KIMPTON
HISTORY GROUP PROGRAMME 2018
(Evening
meetings start at 8.00pm unless otherwise indicated)
Wednesday 17th January (Memorial
Hall, Green Room)
‘Hitchin
on film’
Perhaps surprisingly, a century ago Hitchin was at the forefront of cinematography
and cinema. Liz Bembridge & Bob Malcolm will present a set of films taken
in Hitchin from the time of the coronation of George V in 1911 to the Festival
of Britain in 1951.
Hitchin plait market in its heyday.
Wednesday 21st February (Memorial
Hall, Green Room)
‘The Luton Hat Industry’ Hat maker Philip Wright, a member of the
longest family line of hat makers in Britain, will explain both the history of
the Luton hat industry, including the use of local village straw plaiters, and
the position today. Examples of some
Wednesday 21st March (Memorial
Hall, Green Room)
AGM for first 15 minutes, then
‘From
the Archives’: John Pollington will give an illustrated
talk, based on some of the information we hold in our archives about Kimpton.
Wednesday 18th April (Memorial
Hall, Green Room)
‘St Albans in the Great War:
Conscription, Conscience and Commerce’ During 1916-18,
Saturday 5th May & Sunday 6th May (Church House, Kimpton)
May Festival Weekend – The History Group’s Exhibition,
with videos, photos and displays on historic happenings in and around Kimpton over the last century and before.
Wednesday 16th May (Memorial Hall, Lounge)
‘The Amazing Jill Grey’ We
welcome back Andy Gibbs, of the British Schools Museum in Hitchin, to introduce
us to the life and legacy of Jill Grey, whose collection forms a large part of
the Museum's archive.
Wednesday 20th
June (Site visit)
Summer outing. We are planning a trip, probably to Gorehambury House. It is, however,
undergoing restoration and so details have to be confirmed as they have not
been released yet.
Wednesday 18th July (Hitchin visit)
Hitchin walking tour – part 2:
Elizabeth Eastwood will
again take us on a walking tour. She will reveal to us yet more of the historic
market town of Hitchin, to which she introduced us last year. Meet at the
school at 6.30pm to share lifts, with suggested parking in Hitchin on Queen
Street on opposite side of river from St. Marys (free after 6pm). Then meet at
the Market Place outside the Corn Exchange (now ‘the Pitcher and Piano’) at
7pm. A contribution of £4 per head is requested. Contact June, 832754, if you
would like to come, need a lift or could share transport.
AUGUST – NO MEETING THIS MONTH
Wednesday 19th September (Memorial
Hall, Green Room)
‘Show, Guess and Tell evening’
After our very successful first such event last year, we again invite
each of you to bring along ‘something of historical interest’ which can be
simply shown to the group with a few words, or you could ask us to guess its
usage or history. If you don’t want to speak yourself then, suitably briefed,
one of the committee will do it for you.
Wednesday 17th October (Memorial
Hall, Green Room)
‘Medieval Walkern’ We welcome Janet Woodall,
founder and chairman of Walkern History Society. Janet has written a book
tracing more than a 1000 years of the history of this charming village. She
will focus her talk on its medieval past and share with us her extensive
research.
Wednesday 21st November (Memorial
Hall, Green Room)
(Subject to be advised)
Wednesday 19th December (Memorial
Hall, Green Room)
Christmas Party A
lively evening of entertainment will be arranged. Members will be asked to
bring a plate of food for the buffet, and to pay a contribution towards
wine/soft drinks. Guests are welcome to join in the fun, which will start at
8.00pm.
Wednesday 16th January 2019 (Memorial
Hall, Green Room)