We are very sorry to announce that Frank Boyce, a founder member and the first Chairman of the LHS, died on 23 June 2021. A very approachable individual and a distinguished local historian, Frank had been very ill for several years. Sadly, his wife of over 60 years, Joan, died only two days later on 25 June. Their son, Frank Cottrell Boyce is a distinguished TV and film writer and author of award-winning children’s books. Our thoughts and best wishes are extended to their family.
The sad news has reached us that Austin Varney, one of our founder members, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, 10th November, 2021. He was in his early 90s. Austin, who drafted the Society’s original Constitution, was a keen supporter of the Society since its inception and regularly attended our monthly talks. More recently, Austin generously donated a number of local history books to the Society’s library. I was fortunate to work with Austin during the late 1950s in Liverpool’s City Lighting and Electrical Department. He went on to have a very successful local government career as an engineer and later as General
Two senior members and a rabbi present the Princes Road Synagogue, which was opened in 1874. When visitors see it, the interior often makes their jaws drop – it is so beautiful! The video plays for a little under ten minutes. Princes Road Synagogue featured on Bay TV 27th July 2016 Greenbank Drive synagogue, a fine 1930s building, was the home of the New Hebrew Congregation, founded in the 1840s. Its previous home was in Hope Place, and is now the site of the Unity Theatre. The New Congregation was a breakaway from the Old Hebrew Congregation, based in Seel
Members will be very reassured to discover that we have a new Editor to replace the very reliable Ron Jones. Iain Jackson is Professor of Architecture and Research Director at the Liverpool School of Architecture, University of Liverpool. A trained architect, Iain previously worked in private practice, mainly on educational and school projects. He co-authored a book on the works of the distinguished Liverpool architect Herbert J. Rowse, which was the subject of our February 2020 presentation. Iain won the DAM Architectural Book Award for ‘The Architecture School Survival Guide’ in 2015. He is particularly keen to point out that
From the Team at Cwmulus (please note the registration link below to view the presentation) The History of Radio Talk in English by David LloydFriday, 15th October 2021, 7:00 PMRadio consultant and historian David Lloyd tells the colourful story of the medium from the pioneering 1920s days through the birth of the BBC, the arrival of the pirates, local radio, commercial radio, radio in Wales, and today’s digital audio explosion. He’ll speak of fondly remembered programmes and presenters, alongside the technical breakthroughs in this most personal medium to which nine out of ten people still listen each week. REGISTER: English – Cwmulus
During the pandemic, the Society has received donations, mainly of books, but also some prints of Liverpool and DVDs. On behalf of the Liverpool History Society, I am grateful to our deceased Members Margaret Cragg and Joe Roche and to current Member Michael Nash for donating their books. We are always grateful to receive your donations which enhances the collection that Members are able to use. In total, there are 96 additional books and I have identified some interesting titles listed below. All the books will be available on the library shelves and an updated catalogue will be there to
Members will be pleased to learn that our very first live talk since March last year will be held on 8 October. This will be immediately preceded by our postponed AGM. Our first meeting of the new programme will now be held at 11.30 – 13.00 Friday 8th October, at our new meeting venue, The Athenaeum Club. Our speaker is the Rev Canon Dr Crispin Palin, Rector of St Nicholas Church and his subject is “Liverpool: a study in theocracy” The premise of this talk will be that the Church in Liverpool was more important than the Council between the Reformation
The Reader is looking for a volunteer heritage story teller, bringing the history of Calder Stones to people of all ages. Contact volunteer@thereader.org.uk for more information.
We have to report the very sad death of Sheila Binks. Sheila was a very committed supporter of the Society and served on our Committee for many years. She was always prepared to volunteer for any task that helped the smooth running of events, in a positive, cheerful and good-humoured way. Together with her husband Hugh, Sheila joined the LHS in its early years and both became Life Members. Sheila attended the Corinthian School and went on to Quarry Bank School, where she was a contemporary of Ken Dodd. In her youth she was a keen ice skater, dancer and
Requests for Covid guideline compliant Walks are now being accepted and new enquiries from private groups are welcome at grouptours@liverpoolhistorysociety.org.uk. To understand more about our Group Walking Tours, please click here.
Here are the revised opening hours for the Society’s Library, housed in the Search Room on the third floor of Liverpool Central Library : Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday : 9.30am to 4.30pm. Tuesday and Thursday : 12.30pm to 7.30pm. The Search Room and LHS Library are closed on Sundays. Access is limited to one person per visit and you must show your LHS membership( programme) card to the Library staff on arrival. Bags, cases, document wallets and so on are not allowed in the Search Room and will need to be stored in a locker -a £1 coin is