Search Results for: jim bell

Jim Bell's new book: Memories of Wokingham Town Hall 1947-2005

For the most part, the histories presented in this Wokingham Remembers page are of events steeped in a past which can be recounted but not recollected by the people of Wokingham. This week however, we review JIM BELL’s excellent history … Continue reading

Posted in All Posts | Leave a comment

374 pages of Wokingham Gold by Jim Bell

Wokingham Remembers presents a picture of a small forest town and how it was affected by the Great War. There have been invaluable contributions from a number of Berkshire people; one of them being local historian Jim Bell. For the … Continue reading

Posted in All Posts | Leave a comment

Cecil and Ken in Conversation 1996. By Jim Bell

Jim Bell: “Cecil’s reminiscences are taken from three interviews by his old friend and historian, Ken Goatley. The first two were recorded on audio tape in 1996 when he described his life and reminisced about Wokingham during the first twenty-five … Continue reading

Posted in All Posts, Cecil Culver's Wokingham, Jim Bell's Wokingham History, The Ken Goatley Interviews | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Cecil Culver. Introduction by Jim Bell

Today we start a magnificent series of recollections by Cecil Culver, one of the great cornerstones of the Wokingham community. Sadly, Cecil died in 2009 aged 99, but we are fortunate in being able to receive  his memories of Wokingham … Continue reading

Posted in All Posts, Cecil Culver's Wokingham, Jim Bell's Wokingham History, Story of Wokingham | Leave a comment

The Old Forge on Peach Street

PEACH STREET SMITHIES By Jim Bell The subject of the smithy run by Fred Painter in Peach Street has arisen in the local newspapers from time to time. There were actually two smithies in Peach Street. The first is still … Continue reading

Posted in All Posts | 2 Comments

The Great War: 1915 – Wokingham’s Volunteers go into battle.

Today’s article focuses on the names listed on the Town Hall War Memorial and their part in a war which ultimately led to their deaths. This is the story of the Charles Rideout and the Battle of Loos in September … Continue reading

Posted in All Posts | Leave a comment

1856: Cholera arrives in Wokingham

Flush the loo, turn on the taps and wash your hands; a simple act which came from decades of debate on the diseases and deaths which accompanied everyday life in Victorian Britain. Thanks go to Jim Bell for uncovering the … Continue reading

Posted in All Posts, Jim Bell's Wokingham History, Story of Wokingham | Leave a comment

Wokingham Remembers articles for The Wokingham Paper

A heritage page was launched in March 2015 with the title Wokingham Remembers with the objective of telling the Wokingham story as an area and not just the town of the same name. Local historians have given their time without … Continue reading

Posted in All Posts | Leave a comment

The Wokingham Paper launches its heritage page titled: ‘Wokingham Remembers’

A heritage page was launched in March 2015 with the title Wokingham Remembers with the objective of telling the Wokingham story as an area and not just the town of the same name. Local historians have given their time without … Continue reading

Leave a comment

1860: Wokingham opens the New Town Hall

Jim Bell is renowned for the 30 short books he has written on Wokingham. In this article Jim tells the story of how the Wokingham Town Hall was built and a fascinating tale of an old silk weaver from the … Continue reading

Posted in All Posts, Jim Bell's Wokingham History, Story of Wokingham | Leave a comment