4 Sep 2008 Minutes

A meeting of the Committee of the Tewkesbury Historical Society was held on 4^th September 2008 7.00 p.m. at Vine Cottage, The Rampings, Longdon, Tewkesbury, GL20 6AJ, the home of Cliff & Margaret Day.

Subject to two amendments the minutes of the previous meeting of 6^th May 2008 were approved and signed as a true record. Proposed: John Dixon Seconded: Cliff Burd

29/08

Rotating Chairman’s Report (Cliff Burd)

Action

Cliff Burd reported that he had written to Morrisons asking them if the Society could have a static display in the foyer with the aim to recruit new members to the Society.

He reported that Chris Evans had offered the Tewkesbury Museum her collection of Tewkesbury memorabilia on a permanent loan.

In addition, he has been given approval to reprint John Rogers’s Short History of Tewkesbury Alleys.

Graham Downy is to give a talk on the "History of the Life of Thomas Walker" in the Methodist Church on 13^th September 2008 from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm. Graham Downy will be coming to the meeting of the Society on 19^th March 2009.

Cliff Burd reported that a lady was doing some research on J R Tolkien. Apparently he had stayed at the Royal Hop Pole and had sent a letter from there around 1928.

David Willavoys reported that the 1863 Regatta Cup had come up for auction and was purchased for the museum. Cliff Burd said that he was considering writing a book about it.

Cliff Burd

30/08

Publications Report (Sue Norman & John Dixon)

Bulletin 17 was issued in May and Alisons Book Shop had sold quite a few to date. It was planned to promote them at the next meeting of the Society.

Cliff Burd would also be selling signed copies of his latest book "Images of England – Tewkesbury The Way We Were" at the next meeting.

At the last meeting of the Committee it was reported that John Dixon had been working with Tony Skelsey to edit his book about the history of Tewkesbury Cemetery. The aim was to produce a definitive history of the cemetery and to produce a record of where people were buried. Since then John Dixon had met with Tony Skelsey in the Tewkesbury Cemetery to discuss the records kept there. John Dixon found there was a great deal of records, which were deteriorating, and he had asked if they could be archived. Once the book was completed it was planned to publish the book and also put it on a CD-ROM. It was agreed the Society would pay half of the publication costs and Tony Skelsey would pay the other half.

John Dixon

Cliff Burd

John Dixon

31/08

Acting Treasurer’s Report (John Dixon)

John presented the statement of accounts to 24^th August 2008. The Society was in a strong position with £4,703.28 in the Bank. This included insurance payments. However, the cost of hiring the Methodist Hall had increased.

Recommendations

To review membership rates and meeting fees next year.

32/08

Secretary’s Report (Janet Martin)

Glos. Record Office has passed the 1634 Indenture document, which was given to the Tewkesbury Historical Society, to Worcestershire Record Office as it concerns Eldersfield.

Kevin Turner from New South Wales contacted Tewkesbury Borough Council about his Spring Garden ancestors – the information was passed to John.Dixon.

The Cheltenham branch of Western Front Association has asked the Society to publicise their meetings (including a talk by Sam Eedle). A link has been put the website and they have agreed to publicise our meetings.

Janet Martin reported that she had been corresponding with Rosemary Christophers, who is writing a history of a school in Surrey where the one-time headmistress of Tewkesbury High School for Girls, Mrs Russell-Baker was also headmistress. Information has been provided from the Woodard Database to help her in her research and she was referred to Ann Parker, the local expert on the High School. Rosemary has provided interesting information on Mrs Russell-Baker and this is being added to the Woodard Database.

Janet Martin had also been contacted by Peter Davies who is transcribing Deerhurst Enclosure records. He wondered whether any members would be interested in assisting. He has been advised to contact Ann Wiseman.

Janet Martin was also contacted by Ann Hulme concerning memories of Tewkesbury by herself and her cousin and their relative Charles Pocket a Tewkesbury lock-keeper. John Dixon is now in contact with her.

Jean Taylor had also contacted Janet Martin with information and photos about WWI and Trinity School. The correspondence and photos were passed to Cliff Burd.

Archaeology Service News Sheets had been received and were distributed to the Committee members at the meeting.

