MVP Newsletter Sept 2023

We’re very happy to say that we now regularly see 25 - 30 people at our meetings (third Tuesday of the month) and we’re able to keep everyone informed through the MVP Facebook page. As always, we have enjoyed a variety of topics and formats. At our April meeting we circulated a variety of old photos, accompanied by some information, and asking some extra questions about who, when and where, and this stimulated a great deal of discussion and head scratching, as well as some really helpful additions to our records. In May, Carolyn Owen presented a history of Mortimer from the Stone Age through to 1066, with copious illustrations, and we all learnt some surprising facts about our village’s history. Our June meeting reflected the recent national events with a viewing of our collection of photos and albums with royal souvenirs, coronations and jubilees, and as always this set off plenty of discussion. July saw Chris Darbyshire talk to us about the old St Mary’s Church, and we can highly recommend his book which contains more detail and many of the illustrations shown in his talk. In August we had a delightful afternoon tea party at The Jackdaw, and were very lucky to have a fine afternoon to relax and enjoy the historic surroundings! Our most recent meeting was a ‘special’, with a visit from Philip Hume of the Mortimer History Society, telling and showing us all about the powerful Mortimer family and its connections to our village and the Reading area more generally. Philip was thrilled with the turn out and the fact that he also sold a few books! We were bombarded with dates, Rogers, Ralphs and Hughs, as well as some lovely illustrations, and l for one will certainly be following some of the Mortimer trails in Herefordshire...Pipe Aston, who knew?

A ticket for the fairground event celebrating the coronation of King George