History in the Community

History in the community is something that you hear little about. I know there are groups and projects around the country promoting history, actively, into their communities. I and others want to promote the heritage in and around Thatcham. I have now been doing this for a long time and have been on BBC Radio Berkshire and Newbury Sound radio several times as well as various newspapers.

I also helped to set-up, and continue to run, the Peter Allen Memorial Lectures, which run every May and consists of talks specifically on local history topics. Recently I finished my latest history book "Thatcham: Then and Now" which is due to hit the shelves next year (2012) at which time I will again provide a talk to go with the book.  I have also started on my second history book, more details on that to follow.

However, there have been some highlights and rewards for me in promoting Thatcham's history. I gave a talk to the local U3A craft group a while back, an enthusiasstic group of ladies who were taking what they had learnt from me and creating something to celebrate the history of Thatcham. Can't wait to see what they have made. At the Nature Discovery Centre I help to run a "Drop into History" day once a year wich along with an exhibition at Thatcham Festival of Art and Leisure, where we get people of all ages asking questions and showing an interest, again growin each year.

Also at Thatcham Festival of Art and Leisure I provide a local history talk. In 2010 this was on Thatcham in 1968, this year I got a little more ambitious and not only repeated the 1968 talk but also did Thatcham in 1972 and a "Graveyard tour" of St. Mary's Church.  The altter two were very popular, lots of questions asked and some interesting points raised.  Again I am seeing people of all ages getting involved, which is jsut fantastic and is something I hope will continue.