Index of Past Events
from 2016

   Our group has organised many exhibitions and participated in various events over the years. Descriptions of some of these are provided here for you to see what went on!
   Just "Click" on the item in the list below or page scroll down.


2016 -    4 items
Nov 2016 - Remembrance Day Service
Aug 2016 - VC Commemorative Ceremony
July 2016 - 14th Annual Exhibition
Jun 2016 - Group Tour of Ormesby Hall

Tuesday 11th November 2016
  - Remembrance Day Service

  Our Normanby Local History Group organised a short Remembrance Day Service on Tuesday the 11th November 2016 at the Normanby Great War Memorial (corner of High Street & West Street).
  The service drew a crowd of over 300 adults and schoolchildren wishing to pay their respects to the brave men from Normanby who lost their lives during World War One
  The Reverend Huw Sperring led the service and over 200 children from nearby Bankfields Primary School sang "Pack Up Your Troubles"  and "It's a Long Way to Tipperary" which was very moving.
  The trip was organized by the teachers and the children were accompanied by staff and volunteers from the school. The children were safely shepherded across the roads to and from the service by several volunteers from our group (in HiViz jackets).
  After the service many of the participants including many children enjoyed refreshments provided at Normanby Methodist Church where a display of memorabilia of the World Wars was set up by our group.
  We thank the owners of the property on which the War Memorial is mounted (No.1 The Jennings), who had kindly again given permission for sound equipment to be used for the service.

  For views of this service go to our photo gallery  page (photos by Amanda Proud, Barbara Greenmon and Tom Towers).

Saturday 6th August 2016
- Commemorative Ceremony for Local Hero
              - William Henry Short VC

   A ceremony took place on Saturday 6th August at 11 am to unveil a commemorative paving stone for local hero Private William Henry Short VC in our Eston Cemetery in front of the Memorial Cross by the West Lodge at the Normanby Road entrance.
   Local Hero Private William Short of the 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) won his VC for most conspicuous bravery during an attack at Munster Alley near Pozieres on the
6th August 1916 (100 years ago).
   Although severely wounded he refused to go back and continued fighting.  He died of his wounds the next day before he could be carried out of the trench.  His body was eventually buried in Contalmaison Chateaux Cemetery some four miles to the north east of Albert, France.
   William's name is recorded on the obelisk in our local Eston Cemetery and on the Grangetown war memorial.
   The ceremony was well attended with members of William’s family and their friends, representatives of local associations and local dignitaries as well as many local people including members of our History Group.

For views of this special ceremony go to our photo gallery (photos mainly by Amanda Proud.)

Saturday 9th July 2016
   - 14th Annual Exhibition:
           "Working Life of Normanby Residents"

  The Normanby Local History Group's recent annual exhibition was held as usual at Normanby Methodist Church and we were pleased to see so many interested visitors on a mainly sunny morning.
  Once again the group thanks everyone who put in such a lot of hard work to make the day a success (including several local residents not even members!)

  The main theme of the exhibition was "Working Life of Normanby Residents" - though we did cover a wider area!

  There were many displays of research & exhibits by our group's members including:-
   - Normanby & Ormesby Brickworks
   - Dereliction & Demolition - End of the Brickworks
   - Health & Safety - Not a Good Track record
   - A Day at Snowden's Blacksmiths in 1956
   - Memories of ICI Wilton
   - Brief History of ICI
   - Occupations in Normanby & Eston 1790-1810, 1900 and 1910
   - The Picture Hall Eston
   - Walking from Normanby to Eston c.1952
   - Civil Defence Corps Eston
   - Normanby Hospital 1925-1979
   - Matchboxes Use in WW1 Propaganda.

  An interesting display showed some of our group's collection of artefacts and memorabilia including:-
   - Old signs from Normanby streets
   - Bottles from Richardsons Brewery
   - Bricks & tiles made at Normanby Brickyards
   - WWII ARP First Aid Kits and ARP Axe
   - Trowel used at laying of Wesleyian Chapel memorial stone
   - Steetley Refractory Brick Co official stamp.

  All of our group's publications were on sale with our postcards, prints & booklets being very popular - as was our Tombola with many donated prizes to be won.

  One of our visitors was William Short a descendant of local WW1 hero Private William Henry Short VC born in Eston.

  Our very hard-working kitchen volunteers provided welcome refreshments - tea & coffee as well as home-made cakes & scones to keep us all going.

  Entrance was free - all exhibition costs (such as accommodation hire & insurance) were covered by our Group.
             All visitors were made very welcome!

  To get an overall impression of our 2016 exhibition
go to our photo gallery  page.
and for a video of a General View of Visitors at Our Exhibition
go to our VIDEO  page.
(Photos by Sheila Nicholson and Barbara Greenmon).
If you would like to plan your own visit see
North Yorkshire Moors Railway (photos mainly by Amanda Proud with some by Mike Wheatley)

  [If you have any photos of our exhibition day that could be
    added to our Photo Gallery or know missing names of anyone in our photos then please contact us  !]

Wednesday 22nd June 2016
     - Group Members Tour of Ormesby Hall

   Only a few miles west of our village of Normanby is the 18th century mansion of Ormesby Hall - the home of the Pennyman family for over 400 years.
   Twenty nine members of our group spent a sunny morning at Ormesby Hall on a two hour conducted tour after which we rested on the terrace with welcome refreshments from the shop!
   We would like to thank the staff and volunteers who opened the hall for our tour and provided such knowledgeable and interesting guidance round the hall.

  To see more of our group’s tour of Ormesby Hall go to our photo gallery  page.
  If you would like to plan your own visit see the
Ormesby Hall Website