Published
Published 2026.
Front Cover
Cover image: John McDonald Cross by Jane Cockman
Contents
| Captain John McDonald | Ken Sutherland |
| Windsor Memories | Robert Ormiston |
| The Landau and the Long Continuity | Rebecca Seear |
| The Rev Hawtrey and the Ethiopian | Margaret Kirby |
| Smith’s Lawn Airfield | Len Nash |
| Windsor Parish Church – NEXT200 Update | Susy Shearer |
| Gladstone and the Clewer House of Mercy | Derek Hunt |
| Down the Rabbit Hole | Margaret Kirby |
| Thomas Hancock VC | Derek Hunt |
| A Soldier’s Tale | Len Nash |
| A Knight of St Patrick | Leslie Grout |
| Two VC Holders who Guarded the Castle | Ken Sutherland |
| Lawless in Windsor | Brigitte Mitchell |
| The Story of Earl Grey Tea | Ken Sutherland |
| Obituary – Tony Davenport (*) | Alison Haymonds |
| Obituary – Geoff Goody (*) | Margaret Kirby |
| Obituary – Pam Marson (*) | Brigitte Micthell |
Editorial
Welcome to Windlesora 40 – and to our fifieth year!
In this issue, our cover picture and first article reveal the rich history behind
the huge Celtic cross in St Andrews churchyard.
Rebecca Seear, who exhibited at our Open Day on 8th November 2025, writes about her family’s long involvement in the Hackney carriage service in Windsor. Three soldiers awarded the Victoria Cross are remembered, as are William Gladstone’s links with the Clewer House of Mercy. Robert Ormiston’s memories of the Windsor of his childhood will resonate with many.
Our interactions with the public can produce some interesting material, as shown in Down the Rabbit Hole… And this has been a sad year in which we have lost three former members who are remembered in obituaries at the end of the magazine.
In our fiftieth year, we felt that we should increase our visibility within the community. We have been holding several open days at Windsor Library, showing the public how to access the many local history resources available in the reference section upstairs, including maps and trade directories. We have also had two successful sessions training people how to use online tools to
trace the history of a person or building, and are planning a third session in the new year. Our website and social media feeds continue to grow, sharing local history. We helped the Windsor Library as they joined in the celebration of I Love Windsor in July by manning a stall about Bachelors Acre and we attended the Eton Action Fair. As I write this, we are planning our next annual Open Day on 14th November 2026, at Windsor Baptist Church.
We generally meet on the first Friday of the month at the Mencap Hub outside Castle View retirement village. The business is done between 10 and 11 am, with visitors welcomed after 11 am to share in local history stories. Please email before attending to ensure that we can accommodate you.
Please enjoy reading Windlesora 40!