The Newsletters

The group publishes a newsletter about twice a year. Articles include information on members researches, family tales, accounts of the annual group gatherings and more!

The group are always looking for articles and suggestions from members to include in future newsletter. Members who have a story they'd like to share (related to the Wests, of course) or any ideas, should contact info@west-group.org

The newsletters are available to members only, free on issue and back copies are available at gatherings.

However, the latest Newsletter is available in pdf format for members only.

~ Please note: To view the Index and the latest Newsletter you will need Acrobat Reader (free download) ~

Index to Newsletters 1 to 30

Members Only!

Newsletter 32 - August 2011

Members Only!

Edited by P.Pretlove

• "Accent on Aylesbury" by D.Pretlove
• "The flea and Mrs Frances West" by D.Baker
• "Stella's snippets" by S.Bond
• "Visit to Newbury" by G&V.Lofts
• "Dem Bones" by S.Bond
• "The Wilkins family and Brown's self-interpreting bible" by M.Curtis
• "The suicide of a the bluecoat boy" by G.Bartle
• "Head scratchings" by P.Pretlove
• And lots more!

Newsletter 31 - February 2011

Edited by P.Pretlove

• "And Hampden, Gent, of Buckinghamshire" by J.Heather
• "Newbury weekly news 125 years ago" by R.Bailey
• "Please don't do it" by S.Ching
• "Aylesbury in June" by M.Edwards
• "Warrior Randalls" by B.Smith
• "A very Woolly background" by D.Tavender
• "Head scratchings" by P.Pretlove
• And lots more!

Newsletter 30 - August 2010

Edited by P.Pretlove

• "Welcome to Wonersh, or our 2010 annual Gathering" by D.Pretlove
• "Alexander Cox" by D.Bartle
• "A valuable tip" by M.Bryan
• "New College, Oxford during the time of John West" by S.Bond
• "Newbury nuggets" by S.Baker
• "A kinghthood in the family" by A.Harwood
• "Head scratchings" by P.Pretlove
• And lots more!

Newsletter 29 - February 2010

Edited by P.Pretlove

• "John Hampden unearthed" by C.Woods
• "Wonersh in June" by M.Edwards
• "Searching for James" by S.Bond
• "West's gift scheme at Christ's Hospital" by C.Blackwell
• "From Marlborough to Christ's Hospital - An interview with John Franklin"
• "St Christopher le Stock" by B.Smerdon
• "Marlborough gathering" by D.Tavender
• And lots more!

Newsletter 28 - August 2009

Edited by P.Pretlove

• "The Gathering from the other sdie" by S.Bond
• "Just the right ingredients" by W.Goodman
• "Reminiscences of Christs' Hospital - Part 2, London" by V.Lofts
• "Are we so really different?" by J.Heather
• "Are state schools really posher than independants?" by M.Shaw
• "Head scratchings from our Group Secretary" by M.Edwards
• And lots more!

Newsletter 27 - February 2009

Edited by P.Pretlove

This newsletter contains an important letter from the Chairman to all Members.

• "The Newbury Mosaic" by R.Sellwood
• "Think Octopus" by J.Fothergill
• "The Mother of Frances West" by C.Breadmore
• "Reminiscences of Christs' Hospital" by V.Lofts
• "Levelling out the Playing Field" reprinted from the Times Educational Supplement 23rd May 2008
• "More recollections of Henley" by D.Tavener
• "Meet the Executive - Our new members" by M.Edwards & P.Williams
• And lots more!

Newsletter 26 - August 2008

Edited by P.Pretlove

• "Stella's swansong" by M. Tranter
• "With a little bit of luck" by J.Fothergill
• "John Horace Blight and Hill's fudge" by V. Lofts
• "Stair's pear" by M.Aldridge
• Ludgershall remembered by D.Taylor & R.Merry
• And lots more!

Newsletter 25 - February 2008

Edited by P.Pretlove

This newsletter contains an important letter from the Chairman to all Members.

• "Under the stars" by V. Ayres
• "Swept under the carpet" by J.Fothergill
• "Cousin Valerie" by M. Aldridge
• "Johanna and family" by E. & D. Baker
• And lots more!

