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Newsletter No. 84 - January 2006

Photo of Carting Sheaves

'Carting Sheaves' (click for larger image)

The picture on the cover is courtesy of the Vale and Downland Museum, Wantage, photographic archive and dates from about 1930. The title is 'Carting Sheaves' in East Hendred not far from Wantage, North Berkshire.

Now that the Christmas and New Year festivities are over I hope you look back at a wonderful time with family and friends. As your local history societies recommence their meetings are you planning new research projects once the weather and daylight hours are more conducive to getting out and about?

For those of you who managed to book in for the oversubscribed Saturday School on Saturday 12 November at the new Museum of English Rural Life we hope you thoroughly enjoyed the day. We also hope you found the speakers, with their varied approach to the subject of "The Making of the Berkshire Landscape: a celebration of WG Hoskins", thoroughly informative and will encourage you to do the same for your particular place or area of Berkshire, 'old' or 'new'. The Berkshire Record Society and ourselves hosted the day and we are very grateful for the museum hosting the day. Are you planning a visit, either alone or with your society?

All of those who were there were very impressed by the new museum and some used their lunch hour or stayed on afterwards to look around. The Museum and Reading Room are open every day between 10 am and 4.30 pm, plus Saturday and Sunday (museum only) 2 pm - 4.30 pm. You can make an appointment to visit the Reading room by phone (0118 378 8660) or email merl@reading.ac.uk,or just turn up. If you are planning a local society visit I suggest you also let them know if it's a large party. Parking is available. Further information can be found on website www.ruralhistory.org/the_centre/

What does the Association do for your membership, either as a society or an individual? We represent you all with the British Association for Local History and with the Berkshire Record Office; we send you a Newsletter three times a year publicising your society to all readers and issue the annual journal "Berkshire Old and New". We hope to organise more Saturday schools on a more regular basis than has been the pattern of late and would welcome your suggestions of topics of interest or subjects for teach-in days.

You may well have asked "where is my copy of the journal for the year 2005?". Well, I can only apologise for the delay this year but, as many of you know, Judith Hunter, one of our founders died earlier this year and it was decided to put the plans for this years content on hold and prepare an issue concentrating on her involvement with the B.L.H.A.

This involved finding authors to write the appropriate articles and reminiscences, which then had to be approved by the journal subcommittee, who made suggestions for some changes, etc. We now anticipate the Journal will be in your hands by the time you read this article and I hope you find it stimulating. We also hope the 2006 Journal will be out on time!

Finally, our AGM is to be held on Saturday 11 March 2006 and we hope to see you and your society representatives there. It will be held at MERL, times etc to be posted on the website nearer the time.

We also look forward to the election of more society representatives on to the BLHA Executive Committee - which meets about every three months - and hope that includes a replacement for me as I only agreed to stand as a 'caretaker' Chairman for the year.

Cliff Debney, Chairman, BLHA

A Happy New Year to all our members, we hope that you enjoyed the festive season and your Christmas socials.

Many thanks to those who sent contributions for this issue, there are still those of you out there who are a little quiet. Please, we would like to hear your news, write us a few lines to let other members know about your activities, speakers, dates of your meetings etc., it is all interesting. To those of you who contribute regularly please would you watch your word count. We appreciate when there is a lot to say this might be difficult, but it saves your copy from an attack of the editor's pen.

Once again in this edition we have changed the format slightly and have now moved the information relating to the BLHA committee, the website, membership details, next copy date and front cover reference to page 2. It is hoped that you will find this layout more logical and easier for reference purposes.

We have had some response to the 'Notification of Changes' form, which appeared as an insert in the last newsletter and to the electronic version, thank you. It is very important that we have the correct details or your newsletters and journal will not reach you, so for those of you due to have your AGMs in the new year please bear this in mind. Enjoy your Spring programmes.

Important. Please note the change of Email address to which electronic copy should be sent for the next issue - margaret.simons@tesco.net.

Margaret Simons

Responses to Emily Tarrant at webdesigner@blha.org.uk.

A request from Christina Bawden. Christina lives in Australia and is researching her family tree. She is interested in finding out details about her Grandfather who served in the Royal Berkshire Regiment (one of his Children's birth certificates says so); he was wounded in France and lost a leg. She does not give her Grandfather's name, but does say he lived in Balham, London. She would like to hear from anyone who has any information; the regiment museum only has a service number.

Michael Bayley would like to know if anyone remembers a song, which he can remember from his school days in the 1920s. It was a song, which reflected an opinion of the Welshman at the time and was in use before the Welsh started settling around the Slough Trading estate. Do you remember the other verses and what they were about?

Taffy was a Welshman
Taffy was a thief
Taffy came to my house
And stole a leg of Beef

I went to Taffy's house
Taffy was in bed
So I took a mutton bone
And hit him on the head!

Our web manager Emily Tarrant has moved to pastures new and is now living in Cornwall. Whilst Emily is prepared to continue to manage the site from her new home, is there anyone out there more local who would like to consider taking on this very important role. If anyone is interested in doing so or would like to discuss the matter please contact a member of the committee.

Margaret Simons

A day school commemorating WG Hoskins was held in the new facilities of MERL on Saturday 12th November 2005 to mark the 50th anniversary of the publication of his seminal work The Making of the English Landscape, which began a change in the way historians look at the past.

