Category: Reports

October 31, 2021|Reports

“The East India Company: The corporation that changed the world” – Dr John McAleer

On 26th October Wickham History Society had their second guest speaker of the year: Dr John McAleer of Southampton University. Fifty members heard a fascinating account of a multi-national corporation whose power exceeded anything today’s tech giants have achieved. It all started with a rather unsuccessful spice trading mission in 1599. Queen Elizabeth I gave…

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September 18, 2021|Reports

“Harlots, Dung and Glory: The history of Portsmouth – Part 2” – Andrew Negus

Wickham History Society’s guest speaker – our first face-to-face meeting since February 2020 – was the ever-popular Andrew Negus with his talk Harlots, Dung and Glory: The history of Portsmouth – Part 2, covering the period 1800-1870. Over forty members attended, despite heavy rain, and enjoyed another entertaining but very well-informed and researched romp through…

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May 31, 2021|Reports

“A History of Birds” – Simon Wills

We all have our favourite stories about birds. Simon Wills returned to give a historical context to fifty three Wickham History Society members for the last meeting of the 20/21 programme year on Tuesday 25th May. As you might expect Christianity gives us many of our stories. Most of us know about the dove sent…

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May 31, 2021|Reports

Wickham History Society: Annual Report 2020-2021

Chair’s Introduction: 2020 will certainly be remembered, and not just as our 60th Anniversary! The Covid-19 virus has had a huge impact on our activities. We circulated the Annual Report in May but this year our AGM had to be delayed and, for the first time in our history, is “virtual”. Since the end of…

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April 30, 2021|Reports

“Coffers, Clysters, Comfrey and Coifs: the lives of our seventeenth century ancestors” – Janet Few

On Tuesday 27th April over fifty members of Wickham History Society were due to hear a talk by Dr Janet Few only to find at the last minute that her place had been taken by Mistress Agnes and Master Christopher who had kindly time travelled through Zoom in order to give us the real low…

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March 31, 2021|Reports

“RMS Queen Mary: From Launch to Maiden Voyage” – Stephen Hoadley

When King George V was playing golf with a senior Cunard executive, he asked what their famous new cruise ship was to be called. On hearing it was suggested it should be named after Britain’s most famous Queen he replied that his wife Mary would be absolutely delighted… and so the Queen Victoria became the…

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February 28, 2021|Reports

“The Vikings” – Dr Imogen Corrigan

Imogen Corrigan gave an impressive and authoritative talk on these long haired tourists from Scandinavia to about 60 members and visitors of Wickham History Society on 23rd February.  Imogen confirmed that, despite some recent rethinking, they did do all the things they are infamous for and traded on their reputation for ferocity to intimidate opposition…

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January 31, 2021|Reports

“War Hero or Murderer?” – Paul Stickler

or PERCY TOPLIS – THE MONOCLED MUTINEER? Post lockdown, take a trip to the Hampshire Police Museum at the Solent Sky Museum in Southampton and ask to see Percy Toplis’ monocle. It should be there, but nothing is as it seems with the story of Percy Toplis, except perhaps that false news has been around…

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December 31, 2020|Reports

“Frost, Freezes & Fairs” – Ian Currie

This joint Wickham Society and Wickham History Society Christmas meeting was the first time we haven’t been able to get together for mulled wine or Christmas cocktails – we look forward to being back at the Community Centre for Christmas 2021. Nonetheless over sixty members, wearing a variety of Christmas jumpers and hats gathered together…

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November 30, 2020|Reports

“Hampshire & the New World: The Mayflower & Beyond” – Dr Cheryl Butler

Dr Cheryl Butler made a very welcome return visit to Wickham History Society on Tuesday, November 24th – this time by Zoom to over 50 WHS members.  Cheryl used the 200th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower to America in 1620 to explore our local links with the New World. I was taught in…

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