FAIR EXCHANGE Dear Editor From palaces to pumping stations, London has just about every type of historic building you might find on the statutory list. Mike Kilburn, who leads the North West Statutory Group of the London Division of English Heritage is arranging a series of exchange visits between the London Boroughs for which he is responsible. These will give conservation and historic buildings specialists the opportunity to compare their own methods and performance with those of other local authorities. Two visits have taken place to date, one to Hammersmith and Fulham where Barbara Woda entertained Lisa Oistreicher of Hounslow and Brian Rayment of Ealing, and the other to Barnet where Philip Wilson took the same Lisa with Mike and Barbara on a tour of a London borough surprisingly rich in historic buildings. An FILLING GAPS Dear Editor I have been interested to see the number of jobs both advertised in magazines and circulated individually. It seems to me that there might be the scope for a sort of "locum" or supply service similar to that used by doctors and teachers, to fill in those awkward gaps between losing an officer and filling the post. At the moment I am still not keen on returning to a permanent full time post, but might be interested in short term or part time contracts to help out in such situations. Maybe there are other ACO members not at present in full time employment who would also be interested. I have no idea whether any authorities would be willing to bend their rules to avoid the inconvenience of being without staff temporarily, but would be grateful if you could perhaps give the idea an airing in the Newsletter. Josephine Cormier 69 Crafts End Chilton, Didcot Oxon OXl 1 0SB. 22 LETTERS audio-visual presentation prepared for the Council's biennial reception for its five conservation area advisory committees was thrown in for good measure. With nine London boroughs under his control, Mike is having to devise a programme of visits likely to extend over a three year period. The permutations are almost endless, particularly if the inner London boroughs get involved. There is a lesson here for authorities around the country. Get out there and find out what's happening on the other side of your district and county boundaries. Members of the Association are well placed to arrange such visits; perhaps it's happening already? If so, write it up for the Newsletter. Philip Wilson Section Leader- Urban Design London Borough of Barnet Planning Group. LATE NEWS PARTING SHOT Dear Editor As an active participant, I am moved by Guy McKenzie's Parting Shot (Context 22), to find time in my hectic day to pen this reply. "Zapping" any areas, local authority or otherwise, just is not the Civic Trust's style. What the Trust is about is working with communities in places like Thorne, Ripon and Ilfracombe not only to achieve conservation objectives, but also to stimulate wide-ranging involvement in economic and environmental improvements. We work closely with our respective local authorities, conservation officers included. In my experience, the latter show every bit as much initiative but are under such pressure that they simply cannot devote themselves to one small part of their domain. (My own area has one conservation officer for a borough of 280,000 people.) They are certainly making their own lively contribution to "reGEORGIAN INTERIORS COURSE 'Georgian interiors' is a five day non-residential course covering both the historical development and present-day repair of houses c.1700 to 1840. It is being organised by the Georgian Group and takes place from Wednesday 11 October to Sunday 15October in London. Lecturers will include John Ashurst on render and stonework; Nicola Ashurst on ironwork; Frank Kelsall on stucco; Ivan Hall on materials; Ian Bristow on paint; Kevin Stubbs on brickwork; Matthew Saunders on planning law; Tony Herbert on tiling; Alison Kelly on Coade stone; and Robert Adam on the classical interior. Other subjects to be covered include conversions and extensions, modern 'Georgian', window joinery and vernacular styles. There will additionally be visits to traditional manufacturers, and to the Brooking Collection of architectural details. Numbers on these trips are limited, so early booking is advisable. There are also optional evening activities; the cost of these is not included in the course price and, once again, early booking is essential to ensure that you secure a place. The cost of the course will be £250 plus VAT for the full five days, including lunches but not including evening meals or overnight accommodation. Alternatively, days can be attended individually at a cost of £50 plus VAT per day. A special cut-price student rate is also available. Telephone Steven Parissien at the Group for further details: 01377 1722. generation" (a word which increasingly embraces initiatives with diverse origins and very different objectives). Anyway what is this business about "all these adverts"? Four since June 1988 as I recall, and there have been plenty of local authorities and others advertising for conservations officers and regeneration project leaders in recent months. There is no one true path and certainly plenty of work to be done, so the more the merrier I say. Roland Sansom Project Leader Thorne Regeneration Project Civic Trust Thorne Hall, Ellison Street, Thorne, S Yorks DH8 5LE. SOANESAVED Dear Editor I was impressed by Context 22, (the first that I have seen) and much inspired by what is happening. However, I was a little perturbed by one phrase used in the Restoration Round Up, regarding the cow house at Burn Hall. In the second paragraph it is said that the building was listed and derelict until a Country Life article identified the architect "and the true value of the structure was appreciated". Is it really necessary to know who the architect of a building is for its true value to be appreciated? Surely any building that is well designed or unique or of interest is important whomsoever it is designed by. Would St. Pauls Cathedral be any less impressive if it had been designed by Bert Bloggs rather than Mr C. Wren? Does the Parthenon fail to impress because the architect is unknown? Of course not. So let all those who appreciate buildings rather than architects speak up and protect (and promote) all the valuable assets that contribute to our heritage regardless of who put drawing pen to paper. Let the product speak for itself. GA Clark 14 Strang Close Braddan Isle of Man. 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