Seven papers were given discussing aspects of local history and landscape in Berkshire from the fourteenth to the twenty-first centuries.

The day began with a fascinating and useful insight into the resources of the NMRC at Swindon given by Jane Golding. This was followed by discussions of landscapes and local societies in the fourteenth century and urban landscapes in Tudor Berkshire.

The afternoon session opened with a look at the vernacular architecture of the Berkshire Downs followed by an examination of early enclosure in the Lambourn Valley. Alan Rosevear spoke enthusiastically about highways showing how they had adapted to, ignored or fitted into the landscape until finally this was mastered by the engineers of turnpike roads.

The day was amusingly rounded off with a wry look at the evolving appearance of Berkshire and how this may continue through the present century.

This day school was organised by the School of Continuing Education of Reading University in association with the Berkshire Record Society and the Berkshire Local History Association and was co-ordinated by Joan Dils who is to be congratulated on the wide programme and smooth organisation of the conference.

Christine Wardingley

The committee have decided, after much discussion, that it will be necessary to increase individual and corporate membership rates from 2007. It is a long time since rates have increased and it is now necessary due to the rising costs of printing and mailing charges of both the newsletter and the journal. We hope that you will continue to support us and that you feel your membership represents good value. Increases are as follows:-
Individual membership increases from £7 to £9
Family membership remains at £9
Corporate membership from £14 to £18

Margaret Simons

In 1924 individuals from the Berkshire Archaeological Society, the Reading and District Branch of the Historical Association, The Reading Literary and Scientific Society, the Reading Society of Architects and the University College, Reading joined forces for the purposes of promoting a county-based local history recording scheme. Its intention was to record 'as many facts of local interest as possible before they are forgotten' (Reading Standard 15/3/1924 p.15.). The University College was chosen as the centre for Berkshire and under the careful administration of Miss Maslen; all the information received by her was filed by parish and then by subject. It was hoped that each parish would have at least one local recorder/correspondent who would be responsible for collecting and passing on the information using the special record forms provided.

The Berkshire scheme was the first of its kind in the country at the time and formed the basis of what we now know as the Berkshire Local History Association. It is now just over 80 years ago since the scheme was started and although the movement lost momentum in the 1950s and eventually ceased, these records are available for viewing by anyone interested in doing so.

Recent changes in the local studies library in Reading have made it possible to display some of the material previously held in secure storage and an example of what was collected under the scheme is now on display. All the records are contained in five loose-leaf binders and as well as the set held at the Reading local studies library the Berkshire Record Office also has a set.

Margaret Simons

Death of Colonel Frankie Boshell, DSO, C.B.E

It is a coincidence that we should receive a request for information about the Royal Berkshire Regiment at a time when we have to report the death of another of its more recent officers. Frankie Boshell served with the 1st Battalion of the Regiment in Burma and received his DSO for outstanding leadership. He was born in the Royal Berkshires' Reading depot in 1920 where his father was a serving officer and died on the 23rd September aged 84, after a distinguished career. My thanks to Peter Johnson who gave me the obituary published in the Telegraph.

Margaret Simons

Readers may remember my request for information about tile sites in Berkshire for inclusion in the Tiles & Architectural Ceramics Society's Location Index, and possible use in a national gazetteer. (Newsletters Numbers 65 and 66 - 1999/2000) I was very grateful for the information I received and forwarded it to the database co-ordinator who was also the Editor of the Gazetteer.

This has now been published as a 512 page, A5 paperback, covering sites in England, Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales. Tile Gazetteer A Guide to British Tile and Architectural Ceramics Locations is edited by Lynn Pearson and was published in September 2005 by Richard Dennis at £25.00 ISBN 0 903685 97 3.

It contains black and white, and colour photographs, introductory essays about tiles from Roman times to the present day, a bibliography, glossary and a biographical directory of tile, terracotta and faience artists, designers and manufactures.

The TACS website with links to the Location Index can be found at www.tilesoc.org.uk and this also contains other information about tiles and the Society.

Mary Bentley (01628 665932)

An exhibition is held in March each year in the Loyd-Lindsay Rooms, Ardington depicting aspects of Lockinge Estate. This year the theme will be military. The Ardington and Lockinge Branch of the Royal British Legion was established in 1927 and we hope to have contributions from some of the current members. There will also be some background to the men named on the two village war memorials who died during the First World War. Copies of the nineteenth-century censuses for Lockinge and Ardington, family biographies and the collection of photographs of the villages will also be on display.

The exhibition in 2006 is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday 25th and 26th March. It is always timed for the weekend before a village AGM which can change date at short notice: this means the exhibition is rescheduled too, so if you are thinking of visiting it may be wise to phone 01235 769457 to confirm!

Diary Dates
Saturday and Sunday 25th and 26th March : Village Life Past and Present, aspects of Lockinge Estate. An exhibition in the Loyd-Lindsay Rooms, Ardington, 2-5 pm. Refreshments available.

