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Buckden Local History Society
The Annual General Meeting was held on 3
rd
June 2015 in Buckden Towers with many of our 33 members pre-
sent. The Secretary, Wendy Thelwall, reported on a busy year of excellent talks including the Godmanchester
Stirling aircraft, Buckden in WW1, two talks on St. Neots and Hinchingbrooke School. The finances are in good
shape and members’ annual subscriptions were fixed at £15 each, very good value for ten good monthly presen-
tations. Robin Gibson stood down as Chairman and was deservedly thanked by Vice-chairman Clive Thompson
and others on behalf of the whole Society for his unstinting work over the last 37 years, being a founder member
and more recently spearheading the publication of the Buckden history book. Barry Jobling was elected Chair-
man and the nine other officers and committee members were re-elected.
The Committee met on 29
th
June 2015 and the Chairman advised that he would build on Robin’s strong structure
and, with the committee’s support, the Society plans to increase membership and its profile in the community us-
ing modern technology including an improved website and better communications. Several ideas to these ends
were discussed and further information will be available in the Roundabout and on the website when projects are
firmed up. The Secretary was active booking talks for the 2015-16 season and these, too, will be on the website
and in the Roundabout in due course.
The Chairman presented BLHS prize books and tokens to four students at Buckden School at term’s end for
showing a keen interest and enthusiasm in historical knowledge. Congratulations to them.
Nineteen members enjoyed a real treat when visiting Rippington Manor, Great Gransden on 10
th
July 2015 for
our annual outing. Not only is it a superb Elizabethan hall but the owner, Peter Johnson, is a third generation art
dealer and the house is full of wonderful artworks covering five centuries; we found it difficult to leave, especially
after the fine home-made teas. A stunning original portrait of Queen Katherine of Aragon was particularly poign-
ant with her connection to Buckden Towers.
Please make a note in your diaries for the BLHS Tudor Christmas consisting of music and a presentation by An-
cestral Voices in the King’s Room at Buckden Towers at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 2
nd
December 2015. Mulled
wine and savouries will be available. Entry is £3 for members and £5 for visitors; bookings and tickets are availa-
ble from the Secretary; first come, first served.
Meantime, our next talk will be ‘Transported from Huntingdon Assizes’ by Ann James at 7.30pm on Wednesday
9
th
September 2015 in the Conference Room at Buckden Towers, and we look forward to seeing you there. Our
7
th
October talk will be ‘Shopping through the centuries’ by Gilly Vose.
Please contact the Secretary at: buckdenhistory@gmail.com
A garden society has existed in some form in
Buckden since 1893. Today it is a friendly and
welcoming village club, where people can share
their interests in gardens and gardening.
Our programme includes talks on gardening and
wildlife, outings to gardens and nurseries, and of
course our Spring and Autumn Shows in the Vil-
lage Hall, where everyone (non-members and
non-gardeners included) can show off their flow-
ers, produce and homecrafts.
We also run the BGA shed, by the allotments in
Silver Street, where we sell good quality and bulk
gardening essentials to members.
Come and join us –
family membership is only
£5 per year
. Help us to make sure that this
historic village association continues for future
generations.
All details are on our website:
www.buckdengardeners.info
WE URGENTLY REQUIRE
Show Secretary
Committee Secretary
Plus general committee members
It is not essential but it would help to have some
computer knowledge for both the secretary roles.
If you could you spare a few hours to keep a long
established Buckden club going we would love to
hear from you. Gardening knowledge is not es-
sential, just enthusiasm and ideas needed.
If interested you can make contact through our
website:
http://www.buckdengardeners.info/
or call
Pam
on 01480
811680
or
Lesley
on
01480 351547
Buckden Gardeners Association