January, 2017

December Meeting.

On 9th December a goodly number of Kington History Society members and friends braved the unkind weather to enjoy our Christmas party and of course our traditional quiz which our President Vera Harrison kindly prepares every year. It was a lovely evening and many thanks to Nancy Wheatland too for the delicious food.

Vote of Thanks.

This vote of thanks is for Carolyn Giles, who has bravely taken on the duty of listing the forthcoming programmes. Nancy Wheatland has performed this office until the present time and we give her our thanks for the long hours spent in keeping us posted and for reviewing the outdoor meetings. So, thank you Carolyn and Nancy for keeping the flag flying.

This seems to be the appropriate moment to thank all members of the Committee and those members who assist them, people, like Thelma, who beaver away the whole time; all our unsung heroes. This includes, in no small measure, the work done by our erstwhile Chairman Dr. John Rerrie.   There is scarcely a meeting regarding local history in the whole of the county which Dr. John has not attended, and his monthly reviews in our Bulletin reflect the personal interest and further research which he undertook to bring life to the sometimes mundane talks.

I point out here, though, that our lectures are very seldom boring. Come along, do, to experience the interest shown to our lovely town by the erudite lecturers who have given their time to uncovering Kington’s mysteries and charm.

If you have suggestions for future talks and visits, please let our Secretary know.

Items for the Annual Papers.

Every year I send out a request (nay, an appeal!) for local items which would offer some interest and enliven the articles for our members.

You will appreciate that as time goes on the material for our Papers dries up a little. We have searched, even scoured, our local villages for items, and even the most tenuous of stories relating to Kington have been insinuated into “local” news. Every lamp post, railing, doorway, roadway, brick and person of interest has been recorded. Yet, yet there must be numerous untold tales abiding in trunks, attics, basements and hearts. t was dear Liz Thomas who told me about Armstrong and the furore the trial caused in the town; she was there! So many of you must have similar stories in your memories, told to you, although less gruesome. Please sort them out and send them to me! VH.