Newsletter 24 - August 2007

Edited by P.Pretlove

• "Twickenham gathering 2007" by S. Bond
• "Knowing John & Frances West?" by J.Fothergill
• "A West gift pupil by Natalie Cox" by N.Cox
• "Analyses of responses to the future of the group report" by D.Bartle
• "Christ's hospital miscellanea" by V.Lofts
• "A2A , or a plethoric database" by B.Evans
• And lots more, in colour, on six pages!

Newsletter 23 - February 2007

Edited by P.Pretlove

• "Pedigree registers" by J.Balch
• "Back to the Armada" by J.Fothergill
• "Our future - is it assured? Are we ready? Who can help?" by D.Bartle
• "Dont confuse me with the facts" by J.Heather
• "Pedigree tales" by M.Beard
• "The clothworkers' company, John West & the pensions" by D.Baker
• And lots more, in colour, on six pages!

Newsletter 22 - July 2007

Edited by P.Pretlove

• "Annual gathering 2006" by B.Smerdon
• "Roots" by T.Willis
• "Of sound and disposing memory" by D.Baker
• "The Hungerfords" by W.Goodman
• "Memories of the work of a Hampshire family" by H.Briant
• "A Faringdon family" by A.Alford
• "A Window on the Wests?" by J.Fothergill
• "Frank Brangwyn" by S.Bond
• And lots more, in colour, on six pages!

Newsletter 21 - February 2006

Edited by P.Pretlove

• "The Master of St Bartholomew's" by M. Aldridge
• "St Paul's Babes" by J.Fothergill
• "Sir Robert Belknapp" by C. Morrell
• "Times of Vestry Shemozzle" by G. Kimber
• "Found in the Pedigree Books" by G. Kimber
• "Who was Sarah Rumbold?" by B. Smerdon
• "A Window on the Wests?" by J.Fothergill
• "Head scratchings from the Editor" by P.Pretlove
• Dates for your diary including 2006 Gathering
• And lots more, in colour, on six pages!

Newsletter 20 - July 2005

Edited by P.Pretlove

• "Annual gathering 2005 - Weyhill Fair" by W.Solomon
• "Pistols for two and coffee for one or who nicked the lead" by J.Fothergill
• "Pedigree tales: The generation game" by D.Morris
• "John & Frances West in Newbury mosaic" by P.Pretlove
• "The mysterious brass plate" by S.Bond
• "The Berkshire lady" by M.Aldridge
• "St.Peter Westcheap" by B.Evans
• "Pedigree tales: Looreka!" by R.Meadows
• "A last Stare at war?" by C.Wood
• "Pedigree tales: Walls have ears" by C.Morrell
• "Head scratchings from the Editor" by P.Pretlove
• And lots more, in colour, on six pages!

Newsletter 19 - February 2005

Edited by P.Pretlove

• "A poor man's petition" by J.Heather
• "Nicholas Culley - bargemaster of Tything" by M.Aldridge
• "St. Ebbe" by K.Pritchard
• "The mutual information exchange - our publications" by S.Bond
• "West minutiae (or a taxing piece of research)" by B.Evans
• "With a little bit of luck" by J.Fothergill
• "Head scratchings from the Editor" by P.Pretlove
• And lots more, in colour, on six pages!

Newsletter 18 - July 2004

Edited by P.Pretlove

• "Annual gathering 2004 - Oxford Town Hall" by D.Morris
• "New college connections" by J.Heather
• "Silchester & Jane Randall's house" by J.Fothergill
• "Christ's Hospital and Longitude - Christ's Hospital on the web" by H.Pritchard
• "American cousins? - More internet connections" by C.Wood
• "The early beginnings" by V.Ayres & M.Aldridge
• "Pedigree tales: How I found the West Family Group" by A.Alford
• And lots more, in colour, on six pages!

Newsletter 17 - February 2004

Edited by M.Smith

• "Sarah West - was she really the wife of Richard Mason?" by G.Mason
• "Curiosities and Nonsense from the early West registers - A sequel" by J.Heather
• "The Wests of Twickenham" by B.Evans
• "A snippet from stow's survey of London" by J.Fothergill
• "Cromwell's head" by C.Wood
• "Bluecoat boy" by S.Bond
• "Pedigree tales" by G.Twining
• And lots more, in colour, on six pages!

