News

The history group particularly needs help with two projects: scanning photographs and cataloguing the information about them.

They’re developing the software to make it as easy as possible for this to be done via the internet either in your own home or at meetings at the village hall – inputting will be led by drop down menus so avoiding typing where possible. The more people they have the easier the job will be. The aim of the archive is to stop the loss of information which is in danger of disappearing. If you would like to do something positive to keep this history alive, please get in touch and become part of the team, any time at all that you can give is invaluable to them!

Contact Sandra Board by emailing: Bishopswoodhistorygroup@outlook.com

The late Mrs Margaret Wilce (nee Morgan) was born and bred in Walford, Bishopswood and Howle Hill. Her mother’s immediate relatives were the Symonds and Ayres families. Her photograph collection was taken custody of by her daughters Sara Ayliffe and Judith Slaterley after she died, but did not really know what to do with them, so taking Margaret at her word when she had already told them that if they didn’t know what to do with her collection the best person to ask was her cousin through the Symonds side of the family – Mary Sinclair Powell – who is very well known as knowledgeable in local history. She would be able to look through them, collate them some more and make sure that as many people as possible would actually see them.

Mary took custody of them on behalf of her daughters, and has been showing people in history groups and others who are interested as this was what she had done for many years before she retired – relating tales about local history and showing illustrations such as old photos and postcards. Margaret had also done this many times at local history interest days and it seems fitting for Mary to do the same.

Mary will be eventually working with the daughters about where the collection should end up for wider audiences possibly in the county history archives for all to access, but in the meantime they will be displayed and copied as much as possible for wider awareness within the villages Margaret loved.

Any financial donations received for showing these archives at events are helping the Howle Hill War Memorial Garden Project and the permanent move of the memorial itself to a more suitable place within the garden on Sharman Pitch. Margaret always said that it seemed disrespectful to have the local boys being remembered at a bus stop (it was moved from St John’s Church in a rush when it was sold for development in 2004) – but thanks to some funds being raised from the sales of some of the archive (mainly the large picture and local book collections – with the family consent) she will be helping to make sure the boys’ memories will rest with respect ever more.

If anyone is interested in looking through the archive at a group event, please contact Mary who will be able to bring them along to chat with those interested. Her email is: msprosecottage@outlook.com and she will get back to you as soon as possible.

Doors and Bar open 12.30pm

(This event must be pre-booked – Book NOW to avoid disappointment).

£10.00 per person

2 courses

A traditional roast pork dinner with all the trimmings
(vegetarian option available please let us know at time of booking)

Plus a selection from the delicious homemade desserts, we all love!

Please telephone: 01600 891277 or email – treasurer@bvhonline.co.uk to secure your place

Closing date for bookings is Wednesday 18th March