Wigan Borough Environment & Heritage Network
10.30 a.m. January 7th 2019 at Museum of Wigan Life.
Present:
Derek Wilde (Wigan Family History Society), Peter Goodwin (Tradition Films), Glenys McClellan (Leigh Family History Society), John O’Neill (Greenheart), Mary Pennington (Wigan Archaeology Society), Avis Freeman (Leigh Soroptimists), Neil Forshaw (George Formby Society), Richard Sivill (Atherton Heritage), Joe Taylor (Billinge History Society), Richard MacDonald (Wigan MBC).
Apologies
David Shallcross & Paul Richardson (Leigh Ornithological Society), Bob Bruce (Lancashire Mining Museum), Ken Barston (Stubshaw Cross Residents Group), Tom Price & Peter Taylor (Civic Trust), Lynda Jackson (Wigan MBC), Alex Miller (Wigan MBC), Eileen Walsh & Eileen Bithel (BETA), Jenny Grigs (Carbon Landscape).
Note: Concern was raised about Tom Price’s health. Since the meeting the secretary has spoken to Tom, who is much improved since being in hospital in October although not yet 100% well. Shortage of breath is his primary ailment.
Minutes of the last meeting : True and accurate.
Matters Arising: None
Richard MacDonald:
Richard is is a recent addition to council staff, responsible for developing the Historical and Environmental Strategy. He gave a detailed account of his background before joining council and a full explanation of what his job entails.
There than followed a long discussion with network members about a multitude of historical and environmental issues concerning the wider borough and the many and varied localities that comprise it.
Richard was at the meeting basically as a fact-finding/getting-to-know-you exercise and took copious notes for further reference. He will attend the next network meeting in a more formal role, accompanied by Ian Rowe and Melanie Lamb, to give a presentation regarding the development of the borough’s Heritage and Environmental Strategy.
He will included on the mailing list and invited to all future network meetings.
Members Reports: (The secretay asked members to send in written reports if they wished them to be included in the minutes - so far those below have been recieved)
Ricard Sivill of Atherton Hertiage Society: Meetings will now be held on Wednesday
evenings in the Jubilee Hall in Atherton starting at 7.30PM, the talks for the
next three months are as follows:
Jan 9th Atherton Collieries – Alan Davies
Feb 13th She’s Airborne, she’s flying – Gordon Bartley
Mar 13th Crystal Palace & Great Exhibition – David Hill
Glenys McClellan of Leigh Family History Society circulated the programme for the Society's monthly meetings for the coming year to those present. The Society’s Help Desk is resuming at Leigh Library today after the Christmas break. She also confirmed that the Archives & Local Studies section were now open to the public in the Leigh while the Leigh Town Hall is refurbished.
Next Meeting: February 18th.