The Next Big event

Membership Subscription: A slight increase this year in line with rising energy costs: £14 single, £25 for a couple. This entitles you to free entry to all our meetings with refreshments.

Here's a treat. This meeting is at the village club so we've got room for any extra people. A real feast of of what was then and what is now.

I'm always amazed at the comparative ease at which the Victorians managed to create these vast edifices and technological wonders, compared to the difficulties we have nowadays at merely trying to maintain them.

To the above list of talks a number of walks and trips to venues round about will be offered to members. A fully finalised list will be posted here and sent via email to all subscribed members. Although the trips will be discounted members will have have to part with a bit more of their well-earned funds in order to participate

David Veater has, after nearly 40years, finished editting a movie of Blagdon from a collection of interviews and walks around Blagdon that he made back in the mid-1980s. The final piece can be viewed on You-Tube if you follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIJy_sQJl8w .

Or click on the image below.

Screenshot 2024-06-06 at 20.36_edited.jpg

EVENTS 2024

We held our AGM on 8th February and were pleased to welcome two new committee members, John Lyons and James Everett. The role of Secretary remains unfilled.

Following the AGM, Jacky Kerly gave a presentation 'Insights from the 1921 Census' a recording of which can be viewed on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P5ZvpN1NNw&t=28s.

Anyone interested in their family or village history is welcome to view our 1921 records.

Many members renewed their subscriptions and received a copy of the 2024/25 programme. We kick off the new year with

'From sheep to shirts: how wool made Somerset' with Ken Parsons, on 13th March, 7.30pm in Court Lodge.

Ken writes, 'For centuries wool was a key foundation of the Somerset economy. This talk will tell the story of how the industry developed over time, leaving a lasting legacy we can see in many locations in the county even today'.

Subsequent presentations: April 10th, 'Wrington Curiosities' with local historian Mark Bullen,

May 8th, 'Unlocking the mysteries of the Stanton Drew stones' with Eamonn McGivern,

June 26th 'Blagdon Water Gardens, the story' with Peter May.

Originally booked for the 12th, due to unforeseen circumstances, it had to be moved to the later date.