| Date | 17 February 2012 |
|---|---|
| Source | Slough Observer |
| Reference | VP-0017 |
| Volume | Views of the Past |
| Collection | Views of the Past |
Transcript
Capturing the moments
Views of the past by Elias Kupfermann
FOR the last 28 years, the Windsor Local History Group has been publishing articles in their journal, Windlesora.
This year’s issue is on the anniversaries of key moments in Windsor’s history and covers everything from Charles Dickens’ anniversary to the history of the Windsor and Eton Operatic Society.
Here are some of the highlights of this very interesting publication:
In 1908, England hosted the Olympic Games in London. One of the highlights of the Games was the Olympic Marathon, which started at Windsor Castle and finished at the Olympic Stadium at White City, London.
One of the reasons the Games were in Windsor was through the efforts of William Henry Grenfell, Lord Desborough, who was its president and resided at nearby Taplow Court.
The story of this important event is told by Hester Davenport, chairman of the group.
The marathon set the length for all future races of 26 miles and 385 yards.
In September 1911, the first UK Airmail Service was run as an experiment, flying from Hendon to Windsor.
In this article, there is a splendid example of oral history where Geoffrey Try tells of his father’s memories of the event and ‘how excited he was at the age of 11 as he watched a flying machine land somewhere near Windsor Castle‘. The article gives an account of this unique occasion.
The First World War saw many tragic deaths but also some courageous soldiers, who because of their valour, were awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award which can be given.
Military historian, Derek Hunt, traces the life of Edward Robinson VC, who was involved in gunfire at Lucknow, India in March 1858. He received his award from Queen Victoria in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle in 1860.
In later life he became gatekeeper of the Albert Bridge.
To bring us up to modern times, John Handcock, Local History Group president, tells of the 50th anniversary of the Windsor and Eton Operatic Society, which was formed in November 1961 in the front room of a house in Old Windsor.
The first production was The Pirates Of Penzance at East Berkshire College.
John Handcock is also president of the Operatic Society, a position he has held almost since its inception.
There are many more articles in this publication, Windslesora 28, too numerous to mention.
Images
