Shropshire Star

Event will remember 50 years of Telford

Telford residents – including the pioneers who settled in the then new town in its early years – are being invited along to a "biggest ever" history day which is celebrating the town's golden anniversary.

Published

And folk are being urged to chip in with their own memories and anecdotes, and bring along their photos, to be recorded for posterity.

Telford Past & Present is at The Place, Oakengates, on September 15, and is organised by Wrekin Local Studies Forum. Admission is free and it runs from 10.30am to 3.30pm.

It will be a chance for residents to see just how much things have changed in the past 50 years.

At least 27 organisations will be presenting displays about the history of Telford, the Wrekin area’s earlier history, and people can get started in researching their own community or family histories.

New images from the Telford New Town archive will be projected, as well as films from "Telford Memories."

"This is the largest Community History Day that we have ever organised," said Marilyn Higson, who chairs the forum, a group which brings together organisations and individuals interested in community history around the Telford and Wrekin area.

"It is attracting a wider range of organisations bringing displays and a range of experts to answer questions. There will be something of interest for everyone. If you have memories and stories about your life in Telford, please let us record you – and if you have photographs, we can copy them. We will have the equipment at Telford Past & Present."

She urged people to make the history more complete with their stories and treasured snaps.

The event, which is supported by a Telford & Wrekin Council Pride@50 Celebration grant, which has made cash available to local celebration events to mark the town's 50th anniversary, will be opened by Councillor Rae Evans at 10.30am.

Refreshments will be available supplied by The Forge Community Café.

Organisations that will be present include Shropshire Family History Society, Lawley & Overdale Local History Group, Britannia Aqueduct Historical Society, Telford 3D Buildings Project, Friends of Ironbridge Gorge Museum, The Bus Archive, Madeley Living History Project, Wellington History Group, Newport History Society.

Ketley History Group, Wrekin Historical Society, Western Front Association, Shropshire Archives, Telford & Wrekin Library Services, Shifnal Local History Group, Family Ties Genealogy, Telford Memories, Oakengates History Group, Cinderloo 2021, Telford Railway Society, Ironbridge Coracle Trust.

Bournville Trust, Friends of Telford Town Park, Arleston Memories and History Group, St Georges Community Group, Shropshire Historic Churches Trust, Shropshire Caving and Mining Club.