On a hot and sunny Friday evening, 24 people set off from The Wheatsheaf in order to explore the new QR trail set up by Alan and Shirley Tutton.  The participants included Mike Tennant, parish councillor, and Andrea Evans, parish clerk, representing Badsey & Aldington Parish Council who kindly funded the project.  The youngest member of the group was a teenager with her grandmother, the oldest was local historian, Terry Sparrow.  Despite not having a smart phone, he found the trail very informative.

The fourth and final evening of “Letters from a Badsey Family” comprised readings of letters from 1917-1919.  A new cast member was Bernard Sladden of the 2nd Auckland Company (the Sladdens’ cousin from New Zealand), played by his great-great-nephew, Jonathan Miller – who came complete with an authentic “lemon-squeezer” hat!

Ian Gibson took us on an informative tour of the wildlife in the local area – we had no idea there was so much wildlife teeming in our gardens!  Ian is beginning to share his photographic collection in a new section on the website called “Nature Notes”.

During the business part of the meeting, the same Committee and Officers were re-elected.  The annual Tony Jerram Award was given to Patrick Sparrow, in recognition of his long record of service to the community of Badsey & Aldington.  Until his retirement in 2016, he served as Honorary Treasurer of the Badsey Flower Show Committee for 40 years.    He was prominent in the formation of the Aldington Residents’ Association and served as its Chairman for ten years.

The third Richard Phillips Memorial was delivered by Dr Alan Wadsworth of the Worcestershire Farmsteads Project.  Alan, who grew up on the family farm in Yorkshire, moved to Badsey 15 months ago from Wiltshire.  Having taken early retirement from a job in industry, he returned to his farming roots whilst in Wiltshire and became Project Leader of the Wiltshire Farmsteads Project.  On moving to Badsey, it seemed only natural that he should start on a similar project in south-east Worcestershire.

Alan began his talk by explaining that the River Avon rises close to the Village of Naseby and flows through the west midlands to Tewkesbury where it meets the River Severn.  Along the way it passes through some of this country's finest countryside and the place where we all live.

Ian Gibson led us on an excellent trip across the fields to Wickhamford, which afforded a rare opportunity to visit Wickhamford Mill, courtesy of John Poulter.  A past Chairman, Mike Lovatt, who is a keen molinologist and presides over the mill at Stanway, was also present to assist John in showing people the works.  We also stopped outside Badsey Mill and the Church of St John the Baptist where Ian explained some of the history to us.  On returning to Badsey, we adjourned to the home of Alan and Shirley Tutton who had kindly provided refreshments.

St James' Church was full for the launch of our latest publication:  Peace, War & Remembrance, The Great War in Badsey, Aldington & Wickhamford by Maureen Spinks.  In addition to Heritage Lottery funds, we are grateful to Badsey Parish Council who awarded us money from Section 106 funds.  At the end of the evening, guests had the opportunity to try some “Trench Cake”; many thanks to all those who made a cake.