Past Meetings

WLHG Christmas Meeting 2024

This year we decided to try something different for our Christmas meeting. We met at Castle View on November 29th for our meeting in a private room. Mince pies and coffee/tea were served. The meeting included a particularly interesting discussion about the first ‘Carols on the Hill’, which one of our members had attended as a schoolgirl.

At midday, we adjourned to the Sky Lounge for Prosecco and canapes and enjoyed the wonderful views and a visit to the apartment of two of our members. Following this, the traditional meal was then served in our room, now decorated for Christmas, and we enjoyed a splendid time eating and chatting together.

Thank you, Castle View.

Open Day 2024

The Group held its Annual Open Day at the Baptist Church in Victoria Street on Saturday, 2nd November. There were some interesting displays, including one about Windsor & Eton Central Station and another about PMRF School. There were also scrolling pictures, a Blue Plaque Quiz and a video on show. Visitors also liked the old newspapers. both local and national which we had for them to peruse. The event was opened by the Mayor of RBWM, Cllr Simon Bond accompanied by the Mayor’s Consort. Jack Rankin, the local MP, also paid an unexpected visit. It was a very successful day. A huge thank you to the Baptist Church for hosting us. See a fuller report here.

Summer Celebration 2024

Anne graciously invited us to her home for a summer picnic. The monthly meeting was held first, with the usual updates and discussions. And then we had a wee picnic under gazebos as it was sunny and hot. Talking drifted to lots of different subjects that would not normally be covered. It was a cracking way to spend late morning / early afternoon.

Meeting Notes (#517): 3rd May 2024

At our May meeting, apart from the usual procedure, Tony Davenport gave a talk about Sir Edwin Lutyens R.A. and three of his local works. These are Queen Mary’s Dolls House which is in Windsor Castle, King George V Memorial Fountain, which is at the junction of Thames Street and the Datchet Road and the lodges/kiosks which border the A308 as you enter and leave Runnymede travelling from Windsor to Staines.

Meeting Notes: AGM 2024

The 2024 AGM was held before our March meeting on Friday, 1st March.

Our chairman, Brigitte Mitchell, reported on a very successful year during which we held an Open Day in November, and had a stall at the Eton Action Fair in September. More importantly, seven new members have joined us and provide interesting contributions to discussions.

Jane Cockman is working hard to gather the material together for the second edition of ‘Streets in Windsor and Eton‘ as well as aiming to produce a new issue of Windlesora later this year. Brigitte and Derek Hunt are hoping to publish their book on ‘Windsor in the Second World War‘ in time for D-Day this year.

We have received Paul Seddon as a visitor who told us about the Old Windsor Saxon Palace site.

Ken has breathed new life into the website, which has resulted in more interest in the group and its publications.

Meeting Notes: 4th August, 2023

Our Summer meeting on 4th August was held at Anne’s home in Oakley Green.

In particular, the meeting discussed the plans for our stall at the Eton Action Fair on 16th September and our proposed Open Day in October.

Members had brought their own picnic lunches, which were then enjoyed in the sun lounge; the weather not being kind enough to be in the garden.

Meeting Notes: 2nd June, 2023

At our monthly meeting on 2nd June, we had a visit from Paul Seddon, Chair of Maidenhead Archaeological and Historical Society.

He told us about the proposed Old Windsor dig. There were several digs in the 1950s led by Brian Hope-Taylor, which reported Saxon and early Norman finds. Unfortunately, funding ceased before a comprehensive review. write up and analysis of the finds. There was then more work in the 1980s. Together with local archaeological societies, Reading University and other groups, it is hoped that this dig will yield more information. It has the potential to be the largest such site in Britain.

There was plenty of interaction with members who were able to relate personal knowledge and experiences, which linked with his talk.