The 2012-3 season has been an interesting one for the Bolton Branch. Our lecture programme remains as varied as ever, with speakers of an exceptionally high standard, yet there has been a disturbing drop in audience numbers. For most of our events during the season, only about 25 people have been in the audience. This is a drop of around 20 from the previous year.
Following our AGM in September, Mary Ann Davison (College Archivist and Records Manager at the Royal Northern College of Music) spoke about the life and career of local composer Thomas Pitfield. She also brought a selection of items from the College’s Pitfield Collection for the audience to inspect. In October, Dr Catherine Feely talked to the branch about Frank Forster’s diaries, in which he recorded the application of his Marxist philosophy to his everyday life. November brought a special evening, when Historical Association President Prof. Jackie Eales visited on Bonfire Night to describe the relations between Catholics and Protestants in early modern England. Our December lecture featured local history, with Mr Garth Ratcliffe of Westhoughton Local History Group talking about the burning of Westhoughton Mill by the Luddites in 1812. The New Year saw a change to the advertised programme, with Prof. Steve Rigby making a welcome return to the branch to discuss whether historians should make moral judgments about the past. His lecture certainly made the audience think! Marios Costambeys, who had to pull out due to work commitments abroad, has rescheduled his lecture for next season. Dr Rory Miller’s lecture on the history and politics of South American football managed to interest even those in the audience who had no interest in sport, providing some fascinating insights into social tensions in the area. In March, Dr Robin Smith spoke about the effects of the General Strike of 1926 on British railways and in April, branch secretary Mrs Jenni Hyde stepped in at the last minute to present her research on the representation of Mary I in early modern ballads. From January onwards, each of the lectures was complemented by a bring and buy book sale towards branch funds.
In January 2013, Mr David Clayton stepped down as branch chairman. We would like to put on record our thanks for all the work he has done over the years and, indeed, continues to do. His many years of service to the Branch and the Association were recognised by his receipt of a Jubilee Fellowship of the Historical Association in February, an honour which committee member Lilian Rigby also received this season. Mr Clayton was succeeded as chairman by Mr Michael Shipley, but remains as branch president. Jenni Hyde was appointed a Trustee of the Historical Association in October 2012 and is a member of the Association’s Branches and Members Committee. In May we were pleased to hear that our vice-president, Dr Glyn Redworth, has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Historical Association.
The Branch has continued to advertise its presence on the internet, updating its Facebook pages and Twitter account. A new weblog has been created which allows information to be updated much more easily and the branch has a new email address. We have updated our email publicity list and the school contact list will be brought up-to-date during the summer to ensure maximum coverage by the start of the new season in September. Unfortunately, April 2013 marks the end of the Branch’s relationship with Bolton Parish Hall, who were unable to take our booking for the 2013-14 season. We have found a new home just down the road at the Friends’ Meeting House, where we look forward to welcoming old friends and new members to the Branch.
Historical Association Bolton Branch 