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Searchlight Sep 2005

Tewkesbury Historical Society

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Searchlight on the Past

Newsletter of the Tewkesbury Historical Society

September 2005 Issue no 7

Edited by John Dixon, 294262, president

We are now approaching the start of our 15th Season but you will be aware of what a difficult summer break it has been this year after our esteemed Treasurer and friend, Bill Camp, collapsed after our last meeting and sadly and subsequently died on 15 July 2005. Many of the Society were able to attend his packed funeral and we have passed on our collective condolences to June. An obituary to Bill will be published on our website and in the next Bulletin to be published in March 2006.

The loss of Bill has provoked much soul searching because of the sheer number of roles that Bill (and June) fulfilled for the Society. We did ask for volunteers to fill as many roles as possible and we are very grateful to the following members: Ann Wicken to deliver Meeting Posters; Marion and Jan for assisting Mary with refreshments; Ken Flude to be membership secretary and Nigel Druce to be our treasurer for this season. This last will be a relief to Bill Rennison who has once again been our ‘safe pair of hands’, looking after our finances with patience and humour since May. The Society is deeply grateful – once again – to him.

Because of age and infirmity, your committee appeals to members to join us during this season and we shall re-examine our collective position at the time of the AGM in April. We need new blood to continue into the future!

June Flude has kindly agreed to be our substantive Secretary and Society communications should be addressed to her at Beresford Lodge, Pamington, GL20 8LS; tel: 772564; email: kjflude@pamington.fsnet.co.uk .

The next Committee Meeting: 26 January 2006 in Apperley.

The future Season of Speakers is:

20 Oct: Andrew Compton - History of Bread

17 Nov: Angela Panrucker – Gloucestershire Pub Signs.

19 January 2006: Social Evening for Members and Their Guests at the Library: where Cliff and Sam will test our knowledge (in groups and in a relaxed, non-threatening way!) after which we shall enjoy the food (savoury or sweet) and beverages (soft or strong) brought by members in our usual style of a ‘bring and share’ Dutch Supper.

Thanks to Audrey for the programme.

Publication No. 4 will be published in time for 11 November 2005; Armistice Day in the year when we are commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the ending of World War II. Entitled, “Never has so much been owed …..” it attempts to write a biography of each of the service personnel who lost their lives in the local district. he author, your President is deeply grateful for the research of David Willavoys, the transcriptions of John Pocock and the cover design of Sam Eedle.

We were awarded a grant from the Home Front Recall Fund of the National Lottery to cover a large part of the costs and any surplus after full costs have been met will be donation to the Earl Haig Appeal.

In addition we won a grant to purchase a power-point projector – if agreement can be reached we hope to do this in conjunction with our hosts Tewkesbury Methodist Church.

Over the summer we have not been idle and we must thank once again David Willavoys for researching the Display commemorating the Life of Sir Raymond Priestley, which will permanently explain the importance of his Sledge which is now displayed in the excellent Humanities Block of Tewkesbury School. David and John

McCloy also cleaned up The Priestley Family Grave for the benefit of a visitor!

Bulletins

No. 14 is available for purchase

Nos. 5,6 & 7 will feature in a Sale at future meetings £3 each

No 15: deadlines now approach!

1 November for members and non-electronic copy

1 December for all other submissions.

Please let me know as soon as possible if you intend to submit.

I am delighted that Derek and Sam will lend their skills but Bill’s crucial role will be difficult to fill.

Tewkesbury Register Indexing

This marvellous project continues in the Mayor’s Parlour, any time between 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on the following Wednesdays: 28 September, 26 October, & 23 November. David would appreciate extra help!

Database

Since I last wrote, the Library service has come up trumps and the new computer is working: with photos! – thanks to Marilyn & Jane for their persistent patience with my impatience!

Every month new data is added and for that we must thank Wendy Snarey for her invaluable work on the 1901 Census which is almost now complete for the town; Mike English for the Cemetery Burial Register which is now complete from 1857 to 1967 and Joan Smith for “Tewkesbury the Day Before Yesterday” by kind permission of the author; the indexing of Cliff’s latest book and Brian Linnell’s “Tewkesbury Gossip”.

STOP PRESS: Sam & Derek nominated for Jerrard Award – congratulations!

Compliments of the New 15th Season

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