Thatcham Historical Society

Nick Young, Thatcham Historical Society, on the 23rd February 2013 at the Old Bluecoat School, Thatcham, will hold a oral history coffee morning. Doors will open at 10.20am for a 10.30am start and finishing at 11.45am.

A few photographs of Thatcham will be shown, for example the Broadway. Then over coffee visitors are asked to recall their memories of the location shown. For example what shops do you remember, are there any characters that you recall?

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be supplied!

Thatcham Historical Society will be starting a research group for our members on the 16th February 2013 at the Old Bluecoat School, Thatcham. Doors will open at 10.15am for a 10.25am start. The meeting will last about 1 hour. We will discuss possible research projects and then decide which projects people wish to undertake. It is hoped that from the research we will be able to create new publications such as “Inscriptions of St. Mary’s Church”, a transcription of tithe records or details about Commonwealth War graves in the area.

Thatcham Historical Society is ivolved, for the first time, with the Heritage open Days.  We are taking part, via the Newbury Society and together with staff at St. Mary's Church opening the Church up.  There will be tours, dependant on the weather and the Bell Tower will be open.

We concentrate so much on the past that we often forget that historic events are happening all the time around us. The Olympics, and the Torch passing through, is one event that we can't fail to notice as historic. A once in a lifetime event. As such we, Thatcham Historical Society, would like to collect as many photos, videos and story's of the Olympic Torch going though Thatcham and Newbury as possible.

The Peter Allen Memorial Lectures (PAML) kicked off today, 5th May 2012, with local MP, Mr Richard Benyon, kindly giving an overview of the event, a background to the late Peter Allen and then introducing the talks. The event, now in its third year started with two talks on “Trades” with over 50 people attending.