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Programme 2024

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Thu 16th May 2024
Further display of our local Artefacts & Social Evening
(7pm – 9pm)

Thu 20th June 2024
Town Walk led by Paul Carter

Thu 18th July 2024
Proposed Coach to Tiverton with Horse Drawn Barge Trip
Limited to 50, so Members have priority. Please book your tickets from February

Thu 26th September 2024
An evening remembering The Avon Rubber Company in Melksham
(note 4th Thursday)

Thu 17th October 2024
Atworth – The Romans to the 3rd Millennium
Presented by Gervase O’Donohoe

Thu 21st November 2024
AGM & Social Evening

 
Recent Events

Thu 18th April 2024
Working for the Melksham Urban District Council
Presented by Gill Butler
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Thu 21st March 2024
Jobs for Women
Presented by Dr Fiona Basket
more details...

Thu 22nd February 2024
Architectural Follies of Wiltshire
Presented by Jonathan Holt (note 4th Thursday)
more details...

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The Peter Brown Memorial Slide Presentation - Thu 17th January 2019
Tony Fivash presents “Remembering the High Street”


MELKSHAM AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

Presents

Remembering the High Street



A nostalgic look at our shops over the last 50 years

Presented by Tony Fivash


Thursday 17th January
Melksham Assembly Hall
7:30 pm


Vsitors welcome (£3)


Report -

MELKSHAM AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

Remembering the High Street



A nostalgic look at our shops over the last 50 years

Presented by Tony Fivash


The first meeting of the year saw over sixty visitors join members for the presentation entitled “Remembering the High Street”. The subject obviously struck a chord with many Melksham people.

The scenes were mostly from the 50’s onwards, within the memory of the audience with a sprinkling of very early 20th century just for pure pleasure. So many shops have come and gone over the years so this was a golden opportunity to remind us all of just what a busy little town Melksham has been.

Names like The International, first in the Market Place and then the High Street. Smiths on the corner of Church Street, The National Trust Shop and Edmund’s in Church Street. There were several Co-op shops through the years in Church Street, Lowbourne, Bank Street and Bath Road, sadly all names from the past.

However Tony did draw attention the faithful few that have been around for fifty years and more, The Samovar once in Canon Square now in King Street. Newman’s the butcher still in Church Street, Marjo in Lowbourne and S & N News now just in Church Street but at one time also in Bath Road. The Toy Shop in Bank Street and of course Gompels. There has been a chemist on part of their site for over 100 years.

Thanks to Tony Seager we were also able to include photos of “Fishy Parks” standing in the doorway of his shop in Church Street, Nelson Cole in front of his photographic shop and Nicky in the doorway of the Cobbler’s Bench both in Bath Road and finally one of his father in front of his hairdressers shop Boddington’s also in Bath Road.

With a successful evening like that under his belt one wonders what theme Tony Fivash will dream up for 2020!

Our next meeting will be on Thursday 21st February and is “A step back in time …..” a virtual tour of Castle Combe given by Carly Batten. Visitors welcome £3.


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