News and events from 2023

John Dixon

Jerrard Award

Sam, Chris, Steven
Sam, Chris, Steven
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We were delighted to learn that Sam Eedle, THS Chairman, has been awarded the prestigious county prize by the Gloucestershire Local History Association – and for the second time! This time it was for his article in Bulletin 31, entitled the ‘School Mistress and the Cross’, concerning a Tewkesbury connected war widow, Rose Roberts, nee Jeffery. I commend members to follow my example and read it again – when I edited it, I knew it would be a very strong Jerrard contender. The Chairman, Dr Steven Blake, commended it for fulfilling all five of its criteria for the quality of its research, writing and presentation [by Rick Talbot]. Runner up was Chris Sullivan for ‘Charles Bathurst saves Lydney Dog and finds God’.

War Graves Week

Cholera memorial
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The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) will be bringing War Graves Week to Tewkesbury and offering a free tour at Tewkesbury Borough Cemetery on 20 May 2023 at 11.00.
It will give people in Tewkesbury the chance to discover the remarkable stories of the men and women of the Commonwealth forces that died in the First and Second World Wars who are buried in their community. 
More than twenty casualties from the two World Wars and beyond are buried there.
The tours will be led by local resident and THS President, John Dixon, who is a volunteer for the CWGC. 
You can book via www.cwgc.org/wargravesweek 
You can park at the Leisure Centre but only available toilets are on Gloucester Road Car Park. 
The tour leaves at 11.00 from the Cholera Memorial.

September 2023 Meeting

Ally McConnell
Ally McConnell
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At the first meeting of our 33rd Season, on 21 September 2023, archivist, Ally McConnell, gave an engaging talk on Dowty in the Tewkesbury Area: Expansion and Decline. [A video of the talk is available on our YouTube Channel.]

20 April 2023 Meeting

John & Peter
John & Peter
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At our 20 April 2023 meeting, Peter Covey-Crump gave an interesting talk on The Biography of an English Merchant in Bengal, the story of Anselm Beaumont who made his fortune working for the East India Company. [A video of the talk is available on our YouTube Channel ]
Hannah McGeary

Aspects of Hidden Tewkesbury

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On Saturday 14th October John Dixon led a fascinating walk around Tewkesbury looking at many points of interest about the town. We had a bigger group than expected which was fantastic, all in all 35 of us joined the walk! We began at the Abbey of course and looked at the old tanneries site, the mill, the old livestock markets in Spring Gardens, where the railway line was situated and much much more. There will soon be photos to view at the museum, which we looked at on the walk of the town's history, details to follow. Highly recommend joining us for the next one!

October 2023 Meeting

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At our meeting on 19 October 2023, Nana Pierre, gave an interesting and informative talk on the background and location of her forthcoming book A Boy Called Silence which is set in West Africa in the 15th century.
John Dixon

The Significant work of a Member's Daughter

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Rose Hogan is known affectionately as "Member No 1" as she was the first member from 1991. Her younger daughter Katherine is ex-Tewkesbury School and has worked for the BBC since University. Her mother tipped me off about her role in broadcasting the Netball World Cup on BBC2 at 17.00 tonight for the final - in which our team is doing well!  Katherine is listed here as "Editor" and I hope I can learn later about her role when she returns to visit her parents.
For that reason only, I have watched one of her programmes and find it much more palatable than Match of the Day!
So ladies [and gentleman!] do give it a watch and judge for yourself!
Well done our Katherine.

'Image Fees' Scrapped

There's an important development after a recent Court of Appeal ruling and it is Good News for historians and art historians (and art lovers generally). Those of us who've had to pay image fees will know the system relies on museums claiming copyright in their photos - irrespective of whether the art they're photographing is itself in copyright. (In the UK, copyright lasts for 70 years after the death of the artist).

May 2023 Meeting & Woodard Award

Sam, David & Steven Blake
Sam, David & Steven Blake
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Our meeting on 18 May 2023 was the society's Annual General Meeting. 
Sam Eedle was the recipient of the Woodard Award for his article The School Mistress and the Cross. 
Following AGM business, David Aldred gave a well received talk on Hailes Abbey.

