SOCIETY NEWS

Please note that due to a change in personnel within the committee the contact address for the society with effect from 6.5.2023 has now changed to

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On Friday evening the 6^th of January 2023, the Buckley Society are host to former Buckley resident David McCaddon who has written several books, the latest of which is a crime thriller set around Buckley, Flintshire and Chester entitled ‘A Question Of Time’

Having been educated in Buckley, David started his working career at British Steel, Shotton, and working in the computer department in the early 1970s, where he become a computer programmer.

After leaving the steel industry in 1973, his 47-year career in information technology led him to working for the Home Office and included 35 years working with police worldwide as a specialist in major incidents.

An accomplished speaker David looks forward to delivering his talk entitled ‘From Computing to Crime Author’. He particularly looks forward to meeting friends from his time spent living in Buckley and his old schoolfriends.

The Society meet on the first Friday of the month from September to May, doors open 7pm for a 7.15pm start, membership is £10 per year, visitors are welcome to attend for a small entrance fee of £2. www.buckleysociety.org.uk

For news of forthcoming heritage events locally and across the north east Wales region please visit the web site below. If for some reason the link does not connect then right click and choose 'open link in new tab'

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Society meetings at Hawkesbury community centre will resume face to face from the first Friday in October 2022

We thank members for their patience during the unprecedented situation recently experienced.

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Visit North East Wales via the below link and discover some of the hidden treasures of North East Wales

North East Wales Trails is a series of digital trails developed by local communities across Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham to help you to discover more about this fascinating area. Each trail highlights what is special and is packed with information, photos and stories. The trail compiled by the Buckley Society is included on the site.

The trails are as diverse as the area. Take a stroll along the coast, discover hidden countryside or meander around one of the pretty villages. Discover the rich heritage of the area from hillforts to stone castles or explore the industrial heritage. See how a limekiln works or listen to what is was like to work with the ponies deep underground in the coal mines.

The Society are pleased to share film footage of the Buckley Jubilee Processions from 2014 and 2015 recorded by Secretary Paul Davies. Both films have recently been edited and enhanced by Mr John Butler to whom we are extremely grateful. They can be accessed on YouTube via the below links;-

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Feel free to post your memories and photos of the fashions you wore over the decades there for an eventual exhibtion to be held when the pandemic is over and circumstances permit public gatherings again.

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A short animated film of Buckley industry in the early 20th century is now complete and available on line to view at https://vimeo.com/472248425 or YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fQpybgs0nw&t=104s Many hours of work have gone into its compilation and Martin Moss of Dextra Visual is to be congratulated on the lengths he has gone to in recreating the scenes in such detail.

It has been compiled from old photographs, maps and sketches contained within the Buckley Society archive plus information passed down over the years. It recreates as best as possible scenes at Hancock’s Brickworks, Lane End, Mountain Colliery, Old Ewloe Pottery, and you also see glimpses of the Smelt built by John (Iron Mad)Wilkinson.

It will prove extremely useful to show the younger generation particularly those in schools a sample of the industries that made Buckley so famous for its products.

Hancock’s Brickworks established 1792 were situated in Church Road, the entrance to the Redrow housing estate i.e Lon Butterley was the entrance to the works. The last brick was made there on the 7th March 2003.

Mountain Colliery which operated between 1897 and 1929 was situated on the common opposite Mountain Lane C.P School, Knowle Lane where Mountain Close now stands

Hayes’ Old Ewloe Pottery was situated in Etna Road where Etna Court now stands. It was established in 1760 and closed circa 1942.

Wilkinson’s Smelt was situated in an area that has since been developed for housing between Wilkinson Court and Pemba Drive. It was built in the early 1790’ s and demolished in the mid 1960’ s

The three and a half minute film is one element of the ‘Revealing Buckley’s Heritage’ project, additional funding for which was provided by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Buckley Town Council, Flintshire Museum service - Aura, Flintshire County Council Countryside Services and Tourism Departments for which we are extremely grateful.’

