KENNINGTON HISTORY SOCIETY

December saw the return of one of the Society’s favourite speakers, Graham Sutherland, who on this occasion gave a fascinating illustrated talk entitled ’Grave Tales and Monuments’ Over the course of the presentation Graham showed us pictures of a wide variation of monuments and other markers which commemorate important events that have happened throughout the world.

A happy evening concluded with the consumption of delicious seasonal refreshments.

The first event of the New Year held in January was a delightful illustrated talk by one of our members, Ruth Clarkson, about ‘The Oxford Pageant of 1907’ Ruth, with great humour, told a very good audience, given the extremely cold weather, the story of this week-long event which took place at the end of the Broad Walk in Christ Church Meadow. She explained there was a cast of between 3000 and 4000 local people who re-enacted memorable scenes from Oxford’s history from the legend of St Frideswide, the birth of the University and the story of Henry II and Fair Rosamund to the St Scholastica’s Day Riots and the Civil War.

Ruth concluded by quoting Mark Twain’s very complimentary eyewitness report which appeared in the New York Times in the same week as the Pageant.

‘this month’

The History Society’s next event, to be held on Monday the 20th February 2012 in the Methodist Church starting at 7:45pm, will be the Society’s Annual General Meeting which as usual will be followed directly by a ‘Members’ Evening‘. This is an annual opportunity for members to make a short presentation about something of an historic nature which interests them. This year’s there will two presentations. Firstly Roger Gelder and George Ross will give an illustrated talk about local ‘Standing Stones and Ancient Burial Chambers’ and then member, Roland Bradbury, will tell us about ‘The Fire Engine at the bottom of my garden’

‘next month’

An early date for your diary on Monday the 19th March 2012 in the Methodist Church at 7:45pm we will have the long awaited visit from Thea Young, the Visitor Manager of Sulgrave Manor who will give an illustrated talk entitled ‘Easter at Sulgrave Manor’ : a talk about the Traditions of the Season (This is a change of subject due to the timing of the talk)

Kennington History Society talks are free to members with visitors welcome @ £2:50. For a membership application form please click here.

Just a reminder, this year’s subscriptions were due on the 1st January 2012. If you have not already renewed this can be done at any of the Society’s monthly meetings or directly to the Treasurer, Doreen Horseman, 9 Manor Grove, Kennington, Oxford, OX1 5QY.

George Ross

Chairman Kennington History Society