.
PLANT SALE - Saturday 31st May 2025
Our plant sale held on May 31st was very well attended and a lot of healthy looking plants were sold. It was a lovely day for the event and a few people looked very Summery!
If only those walls could talk: 900 years of Norwich’s history.
Illustrated talk followed by an optional visit to nearby Kett’s Heights
Venue: St Matthew’s Church, Telegraph Lane West, Norwich NR1 4JA
Date: Sunday 14th September, 14.30
This is part of the national Heritage Open Days events, which run from Fri 5th - Sun 14th September. The national theme this year is the history of architecture and design.
St Michael’s Chapel on Kett’s Heights has survived through 900 years of Norwich’s history. This talk will be a journey through time viewing the city’s long history through the lens of this modest chapel and its surroundings, especially the viewpoint overlooking the city.
Our story begins with the construction of the Norman cathedral around 1100 when St Michael’s Chapel was the focus of monastic activity and then to the Reformation under Henry VIII when the Chapel became redundant. It came into focus again in 1549 when it was chosen as the headquarters of Kett’s Rebellion. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries the Chapel’s ruins became a favourite subject for artists of the Norwich School of Painting.
The arrival of the Gas Company in 1839 opened a new industrial chapter for the Chapel which now looked over gas works and gas worker cottages, while the Heights itself was landscaped to provide pleasure and kitchen gardens for the gas workers. In the 20th century these same gardens helped us “dig for victory” and pigs were kept here.
Kett’s Heights is now a valued public park with a not-to-be-missed view over Norwich. The Friends of Kett’s Heights help look after the site and help make it a welcoming and beautiful place to visit.
You can drop in but it would be helpful if you could book your free tickets here:-
www.kettsheights.co.uk/hods-kh-talk.html
Illustrated talk followed by an optional visit to nearby Kett’s Heights
Venue: St Matthew’s Church, Telegraph Lane West, Norwich NR1 4JA
Date: Sunday 14th September, 14.30
This is part of the national Heritage Open Days events, which run from Fri 5th - Sun 14th September. The national theme this year is the history of architecture and design.
St Michael’s Chapel on Kett’s Heights has survived through 900 years of Norwich’s history. This talk will be a journey through time viewing the city’s long history through the lens of this modest chapel and its surroundings, especially the viewpoint overlooking the city.
Our story begins with the construction of the Norman cathedral around 1100 when St Michael’s Chapel was the focus of monastic activity and then to the Reformation under Henry VIII when the Chapel became redundant. It came into focus again in 1549 when it was chosen as the headquarters of Kett’s Rebellion. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries the Chapel’s ruins became a favourite subject for artists of the Norwich School of Painting.
The arrival of the Gas Company in 1839 opened a new industrial chapter for the Chapel which now looked over gas works and gas worker cottages, while the Heights itself was landscaped to provide pleasure and kitchen gardens for the gas workers. In the 20th century these same gardens helped us “dig for victory” and pigs were kept here.
Kett’s Heights is now a valued public park with a not-to-be-missed view over Norwich. The Friends of Kett’s Heights help look after the site and help make it a welcoming and beautiful place to visit.
You can drop in but it would be helpful if you could book your free tickets here:-
www.kettsheights.co.uk/hods-kh-talk.html
Lion Wood - Thorpe Hamlet
If you love Kett's Heights then here's another group you might like to follow. Lion Wood Conservation Group
Lion Wood is a beautiful, large wooded area not far from Kett's Heights and open to all.
The Lion Wood Conservation Group is a community conservation group set up to help look after Lion Wood in Thorpe Hamlet. They are passionate about ensuring this beautiful woodland continues to provide a haven for wildlife and a tranquil green space for all to enjoy.. To find out more and to join The Group click on the above link.
Lion Wood is a beautiful, large wooded area not far from Kett's Heights and open to all.
The Lion Wood Conservation Group is a community conservation group set up to help look after Lion Wood in Thorpe Hamlet. They are passionate about ensuring this beautiful woodland continues to provide a haven for wildlife and a tranquil green space for all to enjoy.. To find out more and to join The Group click on the above link.
Official opening of the new Ladbrooke Place entrance
December 10th 2024 Lord Mayor Cllr Vivien Thomas officially opening the new entrance to Kett's Heights from Ladbrooke Place
DECEMBER 2024 - Our smart, new storage shed at the back of the piggeries
OCTOBER 2024 - Our next project is to smarten up The Piggeries whilst keeping their historical interest. Thanks to Cavan (the new Banksy ?) for his artwork!
OCTOBER 2024 - We now have a flag pole and a brand new notice board installed at the Ladbrooke Place entrance. Flag to follow shortly! Our thanks again to the Norwich Fringe Project.
SEPTEMBER 2024 Now that the new entrance from Ladbrooke Place is open allowing wheelchair access to the viewpoint, Norwich Fringe Project have kindly installed some very nice new signposts to lead the way!
To see ALL our news & events articles 2020 - 2024 please visit our ARCHIVE page
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