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Hereford History Day Press Release
‘Jailbird’ city heroine celebrated at History Day event
Forgotten local heroes such as sculptor Charles Gertner, British spy Violetta Szabo and First World War munitioner Elsie Able are remembered at this year’s Hereford History Day.
Themed to celebrate some of the city’s unsung heroes, History Day opens at the Town Hall on Saturday, September 21.
After a civic procession through High Town with Mayor Kevin Tillett, the BBC’s Nick Barratt will open the Town Hall’s History ‘Supermarket’ bringing together nearly twenty local history groups. With walks, talks, tours, and performances throughout the day, events include advice on digital family history research from Nick Barratt; the story of the SAS from Major David Seeney; and a screening of butcher Nick Ogelby’s ‘dash cam’ film Hereford in 1984.
The winners of this year’s Young Historian Award will be revealed as the Guild of Guides focus on Hereford’s famous buildings (the Town Hall itself celebrates its 120th birthday this year) and famous city women.
Among the local heroes are Hereford Art School’s Charles Gertner, the artist behind the Christ statue that once stood on the roof of St Xavier’s; and ‘jailbird’ Elsie Abel, imprisoned after a city demo in 1918, triggering protests from MPs and trade unions. Elsie is celebrated by young performers at this year’s History SLAM!
Organised by Herefordshire Lore, publishers of the quarterly In Our Age journal, for the second year running, and funded by the City Council and local supporters, Hereford History Day promises to be a day to remember. Co-ordinator Becca Savage, sponsored by the Barrels to help run the event, says visitors will enjoy a great day out: “There’ll be lots to see and do for all ages along with plenty of tea, cake and good company!”
Read more on our Hereford History Day page
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Hereford History Day 2023 Triumph
Herefordshire Lore were overwhelmed by the turnout and support by the people of Herefordshire, who made Hereford History Day such a success.
Thanks to everyone who came along, and especially the people who worked so hard to showcase the diverse and amazing history that we are so lucky to have around us.
Civic Parade through Hereford City Centre to announce the start of Hereford History Day 2023
We estimate that up to a thousand visitors arrived at the Town Hall on Saturday 23rd for Hereford History Day 2023. Organised by Herefordshire Lore, the event has been described as a “triumph”.
“Wonderful day, rich in heritage and community spirit. Great to see our Town Hall bursting with life and history too” – Nic Millington CEO The Rural Media Company
Officially opened with a civic procession through the city, with the Mayor and High Sheriff in attendance, the day got off to a great start. Eighteen stallholders from history and heritage organisations across the city reported huge interest, while crowds of people wanted to know if it would be happening again next year.
Guest speaker Nick Barratt from ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ sponsored by Herefordshire Family History Society
Our guest speaker, Nick Barratt, from BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are programme received a rapturous welcome. The Elizabethan History Slam added some light-hearted drama over ownership of the Wye. The award of the Betty Webb Memorial Cup for Hereford’s Young Historian was warmly received and the winners a credit to their schools and parents.
Herefordshire Lore’s Peter Mayne, with some items from his Secret Post Office Museum
Joseph Brown winner of the Betty Webb Memorial Cup for Hereford’s Young Historian
Hereford History Day was organised by Herefordshire Lore with support and funding from Hereford City Council, Herefordshire’s Family History Society, Wye Valley Brewery and Jackson Property.
It was a hugely successful day, pulled off by a team of volunteers.
Young People from Close House who helped leafleting during the parade through Hereford Town Centre
The Mayor’s Officer, John Marshall (front first row) with Mayor Cllr Jacqui Carwardine (second row second from left), Junior Mayor Zuzanna Zarebska (second row third right) together with the High Sheriff of Herefordshire Robert Robinson (second row far right).
Photographs: © Christopher Preece 2023
Read more about was offered at Hereford History Day 2023
Watch Herefordshire Lore’s ‘Hereford History Day Slideshow’ with photos from our archive of ‘Made in Hereford’ produced by our Christopher Preece:
See the photographs from Hereford History Day 2023:
Thanks to our sponsors for Hereford History Day 2023:
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Betty Webb BEM
Obituary Betty Webb BEM, committee member
We are very sad announce the death of our much-loved, and long-standing committee member, Betty Webb, who died last month. She will be greatly missed by us all.
London-born Betty was a reluctant evacuee. Having lost her Mum in a wartime bus accident in which she was also badly injured, the 16-year-old was sent to Hereford where her brother was with the RAF. He found her digs at 11 Hopton Road and the Labour Exchange found her shop work. “But the shop only paid £1/7s a week and the digs cost 6d more.” Betty went back to the Exchange who found her war-work at Barronia Metals. “They paid £3 a week!”
The mother of six girls, Betty was a firm believer in women’s rights: “In the old days you were dependent on a man. For everything. And that was awful.”
Betty had a worked on the fruit and veg stall in the Butter Market for over 20 years. She was presented with the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Jubilee Awards which acknowledged her many years as a volunteer with the British Heart Foundation. Betty was a testament, at her great age, to fortitude, survival, and lack of self-pity. She will be greatly missed.
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Hot Off The Press
The latest issue of our quarterly magazine ‘In Our Age’ is hot off the press.
We have sent a copy to all current subscribers and have a limited number that will be distributed around Herefordshire.
If you want to secure a copy, please subscribe now and ask for Issue 65 to be included.
The digital version will be available in about 12 months time to non subscribers.
In Issue 65 Autumn 2022
Our cover photo is of Esme Fosbery with friends posing in Union Street in Hereford, with another photo inside of her when she worked at British Wheel Studs in Rockfield Road in the 1960s.
There are the memories of David Price from Brilley of being taught at the Hereford Technical College by Mr Thomas Hodgkinson in the 1950s.
Keith James remembers savings with the Post Office Savings bank.
There’s a story about Geoff Godsell who after escaping the clutches of the U Boats during his days in the Merchant Navy used to work in the hop fields of Herefordshire.
There’s also an interview with Ray Morris, Shropshire’s last remaining hop grower.
We caught up with Michael Jones at 70 who went missing from a farm in Peterchurch when he was 3 years old in 1951.
‘Jalopy’ isn’t a word that is heard much these days! However, our final story is of the formation Pontrilas and District Jalopy Club in 1959.
Lastly, we would like to congratulate Herefordshire Lore committee member Betty Webb who had been awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Jubilee Awards for her work volunteering with the British Heart Foundation. Within IOA 65 there’s a potted history of her amazing life from growing up in Islington to moving to Hereford during WW2.
A huge “Thank You” to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, in partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund, for help from their Local Connections Fund.
It has helped us produce our latest edition of In Our Age. With our usual distribution channels disrupted because of the pandemic, this funding has been invaluable in making sure In Our Age still goes out across the county.
Pride of place: Social housing in Herefordshire
Herefordshire Lore is delighted to announce its successful funding bid, ‘Pride of Place’, with Connexus Housing’s Community Fund.
Herefordshire Lore has been recording and publishing local social history in the county since the 1980s. Its archive is regularly consulted by researchers and other history projects, and its publications have appeared at Hay Festival.
Connexus is a community focused rural housing group with over 10,500 homes across Shropshire and Herefordshire and the county’s biggest provider of social housing. Herefordshire Lore is looking forward to partnering with the team at Connexus and its residents – past and current – in recording their voices. A special celebratory pull-out edition of our quarterly journal, In Our Age, will be released in the summer featuring their stories.
If you have a story you would like to include please get in touch with us through our contact page.