St James' Church was full for the launch of our latest publication: Peace, War & Remembrance, The Great War in Badsey, Aldington & Wickhamford by Maureen Spinks. In addition to Heritage Lottery funds, we are grateful to Badsey Parish Council who awarded us money from Section 106 funds. At the end of the evening, guests had the opportunity to try some “Trench Cake”; many thanks to all those who made a cake. Suffice it to say, despite jokes about being used as ammunition, these were all well received and there was not a crumb left!
There were several speeches during the course of the evening. Stephen Badsey, Professor of Conflict Studies at The University of Wolverhampton, who wrote the Foreword to the book, described it as a model of the kind of “building block” history which scholars are finding so valuable in helping create the bigger picture. At the end of the evening, Professor Badsey, who regards Badsey as his “spiritual home”, and his wife, Dr Phylomena Badsey, were given life membership of the Society.
The following day there was an exhibition in the church which included information about our villages 100 years ago, biographical booklets about the servicemen who lost their lives, embroidered postcards, crested china and a tree of hearts embroidered by members of Badsey WI.
