Takeley Local History Society: Review May 2008

The Society has had another successful year and the membership remains at over 50. Meetings are held at least 4 times a year and we are grateful to at Takeley Primary School who allow us to hold our meetings in their hall. We also have one local outing. Last year was to Little Canfield Church and this year on 3rd June we are visiting Great Canfield Church and the tour will be conducted by James Purves, Churchwarden.

Since the last Parish Assembly we have had the following speakers:

18 September 07 Speaker: Brian  Creasey - The Countess, her Garden and the Prince

27 November 07 Speaker Trevor Allen "The Village Sign" and AGM

5 February 08 Speaker: Ray Addley. Hatfield Forest, The Shell House and the Houblon Family

6 May 08 Speaker: Steve Reynolds, Gamekeeper

On 14th June we will be celebrating our 10th Anniversary as TLHS with a Celebration Barbeque and Display of Photographs.

We have again brought out another two booklets over the past year, these being

Brewer’s End, Takeley, Essex by Bill Marshall
Characters and Events (Vol 2) by Pat Salmon/ Bill Marshall/ Fay Fraser

Bringing the total publications to 20 titles.

Bill Marshall who had a hand in both of these new books as well as numerous others passed away earlier this year and will be greatly missed by all.

Our members continue to scour the records offices for information and interesting snippets continue to be found. We still get frequent emails from around the world can often help people out with their searches for Takeley ancestors.

Last summer we were able to show around the village Bob Clarke from Australia. He is one of the descendants of the infamous Elsenham Gang whose surviving members (those not hung for their crimes) were deported in 1816.