2005 Reunion

On a very foggy Saturday morning we travelled to the town of Glossop in the county of Derbyshire, coming from far and wide. Why? Well the Wagstaff Society were once again holding their annual reunion. Glossop is a real stronghold for the Waggies in "By Gone Days", dating back to the 1500s.

We arrived at the Heritage Centre in Henry Street Glossop, (www.glossopheritage.co.uk) ready for the start at 10.30 a.m.. Up a twisty curved staircase and then down a few steps (it's an old building, on different levels) then into the Turner Art Gallery. Here we were welcomed by Mrs. Barbara Kent, who is the "power house" behind the society. There on the tables were the usual Wagstaff Society records on display for all to see, also various pictures and reports, the old Dinting Wagstaffe Family Bible, dating from the 1600s and a commemorative plate by the potters Wagstaff and Brunt of Longton, Stoke on Trent.

Teas and coffees was served and the meeting had truly begun, as old friends re-acquainted themselves. We also made new friends. The records were being studied and notes taken. Displays were being inspected. The Bible had Wagstaffe family entries from 1678. A photograph of a George Wagstaff on a Bicycle was on proud display. There were also prints of the old "Wagstaffe House" in Glossop old town, painted by our host Mr. Mike Brown, copies of the print could purchased.

Glossop cottages in Old Town*

Then came Barbara's speech........
Barbara thanked Mr. Mike Brown from the Heritage Centre for letting us descend on them. Individual thank-yous were given to members. To Edward W. for dealing with the subscriptions, and to Ian and Robert W. for their work on the website.

Around 24 members and guests had gathered for the reunion. It was a pleasing number for a "mini reunion".Near the end of the meeting a young man came running in very breathless and said he was from the "Glossop Chronicle" and wanted to obtain details of our gathering. The young man wanted a photograph of our group so we gathered ourselves together to watch the birdie. We think it will appear in the wanted column!

There was a plea from the heart from Barbara. Please, Please can Barbara have some help. If she doesn't get help then the Society was in DANGER and could close down. This would be very sad after all the hard work put in by Barbara and others over the past years.

The help Barbara requires is in the following areas:

• Someone to take the running of the Society from Barbara.
• Someone to edit the newsletter.
• Someone to be responsible for checking Wagstaff's on other web-sites.
• Someone to organise the reunions.
• Someone to organise DNA testing.

If you can help out in any way by picking up the reins and allow Barbara to take a back seat. Please contact Barbara as soon as possible.

So at 12.30 another meeting came to a conclusion and the members made their way to various hostelries in the town to refresh themselves.

Public houses formerly owned by Wagstaffe's

*Glossop Old Cottages printed by kind permission Mr. Mike Brown