In November the Wychwoods Local History Society are organising and participating in a number of events to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Cospatrick Tragedy.
© Blue Peter Productions 1924
Look out for the following:
• An exhibition of historic photographs, posters and newscuttings relating to the Cospatrick story in the Wychwoods Library, Milton, open from 4th November until mid December.
• The Society website has a new “Cospatrick Resources” page here with information about the Cospatrick story and links to many other sources of information relating to the Cospatrick and emigration from 19th Century Britain.
• The Society have compiled a new booklet giving an account of the Cospatrick story, and its place in Wychwoods history. This booklet has been generously sponsored by Simon Randall and Shipton Parish Council. The booklet will be available from 9th November.
• The Society’s evening Talk on 13th November is themed around the Cospatrick story. Talks by Carol Anderson and John Bennett will recount the story and its context as an episode in 19th Century emigration.
The evening will include a short audio recording of a dramatic emigration episode by former Society stalwart Duncan Waugh, and Jim Pearse will perform a poem on emigration that he first gave for the Society in 1990.
• Members of the Society are also contributing to the Oxfordshire Local History Society’s Study Day on emigration, This will be held at Burford Baptist chapel on 9th November, booking essential, further information here: [PDF Download in new window]
• There will be a memorial service at the Cospatrick Memorial on Sunday 17th November, at 11.15am, led by the vicar Sarah Sharp. The 17th November is the actual 150th Anniversary of the Cospatrick fire. This will be followed by a service at Shipton Parish Church.
