Meetings
Upcoming Meetings
5 February 2025. Chearsley Voices
We will be showing two further 'Chearsley Voices' short films', produced by the Historical Society and featuring long term Chearsley residents recounting their memories of the past. These films provide a fascinating insight into village life in bygone days and how it turned into the community we know today.
15 May 2025. Beating the Village Bounds
A chance for all the family to enjoy a guided walk to four points on the Chearsley Parish boundary in a repeat of the ancient ritual of 'Beating the Bounds' on Rogation Sunday This promises to be a fun and educational day out.
More for 2025. Details of further events for 2025 will appear here as they are finalised
What else might you like? If you have any thoughts on topics you would like to see featured by CVHS, please let us know. Talks, activities, projects - anything with a local (Chearsley/Buckinghamshire) historical flavour could be covered. Contact us at [email protected]
Previous Meetings
Meeting 10. 10 November 24. Chearsley Voices - war time recollections
This short film was shown in the village hall after our annual village remembrance service at the war memorial. It features interviews with villagers of Chearsley reciting their personal experiences in World War 2 as well as recollections of their relatives in both World Wars. Produced by the Historical Society, it is the first of a set of three films featuring recollections of Chearsley people. The film is available to stream on YouTube.
Meeting 9. 7 November 24. The History of Bletchley Park
The session featured a talk in the Village Hall on the fascinating history of this iconic war time establishment, given by Bletchley Park senior historian Dr David Kenyon. It covered the background to the formation of the Bletchley site as well as its now famous role in gathering information on the planned activities of the Axis Powers through the breaking of their encryption cyphers. Most notably those used on the Enigma and Lorenz machines.
Meeting 8. 19 May 24. Chearsley Pub Revival Day
This event held on a warm sunny afternoon attracted around 80 people to walk the village lanes learning about our pub heritage.
Apart from our remaining pub, the Bell, there were 5 locations, now residences, that have been pubs in the past and which had opened their doors to visitors who could learn about their history from the current 'landlords' . They could also once more enjoy a glass of beer (from CVHS branded souvenir bottles!) or wine from each pub, purchased with tokens included with the entry fee. The event finished at The Bell where snacks were available, along with another pint or two for many, and a prize draw.
Some picture memories of the day are here
Meeting 7. 22 February 2024. The Great Train Robbery
A fascinating talk was given by historian Roger Mason into this infamous event in 1986, in which some £2.6m (around £70m in today's money) was stolen from a mail train outside Leighton Buzzard. We heard details of the villains involved, how the robbery was planned and executed, the follow-up investigation and the eventual detention and subsequent history of those involved. Of particular interest in this area as the Leatherslade Farm hideout used immediately after the robbery is of course just up the road near Oakley
Meeting 6. 15 October 2023. Round the Village 'Treasure Hunt' Quiz
This was the Society's first meeting held completely outdoors.
Entitled a 'Treasure Hunt', it took the form of a quiz with a historical angle in which participants followed a trail around the village, looking for answers to the questions on their sheets. It started and ended at the Bell pub, with refreshments served en-route at the church. Over 70 adults and children, organised into18 teams, enjoyed a fun afternoon on a beautifully warm and sunny Sunday afternoon.
The Questions and Answers are here, along with a selection of the photos taken
Meeting 5. 15 June 2023. Film 'Chearsley Pilgrims' plus The Swinging Sixties
This meeting followed a different format to previous.
It started with the launch of a new 30 minute film entitled ‘Chearsley Pilgrims’, produced by the North Marston History Club. It gives interesting insights into pilgrimages in the early medieval period by following an imaginary group of pilgrims as they passed through Chearsley Village on their way to the much frequented John Schorne’s Holy Well in North Marston.
This was followed by a session entitled 'The Swinging Sixties' . Based on research into Parish Council minutes from the 1960s, members of the Steering Group read out amusing extracts on several different themes. After each set of readings, members of the audience who lived in the village at that time were invited to comment and share their own memories. The script used for the readings is here.
Meeting 4. 16 March 2023. Pilgrimages to North Marston
This meeting featured a presentation by Sue Chaplin of the North Marston History Club on the early history of the village, including story of the pilgrims visits, plus a ‘recollections’ session in which long term Chearsley residents spoke of their memories of the village School
There was also a short presentation on the work of the CVHS Steering Group that has been formed since the last meeting.
The supporting slide sets for the evening is here.
Meeting 3. 15 September 2022. Chearsley History, the Schorne Legend & Future Plans
A similar agenda to the second meeting, but with additional information about contact made with the North Marston History Club and the village Schorne legend.
The presentation used is here
Meeting 2. 12 May 2022. Chearsley - Heritage & Holy Wells
This first meeting proper of the Society was attended by about 40 people and focussed on Chearsley the village and work that had been undertaken since the Inaugural Meeting.
The presentation used is here.
Inaugural Meeting. 2 June 2019. Ideas for a village History Society
The idea of forming a Chearsley Historic Society was formally launched at this exhibition and reception in the Village Hall, sponsored by the Parish Council. The event was attended by a hundred or so people who expressed strong interest in supporting and participating in future ‘Historic Chearsley’ initiatives and events.
Progress was brought to a halt by the pandemic but as restrictions eased, a number of informal meetings led to activities being planned and one major project - restoration of the Stockwell - being started.
Details of these early activities are described in a Progress Report published in December 2021