The early June high pressure weather was still in force on the Tuesday for our guided walk of Mill Street, Packington, with 32 people led by our chairman Robin Boucher, pictured below:
Mill Street PVHG-Guided Walk Success – Tuesday 15th June 2021
Guided Walk – Mill Street History – 7:30 pm Tuesday 15th June 2021, led by PVHG
Packington Village History Group PVHG offers a FREE guided history walk of our village’s Mill Street, starting at 7:30 pm on Tuesday 15th June 2021 (weather permitting! – else Tuesday 22nd June 2021)
The guided walk will be led by PVHG chair Robin Boucher, whose reputation as a fount of knowledge of both Packington and History is well-deserved.
Mill Street has been described as “The Jewel in The Crown” of Packington, containing some of the most beautiful and historic aspects of our village.
However – it hasn’t always been known as “Mill Street”..
It’s 68 years since the Coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II – do you know where to find this reminder?
This wall, above, is almost 200 years old – 198 already. Do you know where on Mill Street it is to be found?
The ancient Mill Street steps above are 180 years old. Do you know where they are, and where do – or did – they lead?
Answers to many more of our – and your – questions should be available from our Walk Leader, Robin Boucher, on Tuesday 15th June 2021, starting from the top end of Babelake Street at 7:30 pm. PVHG hope to see you there.
Agenda for AGM Annual General Meeting
Tuesday 23rd February 2021
This postponed PVHG Annual General Meeting AGM is to be held virtually on Zoom while Pandemic restrictions persist. Details will be published – please contact chair Robin Boucher on 411638 if you don’t receive them by Monday 22nd February 2021
- Minutes of last year’s Annual General Meeting AGM held on 28th January 2020
- Chairman’s Report for 2020 available here
- Treasurer’s Report
- Election of officers for 2021
Chairman: Candidate Robin Boucher
Vice-Chairman: Vacancy
Secretary: Vacancy
Treasurer: Vacancy
Committee members:
- Membership fees for 2021: proposal to waive
- Dates and meeting arrangements for 2021
PVHG Chairman’s Report 2021
Packington Village History Group PVHG – Chair’s Report to Annual General Meeting AGM, 26 January 2021
The January AGM has had to be postponed, it became a successful Zoom trial. PVHG will now meet virtually for our AGM on Zoom on Tuesday 23rd February 2021. Here is the report from the chair:
Robin Boucher writes:
I ended my report to last year’s AGM with the words ”Roll on 2020” – I must be more careful what I wish for!
Following that well-attended January AGM, we met in February 2020 when we scrutinised Adrian Mongredien’s survey of Anglo-Saxon and Viking Packington. (Thanks to Adrian for all the work he did on this, now available here as a FREE download on our website). After this the Covid curtain fell and we have been unable to meet since.
This does not mean that nothing has happened. We have received and responded to occasional enquiries from residents of the village and further afield, we have sold a couple of our publications, and I have added 27 items to our archive. The group’s website pvhg.uk continues to flourish (thank you Robert). However, it has not been possible to further the group’s development in any meaningful way.
As we start 2021, Yvonne Eaton has declared her wish to stand down as our secretary and treasurer. I believe Yvonne has been involved with the group since it started around 1988: our archive includes examples of her work as secretary from thirty years ago. More recently she hosted numerous group meetings at her own home and when the archive was rendered homeless in 2017 she and her husband kindly agreed to provide temporary accommodation for it. I have found her an invaluable source of information and support while I have been group chair. A very big thankyou, Yvonne, for all you have done.
Obviously we now need to fill the roles of secretary and treasurer, which can be undertaken either separately or together. I have asked Yvonne to draw up a list of the tasks involved as a kind of “job description.” I would be pleased to hear from anyone associated with the group who would consider taking up either or both roles.
Looking ahead, for the time being Government rules and Covid risks prevent us from meeting in the normal way. At present it is far from clear how long this will continue. I am happy to try virtual meetings through Zoom, as some members have advocated, as a short-term measure. I recognise this will not appeal to all of the group’s members and friends and we will need to consider the position more fully if nothing changes in the first half of the year.
With regard to subscriptions, clearly members who paid up in January last year had very little to show for their investment. Putting that alongside Covid uncertainty, I propose to waive payments for this year. The treasurer’s report shows a robust financial position and we should be able to meet all foreseeable expenditure.
Finally, I am willing to continue to serve as chair for the coming year, if that is the wish of group members.