Gloucester History Festival

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This autumn the Gloucester History Festival is back with two weeks of exciting tours, exhibitions and events for history-lovers everywhere exploring the theme of Quests and Curiosity. 
Join Britain’s top historians for a host of intriguing and entertaining talks at the magical Blackfriars Priory, Europe’s oldest history festival venue built in 1249. Janina Ramirez, presenter of BBC2’s Raiders of the Lost Past, kicks off the Blackfriars Talks in conversation with Bettany Hughes, star of Channel 4’s Treasures of the World. Michael Wood explores the Dark Ages, Tracy Borman sheds new light on Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I, Tom Holland takes us to Ancient Rome, Alison Weir uncovers Henry VIII, BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen analyses the modern Middle East, The Guardian’s Gary Younge discusses Dispatches from the Diaspora: From Nelson Mandela to Black Lives Matter whilst Radio 4 broadcaster James Naughtie delves into 21st century America and former Newsnight presenter Gavin Esler puts British political history under the microscope. 
Gloucester Day kicks off the Festival on Saturday 2 September, marking the anniversary of the lifting of the 1643 Siege of Gloucester, with the hugely popular Heritage Open Days from 8 - 10 September revealing the City’s magnificent historic buildings and hidden gems with free entry to all. 
The full line-up is announced and tickets are on sale in July.  To find out more visit: gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk 

Secret Tewkesbury

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David Elder will be visiting Alison's Bookshop to sign copies of his new book “Secret Tewkesbury” on Saturday 22nd July from 11.00am to 13.00pm.

John Dixon has read this very informative, well-written and, at times, amusing book which reveals much of the Town's main historical events from a different perspective. Not only is David an engaging writer but he is also a superb photographer: his revelation of Abbey Misericords is a masterpiece.

Views of England and Wales

A digitised collection of regional images has been added to the University of Leicester’s Special Collections Online. 'Views of England and Wales' contains more than 2,000 topographic prints, drawings, paintings and photographs, mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries. The originals are held at the university’s Centre for Regional and Local History. The digital images are all available free under a Creative Commons licence. The collection can be freely viewed via https://www.balh.org.uk/NHW153 [Tewkesbury material relates mainly to the Abbey]

John Dixon

War Graves in Tewkesbury Cemetery

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On 21 October 2023, THS hosted its second CWGC Open Day to enable people to see the graves in Tewkesbury Cemetery belonging to local war dead from the Two World Wars and beyond. It was led by John Dixon, assisted by Sam Eedle, whom we hope will organise another Open Day in May 2024, after John's retirement. We particularly appreciated the contributions made by the visitors on that day. We thank the Cemetery Authorities for facilitating these events.

March 2023 Meeting

Richard Chatham
Richard Chatham
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At our meeting on 23 March, Richard Chatham gave a very informative and wide-ranging talk on Stoke Orchard; from Cider to Glider. (Unfortunately, due to technical problems, no recording of the talk will be on our YouTube channel.)

February Meeting

Andy & Sam
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At our February meeting, Dr. Andy Moir gave an excellent talk on the Dendrochronology Project in Gloucestershire (dating buildings from timbers).

A video of the talk is now available on our YouTube Channel. 

THS Social Evening 2023

Sam & Liz
Sam & Liz
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A very enjoyable and successful THS social was held at the Hop Pole on 26th January.
After our meals, Liz Poole of Cotswold Auction Centre gave a talk about her work and gave her opinion and value estimates on a number of interesting item that members brought along.

Bulletin 32

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The paper copy of this Bulletin is now out of print but a digital PDF copy is available at £2.79 for Members sand £4.79 for Non-Members.
You can purchase online via our 'Shop' or you can order by emailing John Dixon on presidentths@gmail.com paying via BACS (John will supply details). 
Click to view the back cover,  the Contents, the Foreword.

Aspects of Hidden Tewkesbury

Talk to be given by John Dixon on 20 Feb 2024.

FOGA Mystery Tour

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Friends of Gloucestershire Archives Mystery Tour by John Chandler happening on 25 June.
John Dixon

Aspects of Hidden Tewkesbury

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A Historical Walk from Tewkesbury Historical Society.

Guided by John Dixon.

Saturday 14 October 2023 meet at 11.00am at The Crescent.

Full details on the poster.

Armed Forces Day

Saturday 24 June this year is Armed Forces Day. Rod Gurney is seeking interest in attending a Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 25 June at Tewkesbury Methodist Church commencing at 3pm. If you are interested in attending, please reply to Rod directly: rfg7985@outlook.com Rod will then be able to gauge whether there is sufficient support to organise the event.

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