Barking and District Historical Society

BARKING AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

May 2011 NOTICES

SOCIETY NEWS

Along with Richard Chapman and other members of the Society, I attended the funeral of Maureen Rollingson on 13 April at the Hainault Crematorium. The proceeds of the History Fair refreshments were donated to St. Francis Hospice in Maureen's memory.

Dorothy Lockwood, a vice-president of the Society, has generously donated the draft manuscript of Oxley's Barking book to the Society archives.

Our stall was extremely busy at the Chadwell Heath History Fair in April and I must thank Pat Manley and Richard Chapman for their help at the event. The winners of the royal weddings quiz at the fair were June Johnson (CH), Rene Frost (CH), Pauline Hague (Rush Green), Richard Wall (Dagenham) and Deirdre Morculescu (Dagenham).

There are still places for the Dickensian Summer Festival at Rochester on 5 June and the to the 1940s event at Chatham Historic Dockyard on the 18 September. The booking sheets for both events are available on the information table. If you have any ideas for trips next season, please let me know.

I have arranged for a guided tour of Valence House Local Studies Centre on Saturday 2 July exclusively for our members and their guests. There will also be the opportunity to visit the museum. Meet in the Visitor Centre cafe at 10.15am. If you interested in coming along, please sign the sheet on the information table.

There will be a visit (by public transport) to the Bank of England Open Day on Saturday 9 July. Meet at Chadwell Heath station at 10am. Booking sheet available on the information table.

We are taking part in the Local and Family History Fair at Valence House on Saturday 21 May (10am - 4pm) as part of Local History Month. There will be live music (choir). Free admission. Please come along and support us!

Our last talk of the season will be on Monday 6 June when Kathy Lancaster delivers a talk on the London Docklands.

EVENTS

Chadwell Heath Historical Society's next meeting is on 18 May when David Evans will be speaking on Fair shares for all: rationing in Britain during and after the Second World War. Wangey Chapel, Wangey Road, Chadwell Heath.Visitors welcome £1.50. Further details 0208 590 4659.

One man went to mow: a Victorian farmer in Barking is the title of a talk by Pat and Barbara Elliot to members of the Newham History Society on Tuesday 10 May at 7.45pm at the Brian Didsbury Centre, Didsbury Close, East Ham. Visitors £2.00.

The next meeting of the Barking Branch of the East of London Family History Society is on Saturday 14 May when Alfred Beadle delivers a talk The Ratcliffe Murders. Salvation Army Hall, Ripple Road, Barking 2pm. Further details 0208 592 9540.

Lost Voices of the Titanic is the subject of a talk by William Tyler to the Friends of Valence House at Valence House Visitor Centre, Becontree Avenue, Dagenham on Tuesday 17 May at 2pm. Visitors welcome £1.50.

The next Friends of Valence House book sale (at the above address) is on Saturday 16 July 10am - 3pm. Admission free.

There will be a Tudor Day on Saturday 4 June 2011 at Eastbury Manor House, Eastbury Square, Barking, IG11 9SN. 10am - 4pm. Telephone 020 8724 1002 for more details.

The annual Twilight Classical Concert takes place in the Barking Abbey ruins, St. Pauls Road, Barking on Saturday 28 May 7.30pm - 10pm. Free admission.

The Dagenham Docks films will be shown again at Valence House on Thursday 26 May 1.30 - 2.30. If you have not attended any of the previously showing, take the opportunity to do so as it is a fascinating glimpse of working life at Samuel Williams and Sons.

John Blake - Chairman

barkinghistorical@hotmail.com 0208 597 7210