Visitors to Buckley town centre will notice the presence of a new sign in front of the shopping precinct which is the culmination of many hours of work by Secretary Paul Davies and Archivist Carol Shone to develop a digital trail for the town.

The app is designed for iPhone or modern Android mobile phone / tablets. The bilingual trail takes the user on a trip around the town pointing out places of interest and is supported by information of historical interest as well as some audio recordings.

The sign and app which are packed with information about the history of the town form part of the project financed and supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund together with match funding from Buckley Society, Buckley Town Council, Flintshire Museum service - Aura, Flintshire County Council Countryside Services and Tourism Departments for which we are extremely grateful. We hope the sign and trail is appreciated by young and old alike and that it serves to inform visitors of some of the many interesting features there are around the area.

To download the app search for North East Wales in the Apple App store or Google play and scan the below code when prompted.

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Quay Watermen's Association visualisation of Connahs Quay Docks

It was announced in recent days that 2020 will be the first time in its history that the Buckley Jubilee has had to be cancelled. In recent days the Society has launched a short film of the Buckley Jubilee Street Procession in 1989 on YouTube and on the People's Collection Wales web site.

Filmed by David Markey who was the Manager of the former T.E.Robert's Electrical shop in Brunswick Road the footage provides a fascinating glimpse of the town event 31 years ago. Shops fronts, fashions and vehicles have very much altered since that date, children on film will now be adults and sadly many of the more elderly people filmed will have passed on. We are grateful to David Markey for granting copyright permission to use the film and to Mr John Butler for his assistance in processing and uploading it to YouTube for the Society. The film was recorded on VHS tape so is best viewed on a smaller screen e.g tablet of iPad as opposed to modern large screen high definition televisions.

If for any reason the links fail visit the sites and type in 'The Buckley Jubilee Street Procession 1989'

In the light of the recent spread of the highly infectious Corona Virus and the need to reduce the potential risk of exposure a reluctant decision has been made to postpone the Tivoli Memories day due to be held on Saturday the 21^st March at Buckley Heritage Centre. An alternative event will be arranged in late summer subject to conditions having improved.

In addition to the above, the Buckley Society meeting for April, the A.G.M in May and any summer outings will also be cancelled. Depending on how the virus situation develops over forthcoming months, a short A.G.M will be held before the first meeting to be arranged in the Autumn or when business is back to usual.

These cancellations are very much regretted but in view of the age profile of our members, the fact that many members or their spouses / partners have underlying health issues and today’s Government advice, cancellation of the events is seen as the sensible action to take.

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BUCKLEY WAR MEMORIAL REFURBISHMENT AT HAWKESBURY GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE READY FOR V.E. DAY

The Buckley War Memorial situated in the Hawkesbury Garden of Remembrance has long needed refurbishment. It commemorates the fallen of WWI and WWII, serving as a reminder of the sacrifice of ordinary people from Buckley. We are pleased to announce that we are now able to arrange for this refurbishment to be carried out, having secured funding from the Section 106 Public Art Project.

Over the years, the stone and the inscriptions have become weather-damaged, rendering some of them illegible; the pointing between the various structures needs renewing as does some of the pointing between the paving slabs surrounding the memorial. The work will entail the cleaning of the memorial stone, the re-carving of the lettering, and the repair of broken pointing between the paving. During the work of approximately four days, the memorial will be a designated work site with no public access.

The Memorial was dedicated on 9^th September 1951 after the end of WWII, funded by local people and organised by the Royal British Legion. The inevitable consequence of the length of time since WWI was that the names of servicemen who died with a connection to Buckley were not included.

We are therefore asking for details of any servicemen who died during both World Wars and in any theatre of war since, who have a connection to Buckley and whose names are not inscribed. These names will be added to the memorial during the refurbishment.

The work will be carried out by Blackwell’s Stonecraft Ltd., a local firm of some 300 years standing. Owner Steve Blackwell has kindly undertaken to add additional names free-of-charge as part of the refurbishment. Blackwell’s have also agreed to work with any local schools who wish to be involved. It is an opportunity for pupils to learn about the history, meaning and importance of the Memorial.

