8 June 1927 – 18 January 2025
Beryl came to Windsor in September 1962, and from 1971 until 1982 owned a bookshop with her husband David, who sadly died in 1994. She soon got involved with local history and, in 1975, joined Judith Hunter who ran a course in connection with the local branch of the WEA entitled Discovering Your Town. This led to the formation of the Windsor Local History Group, and the annual publication of Windlesora. Beryl was a founder member and the first secretary of the Group from 1982 to 2002, and the Group’s president for the last four years.
In 1986, Beryl published her first book: I-Spy Guide to Windsor, followed in 1988 by Windsor in Old Photographs, and Around Windsor in Old Photographs in 1992. She was a major contributor to the Group’s most successful book, Windsor A Thousand Years, a living history, which was published in 2000. Beryl wrote the chapter called Martyrs and Mayhem, 1484 – 1660.
When the museum in the Guildhall was closed in 1982, Beryl was one of a group of volunteers who helped Judith move the museum collection to a small room at the Museum Archive. Judith campaigned for more space for the collection and organised open days, talks and an annual exhibition in the Guildhall. The store was open on Wednesdays for researchers and general visitors, but there was always Beryl and a group of volunteers who gathered around the large round table to help Judith look after the collection, cataloged items, and organise her exhibitions and talks.
In 1991, a decision was made by the museum volunteers to start a Friends Group. Their aim was to help Judith in her work, raise funds and make financial contributions to purchase items for the museum collection. Beryl was a founding member. She became the group’s secretary in 1993, and after Norman Oxley resigned in 2002, she took on the chair of the group for four years. Committee meetings were always held at her home.
After Judith died in 2004, Beryl supported an appeal to get a museum in Windsor. She started the 5d collection and made personal contributions. She remained an active committee member of the Friends of the Windsor & Royal Borough Museum. On her 95th birthday, she was still selling raffle tickets at the AGM of the Friends.
In 2011, she received an invitation from the Mayor to the official opening of the Windsor & Royal Borough Museum by Her Majesty the Queen, on Friday 9 December 2011. This was in recognition of her work towards getting a museum in Windsor. For a while, she was a regular museum volunteer, until the stairs defeated her.
Beryl was also an active member of the Windsor and Eton Society and, for 35 years, a Steward Emeritus of St George’s Chapel. Her charitable work included regular coffee mornings for the Macmillan nurses, and she was a fundraiser for the Thames Hospice.
Beryl died at Merlewood Care Home, where she had been since November 2023.
Brigitte Mitchell
Comments from Members
Some Comments from Members who knew Beryl well
I first met Beryl and the other founder members of the WLHG in 1976 when I signed up for the first WEA course and learned so much from them. Beryl was always friendly and willing to share her knowledge.
Sue Ashley
I first got to know Beryl through Marbeck Books that she and David ran in St Leonards Road. It was there that I bought Russell Thorndikes Children of the Garter as well as plans of Windsor Castle.
Leslie Grout
I met Beryl some years ago, when she was not only active in the Windsor Local History Group, but also the WEA classes meetings and outings. She, usually with her friend Jean, attended full-day events on a variety of topics, local history, art history, famous historical figures and so on. She was particularly keen on the London walks run by Muriel Jones, and was always there on a Saturday morning with a packed lunch. She had a lively interest in everything, and was a fount of knowledge.
Tony Davenport
51 years ago, Beryl was my line manager when I became a Steward at St Georges. Always making sure that each shift was fully named. She also managed training sessions.
Phyllis James
Interview with Beryl
On 10th September 2023, two of our members, Susie Shearer and Jane Cockman, visited Beryl. With permission, they recorded the conversation as Beryl reminisced about Windsor and also the Group. This is an invaluable record for us all.
Beryl’s Windlesora Articles
Order of Service
Beryl in the News
With thanks to the Maidenhead Advertiser and Windsor Express. Please do visit their website to see these articles or order high-quality photographs. These newspapers have been good supporters of local history and of the Group.
Please click on an image to get a larger version. Do contact the newspapers for high quality images, thank you.
Windsor Local History Group 