Christine Wardingley

The Group aims to encourage a wider appreciation of industrial archaeology and act as a stimulant to the study of the area's industrial heritage. Often little is known even to local inhabitants and frequently heritage is disappearing without adequate recording as the years slip by. There is still much that remains to be explored and recorded. While specific industries may have provided employment (and may still), they are all too easily forgotten as being some of the factors which have gone to shape particular communities and environments.

BIAG is open to all who have an interest in industrial archaeology and for this purpose, a very liberal interpretation is put upon "industry", "industrial past" and the geographical area covered by the Group.

WHAT DOES BIAG DO?
- undertakes preservation and recording projects.
- arranges visits to appropriate sites both locally and regionally.
- arranges an indoor programme of talks by guest speakers on specific topics.
- publishes its own newsletter - BIAG News - 2 or 3 times a year.
- BIAG while independent has been associated with adult education studies in industrial archaeology and local history. This included being given associate status by the University of Reading in recognition of its origins in a long standing Joint Reading University / WEA course on Industrial Archaeology to 1992 and its connection with the University.
- liaises with other appropriate bodies including the planning authorities on the industrial history of Reading and Berkshire, its recording and preservation.

HOW TO JOIN BIAG
For those interested in joining, please contact the Treasurer/Membership Officer, the Secretary (their addresses or phone numbers are given below). You will then receive a copy of our application form + a copy of the latest newsletter.

Secretary:
Peter Trout, 7 West Chiltern, Woodcote, Reading RG8 0SG 01491 682002
Treasurer & Membership Officer:
Peter Pribik, 6 Harefield Close, Winnersh, Wokingham, Berks RG41 5NP 0118 978 5234

Bent Weber

The Summer break goes all too quickly and in September members gathered to welcome the return of Richard Poad, who spoke on "Air Transport Auxiliary - Maidenhead's claim to wartime fame". Recently as an innovation and to encourage members to participate, we have as a prelude to the main talk of the evening, a short reading. On this occasion Joan Rapps had found an old newspaper cutting reporting Bleriot's crossing the Channel. This led us into Richard's talk, which in a year when we had been celebrating WWII and the week when the Battle of Britain monument on the Embankment was finally unveiled, was very appropriate.

A.T.A is always more associated with the ladies but Richard showed that at the beginning it was a Boy's show, enrolling mainly ex R.F.C. and retired civil pilots, women were recruited, they joined with various refugees from Europe, also a contingent from the U.S.A. You can imagine what characters the A.T.A attracted; there were a host of tales to tell.

Why Maidenhead? Well White Waltham became the H.Q. of the A.T.A. Go and see the Battle of Britain memorial and seek out the A.T.A girl scanning the skies, she is there, forever linked to the pilots, crews, mechanics et al.

Do other Societies have the problem of speakers, despite my sending maps of the area, being unable to find the hall where we meet? This seems to happen nearly every time. Despite colds and flu taking its toll we had a good turnout for our October meeting. Unfortunately Margaret Houlbrooke our speaker for the evening got lost in the Bracknell streets. Various announcements were given at a snail's pace and the Chairman and myself were wondering what we could do next, when Margaret arrived. When she had recovered she gave a most interesting talk "Decades of Discipline - treatment of children in the 20th century". Starting with the lives of many children at that time when strict discipline was the order of the day. At school, classes were huge and had to be controlled with harsh punishment, when required. The worst treatment was reserved for children of families consigned to the Work House. The aim was to make their life so intolerable that no one bar the most desperate would avail themselves of the Poor Law. Gradually life became more relaxed. In course of time behaviour became too permissive. By a strange coincidence the very next day, in the news, it was being suggested that in future, teachers should be allowed to 'control' their classes.

The B.D.H.S. speaker for November was Trevor Ottlewski, who only got slightly lost. Despite a bad cold and sore throat, he did not let us down but because he felt he would be unable to talk for a full hour without a break, we switched from the published talk "Timber-framed Buildings" to "A look round Cheshire", a selection of Cheshire Landmarks". Actually this proved an excellent choice for a cold winter's night. Cheshire is not usually though of as a picture book county apart form the black and white buildings and I think many of us were amazed at the interesting little towns and villages and historical sites which abounded. A must for a visit.

Sheila M. Hasted

In August the group celebrated VJ day by putting on an exhibition in the local village hall. The work for the exhibition, which began in March, was well rewarded as nearly 700 visitors passed through the doors between 2pm and 6pm over a three-day period. There are 53 ex-servicemen and women still living in the village and a huge map was marked to show where they had served during WW II. Other exhibits included a Nazi flag loaned by a villager who had liberated it during the march on Calais and an armoured vehicle of the period loaned by a local collector. John Denham, treasurer of the group said 'It was interesting to see the incidental little memories that some of the items conjured up among some of our older visitors.'(SC/EW/MC 2/9/2005)

My thanks to Mary Gyngell, secretary of the group who wrote to me and enclosed a cutting from the local newspaper.

Margaret Simons

The new season of meetings began in September with the return visit of Paul Lacey, to continue his history of the Thames Valley Traction Company, from 1931-1945. The network of routes operated by small bus companies during the 1930s was an important aspect of rural life, when car ownership was limited; these companies were gradually acquired by Thames Valley TC as opportunity arose, at the same time as it was modernising its own bus fleet, many of which were requisitioned during World War II. The railway companies had become major shareholders in Thames Valley TC and this facilitated better co-ordination between bus and train timetables. Paul has made a detailed study of this subject and has written and published two well-illustrated books about the Thames Valley TC.