33/08

Membership Secretary’s Report (Ken Flude)

Ken reported that he needed to the Secretary to produce the template for the membership card for the new season. It was agreed that Derek Benson would produce the template and Ken would arrange for the cards to be printed in time for the meeting on 18^th September 2008.

Ken Flude/Derek Benson

34/08

WWI Project

John Dixon reported that his bid for lottery funding was not supported. Unfortunately, the project is too big to complete all the biographies by this November. The aim of the project is to give general information about each person, their early life, their family, their service history, how they died and what happened to their families afterwards. Each biography will be in the same format and formatted in a presentation folder. John Dixon said that he was very happy with the way it looked. David Willavoys had researched and written a biography of Lieutenant Stanley Noel Priestley and this was shown as an example of what each biography would look like. A copy of the finished project will be given to the Abbey and the Town Hall.

John Dixon said that he had been working with the history department of Tewkesbury School. to organise an exhibition entitled "A Noble Band of Heroes" to commemorate the 90^th Anniversary of the ending of the great war and to show what the project has achieved so far. As there is a shortage of photos after 1916 any information and photographs would be much appreciated. The exhibition will be held in the Elmbury Room at Tewkesbury Library from 10^th November until 22^nd November 2008. John Dixon would like to pass on his thanks to everyone who has been involved with this project.

John Dixon

35/08

Website

John Dixon reported that Derek Benson had been keeping the website up to date. Bill Treen had kindly sent photos of fun and games in Tewkesbury in the late 1950’s or early 1960’s. These photos had been put on the website. In addition, the Society had received £58 from pay pal.

John Dixon

36/08

Programme Report

The programme for 2008/2009 has been confirmed as follows with the agreed hosts:

18^th September 2008 – Alleyways of Tewkesbury – Host Sue Norman

23^d October 2008 – Weapons of the Wars of the Roses – Host John Dixon

20^th November 2008 – The Legacy of Frosts and Floods – Host Ken Flude

15^th January 2009 – Social Evening at the Elmbury Room, Tewkesbury Library – Host Janet Martin.

19^th February 2009 – Members Research Evening

19^th March – Thomas Walker, Builder of Steam Roundabouts – Host Cliff Burd

23^rd April 2009 – Annual General Meeting (Don Freeman would be asked to talk after the AGM)

21^st May 2009 – Tewkesbury Memories, Historical Chat – Host Cliff Burd

The meetings would be held on the 3^rd Thursday in the month.

Suggestions for the 2009/2010 programme were as follows:

Sam Eedle to talk about the Sealed Knot

A speaker on the Chartism movement in Tewkesbury

Hugh Conway Jones on Gloucestershire Docks

The Mills at Dursley

Restoration of the Hat Shop

Mining in the Forest of Dean

Committee members were asked to think about suggestions for speakers and to give the names to John Dixon.

All Committee Members

37/08

Oral History Report

Steve Tandy said that he would get more involved in the near future but other than that there was nothing to report.

John Dixon

38/08

Contemporary Archives Report

Cliff Burd reported that he had looked around the empty premises of Engall Castle & Millichap and he found that they had original survey maps from 1890. He said that he was trying to obtain them for the Museum. He found a baker’s oven in one of the back walls and was going to take a picture of it.

If members are aware of any other alterations taking place in the town they should let him know.

Cliff Burd

3908

Heritage Report

Cliff Burd discussed the recent talk that Nick Barratt gave at the Hat Shop about the "History of Houses." Several committee members attended it.

Cliff Burd

40/08

Research Co-Ordinator

John Dixon reported he was co-ordinating the integration of the website and the data base. .

John Dixon

41/08

Date and Venue of Next Meeting

The meeting will be held on Thursday, 22^nd January 2009 at 7.00 pm at Ken Fludes home.

Ken Flude

42/08

Any Other Business

The refreshment rota for the programme of events is as follows:

18^th September 2008 – Janet Martin

23^d October 2008 – Ken Flude

20^th November 2008 – Sue Norman

22^nd January 2009 –Social Evening (Janet Martin)

19^th February 2009 – Members Evening – Cliff Burd

19^th March – John Dixon

23^rd April 2009 – David Willavoys

21^st May 2009 – Ken Flude

Committee members should purchase two pints of milk and are asked to check that there is enough tea, coffee and biscuits prior to the meeting.