WWI:- Stephen Ankers; Edward Davies (RWF); Edward Davies (SWB); George Davies; Frederick Davison; William Davison; John Ellis (Ypres); J. Harold Evans; John Fennah; Aubrey Harris; George W. Hastings; Robert Reginald Hughes; Thomas Caradoc Hughes; James Iball; George Willacy Isaac; Owen Jones, Samuel Jones; Samuel Charles Piercy; William Powell; William Millington; Glyn Roberts; William Roberts; William Stanley Roberts; John Weigh; Bernard Hallett Williams

WWII:- William Bunting; Walter Davies; Richard George Earl; Richard Glyn Jones; Colin Shone; Hedley Shone; Joseph Alfred Snape; Edward John Williams; Charles Norman Wright

Please note that the names will be engraved with first name initials only, in keeping with the rest of the memorial.

It is hoped that the refurbishment will be finished for the V.E. Day commemorations, so that the memorial can be re-dedicated then. Any names put forward for inclusion by members of the public are to be advised by March 31^st at the latest.

The Working Group involved in this project are:- the Royal British Legion (Buckley Branch) - Steve Evans (Chairman) Ray Newman (Treasurer); Councillor Carol Ellis (Ward Member); Councillor David Ellis (Project Lead); Buckley Society - Paul Davies (Secretary) Carol Shone (Archivist); Project Manager Victor Lamb; Gwenno Eleri Jones (FCC).

Please note if there are any families who would like to discuss any aspect of the project, including the addition of any names on the memorial, contact:- Councillor David Ellis the Project Lead on 01244 544906

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As part of a local history project the Buckley Society are appealing for your memories from visiting the Tivoli. We are looking for old photos, autographs,stories you can tell, memories of stars you met, fashions and any clothing you wore at gigs in the past. If you can assist with any of the above please come along to a 'Memories' event at the Heritage Centre Buckley Library between 11am and 3pm on Saturday the 21st March 2020 to share it with us.

If you have any information or material of interest but can't make that date please e mail the society at the society address

See publications page re.books available including a newly published book about The Buckley Potteries

In 2003 the Buckley Society secured a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (previously known as the Heritage Lottery Fund) to create a digital community multimedia archive. Since then volunteers led by Society Archivist Carol Shone have compiled a comprehensive collection of images, documents and film footage which provide a fascinating glimpse into the past of the town's buildings, industries and people.

On Tuesday the 5th March 2019 the Buckley Society received a National Lottery Heritage grant of £9,000 for an exciting heritage project that will utilise and share this collection in a modern format.

Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the project focuses upon.

An App will be developed to enable users of both android and i phone technology to view old images of locations around the town. Basically mobile phones or i pads equipped with the App will ‘ping’ at certain locations where interesting facts, photographs, videos if available and audio records will be available to enjoy.

The trail will include many areas of the town, looking at the industrial past, the natural environment and its heritage. Through the wizardry of modern computer technology a short animated film containing computer generated images will be developed taking viewers back in time to see Buckley as it was many decades ago.

Renowned for the quality of its clay products, minerals were extracted from the surface of the town and district as far back as medieval times.

Potteries, brickworks and collieries powered the engine of the town’s prosperity and fashioned the Buckley landscape.

The last collieries closed in 1935; the last potteries closed during World War 2 and the last brickworks, which had operated since 1792 closed in 2003.

The Tivoli cinema and Theatre built in1925 has a rich history from providing early ‘talking’ pictures and hosting one of the largest and most successful pantomimes in the North West, to being a modern venue where many famous bands and artists including Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Oasis have performed in recent decades.

Drop in sessions for people to share their memories and bring along fashions from the past will be organised with a view to holding an eventual exhibition in the town.

Enthusiastic support for the initiative has been received from local schools whose teachers will exploit the technology for pupils to enjoy when studying local history. Commenting on the award, Society Secretary Paul Davies said;- ‘The younger generation and residents who have moved to live in Buckley in recent decades have no living memory of the scale of the past clay industries that were associated with the town.