In October Andrew Morton from Oxford Archaeology told us about the history of Oxford Castle, which is being redeveloped as a hotel and heritage site. The original Castle was built in 1071, when it comprised a motte and bailey surrounded by a moat on a site dominating the main entrances to the town. Queen Matilda was held captive there in the 12th century: the Castle was never attacked, not even during the Civil War when Oxford was under siege. A prison was erected on the site in the 18th/19th centuries: the last public execution at the prison was in 1853 and it was finally closed in 1995. Excavations had revealed the outlines of the original castle and sections of the Saxon town walls. Burials in the Castle moat had been found but few artefacts had come to light.

The speaker at our November meeting was Bill King who gave us a very well presented talk on "Forgotten Runways". After the end of World War I the large number of RAF planes were disposed of and for the next 20 years flying was largely recreational. With the approach of World War II an urgent airfield expansion programme was begun, as the old grass runways were no longer adequate to handle the new, heavier aircraft being developed. Ultimately, there were some 48 airfields within a 25-mile radius of Oxford and about 600 in the country as a whole. An airfield required some 3,500 personnel to operate and this had a considerable effect on the local economies, including the introduction of mains electricity and drainage. Once again many airfields were closed after the war and Bill ended his talk with a slide show of abandoned buildings and structures which can still be seen on the sites of former airfields in this area.

A.J. Simpson

On 20th April, committee member Bent Weber presented a final evening of slides of Reading Past drawn from the collection of founder member the Late Peter Southerton, which were donated to the Society by his widow, while the guest speaker at our meeting on 18th May was Margaret Railton, who spoke further on the Royal Berkshire Hospital's history.

The first of two members only 'outside' meetings took place on 15th June, when the Society was privileged to visit BBC Monitoring, at Caversham Park, which has housed the facility since 1943. The second, on Saturday afternoon, 23rd July, was a guided tour of the small museum of police artefacts at the Thames Valley Police training school at Sulhampstead, with curator Ken Wells.

On 21st September, our first meeting of the 2005-2006 Programme was a talk by Andrew Plumridge, entitled 'Follies: Emblems of Foolish Luxuries', while the meeting on 19th October, by committee member Sidney Gold, was an illustrated (and enlightening) talk entitled 'Statues and Monuments of Reading (19th and early 20th Century)'.

The Society's meeting on 17th November was an extremely enlightening and informative illustrated talk by Victor Payne on a Brief History of Abbey Baptist Church. Indeed, the talk served also to give an outline history of Baptists in the Reading district, beginning circa 1640, at the time of the Civil War, when the town's population was a mere 5,000 souls. The well-remembered Kings Road premises were built in 1834, soon needing enlargement to accommodate 900 persons. Even by 1891 the original Reading unit had been responsible for no less than 21 daughter churches in Berkshire and surrounding counties. The present premises in Abbey Square superseded those in Kings Road in 1979.

Looking forward, this year's Presidential Address by Joan Dils on 14th December is 'The Making of a Suburb: Caversham c1840 to 1914'. And so into 2006. The meeting on 18th January is another visit from Ken Wells to tell us all about the Reading's Late Victorian Murderess, Mrs Dyer, while on 15th February John Oakes will be speaking on 'Reading School - The First 800 Years or More'.

Indoor meetings, which are held on Wednesday evenings, commencing 7.30pm prompt, at Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square, adjacent to the rear of Reading Central Library, are open to all, with a small charge of £2.00 to non-members. A recent innovation has been negotiation of an arrangement for members to park their cars nearby at modest cost. Meetings usually finish about 9.00pm with tea and coffee available afterwards.

Ring 0118 947 2470 or eMail Edward.W.Hooper@btinternet.com for details of Society membership.

John Whitehead

Our summer outing took us to Tylney Hall Hotel in Rotherwick. We had a very enjoyable time there, the sun shone and we had a very informative tour of the gardens and house, which is Victorian and very splendid. Tea was provided with unlimited scones with jam and cream. The house and its predecessor have a long history and the staff were very welcoming, nothing was too much trouble.

At the September meeting we were entertained by our local retired blacksmith. He had a fund of stories about his clients, which made for a light-hearted evening, although we learned much about the blacksmith's work. Farriers are still in demand, but the blacksmith is now quite rare. He was a useful member of the community, being prepared to mend large farm machines and also do odd jobs for the villagers.

A retired schoolteacher from Burghfield, Mike Targett, gave us the second part of this talk on Burghfield, our neighbouring village, in October. This was so well attended that it became standing room only. The news of his previous talk must have encouraged our visitors. Burghfield, like Mortimer, has a very long history going back to prehistoric times and Mike has done much research.

We were also given a treat at our November meeting when we learned about the village of Theale. Situated on the old Bath Road, Theale had many inns to accommodate the coaching traffic from Reading to Bath. We were shown pictures of these and the story of the decline of many of them after the building of the railway. There were many pictures of Theale; including geological diagrams, showing the importance of the land to the development of the village.

