MEMBERS of Redditch History Society are mourning the loss of long time stalwart Don Vincent.
Don, who lived in Winyates, died last month aged 86 and was laid to rest at Westall Park in Stock Green on August 16.
He also frequently wrote ‘Letters to the Editor’ at the Redditch Standard.
Writing in the society’s newsletter, club secretary Anthony Green described Don as a colleague and a friend and his passing as a ‘complete shock’.
He wrote: “Don had an amazing knowledge of local history, particularly needles and Bordesley Abbey.
“He had carried out a lot of research into the needle industry in Redditch, and he did a thesis ‘The Needle Making Industry of Warwickshire/Worcestershire in the Nineteen Century’ for his external MA at Birmingham University in 1997.
“In later times, his interest moved to Bordesley Abbey and Abbeys in general.
“You could always rely on information supplied by Don; he was a serious historian, and Chairman of the Open University History Society.”
Don was scheduled to deliver a talk on ‘The Story of the Gatehouse Chapel at Bordesley Abbey’ at the society’s November meeting.
In tribute Anthony said that talk will still go ahead thanks to Don’s nephew, Rupert, finding his work to date on the presentation.
Anthony said he would complete it himself and then present it at the meeting.
Redditch History Society’s next meeting is on September 12 at 2pm at the Oasis Christian Centre when the talk will be on ‘Mr Mitchell’s quite wonderful Wall’ by Michael Loftus.
For more details email: [email protected] or just turn up on the day.
