14 September
Rothwell Charter and Fair and Market - Granted by King John in 1204
This talk by Robert Denton will be in three parts:
1. The History of the Fair
2. My duties as Bailiff to the Lord of the Manor
3. The formation of the Rowell Fair Society and how we celebrated 800 years of the Charter. For the 800th Celebrations the BBC sent their film crew and produced a programme for ‘Inside Out’. A ten minute clip of this programme will be shown to give a pictorial follow up to the talk.
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12 October
R & W H Symington
Ian Symington founded the Symington Family History Society in 1998 and has, in his spare time, researched many of the Symington family lines. He has for the last two years, spent much of his time researching into the Market Harborough Symington family (not his own line), and produced a number of books on the subject. He is now preparing for the Symington family reunion in the village of Symington in Lanarkshire in August 2006, 700 years after the name started!

9 November
The Social History of Vauxhall Motors
Most towns have a prominent works with which they have been closely identified e.g. Harborough and the corset factory. Luton has likewise been identified with Vauxhall Motors throughout the twentieth century and this is the story of its relationship with the car industry. Moving from hats in the nineteenth century to cars in the twentieth century,produced considerable social changes. This Illustrated talk gives the outline of the development of Vauxhall and its social impact on Lutonians. Dr Len Holden has written a book tracing these developments. He was formerly Principal Lecturer in Industrial Relations at De Montfort University.

Saturday 12 November
History in and around Harborough
This is our annual one-day conference on local history and archaeology, highlighting current research.
Venue: The Council Suite, Harborough District Council Offices, Adam and Eve Street, Market Harborough (entrance on corner of building facing Church Square.)

14 December
Christmas Social
Well known local auctioneer John Gilding will entertain us with his tales of "Auction Room Chat" and insights into his occupation since school days to the present day. Never a dull moment! 

 

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diaries from previous years

11 January 2006
The History of Gartree Prison and the Prison Service
A detailed presentation of the history of HMP Gartree, preceeded by a short history of the Prison Service. An examination of events at Gartree (including the riots of the 1970’s, and the notorious helicopter escape in 1987), and their relation to developments in English Penal history. Dick Callan was born in Market Harborough, and is a former international middle distance runner. He is Head of Finance at HMP Gartree, and decided to research the history of Gartree with the aim of writing a book about it.

8 February
“Goinge by the Manner of Roguishe Egipcians”
The Roma, who formed the basis of the group of people nowadays identified as Gypsies probably arrived in England during the final decade of the 15th century, The term ‘Gypsy’ is derived in part form the explanation they offered to those who sought to know about their origins. David Smith will examine documentary evidence relating to the presence of the Gypsy within English society from the 16th to the mid-19th century.

8 March
Annual General Meeting

Please try to attend this meeting which will help us to shape the continuing future of your Society, and provide programme topics which are of interest to the majority of members.
Staircases in the Harborough Area
After the AGM Graham Stretton will give a short talk about staircases in the Harborough Area.

12 April
On the Waterfront
A New national museum in Wales. Steph Mastoris was Keeper of the Harborough Museum from 1987 until 1995. After a further nine years working for Leicestershire Museums at Snibston Discovery Park, he was appointed Head of the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea (a branch of the National Museums of Wales). This exciting, high-tech museum aims to tell the story of the industrialisation of Wales and celebrates the country’s ongoing record of technological innovation.

10 MAY
The Nursing Association and the Cottage Hospital
Market Harborough Hospital was created by the people of Harborough for the people of Harborough and surrounding villages. They paid for it by charitable gifts, donation of individual bricks, eggs and time. John Mayberry’s interest in the hospital grew out of his work there as a consultant.

14 June
Summer Visit
To be advised, possibly Rockingham Castle.

 

 

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