At the social evening on 15^th January 2009 it was agreed the committee members have the following responsibilities:

Sue Norman – To organise the Raffle

Ken Flude – To organise the glasses

Cliff Burd – To organise the quiz

Janet Martin – To check all the arrangements and Derek Benson to produce the flyer for the evening.

29/08	Rotating Chairman’s Report (Cliff Burd)	Action
	Cliff Burd reported that he had written to Morrisons asking them if the Society could have a static display in the foyer with the aim to recruit new members to the Society. He reported that Chris Evans had offered the Tewkesbury Museum her collection of Tewkesbury memorabilia on a permanent loan. In addition, he has been given approval to reprint John Rogers’s Short History of Tewkesbury Alleys. Graham Downy is to give a talk on the "History of the Life of Thomas Walker" in the Methodist Church on 13^th September 2008 from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm. Graham Downy will be coming to the meeting of the Society on 19^th March 2009. Cliff Burd reported that a lady was doing some research on J R Tolkien. Apparently he had stayed at the Royal Hop Pole and had sent a letter from there around 1928. David Willavoys reported that the 1863 Regatta Cup had come up for auction and was purchased for the museum. Cliff Burd said that he was considering writing a book about it.	Cliff Burd
30/08	Publications Report (Sue Norman & John Dixon)
	Bulletin 17 was issued in May and Alisons Book Shop had sold quite a few to date. It was planned to promote them at the next meeting of the Society. Cliff Burd would also be selling signed copies of his latest book "Images of England – Tewkesbury The Way We Were" at the next meeting. At the last meeting of the Committee it was reported that John Dixon had been working with Tony Skelsey to edit his book about the history of Tewkesbury Cemetery. The aim was to produce a definitive history of the cemetery and to produce a record of where people were buried. Since then John Dixon had met with Tony Skelsey in the Tewkesbury Cemetery to discuss the records kept there. John Dixon found there was a great deal of records, which were deteriorating, and he had asked if they could be archived. Once the book was completed it was planned to publish the book and also put it on a CD-ROM. It was agreed the Society would pay half of the publication costs and Tony Skelsey would pay the other half.	John Dixon Cliff Burd John Dixon
31/08	Acting Treasurer’s Report (John Dixon)
	John presented the statement of accounts to 24^th August 2008. The Society was in a strong position with £4,703.28 in the Bank. This included insurance payments. However, the cost of hiring the Methodist Hall had increased. Recommendations To review membership rates and meeting fees next year.
32/08	Secretary’s Report (Janet Martin)
	Glos. Record Office has passed the 1634 Indenture document, which was given to the Tewkesbury Historical Society, to Worcestershire Record Office as it concerns Eldersfield. Kevin Turner from New South Wales contacted Tewkesbury Borough Council about his Spring Garden ancestors – the information was passed to John.Dixon. The Cheltenham branch of Western Front Association has asked the Society to publicise their meetings (including a talk by Sam Eedle). A link has been put the website and they have agreed to publicise our meetings. Janet Martin reported that she had been corresponding with Rosemary Christophers, who is writing a history of a school in Surrey where the one-time headmistress of Tewkesbury High School for Girls, Mrs Russell-Baker was also headmistress. Information has been provided from the Woodard Database to help her in her research and she was referred to Ann Parker, the local expert on the High School. Rosemary has provided interesting information on Mrs Russell-Baker and this is being added to the Woodard Database. Janet Martin had also been contacted by Peter Davies who is transcribing Deerhurst Enclosure records. He wondered whether any members would be interested in assisting. He has been advised to contact Ann Wiseman. Janet Martin was also contacted by Ann Hulme concerning memories of Tewkesbury by herself and her cousin and their relative Charles Pocket a Tewkesbury lock-keeper. John Dixon is now in contact with her. Jean Taylor had also contacted Janet Martin with information and photos about WWI and Trinity School. The correspondence and photos were passed to Cliff Burd. Archaeology Service News Sheets had been received and were distributed to the Committee members at the meeting.
33/08	Membership Secretary’s Report (Ken Flude)
	Ken reported that he needed to the Secretary to produce the template for the membership card for the new season. It was agreed that Derek Benson would produce the template and Ken would arrange for the cards to be printed in time for the meeting on 18^th September 2008.	Ken Flude/Derek Benson
