Wigan Borough Environment & Heritage Network
10.30 a.m. September 3rd 2018 at Museum of Wigan Life.
Present:
Bob Bruce (Lancashire Mining Museum),Richard Sivill (Atherton Heritage), Ken Barston
(Stubshaw Cross Residents Group), Glenys McClellan (Leigh Family History Society),
Mary Pennington (Wigan Archaeology Society), Avis Freeman (Leigh Soroptimists),
Neil Forshaw (George Formby Society), Joe Taylor (Billinge History Society),
Apologies:
Peter Goodwin (Tradition Films), Derek Wilde (Wigan Family History Society) John
O’Neill (Greenheart), David Shallcross (Leigh Ornithological Society), Tom
Price (Civic Trust), Peter Taylor (Civic Trust), Lynda Jackson (Wigan MBC), Alex
Miller (Wigan MBC),
Minutes of the last meeting. The last two meetings were visits so there were no minutes to approve.
Avis reported on visit to Leigh Archives and suggested dates for the next year’s meeting as : 15 Oct, 26 Nov, 7 Jan, 18 Feb, 1 April, 13 May, 24 June, 5 Aug, 16 Set, 28 Oct, 9 Dec.
The rest of the meeting was taken up by members reporting on their various activities and in-depth conversations regarding matters arising from them.
Joe reported on a recent meeting with a new council officers attached to ‘The Deal’. It was agreed that she, Charlotte Schofield, would be invited to be guest speaker at the next meeting, 15 October, and she has agreed to so so since the meeting took place.
Joe also reported on developments with the memorial garden at Greenslate Farm and events coming up in the near future that may be of interest.
Neil reported on the Newton Town Show and progress with the George Formby Society.
Glenys: The Leigh & District Family History Society are starting their
autumn session of
meetings on the 18th September with a talk by Todd Bulmer entitled “The
History of
Kenyon Hall”. The meeting starts at 7.30 p.m. in the Derby Room of
Leigh Library.
The Society is hoping to re-commence the weekly Help Desk on Mondays from
noon - 2.00 p.m. in the Leigh Library. This will be near the area that
the Archives
and Local Studies will be moving to from November.
Leigh Society is a member of the Liverpool & SW Lancs. Family History Society
and the AGM will be hosted by the Warrington Group on 13th October. One
of the
speakers is Nick Barratt, the original creator of the ‘Who Do You Think
You Are’
television series.
Mary handed out the latest newsletter and reported on visits to various events, such as the one in Ribchester.
Richard: In August I gave a talk to the Society about inspiration women in
the theatre and acting.
The talk for September will be “Atherton to Armenabad”, October “Underground
Manchester” and November “Sri Lanka”.
HOWE BRIDGE COMMUNITY GROUP (The Bridgers)
After careful consideration the group has decided to cut back on its activities
due to the lack of active members.
PETERLOO
Robert Reed book “The Peterloo Massacre” has recently been re-issued
as a paperback, a very informative read.
WORLD WAR ONE AND AFTERWARDS
The following books may be of interest to members.
Little information in English is readily available about the war from the German
prospective, the most famous being “All Quiet on the Western Front”
and Ernst Juger’s “Storm of Steel”. The later has again been
reissued as a paperback.
Alexander Watson, a Lecturer in history at Goldsmiths University in London has
just published a book entitled “Ring of Steel” Germany and Austria-Hungary
at war 1914-1918.
Peter Hart from the Imperial War Museum book entitled the “Last Battle” describes events of 1918.
Two books about the aftermath of the war are Eugene Rogan “The Fall of the Ottomans” and Robert Gerwarths “The Vanquished”.
The British Legion on the 8th August 2018 recreated the 1928 Great Pilgrimage to the Menin Gate at Ypres when more than 2000 took part in the parade.
Ken: Just ticking over maintaining the heritage garden. Lack of volunteers is the main problem.
Bob reported on recent events at the Mining Museum and progress with various funding applications.
Avis: Pennington Park café is back open. The Soroptimists will be helping
out with Heritage weekends.
Next Meeting 15th October.