During November we had an exhibition of local history. This was packed with information and we showed many pictures. Our visitors came for ten minutes and stayed for an hour. Among the subjects were the local fire service, schools, maps, shops and origin of place names. We were joined by the local Dramatic Society who presented the history of their productions together with models of their sets and their wonderful costumes.

June Woodward

The Autumn programme opened with members being taken behind the scenes in the world of film making. Three of our members were lucky enough to take part as Extras in the filming of some of the scenes from "Pride and Prejudice" at Basildon Park. Together with another member and two friends, who were also involved in various capacities, we were entertained with details of their experiences.

Basildon Park became Netherfield Hall, the home of Mr Bingley, and the scene was the Ball where Elizabeth met Mr Darcy. Our three were amongst the many guests in the ballroom, and certainly two of them do appear in the film! It was quite apparent that, although the days may have seemed long with much waiting around, our budding actors thoroughly enjoyed the experience of being professionally dressed and made up to look the part, to say nothing of being in the company of the Stars of the film!

The October meeting fell on Trafalgar Day, so it was quite fitting that we should have John Gurnett come to talk to us about the famous battle, and the brave men who fought there alongside Nelson. John has acquired a vast amount of information about the affray, and it was quite clear that although outnumbered by the French and Spanish fleet, Nelson with his strategic manoeuvres, and his own fleet of loyal and courageous men, won the day with honours. Indeed the message "England expects that every man will do his duty" displayed by Nelson from his ship, "The Victory" had the desired effect. The untimely death of Nelson at the height of the battle was mourned throughout the Country. John's interesting information led to much discussion about this gallant sailor, Lord Nelson.

In November the subject for our talk was closer to home. Liz Woodnouse, a Parent Governor at the Wilson School, which opened in 1905, gave us a comprehensive history of the school, whose centenary has this year been celebrated. It was clear that Liz had done an enormous amount of research, seeking out former pupils and teachers, and searching the archives at the Berkshire Record Office and Reading Central Library. The history of the Joseph Henry Wilson School is, thanks to the work and enthusiasm of Liz, to be recorded in a pictorial book of photographs and memories, and is due to be published early next year.

Milly Bordiss

Our meetings are held at the Community Hall, usually on the last Thursday of each month, commencing at 7.30pm.

If you are interested in history why not pay us a visit? Visitors are always welcome and you will find we have a variety of interesting speakers and outings.

Unfortunately our August talk on "The Seymours of Elvetham" had to be postponed to a later date (yet to be arranged). However, we were fortunate in replacing this with a talk on "Wills and Records" by Joan Dils which proved very informative.

Our AGM in September saw a few changes on office. Zoe Travers is now our chairman, Jean Baker our secretary and Annie Brinkworth remains our treasurer. The AGM was followed by a very good talk on "The Histoy of English Theatre" by Susan D'Andrade during which some of the members took and active part.

2006 brings one of our regular speakers to our January meeting. This will be Mary Bennett who will present a talk on "Childhood in Surrey Heath". On the 23rd February Roger Barnes of the Pewter Society will give us a talk with slides on "Pewter through the ages". March will be a Members evening.

We have a few copies of our book "Sandhurst during the Second World War" still for sale. It would make a good Christmas present at £4.50! Our website is now up and running so feel free to visit it at ww.sandhurst-historical-society.org Alternatively please ring Zoe on 01252 375579 for further details if required.

Our meeting always find time for a cup of tea biscuit and a chat. Do come and join us as we are worth finding out more about!

Janice Burlton

Almost 150 visitors, including international travellers from Australia, Canada, Israel and the United States, arrived in Sonning on Sunday 11 September to see the buildings built or modified by Victorian architect, Henry Woodyer, free of charge. Other visitors came from as far afield as Bristol, Kent and Suffolk as well as neighbouring counties. "Henry Woodyer in Sonning" formed part of Heritage Open Days, a national event co-coordinated by the Civic Trust and funded by English Heritage.

The Society used the event to launch its first publication, Henry Woodyer in Sonning.

Henry Woodyer in Sonning

The booklet is not confined to Sonning as it covers the architect's buildings in Reading and Wokingham, as well as places within the 19th-centiury parish of Sonning, such as Dunsden, Earley, and Woodley. Copies, which are intended for anyone interested in our buildings, can be purchased at £2.50 via the Society's website www.sonning.org.net or at food counter in The Bull, if you are passing.

Our next major event will be "Bricks of Yesteryear manufactured for today and tomorrow", an illustrated talk by Nick Siney, who is Sonning born and bred, S&SES member and long-serving expert in a local brick-making company. The talk will focus on how bricks are made in 2006 the same way as those used in Babylon and in Sonning centuries ago. Anyone who has heard Nick speak will know they are in for a very enjoyable, entertaining and fascinating evening. The talk takes place on Friday 27 January 2006 in the Pearson Hall, starting at 7.30 for 7.45 pm. Tickets are available at £2.00 (S&SES Members) or £4.00 (non-members) and include a glass of wine

Our autumn issue of bridge carries an article on Sonning's Trafalgar connection, as well as a substantial piece on coppicing and hedge laying. You can view back copies of bridge at: http://www.sonning.org.uk/publicity.html.

