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.
Standing to the south of Burnham Beeches is Dorneywood House, which was the subject of our Heritage Visit on 22 July 2015 when 30 of our members and their guests were able to experience a visit to the house and gardens. This was a rare opportunity because of its official use by senior government ministers, and as such it is not often open to the public.
On 21st April 2015, Sarah Paterson, Senior Librarian at the Imperial War Museum, gave a fascinating talk to a sell-out audience in Beaconsfield on the secret history of Wilton Park in World War 2.
We could not have had a more beautiful autumn day on 1st October 2014 for this memorable visit. The sun shone as if it were mid summer!
The heroism, horror, suffering and sacrifice of conflict were brought to life at a special literary event on 12th April 2014 in Beaconsfield to mark the Great War centenary. Gabriel Woolf and Linda Hart, making a return visit to Beaconsfield, read a wide variety of poetry, prose and song of those who supported the War and those who hated the War – young and old, men and women, combatants and observers.
There were few reminders of the connection between Beaconsfield and the world famous children’s author Enid Blyton until The Beaconsfield Society organised an Enid Blyton Week from 29 June-7 July 2013 celebrating the 75th anniversary of her arrival in Beaconsfield. This was part of the society’s remit to preserve, protect and promote the best of Beaconsfield.
The Society’s annual visit took place on Saturday 17 November 2012 when we visited Holy Trinity Church at Penn along with others attending this open event.
To mark the centenary of Robert Frost’s arrival in England, on 15th September 2012 capacity audiences of around 80 filled the Beaconsfield Fitzwilliams Centre for each of the afternoon and evening sessions of “The English Years of Robert Frost”, performed by Linda Hart and Gabriel Woolf.