The meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. at this fantastic venue, located in the Broad Street Mall shopping centre (formerly the Butts Centre), at the corner of Oxford Road and Queen’s Walk—opposite the Penta Hotel. The film show is likely to end around 1.00 p.m.

Although there won’t be space for local society stalls this year, we’re thrilled to present a special archive film programme after the meeting. These films, curated by Zoe Viney Burgess from the Wessex Film and Sound Archive, beautifully capture life in Berkshire from the 1920s to the 1960s.

Highlights of the programme include:

• The Wokingham Carnival parade in 1933 with the Dagenham Girl Pipers
• Events like the Newbury British Legion Fete, Wargrave Regatta, and Sonning Races
• Scenes of road-building at Bracknell and celebrations at the Slough and Windsor Carnival
• Stunning views of Windsor

Reading is well represented too, with footage of:

• Royal visits
• The vibrant students’ rag parade
• Advertisements for Huntley and Palmers biscuits
• A look at public health services in 1956
• Electric trams winding through the streets in 1938

The same programme was shown in October to a fully booked audience, so don’t miss your chance to see these rare and fascinating films. If you can’t attend in the morning, there will be another public screening that evening, but spaces will be limited.

We hope to see you there for an unforgettable celebration of Berkshire’s rich history!