THS

Searchlight Jan 2003

Tewkesbury Historical Society

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Searchlight on the Past

Newsletter of the Tewkesbury Historical Society

January 2003 Issue No 2

Edited by John Dixon, 01684 294262 - email president

We are now mid-way through our Twelfth Season, which is a very busy period. Your Bulletin sub-committee is busy editing Volume 12 for publication in March. Also the AGM is nigh and decisions need to be made that will affect the future administration of the Society.

We ended 2002 on a sad note with the decease, after a long illness, of one of our life members, Bryan Linnell. Bryan was a researcher and forthright writer as well as being honorary curator of the Museum. Cliff Burd's full obituary will appear in the Bulletin and will rest on the website.

Our website, www.ths.freeuk.com, is now well established and has been regularly updated. In this way, we are able to communicate with a growing worldwide audience of people interested in the History of our Town and it's people. Wendy Snarey, our Website Manager, always appreciates feedback on alan_j.snarey@which.net. We are trying to build up extra information on our website which is free to people with access - do not forget that there is a bank of on-line computers, which can be booked at the Town Library.

Anyone who wishes to have help using computers can join tutorials help at the Town Library each Thursday afternoon from 2.30-4.30p.m. They are sponsored by Tewkesbury Technology College. For those interested just in Family History, David Willavoys and Norah Day offer monthly "surgeries" with dates advertised at the Library. These services are offered to local people, correspondents and visitors - who often hale from the far-flung Commonwealth. Besides being a service to the Community, we learn a great deal.

The Bulletin is well advanced, thanks to our indefatigable Coordinator, Roxy Base. The aim is to enable members to publicise the fruits of their research. This year we have an emphasis on World War I with articles on the fate of one of the Bloxham Family in the War with a related article based upon the diaries of a delightful lady, Daisy Bloxham. The 5th Glosters Gazette is also analysed, while the pitfalls are revealed of relying just on family information without verifying it in official records at the PRO in Kew. There is more information on the lost alleys and a very thorough research project on a forgotten hero of Tewkesbury - The Channel Hero who rowed across the Channel single handed in 1888. Canon Bill Patterson is remembered and Norah Day contributes her unique knowledge of the minutiae of local history. At last Harry Workman has committed his fascinating memories to paper and we publish just a taste of them! Following on from Issue one of Searchlight, the history of our first Railway Station will appear along with a much sought after photograph of that wonderful Gothic building. Once again Peter Griffin graces our cover with his superb drawings.

On 20th February 2003, we hold our invaluable Evening of Members' Research when any member who wishes to let us know about their research can address the company for about 20 minutes. Those wishing to use this opportunity should contact me as soon as possible!

Looking forward to the A.G.M., some changes in your committee and officers will take place. Chris Donald will be retiring, with our appreciation, after her three-year stint as our Chairman. We will also have a minimum of two committee members to be replaced. In our decade of development, we have been very lucky in the commitment, hard work and stability that these members have offered over such a long time. However, the Society does need "Young(er) Turks " to thrust their way forward so that the Society can keep progressive in it's thinking.

Naturally we are all too modest to press our claims but, if you would like to serve, please do signify that wish! Our Committee only meets three times a year but we do take on roles on behalf of the Society. We need people who may only have an interest in history but who also have administrative and marketing flair. In particular, we need a programme secretary to reflect the interests of all our members and we need a distributor of our Bulletins and other published materials in the Town. When jobs are shared they are not too onerous! Look out for notice of Constitutional Amendments at the A.G.M.!

The Society also depends on the skill and hard work of members who do not serve on the Committee. Their names are published on the website but we would wish to record our thanks to Mary Hartland, June Camp and other ladies who ensure we are well watered at our meetings. Lyn Judd produces our posters whilst Brenda Perkins is intrepid enough to walk the streets distributing our publicity material. Rose Hogan is our spin doctor to the press and Penny Last types up the data produced by those who index monthly the Tewkesbury Register.

Additions to the Database: We are always increasing the information available to members on the Woodard Database at the Library. We have information on: Grocer O.B.Moore, the Andersons of East Street, Hodges and the Allard & Higginson wills. The Index of the Tewkesbury Register is a vital resource and David Willavoy's team meets monthly in the luxury of the Mayor's Parlour; the next meeting is Wednesday 26th February from 9.30-12.30. It is often thanks to diligent researchers, like Wendy Snarey, who pass on the fruits of their research (such as the Tewkesbury Record - and much more) but also we benefit from people who live away who make enquiries and then supply even more information. John Pocock has performed an excellent service by transcribing more of that excellent local 'encyclopedia', They used to live in Tewkesbury. An exciting project which emerged from my weekly tutorials is the survey of Cemetery records by new member Mike English.

We give advance notice of our

Annual Dinner on Thursday 19th June 2003 on the

Tjalk Barge

Starting at 7 p.m., we are offering the Knife and Fork Buffet and an evening's river entertainment - all for only £16 per person.

Please pay Bill Rennison a non-returnable deposit of £5 as soon as possible. All we need worry about is the weather! In the meantime --

A Happy New Historical Year to you all!

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