Newsletters

RCS Bath May 2026 newsletter

from our chair

Dear Members and friends 

I hope you all had a happy Easter and are looking forward to a sunny and hopefully warm spring and summer.  

You may have recently been aware of the situation reference our patron the mayor of Bath. In light of this we have issued the following statement 

Royal Commonwealth Society Bath and District Branch 

Statement reference Patronage. 

In light of recent events concerning the resignation of the Mayor of Bath and the patronage of our RCS branch the trustees would like to point out that patron of the branch relates to the position of patron and not the individual. Should the mayor resign or for any reason leave office whoever takes over the role also takes on the patronage of the society. In this case the Deputy Mayor.

The special service at Bath Abbey on the Sunday before Commonwealth Day was a great success with over 300 in attendance. Guests included our president the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, the High Sheriff of Somerset together with a representative of the Australian High Commission and members of various Bath-based  organisations. The lessons, prayers and Commonwealth affirmations were read by members of the branch, Commonwealth students and staff from educational  establishments in the city. The service was followed by the awarding of the RCS Bath Art Competition prizes at 44AD Artspace. This biennial competition attracted a record number of entries from artists of all ages. The event would not have been possible without the support and hard work of our project leader and Vice-Chair Anita and also Artspace director Katie O’Brien. Our next venture, ‘Shattered Lives ‘, a schools Remembrance project also led by Anita, was launched at the end of the event. The Commonwealth Day Celebration at Westminster Abbey took place on Commonwealth Day, when I represented the Branch.  

We have recently provided a grant of £800 towards the One Young World Forum which took place in March at the University of Bath. The organisation aims to identify and connect young leaders and give them a global platform and the forum was attended by over 200 students, staff and interested parties from around the UK.

Our next event will be a lunch and talk from the International Barrister Mark Guthrie on April 24th. A renowned lawyer and expert in his field the talk ‘The Commonwealth and the Rule of Law’ will be preceded by a lunch at the Bath and County Club.The High Sheriff of Somerset, Peter Dixon and the Deputy Mayor of  Bath will be in attendance. The event is advertised on our website www.rcsbath.org  as is the excellent  Anzac Day lunch and service on April 26th which is being organised by the west country branch of the Britain Australia society. This year we will be laying a wreath as part of the service.  

Another competition which is being financially supported by the branch is the International Students Photographic Competition being run by the University of Bath, Bath Spa University and Norland. Our trustees will be on the judging panel and a prizegiving and exhibition of winners will take place on the evening of 29th April at BRLSI, Bath.

On Sunday 17th May we are partnering with the local film club ‘Off the Wall’ who will be presenting ‘The Black Narcissus’, a classic film set in India just before independence. The film will be shown at Widcombe Social Club. Their films are always very popular and so early booking is recommended. This extraordinary film, which is highly rated by critics, stars Deborah Kerr. RCS Bath members will be able to book at the special rate of  £7.00 per person.  

Our AGM and talk have been arranged for June 30th at the Bath and County Club and details will follow soon.  

As a branch we are currently working with several other like minded organisations in Bath and with the Abbey on a number of projects. 

Best wishes 

Godfrey Hall Chair RCS Bath and District Branch.

email: chair@rcsbath.org