Gilmorton History Group Newsletter
May 2025
Our celebration of the 80th anniversary of VE Day event was a huge success with a steady stream of visitors throughout the day.
The Royal British Legion was in attendance all day and conducted a minutes silence during the afternoon. Although this was a celebration of VE Day, we cannot forget those who sacrificed everything for our freedom today.
We retold the story of the poppy as this year the latest installation of the ceramic poppies at the Tower of London is to commemorate VE Day. This will be overseen by designer Tom Piper and will feature almost 30,000 of the original ceramic poppies, on loan from the Imperial War Museums’ collection. This display will be designed to resemble a wound at the heart of the Tower, with poppies cascading across the lawn.
All Saints Church bells were rung at 6.30pm and the beacon was lit at the Pavilion by Andy Moyes at 9.30pm. A huge thank you to Andy for the preparation and lighting of the beacon. Once again, our huge thanks go to our very own angels, Pat and Barabara, whose unstinting work serving refreshments and cakes helped to make the day. Without them we would not be able to continue.
Visiting children were given an 80th anniversary sticker and balloon. All in all, a very successful event.
Moving swiftly on to our September event on 9/10th which is all about Transport thro’ the Ages. We hope to have some classic vehicles on display in the car park and if you have a classic vehicle of any description and would like it to be on display, please contact the history group (contact details below). If you have any memorabilia, photos etc of any form of transport from the past we would be delighted to include it in our displays.
And finally Pictorial Gilmorton November 4/5th where we will have our own pictorial displays about Gilmorton coupled with the photographic entries. Don’t forget our photographic competition which is running throughout the first part of 2025 with a closing date of 31st August. It is open to everyone and all entries will be displayed at the November event Pictorial Gilmorton. Prizes will be awarded to two categories, one for adults and one for under 16s. Rules regarding entries are attached so get those cameras out and get shooting.
A reminder that you can always log on to our website where you will find details of all our upcoming events. Our archives section contains 26 different categories with over 340 documents which include write ups and photographs. Everything on the website is freely available for both downloading and printing.
In addition to posting on Spotted Gilmorton, we are pleased to announce that we now have our very own dedicated Facebook Page. We had discussed, for several years, about having a Facebook page but having someone to administer it was always a problem but now that job has been taken on board by John and Lorna. Here you can post items about Gilmorton and its surroundings. Already there are some interesting photos appearing so if you have anything to add then please get posting.
It’s still only May but we are already looking forward to 2026 and planning events for the coming year. For some time now we have discussed a change in our usual ‘Gilmorton only’ events and we are beginning to look for topics outside of Gilmorton itself. We have been approached by a Polish lady who gives talks about Poland and Polish groups in this country and especially the local Husbands Bosworth Settlement Camp.
We feel that Polish people are part of our community these days and so we have confirmed her booking for next year. Part of her talk is about WW2 and will be on Wednesday November 11th 2026 to coincide with Remembrance Day.
Other topics we are considering are Gilmorton Wildlife, yes, a considerable amount is all around us, a possible trip somewhere and something called Digging up the Past! More on these future topics as they emerge.
The history group though is still on the lookout for suitable people to join us on our committee. Alternatively, if you feel you could offer any help without being committed to a committee you are just what we need. So, if you feel you could be part of the team and get involved in Gilmorton’s fascinating history, we would love to hear from you.
We now have Lorna on board but Jen has left us and we take this opportunity to thank her for her time with us and her commitment.
Email:
Pictorial Gilmorton – Photographic competition rules
Start date will be Saturday 1st February 2025 and will run through the year until the closing date Sunday 31st August 2025.
Two categories = Adults and Children’s (up to 16 years).
Entry to include (on reverse side) - name, age if under 16, address, contact details, brief description of entry.
The preferred entry is via a printed hard copy but digital entries can be made via the history groups email address
Content must be within the Gilmorton Parish boundaries.
Content can be of people (individuals or groups), animals, roads, buildings, wildlife, farms etc.
Entries can be submitted in sealed envelope at any history group event or at No. 4 Lutterworth Road, Gilmorton.
We are unable to return photographs but entries can be removed at end of the event – 12.00 noon Wednesday 5th November.
Entry to the competition means you agree to the possibility of your entry being placed on the history groups website or used in other publications.
Entries will be judged independently and winners notified accordingly.
There will be prizes for each category.