Other future events open to members and non-members alike include:
Saturday 6 May or Saturday 13 May (A choice of dates to offer members and non-members maximum flexibility) A Thames-side walk with Alastair Driver, meet at 2.15 for a 2.30 p.m. start
If you would like to contact us, here are some details.
Membership Secretary
Carole Barnett 0118 969 6693 gordon@barnett19.fsnet.co.uk
Tickets for open events
Diana Coulter 0118 969 2132 diana.coulter@orange.net
Tony Swell 0118 969 1390 patsy-tonyswell@tesco.net

Diane Coulter

The autumn term brought Barbara Stoney to talk about her experiences when she became a VAD nurse during the Second World War. 'One Woman at War' described her involvement in treating brave and severely wounded servicemen when they were returned to recuperate in English hospitals. It was a lesson in life that she has never forgotten their valour and fortitude. We were grateful that Barbara came at such short notice because John Barfoot was unable to give his lecture due to ill health. We hope to see John in the near future.

John Garrod came in October to give a talk on 'Around Fleet Street - a History'. He showed wonderful slides of this historical area of London, past and present. His commentary began with Queen Victoria's statue that guards the entrance to the Fleet Street area, the importance of the river Fleet combined with stories of such illuminaries as Dr. Johnson, Milton, Goldsmith and Samuel Pepys and the inns that they frequented. Mr Garrod was warmly thanked for this outstanding lecture.

'Ephemera, What is it and what do you do with it!' It was a talk given by an excellent and enthusiastic speaker in November. Now we know what it means and we recommend that you invite him to your Society when all will be explained. (His name is Martin Andrews).

December brings our annual Christmas Party when members bring a plate of finger food resulting in a splendid array of dishes, which is graced by a replica of a boar's head reminding all of us of an old time yuletide ceremony welcoming the feasting of Christmas.

January will bring us Ted Fox whose knowledge of country customs is paramount.

Betty Cossey

The Wargrave Local History Society met in St Mary's Church for their September meeting, when John Dearing spoke about Hymn Writers Connected with Berkshire - 'illustrated' by the members singing selected examples of some of the hymns! There has been debate over many years as to what should be sung in Church,- in the 18th century some felt that only the psalms were appropriate. It was in the Free Churches in the 17th and (particularly) 18th centuries hymn writing and singing became established - with writers such as Isaac Watts. John introduced us to a number of people who had lived in Berkshire, and written hymns, such as Daniel Turner, James Merrick, John Cennick, Henry Hart Milman (his best known hymn is Ride On, Ride On in Majesty), and one with a Wargrave connection, Frances Sarah Fuller-Maitland.

In October, Margaret Houlbrooke's subject was "Decades of Discipline". She told us of the background to the punishment of children throughout the Christian centuries - in church, family, school and the workplace. She then related this to the regime in the workhouses (which existed from 1834 - 1948) - designed, under the Poor Law, to create sense of 'less eligibility' to the inmates. Nobody would ever be turned away, but the workhouse did its best to make sure you did not want to go there. Margaret also told us of discipline in working class families and schools, where discipline enabled a teacher to control a class of 60 or 80 pupils. Her examples were drawn from the workhouses in Essex and Berkshire.

November saw the return Alan Copeland, who delighted the audience with his Curiosities in the Chilterns slide presentation. With an entertaining commentary, Alan took us to see many 'unusual' features in the area from Reading through to Berkhamsted, and beyond. Starting in the Forbury Gardens, we were taken east to White Waltham, with a Victorian drinking fountain and village stocks. Windsor, Cookham and Maidenhead featured, "en route" to Old Amersham, with its 'lock up' little jail. The furthest north Alan 'took' us was Gaddesdon - where a bizarre shape chimney is called Jarmans Coffin, whilst coming south again, in the middle of the Chilterns, through Wendover, Halton and Ivinghoe, we came to Hazelmere, where some topiary represents Goldilocks and the Three Bears, before ending at West Wycombe, with its reminders of the Hell Fire Club. Alan showed us many more features of the area than can be mentioned here - but some can be seen on his website at www.curiosities.co.uk

The year ended with the Society's traditional Christmas Party, with 'entertainment' in the form of two quizzes compiled my members David Ball and Geoff Briggs.

All are welcome to our meetings, which begin at 8 pm in the Hannen Room, Mill Green, Wargrave. Contact me, Peter Delaney, on 0118 940 3121 for more information about the Society, or visit the webpages at www.wargrave.net/history.

Peter Delaney

I have personally been a member of The Berkshire Local History Association and know Peter Johnson very well.

Our Society was formed just over 4 years ago, until now we had not been in a favourable financial position to pay a corporate sub and join the society, however Peter has said well write an article anyway. It is our intention to join as soon as subs are due, which I believe will be in January 2006.

We are a small group with a regular attendance of some 25 members and we meet at Sindlesham Baptist Church Hall, Sindlesham Nr Wokingham Berks basically on the 3rd Monday of the month, 7.45pm for 8pm

At our September meeting, member Neville Amos gave a talk on The Bronte Family. In October we joined forces with St Mary's Church at Winnersh giving a slide presentation and displays on Winnersh Then & Now, based mainly on early 1900 postcards and photos, this was part of the Churches celebration of its foundation 40 years ago. Our November meeting was an excellent power point presentation by Tony King on Changing Faces of London.