We are grateful to be supported through the National Lottery Heritage Fund; this project will enable young, old and newer residents to gain a greater appreciation of the town’s heritage and to develop a sense of place.

The Buckley Society will be committing funds to the project; match funding is being provided by Buckley Town Council, Flintshire Museum service - Aura, Flintshire County Council Countryside Services and Tourism Departments for which we are extremely grateful.’

Richard Bellamy, Head of the National Lottery Heritage Fund said, ‘Revealing Buckley’s Heritage is a fine example of how, thanks to National Lottery players, local people are enabled to choose what is important to them, what they want to save, and how they want to spread the word throughout their community’.

Mayor of Buckley, Councillor David Ellis commented, ‘I personally think it is an excellent idea and fully support the Buckley Society as they carry out excellent work for Buckley. It will give all generations an understanding of the heritage/history of Buckley Town as it was many years ago.’

Using money raised through the National Lottery, the National Lottery Heritage Fund aims to make a lasting difference for heritage, people and communities across the UK and help build a resilient heritage economy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. heritagefund.org.uk/cy . Follow us on Twitter @heritagefundcym, Facebook @heritagefundcym, and Instagram @heritagefunduk

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The Society with the approval of the British Legion Buckley Branch has reserved the use of the Jubilee Court community centre on Saturday the 10th and Sunday the 11th November 2018 to display charts and files detailing the men from Buckley who fell during the Great War.

Light refreshments will also be provided for participants in the parade and Service of Remembrance immediately after the parade has stood down and the charts and displays will be available to view.

Society members will be on hand both days to assist with any enquiries and to hear any information of value to the society archive.

It is with regret that we have to announce the death of Society President Harold Ifor Donnell aged 98 years who passed away on the 26th July. Harold who was better known to members as Don had been a stalwart supporter of the Buckley Society for many years and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

The funeral will be held on Wednesday the 15th August 2018 at St John's United Reformed Church, Hawkesbury Road, Buckley at 1.30pm followed by committal at Flintshire Memorial Park and Crematorium.

Thanks to Sophie Fish from Aura, Leisure and Libraries, residents of Flintshire will get a chance to see a range of objects that represent different aspects of our region’s heritage.

The History of North East Wales in 100 Objects exhibition has been organised by the North East Wales Heritage Forum (NEWHF) through funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Items have been loaned from individuals and groups across Flintshire, Denbighshire and Wrexham.

The full exhibition was displayed in Wrexham Museum but, in Flintshire, the display is split across Buckley Museum, Mold Museum and Connah’s Quay Heritage Space.

Industry and everyday life objects are exhibited in Buckley Library, objects related to transport and conflict are in Connah’s Quay Heritage Space and objects related to early inhabitants and religion and culture are in Mold Museum.

The exhibitions will run until November 3. Admission is free and there is an opportunity to take part in a 'mystery object' competition to win prizes.

The exhibition is accompanied by a book The History of North East Wales in 100 Objects, priced £6, that will be available from the venues and other local outlets including The Bookshop in Mold.

By kind permission of David and Margaret Frith of Brookhouse Mill Pottery, Denbigh one of the exhibits i.e. an original potters wheel from Old Ewloe Pottery, Etna Road, Buckley is on display in the town in an empty shop at the front of the Buckley shopping precinct. It has previously been on exhibition in Wrexham Museum as part of the History of North East Wales in 100 Objects.

The wheel formerly owned by the Hayes family was made at Buckley Foundry over years ago and was in use until 1942 when the Pottery business closed. In its lifetime it would have been used to throw thousands of pieces of pottery from small ornaments through to large pancheons.(See photo below)

Pottery production in Buckley can be traced back as far as the 13th century and report number 1246 by the Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust details 31 separate sites that operated at various times in the town and district during a period of over 600 years, click on links below or copy and paste into your search engine.

