Short talks and quiz

Reading Branch meeting 12th December 2019 Speaker: Members There were two short talks by members, a Berkshire dialect quiz from Vicki and the traditional non-alcoholic mulled wine and mince pie courtesy of Rosemary and Angie. Angie Catt spoke about her great-grandfather John Gibbons (West) born in Bath who enlisted in the 12th Prince of Wales Lancers in 1849 in Reading. At his attestation he was stated as being eighteen and a half, and five feet nine inches tall. He was involved in the 8th Kafir War which was the longest military action in Africa lasting 100 years. It was actually nine wars in the Eastern Cape where Smith was disgraced and dismissed. He survived the sinking of HMS Birkenhead where the first use of the command “Women and Children first” was issued in 1852. His military career took him from battles with the Xhosa in Africa; Crimea 1845, Sevastopol 1855 and his last campaign was in the Indian Mutiny 1857. Retiring after 12…

Comments Off on Short talks and quiz

Birth and Death Certificates

Reading Branch meeting 28th November 2019 Speaker: Antony Marr Speaking from a background of an ex Deputy Registrar he gave an interesting insight of what can be found on these certificates. The rules surrounding these certificates are covered by a 150-page instruction book. Original certificates will have original signatures; the GRO (General Register Office) version is a copy of a copy. Four checks are done on birth certificates (not telling the truth is purjury) 1. Live birth computer check with hospital/midwife (no still births) 2. Correct district 3. Within time limit (Registrar 12 months, parents 42 Days) 4. Not already registered. Informants a) Who signed? b) their qualification c) Address of the informant. Who can sign, i) Mother, ii) Father, if married (not unmarried fathers), iii) Occupiers of the premises where birth occurred, iv) Anyone present at birth, v) Person in charge of child. Childs surname is specified since 1969 and from 1950 put in capital letters. Today any surname is possible not…

Comments Off on Birth and Death Certificates

Boiled cats, mercury and Jesuit Drops: healthcare in Georgian Newbury

Whilst the physicians and surgeons of Georgian times were technically regulated by their professional bodies, standards of training and practice were unenforceable. Itinerant “doctors” moved from town to town, dispensing miracle cures for all diseases

Comments Off on Boiled cats, mercury and Jesuit Drops: healthcare in Georgian Newbury

Policing Reading in WW1

Reading Branch meeting 31st October 2019 Speaker: Tony Keep from Thames Valley Police Museum  Tony started his research to commemorate what was thought to be 47 policemen lost in WW1, but actually turned out to be 49. At the time of WW1 eight forces existed covering the area now known as Thames Valley force. In his research he used Examination Registers which were kept manually, records from Berkshire and Buckinghamshire Records Offices, Chief Constables Reports, Standing Joint Committee Reports, Watch Committee minutes and books or newspaper reports. Additional material was gathered from the Thames Valley Museum, The National Archives and the Internet. The first Police Force was the Metropolitan founded in 1829 and following Acts of Parliament in 1835 and 1839 became a paid force. In 1856 National Government legislation saw a change in how the force was organised. County Police Forces controlled by Standing Joint Committees under a Chief Constable and Borough Police Forces under Watch Committees with Head Constables. In 1914…

Comments Off on Policing Reading in WW1

The life and times of Robert Tebbott (1782 – 1850)

Around 1820 the Prince Regent, about to become George IV, decided that Windsor Castle should be rebuilt as a royal residence. The contract for the work was awarded to Robert Tebbott. The original estimate of £120,000 soared to £1.2 million.

Comments Off on The life and times of Robert Tebbott (1782 – 1850)

The Edwardians – talk by Tony King

Reported by Christopher Singleton The Edwardian Era, sometimes referred to as the Golden Era, spanned the years from the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 to the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.  Tony King’s talk provided a framework to this period, from early Victorian times to 1918, with a wealth of images, film and sound. Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and Prince Edward, born in 1841 and later King Edward VII, were guests of Napoleon in Paris.  Edward, who had a constrained existence in Windsor, was enthralled by Paris and wanted to stay.  However, he did travel to Canada, USA, Edinburgh, Oxford and Cambridge.  Whilst attending Cambridge in 1861, an affair involved the intervention of Prince Albert.  Albert contracted a fever from this visit from which he died and for which Victoria never forgave Edward. Edward, whose London home was Marlborough House, became known as the “Prince of Pleasure” with his country house parties, shooting and fishing.  He was keen on…

Comments Off on The Edwardians – talk by Tony King

- End -

No more pages to load