Robin Boucher
28th January 2021
Gravestone Photo Resource now hosts Packington Records
Packington Village History Group PVHG has joined with a major internet repository of Gravestone Photographic Records to host hundreds of images of Packington gravestones, with the details of over 460 names recorded on them. There are still more to be added, when time permits..
YOU can now access these records, using the Gravestone Photo Resource (GPR) website
Here’s what you’ll see:
No May 2020 Meeting for PVHG.
Message from our Chairman
Hello all – Hoping everyone is keeping safe and well.
You will not be surprised to hear that we will not be meeting on Tuesday 26th May as originally planned.
I will confirm the position for our June meeting nearer to the date.
For clarity, I will not be leading the walk along Mill Street which we planned for 30th June: I have done some more preparation work on this, so maybe we will be able to arrange it during 2021.
One day, as both the Queen and Vera Lynn put it, We Will Meet Again! In the meantime, best wishes to all.
Robin Boucher
A VITAL STORY to be told – YOURS
Write YOUR Life Story.. for future Packington Residents to read – and to be amazed..?
In March 2020, while confined to his home in our village, Adrian Mongredien writes:
At Hay Literary Festival, I heard a historian talk on how to write the story of our lives.
She told us that nothing is more valuable to historians than first hand experiences. The only way these can be discovered and cross-checked is if a number of people can be persuaded to write about their own individual experiences.
In the next few years the number of people who can remember living just after or through the Second World War will rapidly diminish. Every one of us has a unique story to tell. Events that we may see as mundane and ordinary may be fascinating to our great grandchildren. Consider – if you are over 70, then:
- you probably grew up in a house with no central heating;
- with coal fires which you were taught how to light and keep going.
- you may remember what life was like before television.
- you may have had no shower, but one bath a week if there was enough hot water.
How can we write our own life story? A good way to start is to find your birth certificate. In my case I was able to find, from mine, the building that I was born in on google maps – a nursing home in Weston Favell Northamptonshire in 1942- and discover that it is still there although it is now an old people’s home. Can you remember
- the house, or area, in which you were born?
- Where you first went to school?
- How near were you to your local shops?
- Was food and sweets rationed?
- How many people lived there in the city, town, or village where you lived as a child?
- Where was the nearest Park?
- What sort of games did you play with other children living on your street?
- Did you have a birthday party when you were a child?
- What sort of presents did you receive at Christmas?
- What was your favourite radio programme?
- How many times did you go to the cinema every month?
Answers to all these questions will be of interest to future generations who will almost certainly be living very different lifestyles, as indeed are we today already.
I started writing the story of my early life a couple of years ago. Along the way I have found myself searching the internet for photos of New Brighton Pier (now demolished) and my secondary school (also demolished), and recently discovering on the net, the value of the house where I lived in a bedsit for ten months, during my few years in London in the “swinging sixties”. I was amazed to discover that it sold a couple of years ago for over £27,000,000. That is twenty seven million!!
You have no idea what will turn up until you sit down at your lap top and begin to remember your beginnings.
Over two decades ago, our Village History Group produced some fascinating reminiscences in the form of this “Where were you in the War?” booklet. Please will you NOW help us write YOUR history, for future village residents to enjoy? PVHG hope to publish YOUR story in a similar booklet when our current enforced home isolation comes to an end ..
PVHG suspends 24th March 2020 meet
A message from our Chairman
Hello all:
Normally at this point of the month I would be sending you a reminder that our next meeting will take place in a week’s time (Tuesday 24th March).
However, like most or all of you, I have listened carefully to the Government’s guidance concerning the corona virus. It is clear that the over-70’s and those who have underlying health conditions are seen as vulnerable groups – both these categories are relevant to our Group. The advice is to adopt social distancing from the coming weekend.
With regret we cannot say that the History Group is an essential service! I therefore believe it is appropriate to suspend our meetings for the time being. I have learned that the Memorial Hall Committee has taken the decision to close the Hall for the time being, which rather takes things out of our hands anyway.
The Government advice is that measures will be in place for the next twelve weeks, which has implications for our April and May dates – I will however take one month at a time and will confirm about these dates nearer the appropriate times.
I look forward to our meeting again when it is considered safe to do so, and wish good health to you all in the meantime.
With best wishes – Robin Boucher
Minutes of our February 2020 Meeting
At Venue 35 – the Memorial Hall Meeting Room – on Tuesday 25th February 2020 at 7:30 pm
Present: Chairman Robin Boucher, Secretary & Treasurer Yvonne Eaton, 7 members
Apologies received:- Pam Worthington, Andrew and Janice Sumnall.
