Review

Fifty-three members and friends of Thatcham Historical Society visited St Fagan’s Museum of Welsh Life in Cardiff on 13th July 2008.

Founded in 1948, this open-air museum dominated by St Fagan’s Castle, consists of a collection of re-constructed buildings from all over Wales, spread over a site of some 42.3 hectares (104.5 acres).

A packed room greeted Ken Wells, curator of the  Thames Valley Police Museum, on Monday evening (15th October).  Mr Wells gave a talk entitled “History of Thames Valley Police Force.”  Mr Wells gave a brief overview of his background, noting the fact that he failed to get into certain police forces due to height restrictions.  Mr Wells eventually joined the Metropolitan Police Force and served in various districts including Hammersmith. He also server within the Mounted Police division.

The room was packed when Thatcham Historical Society met (Monday 21 May, 2007) for a talk on "Ships, Stars and Isles: Experience of a WWII Navigator ".

Mr Mark Taylor presented a unique view of the second world war through the eyes of his father, Mr Gordon Augustus Taylor, known simply as Billy. Mark’s interest in his fathers’ history began after his death when he was given over 400 letters that his father had written during the second world war, in which his father was a Naval Officer.

The room was packed when Thatcham Historical Society met (Monday 30 April, 2007) for a talk on ‘If you go down in the woods today: The archaeological of woodlands".

The presenter, Dick Greenaway introduced the topic with the famous song "If you go down in the woods today". The work concentrates on the North Wessex Downs area. There is little known about the history of the landscape, something that this work aims to change.

The February 2007 meeting of Thatcham Historical Society listened to Sarah Hammond talk about Shaw House, a grand Tudor house near Newbury, and the recent years of restoration work.

A packed house at Kennet School listened to her talk about the history of the house, the progress of the restoration project and the future use of the house. She was introduced by this year’s chairman of the Historical Society Sue Broughton.

The room was packed when Thatcham Historical Society met (Monday 21 May, 2007) for a talk on ‘Ships, Stars and Isles: Experience of a WWII Navigator ".

Mr Mark Taylor presented a unique view of the second world war through the eyes of his father, Mr Gordon Augustus Taylor, known simply as Billy. Mark’s interest in his fathers’ history began after his death when he was given over 400 letters that his father had written during the second world war, in which his father was a Naval Officer.