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Annual General Meeting 2015

On Tuesday, 26th May 2015, the Romsley and Hunnington History Society held its 49th Annual General Meeting in the Church Hall. Paul Share, the Chairman, reported that the Society now had 51 members and continued to flourish. There have been various meetings and activities throughout the year and our President, Julian Hunt, has worked tirelessly in his quest to research the history of the area. The Wills and Court Rolls projects have progressed well and Julian has also made a valuable financial contribution to the Society from the many lectures he has given.

Paul thanked June Humphreys for all her hard work as Secretary to the group over the past 22 years. June is retiring but will continue as Website Co-ordinator. The Society owes both June and her late husband, Eric, a debt of gratitude for all their help. Koviljka Riley will now take on the role of Secretary and Robert Andrews will now be responsible for booking speakers. There is a very interesting programme of talks for the next season.

Our Treasurer, Ruth Harper, reported that the finances of the Society were healthy and there was no need to increase the subscriptions. Jean Cockin is continuing her work interviewing local residengts and recording their memories. The Society has had a very successful year and is looking forward to the 2015-2016 season when it will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the first meeting in 1966.

After the formal part of the proceedings David Eades gave a talk on "The Photographs and Postcards of Brian Green 1942-2003". Brian, with his camera, recorded the buildings, roads and canals of the area around Halesowen as they were in his lifetime. Do you realise that Halesowen once had three cinemas, two hospitals, and several chapels, all housed in beautiful buiildings and now sadly demolished? If there was any demolition or renovation Brian recorded the changes for prosperity. His photographs gave a very interesting view of Halesowen in the not too distant past.

We look forward to the presentation by Ruth Harper "Soggy Cabbage and Ink Stained Fingers" on Tuesday, 23rd June, in the school, which will be open at about 6.45 p.m., to allow people to look around. This is to celebrate the centenary of Romsley School. There will be an outing to the Carpet Museum, Kidderminster on Thursday, 2nd July and the Annual Dinner will be on Friday, 10th July, at Blakedown Golf Club. The first talk of the new season will be on Tuesday, 22nd September 2015. It will be a return visit by Paul Harding and Helen Lee, who will be giving a talk on "The Battle of Evesham". Everyone is welcome.

Pat Evans

Armistice Anniversary Display

Photos and memorabilia of the First World War were on display as part of the Remembrance Day commemoration held on 11 November 2018 at the Scout HQ in Romsley.

Court Rolls of Romsley 1279-1643

book4

Wednesday 13th September was a very auspicious day for the Romsley and Hunnington History Society. It was the day the book, Court Rolls of Romsley 1279-1643, edited by Matthew Tompkins, was launched. Many members of the Worcestershire Historical Society, who published the book, and members of Romsley and Hunnington History Society gathered in the Church Hall to celebrate the occasion.

Matthew Tompkins gave a talk explaining how it took him 10 years to transcribe and translate the rare Court Rolls of Romsley, which remarkably had survived for over 300 years. Fortunately, he had modern technology in the form of a digital camera to help him, but his task was by no means easy. The result is the very interesting book, which gives an insight into the lives of people living in Romsley over 700 years ago.

Chairman's Annual Report 2014-2015

I am pleased to report that the membership of the Society continues to flourish.

Our Annual Dinner was held on the 13th June at Churchill and Blakedown Golf Club and my thanks go to our member Dr. Michael Hall for being our speaker for the evening.

The Annual Summer trip, bathed in sunshine, was a very informative guided tour of Wightwick Manor followed by a walk around the grounds.

Our Secretary, June, has once again given us a very good selection of speakers for the year. Robert Andrews has now taken over the role of booking speakers and has now booked a varied selection of speakers for 2015/2016.

Our President, Julian Hunt, continues to work tirelessly in his quest to research the history of the villages of Romsley and Hunnington, and provides information for the continuation of the Wills and Court Rolls team meetings. The Wills project continues with indexing all the information and my thanks go to the team for their continued support with this project.

I would also like to thank Julian for his financial contributions to the society from the many lectures he has given to other groups.

My thanks to June Humphreys for her hard work over the many years she has been Secretary, and although she is retiring from this position I am so pleased she will continue to be the Website Co-ordinator.

Our thanks to Jean Cockin for her continuing work interviewing residents of the villages and recording their memories.

My personal thanks to all committee members and helpers who contribute to the continuing success of the society, and, of course, to the members who attend on a monthly basis.

Paul Share, Chairman, 26th May 2015

July 2016: The Ballad of St Kenelm

As part of Romsley and Hunnington History Society's 50th Anniversary celebrations, a special performance of the Ballad of St Kenelm A.D. 821 is being staged at St Kenelm's School, Romsley, at 2.00pm on Sunday, 3 July 2016.

The Ballad of St Kenelm, written by local novelist Francis Brett Young (1884-1954), tells the story of St Kenelm, the boy king of Mercia, who was murdered near Clent as part of his sister's plot to gain the throne. It is one of a collection of poems entitled The Island, first published in 1944, in which Francis Brett Young explores themes in English History in a masterly and lyrical fashion. The Francis Brett Young Society has now commissioned the local composer Andrew Downes to set The Ballad of St Kenelm to music, using a 14-piece orchestra and a cast of players to bring the story to life. The haunting music and Francis Brett Young's powerful verse make a moving combination.

The Ballad of St Kenelm will be conducted by Cynthia Downes. She will be joined by the Hagley Community Orchestra and the Central England Ensemble and her daughter Paula will sing the soprano lead. Tickets for this exciting and unique event are priced at £10.00 and are available from Paul Share, Chairman of the Romsley and Hunnington History Society, 197, Bromsgrove Road Hunnington, telephone 01562 710197.