Chairman's Report 2007/8 presented at the AGM on 27th March 2008
The past year has been a busy one with some well-attended meetings. We have enjoyed a variety of excellent speakers who have given us much information. At the AGM in March we had an informative talk by Mike Rumbold on the history of the Royal Ordnance depot in Weedon. In May another interesting and well attended meeting was held, this time in the Village Hall, when the subject was The Golden Goose and Bletchley Park given by Peter Jarvis. His talk explained in some detail the secret work that went on at Bletchley Park and elsewhere in the deciphering of the Enigma Code during WWII. In July we were delighted by the talk by Derek Smeathers on the story of posts and the origins of the Post Office. Our visit in September was made to the Northampton General Hospital historical archives and board room that gave a very different insight into the hospital's history. In November Geoff Starmer gave a lovely illustrated talk on the Holyhead Road, (Watling Street, or the modern A5), and its importance from Roman times. We finished the year in December with another pleasant festive drinks party. In January of this year (2008) a fascinating talk about Factory Life in the Boot and Shoe Industry was given by Ruth Thomas. It is anticipated that we shall ask her again shortly to give a talk on another subject.
Of greatest significance during the year has been the development of the Society's website. We record our thanks to Steve Hunt for his expertise in setting it up and managing it so effectively. The website has given a new and exciting dimension to the society and has boosted the twin objectives of recording oral history and collecting photographic material relating to the village. It is amazing that we can hear recorded interviews of local residents and see photographs which we have borrowed, scanned and returned to their owners. The website has numerous sections that list our programme of events, publications, projects, the history trail complete with zoom-in facility of the village), documents, oral history, photographic archive, memories and other features all making a top-rate web-site of which we are all very proud. Since setting up the system there have been over 2,262 visits to the site, spread over 32 different countries. The most popular pages have been the War Memorial, Photo Archives, History Trail and the Memories pages.
Thanks to Julie Marshall for her work in interviewing several elderly residents whose memories are invaluable and available should anyone want to hear their comments. The recording of memories and the collecting of photographic and other material is a vital part of our continuing work and I urge all to be on the look-out for items we can add to the database. We can easily assist to sort out any such material or photos you may have and that will be of interest. Thanks also to Elaine Bird for her painstaking work on Census Returns.
Sadly, one of our dearest members, Joy Meakins, passed away and we are so glad that her memories have been recorded for posterity.
Throughout the year exploration has continued with the idea of developing a Museum or Heritage Centre. Terry White did a great deal of spadework on this, finding out information and the processes whereby we might acquire funds. Several of us went to meetings and even a course in Nottinghamshire in order to learn about similar projects in other parts of the country and how to achieve our objectives. For some months due to circumstances the idea has been “on hold” but we shall need in the very near future to discuss thoroughly the pros and cons of such a project as it is clear that it will need a great deal of commitment over the long-term.
I express my thanks to all the Committee for their hard work especially John Brice who as our Secretary keeps things moving, finds and books the speakers and does numerous jobs in co-ordinating the life of the Society. Membership stands now at almost fifty and reflects a broad cross-section of the village. We have established ourselves as a distinct part of local life and are frequently consulted by the Parish Council and others on matters affecting the community. We have strongly supported the Parish Council in counteracting the various threats that would encroach on the village's life. Interest in the village's past grows and it has been pleasing to receive a number of approaches from folk who have once lived here, or who have connections, requesting information, offering material such as photographs and even coming to visit Milton Malsor. In fact we ask you to encourage your relatives and friends from afar to become Friends of the Society and to make a contribution in what ever form is seen fit. Details are contained on the Website.
Finally, and perhaps as a result of the success of the Society, the NCC has recently requested and paid for additional copies of our publications.
Malcolm Deacon