FORMATION
The Society was formed in 1993 by a group of village people including Peter Roper, Bob and Rosalind Hammond, Daphne and Wally Butler, John Thelwell, Beryl Mellor, Alan Armstrong and John Atkins, amongst others.
A loan of £1,200 was given by Keyworth Parish Council, to enable the Society to start-up, and which was repaid in full within three years. Within six months of the first meeting the membership stood at seventy, a figure which has been more or less maintained ever since. A quarterly newsletter quickly became the norm, and still is; outings were arranged
The first publication was published in 1999 (A Village Transformed, 1750-1950) and the publishing activity has continued to the present time.
LIFE MEMBERSHIP
Life membership is awarded to members who have given long and outstanding service to the Society.
At present there are three life members. Alan Spooner served in the role of editor of The News Letter for many years overseeing its development into an attractive, informative and readable journal. Helen Proll served for many years as Society Secretary with great efficiency and distinction; Helen was granted Life Membership in 2016 upon her retirement from that role.
At the AGM in March 2018 Keith Barton retired after his two-year stint as Chairman and also after very many years as a member of the Committee. Keith was one of the founder members of our Society and the Committee decided to mark his retirement by presenting him with a certificate of Life Membership (see photograph in the photograph section). The citation read: ‘Awarded for his long and distinguished service to Keyworth & District Local History Society dating from the founding of the Society to the present day. Keith’s contribution to the Society covers many committee positions, art work, published articles, exhibitions and he has been a fine ambassador for the Society. His contribution to the Society has been greatly appreciated by the members over so many years’.
Howard Fisher, treasurer, presenting Keith with his certificate of Life Membership.