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.

It is awarded annually to recognise what the judges consider to be the most outstanding article on an aspect of Gloucestershire’s local history published within the county.

Prior to this, Derek’s article was also awarded the Tewkesbury Historical Society’s Woodard Award. Named after the late Bob Woodard, one of the Society’s founders. This annual award recognises an article published in the Society’s Bulletin magazine that is deemed by independent judges to have made a significant contribution to increasing knowledge of the history of Tewkesbury and the surrounding district through both the quality of its research and the clarity of its communication.

The award consists of a silver bowl, engraved with the names of previous winners, together with a medal for the recipient to keep (see photo).

Congratulations, Derek, on this remarkable achievement and well-deserved recognition of your outstanding historical research.

You can read the article here.

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 also available online here.

 •29 September – 12 October.
 •Inside Tewkesbury Abbey.
 •Free entry, open to all.

As part of the exhibition, join us for a special evening event:

Presentation & Panel Discussion

 •Wednesday 8 October, 6:30–8:30pm.
 •With speakers from the Tewkesbury Historical Society and the University of Gloucestershire.
 •Free entry, donations welcome.

This is an opportunity to engage with Tewkesbury’s layered history and reflect on how the past continues to shape our community today.

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 the transatlantic slave trade. Members of Tewkesbury Voices were on hand to share insights into ongoing work around the Retain and Explain initiative. It was a unique opportunity to engage with Tewkesbury’s layered history, from its architecture to its hidden legacies.

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 been approved for the Tewkesbury Town Council website and is also available here on the Tewkesbury Voices website. Visitors can read the complete information online, and at a later stage we will also share an image of the freestanding display so that both versions can be viewed online.

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 of Thomas Clarkson, which played a vital role in the abolition campaign. You can read Emma’s full reflections on this thought-provoking visit here.

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, and unforgettable performances, all paying tribute to the strength and resilience of those who journeyed from the Caribbean to help build and shape Britain.

Tewkesbury Voices was proud to be present and involved. Ola, our Vice Chair, warmly welcomed attendees throughout the day, and Derrick, also representing Tewkesbury Voices, joined in the celebration and reflection.

A huge thank you to all the artists, storytellers, organisers, and attendees who made the day so meaningful. Events like this remind us that our diversity is our strength and that every story shared brings us closer to understanding and unity.

#BelongingBeingBecoming #Community #TewkesburyVoices #Windrush #WindrushLegacy

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