Thatcham council invites suggestions for the next Blue Plaque
IF you know someone or somewhere that deserves some recognition or holds a little bit of untold history, this may be of interest.
Members of the public have been invited to put forward notable individuals, groups or organisations that deserve commemoration in Thatcham.
The commemoration is to be in the form of an English Heritage Blue Plaque, which acts as official recognition for anything historically significant linked with the site or individual in question.
The town, so far, has four blue plaques – the first being unveiled on October 6, 2018, outside The King’s Head pub for the part that it played as a stop during Britain’s first mail coach run in 1784.
The King’s Head plaque was followed by the 2019 unveiling at Thatcham Parish Hall where the first ladies elected to the Thatcham Par
ish Council were commemorated.
In 2020 an individual plaque was dedicated to Harry Lester for his Lest
er MGs and in 2021 a blue plaque went to Thatcham Garden Centre commemorating its long history of horticulture.
Chairman of the Thatcham Heritage Working Party Nathan Gregory said: “It can be anything from a piece of hearsay from the public or from parents to a detailed history of something that they know.”
He noted that the working party was keen to hear every suggestion members of the public may have because it may be that someone raises something it was not yet aware of.
He said: “You need that idea to be able to pull the thread of history to find out whether it is real or not.”
In order to qualify for a commemorating plaque the nominee must have historical significance to the parish, the event must have occurred 10 years ago and be instantly recognisable by the “well-informed passer by”.
To make a suggestion or to find out more information, visit https://thatchamtowncouncil.gov.uk/thatcham/ heritage/
The nominations can be made until April 30 with the winning suggestion to be revealed in October.