Monthly talks, new books and wartime anniversaries in line for Sawbridgeworth Local History Society in 2025
New books, monthly talks and wartime anniversaries will feature in the year ahead for Sawbridgeworth Local History Society (SLHS).
The nine-year-old group kicks off its year on Thursday January 30 with a talk on “17th Century Hertfordshire” by Alan Thomas, followed by:
It hopes to “squeeze in” another talk by BBC TV’s Antiques Roadshow expert Mark Smith and one by Richard Knight on weapons and uniforms from the Second World War.
Members will attend Sawbridgeworth May Fayre and, in September, High Wych Scarecrow Festival, plus the town council’s VE Day 80th anniversary event in May, River Day on May 31 and the annual Nostalgia Day event on November 8 will commemorate the VE and VJ Day anniversaries.
On September 20 the group will attend Bishop’s Stortford History Society’s 70th anniversary event.
The October 1940 bomb victims and the fallen in High Wych and Sawbridgeworth will be remembered in November, and the society is supporting the Rivers Heritage Site and Orchard’s 300th anniversary publication and events.
John and Pam Rider’s book, Sawbridgeworth Memorial Hall: A Brief History, which records the history and development of the hall from 1951 as an entertainment venue and community hub, has just been published and is on sale at the town council offices.
High Wych and Sawbridgeworth in World War 2, a follow-up to the group’s book on the First World War, will be published in time to link up with the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
For details on talks and its publications see sbwhistory.com.