THS

Searchlight Sep 2003

Tewkesbury Historical Society

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Searchlight on the Past

Newsletter of the Tewkesbury Historical Society

September 2003 Issue no 3

Edited by John Dixon, president

We are now about to start our Thirteenth Season:

The main development which has been announced in the press is

THS Publication No 1: Harry Workman’s Memoirs, Volume 1, 1917-1938

We also have a new programme which we hope you fill find varied and stimulating.

When Harry Workman spoke to the Society several years ago, he was urged to write down his eloquent memories. He has recently yielded to pressure and recorded them onto tape which was faithfully typed out by Penny Last. I had the easy task of editing Harry’s words but Bill Camp has had the difficult task of dealing with the technical issues. The cover of the first run caused problems but we have solved this problem in the second. Harry will be signing his book personally during the morning of Saturday, 6 September at the Methodist Church, from 10.30-12.30. Do drop in and buy your signed copy!

The new season starts on 18 September with a talk entitled "Tales from an Elizabethan Still Room" by Katherine Kear, Researcher and Broadcaster for Radio Gloucestershire on Flowers and Folklore. The still room was where the Mistress of the House prepared her aromas and potions to counter the period’s health threats. A good smelly start to the year!

Just to remind you that it will be our second season at the Methodist Church – the only exception being the Social Evening on 22 January at the Library as was ever thus.

Other talks before the next issue:

"Shot at Dawn, Military Law during the Great War, 1914-1918" -
by David Evans, Author and Broadcaster, formerly of Tewkesbury. 16 October 2003.
"Tewkesbury Bulldozed - the redevelopment of the High Street" -
by John Dixon and Toby Clempson. 20 Nov. This talk is intended to be the formal launch of THS Publication No. 2

Despite these new ventures we look forward to publishing Volume 13 of our Annual Bulletin in the spring of 2004. Sadly Roxy Base has retired from the Editorial team: her superb contribution was praised at our A.G.M.. We welcome, however, the technical assistance of Derek Benson on typesetting. Once again Bill Camp has been tireless in dealing with marketing as well as technical matters.

Articles for Vol. 13 are already arriving but the Members’ deadline is 1 November – we look forward to publishing your article in your Bulletin.

What is proving valuable both in research and marketing terms, is the Bulletin Index, which has led to increased sales. Thinking back to Vol. 11 we must congratulate David Willavoys for winning the Woodard Award for the second time with his article “Unwillingly to Australia”. Research for this took him to Australia in pursuit of local ‘transportees’. His article was also published in the 2002 Edition of Gloucestershire History. This award is independently adjudicated and recognises qualities of research and communication.

At the AGM we thanked Chris Donald for her three year service as Chair of the Society.

Your new Committee

President and Acting Chair - John Dixon

Secretary -Wendy Snarey,

Treasurer & Membership Secretary - Bill Camp:

Asst. Treasurer - Bill Rennison,

Contemporary Archives - Cliff Burd

Liaison with Heritage - David Willavoys

We are grateful to June Flude and Audrey Pound (who has agreed to be Programme Secretary) to allow themselves to be co-opted!

We are also grateful to other members whop assist the Society outside the Committee. We wish to thank Brenda Perkins for distributing the posters for several years and June Camp for taking on this vital perambulating task!

The Committee has decided to be bold again and will, in the near future, propose to you a Historical Visit for June 2004! Fascinating as Tewkesbury is, there is much of interest elsewhere!

Oral History: We have purchased on your behalf an excellent recording machine and we are very keen for members to interview older Tewkesburians before we lose their invaluable testimony. Many past interviews have been recorded for all to use on the Woodard Database in the Library and, if you are interested we have drawn up guidelines. Cliff has custody of the machine and can be contacted for advice.

Tewkesbury Register: Members of long duration will recall that the late Kathleen Ross started indexing this invaluable historical source many years ago, keeping a card index in a shoe box! We still keep this primary source but, thanks to Penny Last, the indexed material is transcribed and is available to all on the Woodard Database. David Willavoys does a magnificent job in co-ordinating this vital task and tells me that he has almost completed the editions available for the Nineteenth Century! However, the Twentieth Century is long and we would appreciate new members to join the team. We are privileged to meet monthly on a Wednesday morning in the luxury of the Mayor’s Parlour at the Town Hall. David on 292324 can provide more details. Do contact him – it is a fascinating insight into History!

Overseas members: Thanks to Wendy’s Website, we have gained new members and much interesting information from “exiles” who are fascinated by Tewkesbury’s History. Mark from North Carolina is very concerned by the fate of Natton Chapel and, as a result, has sent photographs which are of great interest and which will be available on our website and on the Woodard Database when it is technically possible.

Membership for this season now due - still only £5 for individuals and £8 for couples - Let's hope it is lucky 13 for us all!

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