Chipping Local History Society
Press Reports 2009
January 2009
‘Letters from the Somme’ was the title of the illustrated talk given by John Pearson, a Society member, at the first meeting of the New Year. The talk was based on letters from a relative of his, Henry Preston who lived at Walker Fold prior to volunteering, to ‘My Dear Aunt’, who was the speaker’s Grandmother, who farmed at Hall Trees, Chipping.
They covered his time training with the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in Lowestoft and then his time in the Battle of the Somme campaign in 1916, where he lost his life as a result of injuries sustained during a night time attack on his trench.
John then showed slides of his two visits to the Somme battlefields and to Henry’s grave in the Military Cemetery at Barlin. Henry’s sacrifice is commemorated on the Dunsop Bridge and Hurst Green War Memorials and in St. Michael’s Church, Whitewell.
The next meeting of the Society is on Tuesday 17th February at 7.45pm. in St. Mary’s Community Hall, when Ray Holmes will speak on ‘Old Wireless Broadcasts’; new members and visitors will be most welcome.
The next informal session of the Society takes place on Sunday 1st March at the same venue from 2pm. This is an opportunity for visitors to seek information from Society members about local and family history issues.
For more information contact 01772 864289 or visit the new Society web site www.chippinghistory.org.uk
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February 2009
An amazing tenor voice singing along with early Wireless recordings was an unexpected delight at the recent meeting of the Society. Ray Holmes, a retired professional singer, gave a most interesting talk on Old Wireless Broadcasts, starting with the development of Wireless, which he then illustrated with a selection of historical recordings made up to the end of the Second World War.
The excerpts he included, ranged from King George V’s first Christmas broadcast through some of Churchill’s memorable wartime speeches and Gracie Field’s unique rendering of popular songs of the time.
The next meeting of the Society is on Tuesday 17th March at 7.45pm in St. Mary’s Hall, when Colin Dickinson will be speaking on ‘The Mills of Lancashire’; new members and visitors will be most welcome.
The next informal session of the Society takes place on Sunday 5th April at the same venue from 2pm. This is an opportunity for visitors to seek information from Society members about local and family history issues.
For more information contact 01772 864289 or visit the new Society web site www.chippinghistory.org.uk
March 2009
At the March meeting it was a ‘Full House’ when members and many visitors gathered for Colin Dickinson’s illustrated talk ‘The Mills of Lancashire’.
Colin is well known for his impressive book ‘The Mills of Preston’ and we were delighted that he concentrated on Preston and showed slides, not only of the mills, but also of the development of the magnificent engines which powered them.
The final Spring indoor meeting of the Society is on Tuesday 21st April at 7.45pm in St. Mary’s Hall, when Janet Nelson will be speaking on ‘ Shopping in Lancaster & District – 200 years ago’; new members and visitors will be most welcome.
The next informal session of the Society takes place on Sunday 3rd May at the same venue from 2pm. This is an opportunity for visitors to seek information from Society members about local and family history issues.
For more information contact 01772 864289 or visit the new web site www.chippinghistory.org.uk
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Submitted by: John Pearson, Curwen House Farm, Goosnargh, PRESTON PR3 2LB.
Tel: 01772 864289.
April 2009
At the April meeting, which was the final indoor meeting of the 08/09 programme, Janet Nelson gave an illustrated talk on ‘Shopping in Lancaster & District – 200 years ago’. She focussed on the development of shopping from the primitive markets of the early 18th Century.
During the summer months members are invited to partake in the many interesting local walks and trips to venues further afield. New members will be most welcome.
The next informal session of the Society takes place on Sunday 7th June at St. Mary’s Hall, Chipping from 2pm. This is an opportunity for visitors to seek information from Society members about local and family history issues.
For more information contact 01772 864289 or visit the new web site www.chippinghistory.org.uk
Submitted by: John Pearson,
Tel: 01772 864289.
September 2009
Members have been very active during the summer months participating in a varied programme of walks and visits. In addition several members have been preparing the new edition of ‘Longer Sen’ which is now available and which includes articles by members and friends of the Society, many of them illustrated.
The new Winter Programme gets underway on Tuesday 20 October at 7.45pm in St. Mary’s Hall, Chipping when Dr. Isaacs will be speaking on ‘Life on a Deep Sea Trawler’;new members and visitors will be most welcome.
The next informal session of the Society takes place on Sunday 1 November at the same venue from 2pm. This is an opportunity for visitors to seek information from Society members about local and family history issues.
For more information contact 01772 864289 or visit the new web site www.chippinghistory.org.uk
Tel: 01772 864289.
Note new Email address: johnpearson30@hotmail.co.uk
October 2009
‘Life on a Deep Sea Trawler’ was the topic for Dr.Isaacs talk at the first meeting of the Winter Programme. He gave an illustrated and witty insight into the day to day routines aboard, during his 10 years as the Electrician; of particular interest were the skirmishes which he experienced during the Icelandic Cod War.
It was also announced at the meeting that the new 2009 edition of ‘Longer Sen’ – a miscellany of family and local history articles produced by members and friends, is now available.
At the next meeting on Tuesday November 17th, Janet Edmunds will be speaking on ‘The History of Goosnargh Mill’. As usual, the meeting will be held in St. Mary’s Community Hall at 7.45pm; new members and visitors will be most welcome.
The next informal session of the Society takes place on Sunday 6 December at the same venue from 2pm. This is an opportunity for visitors to seek information from Society members about local and family history issues.
For more information contact 01772 864289 or visit the new web site www.chippinghistory.org.uk
Submitted by: John Pearson,
Tel: 01772 864289.
Note new Email address: johnpearson30@hotmail.co.uk
November 2009
‘The History of Goosnargh Mill’, the topic for Janet Edmunds illustrated talk at the November meeting of the Society, attracted a record number of members and visitors. The speaker & her husband bought the Mill House in 1974 and set about tracing it’s history back from 1962, when it ceased producing farm animal feed, to 1582 and possibly to the 13th Century, when during most of the time it was a corn mill. The audience was impressed by the quality and detail of Janet’s research and fascinated by the connections over the centuries with landed gentry and local families. During the 20th century the Procter family operated the mill, and were also recognised nationally as breeders and exhibitors of poultry; members of the same family also ran Chipping mill.
The next meeting of the Society is on Tuesday December 1st, when the AGM will be followed by a talk by Dr Alan Crosby on ‘Family life in the Industrial Revolution – the diary of Benjamin Shaw’. The meeting will be held in St. Mary’s Community Hall at the earlier time of 7.15pm; new members and visitors will be most welcome.
For more information contact 01772 864289 or visit the web site www.chippinghistory.org.uk
Submitted by: John Pearson. tel: 01772 864289
Email: johnpearson30@hotmail.co.uk
December 2009
At the AGM in December, Alice Whitwell was elected as the new Chair and Irena Preston
as the new Vice-
After the official business was completed, members and guests enjoyed a Jacobs Join
supper. This was followed by our speaker for this special evening, Dr. Alan Crosby,
who is well known to the Society and whose visits are always eagerly awaited. We
were treated to a fascinating insight into working class family life during the time
of the Industrial Revolution, gleaned from the Diary of Benjamin Shaw 1772-
The next meeting of the Society is on Tuesday 19 January in St. Mary’s Community Hall at 7.45pm, when two Society members will give a powerpoint presentation on the ‘Chipping Walk’ and discuss the history and buildings of the village; new members and visitors will be most welcome.
For more information contact 01772 864289 or visit the Society web site www.chippinghistory.org.uk
Submitted by: John Pearson -
01772 864289