From small beginnings thirty years ago, our society is now a respected part of the local landscape.
Following a WEA course in 1974 there
was an informal meeting at the home of Helen Blott when it was decided
to form a historical society for Biggleswade and District. A short article
followed in the Biggleswade Chronicle outlining the aims of a proposed society
under the names of Mr R Hartley and Mr W P Weatherill. (Christian names were
not in general use at that time!)
The very first meeting was on 24th
March 1975 at Biggleswade Library. Paul Catcheside the librarian
presided with Ron Hartley, Terry Penwright, Helen Blott, John Collyer and Peter
Weatherill. Brian Lazelle from Ampthill & District Archaeological &
Local History Society was our very first speaker, a slide show of local scenes
followed, presented by Harold Smith. Subscriptions for ordinary members were
£1.00. Students and retired members 50p. corporate members £2.00.
At the next meeting on 15th
April, Ron Hartley was elected chairman with Paul Catcheside vice chairman,
Terry Penwright hon. secretary, Stephanie Hardware assistant secretary and
Peter Weatherill treasurer. Meetings were conveniently held at the Library.
Paul Catcheside, who was possibly the driving force, left for a new position at
Stockport in 1978. He later became head of Liverpool Library Services.
During 1979 Stephanie Hardware
became secretary; Biggleswade, Potton, Sandy & Shefford issued a joint
newsletter. A history exhibition was provided at The Gardening Club Show.
Horace Dilley was chairman in 1981,
by which time Terry Penwright returned to the post of secretary and Ann Green
was treasurer.
When I became hon. secretary in 1983
we did not have monthly committee meetings and I well remember our formal
meetings at the library. We decided to move to the St John Ambulance Hall in
Chestnut Avenue with better facilities and we were also able to serve tea &
coffee prepared by members Alison Careless and Betty Sharman.
Margaret Whitehead was elected treasurer at
the 1984 AGM when we had 40 members. Four newsletters came out that year
to keep members informed about summer activities. At that time most of our
members were actively involved with the Society.
In the early years, Liz Munns, Muriel Scott
and Harold Smith were all busy taking and copying photographs and other
stalwarts included Ivy Brown, Rex Skinner, Canon John Dominey, Ken &
Dorothy Lee, Bob & Jill Macintosh. We had a market stall on 7th
July when fourteen members were in attendance on a rota basis. We visited
Jordan's Mill, Royston Museum, Ashwell Museum, Hinwick House and Potton
Station.
Sadly, Elizabeth Munns (Liz) died on 4th
December 1984, this was a great shock to everyone in the Society and our tenth
anniversary on 24th March 1985 was marked with a Liz Munns
Exhibition at the Chapter House, which was a huge success. All credit is
due to the early pioneers who started the continued progression of meetings,
outings and exhibitions.
Harold Smith was elected President at the 1985
AGM. The first monthly newsletter was issued in May.
The highlight of the year
was on Sunday 16th June when at least 2,000 people turned out on the
Market Square
for the Great Fire of Biggleswade 200th anniversary Commemoration and we sold
400 of our first booklet.
We had six summer outings that year, the Swiss
Gardens
at Old Warden & RSPB at Sandy Lodge with the Scout Fellowship, Police Museum
at Kempston and 'A Day in the Chilterns' with Sandy & District Historical
Society and Letchworth Garden City Heritage Museum. Don Hill arranged a visit to
the archaeological dig at Baldock.
Our first letter about restoring the
Drinking Fountain was sent to the Town Council.
The first meeting of East Bedfordshire
History Societies was at the Weatherley Centre on 15th October and was
a
great success, with Fred Rowe (Langford) Peter Ibbett (Potton), David Berridge
(Sandy), Horace Dilley (Biggleswade) and David Smith (Museum) contributing.
In
April 1986 over 200 people attended the second joint meeting at Potton.
Our membership was now 49. We were happy with meetings at The St John Ambulance
Hall, but they decided to discontinue lettings and in October we were obliged
to move to The Weatherley Centre. We purchased a Bell & Howell Cassette
Recorder jointly with the Rotary Club; Horace Dilley & Rex Skinner
interviewed local people starting with Tec Chambers.
Newsletter number four
expanded to a two-page edition with an article provided by Harold Smith.
We
visited the Cecil Higgins Museum Bedford, Hinchingbrooke House, Huntingdon,
Hitchin Historical Society, Chicksands Priory, Old Warden Village, Cockayne
Hatley Church and went on a coach trip to Winchester with Sandy. Bruce
Odell arranged a wine evening in the Old Maltings in December, a forerunner of
later Christmas Parties. Muriel Scott left the Committee for health reasons.