In April we had the launch of our first book "Winnersh Reflections" we now have a few copies available at £2.75 available from Brian Eighteen on 0118 9784499 or Stella Young on 0118 9784741 or by post plus pp 50p.

Brian Eighteen

For Heritage Weekend in September, our guided Town Walks were well attended, and a 'comments sheet' showed much interest. Our winter meetings began in September with "Then & Now: A Look at Winnersh, Lodden Bridge and Sindlesham" by Brian Eighteen. His collection of old postcards, photographs and personal memories well illustrated this neighbourhood. Starting at the long-gone Embrook mill, his images of the early 20th century evoked many recollections and stories from members.

In October, Colin Mitchell's experience and knowledge of naval traditions impressively illustrated "The Nelson Touch". With well researched family, social and maritime history, including battle-fields, many aspects of the national hero were revealed; from boyhood a determined naval ambition; a captain at 21 years of age who fearlessly led from the front (hence his lost eye, arm and life); the happy triangle with Lady Hamilton and her husband; the many accounts of his successes written by himself. Perhaps the most surprising relevation was that the news of Nelson's victory at Trafalgar and his death took two weeks to reach London.

In November, David Lee, curator of "The Wessex Film and Sound Archives" explained how the trust had been set up in 1988 and the role it now had with over 26,000 recordings. We saw three amazing films; Huntley & Palmer's "The Royal Baker" for King George VI, a 1937 documentary with music, covering all the stages of "modern" biscuit production; the 1950 "Newbury Weekly News" team in action to collect news and produce a weekly edition; a 1930's charming amateur silent film of the Sonning Races and Bank Holiday Fair.

The Trust was a major contributor to Meridian TV's "The Way We Were", and more information, including an 1890 recording of Florence Nightingale, can be found at www.hants.gov.uk/record-office/film.html.

Barbara Young

Berkshire Record Office

Berkshire's public buildings
The Office has just completed 2 large cataloguing and conservation projects based on old Berkshire County Council records. These are for Council contracts 1892-1939 and architects' drawings 1863-1972 (references C/CL/L2 and C/AR/P1-13).

Around 400 public buildings across old Berkshire are represented in these collections, including schools, police and fire stations, libraries and residential homes. The contracts additionally include plans and specifications for roads and bridges, as well as for work on smallholdings.

The Council's contribution to the County's built environment is probably its most visible legacy, and many of the plans and drawings are works of art in their own right. Further work on the post-war contracts goes on, and we hope to make more of these fascinating resources available soon.

Archbishop Laud and all that
Another recently completed similar project has been focussed on the archive of the Reading Municipal Charities, an amalgam of some 30 charitable bequests to the town (reference D/QR). The best-known charity is probably that founded by John Kendrick in 1624, which provided for the original Oracle workhouse and also the Kendrick Schools. But although the focus is on Reading, the interests of the charities spread further afield. For example, there are the records of Richard Aldworth's charity school, which subsequently became the Blue Coat School in Sonning.

Most significantly for the rest of the County are the medieval deeds that have survived with William Laud's charity. Laud was Archbishop of Canterbury 1633-1645 (when he met an untimely end), and was born in Reading. He set up a charity with various worthy aims which was part funded by rents from property in Easthampstead, Binfield and Winkfield, and significantly in Bray. The charity was probably a more mercenary landlord than some of those previous - one deed for a Bray estate in 1329 gives the rent as being one red rose to be paid on 29 August each year.

Both this collection and the County contracts and drawings can be requested at the Office during normal opening hours. Don't forget to keep up with The Berkshire Echo, online at www.berkshirerecordoffice.org.uk/news.

Mark Stevens

The Centre welcomes visitors to its new premises in the centre of the town. There are displays on local history topics, a popular browsing table, and the best selection of local books and gifts in the town.

"PORTRAIT OF MAIDENHEAD"
"Imagine a man has been offered a job in Maidenhead. Make a 30 minute film to persuade him, his wife and his two young two children to take it and move to the town".

This was the brief given to "Fast Forward - Film Making for Young People" based at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts. The resultant film "Portrait of Maidenhead" was directed by Bob Hauxwell, Head of Expressive Arts at Altwood School and produced by Harry Wale, a Trustee of Maidenhead Heritage Centre. But all the script writing, filming, interviewing and editing was done by a talented team of young people, some still at school. It features local landmarks such as Cliveden, sports facilities including skateboarding, and interviews with Alain Roux and other local personalities. The film represents an interesting alternative approach to making a local video. If you want to see if it would persuade you of the merits of living in Maidenhead, the film is available in video and DVD formats from the Heritage Centre.

"TOP OF THE POPS"
Remember Kiki Dee and Elton John singing "Don't go breaking my heart"? It was recorded in the 1970's by the legendary Gus Dudgeon at his Mill Studio in Cookham, and Maidenhead Heritage Centre would like a copy for their "Made in Maidenhead" Collection. Gus sold the studio in 1980 but it continued to be used by many leading pop performers. So if you come across a vinyl or tape labelled "Recorded at the Mill Studio, Berkshire", the Heritage Centre would like to hear from you.

