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“And now we are
… five” Our 5th birthday celebrations on
19th March 2006 The LHS Chairman, John Tiernan,
welcomed about seventy members to the very different sort of meeting that
marked the Society’s 5th birthday by
reviewing the “ups & downs” of the past five years. These included
using (or being compelled to use) different venues before settling in our
present comfortable “home”; building up the membership and steady attendance
each month; achieving charitable status and a National Lottery “Awards for
All” grant which bought our technical equipment; hosting the Lancashire Local
History Federation Conference in Sept 2004 and publishing four annual
journals and a booklet of World War Two Memories. On balance, he felt that this amounted to
more highs than lows, a view with which all present agreed. He then introduced Professor John
Belchem, former Head of History at Liverpool University (above), who amused
us with a brief but witty account of the 1907 and 1957 celebrations of
Liverpool’s first charter, which, he reminded us, should correctly be called,
“Letters Patent”. In 1907 Liverpool, the proud and bustling second port of
the Commonwealth, marked the occasion with a pageant of our history, somewhat
marred by unintentional anachronisms in the costume department. In 1957, after two world wars, a severe
battering in the second, and a devastating down-turn in the port’s economy,
the emphasis was on the unbowed spirit of the inhabitants. Music and comedy
from some of our world famous performers invited interest and investment in
our renewal. John Belchem continued with a
slightly downbeat look ahead to 2007, which he felt was being adversely
affected by the 2008 Capital of Culture programme, and some of the emphasis
on the special character of Liverpudlians is being lost. He told us a little about the new book.
Liverpool 800, due out later this year, and joked with Mike Kelly and Jon
Murden about the contents of Jon’s chapter in it, including reference to Lita
Rosa’s No. 1 hit, of 1951, “How Much is that Doggie in the Window”. Advised by the Chairman that wine
and cake were to follow, Prof. Belcham thought that this was an appropriate
point at which to conclude. All present joined John Tiernan in expressing
their appreciation to Prof Belcham and then dispersed to collect wine, tea or
coffee, and admire the cake, which had been made and decorated by Mary
Harrison’s sister-in law. Having been cut, distributed, and
pronounced to taste as good as it looked, [a sentiment with which all
agreed.Ed.], all drank to the toast of the birthday cake: We were then able to circulate
and enjoy the table-top exhibitions of members’ interests and research, which
included: Liverpool 800 Project
Jon Murden Women’s History Group
Ann Roberts Society Equipment demonstrated
by
Neville King Society Library
Cynthia Stonall The Paintings of James William
Carling
Michael Kelly A First World War Diary
Jo McCann Family History
Joyce Culling The Blundell Families of
Ince Blundell and Crosby
Brenda Murray Mike’s Mini Museum
Michael Brian Civilian Awards 1939-1945, and
City Walks
Sheila Binks A Letter from W E
Gladstone
Mary Harrison We all enjoyed talking to the
exhibitors and to each other until it was time to go home, after a very
different but thoroughly enjoyable meeting. |
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Photo Rob |
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Liverpool History
Society |
