Road by Road books – Inspiration, Research and Publication

Parish Room, St. John’s Church St. John’s Road, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom

“Road by Road books – Inspiration, Research and Publication” Roy Tubb R. B. Tubb is the author of seven local history books, several organised in a road-by-road format, and covering Thatcham, Cold Ash, Greenham, Shaw, Speen and Stockcross, as well as the distinctive publication Newbury Road by Road (2011). Roy Tubb is a retired mathematics […]

The Craven story

Parish Room, St. John’s Church St. John’s Road, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom

“The Craven story” Clive Williams 'This is the rags to riches to rags story of the Craven family. They came from nowhere in the C16th to become one of the richest families in the country in one generation. They then bought up England and then succeeded in losing virtually everything over the next 3 centuries. […]

The Origins of Camp Hopson

Parish Room, St. John’s Church St. John’s Road, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom

Camp Hopson was founded in 1921 with the merger of two businesses: a furniture business owned by Joseph Hopson and Camp’s Drapery Bazaar owned by Alfred Camp. The talk will trace the origins of these two family businesses and  their amalgamation, resulting in the cherished department store at 6-12 Northbrook Street.  

Thames Water: an introduction to its operations and investment

Parish Room, St. John’s Church St. John’s Road, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom

The talk will be an introduction to the water industry, how our wastewater is managed and how that interacts with our local waterways. Paul is an ex-geography teacher who has worked at Thames Water for 12 years. He currently works on River Health-related projects as part of Thames Water's strategy and external affairs team.

Sundials: a field guide to the notable dials in Berkshire, their history, uses and (some) geometry

Parish Room, St. John’s Church St. John’s Road, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom

The talk will include an examination of sundials in Lockinge (which was in Berkshire until 1974), Bucklebury, Stockcross, Reading, Newbury, Avington (near Hungerford) and Crowthorne. Notable local makers include John Blagrave of Reading, David Pawley and John Singleton (all of Newbury) and David Harber of Blewbury. To that list of sundial inventors and makers can […]

Lord Falkland, his life, times, death and memorial

Parish Room, St. John’s Church St. John’s Road, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom

There must be many people in West Berkshire who pass the massive granite obelisk at the top of ‘Wash Hill’ and have little or no idea of its origins, the man it was named after or even any connection with the Falkland Islands. Having become immersed in the story of the First Battle of Newbury […]