Major customers to Old Ewoe Pottery included Bees Nurseries in Sealand for plant pots and F.W.Woolworths Ltd. for small stew pots and utility ware. Goods produced were packed in straw and transported by rail from the sidings in Church Road or taken by lorry to local destinations.

The wheel is attracting a great deal of attention amongst local residents and children in local schools who received an input from the Society about the Buckley Pottery industry in 2017.

We are grateful to Mason Owen (Property Consultants) for temporary use of the empty premises and to the following for their assistance and use of equipment to place the wheel into position

The exhibition, which is free of charge, is on display at Wrexham Museum from 21 April until 30 June 2018 and includes many exhibits from across the region including an original pottery wheel from Ollive Hayes' Old Ewloe Pottery in Etna Road Buckley made at Buckley Foundry in the 1890's, some examples of pottery and some artwrok by the late James Bentley.

The exhibition is accompanied by a book The History of North East Wales in 100 Objects that will be available from Wrexham Museum and other local outlets, including The Bookshop in Mold and Ruthin bookshops.

The Chairman and Committee of the Buckley Society extend warm wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our members and supporters.

A calendar for 2018 has been published and is now on sale at Buckley Library or from the Society direct upon request Price 4.50 see publications page.

The Society has donated £100 towards the purchase of a Defibrillator for the Hawkesbury Community Centre

A series of meetings is being held to advise the public of the changes taking place in the county library service. The meetings are being arranged by the organisation taking over the management of the service, AURA. https://www.aura.wales/ As a society we have been regular users of Buckley Library during the 17 years running our archive and have found the library service very supportive in our work. Please attend a meeting if you can, handouts are available in local libraries.

Prior to his untimely death in 2015 our Buckley Society Magazine Editor and Founder Member Kenneth Lloyd Gruffydd had been working with Emeritus Professor Hywel Wyn Owen for several years producing an authoritative study of the place-names of the entire pre-1974 County of Flintshire. Published by the University of Wales Press it is now on sale in all good book shops.

Dapol have recently introduced the below 00 gauge model railway truck which is a flashback to the days when Buckley was a major brick producing town.

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To commemorate the 75th Anniversary of commercial pottery production ceasing in Buckley, Chairman Mr Keith Shone has commissioned Anvil Pottery near Denbigh to produce a number of small plates using clay partly sourced in Buckley.

Plates can be purchased locally from the Society, at Buckley Library or at F& J Newscentre in Mold Road at a cost of £8 and will be on sale at the forthcoming Buckley Fun day event on Sunday the 21st May.

By kind cooperation Mr John Butler from Deeside has made recent video recordings of two local ladies whose childhood years were spent in Buckley and made the recordings available to view online via the following links;

We are grateful to John for his time and professionalism in creating such invaluable records for all to enjoy

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The Committee of the Buckley Society wish all our members and subscribers all the very best for Christmas 2016 and New Year 2017

For a postal service please e mail the Society address detailed on the Archive page a direct link is not provided to avoid automatic spam and junk mail

Following the recent archaeological digs at Prices Pottery on the Elfed School Field in 2014 and 2015, the Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust are arranging a two day event above Buckley library on the 10th and 11th November 2016

As well as staff from C.P.A.T, Christine Longworth who was formerly Curator of British and European Antiquities at Liverpool Museum will be in attendance. Christine has taken a keen interest in Buckley pottery over many years and has published works on the subject. e.g. Buckley Ceramics in the Seventeenth Century: Socio-Economic Status of the Potters and Possible Design Influences. http://interpretingceramics.com/issue006/articles/01.htm

November 10th: Introductory course in pottery identification, delivered by Christine Longworth and processing of Buckley Pottery (Price's Pottery site 2014-2015)

November 11th: processing and cataloguing of Buckley Pottery (Price's Pottery 2014-2015) under the guidance of C.P.A.T. and Christine Longworth.

People will have to provide their own lunch, enquiries are in hand though to see if drinks can be provided.

This is a valuable opportunity for the members of the Buckley Society and for all those people keen to learn more about their local heritage.

