Historical Association – fallen heroes remembered

Despite the atrocious weather on Thursday evening a goodly number of members and visitors attended the Melksham & District Historical Association September meeting.  

Chair Cathy Berry reports, “The doors opened at 6.30pm as the evening was dedicated to the “Fallen of WW1” and was part exhibition and part presentation. The pictorial display, a re-run from four years ago, included copies of the late Peter Brown’s vast archive of material, pictures and information of some of the men who lost their lives, our hospitals at that time, the growth of Spencer’s due to the production of munitions, and other ways in which the town was affected.

“There were artefacts, also archive material on show relating to military and domestic events that we thought would be of interest.  It was also an opportunity to display items that would not have been seen since we closed the Heritage Centre in the Round House.

“Also on show were items relating to Alec Henry Montague Spurrier, (father of the late Patrick Spurrier), who had been in the Merchant Navy.

“The second part of the evening was given over to a slide presentation by Tony Fivash which was divided into before, during, and after the First World War, using the slides from the association’s collection.

“Our next meeting will be on Thursday 18th October about the ‘History of the Great Bustard and its present situation on Salisbury Plain’. It will be held at the Melksham Assembly Hall at 7.30pm. Visitors very welcome (£3).”