Lavendon Village History Group
Lavendon History Group has a meeting every month or two to listen to a speaker, usually on a topic of local or general historical interest. The talks are chosen to be of broad interest to a wide audience, and normally include a slideshow.
The talks are open to anyone, regardless of age, and are usually held on a Monday afternoon starting at 2pm in the Lavendon Village Hall. There is a charge of £2.50 for members and visitors. This goes towards the cost of speakers and Hall hire, as well as for the tea and biscuits that are always included.
Calendar of Meetings for 2020, normally Mondays at 2pm in the Lavendon Village Hall:
NB Please check nearer the date in case of any changes.
27th January 2020 – Michael Brown
Death in the Garden
16th March 2020 – Roy Smart
Amy – Wonderful Amy
18th May 2020 – Bill Davies
On and Off the Footplate
22nd June 2020 – David Fowler
The Admiral and his Mistress – Horatio & Emma
24th August – Kevin Varty
Dancing in the Streets – The Tamla Motown Story
19th October 2020 – Roy Smart
The Rise and Fall of Percy Pilcher
23rd November 2020 – Steve Dimmer
Yule be Surprised – Why Christmas is Christmas
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Calendar of Past Meetings for 2019:
28th January 2019 – Eve Bacon
1950s Food and the Housewife
18th March 2019 – Steve Dimmer
Forging Ahead: The secrets of Operation Bernhard
20th May 2019 – David Fowler
The BBC & Glenn Miller in WW2 Bedford
15th July 2019 – Kevin Varty
Away with the Fairies
30th September 2019 – Steve Bacon [NB Revised Speaker/Topic]
Grave Robbing
21st October 2019 – Steve Dimmer
The Horrible History of Halloween
25th November 2019 – Kevin Varty
At 7.30pm
An Evening with a Magic Lantern
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Calendar of Past Meetings for 2018:
29 January – Barry Testro
R J Mitchel’s Pretty Little Aeroplane
19 March – Kevin Varty
What Did Amuse Victoria?
21 May – Steve Dimmer
A History of Carry-On Films
25 June – Paul Harrison
Arthur Rouse – Fake Life or Fake Death?
17 September – Kevin Varty
Flushed with Success!
15 October – Roy Smart
The Last Naval Hero – Earl Beatty
26 November – Denise Legge [NB This is a programme change!]
Elizabeth, Tudor Housewife – Her Daily Life and Work
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Calendar of Past Meetings for 2017:
30 January – Kevin Varty
Northamptonshire Murders and Mysteries
Two intriguing murders and a ghost story
20 March – Dorothy Jamieson
From Stowe to Sheringham
An illustrated talk on the gardeners Capability Brown and Humphrey Repton
22 May – Kevin Varty
Exploring Churchyards – the Lost Language of Headstones
The A to Z of headstone symbolism
03 July – Polly Feeley
Music and Memories from a 1950’s Childhood
Pure Nostalgia
08 August – Afternoon Trip to Elton Hall
Book with Ralph on 01234 712743
16 October – John Tusting
The History of Leather
27 November – Dianne Bell
Festive Fun at the National Trust – An informative talk by an experienced NT volunteer.
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Calendar of Past Meetings for 2016:
25 January 2016 – Ruth Thomas
Entertainment in Northampton 1850-1970
21 March – Kevin Varty
Joined at the Hippo – the Life and Music of Flanders and Swann
23 May – Amanda Picard
Make Do and Mend
27 June – Dusty Roades – Sorry, Cancelled!
Country Superstitions
26 July – Coach Outing
Visit to Broughton Castle, near Banbury
26 September – Tony Boullemier
A Little Book of Monarchs
17 October – Ruth Thomas
Coaches, Carriages and Canals: Northampton and Communications
21 November – Kevin Varty
Radio Days
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Calendar of Past Meetings for 2015:
26 January 2015 – Kevin Varty
Sweet Memories or Don’t Get Me Started on Wagon Wheels
23 March – Vic Botterill
The Nursery Rhyme Detective
25 May – Dusty Roades
Country Customs
29 June – Kevin Varty
Who was Harry? Trench Art Revisited
29 July – Coach Outing to Deene Park, Northamptonshire
28 September – Amanda Picard
Subterranean Secrets
19 October – Vic Botterill
A Christmas Cracker
23 November – Kate Wills
Christmas in the Trenches
Lavendon Connection 
Good evening,
My name is Richard Parris and I’m interested in finding out more about my family history in the Lavendon area. My ancestors lived in the area from the early 1700s through to the late 20th century and I was wondering if you could suggest anyone to contact with regards to viewing local records to find out more about them?
My understanding is that my Great Uncle donated land for the construction of the Union Chapel (now the Lavendon Baptist Church), so I was wondering if you could recommend someone to contact to view the church (and inscriptions relating to my ancestors)?
Any help you can provide would be appreciated.
Kind regards,
Richard Parris
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Good Evening Richard. Many thanks for your enquiry. I will email you soon with some observations that I hope will be helpful. Kind regards, Nigel Stickells.
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Hi Nigel,
Thank you for replying. I look forward to hearing your observations.
Best,
Richard
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i am the oldest of the five berry boys who lived at lavendon grange from 1952 to 1962 my father was the gardener,, mike berry
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i do have quite a knowledge of what went on at the grange and gardens and about a time capsule buried in 1953
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Hi Mike – thank you for your memories. It all sounds most interesting especially concerning the time capsule. Do you remember where it was buried? It would be lovely if you could assemble some general memories about the Grange and your days spent there. I would be very happy to see your recollections put together under the memories heading shown under the ‘Local history’ tab. It would be good to hear from you again. I can give you my email address if you would like to assemble and send some stories? Nigel, Editor.
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Thank you very much for letting us enjoy your WW2 talk on forgery yesterday. It was fascinating.
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Thank you for your welcome comments, Mary. It was indeed a very interesting talk – I knew little about the forgery beforehand!
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Would you have any details regarding the Sharman family of Lavendon in the 19th century?
Hoping to confirm that William Sharman born 1827 to William Sharman, publican, and his wife Sarah, is the William who was farming at Lavendon in 1861, However it seems he moved to Great Woolstone in 1862, marrying that year in October Annie Jefferson at Sherington.
Kind Regards
John Taylor
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Thank you for your enquiry. I have replied directly to your email address. Regards, Editor.
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