Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.
Ryde Social Heritage Group

About us


Ryde Social Heritage Group  (RSHG) formed in 2002 aims to widen the appreciation of local history, help support people to learn about Ryde’s past and their own local histories, and record and preserve the local history of Ryde, Isle of Wight.

The Group is researching the social history of the citizens of Ryde, documenting their lives and businesses, recording their places of burial including the memorial inscriptions, and promoting and publishing the findings in electronic and printed formats.

In June 2008 RSHG successfully completed a Lottery funded project called Ryde's Heritage, Our Town, Your Histories.  Details about the project can be found throughout this website.

Ryde Social Heritage Group Activities

 

2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
Dec       New plaque for Display Case  
Nov       A Cause for Celebration! Exhibition at the George Street Centre

First AGM

Oct   RSHG AGM The Big Draw Events Our successful AGM Fungi Foray
RSHG AGM
Sep   Heritage Open Days at St Thomas Heritage Centre, Ryde Heritage Open Days Heritage Open Days in Ryde Cemetery  
Open Day at the Crematorium
Aug     Shore Women - Poetry inspired by Ryde Cemetery Publications Group Outing Presentation to IW Society
Exhibition in Ryde Library
Jul  

Members' Meeting

Members' Meeting Greenmount School's 150th Anniversary Display Case installed in Ryde Cemetery
Arts Festival Cemetery Walks
  All Change at the Library Cemetery Activity and Open Day - part of Ryde Arts Festival week and in support of the IWC's Ryde Cemetery Restoration Project Members' Meeting Butterfly Walk
Jun   Summer Exhibition in Ryde Library National Federation of Cemetery Friends AGM at Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park   National Federation of Cemetery Friends AGM - Nunhead Cemetery
More school studies in Ryde Cemetery
Project Celebration and Book Launch event
School studies in Ryde Cemetery
May   Ryde History Week 2009 Unveiling of RSHG interpretation panel in Ryde Cemetery   History Week; Exhibition
History Week, Walks in the Cemetery
Family History for Beginners' Workshop
Apr   Members' Meeting Members' Meeting Members' Meeting  
  The Girls' Day Out and Gourmet Dinner in Chichester Report of a young historian's work in Ryde Cemetery
Mar     Nature Diary added to website Nature pages   RSHG Project Launch Exhibition
Feb Exhibition in Ryde Library - Ryde's Maritime past        
Jan Members' Meeting Cancelled due to adverse weather conditions Members' Meeting Members' Meeting Members' Meeting  
  RSPB Garden Birdwatch RSPB Garden Birdwatch

 

Ryde Social Heritage Group Newsletter


Members of RSHG receive four newsletters each year, published to coincide with the Members' meetings, in January, April, July and October each year.  From October 2006, Newsletters will have a theme for the articles.  Contributions made by the members of RSHG, or stories provided by the public, are editied by the Publications Work Group.

Non-members can read past editions of the Newsletter (i.e over one year old) by clicking on one of the links below.

2009
2008
2007
2006/5
Vol 4 No 4 Oct 09 Vol 3 No 4 Oct 08 Vol 2 No 4 Oct 07 Vol 1 No 4 Oct 06
Vol 4 No 3 Jul 09 Vol 3 No 3 Jul 08 Vol 2 No 3 Jul 07 Vol 1 No 3 Jul 06
Vol 4 No 2 Apr 09 Vol 3 No 2 Apr 08 Vol 2 No 2 Apr 07 Vol 1 No 2 Jan 06
Vol 4 No 1 Jan 09 Vol 3 No 1 Jan 08 Vol 2 No 1 Jan 07 Vol 1 No 1 Oct 05

 

Ryde Social Heritage Group Membership

 

Ryde Social Heritage Group is a membership organisation, with an annual fee of £10 payable at the AGM in October. 

