Invitation to the Official Launch of 'The Making of Buckley and District' by T.W. Pritchard"

Library, The Precinct, Buckley

4 November 2006

Notes: for the launch the book "The Making of Buckley and District" at Buckley Librarv on Saturdav November 4th 2006 10.30 am to 12 noon.

"The Making of Buckley and District" follows on from the author's "History of the Old Parish of Hawarden". The necessity for the writing of the "Making of Buckley and District" is justified by the size of the book, which exceeds that on Hawarden by seventy odd pages and covers an area greater than the portion formerly in Hawarden. In addition an index and a number of coloured photographs have enhanced this volume. Mr Ken Lloyd Gruffydd has provided a series of excellent maps which are models of clarity and description. A feature of this book is the number of black and white illustrations - nearly one for every page. The author acknowledges that these additions to his manuscript could not have been achieved without the full co-operation of the Buckley Society.

The Buckley Society, in its present form, has been in existence for over thirty years. The strength of the Society is seen in the circulation of its magazine, which is distributed to nearly four hundred people. The Society Magazine was an invaluable source of information to the author because of its invaluable variety of local information contributed by Buckley people. The heart of any Society is its committee. If members of the committee work together, each of them exercising their skills and unselfishly contributing to the whole, then the Society will flourish. It may be claimed for the Buckley Society that it is one of the leading local history groups in North Wales. There is every reason for this claim to be made. What Society can boast of the publication of a CD which features over 4,000 images plus text on the community of Buckley and the volume which we launch today - both published within a few weeks of each other.

The author acknowledges the particular assistance he has received from The Buckley Society Archive and its Comma Net computer programme under the leadership of Mrs Carol Shone and Mr Paul Davies. It has been the author's great pleasure to meet with the members of the group at their sessions and the benefit of their help is seen throughout the book. Much of the research for this volume was undertaken at the Flintshire Record Office, Hawarden and the author acknowledges the invaluable help and kindness he has received at all times from members of staff.

One of the features of the book is the presence of a number of coloured illustrations. No book on Buckley could be without a record of its famous pottery. The author is grateful for the assistance he received in this area from Debbie Snow of the Flintshire Museums Service and Christine Longworth the Museums Officer in Liverpool. Parallel to the work of local historians in Buckley has been that of a number of outstanding artists whose work is represented in this book. Joe Chesters, John Whormsley, and Jane Edwards provide a magnificent pictorial record of the changing face of Buckley. They have recaptured both the industrial environment of Buckley and the way it is reverting to nature and creating a most picturesque landscape. One of the author's intentions in the writing of this book has been to pay tribute to the late James Bentley who combined the skills of local archaeologist, local historian, and an artist who brought a sense of humour to his depiction of the heritage of Buckley.

It is this idea of heritage which has occupied the labours of the author of "The making of Buckley and District". The distinguished tradition of their Potteries, Brickmaking and Coal mining industries has long been the boast of Buckley people. The pride of Buckley folk in their various religious traditions, its continued expression in the annual Jubilee Witness, and the many examples of a varied cultural life have been recaptured in this book. The publication of this book is meant to enshrine the rich local heritage of Buckley and District. In this context it is pleasing to see the presence of the Mayor and Town Council of Buckley and to welcome them here this morning as representatives and guardians of this heritage.

We must thank our hosts - the Flintshire Library Service under its Director Mr Lawrence Rawsthorne, and Mrs Penny Corbett the Buckley Librarian and her members of staff for the hospitality extended to us at this launch. The branch libraries at Buckley, Mold, Mynydd Isa, and Hawarden as well as Library Headquarters in Mold have undertaken the sale and distribution of the book.

Author: Pritchard, T W

Invitation to the Official Launch of 'The Making of Buckley and District' by T.W. Pritchard"

Library, The Precinct, Buckley

Tags