Thatcham Historical Society

Sarah Orr from West Berkshire Council Archaeology Service is to give a talk entitled “West Berkshire's archaeology service and the Historic Environment of Thatcham.” Sarah is not planning to give a talk on the history of Thatcham but rather on the local physical remains of the past that her team aim to promote and preserve in various ways. Sarah will cover what the council’s archaeology service does, what information they hold in the historic environment record and how the team want to work together with local communities to develop a “sense of place.”

A packed room gathered for the Annual General Meeting of the Thatcham Historical Society on Monday (25th January). Sue thanked the members for the continued support of the society and fellow committee members for their hard work in promoting and organising events over the past year. Sue reviewed the events of 2009 and noted that for various reasons one of our trips had to be cancelled for various reasons.

Sue noted that dolls houses, collecting and making, was the second fastest growing hobby in the world. A hobby that dates back to the Egyptians who are known to have had dolls, although there is no evidence of dolls houses (or pyramids!).

Sue noted that there are many different styles of houses, not just the type of house they represent but also how they are built and furnished. The modern era of collecting dolls houses started in Holland and Germany in the 16th Century and was an expensive hobby that usually only women participated in. This is partly due to the fact that at this period in history women were pregnant for much of their early adulthood.

A packed room greeted Dan Allen on 19th October for his talk entitled “The Colonels' Lady and Judy O'Grady.” The talk looked at Women in the Victorian Army around the dates of 1850 to 1915. Dan described this as 35 years of research and a lifetime obsession.

Dan started his talk by noting that soldiers in the army were not allowed to marry unless they had permission to do so from their superior officer. Even if permission was given, marriage was discouraged. However the higher classes in the army, officers could marry depending on their rank. Captains could marry, majors should marry and colonels must marry.

Showing: Sunday 22nd November 1.15pm+ 4pm The Corn Exchange, Newbury

Special Screenings of The Lost World of Mr Hardy followed by Q&A with filmmaker

“I defy you to watch with a dry eye” - The Times, Ken Russell

“Savour the glory... relish every minute." - Fieldsports magazine

"Equal to any Hollywood production... but with soul" - Flylife magazine

"Hugely entertaining and thought provoking" - Fly Fishing and Fly Tying magazine