Below we include Information on some of our most active members, in alphabetical order, and the current Committee:

 

Ann Barrett is a Founder Member, the Leader of the Research Work Group, and Member of the Committee. Ann lives in the Haylands area of Ryde, and along with her late husband Les, started researching their own families' histories many years ago.  When more time became available, they volunteered to help others around the world find details of their Island ancestors and over the years became even more interested in the unique history of the Island and its people.   After reading about the work being done by RSHG, they decided to join the group and focus their research locally, on the people that lived in Ryde and who are buried in Ryde Cemetery.  A walk in Ryde Cemetery is completely different now, as Ann "recognises" the names on the stones, which bring wonderful stories to mind.   Sadly Les passed away in May 2007, but the work of researching the tales from the past continues.   If you would like to help with research, for example by visiting the County Record Office, or searching for information on the Internet, please contact Ann.

Contact Ann


Roy Brinton, Honorary President of the RSHG, is a well known local historian; he was the Curator of the Carisbrooke Castle Museum, and is a noted authority on the history of the Isle of Wight.  He is well known for his lectures about the Ryde area, and leads tours of Ryde, for example, during Local History Week, pointing out specific houses, and telling the history of the people who lived there.
Contact Roy


David Earle has produced the RSHG maps that can be found on the map page.   He joined RSHG after picking up a notice about the Group, when he accidentally wandered into the Cemetery one day and is a great asset to the group.  He is our 'Map Master, and for several years was on the committee as Membership Secretary.  He then took a year out from the Committee but still remained actively involved in the group and at the October 2009 AGM was re-elected to the committee and is now our Minutes Secretary.

Contact David


Janette Gregson is a Founder Member, Chairman of RSHG, Leader of the Transcribing Work Group, is actively involved in most aspects of the Group's activities and attempts to keep the website updated. Janette represents RSHG on the Project Board for the IW Council's Ryde Cemetery Restoration Project and has received training as an Archive Ambassador as part of the Hants & IW Record Offices' Living Links Project.  Janette says "I moved into Ryde Cemetery Lodge in 1996 and feel privileged to live in close proximity to such a beautiful green space.   I spend a great deal of time in the Cemetery and find it a relaxing and enjoyable place to walk.  On these walks I have read many of the inscriptions and developed an interest and fascination in the lives of the people buried there.  As I am aware that erosion makes many headstones difficult to read I decided to try and record for prosperity as many of the inscriptions as possible before they too are lost." 

Contact Janette

 

Kate MacDonell is Membership Secretary, an active member of the Transcribing Group and also helps out with the Publication, Research and Natural History Groups.  Kate has always been interested in history and researched and published a book on her mother's family dating back three centuries.  Kate has now lived in Ryde for almost twenty five years and is a teacher in a local primary school.  She really enjoys working with RSHG and considers it more playing than working!

Contact Kate


Rachael Mead is a Committee Member, an active member of the Publications Group, when she has time helps out with Transcribing and the Natural History Group and has liaised with schools in the Ryde Area.  Rachael works in a local Primary School, and is well placed to meet with other educators, and support the work we hope to do, to encourage more schools to make use of the research completed by the Group. If you are interested in supporting this aspect of the work of RSHG, working with Schools in Ryde area, please contact Rachael.
Contact Rachael

 

Carol Strong is a Committee Member and Leader of the Publications Work Group and is an extremely active and committed member of the Group. Carol is researching her own family history, and can help others to get started in this fascinating subject.   The Publications Group produces quarterly newsletters, publicity material and display sheets and folders for exhibitions and Open Days.  If you are interested in helping with writing or editing materials that the Group will publish, for example leaflets and worksheets for schools, and the Newsletter, please contact Carol.
Contact Carol

 

Arthur Williams is a Committee Member, Treasurer and also a member of the Publications Group. He is a retired accountant and native of Ryde who has always been interested in history.

Contact Arthur

 

Many other members contribute at meetings, and support the work of the various Work Groups (Transcribing, Publication, Mapping, Research, Natural History, and Family History).


If you would like to join RSHG, please send your details on the Contact Us page (see link below), or print the Membership Leaflet, and post to the Membership Secretary, with your cheque.




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