This last year has been difficult for everyone with the imposition of Covid 19 restrictions. But the Wychwood Local History Society, like all societies has had to adapt and with the use of Zoom, still provided talks for members. Obviously Zoom meetings are not for everyone, or as good as face-to-face meetings in Milton Village Hall but I hope those of you who managed to join us have enjoyed the programme provided.
Unfortunately, one of the casualties, along with two meetings, was the AGM. So, this year it is imperative that members are given the opportunity to vote on the membership of the committee, which will still be via Zoom. But if you have any queries regarding the running of the WLHS or would like to join the committee and cannot use Zoom then please get in touch with me or a committee member.
Programme
We were able to provide most of the speakers on the programme and those that were cancelled I hope to get back in the coming year. Zoom did enable us to join with the Charlbury Society and share each other’s talks which went very well. Also Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock has been producing ‘webinars’ on subjects from Pegasus Bridge to the 52nd Foot at Waterloo to which members were invited to join. The Wychwoods Local History Society has also been asked to put a display in Milton Library on the history of Milton High Street.
Journals
We still have a number of these available free for members who may have some missing from their collection. We are in the process of uploading all the Journals onto the website to make it easier to access for anybody undertaking research into their family history.
Website
This has come on leaps and bounds thanks to David Betterton and Alan Vickers who have posted over 750 photos of the Wychwoods on the site. I would highly recommend, if you have not already visited the website, to do so; apart from the photos there are many stories of life in the Wychwoods, both written and in audio files. And if you have any remembrances of stories of the Wychwoods I am sure they would be very pleased to hear them and post them on the web. Go to www.wychwoodshistory.uk
Wychwoods Local History Society 40th Anniversary
On Wednesday 8th September it will be our 40th anniversary of the founding of WLHS. We hope to be able to meet in Milton Village Hall for the celebrations which we are planning. If for any reason we cannot meet in the hall then we will have to work on alternative arrangements.
We have a very extensive and varied programme for this next season which is attached to this report. I am always pleased to hear from members who might know of a speaker who would be able to talk to us on historic topics particularly of local interest.
I would like to thank my committee for all their help and support during these interesting times and we can only hope to be returning to some sort of normality at the start of our next seasons programme.
Roger Watts
Chairman and Membership Secretary
