News & Reports

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…

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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,…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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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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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August 23, 2019|News

Wickham Walks 2019

SUMMER HISTORY WALKS Our two summer Village History Walks were both very well attended by village folk – we were joined by people who once lived in Wickham, returning to re-discover our village. We had another successful series of Music Festival history walks this year – 50 in total, 23 on Friday and 27 on…

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July 31, 2019|Reports

Summer Visit to Eling Tide Mill

The first of our two summer visits was to the Eling Tide Mill, one of only two working tide mills remaining in England today which we are lucky to have close by on the Solent. In early July, WHS and WS members joined the tour around the current mill (dating back to 1785) explaining how…

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May 31, 2019|Reports

“Tales my father told me: One man’s early life in Wickham” – David Houghton

You had to be pretty tough to go to Wickham School in the early 1900s. At playtime and lunchtime, rain or shine, the school was locked and the children had to play outside. Heating in the classrooms was not great either! David Houghton shared his father Jack’s reminiscences on his childhood in Wickham with 47…

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