We
wrote to the County Council about the condition of the riverside footpath.
Horace Dilley, Ken Page & John Dominey investigated the possibility of
registration with the Civic Trust.
Town Mayor, Peter Vickers launched the first
Old Biggleswade booklet at the Chapter House on 4th October.
1987
Potton won the East Beds Trophy at the Joint Quiz at The Weatherley Centre.
A
strong Committee was elected at the AGM.
Harold Smith, president. John Dominey & Ron Hartley,
vice-presidents. Horace Dilley, chairman. John Dominey vice chairman. Ken Page,
secretary. Margaret Whitehead, treasurer.
Plus Rex Skinner, Paul Daniels, Roy Whitehead. Ken Lee started a file
of Biggleswade Chronicles.
John Dominey organised a visit to Biggleswade by The
London Appreciation Society. We visited Royston Museum, Little Gidding, Southill
Church, County Records Office &
Hitchin Historical Society Garden Party.
We became a registered Charity in
November.
Town Mayor; Duncan
Strachan launched Volume 2 of Old Biggleswade.
There was a display at the Art
Society Exhibition in Watkins Showroom.
More than 50 people attended the
Christmas Party and to round the year off, we welcomed our 100th
member.
1988
Potton again won the East Beds Trophy.
Our tour of Unknown
London with Bryant Peers was a great success, followed by The Lost Coast of Suffolk
in July. We visited two mansions; Old Warden and Southill plus walk across
Biggleswade Common. There was an open day at the County Record Office on 13th
August when Martin Lawrence Chairman of Harlington Heritage Trust and Ken Page
talked about cooperation between the Mid Beds History Societies. We had our
first exhibition at St Andrews Harvest Fayre.
True Tales Told of Biggleswade of
Old written by A W Watkin was reprinted.
Sadly, our vice Chairman John Dominey passed away.
1989
Roy
Whitehead replaced John as vice Chairman.
The Liz Munns Collection was
deposited at The County Record Office.
Langford won the East Beds Trophy.
Martin Lawrence organised the first Mid Beds History Conference
at Harlington.
Bryant Peers took us on Tour of Docklands and North Woolwich; we
walked around Baldock, Potton, & the Common also visited Northill Church.
Fred Rowe designed the logo we still use today.
Ken Lee joined the Committee
& Paul Daniels left owing to work commitments.
We were involved in the
organisation of the 50th commemoration of the outbreak of World War
II.
Volume three of Old Biggleswade was launched.
Lord Pym addressed
Biggleswade, Langford, Potton & Sandy, at the Weatherley Centre on “My Life
and Career in Politics”.
Muriel Scott passed away.
Our Christmas Cards and
notelets were on sale.
70 people attended the Christmas Party.
[Ed-
The Society changed their logo in the August 1989 newsletter.
The first logo originated as a photograph of The Swan Hotel shortly
before it closed and was more black than white. The late Fred Rowe readily agreed to draw a new logo for us from
a photograph. He designed most of the local
Winton Hayes houses. and had also been a Treasurer of Langford
History Society. The Society has other drawings of his.]
1990
We
hosted the second Mid Beds Conference at The Chapter House and Old Maltings.
Potton won the Joint Quiz for the third time.
Our coach trip to York was well supported.
We visited Gamlingay and Henlow Churches. Bryant Peers
took us on a Pleasure Gardens and Battlefields tour of London.
Biggleswade in Words and Pictures was
launched at Biggleswade Books.
We had two stalls on the Market Square to support The Chamber of
Trade Edwardian Day.
73 attended the Christmas Party.
1991 Author Vaughan Basham was the
speaker at the Joint meeting on 17th April.
A Coach trip to Canterbury was very
enjoyable. We walked through Waresley Wood and visited Chilford Hundred
Vineyard, plus Biggleswade Town Walk.
Flitwick hosted the East Beds Conference.
Our Local History Exhibition
at The Chapter House during Carnival week was well attended.
We started to
collect bygones for display.
70 attended our last Christmas Party at The Old
Maltings.
1992
Nigel Lutt talked about East Bedfordshire Soldiers at the
Joint Meeting.
Visits were made to The Brewery, Fairfield House, Stratton Dig,
Harlington Heritage Centre and we toured the extensive cellars under Ivel Bury.
Potton hosted The Mid Beds Conference.
