KENNINGTON HISTORY SOCIETY

In January the Society’s first event of the New Year was a quite exceptional talk by local historian Liz Woolley called ‘It will do him more good than going to school’ and subtitled ‘Child Labour in Nineteenth Century Oxfordshire’. Liz said she had recently completed an MSc in English Local History at Oxford University’s Department for Continuing Education and whilst investigating child labour during the Industrial Revolution became interested in the experiences of child workers in Oxfordshire: a rural, rather than industrial, county. Following an improvement in the weather it was again a packed hall that was treated to the fascinating results of Ms. Woolley’s research, that had produced such thought provoking findings.

Also at this meeting the Chairman announced the exciting new ‘Programme for 2010’ which had been arranged by the Society’s Speakers’ Organizer, Terry Cale.

In February the History Society held its Annual General Meeting at which, following a positive review of the year from the Chairman, the Treasurer, Doreen Horseman, reported the Society’s very healthy financial position enabling the recommendation that the annual membership fees remain unchanged for 2011. This proposal was approved by the meeting as was the re-election of the existing Committee. Another matter agreed was that this year’s Annual Coach Trip, scheduled for Thursday the 23rd September 2010, should be to the City of Worcester. The AGM was followed by a Members’ Evening with three Society Members giving short presentations. Firstly David Holt told us about a man ‘he would have liked to have met’, Dr John Snow, regarded as a leading founder of epidemiology for establishing how the killer disease cholera was communicated. David said although Dr Snow had published his theory in 1849, it was not until a bad cholera outbreak in Soho in 1854 that he was able to show that one infected water pump in the area was the source of the disease. Mark Horseman then read an amusing poem, with the help of pictures, about the history of the Railways and finally Charles Swaisland told of his experiences driving a truck along the Burma Road during the early years of the war.

‘this month’

On Monday the 15th March 2010 at 7:45pm in the Methodist Church a very popular

previous speaker Christine Whild will give a seasonal talk entitled ‘Easter Customs’

‘next month’

The Society’s next event will see the return of Martin Way, a speaker that members know well, On this occasion his is to give a talk entitled ‘Tin Helmets and Gas Masks’

: An Exploration of the Home Front. We can hardly wait!

History Society events are free to members with visitors welcome at a change of £2.50.

George Ross

Chairman Kennington History Society