Matters arising:-
- Sue had further information regarding the Packington Blind Horse, this has been forwarded to Janice, also a suggestion was made to change their spelling of Packington by using a y instead of i (Packyngton) or missing out the c (Pakington) in order for the Shire Horse Society to accept Packington as the stud name.
- No information has been received regarding the VE day celebrations, however Robin has emailed Chris Miles to say the group have sufficient material for a display.
- With regard to the proposed History Walk down Mill Street, Robin reported he has drafted a script and proposed the walk take place on 30th June and will place an advert in Packington Post. There was much discussion as to which direction the walk should go, up or down Mill Street, a final decision will be made at a later meeting as we need to know the meeting room is available to enable light refreshments to be served and to have a display of photographs etc.
- Robin showed members a leaflet he has drafted for the Welcome Pack given to resident newcomers to Packington. Robert reported that Becky Taylor would like more information to be included in the Welcome Pack, therefore members agreed that Robin forward the leaflet to her.
- The meeting moved on to read through the Packington History Adrian has written. Robin praised Adrian for his perseverance in pursuing this task of producing the early history of Packington. There was great interest and discussion on the latest draft which will be placed on the website. Having read through the draft members thanked Adrian for his hard work on this very worthwhile project.
- Robert raised the question of the Roman Road from Chester to Leicester, Via Devana, which runs close to Packington but the exact route has yet to be established. When HS2 comes along with its construction (or destruction) machines could the group be involved? However professional archaeologists always keep a close eye on any large developments so members agreed – leave it to the professionals.
- There is to be a dig in Ticknall during June if any member wishes to attend.
- Adrian has Peter Cooper’s copy of the History of Packington Church and suggested it be placed on the website, members agreed.
- The meeting closed at 9:40 pm.
- The next meeting is Tuesday, 24th March at 7.30pm.
Minutes of our Meeting on 28 January 2020 (After our AGM)
At Venue 35 – the Memorial Hall Meeting Room – on Tuesday 28th January 2020 at about 8 pm
Present: Chairman Robin Boucher, Secretary & Treasurer Yvonne Eaton, 10 members, and 4 visitors
- Robin had been approached by Peter Last to see if the History Group were interested in having the hand-written minute book of Packington WI during the period March 1994 through to September 2011 for the archive. The thick bound A4 book was produced, and members agreed it would be a useful addition.
- Visitor Janice Sumnall described a problem she and Andrew Sumnall were having with the Shire Horse Society in registering their stud in the name of “Packington”, the reason being the Packington Blind Horse. She asked for the groups help in this matter. Sue told Janice she thought the farmer’s name where the Blind horse stood was Hood, but this needed to be researched. After further discussion Robin read a letter he had drafted to give to Janice to forward to the Shire Horse Society before their AGM in April, members agreed the letter should be sent.
- Janice also mentioned that it will be the 10th year they have opened their farm to the general public for “Farms Open Day“, a national event. They have had as many as 2,000 visitors at the event, and this year they want to make it special by displaying agricultural equipment past and present. Many other activities were planned, and she invited the history group to put on a display – the event takes place on Sunday 7th June.
- The Parish Council have asked the history group to take part in VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations on 8th May, however details of the councils plans have yet to be decided. Members agreed the group should take part but we need to search the archives to see if any Packington men were in the forces at that time. The book the history group had previously produced entitled “Where were you in the war” may be of use.
- Adrian’s history is progressing and now covers the period 0-1100 CE . He is now almost ready to place this on the website in order that more can be added as time goes by and more historical evidence may emerge.
- Digitising the oral histories was discussed. An estimate of the cost of this process needs to be acquired, an application to the Solar Fund could then be made.
- Robin proposed he leads a walk down Mill Street and he has much information to hand – members agreed this should take place at the end of June, weather permitting.
- Sue put in a request for any pottery pieces anyone finds on their premises. On a similar quest, visitor Stephen Plummer asked whether PVHG could use metal-detecting equipment to scan the village environment, especially near footpaths, for historic artifacts, perhaps a “Packington Hoard” – he had discovered items dating back to early 1800s this way.
- Sue also suggested encouraging members to transcribe wills and inventories from the 1600s onwards. Our members agreed this could begin at our March meeting as these documents give a clear insight as to how people lived.
- Visitor Stephen Plummer encouraged the group to advertise, especially by putting a piece in the Packington Communications Group’s “Welcome Pack“, which is given to all newcomers in the village when they first arrive. Members were in agreement and Robin will proceed with this.
- The meeting ended at 9.40pm.
- Our next PVHG meeting is Tuesday, 25th February at 7.30pm.