A new book review has been added to our website. Liverpool. A Memoir of Words by Tony Crowley is reviewed by Graham Jones. ‘Thought provoking and …delightfully engaging’ this book gives ‘Tony’s insights into the words and sounds and memories’ of a world ‘frequently humorous, occasionally exciting and dangerous’. Information about a discounted price for Liverpool History Society members is given in the review.
A new post has been added to our Memories of War Page. John Burns was Chair of the Dingle History Group. He was born, raised and died in Dingle in 2022, aged 87. He was passionate about remembering the men lost in both world wars. In his later years he compiled a booklet in remembrance of and to pay tribute to the 340 who lost their lives. They are all listed alongside their date of birth, regiment, grave reference and family address details. He helped to establish a small Memorial Garden near a row of shops between Moses Street where he lived and Beresford Road. The PDF of his booklet is given
Book Launch Protasia Torkington, Professor Emeritus of Liverpool Hope University will be holding a launch of her memoirs at the Friends Meeting House on Friday 29th September 6.00-7.30. Roger Phillips and Gideon Ben Tobin will also speak. Anyone interested in the NHS, nursing, local history, colonialism and religion will be fascinated by Pro’s story. All are welcome to this free event.
This book has been reviewed by Liverpool Irish Festival. Ged Melia has written three novels, all three of which have been inspired by events associated with previous generations of his family. ‘Liverpool’, his latest novel published on July 6th 2023, is set in the city of the 1840s and 1850s. The story uses the very limited information he has about his ancestors as anchor points, with the narrative being created to fit the known facts. It is the story of an Irish family migrating from County Mayo around 1840 to seek a better life overseas. Although intending to reach America,
Denbigh Open Doors event is on this weekend with 28 sites open, 2 lectures/talks, several guided walks, children’s activities and a historical movie matinee on offer all free of charge. As Liverpool is only an hours drive to Denbigh some members may be interested in a visit to the town and surrounding area where which has one of Edward 1’s castles with town walls and the most listed buildings in any small town in Wales.If you would like any further information please contact:www.visitdenbigh.co.uk
Thursday 14th September sees the launch of a fascinating book by Captain Peter Thomson which uncovers a largely forgotten or even ignored piece of Merchant Navy history from the Second World War.The event, which is by ticket only although the tickets are FREE, starts at 1pm on the 4th Floor of the Merseyside Maritime Museum. The book – Frank’s Bench – starts with a tale that many on Merseyside could tell, a tough upbringing before heading off to sea at an early age. For Frank the Second World War came along when he was fifteen, and a year later he
The first two events of our new talks programme have been published on the website. The 12th September event comprising the AGM and a talk – ‘Hospital Chameleon: Pox to Polio and the First Western General’ by John Turner MA FRCP can be booked now. The October talk – ‘The Liverpool suburb of Harrington, a failed legacy’ by Dr Thomas McGrath can be booked from 22nd September. The rest of the programme will be published shortly.
LHS Membership Secretary Sue McGuire will join Sean Styles on Radio Merseyside at 2.30 on Thursday 17th August to talk about footballer Frank Soo who grew up in West Derby as part of Sean’s ‘Pride of Merseyside’ series. Susan Gardiner wrote an article about Frank for LHS Journal no. 16 and published her book ‘The Wanderer: The Story of Frank Soo’ in 2016, an excellent and highly readable account not only of Frank’s career but the social history and development of football at that time. Susan’s article in our journal shows great admiration for Frank Soo calling him ‘an outstanding
There are many free events coming up as part of the Heritage Open Days. Links are provided to help you to search further and book if necessary. Heritage Open Days – National site https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/advanced-search Wirral Heritage Open Days https://sites.google.com/site/wirralhha/whod-calendar?authuser Victoria Gallery, Liverpool University – Wonderful Waterhouse Tours https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wonderful-waterhouse-tours-tickets-695291394277?aff=odeimcmailchimp&mc_eid=6abefac3de&mc_cid=a89630f9bf
Our Secretary Bill Carr will be speaking about the CSS Alabama on Radio Merseyside at 2.30 on Thursday 6th July. Journal 22 carries an article by John Hussey called ‘The Sinking of the Alabama and the Quest of Mary Elizabeth Low. Bill has written a short summary of the events surrounding the Alabama which you can see by going to our Home page and scrolling down to Story of the Month. A recording of the radio talk will be put on the website for members.
Eliza Morton, LHS Member, writes historical fiction based in Liverpool. Members interested in the process of turning historical research into drama may be interested to hear her in conversation with two other authors at Waterstones on 13 July at 6.30 pm. Tickets are available through Eventbrite. https://www.waterstones.com/events/in-conversation-with-trisha-ashley-eliza-morton-and-juliet-greenwood/liverpool
Peter Colyer has asked us to make members aware of a course coming up to train Blue Badge Guides. The course will be showcased at the Bluecoat Gallery on 15th July 2023 at 10am. Members are welcome to go to find out more. The deadline for applications for the course is 31st July with interviews to be held during August. The course lasts from October 2023 to December 2024. This is a prestigious qualification and the Blue Badge award is a nationally recognised standard of excellence.