Wordsley History Society

Chairman, Brian Idoine, welcomed 57 members and 62 visitors to the meeting held on July 13at Wordsley Community Centre. Following the usual announcements, he reminded members that a small number of Subscriptions remained outstanding and were now overdue.

Brian then introduced Max Keen whose subject was The Civil War. He entered, as ever, in style and in costume but, he asked, as Roundhead or Cavalier? Most, from the feathered hat and fancy laciness, would infer the latter, but he pointed out that this was a popular myth deriving from film and illustration. In practice there would have been little difference: both sides would favour the lobster-tail helmet in battle. One contrast would have been in the colours of the officers' sashes: red for the Royalists and orange for the Parliamentarians.

From uniforms and the weapons of the day (broadswords, muskets, field artillery and pikes) Max went on to personalities, pre-eminently King Charles I 'a belligerent, incompetent fool' convinced of his appointment by God. In contrast, Oliver Cromwell, a minor landowner, within a year or so became the supreme military leader.

A quick outline of the main areas of interest in the devastating countrywide conflict was followed by more local details – particularly in and around the vital river crossings of Worcester and Bewdley (where, amazingly, the King set up his Court in June 1644 for a time). There were, too, many fascinating stories involving Enville, Wollescote, Kidderminster, Stourbridge, Stourton, and even, during Charles II's escape after Worcester, Wordsley.

The talk was illustrated by excellent slides, and was made all the more entertaining by Max's usual highly individual asides. On a more serious note, in the cause of keeping local historical knowledge alive, he emphasised the terrible and almost total lack of informative displays, plaques and so on at these significant sites. Following his imminent retirement from teaching, he promised to campaign for this sorry omission to be remedied.

Following this most exhilarating evening Brian gave a vote of thanks, and there was no doubt that the audience had enjoyed a most enjoyable and entertaining evening.