Outings were to Norwich,
Cambridge and
Bromham Mill also a walk around Hitchin.
We held a History Exhibition at the
Chapter House. Roy and Margaret Whitehead left Biggleswade to live in Tenerife.
Jo King became treasurer and Rex Skinner vice
chairman, Eric Lund and Don Hill joined the Committee.
Susan Horne, Town Mayor,
launched Old Biggleswade Volume four.
Bedfordshire Local History Association
was formed as an umbrella group for the county.
1993
Vivienne Evans was the speaker at our Joint
Meeting. Langford hosted
The Local History Conference. Don Hill organised Field
Walking parties. Outings were to Cromwell Museum Huntingdon and Willington,
plus Coach trips to Lincoln and Oxford and Walk around
Hitchin.
We put on another Carnival history exhibition.
A total of 50 people
were recorded on tape.
The Parish Map tapestry, a notable achievement, was completed in
September.
62 attended the Christmas
Party at Weatherley Centre and enjoyed the surprise item Ray Ling the
Chinese Fence, a conjurer extraordinary.
1994,
Mid Beds Conference
was at Ickwell/Northill.
We set up Saxon Village Action Group with The Trades
Council.
Bryant Peers was in good form at the age of 82 for our outing to London. Other outings were
to The Moot Hall Elstow, Bunyan Museum & Charles Wells Brewery at Bedford. Don Hill
conducted our first Beating the Bounds walk.
61 members attended the AGM. Ken
Page organised Bedfordshire History Societies’ contribution to The Bedfordshire
Festival at Old Warden.
Old Biggleswade Volume five was launched.
The Saxon Village
Working Party fixed four seats in the Linear Wood at Stratton
54 attended the
Christmas Party.
1995 Harold Smith, Horace Dilley, Rex Skinner, Ken
Page, Jo King, Ken Lee, Eric Lund and Don Hill were all re-elected at the AGM.
There is not sufficient space to include all our speakers and our involvement with the Museum Project. These can be included later in another article
1995
Don
Hill lead another “beating the bounds” walk. We visited Roxton
Congregational Church, Ashwell Museum and St. Swithin’s
Church Sandy also walked from the Meccano bridges to Holme Mills. There were
Coach trips to London & Chatham Dockyard.
We held a successful Celebration
of Local History Exhibition at Trinity Methodist Guildroom with over 500 visitors
over a total of 12 days during August.
We also displayed at various exhibitions
including the Gardening Club, Lifestyle, Marje & Malcolm Daisley Art
Exhibition, Parish
Church and Ideas Fair.
We
made a welcome return to the Old Maltings for our Christmas Party when 65
attended.
Two members passed away, Len Harber & Ceri Hopkins.
Membership
was 103.
1996
16 volunteers planted hawthorn trees at Stratton Linear
Wood.
Biggleswade Books closed on 17th February after selling our
books for 10 years.
We put on a full programme for our second Bedfordshire
local History Conference.
We visited All Saints Church at Shillington, enjoyed
a traditional potato and pea supper and walked around Potton.
We put on a fresh
Local History exhibition at Trinity in August and staged a Dan Albone
Exhibition at the Steam Rally and Country Fayre at Old Warden, also exhibitions
in the Parish Church and Gardening Club.
Roy Sherwood
presented Oliver Cromwell, Myth and Reality at the Joint Meeting.
Our first
Historic Plaque was placed in Fairlands.
62 attended another Christmas Party at
the Old Maltings.
Alan Bennett, Ivy Brown, Jack Huckle, Lyn Smith and Roy
Whitehead passed away.
A record 132 members were clocked up.
1997
We
visited Dunton & Eyeworth Churches, Potton Railway Station, walked around
Biggleswade and Bedford and visited Stotfold.
A time capsule was placed under
the floor of Trinity Methodist Church
during restoration.
We were able to visit Biggleswade Brewery before it closed
on 31st October.
Our exhibitions were at the Gardening Club, Mid
Beds Council Offices and St Andrew’s Country Fayre.
Bedford Archaeological
& History Society enjoyed a walk around Biggleswade.
With limited
enthusiasm only11 booked for the Christmas Party at the Weatherley Centre so we
held an ordinary meeting instead.
The next 4 heritage plaques were fixed.
Heritage Trail volume one was launched out just in time for Christmas, but we
sold almost 400 books.
Tec Chambers, Marie Esplin, Irene Foxley, Geoffrey
Matthews, Arthur Mitchell, Bruce Odell, Roy Smith, Godfrey Seward, Madeline
Styles all passed away.
