August 2014 Newsletter

Commemoration of the 100 year anniversary of the start of the Great War meant a busy period for the Society. On August 3rd, The Peace games were held and followed by the Royal British Legion commemoration service at St. Marks with a candlelit vigil being held at 11 pm at the Memorial Gates the following day.

A cross-section of photos is displayed below. It may be possible for DVD or still photo copies to be produced of the events. Any interested member should contact Diane and best efforts will be made.

VIGIL-2 VIGIL1 Swing-Band-2 swing-band-1 RESPECTFUL-COMMEMORATION-AT-PEACE-GAMES RBL-AT-PEACE-GAMES MATT-MURRAY-ENCOURAGING-KIDS great-wyrley-at-Peace-Games COMMSERV-7 COMMSERV-5

The Society also arranged a swing band concert at the Sports and Social Club on behalf of the Royal British Legion and SSAFA. Thanks to the Club team efforts, it was a hugely successful evening and requests have been received for further similar evenings at a future time.

swing-band-1

Swing-Band-2We hope to welcome a long-distance member (Jenni Bond) to our September coffee morning.

A status report on our Great War project has been discussed with, and issued to, the Heritage Lottery Fund. Further efforts are being made to better understand some artefacts. At present, the Imperial War Museum, Goethe Institute and German Historical Institute have been consulted.

An extensive range of documents relating to the Greensill family have been received and further research is being undertaken with the positive support of Helen Ralphs and the Cheslyn Hay Society.

Members have been consulted about possible future trips and visits. Initial feedback has been received and further information will be sought in readiness for possible trips to be discussed with members.

The coffee morning speaker was John Billingham who gave an entertaining and nostalgic talk about the 1950’s (hopscotch, early TV’s, sweets coming of ration, for example).

coffee-morningThe coffee morning speaker in September is Dave Dunham speaking of snipers in the Great War and in October it is Joe Dyke whose theme is coins and postcards.The range of topics underlines the Management Committee aim to provide a breadth of speakers. Members are, again, asked to speak with Pam or Diane with suggestions of speakers they would like to hear at future coffee mornings.Â