NEWSLETTER, 18th April 2022
I hope you all took advantage of the untypically good weather we enjoyed over the Bank Holiday weekend. The spring has decided it’s OK come out.
Morris Dancing, like Mumming, is a rural tradition that has undergone a revival, and enthusiasts are often quite evangelical. Again, some will remember Stephen Wass and his lively performance in a horse costume, prior to persuading some of our members to risk their fingers in a stick bashing dance (see picture for an idea of how it should be done).
At present there are no mandatory covid-related restrictions on the use of the village hall, so we expect to present a normal evening, with refreshments. However, we advise that masks be worn when moving around, unless taking refreshments, and that the hand washing facilities be used.
Review of AGM 18th March
The AGM was overseen by David Freke as our President was unable to attend, but Robert Bearman had agreed to continue to serve as President for the coming year. The agenda and the Chairman’s and Treasurer’s reports had been circulated, and were approved unanimously. Peter Waters retired from the committee and was thanked for his contributions to the group in this capacity for 6 years, He has generously agreed to continue to audit our accounts. The meeting elected the following committee:
| President: | Robert Bearman MBE |
| Chairman: | David Freke |
| Vice-Chairman: | Roger Gaunt |
| Secretary: | Ilona Sekacz |
| Treasurer: | Alec Hitchman |
| Outings Secretary: | Vacant |
| Programme Secretary: | Claire Roberts |
| Other committee members: | |
| Rosemary Collier | |
| George Lokuciejewski | |
| Catherine Petrie | |
| Pamela Redgrave | |
| Isobel Gill |
The AGM was followed by James Ranahan’s postponed talk The Photographer’s Gaze: viewing Warwickshire since 1839. James’s position as archivist at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, and previously the Photographic Archivist at the Library of Birmingham, has given him intimate knowledge of the major collections of historic photographs of the West Midlands and Warwickshire. He used this experience to illustrate how individual local photographers exploited technical advances and how they approached the subjects of their photographs — “the photographers’ gaze”.
The earliest photographers captured notable individuals and places, but this was quickly followed by attempts to emulate “fine art”, with posed compositions of subjects familiar to Victorian Royal Academicians. These often required the compilation of multiple images to render the subject, and we saw an affecting sickbed scene by Henry Peach Robinson which could have been a painting.. Views of local tourist beauty spots became important as people acquired greater mobility through the bicycle, the charabanc and the motor car. The rise of the photograph as record was shown with a picture bowler-hatted archaeologists from 1923. This function continues to this day of course, and James showed an example of an aerial photograph, still an important branch of archaeological investigation. Major enterprises use photographs as records and PR, and we saw historic pictures of RSC productions – Paul Robeson as Othello for example.
The introduction of the Kodak Box Brownie (1900) and 120mm roll film brought photography to the masses, and “snaps” are still a part of most people’s personal archive, although now these are more likely to be digital and stored on phones than in family albums. James’s review of almost two centuries of photography showed how a once elite occupation for specialists has become completely a part of everyday life, to the point where sometimes it seems more important to digitally record (and share) an event than actually experience it! Steve gale gave our vote of thanks, pointing out that it is estimated that about 55,000 pictures are taken every second, over 90% on smart phones.
2022-3 Programme:
| 22 April | Alan Benjamin | ‘The History and Music of Morris Dancing’ with instrumental accompaniment. |
| 20 May | Anne Langley | ‘Early allotments in Warwickshire’ a major institution of Victorian village life |
| 17th June | 6.30pm | Guided walk around Ilmington |
| July | tbc | |
| 12 August | 2.30 pm | Walk around Chipping Norton with Blue Badge guide |
| 16 September | Norman Hyde | ‘Tennis the Leamington Way.’ the oldest tennis club in the world and its importance to Leamington over 170 years. |
| 21 October | Roy Smart | ‘David Beatty – The Last Naval Hero’ fame and celebrity following the Battle of Jutland, the greatest naval battle in history. |
| 18 November | Rosemary Collier | A Potted History of the National Vegetable research Station, Wellesbourne |
| 9 December | Richard Churchley | ‘Christmas Songs Through the Ages’ the Middle Ages to the 1940s |
| 20 Jan 2023 | Beat Kümin | ‘For a Good Cause – Church Ales and Early Modern Drinking Culture.’ |
| 17 Feb 2023 | David Fry | The Silk Ribbon Industry of Coventry’ |
| 17 March 2023 | AGM |
Membership. If you are, or would like to become, a Member of the group, your 2022 subscription is due (still £10pa!). Our Treasurer Alec Hitchman awaits! You can pay by cheque made payable to Kineton and District Local History Group, sent or delivered to Alec Hitchman, The Hills Farm, Pillerton Hersey, WARKS, CV35 0QQ,
With our bank now charging for payments by cheque or cash, we would urge those who can to please pay by BACS to our bank business account:
name: Kineton and District Local History Group,
sort code: 40-43-19;
acc. no. 71281992. Please include your full name so we can correctly attribute your payment.
You can join at any talk.
Other Society Events.
Warmington Heritage Group
Thursday April 21stth Chris Pickford Notable Buildings of Warwickshire. in the Village Hall at 7.30pm
Thursday May 19th Jude Barrett Art and Archaeology in the Village Hall at 7.30pm
Warwickshire Local History Society
K&DLHG is affiliated to WLHS and our members are entitled to join their meetings.
Tue 26 April 2022 at 19:30 The next WLHG talk via Zoom :is by Maria Tauber Sir Roger Newdigate at Arbury. Go to www.warwickshirehistory.org.uk for link to join the meeting
British Association for Local History. The Kineton Group is also a Member of BALH and they run lectures and talks which are open to our members.
Check their website www.balh.org.ukf or upcoming talks available virtually.
Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society
Wednesday 20th April 7.00pm. Online only: David Freke Medieval Grafitti of South Warwickshire Churches Email frekedj@globalnet.co.uk for link to join this free talk.
Warwickshire in WWII
The link below takes you to a fascinating article about WWII in the locality, keep going to the end to read about PoW Camp 31 at Ettington.
Don’t forget to check our own website at:
Kineton and District Local History Group (kinetonhistory.co.uk)
Committee News. The committee met 14th March via Zoom 4.00pm.
Date of next Committee meeting. 9th May. Venue tbc
DF 19.04.22
Contact: David Freke tel: 07876 290044…Email frekedj@globalnet.co.uk