The Hampshire Family Historian | Vol.49 No.1 | June 2022

HGS News

From Pandemic to Pandemonium!

At the April meeting of the Fleet & Farnborough Group, after three years in the role (two years longer than expected!), Graham Mist was finally able to step down as our group organiser. Little did he know when he embarked on the role in 2019 what lay ahead. The arrival of the worst pandemic since 1918 meant he took the decision to stay on and steer us through choppy waters despite his own personal traumas, and the amount raised for his presentation gift is a mark of how high the group esteem him. It was following our ABM and before our member’s talks that David, our previous organiser, presented him with his favourite tipple, followed by a wooden case of special watercolour paints (Graham has many talents!), and a year’s subscription to the British Newspaper Archive. We hope the latter will lead him to create many new talks while we look forward to seeing the results of the former (the paints – not the tipple!). Fortunately, he will not be going far. He will still be helping out and will remain an active

member of the group though he may find his expertise being required for many months to come, perhaps more than he would like! Now that he has finally been able to step down as Captain of ‘HMS Pandemic’ it will be up to Nick and myself to steer ‘HMS Pandemonium!’. Was it just a co-incidence that our April meeting was also the 110th anniversary of when the Titanic struck an iceberg? Get your life jackets at the ready and re-arrange those deck chairs, is that an iceberg I see ahead? On a sadder note, we have had to say goodbye to Geoff Key who passed away at the end of last year. A stalwart of our group, he was instrumental in setting up Zoom for us and in co-ordinating the Zoom meetings. He also helped with a newsletter to keep members informed during the pandemic. His last talk given over Zoom was a fascinating story of his family and the Cornish diaspora, and his wisdom and re-assuring presence are still very much missed by us all. Carol Gomm

A Heartfelt Plea From Membership

Maybe you have not heard from me! Has your e-mail bounced? I experienced a high number of ‘bounces’ in March so if you have changed your e mail/postal address please let me know. Many thanks. Margaret Membership Secretary

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