MOORDOWN LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY - NEWS
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-- Some sad - but perhaps not unexpected - news about the Horse and Jockey --
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It is with a heavy heart that I have to inform you of the death of one of our most prominent members, Philip Rougier
Philip Rougier in 2010
Philip passed away peacefully at his home on 1st October 2016
Philip was our forum moderator, and always took a keen interest in all our activities. As a professional in building regulations, he was able to offer his advice on all sorts of things architectural - including the situation regarding some details of the planning applications at Moorside Cottage.
He will be sadly missed.
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1st July 2016.... The 100th anniversary of the opening day of the Battle of the Somme.
Local commemorations were held at the War Memorial in the gardens this morning, starting at 7.25am.
You can read and see more about the days proceedings, by clicking HERE to see the Echo's report....
There is more about the ongoing Somme commemorations HERE
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A bit of better news on the Moorside Cottage situation! At the group meeting in April, Mike Stokes - the father of the Cottage's present owner, Matthew Stokes - came along to the meeting to talk to us about the situation surrounding the present rather sad state of affairs. He let us know that there is a planning application - currently at the consultaton stage - for 3 houses to be built on the land right at the bottom of the Cottage garden. Well away from the Cottage and it's own garden.
It is hoped that if that project is allowed to move forward, it will allow funds to be realeased to be used for renovating the Cottage.... Which is excellent news....
As to when this will all occur is not certain at present.... In the meantime, watch ths space!
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Sadly, we have learned of the death of Mike Edgington on Feb 5th 2015, at the age of 82.
As many of you will already know, Mike was the author of several books on Bournemouth history - particularly our local history during both world wars. It was Mike who very kindly gave his permission in 2013 for his wartime booklets to be 'digitised', and placed online for free distribution. You can find copies of two of Mike's books - along with other volumes about our local history - on our special 'Local Studies' webpage. You can just click HERE to go to straight to that page.
Here are a few notes about Michael himself, taken from the preface of his WW2 book:
Berni and Jill have updated their notes on the situation at Moorside Cottage.
Just click on the image below to read a précis on what (or rather what hasn't!) been happening regarding the Cottage.....
If you have any ideas on what steps you think we might take next, please do make contact with your suggestions
(just click the 'contact us' box at the top of this page)
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The latest details of Jenny Young's 'missing names' campaign has made it to the Echo....
click HERE
......to read about our visit to the Town Hall, to see the 14 Moordown names now added to the Book of Remembrance.
As Jenny says, the research goes on... there are still a lot more names missing!
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Just to let you know that Jenny Young's campaign to get the missing names of the Moordown Fallen of the Great War added to the Book of Remembrance has made the Echo.
Further to her successful appeal to the Mayor, to allow for the formal inclusion of the missing names, the Echo has reported the story. You can see the online version of the article by clicking on the image below...
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A good turn out at the Town Hall on 19th November, to hear what Bournemouth Council Planning Committee had to say about the Evironment Enforcement Officers' report on the state of Moorside Cottage. Berni was able to make her point to the Committee that the thatch really is in need of some urgent attention - a point which the initial report hadn't seem to stress.
The Planning Committee then spent a good 45 minutes debating the situation -- which was an excellent response.
The various options were discussed in depth, including some of the difficulties that can be encountered in trying to serve any kind of formal enforcement notice .. especially with an owner who lives abroad.
The Committee do take the situation very seriously, and have recommended that further professional advice over the state of the thatch is actioned as soon as possible. So, a positive response!
And we've made the Echo again! --- just click on the image below to read their latest piece:
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Just a note to let you know that there is now an online version of Mike Edgington's history of 'Bournemouth and the First World War'.
Click on the image below to go to the download site...
Useful to know that the text in this PDF version is completely searchable... which can save a lot of time if you're looking for something specific!
Our thanks again to Mike Edgington for authorising these online reprints....
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There was a good turn out on Monday 21st October for the presentation of the Moorside Cottage Petition to the Council Planning Committee.
Berni was allowed to present the case before the whole Committee, and at the end the chairman agreed to ask Nigel Billett, the Principal Appeals and Enforcement Officer, to review the sitation and report to the next Planning Committee meeting.
We got some press coverage too!.... click here for the Echo's 'online' article from Wednesday 23rd:
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Some sad news to report I'm afraid...
Those of you who attended the dedication ceremony of the Moordown Halifax Memorial in July 2011 may remember a delightful speech delivered by Mrs. Lyn Cleverly, who was the sister of the navigator of JP137, Henry Roberts?
We have just learned that Mrs. Cleverly passed away on September 4th. She was 97.
You can click on her image below, to read a little more about her...
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Do take a look at our 'Who is that?..Where is that?.. page again. (Just click on the 'Who is that..' link, at the top of the page, to go straight there).
Ian Davis has written to confirm that the first photo of the Civil Defence Group is of the Moordown 'gang'. We've added a new numbered photo (which is higher resolution) so do take a look. You can zoom in for more detail. If you think you might know any more of the names... or where the photo was taken?......do get in touch..
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You might like to know that one of the more famous Bournemouth history books is now available in a free online edition......The complete text of 'Bournemouth and the Second World War 1939 - 1945' by M.A.Edgington can be found by clicking on the image below:
There is a lot of fascinating local wartime history within the pages - including quite a lot about Moordown! To help you find your way about the book, this new version has a searchable text...
Our thanks to Mike Edgington, for authorising this free reprint
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We were lucky at the Moordown village Fete on 2nd June! We very nearly lost our gazebo to a gust of wind, first thing!
As it was, we were able to finally get set up OK, and we had lots of visitors to see our displays.
Berni and Jill were able to collect several pages of names, for their campaign to help save Moorside Cottage, and there were always several group members on hand to answer any of our visitors questions.
So thanks to Elaine, Steve, Jenny, Janice, Howard, Mary, Michael... and apologies to anyone else I've forgotten!
A very enjoyable day....
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A lovely spring morning - and a good turn out! - for Berni and Jill's 'Heart of Moordown' walk, on bank holiday Monday (6th May).








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- As you may already know, we have received funding from the Moordown2010 Committee for our projector, and subsequently for our computer and scanner as well.
There's a copy of our 'thank you' letter to the Committee HERE if you'd like to see it.
- We've also posted copies of the notes presented to the Committee when applying for the funding, which you can read HERE and HERE
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P.S. You might like to know........
......that the book 'Bournemouth 1810 -1910' by C.H Mate and C.Riddle is now out of copyright, and has been digitised, and placed online by Cornell University Library.
You can download a copy of the whole book from: HERE (The file is about 11MB)
It contains some fascinating facts, from the 1st 100 years of Bournemouth's history.
Probably not a good idea trying to print it out as a hard copy though - it's 366 pages long!
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