Origins

 The Society was founded in 1980 following, or even during, the existence (1977-80) of a very successful university extramural class in the village. This latter was led by Robert Speake, M.Litt. (Principal Lecturer in History at Madeley Teacher Training College) who was working for the University of Keele. This class led to the research, writing and publication of the history of the village: Speake, R. (Editor) 1980 Betley: A Village of Contrasts. Keele, University Department of Adult Education, 225 pp. This book (ISSN 0144-140X) is now out of print.

 A leading light in the class which was held in the village school was Les Bradshaw (1921-1999), a churchwarden and chorister of St. Margaret's Church for over fifty years. He served as the first chairman of the Society and it was he who revived the flagging fortunes of the organisation in 1997, once again acting as its chairperson until his untimely death. His memory is commemorated by an annual Les Bradshaw Memorial meeting in June or July each year.

 The aims of the Society.

 The objects of the Society include:

 *              The generation and maintenance of interest in all aspects of the cultural heritage of the village.  

*              The organisation of regular monthly meetings on the last Thursday of each month except during December and August. These meetings are devoted to:  

(i) A programme of talks on topics of local historical interest, or on wider issues which relate to such events in the village;  

(ii) Visits to local and distant sites, landscapes, properties, buildings, record offices, archives etc.;  

(iii) Meetings at which local research is planned and prosecuted, e.g. into the lives of men listed (or not listed) on the Betley War Memorial in St. Margaret's Church; the experiences of an evacuee from Manchester during the Second World War; the experiences of growing up in the village and seeking first employment as a teenager in the 1920s-1930s.  

The meetings aim to involve as many local researchers and speakers as possible.  

*              The preparation and eventual publication of such research, for example: 

Herman, P.H. and Thompson, D.B. (editor) 2000 A War-time Evacuee returns to Betley. Betley, Betley for Gambia Project, 48 pp. (Out of print).  

Brassington, G. & Thompson, D.B. (editor) 2001 Chaucer's Tales - The Reminiscences of a Village Lad 1921-43. Betley, Betley Local History Society. (Publication projected for November 2001)  

Coops, P. (editor) 2002 The Betley War Memorial. Betley, Betley Local History Society.  

*              The organisation and cataloguing of an archive comprising village objects, manuscripts, photographs, maps etc.  

*              The holding of an Annual General Meeting in March each year at which the officers of the Society present themselves for re-election and welcome the addition of newcomers to the ranks of the executive committee.  

Officers and executive committee.

 The officers and committee for the session 2001-2 are as follows:

Chairman: David Thompson

Vice-chairman: Phil. Coops

Secretary: Rhoda Farrington

Treasurer: Iris Brown

Archivist: Judy Fowler

Visits' secretary: Robert Bailey

Committee members: Dorothy Hughes, Derek Inskeep.

 The Programme for 2001-2.

Recent talks have included:

 

"The Betley War Memorial" by Phil Coops;

"The History of Betley Road Station and Betley Tip" by Harry and Harold Forster;

"Heighley Castle and the Civil War" by Robert Speake, and

"The History of the Betley Conservation Area" by Joe Berman.

Each of these speakers has been living in or closely related with the village for much of their lives. Each of the sessions has engendered much lively discussion and attendances have been as high as 52 (and not below 25).

The Programme for the remainder of 2001 (with all meetings taking place in the Methodists' Chapel in the Butts, Betley village at 7.30pm unless otherwise stated) is as follows:

May 31st A visit for members only to a notable building in the village. Please book your place for this meeting with the Visits' Secretary, Robert Bailey, on a "first come, first served" basis; numbers are limited.

June 28th  Ian Bailey of Audley: "A Portrait of Betley in the Mid-19th Century."

July 26th The Les Bradshaw Memorial meeting. The Rev. John Whitehead: "History in relation to Betley Church". This meeting will take place in St. Margaret's Church.

September 6th 6.30pm. A visit to Keele University Library where Martin Phillips, Chief Librarian, will introduce members to the Local History Library, the Archives and other resources. Please book your place on this visit in advance with Robert Bailey, Visits' Secretary.

September 27th An Open Day with displays, photographs and documents related to on-going research projects. Villagers and other non-members are particularly welcome and are asked to bring along new or old finds.

October 25th Peter and Elaine Vincent: "The Old Village Shop in Betley," with memories of "The Bakery" contributed by Dorothy Hughes and Barbara Mayoh.

November 29th Edgar Tooth of Meir: "North Staffordshire surnames".

D.B. Thompson (chairman); Rhoda Farrington (secretary). 5.5.2001