2016 seems to be a year of important anniversaries in our town and the surrounding area. The Methuen School, in South Place, celebrates its 200th anniversary and you will find several articles in this edition by former pupils. On June 30th, those of us who can be considered as ‘railway historians’ will note that it’s the 175th anniversary of the first train through Corsham and Box Tunnel from London to Bristol Temple Meads. I don’t think the modern day ‘Great Western’ trains will be celebrating this date, but I shall try to be at Box to take at least one photograph of a HST powering through on its way to Bath and Bristol. I think of July edition of Spotlight will have a little more information on that subject.
April 2016 newsletter
Our current ‘Spotlight’ Editors, Jujhar Garcha and Tom Cole have volunteered to produce this issue and the July edition and John Maloney is following them as the Editor. John and his wife joined the Society last year and I am sure he will write a little more about himself in the November edition.
John has now joined the Executive Committee but I sorry to say that Jane Browning will be leaving the committee at the Annual General Meeting in May. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking Jane for all her work as a committee member as well as being ‘Spotlight’ editor for four years. Her work has been much appreciated over the years and we shall miss her attendance at meetings very much.
This September sees the Society’s participation in the Heritage Open Days, a national event organized by the National Trust and English Heritage. We hope to organize a number of free events between Thursday, September 8th and Saturday, September 10th so please study the July edition of Spotlight for further details.
I have recently signed a new contract with Revolution Arts for the continuing maintenance of our website www.corshamcivicsociety.co.uk. This new contract is for 2 years and Michael Wilkinson and Nicholas Keyworth will be again in charge of the website on behalf of Revolution Arts.
Michael Rumsey