Index of Past Events
from 2017

   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.

2017 -    4 items
Nov 2017 - Remembrance Day Service
Aug 2017 - Group Visit to Mining Museum
July 2017 - 15th Annual Exhibition
May 2017 - Group Visit to Richmond

Saturday 11th November 2017
  - Remembrance Day Service

  Our Normanby Local History Group organised a short Remembrance Day Service on Saturday the 11th November 2017 at the Normanby Great War Memorial (corner of High Street & West Street).
  The service drew a crowd of over 100 wishing to pay their respects to the brave men from Normanby who lost their lives during WW1.
  The Reverend Christopher Wood-Archer with Lieutenant Christopher Kelly (Salvation Army) led the service.
  Afterwards many of the participants enjoyed refreshments provided at Normanby Methodist Church where a display of memorabilia of the World Wars was set up by our group.
  Our thanks to several volunteers from our group (in HiViz jackets) who managed the traffic and crowd.
  Note that classes from the local schools were not attending this year as the 11th November was a Saturday - though some children were present with their families.
  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.
  Special thanks is due to Tom Towers (Normanby LHG Honorary President) who has for many years been the main drive to ensure success of the Normanby Service of Remembrance.

  For views of this service go to our photo gallery  page (photos by Barbara Greenmon & Sheila Nicholson)

Wednesday 30th August 2017
     - Group Members’ Visit to Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum at Skinningrove

   The growth of our village of Normanby was very much based on the local ironstone mines  with many villagers working in them.   So a visit to this museum was very appropriate for our group.
   Our group members made their own way to the Museum where they had tea and coffee before lining up for a photo shoot to record the event.
   The group was then split into 2 parties and members were provided with hard hats before the tour began.
   We all squeezed into the hut where miners picked up their talleys before entering the drift and divested themselves of matches.   No smoking underground!
   We got to experience just how the temperature decreased and the darkness increased as we went further into the drift how dangerous a place it could be with tubs travelling close and only an iron brake that had to be thrown into the wheels to stop them.
   We heard the sounds of the mine and Gladstone the rat (one of many that would be down there) in the darkness.
   We also had a demonstration by our guide setting off a charge to bring down the rock containing the ore.   We again squeezed into a little hut while the explosion happened and ventured into the darkness again to see the result of the rock fall.
   On then to the rest of the museum to see more of the history of the mines, mining artifacts (hats, boots and horse) and the fans that brought fresh air into the mines.
   Our guides on the day were very informative and an enjoyable time was had by all.
   Thanks to the museum staff for their welcoming our group.

  To see more of our group’s trip to the museum go to our photo gallery  page.
Photos by Sheila Nicholson.
  If you would like to plan your own visit see
Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum

Saturday 15th July 2017
   - 15th Annual Exhibition:
           "Normanby of Yesterday"

  The Normanby Local History Group's recent annual exhibition was held as usual at Normanby Methodist Church.
  Although the weather on the morning was inclement and the turnout was down on previous years there was lots of interest in both members' displays and the exhibits.
  Once again the group thanks everyone who put in such a lot of hard work to make the day a success (including local residents not even members!)    Members had been busy prior to the event preparing displays of their research, material for stalls including the tombola and baking delicious wares to sell.   Special thanks also should be given to Tom Towers and Marion Davies who spent much of the day before preparing the hall and also to the ladies from the church who assisted with catering.

  There were displays of members research & interests including:
    - William Short VC information
               (associated with our Lottery Funded project) -
          football teams he played for,
          sister Florrie’s fundraising for the soldiers in Hospital,
          family connections,
          newspaper coverage of his death.
    - Short-Sivil Family Tree
    - Normanby & Around Old Postcards
    - Normanby Brickworks
    - History of Vehicle Licensing & Registration in Normanby Area
    - Group Vistit to Richmond 2017
    - Normanby School Class photos
    - ....and others too!

  Derrick Previll (a Development Officer for Volunteering Matters) displayed an exhibition of memorabilia from the war years that has original and replica items as well as a "Tees Valley Great War 1914-1918" display.   Derrick also brought some Anzac Biscuits, Trench Cake and Jelly Babies to try!

  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.

  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 2017 exhibition
go to our photo gallery  page.
(photos by Sheila Nicholson)

  [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 17th May 2017
     - Group Members’ Visit to Richmond

   Members of our group spent a fine day visiting Richmond - a beautiful Yorkshire Dales market town.
   Our trip started at the Green Howards Museum on Trinity Church Square.
   Members of our group are currently working with the Heritage Lottery Fund and Lonely Tower Film and Media on a project about William Short V.C. who served in the Green Howards during the First World War. (see William Short Film Project )
   We were met at the Museum by Mark and Marie from Lonely Tower as they wanted to capture media that would help in the making of our video regarding William Short.   Their attendance was a well kept secret , no time for hair or make up, so apologies to anyone who is not happy with the final shots!
   Our group then had unlimited time in the museum and the staff also kindly opened up the chapel beneath the museum so that some members could visit.
   After the Green Howards there was free time to seek out refreshments and explore the town (the castle, river walk, Georgian Theatre Museum ) or to shop.
   It was a very interesting and informative day which we all enjoyed (although some got lost on their return to the bus !).

  To see more of our group’s trip to the Richmond go to our photo gallery  page.
Photos by Barbara Greenmon, Sheila Nicholson, Mike Wheatley.
Group photo thanks to Lonely Tower F&M.
  If you would like to plan your own visit see the
Richmond Online Guide