The Berkshire Women's Institute

There have been several branches of the WI within the parish of Wargrave and within the County as a whole their history stretches back a century or so

Wallingford Village Walk

As an additional 'social' event, we had a guided afternoon walk of historic Wallingford

Kingston Bagpuize

This year we had an afternoon visit to Kingston Bagpuize House, an interesting manor house and gardens that was also featured in the television series Downton Abbey

More about Antiques

Another 'sell-out' occasion, which took place in the Woodclyffe Hall on a Thursday evening. The well-known antiques expert Thomas Plant - familiar to many from several television series, and a director of Special Auction Services at Newbury, was accompanied by his fellow director Neil Shuttleworth

Historic Village Walk

A gentle stroll around Mill Green, Church Street and the High Street, hearing about people, buildings and episodes from over 900 years of Wargrave's history

Airships

Peter told us about the early history of airships

Wargrave 535

George, now operations director for the RNLI, grew up in Wargrave and shared some of his memories of the village at that time with us

The Annual General Meeting - 2017

The AGM followed by Peter Symons who spoke about the history of the Wargrave and Shiplake Regatta

The Lambourn Valley Railway

The railway branch through this part of Berkshire was not promoted by one of the 'big companies'. It had a special kind of traffic from the start - and a different special kind of traffic at the end of its life. Graham told us about the life of railway and some of the people associated with it

Boats of the River Thames

Dan - who grew up in Wargrave and worked on the river - recounted some of his experiences of times on the river

Christmas Party - 2016

Christmas get-together

My Experiences as a Vicar's Wife from Germany

Barbara shared some of her recollections of life at the vicarage - from her perspective of one who was not familiar with the vicarage, let alone English village life. What were the expectations in 1971? Cucumber sandwiches on the vicarage lawn? How did she learn what to do with 'church hankies'? Whatever was she expected to reply when asked by a parishioner 'Is Father in?' Are Anglicans Protestants or Catholics? Why could nobody she asked in Germany tell her what the Church of England was about?