News & Reports
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|News
Barrie Marson
Barrie, who passed away in early January, was well known to many as Secretary of the Society for many years. Fewer people knew of his major contributions to the Society and Wickham through his work cataloguing and promoting the Stan Woodford photo collection, organising and paying for the publication of an indexed version of Bruce…
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 »November 1, 2019|News
Beverley Babes turn 80!
On 12 October 2019, over 30 Beverley Babes and their families joined together at St Nicholas Church for a service and exhibition to commemorate the 80 year anniversary of the Beverley Babes. It was a day filled with reminiscences, questions and coincidences, culminating in a beautiful and, at times, emotional service led by Reverend Jane…
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 »October 6, 2019|News
Beverley Babes – Exhibition on Saturday 12th October 2019
Who are the ‘Beverley Babes’? What is their connection to Wickham? As Britain prepared for the possibility of going to war with Germany, the Southsea based Royal Naval and Royal Marine Maternity Home, known as Bowland, made plans to evacuate their premises, with patients and staff to be taken to Beverley House, Wickham. On the…
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…
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