Welcome to the Warwickshire Local History Society

Dr John William Bland (1935-2024)

Shortly before Christmas 2024, we heard the sad news of the death of our former Chairman, Dr John Bland. He had a peaceful passing at home, surrounded by his family. His role in the Warwickshire Local History Society extended over many years, notably including four terms as chairman. Our society owes a great debt to John’s energy and commitment, which, combined with efforts from other Bland family members, did much to revive its activity from a near-moribund state. Many will remember John’s trademark colourful waistcoats, as well as the typical humour and charm of his talks on different topics, ranging from Warwickshire mining to the history of local hospitals. John’s involvement in various aspects of Warwickshire life was wide-ranging, which included county council membership (and eventually its chairmanship).

John studied medicine at Birmingham University.  Shortly after qualifying in 1960, he settled in Arley in North Warwickshire, an agricultural and mining community. In his early years, prevailing poor health meant long hours and hard medical work.  John collaborated with people of varying backgrounds to develop a modern medical centre with a skilled health care team.  To improve conditions for disadvantaged local people, he sought election to the County Council as an independent. He went on to serve many years as a councillor, eventually becoming the council’s chairman. After retirement from full-time practice, John continued varied medical work, in family planning, emergency medicine, and other fields. His varied professional achievements were recognised by election as a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners (FRCGP).

Contributions from varied local people in and around Arley enabled John Bland to develop a huge personal archive of historic photographs and other memorabilia. Wishing to develop his historical expertise, he studied part-time at the University of Leicester’s Centre for Local History. His MA dissertation in 2012 considered ‘The impact of a coal mine on a small Warwickshire agricultural community’. This transcends the drily academic account and reads as a highly personal document. More widely, John was committed to the online database and archive known as ‘Our Warwickshire’.  In committee discussions and in other forums, John was always keen that the special character of North Warwickshire communities should be recognised. In his late years he was dogged by ill-health including blindness. However, his various disabilities did not prevent him from gamely attending most of the Society’s lectures and visits, usually supported by his daughter Stephanie.

Christine Hodgetts (1946-2024)

Christine died at home on September 11 with John, her husband, and children beside her, following a struggle with cancer.

She was a member of WLHS for many years. She was our Treasurer 1979-2004 and served on our Executive Committee thereafter until her death.

Christine gained a PhD in Byzantine studies at Royal Holloway College, London University in 1974: ‘The colonies of Coron and Modon under Venetian administration, 1204-1400’. She had moved to Warwick with her husband John in 1972 and began to use Warwickshire County Record Office shortly thereafter, initially as a record searcher, and later as a tutor in local history in association with the Adult Education Department of the University of Warwick, teaching classes jointly with Nat Alcock. A group of their students went on to found the Friends of the Warwickshire County Record Office. The local knowledge she gained was put to use in leading WLHS visits and socials held in lesser-known houses in the county. She also gave us lectures on many aspects of her research. Our cumulative bibliography gives some idea of her published work.

In later years, she specialised in garden history and became a driving force in the foundation of Warwickshire Gardens Trust in 1991 with the aim of recording and preserving the county’s significant parks and gardens. She was frequently commissioned to undertake research on parks and gardens, both locally and nationally. Christine also served as the Gardens Trust’s representative on the Warwickshire Conservation Action Forum. She was an active member of several other local groups including the Warwick Society, and the Friends of Warwickshire Record Office.

Christine’s interest in safe−guarding local historical sites led to her becoming active in local politics: she was a Warwick Town Councillor and then Warwick Mayor 1995-6, and a Warwick District Councillor. She was a leader in the campaign to build a bridge over the river Avon (Millennium Bridge) to create a safe walking and cycle way through St Nicholas’s Park from Emscote to Myton Road. This also led to the development of the Kingfisher Pools. She was also involved in saving Hill Close Gardens from housing development, and making it into the unique visitor attraction it now is.

Summer Bulletin 2024

Our Summer Bulletin is now available to read.  Click here to download a copy: Summer 2024 Bulletin.  Or visit our Publications Page.

WLHS has a new Programme Secretary (Lectures)

Following Jim Ranahan's successful tenure of this post, we are pleased to announce that we have a new Programmes Secretary (Lectures).  Dr Ruth Barbour will be building on her existing experience as our very capable secretary to plan our programme of evening lectures into the 2023/24 season.  We are excited to sample her new programme, further details of which can be found on our events page, together with information on when and where we meet.

Join the Warwickshire Local History Society

Would you like to join the Warwickshire Local History Society? Visit our Members Page for a summary of the benefits, and to apply.

Publications: A new cumulative Warwickshire Bibliography is now available. See link on our Publications page;  please let us know of any errors or omissions.

Forthcoming events

See our WLHS EVENTS page for further details on past and future talks..

Other information from around the County

Events Run by Other Local History Societies.  Go to our OTHER EVENTS page for more information on what events our affiliated socieities are running across the county.  

 

The winter lectures are free to WLHS members and members of affiliated Local History Societies. We now charge non-members £3.00 -- refundable on the night when joining the Society

For enquiries and bookings for forthcoming events, contact Rowan Fisher (Outings) at rowanfisher367@gmail.com or Ruth Barbour (Talks) at info@warwickshirehistory.org  





 

Meetings from October to April 7.30pm,
with coffee from 7.00pm,
Aylesford School, Tapping Way, Warwick,
CV34 6XR 

Click here for directions

For the Society's programme see our WLHS Events page.

The Society's twice-yearly news bulletin includes contains society news and details of forthcoming local history lectures.
Read the latest Bulletin