Archive section
Category: News
Writing, records and updates from this part of the Tewkesbury Voices archive.
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A massive congratulations to Derek, whose article, Anti-Slavery Activism in Tewkesbury, has won the county’s prestigious Jerrard Award, presented by the Gloucestershire Local History Association (GLHA) and sponsored by The History Press. The award is named in honour of Bryan Jerrard, who served as Chairman of the Gloucestershire Rural Community Council’s Local History Committee from 1978-1998.…
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Legacies: Tewkesbury Abbey and the Shadows of the Slave Trade
Like many historic churches, Tewkesbury Abbey holds stories that connect this community to the transatlantic slave trade. To mark Black History Month, we are delighted to host an exhibition developed from research by the University of Gloucestershire, exploring the histories of three local families whose lives were linked to this global story. The research is…
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Heritage Open Day at Tewkesbury Town Hall
On Saturday 20th September 2025, we held a special Heritage Open Day at Tewkesbury Town Hall, where the doors were opened to the public for a rare chance to explore this beautiful 18th-century civic building. Visitors discovered the Council Chamber, viewed the historic Codrington portrait, and learned about the building’s connections to local governance and…
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Explaining the Codrington Portrait in the Council Chamber
We are delighted to share that at Full Council in September 2025, Tewkesbury Town Council approved a new freestanding display in the Council Chamber. The display, featuring a QR code, highlights the Codrington family’s links to the transatlantic slave trade. The full version of the sign, which provides a more detailed historical context, has now…
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Abolitionist Exhibition at St. John’s College, Cambridge
In June 2025, Emma from Tewkesbury Voices visited the Old Library at St John’s College, Cambridge, to explore a powerful exhibition featuring rare documents related to British history and the transatlantic slave trade. Her blog highlights key items on display, including the original 1807 bill presented to Parliament by William Wilberforce and the investigative diary…
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Changes in Waves, Windrush 2025
On June 22, 2025, Emma, Chair of Tewkesbury Voices, was honoured to speak at Changes in Waves, Windrush 2025: Belonging, Being, Becoming. It was truly heartwarming to see communities come together to reflect, remember, and celebrate the enduring legacy of the Windrush generation. The event was filled with powerful storytelling, moving drama, heartfelt poetry, beautiful singing,…
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Early Day Motion
We are grateful to the Tewkesbury MP for submitting an Early Day Motion (EDM 63894) recognising Tewkesbury’s historic links to the transatlantic slave trade. This is a significant step in acknowledging our past and committing to ongoing reflection and dialogue. The EDM can be read on our website and on the UK Parliament website. #EDM63894 #Tewkesbury #TewkesburyVoices
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University of Gloucestershire: History Festival Day 2025
We had the pleasure of attending the University of Gloucestershire’s History Festival Day 2025. It has been a real delight to partner with Dr. Christian O’Connell, Academic Course Leader in History and Senior Lecturer in American History. It was especially inspiring to see the fantastic work of Ella and Morgan, both second-year students, who have…
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Talk: Tewkesbury in the Context of the Codrington Family
As part of the Tewkesbury Voices programme, local historian John Dixon delivered a thought-provoking talk on Thursday 27th March 2025, titled Tewkesbury in the Context of the Codrington Family at the Tewkesbury Methodist Church. The talk explored the life and influence of Sir William Codrington, who represented Tewkesbury in Parliament from 1761 to 1792. Codrington is remembered…
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Anti-Slavery Activism in Tewkesbury
Anti-Slavery Activism in Tewkesbury by Derek Benson is now available to read online and download. The article has been published in the Bulletin 34 Magazine by the Tewkesbury Historical Society. You can purchase the Bulletin 34 Magazine here. We also have the article printed as a stand-alone piece and it is available for £4. You can contact us to purchase…