120 members.
1998
Harold Smith who was nearing
his 98th birthday showed almost 200 slides and said that his
ambition was to be President of BHS on his 100th.
30 members attended the Annual General
Meeting.
Jo King resigned as treasurer and we could not find a replacement so
Ken Page carried out these duties.
We visited 20 Hitchin pubs, Cockayne Hatley,
and Bedford Embankment.
We started a short-lived refreshment rota.
Bookworms
opened in the New Inn Yard and we again had an outlet for our publications.
We
exhibited at Mid Beds Gala on the refurbished Market Square and at Beds Steam &
Country Fair and Gardening Club.
Trixie Barratt passed away.
Membership 117
1999
The Saxon
Project was completed with a Sculpture and information Board at Pocket Park
opened by John Jordan.
We had a stand in the Russell Hall at Old Warden for the
Millennium Festival.
Still no treasurer so Ken Page carried on.
Coach trip to Norwich, tour of St Andrews
Church,
walk around Baldock & Museum, St Neots Museum, Display at Bedfordshire
Millennium Festival.
Exhibitions were at the Gardening Club, Steam Fayre and
Window in Time at Caldecote Methodist Chapel.
47 attended the Christmas Party.
We reprinted The Great Fire booklet.
We attended BLHA presentation of Wartime
Bedfordshire at Twinwoods Airfield &
Clapham.
We supported the application for lottery funding enabling Biggleswade
United Services Association to purchase Ivel Bury, in consequence had an offer
of two rooms to rent.
John Chew, Bert
Garvie, Ron Hartley, Jean Roberts, Jack White passed away.
117 members.
2000
After 180 issues by Ken Page, David. Parker took over as newsletter editor.
At the AGM Mike Strange became hon. treasurer and Brian Gilchrist joined the
Committee.
Don Hill lead the last beating the bounds. We walked around
Shortmead Street & Sun Street, visited Buckden & Brampton, outing to Bletchley
Park.
Exhibited at Shefford Methodist
Hall, BLHA World War II at Ampthill, Steam & Country Fayre Old Warden.
Work
started on the refurbishment and conversion of St
Andrews School into apartments.
Harold Smith, Mary Albone Dave Damen, Reg Hopkins, Marc King passed away.
37
attended the Christmas Party.
114 members.
2001
Changes at the AGM president
Horace Dilley, chairman Ken Page, vice chairman Rex Skinner, hon. secretary,
David Parker, hon. treasurer Brian Gilchrist, hon. archivist Ken Page,
Committee Nil. Alan Dansey & Rose Forbes were co-opted.
BLHA Wartime Exhibitions were at Weatherley
Centre and Marston Vale Centre.
Outing to Priory Country Park
at Bedford,
walk round Eltisley, Sandy.
Our Research Room opened on 1st
September, only 4 members visited the Open Evening.
Rosemary Brown, Jacqui Parker,
Peter Stead, Richard Wiggs passed away.
37 people at Christmas Party.
92 members.
2002
We were shocked at the sudden death of Neil Alston in January. Fred Cooper,
Geoff Cavanaugh, Phyllis Hartley also passed away.
Rose Forbes became
Treasurer, Alan Dansey only Committee member plus Vic Brunt.
Stall on Market Square,
First meeting at
Millennium House.
Outing to Cromwell
Museum, walk around
Ashwell and Ampthill, Coach tour of Scenic
Route.
Mike Strange completed Harold Smith’s
History of Biggleswade available on disk.
Eltisley History Society came to a walk around
Biggleswade.
We staged a Joint Exhibition for the Queens Golden Jubilee at Trinity
with the Camera Club.
Exhibited at Gardening Club, Steam & Country Fayre at Old
Warden.
We sold 426 of our new booklet, Bygone Biggleswade and 72 Calendars.
15
attended Christmas Party.
Membership 72.
2003
We sold 461 Bygone
Biggleswade Volume 2, but struggled to sell calendars.
Summary of Committee
meetings started in April.
Two market stalls were successful.
16 came to Open Evening in October.
We
visited Stondon Transport Museum,
walked from Ickwell Green to Northill and around Hitchin.
Ivel tractor no 131
manufactured at Biggleswade in 1903 by Dan Albone and now owned by John Moffitt
came back on 21st June, in readiness to run from Biggleswade to the
Royal Show at Stoneleigh a distance of 100 miles.
