Category: History

News items relating to local history

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Zero Night

Zero Night

Zero Night the greatest untold escape story of World War II. The scene is set in Oflag V1-B the prison camp in Warburg.  It tells of 40 British and Commonwealth officers who hatched the most original and daring escape from deep inside Nazi  Germany.

Months of meticulous planning and secret training hung in the balance during three minutes of mayhem as prisoners charged the camp’s double perimeter fences.

Returning to the Tollesbury WEA, Mark Felton will entertain with his thrilling account of this remarkable escape.   It’s a story so fresh that Hollywood is making a movie out of the tutor’s book.

How to Attend

If you want to find out more about this World War II tale at Tollesbury on Saturday 10.00 -3.00 pm 10th November:

  • Check the WEA website wea.org.uk. Type in “Zero Night” in the subject or keyword box. You can book online
  • Call 0300 303 3464, alternatively
  • Contact Anne Mossman 07973 479636.

The course fee is £18 although discounts & concessions are available depending on your circumstances.

Venue address is Tollesbury Sailing Club. Woodrolfe Rd, CM9 8SE.

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History Everywhere

History Everywhere map

History Everywhere mapHistory Everywhere – 20th October

Do you enjoy walking in the countryside? Did you wonder about particular features that you see around you? Is it Saxon or Roman? Or perhaps why a town looks and feels the way it does?   If so, this one-day course, led by Nicholas James, is definitely for you.

Course Summary

Britain’s history lies in its familiar geographies. Town and country have been shaped by planning and by accidents, agreements and conflicts, policies and technologies, by work and by play, by worship, and, above all, by changing climate and population. We can identify a series of chapters:

  • the long era of prehistory, for which archaeology is the sole evidence;
  • the Roman period, commonly imagined as one of radical change but now seen, by some historians, as a mix of innovation and tradition;
  • the Saxon period, which witnessed both the collapse and the reinvention of state government and towns;
  • the later Middle Ages saw growth followed by a catastrophic decline;
  • the Early Modern period of urban and rural development under new concepts of civilization;
  • the industrial age of massive growth, technological transformation and radical policies.

The principles for studying landscapes and finding the clues are simple but the analysis of causes can be much more complicated.

How to Attend

If you want to find out more about this intriguing subject come to Tollesbury Saturday 10.00 -3.00 pm 20th October. Information about this day course can be found on the WEA website wea.org.uk. Type in “History Everywhere” in the subject or keyword box. You can book online or phone 0300 303 3464. Alternatively, contact Anne Mossman 07973 479636.  The course fee is £18 although discounts & concessions are available depending on your circumstances.

Venue address is Tollesbury Sailing Club. Woodrolfe Rd, CM9 8SE.

 

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PAWS February – A Sea Dog called Bamse

A Sea Dog called Bamse (WW11 Canine Hero)

After disembarking from the Hurtigruten cruise ship in Honningsvag, northern Norway, Peter Garner’s attention was caught by a large statue of a St. Bernard on the quayside (see right).  After reading a plaque on the wall he realised this dog called Bamse was a very special dog.  On returning to England he unearthed this story….. Continue reading “PAWS February – A Sea Dog called Bamse”

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PAWS October – A Sailor’s Life

Phil Lyons, presenter of A Sailor's Life, with JackiePAWS October – A Sailor’s Life

At the October meeting, our president, Jackie, welcomed Phil Lyons who had come along to talk about A Sailor’s Life.

Phil started with the fact that 21 men from Colchester and the surrounding villages had served at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21st October 1805. At that time Britain had the greatest navy in the world, with 108 ships but after the battle, they possessed 152 ships as they had captured those of the French and Spanish.

Boys as young as 7 served on board, often at sea for over 2 years before setting foot on terra firma. Crews were recruited by press gangs and quota men who rounded up paupers and criminals to serve in the navy. Interestingly 2 of the Colchester men joined voluntarily.  Life on the ships was a mixture of boredom, terror and sheer hard work. It took 8 men to hold the wheel in calm weather and 12 men in a storm, then there was always a danger of catching the wheel and being thrown overboard.

Food was poor with maggots in the meat and weevils in the ship’s biscuits, but men did not complain as at least they were fed. To prevent scurvy, Nelson provided his sailors with onions not limes!  The best part was the daily ration of grog, a mixture of half a pint of rum mixed with 4 parts of water, and a gallon of small beer served daily.  This provided the men with 200 units of alcohol a week!

The sailors slept in hammocks, caught rats for fun and were flogged for any misdemeanour.  50% died from malaria, yellow fever or typhus and many were wounded in battle. Desertion, mutiny and cowardice were hanging offences!

So was a sailor’s life a merry life? I leave you to decide.

Next Meeting

Our next meeting is our 10th anniversary celebration on the 22nd November, as such it will be closed to non-members. You can find details of all our meetings and speakers on the diary of the home page of this website. If you would like further information about P.A.W.S please ring either of the following committee members:

  • Alice Holmes 01206 735510, or
  • Jane Anderson 01206 735505
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Countdown to Zepfest

ZepfestCountdown to Zepfest

Zepfest will open [fergcorp_cdt_single date=”24th September 2016 14:00″] and tickets are now available, click to book.  Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Zeppelin L33 landing in Little Wigborough, the weekend of 24th & 25th September offers a lot of fun.  Hours are 2pm – 8pm on the Saturday and 10am – 4pm on Sunday.  Tickets are £10 adults, £5 children 7-15.  Zepfest takes place in Copt Hall Lane, Little Wigborough, CO5 7RD.

Tickets will be on sale at the gate, but due to ticket numbers being limited you are advised to book online well in advance.

Attractions include:

  • Daily programme of illustrated Talks,
  • Zeppelin archive film and audio show,
  • Static Displays about Zeppelins and the L33 with artefacts, memorabilia, photographs and documents,
  • Zeppelin art display,
  • WW1 aircraft, vehicles and simulators,
  • Flypast of WW1 aircraft from Stow Maries (weather permitting),
  • Walk the crash site and compare it with official 1916 photos,
  • Demonstrations of equipment by the Great War Living Historians,
  • Live music, singers and dancers (including Crossover Band on Saturday evening),
  • Activities for children,
  • Stalls of many kinds,
  • Heavy horse wagon rides,
  • Model T Ford car rides,
  • Kidz Kartz and Bouncy Castle,
  • … and much more!

 

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Car Park Closure

wigs-village-hallClosure of Car Park – Notice from The Wigboroughs Village Hall Management Committee

The old Village Hall in School Lane, Great Wigborough and the site on which it stands are the property of the villages of Great and Little Wigborough and public access is not automatic.

To affirm this, at least once a year, for a period of at least one week, the car park will be closed.

This is to advise you that the next period of closure will be from 28th March to 4th April 2015.  No access or egress will be possible during that period.

Jinny Gale
Chairman

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Accessibility by WAH