A return to Coffee#1 for our flexiclub with a surprise visit from our baby Belle, Winnie! Then some of us went to the library to view the Timber Street display they have for Local History Month, which was put together by our member Sue Tuersley and her colleague Sarah.
The timeline covered is from the mid 1700s to almost the present day. The library; Samuel Fludyer (once the second richest man in England and the site of his house is where the library now stands); the Art Deco Golddiggers cinema then nightclub; Joe Buckle and the chip shop which bears his name; the canal wharf; the bus station (formerly outside the Angel Hotel); and local traders all feature prominently in the display. As usual Ros supplied a few extra anecdotes, including the cinema manager featured was Anita Harris's grandfather and she lived in Chippenham for a while. A look at the 1939 census revealed some of the main families and traders from the Timber Street area. Visitors' anecdotes left on speech bubbles triggered memories of the faggots available from the local butcher, and Ros said Dr Evans was in charge of the surgery mentioned. The display is worth a look and is available until the end of the month.