“Beautifully structured”, “extremely interesting”, “brilliant and amusing too” were some of the remarks overheard after Dr Beat Kumin’s lecture on The development of the parish at the most recent meeting of the Kineton Local History Group.

Such is the standard of speakers at the group’s monthly meetings now that one frequently feels like saying “that was the best ever!” but here with some justification.

Dr Kumin from the University of Leicester, took a subject that many of those present had not thought much about and presented a potted history of the structure of parishes from early 14th century to the present day.  He had the help of excellent slides and examples, many of which were directly related to Kineton and district, something not all lecturers manage to do and which was much appreciated.

He explained the division of land into territorial units – manor, parish and hundred – and the relevance of such terms as glebe land and Tithes, yet within this was all delivered with a light touch and made accessible, even to the least well-informed on the subject, so that when the lecture ended the audience could not believe where the time had gone and were left hungry for more.  One remark surely sums up the evening – “utterly professional, but he never made us feel stupid” – a tribute with which most present would concur.