In the beginning . . .

In 2000 I was invited by Ann Marie Loades to meet a bunch of people at The Bridge Centre, Langley Mill with a view to starting what has come to be known as The Heritage Group. Our target set, we dug deep into the town and its surrounds to unearth as much as we could by way of memories some bitter, many sweet and to aim such great discoveries at the populace out there who perhaps wonder what really happened in the past.

Every area has its mysteries, its architecture, and importantly its people: it has stories to tell factual accounts that would otherwise lie buried beneath a silt of indifference. Through earlier exhibitions we whet the appetites of many, and because we did, we now feel justified and proud to offer many of these memories in our first anthology.

The Langley Mill Heritage Group gives you an invitation to delve into the past; it is, importantly, the means by which a so called 'Over the hill Gang' can educate themselves in enjoyable ways, make friends, and be proud of their heritage.

It proves something: that life is worth writing about, worth photographing it becomes a legacy for everyone to share. In saying this, The Heritage Group is open to all interested parties who have tales to tell, memories to share. Check us out, after all friendship and sharing is what it's all about, right?

And I, for one, am gratified to see one enjoyable hurdle overcome and names in print!

Derek M. Fox,
Lecturer/Tutor/Author