Category: Reports
September 30, 2020|Reports
“Right to Roam” – Neil Bond
Neil Bond was Wickham History Society’s first speaker since our last pre-pandemic meeting in February. His talk was very timely after the restrictions earlier in the year: a celebration of the ‘right to roam’. Over thirty members and visitors joined our first Zoom meeting on Tuesday 22nd September and enjoyed a well researched and presented…
Find Out More »May 23, 2020|Reports
Wickham History Society: Annual Report 2019-2020
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 are sorry we have had to postpone a number of really interesting talks – we will restore business as usual as soon as we responsibly can. Village businesses and individuals have responded…
Find Out More »March 31, 2020|Reports
“Portchester Castle 1793-1814” – Abigail Coppins
In mid-March, due to the coronavirus situation, the Wickham History Society took the decision to cancel the meetings for the remainder of the current programme: March, April and May. For our March meeting we were to hear Abigail Coppins, curator, historian and archaeologist, talk on Portchester Castle 1793 – 1814. During the French Revolutionary and…
Find Out More »February 29, 2020|Reports
“Uppark – Fire & Restoration” – Dr Bob France
Dr. Bob France was a welcome return speaker to Wickham History Society’s meeting on 25th February. Fifty five members and visitors saw some amazing before and after photos of Uppark, including many taken on 30th August 1989 when the fire took place. Following the devastating fire of Notre Dame last year it was a depressing…
Find Out More »January 31, 2020|Reports
“Portsmouth – Harlots, Dung and Glory” – Andrew Negus
Wickham History Society’s guest speaker on 28th January was the ever popular Andrew Negus. He guided sixty six members and visitors through seven hundred years with a masterly command of Portsmouth’s early history. Portsmouth is a younger city than Southampton and grew slowly as the Royal dockyard developed. King John was the first King to…
Find Out More »December 25, 2019|Reports
“Marmalade, Spuds and a Bag of Gold” – Dr Cheryl Butler
A glass or two of sparkling wine, festive snacks and a fascinating insight into Tudor Christmas gift giving which didn’t finish until Lady Day (March 25th) – what could be a better way of getting into the Christmas spirit? Fifty five members of the Wickham and Wickham History Societies braved the rain and wind on…
Find Out More »November 30, 2019|Reports
“Admiral Thomas Cochrane” – Mike Hollis
Complete with pigtail, naval uniform and sword, fifty five Wickham history society members and visitors heard from local historian ‘Master and Commander‘ Mike Hollis on the astonishing life and exploits of Admiral Thomas Cochrane. Cochrane lived in Titchfield for part of his naval career but was rarely there, serving in the navies of Britain, Chile,…
Find Out More »October 31, 2019|Reports
“Body Overboard – The Murder of an English Actress” – Paul Stickler
Retired chief superintendent Paul Stickler spoke to forty eight members and visitors about the sensational ‘Porthole Murder’. Actress Eileen ‘Gay’ Gibson was pushed out of the porthole of the Durban Castle in the early morning of the 18th October 1947 by Deck Steward James Camb. The defence and prosecution both agreed on that, but little…
Find Out More »September 30, 2019|Reports
“Archaeological Excavations in Wickham”
Over seventy Wickham History Society members and visitors came to hear Jeremy Clutterbuck of Cotswold Archaeology report back on the archaeological excavations on the “South Glebe” – the area behind School Road, where the new roundabout has been built. Wickham’s Roman Road Jeremy confirmed that the line of the roman road had been identified, with…
Find Out More »August 31, 2019|Reports
Summer Visit – Lee-on the-Solent Heritage Waterfront Walk and Talk
In August, twenty of us enjoyed breezy weather and a sunny Solent for our stroll along the Lee-on-the-Solent waterfront with our guide Jonathan from the Lee-on-the-Solent Residents’ Association (LRA). He pointed out that strictly you should always use the “the” in the name of the town, something few of us do! Lee was largely a…
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