The target of £100,000 for
the hospice movement was well exceeded.
We exhibited at Town & Country
Fayre and Steam Engine Rally at Old Warden and Gardening Show, plus BLHA
Bedfordshire in the 50’s at Woburn.
Mid Beds Heritage Coach Tour was well supported.
38 attended Christmas Party at Methodist
Chapel.
78 members.
2004
The next five heritage plaques were fixed in
January and a further 10 at the end of the year, making a total of 21.
Visits were to Sandy Lodge & RSPB,
Stotfold Mill, British
Schools Museum
at Hitchin and Shortmead House.
Dunstable
Local History Society came for a walk around Biggleswade.
We hosted the third
Bedfordshire local History Conference.
The restored Drinking Fountain was back
on the Market Square
after 96 years.
Second Scenic
Route coach outing.
Bygone Biggleswade Volume 3
launched at Library.
Alan Ball, Tom Crook, Francis McDermott passed away.
Two
more market stalls were popular and we exhibited at the Town & Country Fayre and Steam Engine
Rally.
38 at Christmas Party.
82 members.
Vic Brunt organised tea & coffee
during the year.
Horace Dilley and Rex Skinner reached a total of 90 audio tape
recordings of local people.
2005
A year
of change. 30th Anniversary Celebrations began on 26th March with a stall
at Biggleswade Market, a two-week display in Biggleswade Library and guided
tours of the town centre. Only 24 members attended the AGM when Chairman &
Archivist Ken Page retired. Elected: President Eric Lund; Life vice Presidents,
Horace Dilley & Ken Page; Chairman Ian Bond, Vice Chairman John Tolson,
Hon Secretary David Parker, Hon Treasurer Rex Skinner, Hon Archivist Mike Strange.
Committee; Alan Dansey, Rose Forbes & Bob Gordon-MacIntosh. Ken Page received
the President's Award from Horace Dilley and a certificate marking 22 years
on the committee; followed by a selection of pictorial slides, originally shown
by our first President Harold Smith.
We visited Old Warden Tunnel Nature
Reserve plus guided walks of Langford village and Hitchin Street, Biggleswade.
There was a display in a marquee on the Market Square to celebrate the 60th
anniversaries of VE/VJ Day. Significantly, Mike Strange sorted out the Research
Room.
Hon Secretary, David Parker resigned in November. Continuity was assured
when Jean Strange agreed to step in as Secretary until the AGM and other members'
filled gaps. 28 members & guests attended.
The Christmas Party with
a buffet meal provided by Joy Botterell, Joan Newman and Jean Rook; Gill Gordon-Macintosh
& Vic Brunt made tea & coffee and Horace Dilley conducted a well-supported
Auction of Promises.
Membership only slightly increased during the year
from 82 to 86 and the average number of members at meetings was only 26.
Audio
recordings by Horace Dilley & Rex Skinner reached 111.
Donations to
the archive had been steadily flowing in all year, but December was a bumper
month including a large collection of photographs taken by the late George Skevington.
2005
The year started with the launch
of Tempus publication “Images of England-Biggleswade” at Bookworms on 17th February.
Our first venture into national publishing was well received.
This year
marked the 100th anniversary of the early death of Dan Albone the famous inventor,
marked with a major exhibition at the Stratton Business Park premises of Kramp
UK and a Civic Service at St Andrews Church.
Membership prior to the Annual
General Meeting had increased to 92. At the AGM a new committee was elected,
Chairman John Tolson, Vice Chairman & programmes, Rex Skinner, Hon Secretary
and Membership Jean Strange, Hon Treasurer Christine Chessum, Hon Archivist
and web site, newsletters and exhibitions Mike Strange; Committee members;
Margaret Alston, Alan Dansey, Bob Gordon- MacIntosh& Kevin Haddow. Rex Skinner
received The Presidents Award. The Skevington photographs were displayed and
members invited to view and identify some of the numerous faces.
Mike Strange
continued his relentless sorting and identifying archives; new racking was installed
in the research room.
The late Mary Webb's booklet “Remember Your Manor
“ was reprinted by the society and on sale.
Visits were to Maulden Wood,
Eltisley village & Cockayne Hatley church.
A large donation of paperwork
was received from Lee Irvine concerning Dan Albone and cycling in general.
Exhibitions were at ASDA, the New Town Hall, Steam & Country Fair at
Old Warden.
60 people attended the October meeting and 50 members
enjoyed the Christmas Party at Millennium House when main event was a Local
History Quiz.