MAIDENHEAD'S AVIATION STORY
Maidenhead Heritage Centre is running a 6-week local history evening course at West London Aero Club tracing the history of local aviation, starting 16th January 2006. It will cover early local pioneers, the first aerodrome at Bray, Fairey Aviation and the Air Transport Auxiliary. Archive films will be shown and there will be a daytime visit to the Aero Club to view aircraft in the hangars and the engineering department. Full details and registration form are at www.maidenheadheritage.org.uk or phone 01628-780555.

>Brian Boulter

Cataloguing the book collection
Following the re-arrangement of the shelves, a project has begun to ensure that all the books and pamphlets appear on the electronic catalogue, and that the location of each item is correctly shown. It is estimated that the task will take about a year, at the end of which you will need to look in one place only, and will be able to do so wherever you have access to the Internet - including the Library, of course.

Cataloguing the illustrations collection
Over the last year, work has been proceeding on the glass negatives and magic lantern slides, which have been given to the Library at some time in the past, by persons unknown, and then left to languish in their wooden boxes.

The first task was to have them scanned and digitised, so that now they can be looked at without the risk of damage. Three main sources have become apparent:

(1) Some belonged to Llewellyn Treacher, the antiquary and geologist whose forebears built the locks and weirs on the Thames Navigation in the eighteenth century. As well as a number of glass slides, the Library has a couple of his photograph albums. The next job with these is to check the Library's images with the many glass plates held by the Museum of English Rural Life, so see what more can be learned about them.

(2) Some came from the studio of Henry W. Taunt of Oxford. These have been compared with the images by Taunt on the English Heritage "Viewfinder" website. Some of the Library's images are not represented on "Viewfinder," so we are hoping to come to some reciprocal arrangement with English Heritage, and with the Centre for Oxfordshire Studies, which owns the Taunt material on the website.

(3) Around 160 slides show the buildings, personalities and events connected with St. John's and St. Stephen's Churches in Reading. The photographs were taken between about 1912 and 1925, and belonged to Mr. A. H. Leaver, who, besides being a sidesman of St. John's, was for many years the Chief Accountant for Sutton's Seeds. The slides show the church buildings, the church institutes, the schools, the Church of England Temperance Society coffee stall, the clergy, the teachers, the schoolchildren, and members of the congregation. Many social events are shown - outings by steamer on the river, Sunday school treats, cricket, rounders, golf, sack races, bicycle polo, and a kind of pillow-fight enacted whilst trying to keep your balance astride a pole about four feet above the ground. Although only around 80 years old, this set of slides gives a wonderful insight into how life was lived in Reading's "village in the town."

All of the Taunt and Leaver images are now viewable on the Library website - www.readinglibraries.org.uk Click on "catalogue" and search under "h. w. taunt" or "a. h. leaver" to see all of them. The Treacher pictures will follow in due course.

David Cliffe Local Studies Manager

History courses and day schools taking place from January2006 at the University's London Road campus unless otherwise stated.

Ten credits are earned for morning, afternoon and evening courses, the cost of which is £72 (£40). Day schools cost £28 (£23).

Spring term

Afternoon courses

C16 A social history of the family 1870-1939
Tutor Anne Meredith PhD PGCE
Date from Tue 10 Jan 2006 (10 meetings)
Time Tue 1.30pm-3.30pm

The family has been a constant element in British history, but how and why has it evolved over the years? This course examines various aspects of family life in Britain over a 70-year period and the factors that fostered change, including war, education, family size, leisure, poverty, contraception and the changing role of women.

Dayschools

C21 One hundred years of free school meals: welfare provision since 1906
Tutor Jean Heward MA PGCE
Date Sat 21 Jan 2006
Time Sat 10.00am-4.30pm

Free meals were introduced in British schools one hundred years ago in 1906 - an apparently small event, which actually marked a turning point in the provision of health and welfare services in Britain. This dayschool will review the problems of poverty and inequality that sparked this development and will chart the evolution of state intervention in health and welfare services over the last 100 years.

C22 The English Civil War
Tutor Sheila Ephraim BA MA; Joan Dils BA PGCE
Date Sat 4 Feb 2006
Time Sat 10.00am-4.30pm

The progression from crisis to civil war and regicide makes the 1640s one of the most turbulent periods in English history. This dayschool explores how and why the monarchy fell at the end of the English Civil War. We will look briefly at the military campaigns involved, study the trial and execution of Charles I, and consider the consequences of the conflict and its aftermath, in England as a whole and Berkshire in particular.

C23 Public parks and leisure gardens 1830-1914
Tutor Anne Meredith PhD PGCE
Date Sat 18 Feb 2006
Time Sat 10.00am-4.30pm

Public parks can be lovely places, but how, why and for whom were they originally created? And how do they differ from 'leisure gardens'? Come to this dayschool and examine the design, architecture, planting and use of public parks and leisure gardens, and investigate the motives (social, cultural and political) behind their creation and development, from the mid-nineteenth century onwards.

For further information on any of these courses you can check the website on www.reading.ac.uk/ContEd or call 0118 378 8347. An enrolment form can be downloaded from the website or found in the School's Public Courses prospectus.

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