Keith Fitzpatrick-Matthews
An Evening with Dr. Francis Pryor, NHAS President, Author, Prehistorian, BBC & C4 Television Presenter, Farmer.
Francis will discuss and sign his new book, The Making of the British Landscape, (Penguin, £14.99).
Spirella Ballroom, Bridge Road, Letchworth Garden City, 7.30 – 9.30 pm. Organised by David’s Bookshop. Admission by ticket only, £4.00, refundable if his book is purchased at the event; tickets available from David’s Bookshop, Eastcheap, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3DE (01462) 684631; online booking form.
Mark Stevenson, English Heritage: ‘‘rains, boats and planes – recent archaeological work in London’
Hear about Mark’s discovery of the oldest standing timber building in Britain – and it’s much earlier than Medieval!
Mrs Howard Memorial Hall (upper room), Norton Way South, Letchworth G C, 8pm.
Dr Ralph Jackson, Curator, Romano-British Collections, The British Museum: ‘Cosmetic Sets of Late Iron Age and Roman Britain’.
Dr Jackson is about to publish a major study of these fascinating finds: there’s more to them than meets the eye and they shouldn’t be seen at face-value!
Mrs Howard Memorial Hall (main hall), Norton Way South, Letchworth Garden City, 8pm.
The following lecture will be held at the Mrs Howard Memorial Hall (upper room), Norton Way South, Letchworth Garden City, commencing at 8pm:
Monday 22nd November 2010: Dr. Joseph Elders, Archaeology Officer, Council for the Care of Churches, on ‘Saints, Sea Monsters and Llamas: Excavations at the Nestorian monastery on Sir Ban Yas island, Abu Dhabi Emirate’.
Wednesday 27th October 2010 will be 50 years to the day since the first lecture was given to the then newly formed North Hertfordshire Archaeological Society, founded on the initiative of John Moss-Eccardt, at the time assistant curator of Letchworth Museum, and local enthusiasts.
At 8pm on that day David Hillelson of The Heritage Network Limited will enlighten us with a lecture entitled ‘Relics and Relicts: Watford’s aristocratic past’. The lecture will be given in the Letchworth Museum library hall where our first lecture was presented exactly 50 years before.
Don’t miss out on this memorable anniversary.
Wine, soft drinks & light buffet available.
Evening dress and black tie optional.
The latest issue of British Archaeology, the magazine produced by the Council for British Archaeology, contains a review by Ian Armit of the Society’s recent publication of its excavation at Wallington Road, Baldock, directed by Gil Burleigh back in 1982. Ian Armit says that “this forms a valuable contribution to our understanding of iron age and Romano-British burial practice… [It] also contains a very useful summary of Baldock’s development from native oppidum to Roman town, synthesising much previous work.”
At David’s Bookshop, Eastcheap, Letchworth Garden City, on Thursday, 14 October at 7:30 pm. Tom Williamson, Professor of Landscape History at the University of East Anglia, will introduce his new book, The Origins of Hertfordshire, which examines the history of Hertfordshire from late prehistoric times to the thirteenth century. It looks at the origins of the county and the early evolution of its landscape and, in examining the subtle and complex relationship between early territorial organisation and natural topography, emphasises the surprising degree of territorial and administrative continuity from the Roman period through to the time of the Norman Conquest. Hertfordshire is often described as an ‘unremarkable’ county, lacking a clearly defined identity and, lying close to London, extensively suburbanised. In fact it has a long and complex history and a rich archaeological heritage; developments in the remote past continue to shape its character and appearance to the present day.
The event is free but it is necessary to reserve a place in advance by calling the bookshop on 01462 684631.
The September 2010 issue of Current Archaeology contains an article on pages 28 to 35 about Baldock and the end of Roman Britain. Written by Keith Fitzpatrick-Matthews (Archaeology Officer for North Hertfordshire District Council) and Gil Burleigh (Field Officer for the Society), it reveals how the archaeology of Baldock and surrounding areas tell a very different story about the events of the fifth century from the usual fire-and-sword disaster. Long-standing memebers may even spot themselves in one of the photographs!
Roy Welch (1925-2009)
It is with great sadness that we report the death of our
long-standing Member, Roy Welch. Roy and his wife, Kath, were members of the North Hertfordshire Archaeological Society from its earliest days, joining at the beginning of the 1960s. For several decades they were amongst our most active and dedicated members, taking part in all fieldwork and other activities, and serving for many years as keen Committee members. They enthusiastically volunteered in our excavations at Blackhorse Road and Wilbury during the 1960s; Jack’s Hill, Coombe Bottom and the Mile Ditches in the 1970s; and Baldock in the 1980s, to give just a few examples. During that period, when volunteers were being sought, Roy and Kath were always amongst the most reliable and hard-working. In later years, when their energies were not perhaps what they once were, we could always count on them to help out with practicalities at meetings, such as setting out chairs, serving coffee and washing-up. They were invaluable.
From this you gather that Roy and Kath came as a team. They were inseparable. A few years ago, the Society made them both Honorary Members in recognition of their long service and loyalty.
Roy was born and lived all his life in Stevenage. During the Second World War he served in the Royal Navy, seeing action in several theatres,
including the allied landings in Italy and France. He and Kath married in 1945. Roy worked for British Gas or the Gas Board, as it was known in earlier days, joining from school and only interrupted by his war service.
One of the most endearing things about Roy was his quick sense of humour. He could always see the funny side of any situation. His innocent humour enlivened many a day’s digging, fieldwalking, potwashing, or outing, and caused both us and him to have a good chuckle as he kept us all amused. He was an excellent tonic for team spirit and morale, for instance, when the digging got difficult or the weather was wet, cold or otherwise inclement. We shall miss him very much indeed.
Roy died on 16th April and his funeral was held on 28th April in Stevenage. He was 83. Our deepest sympathies go to Kath and her family at their great loss.
Kath continues to live in Sish Lane, Stevenage, in their home since 1947. We very much look forward to seeing her again at our meetings in future.
As a token tribute, at our meeting in the Howard Hall of 28th April 2009, our Chairman, Diane Burleigh, dedicated the lecture of the evening to Roy’s memory. This was given by Dr Ben Roberts of the British Museum on ‘Keeping Up Appearances: understanding Prehistoric Jewellery in Britain and beyond’. An audience of over 40 members listened with great interest and attention as evidenced by the large number of questions Dr Roberts answered at the end. Roy would have appreciated it all immensely and no doubt would have chuckled over something amusing he’d noticed!
There will be a visit to the British Museum to see the conserved Senuna hoard in its own display case in the recently re-designed Romano-British Gallery on Saturday November 3rd. We are planning to meet in the Great Court at the café at the far end on the left at 11 am. Gil Burleigh will, if possible, give us a short talk about the artefacts. This depends very much on how many of us are there and how easy/difficult it will be to do so in a public gallery. Any further questions then please e-mail Mick James.