Membership during the year increased to 112.
2007
We now have 126 recordings. John Tolson, Jean and Mike Strange
with Alan Batson attended the Centenary of New Spring water pumping station
on 7th February.
Few changes at the AGM: Chairman John Tolson, Vice
Chairman & programmes, Rex Skinner, Hon Secretary & membership Jean
Strange, Hon Treasurer Norman Gurney, Hon Archivist & web site, newsletters
and exhibitions Mike Strange; Committee members Ian Bond, Bob Gordon-MacIntosh
& Kevin Haddow. Rev. Jean and Mike Strange jointly received The Presidents
Award from Eric Lund.
We exhibited at Stratton School Easter Festival, St
Andrew's Garden Party in London Road and Country Fayre at the Churchyard. Carnival
displays were put on at ASDA & in Winifred Whiteman's empty shop.
We
visited Roxton village & churches, Blunham village & church, Gt. Barford
Village & church.
We sadly lost Margaret Dilley, Ken Lee, Tony Keech
and Pearl Gale during the year.
Many additions were made to the archives
and more improvements to the research room including a laserjet printer.
'Townsfolk
of Biggleswade Volume' one was launched at The Christmas Party and Bookworms
shop.
Membership soared to 118.
2008
The entire photographic
collection was sorted and improvements to archive storage and identification
continued through the year.
Again, few AGM changes: Chairman John Tolson,
vice Chairman Rex Skinner, Hon Secretary Jean Strange, Hon Archivist Mike Strange,
Hon Treasurer Norman Gurney, Committee; Ian Bond, Bob Gordon MacIntosh, and
Tim Haddow. The President's award went to Rev Alan Bliss.
We sadly lost
two members, José Holmes and David Elphick.
We enjoyed a guided tour
of St Andrew's Church. The walk around Sandy in pouring rain resulted
in an unplanned tour of the council offices and Roman exhibition; better weather
resulted in a good walk around Buckden.
We were able to assist the family
in correcting the war memorial inscription of Victor John Milton,
There
were two Displays at Biggleswade Library featuring Wells & Winch Brewery
and Historical Shops & Shopping and an Exhibition in ASDA with a Sporting
theme. We displayed 'Our Biggleswade' at St Andrews Country Fayre.
Townsfolk
Volume two was launched at The Christmas Party at St Andrews Rooms when 50 members
attended and at Bookworms the following day.
We ended the year with a membership
of 126.
2009
The closure of Bookworms in January was a loss to
the town but another outlet was found for our books at 'Howells' plus Internet
sales. The publications sub committee comprising Jennifer Lawrence, Eric Lund,
Ken Page, Mike Strange, John Tolson, started early on Volume Three.
At the
AGM on 7th April, Ken Page was made Life President, with Horace Dilley and Eric
Lund Life Vice Presidents supporting the line up of Chairman John Tolson, Vice
Chairman, Mike Strange, Hon Secretary Jean Strange, Hon Treasurer Roy Chadwick,
Hon Archivist Tim Haddow, Committee; Ian Bond, Rex Skinner, Bob Gordon-MacIntosh
& Barbara Elsworth. John Tolson received The Presidents Award for his many
valuable services to the society. But only four short months later we were saddened
when Dr John Milner Tolson passed away at Bedford Hospital-a tragic loss to
us all.
Rex Skinner one of the very early members, resigned from the committee
after many years of service.
Library Exhibitions were The Cattle Market,
Summertime at Biggleswade Riverside featuring the Lido and World War II in Biggleswade.
St Andrews Country Fare exhibition featured the Lindsell family.
Membership
reached 138.
We had two more losses, Winifred Whiteman passed away
on 27th September aged 98 there was another major loss when Horace Dilley (BHS
number one) passed away at the age of 93.
The Society played a key part
in the production of the DVD 'Three Market Towns' produced by Mike Fowler and
featuring Biggleswade, Sandy & Potton. The World Premier at Trinity Methodist
Church was very well received.
Townsfolk volume three was launched at our
Christmas Event when 55 members enjoyed 'A sumptuous buffet' and film show at
The Conservative Club. Further launches were at Howell's shop and at Biggleswade
Library.
2010
The year started with a membership of 140.
Attendance at meetings with a full programme of speakers has gradually increased
during the five years. The Research Room storage of archives, artefacts, documentation
and records continues to improve, as does our presence in the town and on the
Internet. We now have 114 recordings of local people and personalities and a
further 20 recordings of Biggleswade talks, radio and music events