May 31, 2022|Reports

Wickham History Society: Annual Report 2021 -2022

It has been great to be able to return to face-to-face meetings and the new hybrid arrangement with Zoom meetings in January and February seems to have worked well with good attendances too. Our membership is now 94 – ten more than last year and our highest ever. 458 people have attended our meetings, again another record.

We had a really varied programme, ranging from the master masons who built our cathedrals (a Zoom talk where we could bring in a speaker from further afield), to a very popular May gathering joint with the Wickham Society at Park Place Pastoral Centre

All of us were very sad to learn of the passing of Doug Copeland on 29th November. Doug had been a member of Wickham History Society for over forty years, had been a long-standing committee member and had previously been both Chair and Vice- Chair of the Society. He is much missed for his support, commitment and kindness.

The website continues to be updated with articles and meeting reports. It is used to publicise the Society meetings, walks and other events. Members and guests are able to contact the Society to book walks, make inquiries and offer donations.

The Knowle History Boards project, financed by the Wickham Parish Council, is for the design and installation of five history boards at Knowle Village. The project is due to be completed this summer.

We have also been working with Bishops Waltham Area Oral History Group who have been very supportive with equipment and training. New interviews with Jenny Mallett, Ron Burt, Dawn Woodsford and Rosemary Copeland have taken place, and transcriptions of existing recordings by Margaret Gwynn and Toby Ball have been made. More volunteers would be very welcome – training and support is provided.

Recent additions to the archives include copies of five Latin 1449-1472 charters for a property in the Square with translations. These are our earliest for Wickham village, the originals are at Winchester College. We also funded restoration of an early “Top Hat” cricket match for the photographic archives.

The Committee for 2022/2023 Chair: Geoff Phillpotts; Secretary: Vanessa Burlingham; Treasurer: Martin Rogers; Website Editor (and Talks Programme Secretary): Jane Painter; Brian Barrett, Mike Hollis, Jane Soulsby and Margaret Edgworth.