Please support this event if you can, C.P.A.T have shown tremendous interest in Buckley in recent years and it would be nice to have a good turn out to support them.

Can people interested email their names by return so that we can update Viviana Culshaw the Community Archaeologist with likely numbers attending please.

The new season of talks commences at Hawkesbury Community Centre on Friday evening the 7th October 2016 see Lectures section for details.

Due to the increasing cost of engaging quality speakers to attend our meetings a decision was reached at the A.G.M in May 2016 with members support to raise the annual membership fee to £10 per annum

Prior to his untimely death in 2015 our Editor and Founder Member Kenneth Lloyd Gruffydd had been working for several years producing a book on the maritime history of Wales. The book entitled Maritime Wales in the Middle Ages:1039-1542 has been priced at £25 and is on sale in local bookshops or alternatively direct from Eirlys Lloyd Gruffydd e mail gruffyddargel@talktalk.net

The latest 'Buckley' Magazine (No.40) is now available at the usual outlets around the town i.e Library, F.J Newscentre and Wainwright's Convenience Store Drury.

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On Friday the 19th June 2015 the Society will be participating in a History Fair at the Civic Centre Connah's Quay together with many other organisations from North East Wales. The event entry to which is free, is open to the public from 2pm until 5pm.

This year’s Society Magazine which majors on WWI plus an article is included in respect of the Elfed School’s 60^th anniversary.

Fred Birks VC MM is the subject of a new publication by Janet Tildesley, his grandniece which the Buckley Society has published with her permission.

See Internet site for more details about Fred Birks VC MM http://www.awm.gov.au/people/P10676226/

Both these publications are available to purchase at Society meetings, Buckley Library, local Newsagents or via this web site.

It is with regret that we announce the sad loss of our Magazine Editor Kenneth Lloyd Gruffydd B.Ed., MA who passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of New Year's day 2015.

Ken was a founder member of the Buckley Society and worked tirelessly for the Society over several decades. Ken had edited and published 'Buckley' magazine since 1975 and in recent years edited and published the 'Ystrad Alun' magazine for Mold Civic Society.

A well known, popular and highly respected Wales historian he will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Our thoughts and sympathy are extended to Eirlys and his family at this sad time.

On Monday the 3rd of November 2014 The Town Mayor Ian Peters launched a W.W.1 Exhibition that Archivist Carol Shone together with the help of other members has put together in Buckley Library.

(Note the exhibition ended on the 19th. December 2014 but for any information please contact Carol Shone Society Archivist)

Following repeated requests for copies of the Buckley Railway Album a decision was made to reprint a softback version which is now available for sale. Please see the Publications page for details.

A Facebook page is now live which is linked to the Society but is not managed by the Society - find it on Facebook and become a friend at buc_soc

Members attending the visit to St Deiniol's Church, Gladstone Library and the Flintshire Records Office on Wednesday the 21st of May 2014 should report to the 'Food for Thought' coffee shop and restaurant at the Library between 10.30am and 11am for a prompt start to the tour at 11am.

The Society will organise an exhibition to commemorate Buckley in World War 1 and this will be displayed in Buckley Library gallery in November 2014. As part of the project we are gathering as much information as possible on those who served, especially those who died during the course of the war.We are also hoping to discover how Buckley was affected by the war. If anyone has information at all on this period of Buckley's history please get in touch.

On Sunday the 16th March 2014 Henry Sandon from the Antiques Roadshow will be visiting Theatre Clwyd Mold to present his 'Potaholic' anecdotes from a lifetimes experience. During the show he will be willing to talk about pottery and porcelain brought in by members of the audience and we hope to take some more unusual examples of 'Buckley' pottery for him to see.

Sales of the below featured Dvd have so far raised £100 and a cheque in that sum from the Buckley Society has been donated towards the Bistre Emmanuel Church fund.

Nostalgic footage of garden parties and fetes at Bistre Emmanuel Church captured on cine film over several years between 1964 and 1972 has been digitised and the Society is selling copies price £4 each. Buckley Library and the News Centre are selling copies on our behalf. A donation from the sale of each copy will be given to Church funds. See publications page.

