News and events from 2022

September 2022 Meeting

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At our first meeting of the season, on 15 September, a very informative, two-part talk on the Dowty Company was given by former Dowty Senior Financial Officer, Martin Robins, and former Dowty Managing Director, Adrian Buckmaster. A surprise and welcome visitor to the meeting was George Dowty, the son of the founder of Dowty Aviation, Sir George Herbert Dowty (1901-1975).
[Photo shows: Adrian Buckmaster, George Dowty, Martin Robins,]
A video of the talk is on our YouTube channel

October 2022 Meeting

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At our October meeting, on the 20th, Geoffrey Bush gave a very interesting talk on 'The Family of Oliver Cromwell 1300-1821'. Geoffrey is descended from the Protector through Cromwell's son, Henry.  

Dowty Reunion

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A Dowty Reunion Day was recently held in Cheltenham at the former Dowty Group headquarters - once known as Arle Court (now called The Manor By The Lake). A hardback book of photographs taken on the day is now available. The photographs show a stunning 1959 Cadillac of the type Sir George Dowty once drove and an early Daimler Vanden Plas of the kind driven by Sir Robert Hunt. Pictures of rooms that once acted as offices are breathtaking.
Details of the book can be obtained from Martin Robins by emailing him on martinrobins@btinternet.com

November Meeting

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At our November meeting on the 17th, Joseph Gabbott gave a thought-provoking talk on the 'War Crimes Trials after the Second World War'. Joseph has written a book on the subject: 'Nuremberg: Justice?' and related podcasts by him can be found by searching on Google. [Photo: Joseph Gabbott with THS Chairman, Sam Eedle.]  Two videos of the talk are available on our YouTube channel - Joseph's own recording of his talk and a video of the Powerpoint slides with Joseph's voiceover.
John Dixon

Queen Elizabeth II 1926 - 2022

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As we gathered for the committee meeting of Tewkesbury Historical Society last night, we learned the sad news of the passing of our sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen represents what Churchill, in the year of her coronation, described as the mysterious link, the magic link, which unites our Commonwealth and nation. For many of us, seventy years on, Her Majesty is also a link to generations past, a symbol of continuity. We express our deep condolences  to the Royal Family for the loss of their - and our - Queen. 
God Save the King.
[Click on Read More for Tewkesbury’s Queen -  Memories compiled by the THS President, John Dixon] 

Jamie Fraser

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Your committee often asks for ‘younger’ members to join us – Jamie Fraser, then a mother of one primary school age pupil, did so and inspired us into offering a Historical Treasure Hunt for primary school children during May 2016 - Jamie is inevitably the Queen in the photo! It was very successful – but sadly for us Jamie and her family then returned to the USA. We have kept in touch with Jamie, and she has joined us when we used Zoom during Covid – an unexpected bonus! We were delight recently to act as a referee for her application to undertake further University Studies while bringing up her now two young children.

Very best wishes, Jamie and family!

Cliff Day

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We are sad to relay the news that our surviving Joint Life Member, Cliff Day, passed away at Ashchurch View Care Home on 30 June 2022, aged 88. 
The funeral will take place at 11.am on Tuesday 19 July 2022 at the Parish Church, Bushley, GL20 6HP and parking is available nearby by the Parish Rooms.
The photograph shows Cliff with his late wife, Margaret, who died in 2019.

Our Late, Notable Ukrainian Resident, Powlo Kostiuk

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We were very pleased when Alan Snarey, aided by his wife Wendy, interviewed Powlo in 2012, and we published an article based on the interview in THS Bulletin 22 (2013). [click here to read]

In February 2022 it is a suitable time to write about a Ukrainian, who lived and worked in our midst for 40 years. I cannot find the actual date, but Powlo died after this interview – he was then aged 86 and had endured a hard – but happy - life, as you can read. He was honoured by having a tank named after him and has worked at Ashchurch Camp.

Annual General Meeting

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the AGM was held at 7.45pm on Thursday 19 May 2022 at the Methodist Church. Following business, there was an informative talk by Georgia Smith of Tewkesbury Borough Council on How Important is the High Street Action Zone?

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Tour

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Tewkesbury Cemetery contains a number of Commonwealth War Graves from WWI, WWII and later.
John Dixon has been asked to lead a tour to let you know more about these graves.
It starts at 11.00 on Saturday 28 May 2022 meeting at the Cholera Memorial [picture attached] near the entrance and will last about 90 minutes maximum.
All tours are free and booked through Eventbrite and you can book online via the website: www.cwgc.org/tours .  
Bookings for tours close two days before the event, on 26 May 2022.
You can park at the Borough Council near the Swimming Pool.

John Pocock (1932-2022)

The Society is sad to announce the death of John Pocock who was one of the volunteers that help to maintain and update our Woodard Database.

Woodard Award 2022

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The Woodard Award for 2022 has been won by Joanne Raywood for her article Mayor James Blount Lewis and the Missing Portrait (part II).  

John Sidebotham (1946-2022)

The Society is sad to announce the death of John Sidebotham. He was brought up in Tewkesbury and wrote a book about the town and his life there, Green and Pleasant.
John died in October and you can read his obituary, written by John Dixon

Anchor Pub Talk

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Two talks were given at the Anchor pub on Tuesday 14th June. John Dixon gave a talk on the impact of rivers on our history and the former Mayor and our Woodard History winner, Joanne Raywood, gave a talk on 'A Day on the Ham'.
Mention was made of horse racing on the Ham, click on the link for a full account of the Tewkesbury Races.

Glos. Heritage-Hub September Newsletter


Victoria County History Newsletter July 2022


BALH Newsletter



Sezincote House & Gardens

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On the 9th June, the Society had a very enjoyable day out at Sezincote House and Gardens. We plan to have more of these trips in future.
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