A host of history enthusiasts joined descendants of the first committee, former Chairs and the national President of the Historical Association, Professor Alexandra Walsham, at Brading Roman Villa to mark 75 years of the Isle of Wight branch.
Professor Walsham, a Fellow of Emmanuel College and Professor of Modern History at Cambridge University, praised the local group as one of the most successful and longstanding branches in the UK.
Although the branch’s roots date back to the early 20th century, early attempts were short-lived. It wasn’t until a meeting at God’s Providence House in Newport on 23rd June 1950 that the branch officially took shape, driven by a group of enthusiastic and self-styled ‘intellectuals’. The membership later broadened to include women and adopted a more inclusive approach to lectures and participation.
The Isle of Wight branch has been led by several notable figures over the decades, including renowned author J.B. Priestley and TV historian A.J.P. Taylor. In more recent years, the branch has continued to attract high-profile speakers, with Dr Bettany Hughes, Dr David Starkey and Dr Tracy Borman drawing large crowds.
Chair of the branch, Jacqueline Gazzard, has said:
“People often erroneously think that an Isle of Wight Branch is only concerned with local history, but our focus has always been on national history and how it informs our world today… or not! I love the debates that often follow a lively lecture.”
