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Randal came
to Thurrock from Surrey as Museum Assistant in
1966 after serving as Junior Lecturer with the
Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He was
appointed the Borough's first Curator in 1975 and
was editor of our journal 'Panorama' for ten
years. He has contributed to periodicals such as
'Country Life', 'Farmers' Weekly' and 'Essex
Countryside' and is the author of several books
of family and social history such as 'Fobbing -
Life and Landscape' His most recent publication
is 'The Nightingales were Singing', the diary of
Martha Randall of Heath Place, Orsett, 1858-61. Now retired, a lifelong interest in Mesolithic and later Stone Age archaeology is currently being fulfilled (2001) through fieldwork along several local side-valleys of the Thames. |
John was born in Surrey and moved to Chingford in 1956. An eminent historian and expert on local history he has been a popular speaker at our meetings for over 25 years. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, Associate Member of the Royal Historical Society, President of Chingford Historical Society and the Greater London Industrial Archaeological Society. Also, John is a past President of the Essex Congress. A prolific writer, he is the author the classic 'Canals of Eastern England' and has recently updated the booklet 'A Footprint in Time' for the Essex Archaeological and Historical Congress.
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Sherwin has always lived in Grays and spent most of his working life as a Local Government Officer. He joined the Society early on and his life-long interest in maritime history and expert knowledge of Thames barges and the training ships, once moored off Grays and Purfleet, meant that he was contributing articles to the Journal of the Society as early as 1960. Also, his lectures and guided tours have enhanced the local knowledge of members. In recognition of his years of supporting and raising funds for the RNLI he has been appointed an Honorary Life Governor of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. |
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Chris is well known as a local historian and author of the best-seller 'The Story of St Clement's', the church at West Thurrock which featured in the popular film 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'. An expert on Heraldry, he has published many articles in Panorama and contributed the 'County of Essex' to the series 'Hatchments in Britain'. He is the author of 'Exploring Thurrock', a historical guide to Thurrock. A music lover and member of Thurrock Arts Council since 1969, he has recently retired from the post of Chairman, a position he held for ten years. His coat of arms illustrates his contribution to heraldry and the arts. |
Professor Martin was born in South Ockendon, attended school at Aveley and later Palmer's School in Grays. He was interested in history and archaeology from an early age and his particular interest in Egyptology developed whilst at university. He worked in the Egyptology Department at University College, London and in 1975 he was appointed Director of the joint Anglo/Dutch expedition at Saqqara.
For four seasons from 1999 he was joint Field Director of the Amarna Royal Tombs Project in the Valley of the Kings, Luxor. In 2005 he formed his own small mission (The Cambridge Expedition to the Valley of the Kings) to work in the same location, and is currently investigating the tomb of the pharaoh Horemheb, who was originally Tutankhamun's regent and adviser but eventually succeeded to the throne himself. Professor Martin is now Emeritus Professor of Egyptology at the University of London and Fellow Commoner, Christ's College, Cambridge University. He is also a prolific author; his book 'The Hidden Tombs of Memphis' being of particular interest to the general reader.
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John has lived all his life in Grays and trained as a Civil Engineer. He worked for the Thurrock Urban District Council during the major development period after the '39-'45 war and then for the Basildon Development Corporation, retiring as Chief Engineer. His interest in history and archeology was stimulated by the excellent series of lectures on the subject arranged by Thurrock Libraries and the WEA in the 1960s and '70s and by joining the Society. With many other members of the Society he was involved in the major archeological excavations at Mucking and then with the rescue of Coalhouse Fort and now with the Davy Down project..He is Past president of the Essex Archaeological and Historical Congress. John took over as Chairman of the Society when Aubrey Saunders, who had been Chairman for over 30 years retired to the West country in 1987, and has also edited the Society's Journal, Panorama, since 1990. He stood down as chairman of the society in April 2003. In recognition of his contributions to the society over many years, he was unanimously chosen as a patron. |