In a joint initiative with T. W. Pritchard the Author of the above book a limited reprint has been commissioned and copies are now on sale again at Buckley Library price £20.

Please note that the third edition of the COMMA archive on DVD will be on sale at Buckley Library from Saturday the 2nd. June 2012 price £10. Containing over 5,700 images, documents and entries relating to Buckley and District the archive has grown into a rich resource and is widely consulted by researchers interested in the town. See Community Archive page for more detail.

A film of the celebrations held 4.6.2012 in Buckley is now on sale price £5.Proceeds will be going to good causes around the town. The film on DVD can be purchased at Buckley Library, the Town Council Offices and Ames' Greetings Card Shop, Brunswick Road.

The Buckley Society are sponsoring the attendance of the Castle Firebrick Sentinel steam waggon to the 'Back to the future' event on Bank Holiday Monday 4.6.2012. Come along and see a true icon from Buckley's industrial brick manufacturing past.

This extensive collection now in the hands of Flintshire County Council Museum service will be exhibited in the refurbished museum facility above Buckley town library following the official launch and preview on June the 14th 2012. Martin was a keen researcher and collector of Buckley pottery prior to his untimely death in 2011. Some 250 pieces of the collection will also be available to view on the Peoples Collection Wales web site.

The next Buckley Society talk is on the first Friday of the month. The meetings take place from October to May each year

The new Buckley Town & Heritage Trails leaflet is now available from the Library and Town Council Offices see Publications page for more detail

In recent weeks several web sites have been added on the links page, a useful facility to trawl through for information on local history. In the event of a link failing please try using one of the search engines available e.g. Google / Bing etc. to search for the relevant site address

An historic document donated to the Buckley Society is now on permanent display in the foyer at Buckley Council Offices for anyone who wishes to view it.

Dating back to 1888 the ornate and intricate document which was presented to the Gregory family of local Industrialists was a gift from the work force of Mount Pleasant Colliery and is inscribed to the effect ' Your friends and workmen welcome the opportunity of presenting this Address to you as a slight token of our esteem, and in recognition of the energy and perseverance shown by you in proving the mines at Mount Pleasant Colliery and that at a time when great depression prevailed in this neighbourhood. We also desire to express our respect and thorough appreciation of your uniform kindness, affability and earnestness and our admiration of of those business capabilities which have enabled you to carry out the undertaking so successfully. It is our earnest hope that yourself and Mrs. Gregory may long be spared to live amongst us and to enjoy the fruits of your labours'

As well as the above information it also contains a full list of all employees at the Colliery and should prove an invaluable source of information to both local historians and family history researchers alike. Photographs of the family plus a well known photograph of Colliery workers lined up alongside a railway engine in front of the Colliery also appear within the document.

The framed manuscript was presented to the Society by Mr. Michael Kenyon Gregory a descendant of the Colliery Owners for it to be displayed in the Town on a permanent basis. We are grateful to both Mr. Gregory and to the Town Council for making such an important document publicly available.

The events which were recorded on 16 mm film sponsored by the J Arthur Rank Organisation and filmed by Thomas Dempster Jones contains classic footage of Buckley streets, community preparations before the day, the procession itself and activities at various churches thereafter. Professionally filmed it is possible to identify many people involved in the celebrations, people in the crowd lining the streets, as well as Churches, buildings and locations in the back ground many of which have altered or been demolished in the last fifty years or so.

For a few minutes at the end of the film it switches to the Buckley Amateur Pantomime Co. Silver Jubilee production of Jack and the Beanstalk, featuring close ups of the Director Alderman Dennis Griffiths JP and members of the cast as well as several clips from the Pantomime itself.

