On our Midsummer walk at the end of June, Ian Gibson led us on an excellent trip across the fields to Wickhamford, which afforded a rare opportunity to visit Wickhamford Mill, courtesy of John Poulter. Past Chairman, Mike Lovatt, who is a keen molinologist and presides over the mill at Stanway, was also present to assist John in showing people the works. We also stopped outside Badsey Mill and the Church of St John the Baptist where Ian explained some of the history to us. On returning to Badsey, we adjourned to the home of Alan and Shirley Tutton who had kindly provided refreshments.

After the amazing stretch of prolonged hot weather, sadly the heavens opened on the afternoon of Saturday 28th July for the 115th Badsey Flower Show, which meant that visitors to our stand were sadly depleted. However, much of our exhibition material will be on view this Saturday, 4th August, at The Guildhall in Worcester. The Badsey Society is one of 24 organizations in Worcestershire which has been invited to take part in “Worcestershire Remembers”, a showcase of activities commemorating the centenary of the end of the First World War. It will be opened by Sir Peter Luff, Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund. Our exhibition shows the impact WW1 had on the market gardening communities of Badsey, Aldington and Wickhamford. Topics include food production, the role of women, German prisoners of war, military tribunals, Belgian refugees and the large variety of activities on the home front. On five occasions during the course of the day, Jane Neill will play the part of Nurse Mela Brown Constable and will read extracts from her letters written to her fiancé, Cyril Sladden, an officer in the 9th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment.

For the past three years, members of The Badsey Society have been involved in a Heritage Lottery funded project, “Badsey, Aldington and Wickhamford - a rural community's view of the Great War”. The project will culminate in November with the publication of The Badsey Society’s fifth book. Written by Maureen Spinks, this will look at all aspects of village life during this pivotal point in history.

The book will be published on Friday 9th November 2018, with a special launch event in St James’ Church, Badsey, that evening. As with the earlier books, we invite people to support the project by purchasing an advance copy. Everyone who does this will appear in a list of “subscribers” at the end of the book and will be invited to the launch (where you will be able to collect your book). The pre-publication price is £5. Please contact treasurer@badsey.net for a subscription form or ring Maureen Spinks on 831154.

Further details about The Badsey Society may be obtained from info@badsey.net.

MAUREEN SPINKS