Newsletter No. 88 Winter 2011

Welcome to the last Magazine for 2011. You will find that there are more coloured pictures in it than in any issue so far, but its production has caused the editor more headaches than the previous three in 2011 put together. This has been because of a shortage of articles from anyone other than our regular contributors, who have again done brilliantly. Rather than only having three magazines this year the editor has contributed two extra items. At present the outlook for 2012 looks rather bleak unless there are others who are prepared to contribute items.
Having sounded this note of gloom about the future, we turn to the present issue, where you will find a rich and varied selection of articles. George Basson, in his article about Eva Hollyer, brings to our attention a noted artist who lived for a time in our locality but is virtually unknown here. Another biographical item has been contributed by Bert Goodwin, as he recalls a noted local character, ‘Doc’ Rowlett, who gained a degree of fame as the finder of Bunyan’s anvil.
Rodney Todman, who entertained us a while ago with his story about Mr Clarabut’s monkey, has turned his attention this time to a cow and its owner, Eynesbury dairyman and milkman, Billy Harvey.
There are then two articles about churches. One is by Terry Johnson, who tells how Papworth St Agnes church was saved from dereliction to become a well-used community centre. The first of the editor’s articles looks at the church of St Neot in Cornwall, and particularly at the Neot window there. The second of his articles traces something of the varied history of the Coneygeare at Eynesbury.
Finally he has introduced an idea that he has been thinking of for some time, that of creating as large as possible collection of mini-biographies of people who have somehow made a mark in the St Neots area. It would be too big a task for one person but if members of the Society were prepared to help, it could become an important resource for people in the future. So, how about making a contribution of one or more of these biographies? If you are not sure of how to begin, the editor would be pleased to suggest names and where the information might be found.
Our cover picture this time is from a postcard by Eva Hollyer in the series ‘Maiden Fair’.