Footage of the restored Castle Firebrick Sentinel waggon is available on u tube including a visit to Buckley and to Flint Mountain in 2009

After the earlier reported road accident on the way back from Onslow Park Rally in late August to Stuart Gray's 'Castle Firebrick Co Ltd' Sentinel S4, the waggon had all the repairs completed in a fast track program in time for it's return to Stuart's home before Christmas. The repairs were carried out in Shropshire by father and son team of John and Neil Boughey from C & G Coachworks and Stuart himself who did a fair amount of running around in the process. Whilst the impact with the third party has only been estimated by the Police at 20mph, this was sufficient to cause significant damage to the off side of the front of the waggon, particularly the chassis and running gear, requiring the whole front end of the waggon to be taken apart to facilitate the repairs, which included removing the boiler for a thorough examination as the main supporting chassis cross member had shown signs of impact damage from the accident and required repair. With the front end completed stripped the repairs were relatively straight forward except for the steering box, where the impact had bent the main steering box weigh shaft, which required a new one to be fabricated. The availability of Sentinel Works drawings from The Sentinel Drivers Club help considerably in determining the exact dimensions and material specifications.

With the waggon completely stripped the opportunity was taken by Stuart to carry out some planned winter improvements, including the fitting of a Sentinel pattern spark arrestor and collector box and the fitting of a second filler on the water tanks to allow for improved dosing of water treatment.

Stuart would like to thank in addition to C & G Coachworks, John and Justin Goold, The Shuttleworth Collection and James Campbell in helping to get this repair completed in a short space of time. See Old Glory Magazine February 2010 for a feature on the repairs.

The initial damage didn't look a lot but everything was twisted and bent and the chassis was broken, a complete strip down was needed

Above, the new steering box weigh shaft shown against the old shaft now bent and twisted, which can be seen from the oil feed hole

The third edition of the archive will be issued in 2011 and will contain about 5,500 images.

Castle Firebrick Co Ltd. Sentinel Waggon Visit to Buckley 29.8.09 An enjoyable visit occurred which was supported by many people from the town and surrounding area.

A brief film of the visit to Buckley is available on u tube courtesy of Mr. John Butler by searching for ' Just another vehicle The Buckley Sentinel'

The Waggon later visited Flint Mountain a further video clip from which is available on u tube - Log on to u tube and enter Bomber 127 'The Sentinel returns to flint Mountain' into the search box or click on the below link

Sadly the waggon was involved in a road traffic accident en route home from Onslow Park Shrewsbury on Bank Holiday Monday the 31st August. No one was injured but the waggon incurred extensive damage to the front axle, springs and steering. It will have to be stripped down and repaired which could take it off the road for several months. Our sympathy is extended to the Gray family who have put so much effort into bringing the waggon back to the pristine condition it was in.

The Buckley Society are now members of the above organisation for further details visit www.balh.co.uk

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The Society has released a DVD entitled 'Processions from the Past' which is a compilation of old cine and video footage dating from the late 1950's through to 1980. If you, your friends or relatives were involved in Jubilee celebrations during that period you may be captured on film. There are also two clips of the Buckley Carnival processions and a Civic Service. A fascinating collection of short film clips, they capture people, fashions, characters, buildings and vehicles from three decades. See 'Publications' page for details.

Note! The Society are still appealing for any old cine film of the Buckley Railway in operation before its closure in the 1960's or details of anyone who might have such footage please.

Two visits to The Church of St John the Baptist Pentrobin, Penymynydd in the last two years have attracted over fifty attendees both times.They were treated to a most interesting and informative tour of this fascinating Church that was recently featured on the Programme 'Fishlock's Wild Tracks' See website link below to view some of the artwork therein.

On Thursday the 5th February 2009 ITV Wales transmitted an edition of 'Fishlock's Wild Tracks' which featured the 2008 Buckley Jubilee celebrations and a visit to the town library to film the Buckley Society in an archiving session.

Watch out for repeats if you missed it or search the Internet for 'Fishlocks Wild Tracks Great Crested Newts' on u tube for a preview'

Buckley Jubilee - but what year? On view via People’s Collection Wales.

https://www.peoplescollection.wales/items/1761996

Quay Watermen's Association visualisation of Connahs Quay Docks