Heritage events

On the 3rd July 2019, a very warm afternoon, eight of our members visited the Amersham Museum. This is located in the High Street of Old Amersham town. Once through the very modern entrance reception area we were greeted by the Curator, Emily Tottcher, and taken upstairs to the meeting room (there was a lift too). Tea and biscuits had been arranged and we chose to have this early rather than later on. So then we sat and enjoyed an introductory film and talk by Emily. At the same time, Emily handed out various historical articles to examine and guess what they were. These curious items ranged from an antique pair of curling tongs to corn splitters. Emily spoke of the history of Amersham and its development over the years.

On the fine summer evening of 22 June 2019, at the Fitzwilliams Centre, the Society was delighted to host the screening of ‘JFK: The Last Speech’, a new film from America which told the remarkable story of the friendship between John F Kennedy, 35th US President, and Robert Frost, America’s great poet.

It has been 30 years since Nick Park, a postgraduate student at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield, launched his wonderful ‘claymation’ characters Wallace & Gromit to the moon – and to international stardom. Three decades and tonnes of modelling clay later, the daring duo are part of film history, winning 5 BAFTAs and 3 Oscars®. The Beaconsfield Society were delighted to join in celebrating Nick Park’s creative genius by organising a charity film night in partnership with Cancer Research UK as part of the 2019 Beaconsfield Community Festival.

On 17th December 2018, a good crowd gathered in the Beaconsfield Town Hall garden to mark the birthday of author Alison Uttley, famous creator of Little Grey Rabbit, with the unveiling of a plaque in her honour.

From 6th-13th October 2018, the Beaconsfield Society celebrated the life and works of the best-selling author Sir Terry Pratchett, who has sold more than 85 million books worldwide and also happens to have been born and raised right here in Beaconsfield. We openned the doors to the wonderful world of his acclaimed fantasy novels, and gave fans from near and far the opportunity to learn more about the man and his magical creations during our week of Terry Pratchett-inspired celebrations.

This year we arranged a special visit for our members to Beaconsfield’s very own prestigious National Film and Television School. The School is world famous and this year was honoured for outstanding British contribution to cinema at the BAFTAs. At our last AGM in 2017 NFTS won our award for their new buildings and this was a chance to have a guided tour of the whole site.

On 20th September 2017, we had a rare opportunity to visit Hall Barn, Beaconsfield’s famous estate and manor house and the home of the Lawson family since 1881, which is not normally open to the public. Hall Barn’s history can be traced back to the 13th century and, over the years, the house has been adapted to meet the needs of the time. Today the outside closely resembles that of the original building, a Victorian wing having been demolished. Of particular interest is the gatehouse where the ‘Barley-sugar’ columns have been restored.

Alison Uttley, ‘spinner of tales’ and creator of the Little Grey Rabbit books for children, lived in Beaconsfield from 1938 until her death in 1976. She wrote over 100 books and became a millionaire in the post-war years from the sales of her Little Grey Rabbit and Sam Pig children’s stories.

On a glorious July afternoon, eighteen members of the Society were joined by our friends from BOTRA to enjoy a conducted tour of Chenies Manor and the gardens. The weather could not have been better and we were met by our guide for the afternoon who enlightened us with the history of the house.

A maximum audience of over 120 greeted Dr Helen Fry, the speaker at The Beaconsfield Society’s AGM on Thursday 5th November 2015 at The Fitzwilliams Centre. They were all excited to hear her talk entitled “Bugging the Nazis: the secret history of Wilton Park and Latimer House” and they were not disappointed.