Chairman's Report

GREAT BOWDEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY CHAIRMAN'S REPORT TO THE TWELFTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, APRIL 2008 The Society has had another successful year with average attendances of 50 members and visitors at each meeting. This reflects the high quality of speakers that the Committee have been able to book. Leicester University has been a centre for local history research since WG Hoskins was head of the department in the 1950’s. As a result we have been fortunate to book academics from the University and Leicester museums, who have given some excellent talks. For example, Richard Clarke gave a talk last June entitled “Great Bowden and its historic landscape”. Other speakers associated with the university have been Dr Wendy Freer (September 2007: “Carrying Coals from Leicestershire”) and of course we are looking forward to the return of Professor Ron Greenall in May who will be giving his talk entitled “The Making of the Midland Landscape”. We have tried to provide variety, beginning with what I would call a lively talk and presentation by members of the Northants Home Guard Re-enactment Society in October last year. The Harborough Movie makers gave another very entertaining film show at the January meeting. Our Cheese and Wine Xmas celebration was again well attended and much enjoyed. In these health conscious times the cheese content of the menu has been reduced but we are still able to provide a large variety of cheeses provided at wholesale prices by “The House of Callow”. We have produced two pamphlets this year: “Public Health in Great Bowden” and “A History of the Harborough and Bowdens charity”. There are now colour postcards of the village selling at 60p, available in the Post Office. Although we only make a small profit on these cards, it was felt that this would be an important advert for the activities of the Society. Previous pamphlets are still available and there is a steady demand for the Churchyard and Cemetery lists. We are indebted to Norah Groome our Secretary for all her work in the running of the Society and arranging our list of speakers. The summer outing last June was a visit to Launde Abbey. In spite of the adverse weather the trip was very enjoyable, with a supper provided. The AGM is of course the time to elect a new committee. We also need volunteers to carry out research as there are some new subjects in the pipeline which will need more work. We have been asked to produce a “History of GB church” and also a new “History of GB school”. Before I close, our Summer Outing this year is to Southwick Hall near Oundle; a board will be passed round for those interested to add their name. Paul Bennett, April 2008