34/08	WWI Project
	John Dixon reported that his bid for lottery funding was not supported. Unfortunately, the project is too big to complete all the biographies by this November. The aim of the project is to give general information about each person, their early life, their family, their service history, how they died and what happened to their families afterwards. Each biography will be in the same format and formatted in a presentation folder. John Dixon said that he was very happy with the way it looked. David Willavoys had researched and written a biography of Lieutenant Stanley Noel Priestley and this was shown as an example of what each biography would look like. A copy of the finished project will be given to the Abbey and the Town Hall. John Dixon said that he had been working with the history department of Tewkesbury School. to organise an exhibition entitled "A Noble Band of Heroes" to commemorate the 90^th Anniversary of the ending of the great war and to show what the project has achieved so far. As there is a shortage of photos after 1916 any information and photographs would be much appreciated. The exhibition will be held in the Elmbury Room at Tewkesbury Library from 10^th November until 22^nd November 2008. John Dixon would like to pass on his thanks to everyone who has been involved with this project.	John Dixon
35/08	Website
	John Dixon reported that Derek Benson had been keeping the website up to date. Bill Treen had kindly sent photos of fun and games in Tewkesbury in the late 1950’s or early 1960’s. These photos had been put on the website. In addition, the Society had received £58 from pay pal.	John Dixon
36/08	Programme Report
	The programme for 2008/2009 has been confirmed as follows with the agreed hosts: 18^th September 2008 – Alleyways of Tewkesbury – Host Sue Norman 23^d October 2008 – Weapons of the Wars of the Roses – Host John Dixon 20^th November 2008 – The Legacy of Frosts and Floods – Host Ken Flude 15^th January 2009 – Social Evening at the Elmbury Room, Tewkesbury Library – Host Janet Martin. 19^th February 2009 – Members Research Evening 19^th March – Thomas Walker, Builder of Steam Roundabouts – Host Cliff Burd 23^rd April 2009 – Annual General Meeting (Don Freeman would be asked to talk after the AGM) 21^st May 2009 – Tewkesbury Memories, Historical Chat – Host Cliff Burd The meetings would be held on the 3^rd Thursday in the month. Suggestions for the 2009/2010 programme were as follows: Sam Eedle to talk about the Sealed Knot A speaker on the Chartism movement in Tewkesbury Hugh Conway Jones on Gloucestershire Docks The Mills at Dursley Restoration of the Hat Shop Mining in the Forest of Dean Committee members were asked to think about suggestions for speakers and to give the names to John Dixon.	All Committee Members
37/08	Oral History Report
	Steve Tandy said that he would get more involved in the near future but other than that there was nothing to report.	John Dixon
38/08	Contemporary Archives Report
	Cliff Burd reported that he had looked around the empty premises of Engall Castle & Millichap and he found that they had original survey maps from 1890. He said that he was trying to obtain them for the Museum. He found a baker’s oven in one of the back walls and was going to take a picture of it. If members are aware of any other alterations taking place in the town they should let him know.	Cliff Burd
3908	Heritage Report
	Cliff Burd discussed the recent talk that Nick Barratt gave at the Hat Shop about the "History of Houses." Several committee members attended it.	Cliff Burd
40/08	Research Co-Ordinator
	John Dixon reported he was co-ordinating the integration of the website and the data base. .	John Dixon
41/08	Date and Venue of Next Meeting
	The meeting will be held on Thursday, 22^nd January 2009 at 7.00 pm at Ken Fludes home.	Ken Flude
42/08	Any Other Business
	The refreshment rota for the programme of events is as follows: 18^th September 2008 – Janet Martin 23^d October 2008 – Ken Flude 20^th November 2008 – Sue Norman 22^nd January 2009 –Social Evening (Janet Martin) 19^th February 2009 – Members Evening – Cliff Burd 19^th March – John Dixon 23^rd April 2009 – David Willavoys 21^st May 2009 – Ken Flude Committee members should purchase two pints of milk and are asked to check that there is enough tea, coffee and biscuits prior to the meeting. At the social evening on 15^th January 2009 it was agreed the committee members have the following responsibilities: Sue Norman – To organise the Raffle Ken Flude – To organise the glasses Cliff Burd – To organise the quiz Janet Martin – To check all the arrangements and Derek Benson to produce the flyer for the evening.

THS

Tewkesbury Historical Society