It seems
only yesterday that the idea of producing a village book for
the then up and coming millennium was first floated. It is in
fact an astonishing ten years ago. Yes a complete decade has
passed since those early tentative days in November 1997, when
this rather special book was no more than a seed of an idea.
The first meeting of the "East Garston Millennium Committee"
was held on Thursday, 22nd January, 1998, the main purpose of
which was to get to know one another and establish the areas
of work. |
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A display of photocopied photographs
was shown at the Village Fete on 26th July. The main function
here was to keep people interested and to attract interest from
any former residents that may visit on the day. This also presented
itself as an opportunity to gather names and information of
people and events contained within the pictures. Below, the
late Betty Hayes supplies valuable information on one such photo. |
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This book is a pictorial history of
East Garston, with pictures and text guiding the reader through
the life and times of the village. It is an entirely local product,
born of a general wish within the community to mark the year
2000 with a lasting commemoration of life in East Garston. In
November 1997 thirteen local residents came together as the
East Garston Millennium 2000 Committee, to discuss production
of a book based on photographs and memories, supported by research
to fill any gaps in the story, of the village from earliest
times. There was a great deal of support for the project within
the village; residents and local businesses responded to an
appeal for financial backing, and the parish council voted a
grant of £2,000 towards the book. |
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was decided that every household within the parish of East Garston
would be given a free copy on publication, and that remaining
copies would be sold. the proceeds from these sales would be
distributed for the benefit of the community through the parish
council. |
Martyn Donno presents
editor and advisor Penelope Stokes with a bouquet of flowers
and a complimentary copy of the book |
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The East Garston Millennium
2000 Committee consisted of 13 local residents who brought a
variety of talents to the project. |
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Moyra Blake
moved to East Garston in 1994,
where she lives with her husband at Chapel Cottage. Her 25-
year teaching career made her the obvious candidate for historical
research, and she spent many hours piecing together East Garston's
history, particularly in relation to the earlier centuries,
the manors, the school and All
Saints Church. |
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Mark
Brock, a native of Lancashire, has lived in West Berkshire
since 1981, and for the past five years at Old Cottage in East
Garston. He is a senior systems engineer for National Air Traffic
Services, and flew the aeroplane from which the book's aerial
photos were taken by his wife Ruth. Mark supplied the bell-ringing
article, and recorded the "Overheard" anecdotes, which
Ruth then transcribed. |
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Martyn
Donno moved with his wife
Carole and daughters to West Berkshire in 1970. As a partner
in Cottrells, the commercial stationers, he has served as both
chairman and president of the Newbury and District Chamber of
Commerce. The family moved to College Way in East Garston in
1987, since when Martyn has played an active role in village
life, most notably as chairman of the East Garston Millennium
2000 Committee, co-ordinating the project, as well as writing
several articles which appear in the book. |
These
credits and acknowledgments were transcribed from the book cover
~ information correct as of the year 2000 |
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Peter Henderson
comes from Glasgow. He moved to the area
in 1979 to work for Huntley and Palmer in Reading, and now is
a consultant in training and marketing. Since 1996 he has lived
with his wife June in Burfords. Peter researched old maps of
East Garston and the history of the Lamboum Valley Railway.. |
.. |
Ray
Hobbs was born in Station
Road, East Garston in 1928, and has lived in the village for
most of his life. Now retired, he first worked for a local builder,
later becoming a self-employed painter and decorator. Ray's
local knowledge was invaluable in identifying the subjects of
many old photographs and press cuttings, and in supplying background
details. He, in company with Colin Pounds, recounted many of
the stories which appear in the book as "Overheard"
anecdotes. |
.. |
Roy
Hunt was born and raised in Northumberland, and has
lived at Burfords in East Garston for 17 years. As a chartered
hydrographic surveyor (his specialty is sub-marine cable installation
and offshore air crashes) Roy was well qualified to write about
the River Lamboum and well able to throw some light on its mysterious
comings and goings. As a keen race-goer, he also supplied some
information on East Garston's racing history |
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Simon McNeill moved
to East Garston in 1988. His first career was as a National
Hunt jockey, and he jokes that after 24 years of trying to finish
races, he has now switched to starting them; as a Jockey Club
official starter, he travels all over the country. Simon's knowledge
of racing has contributed greatly to the book, and he wrote
one the book's longest sections. |
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Colin Pounds comes from one of East Garston's
oldest families. Born in Church Cottage in 1943, he worked on
the family farm until it was sold in 1984. Now he lives in School
Lane, and works in the construction industry. Colin's local
knowledge is unsurpassed, and he provided not only many photos
and details about houses and families, but also many anecdotes
about the past. |
.. |
James
Pryer moved to East Garston 15 years ago to live in
Meadow Cottage with his wife Jenny and two children. He works
as a consultant with a local software company, and his computer
knowledge was of great use in processing nearly 500 local photographs
and documents that were offered for the project. James has also
been the book's print co-ordinator, and he is setting up an
East Garston website on which it will be publicized |
These
credits and acknowledgments were transcribed from the book cover
~ information correct as of the year 2000 |
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Betty and Fred
Waite came to live in the village in 1989. Both are
now retired, Betty from teaching English, and Fred from ICI,
where he led research into anti-misting aircraft fuels. They
both trawled the files of the Newbury Weekly News for news and
photos about East Garston. Betty also undertook the proof-reading,
and picked up many items which would have been missed by lesser-trained
minds. |
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Maureen Tarbox has lived in Downlands since
moving to East Garston with her husband Ken and family in 1981.
She has always taken part in village life, first via the playgroup,
then working for a while in the village stores, and as parish
clerk. In addition to offering many helpful suggestions during
the book's compilation, Maureen has been the committee's treasurer,
and she has also liaised with the parish council, which has
supported the project so commendably. |
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Peter
Smith was born in the village, and lived then until
he was 25. After an engineering apprenticeship and National
Service, he returned to work for a local
company for 22 years. Redundancy then prompted him to set up
his own company, P.J.S. (Agricultural Services) Ltd, now the
largest employer in the village. Peter runs the business with
his wife Diana and daughter Judith at College Farm. Peter's
contribution was to lend some early school photos, and to provide
a wealth of local information spanning several decades. |
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Although
this book was never intended to be a definitive history of East
Garston, I believe that the research it contains will provide
the foundation for one in the future. Its immediate appeal will
be, of course, to those for whom it was intended, the parishioners
of East Garston, but in my view its influence will go far beyond
the bounds of the parish. I hope our work will inspire and captivate
amateur and professional historians far and wide. Take time
to reflect upon these pages, and value our priceless heritage |
.....................................................................................................................................
Martyn Donno |
(Chairman,
East Garston Millennium 2000 Committee 1999) |
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This book is now out
of print and there are no plans to publish further copies.
Should you want one, your best bet is to keep an eye on e-bay
as they do crop up from time to time |
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