Newsletter 16 - August 2003

Edited by M.Smith

• "The Christ's Hospital Gathering" by B. and R.Miles
• "Curiosities and Nonsense from the early West registers" by J.Heather
• "Randall of Vernham Deans Dean 1627 - 1684" by B.Evans
• "Talk to the West's kin at Christ's Hospital" by E.Stanier
• "Pedigree tales" by P.Portsmouth
• "Christ's Hospital - A history of the uniform 1552 - c1900" by N.Sexton
• "Silchester" by J.Fothergill
• And lots more, in colour, on six pages!

Newsletter 15 - February 2003

Edited by M.Smith

• "Adeliza de Lorraine, Queen of England" by D.Baker
• "Researching briefs on the internet" by B.Evans
• "Full circle or its a small world" by J.Fothergill
• "Family group research" by J.Walker
• "Smith" by B.Smith
• "Christ's Hospital scholarships and pensions" by M.Smith
• "Bluecoat boy" by S.Bond
• And lots more, in colour, on six pages!

Newsletter 14 - August 2002

Edited by M.Smith

• "The Wallingford gathering" by I.White
• "The Hungerfords and Upton Scudamore" by M.Smith
• "Grandad Holdway (Walter Charles Holdway 1856 - 1947)" by M.Wedge
• "www.west-group.org" by H.Pritchard
• "Stella's snippets" by S.Bond

Newsletter 13 - February 2002

Edited by M.Smith

• "The wife of Joseph Cooper" by J.Heather
• "The presentation badge" by J.Balch
• "John West's godson" by J.Heather
• "Stella's snippets" by S.Bond

Newsletter 12 - October 2001

Edited by B.Perris

• "My sister Dormer" by M.Aldridge and B.Evans
• "Newtown Staff Of Office" Newbury Gazzette article sent in by C. Cox
• "The cousins meet at Newbury June 2001" by N. Sexton

Newsletter 11 - March 2001

Edited by B.Perris

• "Sarah - John West's sister or niece?" by M.Aldridge
• "West's gifts for children - an educational opportunity at Christ's Hospital" by C.Blackwell
• "Berkshire line" by A.Merritt

Newsletter 10 - August 2000

Edited by B.Perris

• "Children missing out on school places" Reading Chronicle article sent in by V. Johnstone
• "City 2000" by S.Bond
• "It's a small world" by J.Fothergill

Newsletter 9 - February 2000

Edited by B.Perris

• "Well, do we need a gathering?" by S.Bond
• "Further West" by M.Aldridge and B.Evans
• "Help wanted" by J.S.Ching
• "Colour me - family" by S.Bond
• "A family story" by K.Pritchard

Newsletter 8 - August 1999

Edited by B.Perris

• "Do we need a gathering" by S.Bond
• "My godson West of Hampton" by J.Heather
• "A turn up for the books" by J.Fothergill

Newsletter 7 - April 1999

Edited by B.Perris

• "Sir Richard Choke of Long Ashton" by W.Goodman
• "There should be one in every family" by J.S.Ching

Newsletter 6 - October 1998

Edited by B.Perris

• "The Holdways and Doles farm" by I.White
• "Calling all yellow badgers" by S.Bond

Newsletter 5 - February 1998

Edited by B.Perris

• "Hungerford - Hussey - Plantagenet" by J.Fothergill
• "The Holdway House" by B.Perris
• "My research" by B.Evans

Newsletter 4 - August 1997

Edited by B.Perris

• "A successful search" by W.Goodman
• "Information gathered on the Cox family" by J.Balch

Newsletter 3 - February 1997

Edited by B.Perris

• "A little Xtra from the Halifax" by Alison Burtt
• "Sir Robert in the soup once more" by J.Fothergill

Newsletter 2 - May 1996

Edited by B.Perris

• "The Chocques (Choke) family" by J.Fothergill
• "Pen to paper time" by B.Perris
• "Schoolboy diet at Christ's Hospital" from the book "Age of elegance" by A.F.Scott

Newsletter 1 - November 1995

Edited by G.Kimber

• "An unsuccessful search" by J.Fothergill
• "Description of Christ's Hospital registers" by J.Heather
• "Surprise! Surprise!" by F.Vigor