The speaker at our April meeting was one of our members, Moira Walshe, who has published a book on the history of her family, The Clarks of Crofton Hall. Unusually, Moira started finding out about her family when she was a teenager, inspired by old photographs. Spanning 130 years, the book gives a great insight into the lives of a Victorian family in London, their everyday concerns and their contact with famous friends and neighbours including PM Spencer Perceval, Pedlar Palmer a bare knuckle boxer and Ruskin, the writer and critic. Written as a story rather than a series of documents, this book is a tribute to Moira’s research and writing ability.
At the AGM, the committee was voted in to serve for a further year with the addition of Cheryl Penhaligan. The Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer all reported on a successful year for the society
Members are looking forward to this summer’s visits to Cherry Hinton, the site of a lost watermill and to Easton Lodge, a historic house at Great Dunmow.