Mona Thomson joined the Art Circle in 1976, was appointed to the committee in 1981 and was chairman for 18 years, from 1983 to 2001. She writes:

"During my chairmanship I experienced many changes. In 1983, Sir George Robinson was President. When he died in 1985, Jack Denny - then vice president - took over, followed by Richard Parsons, Richard Scott and then Jack Stephenson. They all brought with them their professional skills and their contributions have played a very important part in the development of the Art Circle.

Following the death of Sir George Robinson, we received, in 1987, a gift of £500 from Lady Robinson and also, in the same year, £500 from Mr Alan Turner in memory of his wife Prudence. These gifts were originally intended to fund new awards for the summer exhibition. But, as we already had three, it was decided to put the money into a special account in the Bank and divide the interest among the winners of the existing awards.

At the time interest rates were high but, since their fall, the cash prizes have been maintained at the same level by supplementing the income with money from the general account.

Victor Stanyon was Treasurer from 1967-89 and established a very well structured administration most of which is in use today. Since then there have been a number of Treasurers – Denis Cauldicot, Rose Worms, John Garrood, Alan Walpole and David Weight. Kath Jenkins was secretary during these years followed by Daphne Cauldrey, Rose Worms, Elizabeth White and Jean Dean-Corke.

When I joined the Art Circle in 1976 exhibitions were held in the Conservative Hall. It was the only art exhibition in the area and, on the opening day, there were queues reaching from the hall down Woodley’s Yard to the High Street. At that time pictures had to be hung from a rail some 10ft high.

In 1985 one of our members, Ronnie Rutherford, a retired architect and very able painter, designed the screens for hanging the pictures. These were made by Eddie Mower and assembled for each exhibition. Southwold-based international furniture removers, Blyth Hasel, generously stored the screens for us without charge. They also undertook to deliver (for a small charge) pictures sold to those living away from the Southwold area.

When the exhibitions moved to Eversley gym in 1991, we used the same screens with a few additions. The Gym was so much larger and lighter, and members were delighted with the move.

At that time we mounted exhibitions at Easter and in the Summer. However, we experienced some very cold Easters which deterred visitors and caused discomfort to invigilators. When we later transferred this exhibition to Buckenham House, we decided to reschedule it to the autumn. Buckenham House proved so popular that members wanted the summer exhibition there as well. An Extraordinary General meeting was held to canvas members' views and there was an overwhelming vote (including a postal vote) for the move. This new arrangement lasted only 2 years as we were no longer able to rent the Gallery space. We moved back to Eversley Gym in 1999 where our exhibitions are still held.

The monthly meetings are still following the same format as before but have recently tended to become more academic. They are very well attended by members and also attract a number of visitors.